By sunset, both paths had been paved with stones.
Qingmu and Zhang Huai set down their bamboo baskets and brought out a small stone roller, which they began to use on the paths. Meanwhile, Juhua stood to the side, tossing any stones that scattered from the path back into the trenches and picking out any with sharp edges to discard.
Just as they were busy working, Li Changming came hurrying home with a hoe over his shoulder and a fish basket in his hand. When he saw them rolling the paths—which were newly made, paved entirely with stone, and led straight to the river—he gaped in surprise. 'I was only gone for one afternoon, how did two new stone paths suddenly appear?'
He stopped beside Qingmu and asked, "Qingmu, Huai Zi, what are you two...?"
