Lady Zhang had already called Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye over to help prepare the meal in the kitchen.
Wu Lang and Xiao Qi came over and had met Shen Qian. Then they called on the two servants who brought the saplings, and Xiao Qi also summoned his family's long-term workers. Together, they carried saplings, grabbed tools, and passed through the central hall into the backyard.
Four persimmon trees and four Xifu Crabapple trees were planted—two in the courtyard of the backyard, and the other two planted behind the house in the rear yard.
Shen Qian said he wanted to help plant trees, but of course, Lian Manman didn't expect him to actually do the labor. She had intended for him to merely hold the saplings to help steady them. Yet, Shen Qian insisted—he took up a spade to help dig pits and even insisted on watering the trees in person.
Fortunately, the long-term workers and servants did most of the work, and before long, all eight saplings were planted.
