Chapter 125: Chapter 116: Log Cabin Preliminary Completion! (5k Mega Chapter, No Filler)

The most crucial step is that these main bars need to be closely adhered to and pass through the sides of the rebar cages in each pile hole.

Then, Cody and Stan are responsible for placing square stirrups at intervals onto the main bars of the ground beams and begin tying them with tying hooks.

David looked somewhat confused and asked, “George, I see that the reinforcing bars of the ground beams and pile foundations are not directly tied together. Will such a connection be secure?”

Old Qiao glanced at David and then explained, “Good question, kid! This is the mystery of reinforced concrete.”

“We don’t need to bind every single rebar rigidly; we just need to ensure they interlace spatially! The rebars of the pile foundations are vertical, and those of the ground beams are horizontal, crisscrossing and supporting each other.”

“In a moment, when this flowing stone called concrete is poured in, it will fill all the gaps, forming a true whole!”

This straightforward explanation made David suddenly enlightened.

After several hours of intense work, the entire foundation’s “skeletal network” finally took shape.

Old George started his gasoline concrete mixer, and the metal drum began to clatter and rattle, sounding the horn of battle!

Stan and Hunter Barton once again took on the most labor-intensive tasks.

They took turns using sturdy wheelbarrows to transport sand and gravel to the mixer.

Mechanician Cody took the initiative to handle the transportation of cement and the addition of water.

His strength was not lacking either; he could easily shoulder a 50-kilogram bag of cement and pour it into the mixer with crisp and efficient movements.

Old George, the experienced batching master, stood in front of the mixer, wielding a shovel, judging the dryness of the sand and gravel, and he accurately determined the quantity of each material every time.

He was also responsible for controlling the amount of water added, which is the most delicate part of the concrete ratio.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the construction site, Lin Yu’an was making the most critical preparations, switching his Xu Gong XC760K to a standard bucket attachment.

Then, with Hank and Buck’s assistance, they covered each pile hole with building paper tubes made from high-strength kraft paper and special adhesive, and precisely calibrated them vertically using a level.

“What’s this? A tube made of hard cardboard?” David curiously approached, knocked on it with his hand, and found it unusually sturdy.

Lin Yu’an explained, “This is specially used as a concrete cylinder mold. Once the underground pile holes are filled, the concrete will continue upward, filling these paper tubes.”

“Thus forming the circular pile columns aboveground that we need. Once the concrete cures, the outside paper can be torn off.”

After all the paper tubes were fitted and secured, Lin Yu’an began the manual concrete pouring process.

In the center of the construction site, they placed a huge transfer material hopper welded with thick iron plates.

The concrete mixed by Old George’s team would be poured entirely into this material hopper first, forming a temporary concrete supply station.

Lin Yu’an drove his Xu Gong XC760K loader, accurately inserting the bucket into the material hopper, easily scooping up a full bucket of thick concrete slurry.

He then steadily transported this bucket of concrete to the first pile hole.

There, Hank had already fixed an equally large funnel directly above the hard paper tube mold.

Lin Yu’an slowly lifted and tilted the bucket, accurately aiming at the opening of the large funnel and tilting slowly.

The thick concrete slurry poured into the funnel without wasting a single drop, smoothly filling the pile hole and gradually rising to fill the entire hard paper tube!

Hank immediately extended a long, electric concrete vibrator into the wet concrete.

“Buzz——”

The high-frequency vibration quickly expelled the air bubbles inside the concrete, making the slurry denser and tightly enveloping the rebar cages, forming a perfect whole from the depths of the ground to above the surface.

Seeing this perfect operation, David couldn’t help but cheer loudly, “Oh ho! Well done! Lin! Your shovel work is steadier than me eating soup with a spoon!”

Mike, carrying a camera, ran back and forth excitedly, recording the entire work on the construction site.

“Hey! Lin! Stop dawdling! Next scoop! Hurry up! There’s still the ground beam that needs pouring!”

“Hank! Vibrate a bit deeper! Drive the air bubbles from the bottom up!”

Old George, continuing the responsibility of the foreman, supervised everyone’s work on the construction site.

When the eleventh pile hole was also filled with concrete, the project was halfway through, and Old George announced a short break.

Lin Yu’an took chilled beer and energy drinks from the refrigerator and distributed them to everyone.

They plopped down on the ground, tilting their heads back to drink and letting out cries of satisfaction.

Everyone raised their beer cans.

“Cheers! For this damned foundation!”

“Cheers! For our new neighbors!”

After a short break, the battle started again.

The afternoon sun became even more scorching, and the mosquitoes grew more rampant, but everyone had no time to bother.

Their minds were filled with only one final goal—to fill the remaining ten holes!

Finally, when the sun began to set again, it was already late at night.

After working continuously for more than twelve hours, the last bucket of concrete was steadily poured by Lin Yu’an into the twenty-first pile hole.

When Hank withdrew the vibrator, he straightened up and shouted with a hoarse but extremely loud voice towards the entire valley!

“Our pile foundation is complete!”

“Oh——!!!”

Everyone erupted in a deafening cheer, believing that the hardest work was over! They embraced each other, vigorously slapping each other’s backs, sharing the hard-won joy of victory!

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