Yan Bingfa looked outside and said, "We'll have to chop wood after a few more sunny days. Time is of the essence now."
Chunxiao knew that he couldn't persuade them, so he went back to the house and got an axe.
"Didn't you say last time that this axe was borrowed? It seems you bought it yourself."
"Isn't it because I'm afraid you'll ask?" Chunxiao touched his nose and replied hesitantly.
"Dad, that's perfect. An axe is sharper than a machete."
Before leaving, Yan Bingfa also assigned Zhou a task, asking her to go to the village to collect thatch. It didn't matter if she collected more, as long as it was enough.
"Look at your father, he's always in a hurry to do anything." Zhou watched the backs of the people leaving. "I'm leaving now. I'll have to edit it when I get it back. If I can't use it when I need it, your father will start nagging me again."
After a while, the sun really came out. Today's temperature was dry and cold, no less than yesterday's. However, the people working were furious and did not notice the harm brought to them by the harsh environment.
Although the sky was clear, the ground was still wet. Every step she took was covered in mud. If she had extra money, she would also pave a yard of bluestone so that nothing would get dirty. While making a wish in her heart, she stepped on the mud and carried the bucket to the river to fetch water. However, the river bank was slippery and she almost fell in. Fortunately, someone helped her to stand firmly.
"You are Uncle Bingfa's daughter, right?"
Chunxiao was about to thank the person who came over, but she saw that the other person was a man in his 30s. In order to avoid suspicion, she just said thank you and said nothing more.
"I'm Yan Sanjiang. Last year, your family caught piglets at my sister-in-law's house."
Chunxiao smiled politely, picked up a bucket of water from the river and left.
"I've played with your brother and his friends before. If you don't believe me, go back and ask your brother." The man's laughter came from behind, "You're still so timid."
After returning home and pouring water, Chunxiao was relieved to find that the man was gone when she returned to the river. She could chat and laugh freely with people outside, but she had to be vigilant with people in the village, otherwise she would get gossiped about.
After a few trips to fill the water tank, she went to the vegetable garden to check. The seeds she had just planted had been soaking in water for so many days, so they wouldn't germinate. Should she dig them up and plant them again? After thinking for a while, she decided to wait a few more days.
She didn't have high hopes for the garden. Her mother only grew radishes and cabbages, so it would be nice if she could plant more vegetables. She planned to go to the market someday and buy some seeds for winter vegetables, like lettuce, spinach, cilantro, and celery, which should all be planted in winter.
She was still in the vegetable garden when Zhou came back, carrying a basket of straw. "What are you doing in there? You'll get your feet in the mud soon."
Chunxiao hurried out of the garden and asked, "Mom, are you done harvesting?"
"I've finished harvesting and have walked all over the village, but I still have to walk two more times over there."
"Didn't you have someone deliver it to your home last time? Why didn't you ask someone to help deliver it this time?"
"You have a charcoal stove in your yard, and I'm afraid people might come and ask questions. Don't worry, I'll just carry it twice." Zhou dumped the thatch near the back door of the main hall. "Don't even think about your vegetables. It's cold and it's rained for so many days. It will take ten days for them to sprout. If they don't sprout in ten days, you'll have to plant them again in the spring."
Zhou was about to leave again with the basket on her back.
"I'll go with you."
"Don't go. An elderly villager went there yesterday, and many people went out to visit their friends. You don't talk much in front of outsiders, so just stay home."
"Who is it?"
"Your Uncle Muto," seeing Chunxiao was stunned, "is Xianglan's father. I don't remember him."
"No, Uncle Mu was not very old as I remember him. He should be in his 50s. How could he be gone?"
"I'm sick. Villagers try to put off sickness as long as possible. If they can't, they'll just die. I won't say more. I still have to make two more trips."
After Zhou left, Chunxiao fell into deep thought. One must take good care of one's health, especially in ancient times. If one was sick and had money, they could seek medical treatment. Without money, one could only wait for death like the villagers. In future work, one must make sure to have enough money and take care of one's health. It's best to avoid doing things like delivering charcoal on rainy days.
By the time the sun was high overhead, Zhou had already packed up and started cooking in the kitchen. For lunch, the main course was a large pot of Chinese cabbage dumpling soup, and the bowls were already brought in. The children had come with Zhou on the last visit and were now playing "Eagle Catches Chicken" in the main room.
"It's a nice sunny day." The wind in the air was much drier.
"Go to the road outside the yard and see why your father and the others haven't arrived yet."
As Chunxiao went out, she saw a group of people coming towards her. She seemed to see Uncle Mu Sheng and her son as well. She quickly ran back to the yard and told her mother about this. People coming at this time must be eating, so she had to make more food.
Soon the yard became lively. The men went to the other end of the open space to drag bamboo, while Chunxiao pulled the two sisters-in-law to the stove to warm themselves by the fire.
"Hurry up and warm it up. You've been working all morning and you're cold. Look at you, your clothes are all wet. I told Dad not to go up the mountain because it's wet, but Dad wouldn't listen."
"I've already prepared new coats for your sisters-in-law. Chunxiao, take them to your room to change their clothes. I'll wash and hang them up for them later."
"Goodbye, mother. I still have to work later. My new clothes will get dirty if I put them on."
"Yeah, we just need to sit by the fire and dry them off, it's okay." She planned to wear the new clothes when visiting friends during the New Year, so that she would look decent.
"Put it on. These clothes are not easy to dry. When you do some work later, you can change them after the clothes are dry. It's a good opportunity to try out if the clothes your mother made fit you well." Chunxiao took them into the house, gave them the ready-made clothes in the closet, closed the door and went out.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
