Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Beginning of Spring
As spring arrives, the weather gets warmer day by day.
The permafrost is thawing, and the busy farming season has arrived again.
At this time of year, the Zhang family would work together to cultivate their six mu of land, carrying loads on their shoulders and shouting slogans as they sweated profusely as they turned the soil and prepared the ridges.
Turning over a row of soil often leaves you with a sore back and blisters on your hands.
This year is different; Dazhuang has joined the family.
Zhang Dashan then harnessed the plow and led Dazhuang to the edge of the field.
Zhang Dahe followed behind, carrying a hoe, a rare relaxed smile on his face.
Zhang Dashan patted Dazhuang on the back and shouted, "Giddy up!"
Dazhuang then took steady steps, pulling the heavy wooden plow and plunging it deep into the earth.
The soil was turned up, and the air was filled with its unique fragrance.
Zhang Dashan only needed to hold the plow handle steadily, control the direction, and step on the newly turned soil, following Dazhuang forward.
Zhang Dahe stood to the side, using a hoe to clear the edges of the furrows and pulling out the roots of weeds from the soil.
The two brothers worked together seamlessly, occasionally exchanging a few jokes.
"Brother, with Dazhuang around, this job is much easier!" Zhang Dashan wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, his voice booming.
"That's right!" Zhang Dahe exclaimed, looking at the straight furrows he had turned over. "In previous years, it would have taken the two of us almost ten days to finish, and we were exhausted. But now, it's much better. I think we can finish all six acres of land in three days!"
"Of course!" Zhang Dashan said confidently. "After we finish here, we'll go help out at my in-laws' place! They don't have many acres of land, and with Dazhuang there, it'll only take a day!"
Sure enough, the two brothers and Dazhuang worked together for less than three days to plow and level the six acres of land, with clear furrows, ready for sowing.
The two brothers kept their word and on the fourth day they took Dazhuang to the Xiong family's land.
Old Man Xiong and Mrs. Song were naturally extremely grateful. With their combined efforts, they tidied up the Xiong family's land in just one day.
Old Man Xiong was overjoyed, praising Dazhuang repeatedly. He then pulled the Zhang brothers, Dashan and Dahe, to stay for a drink before letting them leave.
Once the land is prepared, sowing becomes relatively easier.
The Zhang brothers planted some easy-to-care-for vegetable seeds, which was considered their first major task of the spring.
The labor saved became an asset for Zhang to manage his stall.
The stall reopened, and the three women had already moved their belongings onto the cart early in the morning.
Da Zhuang had worked hard in the fields for several days and lost weight, so he needed to rest. As a result, Xiong Zixiang was a little late for his shift and helped keep an eye on pushing the cart to the dock.
Xiong Zijuan was quick and efficient, wiping the table, setting out the stools, and clearing away the dishes and chopsticks with swift and clean movements.
However, she was a bit shy and timid, and not used to greeting customers proactively. Most of the time, she would keep her head down and work quietly.
Zhang Yi didn't force her, only letting her take on tasks that didn't require much talking, such as wiping tables and serving porridge and soup.
Xiong Zijuan was quite happy to be free and worked with extra care.
The stall had barely been set up when regular customers came following the scent.
"Oh my, Madam Zhang, Madam Li, you two are finally open for business! I've been craving food all winter long!" A regular customer, a boatman carrying a bundle, exclaimed as soon as he sat down.
“Exactly! I’m always craving your hot soup and porridge!” another chimed in.
While deftly serving porridge to the guests, Zhang Liuyi chuckled and joked, "Brothers, you're too kind! With all the meat and oil during the New Year, how could you possibly crave my simple porridge and side dishes?"
"Hey, Madam Zhang, you're wrong about that!"
A regular customer took the porridge that Xiong Zijuan served and took a deep breath of its aroma: "Eating too much meat and fish can get greasy! It's your porridge and tripe soup that are so fragrant and perfectly seasoned. Paired with these crisp pickled vegetables, it's so comforting. This is the taste I should have every day!"
These words drew smiles and nods of agreement from the regular customers at the surrounding tables.
Hearing everyone's praise, Xiong Zijuan and Li Xiulan smiled slightly and became even more diligent.
When people occasionally asked about Xiong Zijuan, Zhang Yili would chime in, saying she was her aunt and had come to help. Once everyone heard that she was her aunt, they stopped saying anything.
While his stall was thriving, Xiong Zixiang was already busy with something new.
