Chapter Seventy-Three: Busy Farming Season

After a good night's sleep on her own earthen heated kang bed, she was full of energy. She got up early, changed into her old work clothes, and prepared to get to work.

Finally, I can help with some practical chores at home.

The group carried sickles and baskets, heading towards the rapeseed fields and early rice paddies on the hillside.

Xiao Nan was left at home to be looked after by her sister-in-law and aunt.

Brother Liu was still working as a carpenter outside, and not wanting to delay the project, he couldn't come back to work in the fields.

When we arrived at the field, the lush green rapeseed leaves were half a person tall, and the early rice ears were full of sap, rustling in the wind.

Zhang Liuyi rolled up her sleeves, picked up a sickle, and was about to go to the field when Zhang Dashan reached out and stopped her.

"You...don't do this work, take a rest."

"Go sit over there and keep an eye on the water bottles and stuff. When the sun gets really strong, hand out water to everyone."

Zhang Yili was taken aback: "Dad, I'm strong, I can cut it!"

Her father ignored her, bent down, and with a few swift strokes, neatly felled a rapeseed leaf, his movements quick and steady.

Zhang Dahe, who was standing next to him, also laughed and said, "Be careful, listen to your dad. This sickle is heavy. If you cut for too long, your hands will get blisters, and your back won't be able to take it. You can just rest in the shade and watch the things for us."

While skillfully cutting rice, Xiong Zixiang turned around and said, "Be careful, listen to your father and uncle, and sit down."

Zhang Liuyi stood at the edge of the field, watching the men bend over and wave their sickles, their backs quickly soaked with sweat.

She stood alone under the shade of the tree, still wanting to help. She wasn't some pampered young lady, so why couldn't she take a sickle?

But as soon as she picked it up, her father pressed it back down.

After sitting for a while, I was getting really bored.

As the sun rose higher, the heat from the ground began to rise.

Looking at her father and the others, who were drenched in sweat, she began to think, if they wouldn't let her do the heavy work, then she could do something easier, right?

She stood up, walked to where she had put the basket, and looked at the dry food she had brought inside: a few cold, hard cornbread buns and a jar of cold boiled water.

On such a hot day, how can eating this after finishing work relieve fatigue?

"Father, Uncle," she called out, "I think the lunch rations were too bland. Shall I go back and make something nice for you? It'll also be a good opportunity to stretch my muscles."

Zhang Dahe, who was harvesting rice in the field, straightened up and wiped his sweat: "Great job! Everything you make smells delicious!"

Zhang Dashan nodded: "Go ahead, the sun's up now, go home and cook to avoid it."

Having received confirmation, Zhang felt relieved and walked briskly home.

All along the way, I was thinking about what to do: something that would keep me full, have some oil, and not be too troublesome.

She thought of the braised dishes that the shop often made, but she didn't have any braising broth at home, and she probably wouldn't have time to make it herself.

My gaze swept across my yard, where the lush green chives were growing vigorously.

I've got it! Let's make chive pancakes! It's quick and filling.

When they got home, Aunt Wang was playing with Xiao Nan in the yard.

Zhang Liuyi said he was going to make chive boxes for lunch, and his aunt laughed when she heard that.

"Great! There are plenty of chives in the yard, I'll go cut some!" he said, and went to get a sickle.

Zhang Yiyan wasn't idle either; he rolled up his sleeves and started kneading the dough.

She scooped up several large spoonfuls of jade flour and mixed in some wheat flour.

Slowly pour in warm water, stir with chopsticks until it forms flocculent pieces, then knead by hand.

She had plenty of strength in her hands, and the dough was quickly kneaded until it was smooth and soft. She covered it with a damp cloth and set it aside to rest.

The auntie over here has already cut a large bunch of tender chives and brought them back. She is washing them carefully in a basin of water and draining them.

Zhang Liuyi took out another piece of tofu she had bought and cut it into small cubes.

She had a few eggs left at home, so she cracked them into a bowl and quickly scrambled them with chopsticks.

Once the oil is hot, pour in the egg mixture. With a sizzle, the egg mixture quickly expands and solidifies. Stir it up and set it aside.

She chopped the drained chives into small, fine pieces.

She poured the prepared ingredients into a large bowl, sprinkled in enough salt, added a few drops of sesame oil for aroma, and mixed it well with chopsticks.

The filling looked incredibly tempting: green chives, white tofu, yellow eggs, and an irresistible aroma.

Then, seeing that the dough had grown quite a bit, I pinched off a piece, kneaded it into a long strip on the work surface, and then cut it into evenly sized pieces.

Use your fingers to deftly pinch the rolled-out dough to create pleats, then wrap the filling tightly inside, and gently flatten it to make a crescent-shaped chive box.

