Reborn in the 1980s: Nine Stunning Beauties Get Pregnant Before Marriage

Zhao Fugen flipped through the calendar and counted on his fingers:

"Yongqiang, the time for raising the beam should be set for Wei Shi (1-3 PM), that's the best time. You should also prepare some offerings. There are some rules that can't be omitted. You should worship what you should worship and offer sacrifices what you should offer sacrifices."

Chen Yongqiang also took it seriously: "I understand, Uncle Fugen."

Although he didn't hire a feng shui master, he followed all the proper rules.

Things passed down from the older generation should be kept in mind; it's good for peace of mind.

Zhao Fugen and Lin Wenfeng continued working on the construction site, checking the position of the main beam, adjusting the length of the ropes, and assigning which people were responsible for pulling the beam and which people were responsible for straightening it.

Chen Yongqiang turned and walked towards the kitchen. Qin Liping was adding water to the pot, and Qin Lijuan was chopping vegetables on the cutting board.

Seeing him come in, Qin Liping asked, "Brother Yongqiang, are you hungry?"

"Liping, help me prepare some offerings. I need to kill a rooster for a sacrifice," Chen Yongqiang explained his purpose.

Qin Liping responded, put down what she was doing, and came over to help him catch the chicken.

Chen Yongqiang took the chicken and walked to a corner of the yard. There was a stone slab there, which was where he usually processed wild game.

He held the chicken down, swiftly chopped it, and the chicken blood sprayed into a pre-prepared bowl.

Not content with just one rooster, Chen Yongqiang turned and went back into the work shed.

Using the shelter of the shed, they retrieved the items they had prepared long ago from the space.

A wild boar's head, the largest of the wild boars we hunted last time. The head was cleaned up, and there was a red paper ball stuffed in its mouth, which looked festive.

He then took out a large carp, and Qin Liping, watching from the side, was a little surprised: "Brother Yongqiang, when did you prepare all this?"

Chen Yongqiang didn't explain, he just handed her the food: "Cook it first, then help me put it on the table."

Qin Liping took the pig's head and fish, cooked them briefly, and then placed them on the octagonal table in the center of the courtyard.

The eight-immortal table was brought from Zhao Fugen's home; it's an old-fashioned one.

Qin Liping and Qin Lijuan busied themselves, placing the prepared offerings one by one.

In the very center is a wild boar's head, flanked by whole chickens and whole fish.

There was a plate of dumplings, steamed buns, rice cakes... all sorts of colorful things, piled high.

The incense burner was also set up, with three red incense sticks inserted inside. There was a candlestick on each side, but the red candles had not yet been lit.

Zhao Fugen and Lin Wenfeng stood beside the octagonal table, looking at the table full of offerings. They exchanged a glance and nodded.

This is even more lavish than what a typical family would prepare when they hire a feng shui master.

The two men showed satisfied expressions; this young man was meticulous in his work and knew what he was doing.

Lin Wenfeng stepped forward, picked up three red incense sticks from the table, and lit them over the candle flame:

"Yongqiang, you are the head of the household, so only you can perform this kind of blessing ceremony. Be sincere and pray properly, for the ancestors are watching."

Chen Yongqiang took the incense, held it with both hands, and stood in front of the Eight Immortals table.

He first bowed three times to heaven and earth, then three times towards the direction of the ancestral home, and finally three times towards the main beam that was about to be erected. He performed all three bows and nine kowtows without missing a single one.

The courtyard fell silent; everyone stared at him, and no one spoke.

He silently recited a few words in his heart, roughly meaning that today is an auspicious day for raising the roof beam, and he prayed for the blessings of his ancestors and the fulfillment of the wishes of heaven and earth.

May this house be built safely and smoothly, and may the whole family move in smoothly.

A system notification suddenly sounded in my mind:

[Host detected constructing a house. Consuming 100 points of Blessing will increase the house's Feng Shui. Consume?]

The system had already given a notification, so Chen Yongqiang didn't think much of it. With a thought, he silently replied: "Consumed."

