Chen Lan continued to speak while looking at the system screen: "The weather forecast for the 23rd to 24th predicts light to moderate rain with strong winds of level 3 to 4, an estimated temperature drop of 4 to 6 degrees Celsius, and potentially over 8 degrees in some areas.
This means the highest temperature on the 23rd and 24th could be around 16 degrees Celsius, with the lowest possibly reaching 4 degrees or even lower."
Chen Lan looked up at Uncle De and Uncle Fu, then continued while glancing at the system screen: "After the rain stops on the 25th, the temperature will rise slightly, with a high of 17 degrees Celsius, but the lowest temperature will remain at 2 degrees.
Three days later, from the 28th to October 2nd, another five-day period of light to moderate rain is expected, with even lower temperatures. The highest will be around 8 degrees Celsius, and the lowest around minus 5 degrees Celsius.
After this rain, Changbai Mountain will officially enter winter, and everyone will need to prepare for the cold."
After Chen Lan finished speaking, Uncle De turned to Uncle Fu and said, "Uncle Fu, it seems my guess was right. We need to hurry tomorrow. We should come to the wood ear mushroom sheds early in the morning and finish our work here first."
He then turned to Chen Lan and said, "As for the lack of boards, that's easily solved. Xiao Lan, didn't you bring back many tree branches? Do you have any branches as thick as my arm? Are there many?"
Chen Lan quickly replied, "Yes, quite a lot!"
Uncle De smiled, "That's good. We can have the children pick out the branches as thick as an arm, split them in half, and use them as boards to nail onto the shed roofs. They'll work just as well as proper planks."
Uncle Fu also laughed, "This solves a big problem. If that's the case, if everyone pitches in, we can finish the wood ear mushroom shed roof, including laying the boards, plastering mud, and covering it with rainproof canvas, all in one morning.
After lunch in the afternoon, we can use these three good weather days to go up the mountain and chop more firewood."
Uncle De nodded, "That makes sense. Let Xiangdong and Erhu lead the older boys, like Xiangxi and Xiaoshuan, to chop more firewood on the mountain.
We two old guys will stay home with the women and pile up the firewood. Each family should build several large firewood stacks, preparing at least half a year's worth. We'll stack the firewood on top, and the women will pass it up from below."
Uncle Fu nodded and pointed to the electric saw placed nearby, "Xiao Lan, please prepare a few more electric saws like yours. It will be useful for Xiangdong and Erhu when they go up the mountain tomorrow. Keep this saw for yourself; we'll need it for piling firewood tomorrow."
Chen Lan nodded and agreed, "Okay! Uncle Fu, I've noted it."
She then continued:
"But, Uncle De, Uncle Fu, the weather is getting worse as time goes on. When will we dig the cellar? The Chinese cabbage and radishes need to be harvested soon, or it will be troublesome once the ground freezes!"
Uncle De pondered, "How about this! Tomorrow during the day, we'll do as we discussed: work on the wood ear mushroom sheds in the morning and chop firewood in the afternoon.
After dinner, we'll start digging the cellar. We're a bit rushed this year, and since not many people are living in the valley yet, we won't dig too many, just three cellars."
Seeing Uncle Fu and Chen Lan looking at him with confusion, Uncle De continued, "The winters in Changbai Mountain are too cold. We can't dig the cellars too far from home, or it will be too much trouble to get vegetables for cooking. So, each family must have a cellar.
We'll dig one for your family, Xiao Lan, one for our family, and one for Lin Mao's sister and brother, and Xiao Shan's mother and son together."
Uncle Fu nodded, "That's true. Anyway, the houses are big enough. With too few people living in such large houses, it feels empty and desolate. Lin Mao's sister and brother and Xiao Shan's mother can cook together. Xiao Shan's mother doesn't have good eyesight, so cooking isn't convenient for her, and it's not worth cooking for just two people. It's perfect for them to team up with Lin Mao's siblings!"
Chen Lan asked with concern, "Uncle De, Uncle Fu, can three cellars be dug in three days? The weather will be bad after three days! Then we won't be able to dig anymore."
Uncle De smiled, "Xiao Lan, don't worry! With the drill bits you brought out, the kind that can dig caves and wells, what kind of cellar can't be dug? Put your mind at ease, and I guarantee it will be dug both quickly and well! The three days I mentioned also include building a rainproof shed over the cellar to prevent rainwater from leaking in."
Since everything had been settled, Chen Lan, along with Uncle Fu, bade farewell to Uncle De and left. Uncle De went to the big kitchen for dinner, while Chen Lan and Uncle Fu headed home to eat.
The two hurried home, eager to eat. Everyone at home was surely waiting for them. Today, it would be Mama Liu and Hu Yuzhen cooking, and it had been a while since Chen Lan had tasted Mama Liu's cooking; she really missed it!
Upon their return, they found everyone waiting for them. Seeing them enter, Xiangxi rushed to the kitchen stove to bring the dishes to the living room. As he carried the food, he said, "Why are you so slow? I've been working hard all afternoon, and I'm already starving. Aren't you hungry?"
Neither of them paid any attention to Xiangxi. Chen Lan quickly went upstairs to wash up, while Uncle Fu washed up downstairs.
After washing up, the whole family sat down to eat, a long-lost feeling surging through them.
It had been several months since they left home and settled in this valley. The family had never eaten a meal together so completely as they were now.
Chen Lan gently stroked Hutou's head as he sat obediently waiting for the meal and asked, "Hutou哥哥, were you good today!"
Little Hutou proudly nodded his small head and said in a childish voice, "Hutou was good, younger brother wasn't good, little sister wasn't good."
Chen Lan curiously asked, "Why wasn't younger brother good, and why wasn't little sister good?"
Little Hutou sat up straight and said seriously, "Younger brother wanted to go out, and little sister pooped in her pants."
Their mother smiled and explained, "Jiayao is used to playing outside and can't stay still at home; he always wants to go out. Jiahui forgot! She pooped her pants."
Chen Lan, reaching out to take Jiahui, said, "Mom, starting tomorrow, there will be three days of clear weather. When it's not too cold during the day, you and Auntie can take the children to the lawn outside the pavilion to bask in the sun and play. Spread a carpet on the lawn for Jiayao and Jiahui to crawl on, so he won't always want to go out. This will also give you and Auntie some time to rest."
Mother nodded, "Okay! I understand. I'll take the four children out to play tomorrow."
Taking Jiahui from Mother's arms, Chen Lan prepared to feed her some soft rice. Liu Mama's Jiayao became restless. He also reached out to Chen Lan, asking to be held, shouting, "Hug!"
Chen Lan had no choice but to extend a hand to pick up Jiayao. Jiahui, seeing this, clung tightly to Chen Lan's neck and refused to let go, preventing Chen Lan from holding Jiayao.