The corn had grown to be taller than a person; even Xiao Weiguo, who was over 1.8 meters tall, couldn't see anyone inside.
The dense corn stalks blocked out all the wind, making it incredibly stuffy and hot inside.
Before long, the two boys couldn't stand it anymore and sat down under the big willow tree at the edge of the field, refusing to get up.
Even Xiao Weiguo was dizzy from the heat, and his clothes were already soaked with sweat.
He had to stop frequently, panting heavily as he wiped the sweat from his eyes.
As the weather gets hotter, Xiao Weiguo feels that every step he takes is extremely difficult.
Turning around, Xiao Weiguo realized his sister had already disappeared. Both of them were catching worms on a row of corn, but Xiao Weiguo hadn't even gone halfway, while his sister had already almost reached the end of the field.
Xiao Weiguo sighed. Farmers in this era are really suffering too much.
Without any mechanical assistance, everything is done with just your own two hands.
Even more difficult is the plight of his younger sister, Xiao Shanshan, who, at the age of seventeen, shoulders the heavy burden of supporting the entire family.
How much suffering and pain have those tender shoulders endured?
No, my sister, Xiao Weiguo's sister, shouldn't be like this. This is not something she should have to endure.
Soon, I will take you away from this sea of suffering, so you will never have to endure such injustice again.
Xiao Weiguo gritted his teeth, mustered his spirits, and carefully searched for corn weevils on each corn stalk.
On her way back in another group, Xiao Shanshan saw Xiao Weiguo, who was teetering on the brink of collapse.
Although his movements were slow, they were very serious, and he showed no intention of cheating or shirking his duties.
"Brother, if you can't take it, go to the field and rest with Xiao Jiang and the others."
He knew his brother had never done this kind of farm work before, and he cared for him very thoughtfully.
Xiao Weiguo was already drenched in sweat, and his eyes were bloodshot from the excessive sweat.
He turned his head and smiled at his sister.
"It's okay, I'm not tired."
Looking at her brother, Xiao Shanshan felt a warm feeling well up in her heart.
My brother seems really different from before.
She parted the corn stalks and snatched the bottle from her brother's hand.
“I can finish this work by myself quickly. You’ve never worked in the fields before, you’ll get heatstroke if you keep going like this.”
In fact, Xiao Weiguo was really on the verge of collapse.
The significant loss of water caused him to feel dizzy and lightheaded.
Xiao Weiguo felt that he might collapse to the ground at any moment.
Without arguing much with his younger sister, he walked dejectedly to the edge of the field and sat down with the two younger ones under the shade of a willow tree to rest.
Xiao Jiang and Xiao Yue were playing jacks on the ground, while Xiao Weiguo sat silently beside them, staring blankly at the vast cornfield.
There are too few able-bodied people in the family, and the work in the fields can only be done by Shanshan alone. This can't go on forever, and Xiao Weiguo is afraid that his sister will get too tired sooner or later.
We must find a way to earn more money as soon as possible so that we can rescue my sister from this suffering.
At that moment, his determination to make a lot of money was further strengthened.
I went home for lunch. According to the custom of rural people, I take a nap until three or four o'clock in the afternoon before going to work in the fields. Otherwise, the midday sun can make people dizzy.
However, by the time Xiao Weiguo, Xiao Jiang, and Xiao Yue woke up, Shan Shan had already gotten out of bed by herself.
Xiao Weiguo knew he wasn't cut out for manual labor, so he didn't go to the fields to trouble his sister.
They borrowed a handcart from their neighbor and, with Xiao Jiang and Xiao Yue in tow, arrived at the township supply and sales cooperative.
Although he said he would give all the money to his younger sister, the sensible Xiao Shanshan only took 100 yuan for the family's daily expenses, leaving the rest to Xiao Weiguo.
Xiao Weiguo still has about 100 yuan left. Since he can't help his sister much, he thought he would come to the supply and sales cooperative to buy some things to supplement the family's income.
There's no need to buy vegetables; there are plenty of vegetables growing in the fields this season.
All he needed to buy were rice, flour, and cooking oil. Last time, because of the limited load capacity of his bicycle, he could only buy a little of each. This time, he pulled a cart and bought a large bag of each, fifty kilograms each, enough for the family to eat for a long time.
I also bought a large piece of pork belly, five pounds of eggs, and various seasonings.
Of course, Xiao Weiguo also bought plenty of the snacks the two little ones had their eyes on. Xiao Jiang and Xiao Yue were overjoyed; for the first time in their lives, they felt the love and care from their older brother.
When I got home, it wasn't dark yet, and Shanshan hadn't come back from the fields.
After unloading everything from the cart, Xiao Weiguo plunged into the kitchen.
In his previous life, he lived alone for so many years that he had long since mastered the art of cooking.
He plans to make braised pork today. He had some at a state-run restaurant a few days ago, and the taste was indeed disappointing.
Seeing their older brother cooking, the two younger children eagerly helped add firewood and start the fire.
In just one day of effort, the image of the eldest brother had already changed considerably in their minds.
They are no longer the demons who would beat and scold them at the drop of a hat.
A change of heart – a change of clothes, a treat – can change their minds. Perhaps this is human nature – to always yearn for the good. Children tend to follow their hearts more often.
The three siblings were happily busy in the kitchen.
Cut the pork belly into large chunks, blanch it in water, and then let it dry. Next, caramelize the sugar, then return the pork belly to the pot, coating it completely. Add scallions, ginger, garlic, and star anise to remove any unpleasant odors and enhance the aroma. Add boiling water to cover the pork belly and simmer over low heat, adding soy sauce for color. Add a few hard-boiled eggs and several large flatbreads along the edge of the pot. Cover and simmer over low heat for forty minutes.
Before long, the rich aroma of meat filled the courtyard.
The two little ones were perched by the stove, their mouths watering. Their bright, sparkling eyes kept glancing at their older brother, hoping that dinner would be served soon.
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