"Hey, Mr. Li! What are you doing?" asked his neighbor, Mr. Wang.
"I'm going to dig a hole," Mr. Li replied.
"But where's your shovel?" asked Mr. Wang, puzzled.
"I don't need a shovel!" Mr. Li said with a big smile.
Mrs. Zhang, who was passing by, heard the conversation. "No shovel? How will you dig, Mr. Li? With your hands?"
Mr. Li chuckled. "No, no, just wait and see."
Mr. Li walked over to his shed and came back with a spoon. The villagers who had gathered around started laughing. "A spoon? Really?" said Mr. Wang, shaking his head.
Mr. Li nodded. "Yes, a spoon. It will do the job."
"Mr. Li, you always surprise us," said Mrs. Zhang, still giggling.
"Surprises make life fun!" Mr. Li replied, winking.
Little Xiao, a curious boy, asked, "Can I help you, Mr. Li?"
"Of course, Xiao! Take this other spoon," said Mr. Li, handing him a spoon.
Mr. Li and Xiao started digging with their spoons. The villagers watched in amusement, whispering and laughing among themselves. Mr. Li dug with determination, scooping tiny amounts of dirt each time. Xiao tried to copy Mr. Li, but his small hands made even smaller scoops.
After an hour, they had made a small dent in the ground. Suddenly, Mr. Li stopped and looked at the sky. "I have an idea!" he shouted.
Mr. Wang asked, "What's your idea now?"
Mr. Li smiled and said, "Let's use water to make the ground softer. Then we can dig faster."
Mrs. Zhang laughed, "Are you planning to make mud pies, Mr. Li?"
Mr. Li and Xiao poured water over the spot and started digging again. The wet ground was easier to scoop, but soon they were covered in mud. The villagers laughed even harder.
Mr. Li slipped and fell into the mud, making a big splash. Xiao tried to help him up but slipped too, landing right next to him. Both of them were now covered in mud from head to toe.
"Looks like you found a new way to bathe, Mr. Li!" joked Mr. Wang.
Mr. Li stood up, mud dripping from his clothes, and said, "At least we're making progress!"
Little Xiao tried to wipe mud off his face but ended up smearing it even more. The villagers couldn't stop laughing.
As the day went on, Mr. Li and Xiao kept digging with their spoons, slowly but surely. The villagers brought them snacks and drinks, enjoying the spectacle. Even the village elder, who rarely laughed, couldn't help but chuckle.
By sunset, Mr. Li and Xiao had managed to dig a small hole. It wasn't very deep, but it was a hole nonetheless. Mr. Li stood proudly next to it.
"Well, you did it, Mr. Li. You dug a hole without a shovel," said Mr. Wang, clapping.
Mr. Li grinned and said, "Next time, maybe I'll build a house without bricks!"
The villagers burst into laughter, knowing that with Mr. Li, anything was possible. His funny ways and silly antics always brought joy and laughter to their village.