After July arrived, Bonnie and the other three girls were on tenterhooks.
The wheat is nearing maturity, and the ears are growing very well, already turning yellow. This year has been relatively blessed with favorable weather; when it was due, there was plenty of rain, resulting in thick and sturdy wheat stalks that look quite appealing.
Now, the weather reflects the mood of these women. If the weather is sunny and cloudless, their faces are beaming with smiles; if the sky is overcast, their moods are clouded as well.
Bonnie thought to herself, "I hope this typhoon comes quickly. After it's over, we'll know whether we're dead or alive. If it keeps going on like this, my sisters-in-law won't be able to eat." She had blisters in her mouth, and even drinking water hurt.
Bonnie had just finished grumbling to herself during the day when the typhoon hit that night. It wasn't too strong at first, but around midnight, Bonnie heard the wind rattling against the windowpane.
Finally, the other shoe has dropped!
Bonnie felt relieved and soon fell asleep, feeling at ease.
The next day, the typhoon had passed. Bonnie opened the door and found the yard alright; it wasn't as bad as she had imagined. The vegetables in the garden hadn't been uprooted and were still standing there safely. However, the ripe tomatoes and cucumbers had all been blown off their stems and onto the ground.
Judging from the situation, this typhoon is not very strong; it's a relatively mild one.
"Bonnie, are you up?"
"Sister Zhang, get up."
Hearing Bao Ni's answer, Aunt Zhang from next door peered over the wall, peeking out with her head.
"Bonnie, has this typhoon affected your wheat? It's almost ready for harvest. If it's ruined, it'll be such a waste."
Because of a past experience of falling into the water, Sister Zhang is traumatized and afraid to ride in small boats. Every time she travels to the island by large boat, her husband has to carry her onto the boat; she's genuinely terrified. This time, she wanted to go to the farm, but the small boat was simply too much for her.
"We don't know yet. Judging from the situation, we shouldn't have a complete crop failure. If no more typhoons come in the next few days, we should be able to have some left."
"May the Goddess Mazu protect you, and may your hard work not be in vain."
"Thank you for your kind words, sister-in-law. I'll treat you to steamed buns to celebrate."
As they were talking, Bao Ni heard San Qi calling from inside the house, so she quickly told Zhang Saozi and went inside.
"Mom, my little brother needs to pee."
Liu Jiu had already picked up San Qi and was about to walk outside.
"Come on, Mom will carry Sanqi to the toilet."
After holding it in all night, Sanqi released a huge amount of urine, enough to irrigate half an acre of land.
"Liu Jiu, are you still sleeping?"
"I'm not going to sleep anymore. I'm hungry now that I'm awake."
Bonnie put Sanqi down and let him and his sister play inside. She went to the kitchen to cook, as Gu Ye had been busy these past two days and hadn't come back.
Breakfast was simple: millet porridge, boiled eggs, and some pancakes.
That day, several of Bao Ni's sisters-in-law came to her house to ask when they could go to the island to visit; they were anxious. Although they said they would accept it even if there was no harvest, how could they not feel heartbroken seeing such full ears of wheat?
Bonnie patiently explained that if the weather was good tomorrow, they would go to the island.
That night, before going to bed, Bonnie went to the yard to check the sky. Fortunately, the sky was clear and the stars were twinkling.
In the morning, Bao Ni sent the child to her parents' house, and Liu Jiu also went, fearing that something might happen if the weather changed.
The ten women were unusually silent today, not in the mood for idle chatter. They were preoccupied with what they might find on the island, with ears of wheat blown to the ground. Various horrific images kept flooding their minds, uncontrollably.
As soon as the boat docked, the women eagerly disembarked and ran to the fields. Bao Ni understood; these lands and these crops represented their hopes, the result of so much hard work and effort. After securing the boat, Bao Ni also hurried to the fields.
"Bonnie, Bonnie, haha... Bonnie, our wheat is alright, alright, it's perfectly fine."
"Yes, the wheat ears are all there, growing perfectly well."
"Ha ha……"
Bonnie couldn't tell which sister-in-law was shouting; the voice was so loud that it was impossible to tell whose voice it was.
Bonnie quickened her pace and jogged into the wheat field.
"May Goddess Mazu bless you," Bao Ni murmured to herself, watching the slightly yellow ears of wheat swaying in the wind.
The women were overjoyed and wept uncontrollably. Truly, this joy surpassed even their own wedding day. This was something they had earned through their own hard work; it was something they had earned themselves.
Bonnie went to several other fields. Except for one field where some of the corn had been flattened, the rest were fine and standing upright.
"Bonnie, how about the other land?"
"It's good. Only a small patch of corn has been lodged, but it won't affect the yield."
"I really want to take it back now, just in case, so I don't have to live in fear."
"that is."
...
The women chattered excitedly, eager to harvest the wheat today. But no, it wasn't ripe yet.
Bonnie, holding onto her reluctant sister-in-law, prepared to row back.
"Let's go. If it doesn't rain, we can harvest the wheat in another five or six days."
If they wanted to bring the wheat home, they would have to wait a few more days. The women had decided in their hearts that they would pray to the Goddess Mazu for protection from wind and rain during these few days.
I don't know if it was because my sisters-in-law had been praying in their hearts, but it really didn't rain for the next few days, and it was sunny all the time.
When Gu Ye returned, Bao Ni and the others had already decided to harvest the wheat the next day. They had checked the island today and it was ready to harvest. Bao Ni and the others had informed the logistics department, and the logistics leaders decided to have the soldiers help with the harvest.
"I'm back. Has the wheat been harvested?"
Gu Ye knew that Bao Ni cared about the crops on the island and wanted to find a way for his wife, a military officer, to make a living.
"We'll harvest tomorrow. The logistics manager said they'll send people to help, and we can finish harvesting in one day. We need to take advantage of the good weather and thresh the grain promptly. We need to get it back as soon as possible, otherwise, the women will be anxiously waiting."
"I have three days off, I can help out and also check on how my daughter Bonnie's crops are growing?"
Bonnie reached out and hugged Gu Ye's waist, feeling a little nostalgic for him.
"Fight, fight..."
The two were gazing tenderly at each other when Sanqi came out of the house carrying a wooden sword, shouting, "Fight! Fight!"
Sanqi, who will be one year old soon, can take a few steps on her own, thanks to her older sister's teaching. She can't speak other words, but she can type very clearly.
Gu Ye picked up Sanqi and tossed her into the air. Sanqi cried out, not out of joy or fear, but because she was a little surprised to be suddenly lifted off the ground.
After a while, Sanqi started enjoying the game. "Play, play..." he urged. When Gu Ye stopped, he was unhappy. Baoni ignored the two of them and went to sharpen her sickle; she needed it tomorrow.
After Liu Jiu returned from daycare, the three of them had an even bigger blast, practically tearing the roof off.
Bonnie enjoys Gu Ye playing with the children; parent-child time gives children a happy childhood.
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