When they arrived at the bamboo forest, the five of them plunged into it and kept digging without looking up.
After digging enough, the eldest and second sons carried it back.
After digging bamboo shoots, they began to look for various edible wild vegetables and fruits. What surprised the children the most was that the third child actually found a nest of pheasant eggs in a grass nest.
There were actually six of them, and they were protected like treasures, fearing that they would be broken on the road.
In the end, they transported two loads of bamboo shoots and three loads of wild vegetables and fruits in one afternoon. The villagers couldn't help but wonder why the Xia family had just gone to the market today and started eating wild vegetables again.
By the last trip, it was already dark when they returned.
Sanwa and Sinier skillfully began to do the sorting work, while Dawa helped Xia Manni to pickle bamboo shoots, and Erwa continued to do the most strenuous work at home, which was chopping wood and fetching water.
"Sanwa, Sinier, we need to dry those wild vegetables so they can be preserved longer."
Xia Manni glanced at Sanwa and Sinier, who were so busy that they didn't even look up, and gave instructions.
The two children agreed and started washing the wild vegetables.
The yard was filled with today's harvest. None of it was good stuff, but it was enough to ensure that the Xia family had enough food for more than half a month.
According to Xia Manni's estimation, there are six acres of land in total. If everyone is counted, it will take more than half a month from harvesting to processing into rice.
And she also has to ensure that it is sunny during these times, so she has to prepare food for them.
After all, the rice is related to the Xia family's annual food supply, and there can't be any mistakes.
The only way to make those who don’t donate start to take it seriously is to involve their vital interests.
Perhaps the children noticed that Xia Manni was more serious than usual, so they all followed her lead and worked diligently and obediently.
Tonight, the Xia family's stove never stopped.
After cooking the bamboo shoots, I started to cook wild vegetables, then started to prepare the lard, and after preparing the lard, I started to make pancakes for tomorrow.
Several children did not sleep and were busy until the end.
At this time, the Xia family's yard was full of baskets drying in the sun, either with dried bamboo shoots or wild vegetables, as well as the dried sweet potatoes and chestnuts from before.
The moonlight fills the courtyard, implying good weather tomorrow.
The next morning, Xia Manni got up with the children as usual, but the eldest child was the first to wake up.
As they ate the freshly baked pancakes from morning to evening with hot water, Xia Manni began to introduce the process of harvesting rice.
"After we harvest the rice, we have to thresh the rice ears by beating them against stones. After threshing, we start to remove the husks and impurities mixed in with the rice grains, which we have to winnow with a winnowing basket. Then comes the more tiring task of grinding the rice grains back and forth with a rice huller to remove the husks."
"After that, we have to use a fan truck to separate the husks from the brown rice, and finally, we have to pound the rice."
Xia Manni knew that these were just empty talk. After all, the tools used in later generations were modern tools that had been improved countless times.
"Mom, it turns out that cooking rice is so troublesome." Erwa couldn't help but sigh after hearing what Xia Manni said. He had only followed her to harvest rice.
"Mom, I feel so confused. You are so awesome." Sanwa started his mindless praise again.
"Mom, you can take more rest when the time comes. Whatever we can do together, let's do it together." The eldest boy knows every step here more or less and has participated in it. However, he is still a child after all, and what he can do is limited.
This year is different. Apart from his mother, he is the oldest and he has to work hard.
"That's right, mother. Sanwa and Sinier can do it too." Sanwa said unconvinced.
"Haha, you're indispensable. Just make sure Sanwa and Sini'er don't complain about being tired." She thought for a moment and asked Dawa again, then said, "Dawa, we all have the stuff I just mentioned, right?"
"Mom, everything we need is here. I'll find it in a moment. Shouldn't we take it out and dry it in the sun in advance?"
"Well, good boy. You have to take it out so that Mom can see if there is anything that needs repairing."
"Mom, what should we do?" asked Erwa.
"You guys..." she thought for a moment and said, "Erwa, take Sanwa and Sinier to the fields to see who's harvesting rice. If they're harvesting, you can watch and learn from them."
"By the way, turn over the things drying in our yard. We have to harvest rice starting tomorrow. You will be tired by then, so just take a break today."
Erwa: "Mom, this much work doesn't sound like a break."
"Hahahaha." After Erwa said that, laughter broke out in the Xia family's yard.
The villagers passing by the Xia family couldn't help but stop. The Xia family was indeed suffering, but seeing them happy every day was a way to find joy in suffering.
"Humph, the rice harvest is about to begin. Let's see if they can still laugh then."
"That's right. How can a young girl with four children have an easy life?"
"I think Xia Manni might need help from a man. You guys better keep an eye on your men then."
…
“Woof woof woof…”
During this period, there were always people who were jealous of others and tried to ruin the Xia family.
Perhaps the people who were chatting stayed too long, and the little dog in the yard ran to the door and started barking at the women outside the yard.
The people were so frightened that they fled in a panic, chasing their dogs.
Xia Manni and several other children also heard a word or two, but Xia Manni had taught her children not to get angry or argue when they heard rumors.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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