Another day came to an end. Over this period, thanks to everyone working in unison, the materials needed for the house repairs had basically been gathered.
On a patch of flat land behind the village, rows of molded mud bricks were laid out neatly, resting quietly under the sun as they dried. In the next few days, the large-scale labor would come to a close, leaving only a few odd jobs behind. The first task was to transport the emergency-harvested grain to the threshing floor and spread it out to dry, letting the mild post-autumn sun draw out the excess moisture from the rice.
On this day, the atmosphere in the village was particularly lively; the grain collection team from the county seat had arrived. As news spread, children ran excitedly through the village, shouting, while adults set aside their work to head to the threshing floor to welcome them. The arrival of the collection team was always accompanied by laughter and a bustling, hurried energy.
Chapter 21