They had spent three and a half days building the house, and now it was only missing the furniture. The toilet and shower in the bathroom were already installed, all electrical appliances and wires had been tested, and the internet connection was set up and tested as well.
Li Pan was pacing up and down the house, turned on the tap, and there was water. A high-end filtration system had been installed specifically in the storage room, which was also convenient for maintenance.
The interior walls of the rooms were of a log style, fully lined with wood panels. Beneath the panels was insulation cotton, and the windows were double-layered with thick double glazing installed on each layer to ensure sufficient insulation against the harsh winter cold.
The only thing left was the furniture.
"I plan to build a wardrobe in your bedroom. The connected room will be your study, just under the triangular roof. Though high enough, placed looking out the window it gets enough light, and a bookcase can be placed in the corner. The plugs are also in place so you can have a small cupboard and an electric kettle there."
"That's wonderful."
Li Pan was overjoyed, this was going to be her home from now on.
"I've connected the solar panels and the storage battery, supplying the house's circuits won't be a problem. We don't use much electricity in the daytime since we're all busy working, but at night it's enough for using phones, electrical appliances, and showering."
They came down to the first floor, where Xue Dong pointed at the largest fireplace in the living room, "We've also got this fireplace ready, tested it, and there were no issues. I think the whole house should stay quite warm in the winter, and if we burn another fireplace on the second floor, that should be enough."
"Brother, you've done such a great job. I really like it."
The second floor was where Li Pan stayed by herself. Xue Dong had made it particularly meticulous; the stairs were made of wood, and the second floor was fully wooden floored giving a very warm feel.
The fireplace was right across from the bedroom door, conveniently located right by the stairwell, making it easy to clean.
The yard walls had been built up, but the yard surface was not yet completed due to a shortage of bricks.
The much-anticipated breeding area had also been completed, made with green brick and cement that was leveled. This only needed external insulation, the interior didn't require decoration. A single door was set up for placing a stove, in case of extreme cold, to provide some heat in the breeding area, otherwise, the animals might freeze to death.
The house was wonderfully made with various detailed consideration for cleaning, organizing, and maintaining, the work done was genuinely neat and tidy.
"Brother, please thank everyone for me."
"We're all family here. Come, let's gather some vegetables to take back. I see that another batch of Stevia is ripe, along with senna leaves and dandelion. We'll harvest some to sell, it will also be good for replenishing our stocks."
"Sure."
"I've arranged for the carpenter to come and stay at our house in two days to make the furniture, the price is already settled."
"You've arranged it well, just cover the meals."
"Yeah, when leaving, we need to take thirty kilos of grains, coarse grains like cornmeal and barley flour will do, no need for fine grains in case there isn't enough."
"Okay."
After finishing the house, the group wasn't in a rush to leave. They helped pick vegetables, pulled up radishes to take back to the base, weighed them, priced them, then used mobile payment and wrote a note, stamped it, and took it back to the base to exchange for other supplies.
"By the way, Xue Dong, didn't you want a mutant animal last time? They are back from outside, tell me what you want, and I'll pick out the good ones for you."
"I want a superpower with strong abilities, smart and obedient, a dog or another mutant animal for guarding and protecting the house."
"I remember we talked about a few Wolf packs before, eight in total, all sizes. Would you like them? They eat a lot, but they are united and great for guarding and protecting the house. Each one has superpowers: Wind Element, Earth Element, Gold Element, and others."
Xue Dong turned his head to look at Li Pan, asking her, "What do you think? The Wolf pack is a collaborative family team, united. They joined us last year after we rescued the injured Wolf King and brought them here. They eat a lot but are very strong fighters."
"I think that's a good idea. Our place is big, and the Wolf pack has a strong sense of team tactics. Having a leader wolf would save us a lot of trouble, especially since wolves are nocturnal. Don't we just need someone to watch the house at night?"
"Okay, if you agree, then bring them back. I also want two pairs of beef cattle for work and meat, ten sheep, two pairs of piglets, and if there are any large geese, bring four pairs; I want ducks too. We have a lake, so I'm not worried about raising them."
"Write me a note, your potatoes, and the like are about to ripen. Call me when it's time, and we'll schedule an appointment in advance. I'll help you harvest and take them straight back to the base, saving you some hassle."
Gao Wenbin was discussing these matters with Xue Dong.
The base was short of food, and during this season, there was a gap between crops. The base's food supply was also nearing depletion, waiting for the newly cleared farms to yield a bountiful harvest. They were kept under close watch, as any needs were given top priority through exchanges with these farms; they were almost guaranteed to be met.
"Done."
They went fishing. The fish in the lake had grown too large, and the density was too high, which wasn't good. They scooped out the large ones, leaving 400 pounds enough for their own consumption. The small fish were left to grow, and the rest, several hundred pounds of grass carp and carp, were all taken by Gao Wenbin for his own butchering.
After finishing the work and weighing and settling the accounts, they took away everything they could. High-level Space superpowers could carry a lot of items.
As they were leaving, Xue Dong reminded Gao Wenbin, "Remember to have the carpenter come soon. The rainy season is almost here, and I'm in a hurry to move. Those plywood houses won't hold up in the rain."
"I understand."
They drove back. The vegetables they brought were enough to sustain the kitchen for a while, finally giving the brothers some fish and vegetables to eat.
Due to the lack of fruits and vegetables, it was common for everyone to suffer from mouth ulcers and constipation. The last time they got senna leaves, someone had called the Base Commander to chase after more.
They also cleaned part of the lake, dredging out some of the mud to dry and later use as fertilizer. The farm was large, and there were many usable areas.
Xue Dong and his group continued to be busy. They needed to check the drainage system around the house again.
Then, on the hillside, they had to dig a large pit to prevent flooding during rains, which would also serve as a reservoir. The water channels in the field also needed to be checked one by one. The rainy season was coming soon.
Li Pan walked around the fields several times a day, paying close attention to the vegetable gardens and orchards. She had found some bugs previously, but fortunately, not many. The frogs took care of them, which relieved her.
The carpenter arrived the next day to start making their furniture.
This carpenter was a middle-aged man with Middle-level Space superpower. He had inherited the craft and originally worked as a master in a furniture factory before starting his own business.
He brought old wood, also pine, and measured directly in the new house to make the furniture. When leaving, he would take pine from the farm. New wood is prone to warping due to moisture, but old wood, already dried, wouldn't change further. This exchange would also provide him with wood for his use.
When leaving, he would take thirty pounds of mixed grains. Other Contribution points and wages would be settled together after the work was done. Xue Dong and he had already agreed on the price.
"Boss, can I work directly in the living room on the first floor?"
"Sure, I'll call you for meals."
"Okay."
"How long do you estimate it will take to finish?"
"The bed, wardrobe, storage cabinets and sofa bed I brought with me don't need to be made on the spot. The house dimensions are very standard, almost without any discrepancies. It's just missing some furniture. I estimate it won't take half a month to finish."
"Okay."