He resumed his duties, and just a few days after returning home, the county magistrate assigned him a task: to investigate a case of land encroachment. He was so busy that he barely had time to breathe, and he had to run around everywhere even before the spring plowing holiday.
This case involves a border dispute between several villages, requiring on-site visits, inspections, and interviews with witnesses, sometimes even involving disguises.
The spring chill lingers, especially in the mornings and evenings, when the cold air remains biting.
Wearing the thick uniform of a bailiff, Xiong Zixiang would set out early every morning, trudging along country roads through the morning dew or the thin frost that had not yet melted.
In some places, the roads are muddy, and when you step in, the mud and water can reach above your ankles. Some of the field ridges are narrow and slippery, and you can easily slip and fall if you are not careful.
After a day of running around, not only are they covered in dust, but their thick-soled cotton shoes are often covered in mud on the outside and soaked with sweat and moisture on the inside.
That evening, Xiong Zixiang dragged his tired body home, later than usual.
Zhang Yili had already prepared hot water and a simple meal and was waiting for them.
As soon as he entered, Zhang noticed that his trousers were splattered with mud, and his shoes were wet with dried mud stuck to the uppers.
"Oh dear, your shoes are soaked." Zhang Liuyi frowned with concern and quickly took the wet shoes from him. "Take them off quickly, don't keep them warm! It's still cold outside, what if your feet get frostbite!"
She turned around and placed the pair of wet, cold shoes by the stove, letting them dry in the residual heat of the fire. Then she quickly fetched a basin of steaming hot water for washing her feet and brought it to Xiong Zixiang. "Quickly, soak your feet and get rid of the cold."
Xiong Zixiang sat on the stool and immersed his slightly numb feet in the warm water. A warm current instantly flowed from the soles of his feet throughout his body, making him feel so comfortable that he let out a long sigh of relief.
He watched his wife bustling around for him, and his heart warmed, and much of the day's fatigue dissipated.
Zhang Liuyi squatted down next to him, tested the water temperature with his hand, added some hot water, and muttered to himself.
"Remember to wear an extra pair of socks tomorrow. My dad always says that illness starts from cold, and cold enters through the feet. Feet are most afraid of getting cold. You don't feel it when you're young, but when you get old, rheumatism and bone pain will come knocking, and you'll suffer! You have to be careful now."
Xiong Zixiang listened silently to his wife's nagging.
He reached out and gently grasped Zhang Xiaoli's hand, which was swollen from overwork, and said softly, "Okay, I remember. Wear two pairs tomorrow." He paused, looking at his wife's concerned eyes, and added, "Don't just think about me. Take care of yourself too. It's cool in the early spring mornings and evenings. You get up early to set up your stall, so wear more layers."
"I'm fine, I'm warming myself by the fire." Zhang Yili smiled and tried to pull her hand back to continue heating water for him.
Xiong Zixiang didn't let go. Instead, he gently pulled her closer to him, while his other hand reached into the warm water and gently lifted Zhang Xiaoyi's ankle to take off her shoes and socks: "You can soak in it too."
Without saying a word, he pushed her feet into the foot bath as well.
"Hey! I can do it myself..." Zhang Yili wanted to back down.
"Don't move." Xiong Zixiang's voice softened, his words carrying an undeniable force. He wrapped his large hands around her feet, his fingers gently tracing the calluses on the soles of her feet caused by walking. He then splashed warm water carefully onto the insteps and calves of her feet.
“You stand all day, your feet must be tired. Let’s soak them together to relax.” Xiong Zixiang pulled Xiaozhi into his arms and then put Xiaozhi’s other foot into the water as well.
Warm water enveloped her feet, and her husband's hands massaged them with just the right amount of pressure.
Zhang Liuyi stopped struggling and let him wash her feet with utmost care.
Neither of them spoke again; the only sounds were the occasional crackling of the firewood in the stove and the splashing of water while washing their feet.
The day's hustle and bustle, the trivialities of life, slowly melt away in this basin of hot water.
The shoes gradually dried by the stove fire, releasing a dry and warm scent.
After washing my feet, my whole body felt warm and cozy.
After the couple finished tidying up, they blew out the oil lamp and lay down in their warm quilt.
The spring chill lingered outside the window, but the room was warm and cozy.
Xiong Zixiang quickly began to breathe evenly.
Zhang listened intently to her husband's breathing and felt the lingering warmth under her feet, feeling exceptionally at ease.
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