Originally, Li Lanzhen thought that Li Erhan or Zhang Deshui would tell Lu Changming that they were going to hire him to feed their wild boars and cattle.
Finally, they unanimously decided to go and talk to Li Lanzhen.
After dinner, Li Lanzhen took Han Minghai to Lu Changming's house.
The cave is very small. About four or five meters inside, at the end of the cave, there is a heated kang bed laid out horizontally.
In front of them were some wooden stumps and a table made of a few planks and stones.
On the table were three or four large bowls and several pairs of chopsticks carved from wood.
Near the entrance of the cave, a clay pot was propped up with three stones.
When they arrived, Lu Changming and Lu Huahua were eating by the stove in the cave.
Li Lanzhen glanced at the rice in their bowls; it was a porridge of wild vegetables, mostly wild vegetables with very little dark flour.
When Lu Changming saw them come in, he stood up and said happily.
"Aunt Lanzhen is here, come in and sit down."
Lu Huahua quickly got up, moved a wooden stump, and placed it behind Li Lanzhen.
"Grandma Lanzhen, sit here, I'll pour you some water."
Li Lanzhen quickly stopped Lu Huahua.
"We don't need water; we just ate and came over. You guys eat."
The father and son, not knowing why they had come, sat back down, picked up their rice bowls, and quickly finished the wild vegetable porridge inside.
Li Lanzhen looked around the small cave. Although it was small and dimly lit, it was very clean.
A thick straw mat was laid on the heated kang, and on top of that, a straw mat was laid, and near the back wall, a long straw curtain was hung on the hillside, somehow there was no telling where it was.
Li Lanzhen thought that the father and son were quite resourceful.
Straw curtains hung on the gable wall, blocking out dust and dampness.
There were no bedding on the kang (a heated brick bed), but a few neatly folded pieces of clothing were placed beside it.
There were only two rolls of straw mats next to it.
Lan Zhen thought, "This must be the blanket the father and son will use at night."
She felt a pang of sadness. When she turned around, she saw a small recessed hole in the cave wall. Inside was a chipped bowl filled with half a bowl of water, and inside were bright yellow and purple flowers.
It added a touch of warmth to this small, dimly lit cave.
After Lu Changming finished eating, Lu Huahua quickly picked up the bowls to wash them. Lu Changming chuckled and came over.
Li Lanzhen noticed that his left leg was slightly injured, but it didn't affect his ability to walk or work.
Does your leg still hurt?
Lu Changming smiled sheepishly and said, "It doesn't hurt anymore, it's all healed. Thank you so much, Aunt Xue, for coming to change my dressings every day and for not asking for any money."
"Aunt Lanzhen, if you need any help, just call me. Even though I'm lame, I'm still quite strong."
Li Lanzhen smiled and said, "Changming, there really is a job in our family that we need you to do."
Lu Changming replied, "Aunt Lanzhen, just tell me, and I'll definitely do a good job for you."
"Don't you even listen to what kind of job it is? You just agree with empty words?"
Lu Changming chuckled and said, "No matter what kind of work it is, dirty or tiring, I can do it!"
Li Lanzhen inwardly applauded. What did it matter if he was lame? As long as he had hope and worked hard, life would always get better.
“Changming, look, here’s the thing. Today, a few of us caught some wild buffalo and wild boar, but as you know, everyone in the family is busy with their own things and doesn’t have time to take care of these. So we’ve decided to ask you to come and raise the pigs and cattle for us.”
Don't worry, your Uncle Xue has tamed the wild boars and buffaloes. They won't run wild or hurt you.
Li Lanzhen can guarantee that.
Because she knew that the spiritual spring water and lake water in the space had no effect on plant growth, but they did have an effect on these animals.
For example, when animals enter the space, they eat the grass and drink the water. The animals become docile and obedient, as if they have been enlightened.
Upon hearing this, Lu Changming chuckled and said, "Auntie, I'll take care of the pigs and cattle for you. Okay. I'll go tomorrow."
Li Lanzhen continued, "Look, it's like this: right now, you and Huahua will eat all three meals at our house. Next autumn, after the harvest, we can give you money or grain, depending on your needs!"
We'll finish working on your land as well.
Lu Changming stared in shock, mouth agape, after hearing Li Lanzhen's words.
“Aunt Lanzhen, how can this be? I work for your family to repay you. You gave us grain, and Aunt Xue helped me heal my leg. I have no way to repay you, so I raise pigs and cattle for you.”
Han Minghai patted him on the shoulder and said, "How can that be! You work for our family, so we should pay you or give you food. If you don't want to eat at our house, do you expect us to pay you?"
Lu Changming hurriedly waved his hands and shook his head, saying repeatedly, "No, no, no, that's not how it is. I don't want money or food. I just want to work for you for free."
Li Lanzhen stood up and laughed heartily.
"Changming, wouldn't this make us landlords and rich people, exploiting others? Do you want everyone to point fingers at us and curse us? It's settled then, you and Huahua can eat with us for all three meals a day, and we'll all help you cultivate your land."
Lu Changming's tears flowed instantly. When he left his hometown, his parents were still alive, his wife was still alive, and the whole family was together. He never expected that on the way to escape famine, they would encounter bandits. His parents were killed by the bandits while protecting him, and his wife was also killed by the bandits while protecting their daughter.
He rushed forward to fight the robbers, trying to save his parents and wife. He was slashed several times and his leg was crippled.
At that time, he was in despair and didn't want to live anymore. But when he saw his ten-year-old daughter, and realized he was going to die too, what could he do? He persevered and lived on until he met Hanjiacun and Li Lanzhen and the others. He regained his confidence and the will to live.
Despite the hardships and exhaustion, they persevered until they reached the Valley of Forgetfulness.
When he arrived at the Valley of Forgetfulness, he lived a life where he could eat his fill and no longer had to live in fear of being a refugee. At night, he would always shed tears, thinking of his parents and wife.
If only they were all here, living such a good life!
Li Lanzhen didn't stop him from crying, nor did she say anything. She just let the man shed tears silently for a while, because his heart was filled with too much bitterness!
He lost his parents and wife on the way to escape famine. How helpless he must have felt at that time, constantly blaming himself for not being able to protect his parents and wife!
Lu Huahua took an old, damp cloth and gave it to her father.
Lu Changming took it and wiped away his tears and face.
She looked up and smiled sheepishly, "Aunt Lanzhen, I'm sorry you had to see this. Okay, I'll do whatever you say!"
Han Minghai looked at their family's cave and then gazed in the direction of his own family's cave.
He frowned and said, "Your home is too far from ours, separated by the entire Forget-Worry Valley."
Li Lanzhen had also thought of this problem.
Han Minghai said, "There are no more caves near our house. Why don't you move there and live there? It's closer to the pigsty and cattle pen. Otherwise, it's such a long way back and forth, and it's inconvenient for your legs."
Li Lanzhen suddenly remembered that they had dug a cave in that hollow in the mountain earlier that day.
He asked Han Minghai, "Boss, are there any recessed areas next to the sheep, cattle, and pig pens? If so, you can dig a cave there in the next few days so that the father and son can move there. That would be more convenient. Once you've found a good spot, you'll have a place to build your house next year."
Han Minghai patted his head, "Yes, yes, my mother is smart. I'll go look for her when I get back."
Having settled this matter, Li Lanzhen felt relieved and returned home with Han Minghai.
Lying on the kang (heated brick bed) in the cave that night, Li Lanzhen entered the space. As soon as she entered, all the crops and vegetables had been harvested.
New green seedlings have sprouted in the ground.
Oh, the crops are ripe!
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