After resting for two days during the Awakening of Insects, everyone went to turn and rake the plots of land they had adopted.
Li Zhenguo and Chen Suozhu completed this task, not letting the three women of the household help.
The topping-out ceremony for the main house was scheduled for the sixteenth of the second lunar month.
For the topping-out ceremony of the main house, the five families to the west were very serious. Tian Jing did not dare to be careless, listening to everything Brother Wang and Sister-in-law Wang said.
The timing and number of people were to be arranged by Brother Wang.
The small steamed buns to be scattered were to be arranged by Sister-in-law Wang.
Tian Jing wanted to use pure fine grains, but Sister-in-law Wang spoke against it.
If the Li family used pure fine grains, it would be difficult for other commune members to build houses in the future.
Tian Jing compromised, with a ratio of one part fine grain to five parts coarse grain. However, white sugar was added, which Sister-in-law Wang had no objection to; sweetness was good, and the implication was good.
Since there was no time to warm the house, Tian Jing decided to have lunch with the helpers on the day of the topping-out ceremony.
Brother Wang and Sister-in-law Wang both agreed.
With only three days left until the Spring Equinox, it was time to till the land and prepare seedlings for spring planting. There was indeed no time to warm the house, so having a topping-out feast would suffice.
Preparing a grand meal to entertain guests, cured meat would not be suitable.
On the evening of the day before, Li Zhenguo and Tian Jing went up the mountain and caught over ten wild rabbits and pheasants, also bringing back two basketfuls of wild vegetables.
As it happened, Secretary Yang and Captain Ou were at the end of the village. Li Zhenguo showed the wild pheasants and rabbits in the baskets to the captain for inspection. Since they were for personal use, they would not be handed in, and work points would be deducted directly.
Captain Ou patted his shoulder, "Alright, I'll have Accountant Li deduct your family's work points. It's spring, so hunt less."
"I know, I released the ones with cubs."
That night, the Li family's kitchen was put to use, with only bowls, chopsticks, and tables moved from the Chen family's house.
Borrowing bowls, chopsticks, and tables from Brother Wang's house, they had enough for the three tables needed for the next day.
The topping-out ceremony was at nine o'clock, and by eight, many people had gathered at the Li family's.
The commotion during the topping-out ceremonies of the other five families at the end of the village did not compare to that of the Li family.
Those five families had all branched off. If not for the sons of Secretary Yang and Captain Ou being among them, the commune members would not have bothered to join in the fun.
Whose grain was not tight? Scattering a few coarse grain cakes was just a gesture.
However, the commune members had seen the commotion at the Li family's yesterday. Although it was impossible to stay for lunch, there was still hope of snatching a steamed bun symbolizing a bountiful harvest.
Fang Qiuhong and Zhang Fangcao, standing at the back of the crowd, made Tian Jing frown. Should she chase them away? It wouldn't be appropriate.
Feeling the seeds in her pocket, she smiled at Zhang Fangcao, "Comrade Zhang, I was too busy to attend the topping-out ceremony for your new house, I truly apologize. It's truly magnanimous of you to come to my place to watch the excitement. I only hope you don't become part of the excitement."
"You?" Zhang Fangcao, after being angered, immediately turned her expression into a smile. "You don't need to provoke me, let's wait and see."
"Isn't that what we're doing, waiting and seeing?"
Tian Jing turned to Fang Qiuhong, "What? Have you made peace with her? You're quite generous, I admire you. However, I just don't understand, what temptation did she offer you?"
"Before, it was because of the birthmark on your face. But your birthmark looks like it's almost healed now. What else can she tempt you with? I'm very curious, but I don't care. I'm waiting to see how foolish you can be."
Fang Qiuhong sneered dismissively, "Aren't you just constantly watching me perform my foolishness? Like the ointment."
"So, my good intentions were mistaken for ill will. You directly denied me. At that time, if I had said the ointment was from me, would you have believed me?"
