Xun Hui still stood in the courtyard, somewhat dazed, but Sanni followed Yang Ruxin into the house, "Elder sister, I tell you, it’s not just Yang Ruyu who is strange, the eldest cousin and second aunt-in-law are strange too."
"What happened?" Yang Ruxin turned around and glanced at Sanni.
"Yesterday when I went to our family’s house, I saw cousin there working too," Sanni lowered her voice slightly, "He saw me and even told me not to tell you. Uncle Xiaowu said cousin had been working there for several days..."
"Oh?" A flicker of interest flashed in Yang Ruxin’s eyes, "What about today? Did he go?"
"I don’t know, I haven’t been there today." Sanni shook her head.
"Then you go take a look..."
Sanni turned to run two steps, then stopped again, "I haven’t finished talking." Saying so, she took out a boiled egg from her pocket, "This is from the second aunt-in-law..."
"Feng Caie?"
Sanni nodded, "I don’t know what got into her. Yesterday, she stuffed me with a handful of candy, which I refused and ran away. Today, she stuffed me with an egg, which I also dare not eat..."
Yang Ruxin looked at the egg and saw nothing wrong with it, and couldn’t help but laugh, "What, she dares to poison it or what?"
"Who can say?" Sanni pouted, "Everyone in the old house is unscrupulous..."
"Hmm, it’s right to be cautious." Yang Ruxin nodded, "Let Xiaobai have this egg..." Xiaolun liked eggs but didn’t like boiled ones, Xiaobai was okay with them.
Sanni then ran out with the egg.
Since buying the mountain top, Yang Ruxin had come over twice, and today was the third time. She had left the full responsibility to Yang Guobin, the third cousin from her third uncle’s side, and to He Cong, the son rented out by her fourth uncle. Now, Yang Baixiang was here too. The progress was not slow, but because the courtyard that Yang Ruxin wanted to build was so large, spanning three sections and backing onto a mountain facing the water, and even all being two-story lodges, it would take a long time. It was estimated that half a month was still needed to complete the work. The construction couldn’t proceed when the weather got too cold later on. After completion, it would be good to let it air out for a while, and it would be ready to move in before the year’s end.
As for the mountain top, it was not yet tidied up, but work had already started on the fence with rubble from the riverbank and, following Yang Ruxin’s suggestion, wooden fences were being constructed, with prickly roses and vine plants planted around them, which would not only serve as a boundary but also provide a sight to behold once they grew.
Because the place was so vast, only less than a third of it had been fenced so far.
Yang Ruxin rarely came over, and as she did this time, the workers busily at work all stopped to greet her.
"Hard at work, I see." Yang Ruxin smiled, "Once the work is finished, I’ll treat everyone to a feast."
Everyone happily agreed.
Yang Ruxin then walked around the construction site of the house toward the back of the mountain.
Yang Rusong was digging holes, with several saplings dug up from the mountain beside him. He had never done manual labor before, never even held an Iron Shovel, so he was somewhat clumsy but very earnest.
Yang Ruxin let out a slight breath and said nothing, just stood not too far away watching him work.
Yang Baixiang, however, saw Yang Ruxin. He wanted to speak but was stopped by a gesture from Yang Ruxin.
Yang Rusong dug three holes in a row, his head dripping with sweat, but he didn’t bother to wipe it off and hurriedly planted the saplings one by one. Then he took a bucket preparing to fetch water. When he looked up, he saw Yang Ruxin with her arms crossed, and he panicked a bit, "Elder... elder cousin sister..."