I drizzled oil around the edge of the pan and then carefully placed the wrapped chive boxes into it, one by one, sizzling as they went.

Once the bottom is lightly browned and set, carefully flip it over with a spatula.

The other side was also fried until golden brown, and the pan was steaming hot.

Little Nan'er, who was catching bugs with Li Xiulan in the yard, ignored the bugs and ran in, sniffing the air: "Auntie, it smells so good!"

Zhang Liuli smiled and said, "Little glutton, it's hot now. We'll eat it when it cools down."

Little Nan nodded obediently. Seeing how well-behaved Little Nan was, I couldn't help but pat his head. Then, my hands kept moving quickly, and soon a pot of golden chive dumplings was ready.

Pour the contents into a bamboo tray to dry, then fry the next batch.

When the sun is high in the sky, the work in the fields comes to an end.

The men, carrying sickles and bundles of rapeseed and harvested rice, walked towards the shady side of the stream to rest for the afternoon.

Seeing that everyone had stopped to rest, I quickened my pace considerably.

The chive boxes were wrapped in a cloth and carried in a basket.

Little Nan followed behind with her short legs, her eyes fixed on the fragrant basket, following closely behind.

When you get to the stream, find a flat rock.

Zhang Liuyi untied the cloth covering the steamer, revealing golden chive boxes steaming hot, their aroma filling the air.

"Come, come, it's freshly made, eat it while it's hot!" the auntie called out.

The men were already hungry, so they quickly rinsed their hands in the stream and then gathered around.

Each person picked up a chive pancake and ate it quickly, one bite after another, making a smacking sound as they ate. Inside was piping hot and fragrant filling.

Zhang Dahe laughed as he ate, "With this skill, you really should open a shop! You could even sell this box!"

The fact that everyone is enjoying their meal is the best compliment to the cook. Xiaoshi smiled, picked up a piece, blew on it, and took a small bite.

As everyone was enjoying their meal, a man walked along the path by the stream, carrying a hoe on his shoulder and a basket in his hand.

As I got closer, I realized it was Erhu from the east end of the village.

"Hey! Are you two Uncle Zhangs harvesting crops too?"

Brother Erhu had a loud voice and greeted everyone with a smile.

He spotted Zhang Xiaoyi in the crowd at a glance: "Hey, Xiaoyi's back to help too?"

“Brother Erhu!” Zhang Yili replied with a smile.

Erhu walked over, put down the hoe on his shoulder, and handed the basket in his hand forward.

"Perfect timing! The old apricot tree outside my yard wall has yielded an incredible amount of fruit this year! They're so ripe, it would be a waste if we couldn't eat them all. Here, have some to try! They're incredibly sweet!"

In the basket, the bright yellow apricots were crowded together, each one plump and full.

"Oh, Erhu, you're too kind!" Uncle Zhang Dahe quickly thanked him.

"Thank you, Brother Erhu!" Zhang Yijin quickly took the basket.

Brother Erhu waved his hand: "We're neighbors, no need to be so polite! You guys are busy, I'll head back first!" After saying that, he picked up his hoe and left.

Everyone was delighted to see the basket of ripe apricots. Xiong Zixiang couldn't wait to grab a few, run to the stream, splash some cool water to wash the apricots clean, and then share them with everyone.

"Try it, apricots are guaranteed to be sweet at this time of year!"

Zhang Yili washed one as well and took a bite.

The flesh is soft and juicy, with a perfect balance of sweetness and a touch of just the right amount of tartness—it's truly delicious.

Everyone ate sweet apricots by the stream, along with fragrant chive dumplings, making for a particularly comfortable and pleasant lunch.

Little Nan'er also got half a piece, and her little mouth turned yellow from eating it, and she kept smacking her lips.

Apricots are delicious, but everyone knows you can't eat too many of them, as they can cause internal heat.

Looking at the basket still full of ripe apricots, Li Xiulan worried that they would spoil and it would be a waste, so she said, "These apricots are too ripe to keep. How about... I take them back and make some apricot jam? Once it's made, it can be stored, and with some water, it'll be sweet and sour, and it'll also cool you down!"

"This is great!" Zhang Yi's eyes lit up. "Sister-in-law, do you know how to make this?"

“Yes,” Li Xiulan nodded, “My family often makes it; it’s not difficult. It just takes a bit of firewood and sugar.”

"We still have some sugar at home, you can use it," Aunt Wang said. "We also have plenty of firewood, so it's good to boil some, so that Nan'er can drink more water and not waste Erhu's good intentions."

So, after the midday break, the men went back to work in the fields.

Zhang Yili helped his cousin-in-law, Li Xiulan, carry the basket of apricots home to prepare apricot jam.