Chapter 6: Fishing

Under the shocked gaze of his second uncle, Lin Xiangnan walked away leisurely with the sickle in his hand.

There was no one at home at this time. My second grandmother was washing clothes by the river, and the children in the family were picking wheat ears in the fields.

Lin Xiangnan went to the kitchen to boil hot water for a bath. After cleaning up, she lay back on the bed, covered herself with the quilt, and took a nap.

When she woke up and came out of the room yawning, she saw that her second grandmother had already hung up the clothes and was boiling water in the kitchen. She would take the clothes to the field after they were cool.

"Why are you back? Have you finished the work in the fields?" Second grandma didn't notice that Lin Xiangnan had been sleeping at home.

"I haven't finished yet. I'm tired, so I came back to rest." Lin Xiangnan took the kettle and said, "Since you're too lazy to run, I'll go to the field and bring you water."

"Your mother told me..."

Second Grandma was halfway through her words when Lin Xiangnan interrupted her and said, "My mother is just talking nonsense. I will be back tomorrow."

It is impossible for her to go to the countryside. If she goes back, she will find a job and must stay in the city.

She had the memory of the previous 18 years, so she didn't have much trouble getting along with Hu Meili and her family. Moreover, as people grow up, their personalities change, so as long as they don't expose their secrets, she will definitely not reveal them.

If Hu Meili and the others insisted on doubting her, then let them do so. Anyway, she had no intention of going to the countryside to suffer.

As soon as she said this, Second Grandma understood immediately.

Originally ten days were reserved to teach Lin Xiangnan a lesson, but in less than half a day, he had already learned his lesson.

But she had already received the food Hu Meili sent, so she had to keep Lin Xiangnan for a few more days. "Didn't your mother ask for ten days off for you? Just play at home. Your uncle will go to the commune for a meeting in a few days, and I'll ask him to take you there. I'm worried if you go back alone."

Lin Xiangnan spread his hands to show his second grandmother, "I don't want to harvest wheat anymore. My hands are all blistered."

"Look at what you said. You are a guest at home, so I don't feel comfortable asking you to do any work. Your second uncle is just teasing you." Second grandmother's attitude was natural, as if she was not the one who arranged Lin Xiangnan to do the work.

This is also Lin Xiangnan's tact. Seeing the difficulties ahead, he retreated directly. If she didn't admit defeat, who knows how the second grandmother would arrange her.

Seeing Lin Xiangnan looking depressed, Second Grandma couldn't help but laugh.

"You are tired today, I will deliver the water myself, you just take a good rest at home. A city student like you can't stand the hardship of the busy farm. We country folks are eager to go to the city, but you are so stupid that you want to go to the countryside on your own initiative."

"I know you don't want your mom to be caught in the middle, but does your mom seem like someone who would suffer any loss? Just listen to your mom and don't act on your own."

Lin Xiangnan just said that she wanted to go to the countryside without explaining anything. Her family had already thought of an excuse for her, making her an honest child who cared about her mother.

She had already had a full nap and there was nothing to do at home, so she followed her second grandmother to the fields and returned the sickle she had taken with her.

Second grandmother thought that harvesting wheat was not impressive enough, and said as she walked: "Do you see that field? When transplanting rice, there are leeches in the field, which will get into your body and suck your blood. Do you see that mountain? When harvesting cotton in autumn, you have to harvest it in the middle of the day when the sun is the hottest, and you have to bend your waist when picking cotton. And this canal has to be cleaned every year..."

Weeding, fertilizing, cleaning canals, planting corn, beans, and sweet potatoes... No one can escape such collective activities.

Lin Xiangnan felt overwhelmed just by listening to it. There was no peace at all throughout the year.

No wonder some of her classmates wanted to go to the north to work in the countryside. Although it was far from home, it was more leisurely and they could spend the winter there.

There must be someone in this world who can thrive in the countryside, but not her, Lin Xiangnan. She cannot bear the hardship.

When the boiled water was delivered to the field, my second uncle had already harvested most of the wheat. He drank gulps of water from a coarse porcelain bowl, and my second grandmother went to the field to help him tie up the wheat.

"You sit there and take a rest. I can handle it." Second Uncle quickly put down the bowl and took over the work from Second Grandma.

From the beginning to the end, the second uncle never expected Lin Xiangnan to be of any help. His hands were delicate and tender, and it was obvious that he didn't look like someone who could work.

While he was working, he had to pay attention to Lin Xiangnan, fearing that she would not use the sickle properly and cut herself.

"Xiao Nan, stop messing around here and go play with your little cousin. Don't sneak back to the city by yourself. Wait a few days and eat some bread made from new wheat before you leave."

"I know." Anyway, it's fine as long as she doesn't have to work. She's not familiar with the way back to the city, so it's good to have someone to take her there.

It was the busy farming season and the adults were busy working and had no time to entertain guests, so Lin Xiangnan could only play with the children.

My little cousin was only seven years old and had not yet gone to primary school, but she followed the older kids in the team to pick up wheat ears.

Lin Xiangnan was wandering around the fields with his little cousin, and asked curiously, "Why didn't the older ones go to school? Or is the elementary school on the team closed for the holidays?"

"They studied for two years and then stopped. There was no point in studying anyway."

Lin Xiangnan retorted, "You can't say that. Reading is very useful."

The little cousin looked at Lin Xiangnan curiously, "Grandma said you were a high school student? Can you find a job in the city after graduating from high school?"

This question was really heartbreaking. But she still answered stubbornly: "Yes, of course. I will find a job in a few days."

Lin Xiangnan took out a handful of candies from his pocket, stuffed them into his little cousin's pocket, and tempted her, "Take me to play something else. I don't want to pick wheat ears."

When the little cousin saw the candy, her eyes lit up, "Then I'll take you fishing?"

"Slacking off? I like this."