The morning broke over the mountain with a sharp, crisp frost that turned the dew on the grass into glittering shards. They'll stepped out in their thick wool cloak and trudged to the construction site. The foundation for the couple's house had set perfectly into the bedrock over night.
But a house on a vast estate couldn't be completed in a single afternoon, and a fortress without boundaries was just open invitation to danger. By the time the village laborers trudged up the mountain path shivering, the labour division was already drawn with precision.
The brothers took charge of the heavy-haulers and leading them towards the outer boundaries. Their goal for the day was brutal but simple; push the perimeter walls by another full foot, raising it past breast-height to completely swallow the line of sight from the lower valley.
Su Xiao and Mu Wei stood in the inner area as she unrolled a blueprint and explained.
"The laborers can handle the bricklaying around the ironwood pillars today. We need gates"
Mu Wei traced the drawing as his mind grasped her meaning.
"You're right. One isn't tactical too. We need a double-layer defense. An outer perimeter gate and inner gate"
"Exactly!"
Su Xiao smiled as she continued,
"The inner gate should be elegant hardwood while the outside would be heavy ironwood reinforced with heavy iron bands"
"Leave the timber and forge to me"
His voice rolling with a deep, easy confidence.
"Yan Huai is still completely dead to the world outside. You handle the layout inside, and I will craft the barriers"
His words were supported by the immediate action. He selected a batch of workers and supervised them to begin securing logs. Su Xiao didn't think twice as she left the work for them and walked into the centre of the couple's house.
Shi Dong was working alongside the laborers, hoisting heavy red-bricks to the scaffolding as his heart hammered with gratitude. Just as they built, he noticed his Mistress enter the clearing and actively distracted the workers to the scaffolding.
Su Xiao skillfully guided the installation of the window frames. She had custom-prepared heavy wood-framed windows frames with durable, oiled lattice and mica panes. She installed them for when the glasses would be needed.
By mid-afternoon, Mu Wei called some men to carry the gate. The woodwork was done, and it was time to mount the defenses. It took combined strength and effort the men to lift the towering outer perimeter gate and slide it's massive iron pins into the granite stone sockets.
As it slammed shut, a heavy booming echo vibrated through the entire valley. Next was the elegant inner core gate, the process was repeated, locking their private villa safely from the mid-tier courtyards. You had to gain access to the gate before you could step in the master's compound.
As the sun began to dip, Su Xiao stood between the two heavy houses and looked at her husband wiping grease from his hands.
"The gates are spectacular", she murmured in amazement.
"But I just realized I forgot my veranda. And I want two."
Mu Wei blinked, a low, amused chuckle breaking from him.
"Two?"
"Yes!" She replied.
As she visualized the design, she continued,
"One wrapped veranda facing the inside of the estate, elevated with dark cedar railings so I can look over the courtyards. The second veranda would be a private and secluded one facing the open mountains at the back yard"
His gaze softened as he listened carefully and said,
"Tomorrow, before we start anything I will have the workers pour the stone footing for both of your veranda and begin work"
She nodded. Not acting coy and promptly dragged him to the sites.
"Come. Let's map out the backyard veranda before light fades"
An indulgent smile adorned his lips as he let himself be dragged along to the rear of the property. The sheer scale of the estate was breathtakingly clear here. She stepped on the frozen earth and took a long cedar measuring rod and placed it against the exterior foundation.
"I want the backyard veranda to start here,"
She said, pacing out twelve wide steps toward the slope edge.
"It should be elevated on deep-set river-stone footings, high enough so that the winter snow drifts doesn't accumulate and make the floor wet".
He walked the perimeter she had just paced out, stomping his heavy boot onto the earth to test the soil density.
"The bedrock here is shallow. It will take them only half a day to chisel out the sockets for the stone footings, if we use dark cedar for the decking, it will resist the dampness".
"The railings should be low. I don't want anything blocking my site when I wish to look out"
"Mm. It will be entirely private and according to your wishes. No one will come this side unless you invite them".
The coordinates of both the front and rear veranda was carefully marked, so they turned back to the courtyard. The workers were just finishing the final clean-up of the brick wall of the couple's house. The tools were promptly kept away while their meal was served. An extra bonus of barely bread for the the day's fierce work.
After their meal and payment, the workers trailed down the mountain path. The circle gathered around the hearth with the salted pork and wild mushroom bubbling over the cauldrons as they chatted. As the meal was served, everyone enjoyed the warmth that spread through out their body.
"By tomorrow, we should have completed your house and the veranda. So eat and rest early, workload is increasing for everyone"
Mu Wei calmly stated as they ate.
"Everyone has worked hard since we came here. Please bear with us"
"We don't mind, my lady"
"Yes. We get to enjoy good meal and good sleep. We're grateful"
Smiles adorned everyone's face as they talked.
"After the veranda is completed, we move on to building Lu Tui and Lu Dan's house"
The news left the two brothers flabbergasted. They were dazed for awhile before snapping back and hurriedly saying,
"No need, my lady"
"Yes. We're just rough men, anywhere we stay is okay with us"
"No. You're all family and will be treated equally as one. Save your strength and thanks for the work"
"Yes my lady. We promise to do well and never disappoint you both"
"Good. Let's pack up and head back"
With that, everyone went home in a happy mood.