After Bolati and the others left, Li Jianguo and his group quickly began tidying up the earth cellars. Lao Huang started fixing up the stove to cook-the seven men had made some plans for their stay here. They had rebuilt the stove where the original one had stood and had actually cooked meals over the past few days.
All Lao Huang needed to do was reinforce the stove, set up the pot he had brought, boil water, and stir-fry some dishes.
They had only just arrived and had not had time to gather fresh wild vegetables or mushrooms. Fortunately, they had brought plenty of pickles. Xie Yundong had thought along the same lines as Li Long and bought some nang to bring along. The money would all be deducted from the food allowance in the end.
With nang to eat, a hot dish, and hot tea, they made do for lunch.
"You'll start working this afternoon, and I'll go pick some wild mushrooms and gather wild vegetables. I'll make you a good meal before dark," Lao Huang said with a grin as he cooked.
"Then we'll be looking forward to it," Xie Yundong said with a smile beside him.
The seven men had tidied up the earth cellars, which saved the people staying here now a great deal of trouble. After helping Li Jianguo arrange his bedding, Li Long went to see how the others were getting on.
While they were still settling in, the puttering of another tractor sounded. Li Long looked toward the mouth of the gully and saw Liang Wenyu driving over.
Liang Donglou was riding on the tractor too. Li Long guessed he intended to drive it back.
It was the same with Xu Haijun, though Team Leader Xu Chengjun had not come. Xu Haijun's father,