The clouds had gathered in anticipation of rain. The young men organized themselves into groups of three: one to fell trees, one to chop them to the appropriate size, and the third to construct the lean-tos.
Si Jiuyue scouted the area and found that Gu Jingzhan, Moyuan, and Yunyan were working together remarkably well. With a few swift movements, they had already erected a large, triangular lean-to. Seeing this, she finally let out a sigh of relief.
Si Jiuyue did not remain idle. She joined the older women in cutting pine branches. These branches served a vital purpose; a layer had to be spread on the ground, and another used to cover the top of the lean-tos, providing essential protection against the rain. They also needed to start fires inside the shelters. Gouwa led the older children in gathering wild grass to kindle the flames.
Chapter 153