Chapter 310 The Lively Harvest
Before they knew it, the peace mission had been on its journey for over a month.
Now, we are getting further and further away from the Great Yu Dynasty, but closer and closer to the Great Sheng Dynasty.
The air temperature has also changed from the heat of summer to the coolness of early autumn.
At noon that day, the group arrived at an open river valley.
A crystal-clear stream meanders through the landscape like a jade ribbon, with flat, fertile farmland on both sides of the riverbank, and rolling hills and colorful forests in the distance.
It was harvest season, and the fields across the river were bustling with activity and joy.
Golden waves of rice rippled in the autumn wind, the heavy ears of rice bending the stalks.
Farmers, wearing straw hats and wielding sickles, skillfully harvested the crops.
The harvested rice stalks were neatly bundled and stood upright in the field, resembling tiny golden tents.
Women, children and other children followed behind, picking up any leftover ears of rice or carrying bundles of rice onto carts at the edge of the field.
The rhythmic sound of flails and cheerful laughter came from the direction of the threshing ground.
"What a bountiful harvest!" Zhao Jingxing reined in his horse, gazing at the opposite bank, a hint of gentleness appearing on his usually serious face.
Food is the most important thing for people, and seeing a bountiful harvest always brings peace of mind.
He glanced at the sky and the condition of the troops, and ordered, "Send word that we rest here for one hour. People may go to the river to wash and the horses to drink. Be careful not to trample the farmland or disturb the people."
The order was given, and the convoy stopped in the open space between the official road and the riverbank.
The fatigue from the continuous journey seemed to be somewhat relieved by the warm autumn sun and the harvest scene.
The guards led the horses downstream to drink and wash in an orderly fashion, while the palace servants also went to the riverbank in twos and threes to wash their clothes and fetch water.
Cheng Jiaojiao couldn't wait to get out of the carriage and took a deep breath of the air, which was filled with the scent of river water and the fragrance of rice.
She stood by the river, gazing at the bustling harvest scene on the opposite bank, her eyes filled with wonder and longing. "It's already autumn."
"Yes, spring sowing and autumn harvest, we put in the sweat and reap the fruits."
Jiang Ling also looked across the river and recalled the scene of spring plowing in Jishui Village. A touch of homesickness rose in her heart.
I wonder how Xiaoqiu is managing the cannery?
Has the autumn harvest started in the village yet?
Xiao Ran was born and raised on farmland, and this place feels like home to her.
Looking at the forest on the other side of the river, laden with red and yellow fruits, she said, "Sister Jiang, look over there in the mountains, it seems like there are lots of wild fruits that are ripe! Shall I go pick some and bring them back for everyone to try?"
Jiang Ling glanced at the mountains not far away. Although the forest wasn't very dense, she was worried about wild animals. "It's not safe for you to go alone."
"I'll go with Brother Xiaoran!" Zhao Shuo walked over with a smile, patting the knife at his waist. "It'll be a good opportunity to stretch my muscles and check out the surrounding terrain. I'll also bring a couple of quick-witted brothers along, and I guarantee we'll be fine."
Seeing that Zhao Shuo was going with them, Jiang Ling nodded with relief: "Okay, then be careful and don't go too far."
Xiao Ran is thirteen years old and Zhao Shuo is sixteen years old; the two get along quite well.
Xiao Ran cheered and immediately went to prepare a small bamboo basket and a cloth bag.
Zhao Shuo selected two young guards who were usually on good terms with Xiao Ran: one named Wang Hu, who was honest and strong; and the other named Li Qing, who was clever and quick-witted.
After reporting to Zhao Jingxing, the four of them excitedly waded across the shallow river and headed towards the orchard.
The farmers on the opposite bank of the river had long noticed the large group. Seeing that they were disciplined and only rested by the river without stepping into the fields, their vigilance lessened, but curious glances still drifted over from time to time.
The children, especially those playing or helping out by the fields, stared intently at the river, both afraid and curious about the soldiers' armor and swords.
An eight- or nine-year-old boy, who seemed a bit bolder, was picking up rice ears on the ridge of the field. He slowly moved closer to the riverbank and looked at Jiang Ling and Cheng Jiaojiao across the river, which was more than ten meters wide.
Cheng Jiaojiao noticed the gaze and looked up.
The little boy was startled and turned to run away, but then hesitated and stood there.
Seeing this, Jiang Ling took out two pieces of sesame candy wrapped in oil paper from her small bag, waved them at the little boy, and pointed to a shallow, rocky spot on the other side of the river.
The little boy's eyes lit up. After hesitating for a moment, he couldn't resist the temptation of the candy. He carefully stepped on the stones in the river and hopped across.
He stopped a few steps away from Jiang Ling and the others, somewhat shyly, wiping his dirty little hands on his patched clothes.
"Here, have a taste." Jiang Ling handed over the sesame candy, her tone gentle.
The little boy took the candy and whispered "thank you".
He quickly peeled off the oil paper, tentatively licked it, and the sweet aroma instantly melted on his tongue. His eyes lit up, and he immediately stuffed the whole piece of candy into his mouth, squinting his eyes happily.
"What's your name? How old are you?" Cheng Jiaojiao asked softly. She rarely had the opportunity to interact with children from the countryside like this. She found it quite interesting.
"My name is... Stone, and I'm nine years old. Where did you officials come from? There are so many soldiers." The boy answered, his mouth full of candy, his wariness melting away somewhat in the sweetness.
“We came from Ping’an County, which is very far away, and we were just passing through here,” Jiang Ling explained, pointing to the farmland on the opposite bank. “Are those your fields? The harvest seems to be quite good this year.”
Mentioning the harvest, Shi Tou perked up and nodded vigorously: "Yes! My dad said that this year the weather has been good, and we can harvest an extra bushel of grain per mu! That means we can have a few more meals at home, and maybe he can even buy a new piece of cloth for my sister and me to make new clothes for the New Year!"
His eyes shone with simple joy as he pointed to a man in the distance, sweating profusely as he harvested rice. "That's my dad!"
He then pointed to a woman carrying a bundle of rice, "That's my mother!"
As they were talking, a girl slightly smaller than the stone, with two braids, timidly stepped across the river on the stone and hid behind it, secretly observing Jiang Ling and Cheng Jiaojiao.
"This is my sister, Cao'er," Shi Tou introduced, acting very much like an older brother, handing his sister another piece of candy that he hadn't eaten yet.
Cao'er took the candy and ate it carefully, but her eyes were curiously fixed on the pretty skirts of Cheng Jiaojiao and Jiang Ling.
Soon, several bolder children were drawn to the area and crossed the river in twos and threes, stepping on the stones. They surrounded Jiang Ling and Cheng Jiaojiao, bombarding them with all sorts of innocent and naive questions:
"Sister, your carriage is so beautiful! Are there lots of delicious things inside?"
"Those soldiers all look so fierce? Are their knives sharp?"
"Where did you come from? And where are you going?"
Jiang Ling and Cheng Jiaojiao answered patiently and took out more snacks to share with them.
Even some farmers who were resting nearby lowered their guard a bit and watched this place with curiosity.
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