Chen Lan walked quickly towards the valley. As she entered the woods and looked at the various wildflowers blooming all over the mountainside, Chen Lan thought of the goji berry trees she had planted in the front yard and the rose bushes she had cultivated into a wall in the backyard. She imagined that by next year's blooming season, her wish of having her yard full of flowers, with their fragrance wafting ten miles, would come true.
As she walked, Chen Lan envisioned the beautiful scene: "Using flowers as a fence, waiting for the blooming season, and inhaling the fragrance filling the yard."
With this thought, Chen Lan strongly felt that something was missing – a place to enjoy such beautiful scenery. Yes, all that was needed was a place to view the scenery. She decided to build a pavilion in the front yard. In the summer, her family could relax in the cool shade of the yard, and in the autumn, they could drink tea and chat. Building a pavilion would serve as a leisure and entertainment spot for her family.
Chen Lan mused that when she had rare moments of leisure, she could also sit in the pavilion, savoring the earthly fragrances, appreciating worldly beauty, reading gentle poetry, admiring elegant paintings, listening to the sound of falling rain, and quietly observing the fleeting splendors of life.
Chen Lan's vision grew more beautiful, and she decided to build a simple, modern, minimalist rectangular pavilion in a corner of the yard, next to the swing set. The main frame would be steel, complemented by a flat wooden roof, using clean, clear lines to outline the pure beauty of the platform.
Chen Lan was a woman of action. As soon as the idea struck her, she found a stone to sit on, opened the system's purchase function, and searched for "modern minimalist pavilion." The system's screen displayed numerous manufacturers. Chen Lan chose a manufacturer with a good reputation and track record, and ordered a thirty-five square foot rectangular pavilion with a steel frame and a preservative-treated wooden roof. She also requested that the manufacturer equip it with sofas, tables, and other matching furniture according to her needs for living room use.
After confirming the pavilion order with the manufacturer, she stood up and continued her walk. She soon emerged from the woods and reached the edge of the valley. Chen Lan quickly descended into the valley, retrieved the fruit tree saplings and the carrying basket from the system warehouse, and placed them in the basket. She left the grape trellises by the foot of the mountain, intending for them to be carried over later. Once everything was prepared, she headed towards the second house. Upon reaching the second house, she didn't see Ming Wei and the others. She asked Er Hu Ge, who was in charge of building the second house, "Er Hu Ge, where are Ming Wei and the others?" Xu Er Hu replied, "They dug the tree pits and went to the third house." Chen Lan thanked Er Hu. Su Dan Novel Network
According to Ming Wei's request, she left five pear saplings, three persimmon saplings, and five jujube saplings for the second house.
She then turned and headed towards the third house. As soon as she arrived, she saw Cui Qiao and Ming Wei, Zhao Xiaoyue digging tree pits, and preparing to leave. Chen Lan quickly called out to them, gave them five apple saplings, ten grape saplings, and five persimmon saplings, asking them to plant them first before going to the foot of the mountain to carry the grape trellises.
The group divided the tasks. Chen Lan and Hu Yuzhen went to the backyard to dig the pits for installing the grape trellises, Ming Wei planted the fruit tree saplings, and Zhao Xiaoyue and Cui Qiao went to the foot of the mountain to carry the grape trellises. Ming Wei quickly finished planting the five apple saplings and five persimmon saplings and watered them before coming to the backyard to help.
Chen Lan told Ming Wei and Hu Yuzhen to hurry to the second house and plant the pear saplings, persimmon saplings, and jujube saplings before they dried out under the hot sun.
She decided to stay and dig slowly. Watching the two leave, Chen Lan continued to dig with all her might. In a short while, Cui Qiao and Zhao Xiaoyue carried the grape trellises over.
Chen Lan unwrapped the outer packaging and began to assemble the grape trellises. Having assembled one before, she finished this one quickly! The group then worked together to bury the support pillars of the grape trellises, and their task was complete.
Cui Qiao and Zhao Xiaoyue looked at Chen Lan with admiration. Cui Qiao said, "Xiao Lan, you are so capable. I don't think there's anything you can't do!"
Chen Lan smiled and replied, "If you set your mind to it, anyone can become a skilled craftsman."
While they were planting the grapevines, Chen Lan used her mental powers to open the system and check the arrival status of the pavilion in her warehouse. Seeing the pile of newly arrived items in the warehouse, Chen Lan couldn't help but feel overjoyed. She immediately instructed Zhao Xiaoyue and Cui Qiao, "Sister Cui Qiao, the fruit tree saplings in this carrying basket are for the fourth and fifth houses. The fruit trees have already been sorted. You and Xiaoyue should plant them in the yards of houses four and five according to the variety and quantity listed on this sheet, and then water them."
Chen Lan continued, "Also, if you see Xiang Xi at houses four or five, please ask him to bring two people to house one. Tell him I need his help with something."
Cui Qiao and Zhao Xiaoyue nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Watching Cui Qiao and Zhao Xiaoyue leave with their digging tools and the carrying basket of fruit tree saplings, Chen Lan quickly ran back to house one. She went to the side of the swing set, about five meters away from the swing set and near the goji berry grove, and quickly took out the custom-ordered pavilion and its accessories from the system warehouse.
Chen Lan took scissors from the system warehouse and quickly unpacked all the furniture and items, box by box. A preliminary inspection revealed that the manufacturer was excellent, with complete accessories, truly equipping it as a family living room. Of course, she thought, the price was also quite high!
As she unpacked, Chen Lan imagined how beautiful it would be once the simple and stylish modern pavilion was built. After the autumn harvest, they could move into the new house, and then she would truly be living a life of "a courtyard within the house, trees within the courtyard, the sky visible through the trees, the moon in the sky, sitting on the ground to watch the stars, sipping tea and listening to the wind. Embraced by flowers, grass, and birds, permeated with peace and tranquility." This was her dream courtyard, free from noise and ostentation, offering only relaxation and comfort for body and mind.
Living a simple life with freedom and contentment!
As Chen Lan was envisioning her beautiful future, Xiang Xi arrived with Xiao Shan, Xiao Shuan, and Lin Mao, carrying tools.
Chen Lan asked in surprise, "You brought tools? How did you know I needed you to do digging and filling work?"
Xiang Xi retorted proudly, "Little Lan, whenever you ask us to help, isn't it always for moving things, digging pits, and filling them?"
Chen Lan was momentarily speechless, utterly at a loss for words. She directly said, "Little Watermelon, I'm going to build a pavilion here. When we move in, we can drink tea, chat, play cards, read books, and enjoy the scenery of the entire yard, smelling the fragrance of the flowers. How wonderful!"
Xiang Xi said indifferently, "As long as you women like it! We men don't care where we drink tea, chat, read books, or play cards."
Chen Lan was immediately angered and rendered speechless by Xiang Xi.