When Xiao Cheng arrived at the drying ground, panting, the girl from before had already come twice.
There were also some elderly women working here. They were responsible for washing the radishes, cutting them into slices about the thickness of an index finger, then cutting the slices into small strips without cutting them completely through, and finally drying these radishes to make dried radishes, which are called "wind-dried radishes" locally.
In winter, they are delicious in soups, especially stewed with cured meat. The shriveled radish strips become plump after being soaked in the juice. With one bite, you can taste the succulent meat and the sweetness of the radish. It's something you can only eat during the Chinese New Year; at other times, you can only use them to make soup.
"Chunrong, why are you so obedient? You just keep carrying it without stopping when I tell you to? You should learn from him. He's been carrying half a load of radishes for half a day. Come sit here for a while." An aunt looked at the thin little girl carrying a basket bigger than herself, and she felt sorry for her. The Zhan family are all heartless. Making such a young girl carry such a big basket of radishes, she couldn't bear to watch them do it!
"Aunt Shulan, I'm not tired. It's Xiao Cheng's first day working, he's not used to it yet." Zhan Chunrong didn't sit down. Seeing Xiao Cheng walking over with uneven steps, not knowing how to put down the basket, she quickly stepped forward and reached out to help him hold the basket, signaling him to let go.
In the dead of winter, Xiao Cheng's forehead was covered in sweat and his hair was soaked. He didn't even notice who was helping him, and he let go of the shoulder strap.
Then he saw the little girl named Chunrong, holding the top edge of the basket with one hand and supporting it with the other. In this way, the radishes that had exhausted him half to death were as light as a feather in the little girl's hands. She easily put the basket on the ground and slowly poured out the radishes from the basket.
Xiao Cheng's face turned even redder. He felt like he was on fire. He looked left and right, wanting to find a hole to crawl into.
"Hahaha," a loud, unrestrained laugh came from all around. They didn't care who you were or what face anyone had to save. They laughed as they pleased, laughing wildly and unrestrainedly. Xiao Cheng picked up his basket and ran away.
He ran halfway and stood at a fork in the road; one way led to the fields, and the other to the Zhan family's house.
Xiao Cheng rubbed his empty stomach and looked at his watch. It was noon, time for lunch. He wasn't trying to avoid it, it was just the right time!
As soon as you step into the Zhan family's courtyard, you can see Zhan Chunlan sitting leisurely in an old armchair under the lush osmanthus tree by the entrance. Perhaps thinking of something happy, her eyes are closed, but a gentle smile plays on her lips. The leaves above rustle softly, like nature humming a gentle lullaby for her.
At this moment, time itself seemed to soften, unwilling to disturb this tranquil beauty.
Achoo!
Suddenly, Zhan Chunlan sneezed loudly. She jumped up from the armchair, rubbing her arms and stamping her feet: "Ouch—I'm not going to pretend to live a peaceful life anymore, I almost froze to death!"
When Zhan Chunlan looked up, she was surprised to see someone even more foolish than herself—Xiao Cheng was standing motionless at the gate of the courtyard.
"Xiao Cheng! What are you standing there for? Are you going to starve?"
Xiao Cheng was utterly speechless. How could this person always so easily ruin every pleasant atmosphere? If it were Luo Shan, she definitely wouldn't do this.
Luo Shan, from the countryside, hadn't brought enough warm clothes when she arrived and caught a cold shortly after. Now her condition has worsened, and she can't even get out of bed. She can only huddle shivering under the thick blankets of her roommate, worrying: how is she going to get through this winter...?
"Why did you come back?" Zhan Chunlan saw that he was lost in thought and didn't pay attention to him. He must be missing his sister Luo Shan.
"It's noon, I'm back for lunch." Xiao Cheng snapped out of his reverie and realized the house seemed unusually quiet. "Is no one coming over for lunch? Are they all eating in the fields?"
"Lunch?" Zhan Chunlan laughed as if she had heard a joke. "We don't eat lunch here. We only have two meals, breakfast and dinner."
"What? With such a heavy workload, you're only eating two meals a day?!" Xiao Cheng was shocked. He felt that the bowl of thin porridge he ate in the morning had already been absorbed before it even reached his stomach. He had already done a good job of persevering until now, and he was still not eating lunch?
"Hmm, what do you think?" Zhan Chunlan said leisurely. "You got up late this morning. Dinner is around three o'clock. Hurry up and get to work!"
"What kind of dinner is 3 o'clock? Is there anything else later?" Xiao Cheng asked cautiously, hoping there would be a late-night snack.
"Bullshit!" Zhan Chunlan rolled her eyes and started packing up the stools to move them into the house. "You're lucky if you can get two meals a day. How many years have you even had a full meal?"
Xiao Cheng walked away dejectedly. He didn't even have the strength to walk anymore, yet he still had to carry radishes.
Or should we go home?
"Pah!" The thought had barely crossed his mind when Xiao Cheng slapped it away. He'd heard Luo Shan was going to a place even more remote and at a higher altitude than this; she must be having a much harder time. He was determined to persevere, he had to go help her! Yes!
Zhan Chunlan turned her head and saw Xiao Cheng striding forward, seemingly bursting with energy, carrying a basket on his back. She shook her head and continued carrying her stool. "Love-obsessed, seriously. A bit tricky."
As soon as I entered the house, I heard a "thump, thump, thump" sound coming from the old lady's room. She was tapping the wall with her cane again.
She felt like a dog she kept; she could just tap on it casually and it would happily trot over, Zhan Chunlan thought with a bit of boredom.
"Pour me a glass of water," the old lady said, glancing up at Zhan Chunlan standing in the doorway and pointing to the water glass by the bed.
"Normal demand!" Zhan Chunlan nodded, picked up her water glass, and poured herself a glass of hot water.
"Add a little sugar, I can't swallow plain water." The old lady continued to make her request without even opening her eyes when she heard the noise.
Sugar? Sure, you're sick. She went to get the sugar jar and added a spoonful in front of her.
"Add a little more, it has no flavor at all."
No, this old lady doesn't even open her eyes, how would she know how much I put in?
Oh well, it's not my candy anyway, so it doesn't matter. She scooped out two big spoonfuls, leaving only a tiny bit of candy at the bottom.
The old lady slightly raised her eyelids, glanced at the empty sugar jar, and said weakly, "Stir it well with a spoon, let the water cool down, and hand it to me."
Zhan Chunlan moved a little closer, holding a water glass, and sat on a low stool in front of the bed. She slowly stirred the water with a spoon, watching the sugar dissolve and the water temperature gradually drop. She then stepped forward and helped the old lady up, bringing the water glass to her lips.
The old lady only took a small sip and then stopped, saying, "You can put it there; I'll drink it myself later."
Zhan Chunlan stepped back to put down the water glass, but the old lady reached out and grasped her left hand. "Grandma? I'm not leaving, I'm just putting down the water glass."
The old lady still wouldn't let go, holding on tightly.
Seeing this, Zhan Chunlan ignored it, stretched out her right hand and put the water glass aside. Before she could even sit down, she heard the old lady speak again:
"I've been lying down for so long, my back is killing me! Can you give me a massage?"
Zhan Chunlan rolled her eyes behind her back: I knew it. I'd heard about your tricks before. Do you really think you're some old lord? Do you need maids to serve you all the time?
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