"Just this alone shows how foolish you are. You're more foolish than Li Min. No, it should be said that you'd rather continue to be foolish than believe me, right? Then continue to make trouble, I'm looking forward to it."
Having done what needed to be done, Tian Jing was relieved. She returned to the wall of the main house, waiting for the topping-out ceremony.
Six burly men carried three main beams wrapped in red cloth, shouting in unison as they prepared to step on the ladder to the wall.
"Slow down."
Tian Jing called out a halt and pointed at one of them, "He must be replaced."
Brother Wang frowned and hesitated.
Li Zhenguo unhesitatingly pushed Chen Suozhu forward, and with a push and a pull, he swapped Chen Suozhu with that person.
The person who was replaced was carrying the main crossbeam of the main hall.
At this point, Brother Wang had to believe Tian Jing. After all, the house belonged to the Li family, and Tian Jing's martial arts skills were so high that she would not act without reason.
Secretary Yang, who was presiding over the topping-out ceremony, glanced at the person struggling in Li Zhenguo's hands and continued to shout the rhythm.
The three straightest and thickest main beams were placed securely on the ridge of the three rooms of the main house.
Firecrackers sounded, and small steamed buns were scattered.
Tian Jing exerted force under her feet, stimulating the seeds at the feet of Zhang Fangcao and Fang Qiuhong.
The two who wanted to seize the opportunity to leave naturally fell face-first into the mud.
Enduring the pain, they got up and continued to walk, only to fall again.
They repeatedly got up and repeatedly fell. After the small steamed buns were snatched, the commune members watched these two wrestle.
Someone kindly reminded them, "You two, just stand still and see if you still fall?"
The two got up again and stood still, not falling.
"That's strange, you two might as well stand there for a while." This kind person gave another reminder.
Zhang Fangcao and Fang Qiuhong exchanged glances, not daring to lift their legs to leave.
The beams were up, and the matter could be dealt with.
Brother Wang asked Li Zhenguo, "What are your plans?"
Li Zhenguo brought the person he had been holding to Captain Ou, "Please search him, Captain."
The man struggled, "You have no right to do this."
Captain Ou ignored this. The production team was short-handed and remote, and the commune had not sent any security personnel, so it was up to him.
When he took out several folded paper money from the man's pocket, he slapped him.
"A member of the same production team, what kind of hatred makes you so malicious during the topping-out ceremony at the Li family's house that you would carry paper money on you? Will you later secretly place it under the red cloth of the beam?"
"Your heart is so venomous, you are not worthy of participating in the collective honor of the production team. You are disqualified from adopting land."
The man, covering his face, roared at Captain Ou, "On what grounds? I'm going to report you. This is spreading superstition. What's wrong with me bringing paper money? Topping-out ceremonies shouldn't be so particular."
"You?" Captain Ou pointed at him, so angry he couldn't speak.
Seeing that the captain was being threatened, Tian Jing spoke, "Then you can report the five families at the end of the village together. I also took them seriously because they performed the ceremony very seriously. After all, I built the annex first, didn't I? Zhang Fangcao."
"I'm never afraid of people threatening me because I always follow others. Just like the midwife the wife of Accountant Li once mentioned, I like to follow others. Whoever dares to sue me, I'll sue a group of them."
"Zhang Fangcao, why can't you and Fang Qiuhong leave? Do you want me to ask this person to report you now so that the commune can come and see why you two can't leave?"
Seeing the commune members looking at her suspiciously, Zhang Fangcao quickly said, "Tian Jing, don't talk nonsense. This person has nothing to do with me."
"Your words sound guilty. When did I say he had anything to do with you? If your ears are deaf, you can ask everyone what I said just now. Thieves always feel guilty."
Tian Jing waved her hand, "I'm very busy today and don't have time to argue with you. Just stand there and watch. Didn't you tell me to wait and see? I'll let you stand and watch."
"It was you! You did this," Zhang Fangcao pointed at Tian Jing and shouted in exasperation.