“The firewood outside the yard definitely won’t fill these three rooms. Let’s go to the back mountain with Lu Chuan and cut down some more dead trees later!” Xu Han suggested.
“I’ll go with you too! The more the merrier. Judging from the weather, it’s probably going to rain tomorrow afternoon or the day after.” The Taoist priest looked up at the sky and said.
"That's fine. I'll stay home and look after Mu'er. You two can go together! Let's try to finish this afternoon," Grandpa Zhao said.
“Okay, thank you for your help, Grandpa Zhao,” Lu Chuan said.
"Don't be so polite with me." After saying that, Grandpa Zhao picked up Mu'er and continued, "Let's go, Mu'er, come with Grandpa Zhao to look at medical books."
Seeing this, Xu Han quickly ran outside, afraid that Mu'er would see that Xu Han was leaving and insist on going with her.
I think most mothers have had this experience: sometimes it's not good for children to be too clingy to their mothers...
After they left the courtyard, they quickly headed towards the back of the mountain.
There are many dead trees on the back hill, which are perfect for making firewood. Since it's relatively close, it would be faster to just go there and cut down trees!
After the three arrived at the location, Lu Chuan shook the tree trunk to confirm that the tree was dead and then began to cut it down.
The Taoist priest used the same method to determine which trees to cut down.
Xu Han helped Lu Chuan cut down the trees. After the trees were felled, Xu Han was responsible for cutting branches and sawing trunks, trimming them slightly so they wouldn't take up too much space when put into the space later.
"It's been a long time since I've done heavy work, so I really don't like it this time," Xu Han said, waving her sore arms.
"Hahaha, honey, if you're tired, take a rest. The Taoist priest and I will take care of these in a bit," Lu Chuan said with a smile.
“No rest. Back in the day, I was used to doing heavy physical labor. How could this little job be difficult for me?” Xu Han said, still unconvinced, and started swinging the machete in her hand again.
“Girl, if you can’t do it, then don’t do it. Your hands, which have finally started to heal, don’t let them get blisters from cutting down trees again,” the Taoist priest said.
"It's alright, Daoist Master, I'm wearing gloves! I'll rest when I'm tired. I haven't worked for so long, my bones have all loosened up," Xu Han said with a smile.
"Alright then! Take a rest if you're tired! Don't push yourself too hard."
Seeing Xu Han's response, the Taoist priest stopped paying attention to her and continued chopping down his tree.
After Xu Han filled the space, Lu Chuan accompanied her home and put the branches in the yard so that the tree trunks could be dealt with in the evening.
The Taoist priest stayed behind to continue cutting down trees. Although there were fewer wild animals in the mountains now, it was still not a time of good weather, so they had to be careful. He dared not let Xu Han go home by herself.
After putting their things away, the two secretly slipped out again to continue cutting down trees in the back mountain.
They continued chopping until it gradually got dark before the three of them got up and went home.
When they arrived home, Grandpa Zhao was tidying up tree branches with Mu'er in the front yard, and Mu'er was very sensible and "helping out".
"Oh my! Mu'er is so good." Xu Han praised as soon as she entered the door.
"Mommy~ Hug~" Mu'er saw her mother whom she hadn't seen all afternoon and immediately ran to Xu Han for a hug.
"Mu'er, be good. Mommy is dirty. Let Mommy wash my hands and change my clothes before I hug you, okay?"
"Hug~" Seeing this, Xu Han didn't immediately hug Mu'er, but kissed Mu'er on the cheek and then said, "Come on, Mu'er, let's go wash our hands together~"
After Xu Han finished speaking, she walked forward, and Mu'er followed her.
Lu Chuan, who also wanted a hug from his son, followed closely behind the two of them.
"Does Mu'er miss Daddy? Daddy will hug you in a little while, okay?"
"Mommy~ Hug~" Mu'er completely ignored her father and didn't even give Lu Chuan a glance.
"Hahahaha, you've been proven wrong!" the Taoist priest said from behind.
Lu Chuan glanced helplessly at the Taoist priest, and then the people went to wash their hands.
After Xu Han changed her clothes, she carried Mu'er into the courtyard, where Lu Chuan and the Taoist priest had already begun trimming the tree trunks in preparation for chopping firewood.
"Why don't we cover this firewood with an oilcloth? I wonder if it will rain tonight," Xu Han asked.
"It shouldn't rain. Look at those few dark clouds; it definitely won't rain anytime soon," Grandpa Zhao said.
"It won't rain tonight, don't worry! No need to cover yourself." Seeing that the Taoist priest said this, Xu Han didn't say anything more.
He turned around and led Mu'er into the kitchen. It was already completely dark; it was time to prepare dinner.
Xu Han took out some green soybeans, preparing to make a stir-fried chicken with edamame.
First, blanch the raw edamame in boiling water to remove the beany smell, then put them in cold water for later use.
Then heat oil in a wok, put the chicken pieces in the oil and stir-fry them, then add the edamame and seasonings and simmer together.
We've run out of water today, so we can't make any more soup.
Xu Han used the leftover hot water to brew some flower tea, and decided to use the flower tea as today's soup!
Then I poured some boiled water into the dogs' bowls so they could drink some to replenish their body's water needs.
When the dogs saw Xu Han bringing over the water, they all swarmed over and started fighting over it.
The dogs must have been very thirsty today. Xu Han was out all afternoon, and the dogs didn't drink any water at all.
Xu Han took the remaining little water to feed the corn. The corn had been grinding grain all afternoon and must have been very tired, so let's give the corn a little more water!
Xu Han only took the basin back to the kitchen when there wasn't a single drop of water left in it.
Mu'er sat obediently at the kitchen doorway, watching the busy adults outside.
"Is Mu'er cold?" Xu Han asked, reaching out to touch Mu'er's little hand. Seeing that Mu'er's hand was warm, she didn't say anything.
"Be a good girl here! Mommy will pour you some water." Xu Han said, then poured some freshly brewed tea and gave Mu'er a little bit to drink.
Even a little child knows that water is very precious now, so he tilts his head back and drinks it all up, not leaving a single drop.
Now, whether it's the adults in the family, Mu'er, or even the dogs and Yumi, everyone wants to drink a big bowl of water and drink until they're stuffed.
Due to the prolonged drought, Xu Han's space was running out of water. Although she had stored a lot of water initially, it still wasn't enough in the later stages.
The adults were thirsty every day, their mouths foaming and their throats parched, but there wasn't enough water, and they couldn't drink it to their heart's content.
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