[Consuming 100 points of Fortune improves the house's fortune. Auspicious for the raising of the roof beam; the household will be peaceful, prosperous, and blessed with lasting fortune.]

As the notification tone ended, Chen Yongqiang felt a slight warmth all over his body, as if something unseen was surging in from all directions and merging into the unfinished house.

"The auspicious time has arrived, let's raise the roof beam!"

Lin Wenfeng's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Everyone in the courtyard got busy. Several strong young men were already prepared, and ropes were tied to both ends of the main beam.

They stood on the wall, holding the rope, waiting for the command.

Lin Wenfeng walked up to the main beam, picked up a large bowl full of wine, poured three mouthfuls onto the beam, and muttered incantations:

"A cup of wine, to toast heaven and earth, wishing for favorable weather and abundant harvests;"

Two cups of wine, to honor our ancestors and bless our descendants;

Three cups of wine, a toast to Da Liang, as steadfast as Mount Tai!

The wine spilled onto the beams, flowing down the grain and shimmering in the sunlight.

Zhao Fugen handed over a bucket full of grains and cereals, and Lin Wenfeng grabbed a handful and threw it onto the beam.

The grains were scattered everywhere, landing on the beams, the walls, and on the heads of the onlookers.

"May the grains be plentiful and the family business prosper!" Zhao Fugen shouted loudly.

Lin Wenfeng grabbed a handful of coins and candies and threw them into the crowd.

The children rushed forward to grab it, and the adults laughed and bent down to pick it up, filling the yard with laughter.

"When copper coins fall to the ground, wealth flows in; when candy enters the mouth, sweetness fills the mouth!" Zhao Fugen continued to shout.

After scattering the grains and copper coins, Lin Wenfeng took a few steps back and waved to the group of people on the pillar on the wall:

"Raise the beam!"

Zhu Zi and the others shouted in unison and pulled the rope together.

The thick, long beam was slowly hoisted off the ground and raised little by little.

"Slow down, hold steady!" Lin Wenfeng kept an eye on the beam, ready to adjust the direction at any time.

The beam rose higher and higher, finally reaching the top of the wall.

Lin Wenfeng was directing from the side, sometimes shouting "Move a little to the left" and sometimes "Move a little to the right".

Chen Yongqiang was strong, so he also joined the ranks of those carrying the beams.

"May the beams fall and bring good fortune!" Lin Wenfeng shouted.

Zhao Fugen immediately lit a string of firecrackers, the crackling sound was deafening, and the smoke filled the courtyard.

The children covered their ears and jumped around, while the adults all had smiles on their faces.

As the firecrackers subsided, Lin Wenfeng picked up an axe and gently tapped it three times on the beam, saying an auspicious phrase with each tap:

"A single strike on the main beam brings peace to the household."

A second strike on the main beam signifies prosperity and a large family.

Three strikes on the main beam, and wealth and prosperity will last forever!

After three knocks, the beam-raising ceremony is complete.

A round of applause and cheers erupted in the courtyard. Qin Liping and Qin Lijuan came out with tea and melon seeds, inviting everyone to drink tea and rest.

In the kitchen, the food was ready and waiting for everyone to take their seats.

Standing in the crowd, Chen Yongqiang looked at the main beam firmly supported on the roof beam and felt a strange feeling in his heart.

It wasn't happiness, nor excitement, just... a sense of peace.

He had lived in that three mud-brick houses since he was a child.

It's drafty in winter and leaky in summer; the floor is always damp, and the musty smell in the corners just won't go away.

He later married Lin Xiulian, but they still lived there. She never complained, but he always remembered it.

Now things are much better. Five large tile-roofed houses with red beams and pillars, much more impressive than the old houses in the village.

There will be side rooms and a surrounding courtyard in the future. Once the entire courtyard house is completed, it will be the only one of its kind in Shimen Village.

Who has a house like this?

Chen Yongqiang took a deep breath; finally, he had a decent home.