Xiao Xiao had been busy all morning.
He dug out the pond's shape, spread a layer of damp sand across the bottom, laid a pond liner in the excavated pond, secured the edges with stones, and filled it with water.
Finally, he covered the edges of the liner with stones.
A few people would have needed several days to do the work, but Xiao Xiao had finished in about one morning.
There were still a few finishing touches to take care of.
He wanted the ponds to look more beautiful and natural, blending in with the whole courtyard.
But the bulk of the work was already done. He could make the remaining little adjustments gradually later.
"Xiao—"
Madam Xiao had come out of the house to call Xiao Xiao to lunch, but her voice cut off abruptly. Her mouth had unconsciously fallen open.
Beneath the White Plum Blossom tree, where there had been nothing that morning, there was now a pond.
Sunlight streamed through the branches of the White Plum Blossom tree. Ripples shimmered across the water, flecked with glints of light, reflecting the riot of blossoms above.
"It's beautiful!"
Madam Xiao couldn't help exclaiming.
"Mom."
Xiao Xiao turned to look at Madam Xiao, beaming. "What do you think? Not bad, right?"
"Not bad."
Madam Xiao nodded repeatedly. "Very nice."
"Xiao Xiao, did you really do all this by yourself?"
"In one morning?"
"Is there anyone else here besides me?"
Xiao Xiao found his mother's question rather amusing.
Madam Xiao knew perfectly well there wasn't.
But what she was looking at really did seem almost unbelievable.
How had he done it so fast?
"Xiao—"
Father Xiao's voice cut off abruptly.
His reaction was remarkably similar to Madam Xiao's a