It was just the right time to plant vegetables.
Li Long drove the workers to Jade Mountain River's courtyard, then assigned them their tasks.
He told the two vegetable growers to turn over the vegetable plot first, divide it into strips, and build up the ridges. The others began clearing out clutter, working from inside the house to outside.
All the doors were opened. Inside were some old clothes, battered furniture, newspapers, old books, and the like.
One of the men asked Li Long:
"Boss, are you throwing all this stuff away?"
"Yes, all of it." Li Long had no intention of keeping it. The previous occupants hadn't kept the house very clean. He wanted all the clutter cleared out and everything cleaned. If possible, he would have the walls whitewashed again before finally putting in wooden kangs and furniture.
"Could you give it to me, then? I won't take any wages!" the man ventured. "I think this stuff is still usable..."
"Sure, but you'll have to haul it away yourself. It'd be best if you could clear out all that clutter in the courtyard too," Li Long said. "How about it?"
"Yes, yes, of course." The man was naturally delighted.
Li Long guessed the man had come from Inland China for work, and his whole family was renting a place or had bought a courtyard home here. With little usable furniture at home, he would naturally want to use whatever he could pick up here for free.
When the others heard Li Long say all these things could be taken for free, they grew a little envious. The man had a companion there, and he told him:
"Old Xu, let's move the usable things out first, and you can watch them for me. I'll borrow a three-wheeled bicycle in