Go back to the past to plant trees

"Feng Cheng, are you done with your work?"

Zhao Tianshan was playing cards with a few people again today. As soon as he got off the table, he saw Feng Cheng tidying up the notebooks on the table, so he casually asked him a question.

"Yeah, just finished."

"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you, I went down and got two pistols."

Feng Cheng suddenly remembered the pistol that had been brought to him, and immediately took it out and handed it to Zhao Tianshan.

"Take one of these pistols and leave the other one over in the girls' dormitory. We're not expecting anything from it, just for self-defense. If something unexpected happens, we can fire a warning shot."

"Okay, I'll give it to them tomorrow."

Zhao Tianshan wasn't particularly interested in these World War II antique guns; he preferred guns made in his own country.

"You guys, stop playing around, we have work to do tomorrow!"

Feng Chengchong shouted something as the group of people who were still playing excitedly.

Ever since they got together to play cards once, these guys have been playing together frequently. They'd set up a table whenever they had free time. Luckily, they weren't playing cards, they were just drinking water, otherwise Feng Cheng would have stopped them.

Da Kui said, "Let's play two more rounds, then we'll call it a day."

"Hurry up!"

After saying that, Feng Cheng went to the bathroom and then came back to sleep.

For the next few days, Feng Cheng stayed at the construction site and dug the manholes very quickly, maintaining about 2.5 per day. Xu Peng's construction team was also very fast. After clearing the ground for a day, they started digging the foundation. Although it was only a two-story building, it was located in Saihanba, where there was a lot of wind and sand, so a foundation needed to be dug.

"Captain Xu, I see your progress isn't very fast. Should I send my men over to help?"

Xu Peng and his group weren't digging the foundation particularly fast. When Feng Cheng saw that it had taken him two days to complete only half of it, he couldn't help but suggest that they start digging.

If this pace continues, then these two office buildings won't be finished before winter.

"Section Chief Feng, it would be even better if you could come and help out. To be honest, this land is indeed a bit difficult to dig."

Xu Peng did not refuse Feng Cheng's offer, and their progress was indeed somewhat slow.

"Okay, I'll call them over."

After Feng Cheng responded, he turned around and called over Da Kui and his group.

With the addition of Feng Cheng and his ten men, the speed of digging the foundation immediately increased. The thirty men worked hard and finished the remaining work in just one day.

"Section Chief Feng, your people are really capable," Xu Peng gave Feng Cheng a thumbs up.

Feng Cheng laughed and said, "My group of people are professionals at this kind of work, digging holes and shoveling soil. You guys are different. Building houses and other technical jobs are what you do. We can't do that."

Xu Peng waved his hand: "Hey, it's just manual labor. Building a house doesn't require any technical skills."

"Section Chief Feng, don't go back tonight. I'll have the kitchen prepare some side dishes, and we'll have a couple of drinks," Xu Peng invited Feng Cheng.

After spending the last few days together, Xu Peng felt that Feng Cheng was a decent person and worth getting to know. Although Feng Cheng was in the remote Saihanba area, who knows when you might need connections?

Furthermore, he will be working in Saihanba for a long time to come, and building a good relationship with the young cadre Feng Cheng will be of great help to his work here.

Tonight!

Feng Cheng hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright, but I'm not a big drinker, so Captain Xu, you can't force me to drink!"

Xu Peng said, "Don't worry, I won't drink too much. I still have to work tomorrow."

Feng Cheng nodded and went back to work.

At six o'clock in the evening, Feng Cheng told Sui Zhichao and the others to go back on their own. He knew he wouldn't be able to return after drinking; it was too dark and dangerous in the middle of nowhere. Feng Cheng would have to sleep with Zhao Jinsheng that night.

"Jinsheng, come eat with me, you'll have company."

Feng Cheng called Zhao Jinsheng over.

Upon arriving at Xu Peng's tent, Feng Cheng found a young man inside besides Xu Peng. Feng Cheng vaguely recognized him; his name seemed to be Xu Jianjun, and he was Xu Peng's nephew.

Feng Cheng and his team have dug several dugouts in the past few days, but because they don't have thatched roofs, only about ten people from the construction team can live in the dugouts. The remaining seven or eight people live in tents. However, with more people living in the dugouts, the tents are not so crowded anymore. Now it's basically one person per tent, which is quite spacious.

"Captain Xu, the thatched roof we ordered will be back in two days, then you won't have to live here anymore."

Xu Peng said nonchalantly, "It's okay, it doesn't matter where I live. I'm used to living in tents, so it doesn't matter whether I live in a dugout or not."

“If you’re working on construction projects for a long time, I think you could dig a dugout to live in, or make a detachable wooden frame. That would be more comfortable than sleeping in a tent, at least it would be more spacious.”

Feng Cheng had slept in a tent in his previous life. When he was a child, he saw it on TV and always thought that sleeping in one must be very comfortable. But after experiencing it once, he lost interest. It was fine as a novelty, but if you had to sleep in one every day, it would be torture. The space was small, the air did not circulate, and it was directly on the ground, so it was not comfortable to lie down. That was a tent from a later era with countless upgrades in materials. The ones from this era were even more uncomfortable.

"Hey, we're here to work, not to relax. If we stay in too nice a place, people will complain. Being frugal will save us a lot of trouble."

"Too."

"Come on, let's not talk about that anymore, let's eat and drink."

Xu Peng hadn't prepared anything fancy, just a plate of peanuts, a stew of potatoes and pork with not much meat, and a stir-fried cabbage.

Feng Cheng didn't complain. He understood that Xu Peng had just arrived at the dam and didn't have much to eat.

"I see your meals aren't very good. I'll bring you some tofu in a few days to improve your diet."

"Tofu? You can make tofu?"

Feng Cheng nodded: "Yes, it's simple. We have the tools there, and we can make it in a little time."

"That's great. I'll have someone send some soybeans up tomorrow. You can get some for us then. When you're out working, it's really hard to guarantee food. Sometimes it gives me a headache."

"It's the same for me. You guys have trucks coming and going every day, but we only get supplies once a month. Luckily, I have a vegetable garden, otherwise we would have trouble getting vegetables."

"You guys must be working really hard."

"Is it all for the sake of building the country?"

"Come on, touch one."

The four of them clinked their glasses.

"Section Chief Feng, to be honest, I really admire you. I heard from them that you stayed in Saihanba for three years with just the two of you. Seriously, let alone three years, even if I had to lead my team here for three years, I wouldn't be able to stand it. You two have endured it for three years, and I really respect you."

Feng Cheng laughed and said, "Captain Xu, I don't agree with what you said. I believe that if your superiors asked you to stay here for three years to build a project, you would definitely stick to it. I know you are a person who can persevere."

"Section Chief Feng, you really think highly of me."

"It's not that I think highly of you, it's that you're just an outstanding person, Captain Xu."

"Haha, I'll have to have a drink..."