As noon approached, the foundation pit was mostly dug by the strenuous efforts of over a dozen men, requiring only minor adjustments from Cui Jianguo to line it up.
In the afternoon, stones could be laid to solidify the foundation. Once the bricks were fired by the brick factory, construction of the walls could begin.
Cement was not widely available in those days; there wasn't a single cement factory in the entire Liuhe County. Therefore, Cui Jianguo could only use traditional methods to build the walls for Chen Yang.
This involved burning lime, then mixing it with sand and clay, and finally stirring in water according to specific ratios. The resulting mixture had a stickiness comparable to cement.
Using lime for construction had a history of over a thousand years in China. Many ancient imperial tombs and even sections of the Great Wall were built this way.
It wasn't until the late 1990s and early 2000s, with the mass production of cement, that lime gradually exited the building materials market. However, in many rural areas, lime was still used to plaster walls, its white interior making rooms appear brighter.
Only much later, with the advent of industrial-grade precipitated calcium carbonate and talcum powder, leading to "scraping whitewash" and smoother, more refined finishes, did lime slowly fade from China's construction industry.
"Dad, please cut the watermelon. Let the uncles and brothers cool off."
Chen Yang brought out the watermelon that had been chilling in the well. Water dripped from the net bag as it was lifted, and the melon, having been in the well over ten meters deep, was refreshingly cold.
Shen Futang took the cleaver and sliced into it. The bright red flesh made everyone's mouths water.
He first cut each half into four, then sliced each quarter into four "rice" pieces. A large watermelon, weighing over ten catties, was thus cut into sixteen pieces.
Chen Yang arranged them on a winnowing basket and distributed them to everyone. The refreshing aroma of the melon filled the air. A bite down, and the coolness traveled down the throat straight into the stomach.
Not only was it sweet, but the intense heat of thirty-seven or thirty-eight degrees Celsius in July and August seemed to be swept away by the icy watermelon!
Everyone received a slice. Chen Yang then opened another one. Although each melon weighed over ten catties, these were men who had worked hard all morning.
On a hot day, they had sweated more than a catty. One watermelon was hardly enough.
He cut off a small piece from the top of another melon for the baby, then sliced the rest. Some was sent to Liu Chunmei and Shen Xue, who were cooking.
The rest was set aside for relatives who would come over after finishing their current portions.
"Yanyan, come, Daddy will teach you how to eat watermelon."
Chen Yang cut a small, palm-sized piece of watermelon for the baby. While watermelon was refreshing, eating too much could cause stomach upset, so he didn't dare let the little one eat too much.
Using the small spoon the baby usually ate with, he placed the small piece of watermelon on a stool and watched her scoop it up bit by bit into her little mouth.
"Daddy, it's cold, sweet."
After taking a bite, the baby's big eyes lit up.
It was her first time eating watermelon. The fragrant aroma and the sweet taste instantly conquered her taste buds.
Many people were watching the baby's novel way of eating the watermelon. The small piece was like a bowl, and the baby held it, scooping the flesh into her mouth bite by bite.
However, she was too young, and as she ate, her little head dipped into the watermelon.
By the time Chen Yang reacted and lifted her out of the "melon bowl," the baby's chubby cheeks were already smeared with bright red watermelon juice.
"Daddy, it's sweet."
"Yanyan wants more."
The baby waved her little hands, touched the juice on her cheeks, and then sucked her fingers.
Watching her comical appearance, Chen Yang almost burst into laughter. The baby didn't realize she had turned into a little messy cat, her big eyes fixed on him.
As if to say,
"Stinky Daddy, bad Daddy, not giving Yanyan yummy watermelon."
"Look at you, how can you look after a child? You've made such a mess. Is your laundry not your problem?"
But before Chen Yang could finish laughing, Shen Xue came out, saw the child's face covered in watermelon juice, and Chen Yang chuckling to himself, and her temper flared.
"Ow, ow, ow, wife, don't pinch, it hurts, it hurts, hiss~"
Chen Yang's laughter stopped abruptly when Shen Xue pinched his waist.
"Go fetch water and a towel to wipe Yanyan's face. She's too young to know better, but you don't? You're filthy."
Shen Xue shot Chen Yang a fierce look. The grown man immediately cowered and went to fetch water.
When Chen Yang returned with the water, the baby was pouting, tears welling up in her big eyes.
As Chen Yang wiped her face, the baby finally couldn't hold back and burst into tears with a loud cry.
"Wuwuwu."
"Mommy doesn't like Yanyan anymore, Yanyan is Mommy's unwanted child, wuwuwu."
On her fair, tender cheeks, several large tears rolled down. The grown man was completely bewildered.
In both his lives, he had never properly taken care of a child. For the past few days, the baby had been well-behaved, never crying or fussing.
This led Chen Yang to believe that children were easy to look after. Facing a crying baby for the first time, he panicked.
He didn't even know why the baby was crying!
"Ooh ooh ooh, Yanyan don't cry, Daddy will wipe your face."
"Mommy is just scolding Daddy. Daddy will wipe you clean, and you'll be pretty again, and Mommy will be reluctant to give up on Yanyan."
"If you cry and look like a little cat, Mommy will scold Daddy again later."
Chen Yang quickly wiped the baby's face and held her, trying to comfort her.
Watching her tears stream down, his heart ached. In both his lives, he had never seen his daughter cry.
But no matter how he tried to comfort her, the baby kept crying "wuwuwu." Her pitiful appearance made Chen Yang's heart melt.
"Yanyan don't cry, Yanyan don't cry."
"Next time you eat watermelon, remember not to stick your face in, and don't get your clothes dirty, understand?"
The baby's crying also drew Shen Xue, who was cooking. She scooped up the baby, patted her a few times, and the baby's sobs gradually subsided.
"Yanyan promises Mommy, from now on, when eating watermelon, I won't get my face dirty."
"Yanyan is a clean child."
"Mommy, don't not want Yanyan."
The baby hugged Shen Xue's neck with her little hands, her face pressed against Shen Xue's chest, looking extremely wronged.
"Okay, okay, Yanyan is Mommy's most obedient treasure."
"Mommy would never give up on Yanyan!"
"Yay, yay, Yanyan loves Mommy the most."
Chen Yang watched as Shen Xue soothed the baby in no time. The baby even managed to force a smile at the end.
This made the grown man feel a pang of jealousy.
No matter how he tried to comfort her, it was useless. Shen Xue calmly taught the baby about hygiene when eating watermelon, and the child not only stopped crying but was also comforted.
Can children be looked after like this?
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and set the table. Mother has already prepared the food. Quickly set the table so the uncles and brothers can eat."
Shen Xue glanced at Chen Yang, who was staring blankly, a hint of triumph on her lips.
When it comes to raising children, mothers are still the best!
This scoundrel, does he really think he's capable of everything?
"Daddy, Yanyan loves Daddy the most too."
As if sensing Chen Yang's sour mood, the baby, sniffling with her little nose red from crying, said in a milky voice, asking for a hug from Chen Yang.
The slight imbalance in the grown man's heart instantly vanished.