The third update is at noon today!

When they finally arrived at the village, Zhang Hongmei felt like she couldn't walk anymore after getting out of the car.

"Brother Jingze, go to my house first and unload my things, otherwise Grandma will praise me again when she sees them."

"Okay, let's go to your place first. Since you know you'll get scolded when you get back, why did you buy so much stuff? What use are cigarettes and alcohol to you?"

"How should I put it? It's a woman's nature to love shopping and spending money. I just couldn't resist and bought everything I could."

"You love shopping? Then you should go to Haishi. I bet you won't want to come back once you go."

"Jingze, you've been there?"

“I’ve been there before, and I’ll probably go again this year. Whatever you want, I’ll bring it back for you.”

"I want to go to Haishi, but the journey is too uncomfortable. I'd better stay home. I can't think of anything I need, so don't bring me anything."

"Tell me when you remember. And let me tell you, the crops in our village are pretty good. Along the way, our village is the only place where we can grow grain."

"That's for sure, this year is going to be tough again. I heard on the radio that other places are also experiencing drought. When will this end?"

Their good mood vanished instantly, leaving them feeling completely down.

We're finally home. Li Cuihua is the one who's feeding the chickens. Looking at the six eggs on the storeroom cabinet, you can tell these chickens haven't been slacking off.

I picked all the eggplants and green beans from the yard and will dry them tomorrow.

The cucumbers are all old; if they're no good, I'll just pickle them.

After finishing everything, it was time for dinner. We went to Liu Maocai's house to pay him the money first, and then took Shitou and Sanya to the canteen.

The usual dinner has changed. Tonight it's sweet potato noodle soup, with half of it made up of wild vegetables. Zhang Hongmei observed that this is a way to save food, at least enough to fill your stomach.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival just two days away, Zhang Hongmei went to the old lady's house after finishing her meal. "Great-Grandma, my third uncle asked me to come back and tell you that he will be back to celebrate the festival with you on the night of the fifteenth."

“If you come over that night, I’ll have your aunt make dumplings for you, chive and egg dumplings.”

"I'm not coming. What would it look like if I came to celebrate with your family? I'll celebrate at home by myself."

How lonely is it to be alone?

"It's okay, I'm used to it. Before my parents sacrificed their lives, I was all alone."

"Hey! Just treat me like one of my family members, okay?"

"No, I'm fine on my own. I'm content as long as I'm fed."

"You have such a broad mind."

"I'm going home. I'm going to herd sheep tomorrow. I hope I'm lucky enough to get some meat to eat."

"Can you just shut up already? You're making me worry all the time."

Zhang Hongmei came out of the house and ran into Liu Jingze who was entering the courtyard.

"Hongmei, stay a little longer."

"No, I have to go up the mountain to herd sheep tomorrow. I'm such a terrible shepherd."

"Together, it's been a long time since I've been up the mountain."

"Okay! I'll wait for you by the livestock shed." I originally wanted to say I'd wait for you inside the livestock shed, but then I realized that wouldn't be right and changed my words.

"Okay, what time?"

"It's seven o'clock, and we won't be able to have breakfast."

"Okay, I'll bring you something delicious."

The old lady listened to the conversation between the two people inside the house and nodded in satisfaction.

When Liu Jingze came in, he saw his great-grandmother nodding with a smile, and he was completely puzzled. "Great-grandmother, is there something good to tell you?"

"Yes, I'm happy every day now, so I'd better go and get some rest."

"I'll sleep with you."

"No need. I'm getting old and my sleep is light. Go back to your own room."

Has your younger brother and sister-in-law written to you while they were staying with your second uncle?

"No, I might not get a reply even if I write three letters."

"Your mother has suffered. It's a good result, go to sleep."

The next day, Zhang Hongmei brought wild vegetable dumplings, without any meat, just a handful of chives.

As soon as he arrived at the livestock shed, he saw Liu Jingze waiting for him.

Even though he was carrying a basket, he didn't look like a farmer at all. That's a matter of his demeanor.

"Brother Jingze, wait for me outside. I'll go and let the sheep and cows out right away."

The two drove the cattle and sheep up the mountain to the open space where they usually grazed their sheep.

“I haven’t been up the mountain for four or five years.”

"The mountain is a good place; our village depends on it for food."

Zhang Hongmei told Liu Jingze about harvesting sweet potatoes and vegetables on the mountain last year, and also about how the water from the mountain was brought in so that they could plant crops this year.

"I didn't mean for it to work out so well, I never expected it would actually grow crops."

"Can you take me to see them? What about the cattle and sheep?"

"I can't help it, I'm worried about the cattle and sheep. Let's drive there."

It took the two another hour to reach the edge of the sweet potato field.

The sweet potato vines on the mountain were noticeably more lush than those in the field. Zhang Hongmei bent down and picked some tender ones, saying, "We can blanch them tonight and mix them with some minced garlic."

Liu Jingze, however, inspected the traps. Some were damaged, but there were no animals inside, and the sweet potato vines showed no signs of being eaten.

"The Red Plum Trap has been destroyed."

"They're probably from our village, don't worry."

Zhang Hongmei didn't care about these things, but she disliked the character of some people. However, people come in all shapes and sizes, and there are all kinds of people. As long as they don't really hurt her, it's fine.

The old man once said that suffering a loss is a blessing. So she decided to do a good deed every day. Actually, she had already discovered this. Although she set the trap herself, Er Lengzi and his friends also deserved credit.

Liu Jingze frowned, displeased but saying nothing more. This kind of behavior cannot be tolerated.

"Hongmei, are you hungry? I brought some peach shortbread."

"I don't like these. I brought some vegetable buns, do you want some?"

"Hey, why do you have so much flour?" Liu Jingze asked casually. But Zhang Hongmei took it to heart. Had she become too complacent and arrogant, living such a comfortable life?

“I’m the only one eating at home. Then it was the cafeteria again. Uncle Zhang gave me two more bags before he left, and I’ve been eating like that until now. Don’t worry, there’s still plenty at home.”

Liu Jingze understood that the steamed vegetable buns were made for his sake, which warmed his heart.

Zhang Hongmei, however, felt uneasy. She was constantly blaming herself, and feelings of frustration overwhelmed her.

After the two finished their vegetable buns, Liu Jingze sensed Zhang Hongmei's irritability. "Hongmei, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I just suddenly felt a little down, it's nothing. I need to go mow the lawn and give them extra food tonight."

“Let’s go together, I’ll carry a basket too.”

The two first pulled up all the large wild vegetables in the sweet potato field, and then they cut grass next to the field. Before long, they had cut all the baskets, and Zhang Hongmei took out a snakeskin bag and filled it up as well.

My mood improved a bit. I can't be so willful and self-righteous anymore.

"Hongmei, do you cut grass every time you herd sheep?"

"Yes, it's much easier for me than for the others. They're all squatting in the field weeding every day, it's hot and tiring. Everyone takes good care of me, at least I don't get tanned."