Xiang Dong and Er Hu, along with the elders and youths from the valley, worked overtime for another five to six days, finally completing the construction of the greenhouse!
This morning, after everyone finished breakfast, those in the valley, except for the seven people in the sewing cooperative who were rushing to finish their work, and Chun Cao – her arm was still injured and not yet healed. She was resting and helping her mother look after five children, including Xiao Dou Zi.
The remaining elders and young ones were gathered outside the greenhouse, all curious to see this marvel.
Even the dragon and phoenix twins were bundled up tightly by their mother and brought over in a stroller to join the excitement.
Chen Lan quickly went forward to greet her mother and Chun Cao.
Xiao Dou Zi was also pushed over in his stroller, and Chun Cao followed closely behind her mother, seemingly dragged out for some fresh air by her mom.
Her mother was truly amazing! Last night, after dinner, while chatting with her daughter, Chen Lan had been worried that Chun Cao might become withdrawn and dwell on things.
She had mentioned to her mother that Chun Cao staying home all the time and not interacting with people outside could lead her to overthink things, potentially causing depression.
Today, her mother had forcefully brought Chun Cao out to relax. Her mother was so understanding and thoughtful, truly her biological daughter.
Chen Lan went around and touched the hands of the three little ones sitting in the strollers. They were all warm, seemingly not feeling the cold. She then touched their little faces, which were a bit chilly.
She rubbed her own hands together to warm them and then gently covered and rubbed each of their faces with her warm hands until they were no longer so cold.
Everyone gathered around, as if watching a grand spectacle, to see how Xiang Dong and Er Hu's greenhouse would allow them to grow vegetables in the winter.
Uncle De and Uncle Fu walked at the front, parting the crowd gathered in the middle of the road. Upon reaching the greenhouse, they turned around and raised their hands, signaling for everyone to be quiet.
Uncle De announced, "Listen up, everyone. Today we begin preparing to grow vegetables in the greenhouse behind me. All of you here, young and old, must follow my instructions today.
First, Xiang Dong, arrange for two people. One who knows how to operate a bulldozer to push the soil piled over there into the planting area inside the greenhouse for backfilling the topsoil."
He then pointed to a pile of fertile soil that had been stacked beside the greenhouse.
He continued, "Then, arrange for someone who knows how to operate a multi-functional agricultural tractor to go into the greenhouse and till and rake the vegetable plots deeply."
"The rest of you will follow me to the mountain forest to use back baskets to carry back the decomposed soil from under the trees and spread it over the topsoil."
With that, he walked to the side of the greenhouse, picked up a back basket from a pile that had been prepared nearby, slung it over his shoulder, and headed towards the mountain forest.
Uncle Fu also stepped forward, picked up a back basket, slung it over his shoulder, and followed Uncle De towards the mountain.
Xiang Dong responded, "Okay," and was about to arrange for people to operate the bulldozer and agricultural tractor. The others hadn't quite processed the instructions yet.
Before Xiang Dong could even assign someone to operate the bulldozer, the task of backfilling the topsoil with the bulldozer was snatched up by Xiao Shuan, who had been waiting nearby.
As Xiang Dong was about to assign someone to operate the multi-functional agricultural tractor, Xiao Shan, who had been waiting, already seated firmly on the tractor and showing no intention of getting off, also snatched up the job.
Xiang Xi and Lin Mao finally understood. Xiang Xi exclaimed in frustration, "Good! I said, what's gotten into you two brats today? Why have you been sitting in the vehicles and not getting off? So, you were waiting for us here!
You two rascals aren't fair! Brothers, let's teach these two a good lesson today and stop them from being so mischievous."
With that, he rolled up his sleeves, ready to take action, but Xiang Dong quickly stopped him.
He said loudly, "Alright! Xiang Xi, stop messing around. We have a lot of work to do today, and it's urgent. Let's split up and get started. You guys come with me up the mountain to carry back the fertile soil."
Since these two tasks were taken by Xiao Shan and Xiao Shuan, with one monopolizing the bulldozer and the other the tractor, the rest of them couldn't do anything about it.
So, the remaining people, including Xiang Dong, Er Hu, Xiang Xi, and Lin Mao, each picked up a back basket and followed Uncle Fu up the mountain.
Now, it was time to backfill the topsoil, which was the thirty centimeters of fertile soil that had been dug out when building the greenhouse and piled to the side. It was now to be returned.
Xiao Shuan, full of pride, skillfully accelerated the bulldozer and, after a few passes, leveled the mountain-like pile of soil.
The thirty-centimeter thick topsoil was evenly spread across the planting area inside the greenhouse.
The remaining work required the multi-functional agricultural tractor. Like Xiao Shuan, Xiao Shan, who had also snatched up a task and had been waiting on the multi-functional agricultural tractor, was fully prepared.
He skillfully started the tractor and smoothly drove it into the greenhouse, ready to begin deep tilling and leveling the planting area.
Seeing this, Chen Lan quickly called out to him. Xiao Shan stopped the tractor and got off to ask Chen Lan what was wrong.
Chen Lan quickly said, "Xiao Shan, the vegetable plots need to be tilled to a depth of about twenty to twenty-five centimeters. Make sure to level and compact the planting area before making the ridges. Each ridge should be two meters wide and eight meters long."
Xiao Shan nodded and said, "Understood! Sister Xiao Lan, just watch!" With that, he turned, climbed back onto the tractor, and began to level the planting area, plowing the ground.
After clarifying the instructions with Xiao Shan, Chen Lan informed her mother and Chun Cao, then went to the side of the greenhouse, picked up the remaining four back baskets, and followed Xiang Xi and the others up the mountain to load and carry back decomposed soil.
With the system's warehouse as a powerful external aid, combined with the increased strength in her body after transmigrating, Chen Lan
Soon, after everyone had made two round trips, there was more than enough decomposed soil to cover the vegetable plots.
Xiao Shan and Xiao Shuan had also completed their land preparation work. They could now begin planting vegetables.
The first to be planted was spinach. Uncle De had already soaked the spinach seeds in warm water for twenty-four hours the day before. The seeds brought today had been dried and were ready to be sown directly in the ridges.
Chen Lan didn't know much about planting vegetables and watched from the side as Uncle De directed Xiang Xi, Lin Mao, Xiao Shan, and Xiao Shuan to sow the spinach seeds.
Spinach was planted in rows, with a row spacing of ten to fifteen centimeters and a sowing depth of two to three centimeters. After sowing, Xiang Dong, Er Hu, Uncle Fu, and Uncle De covered the seeds with a layer of decomposed soil and lightly tamped it down with their feet.
Then, they had Xiang Xi, Lin Mao, Xiao Shan, and Xiao Shuan thoroughly water the spinach seeds that had just been sown.
The day's planting task was considered partially complete. Tomorrow, they would continue planting, including leeks, cucumbers, eggplant, beans, peppers, and so on.