Chapter 42: The Need for Stored Grain

Chapter 42: The Need for Stored Grain

A sudden downpour in the middle of the night led to a sharp drop in temperature when dawn broke, making a single layer of clothing insufficient for warmth.

The rain blurred the world, with thin streams cascading down the thatched roof and dripping from the eaves. Lying on the ground, the puppy had water droplets splashing onto its damp nose, sending a chill through it. It buried its head in its front paws, rubbing them together, then let out a long, lazy yawn.

In the main room, fluffy chicks chirped noisily, occasionally bending their heads to peck at the vegetable leaves scattered on the floor.

With each autumn rain comes a chill, and after ten, down jackets are needed; the temperature falls noticeably, especially at the foot of the mountains.

Elder Wei had already donned an undergarment. He had awoken feeling a chill in the early morning and hadn't planned on changing clothes. However, while having breakfast, a draft from outside had made him shiver. Upon noticing this, Tao Hua put down her chopsticks. After receiving his nod of approval, she went to his quarters to fetch an undergarment for him, ensuring he wouldn't catch a cold.

Old Master Wei sustained an injury in the mountains years ago, which left his leg crippled. The pain would resurface during winter; he was someone who thrived in warmth but withered in the cold, making the colder months particularly challenging for him.

With his daughter-in-law's filial piety, he didn't refuse and put on the padded jacket much earlier than in previous years.

Indeed, it's often said that a woman's touch is essential in a household. Ever since Wei Dahu got married, whenever the weather permitted, Tao Hua would launder all the clothes and bedding, exposing them to the sun for half a day. This made the clothes carry a subtle scent of sunlight, warm and dry, warming the heart of anyone who wore them.

Old Wei sat at the entrance of the main hall, weaving a chicken coop. The chicks were still tiny. In previous years, they had never raised poultry at home. Living at the foot of the mountain, they were plagued by snakes, insects, rats, and ants. They feared that any grown chickens or ducks might end up as prey for some unknown creature. Moreover, tending to livestock required effort and patience, which neither he nor his son possessed. Whenever they craved chicken meat, they would simply hunt a wild one in the mountains, making it unnecessary to raise their own. Since the chicks were still small, they couldn't be left outside at night, so he had to make a larger coop as a temporary solution. He didn't have to worry about stepping on chicken droppings when he woke up in the morning.

The puppy also lacked a doghouse and spent its nights curled up among the firewood pile in the kitchen, finding warmth there.

This was only a temporary arrangement. Once the chicks grew bigger, they would need to enclose a space in the backyard for them. If they decided to raise ducks as well, they could be separated from the chicken coop. As for the puppy, once it grew, they would build a doghouse beside the coop, where it could guard the poultry at night. Any unusual sounds it made would alert them.

With chickens, ducks, and a dog, the household would become even livelier.

Soft winds carried gentle rain, veiling the mountain ranges with mist, creating an ethereal, almost surreal landscape.

With each breath, the faint scent of damp earth filled Tao Hua's nostrils as she tended to the fire in the kitchen. Startled by the sneeze, the puppy dozing beneath the eaves bumped its head on the ground. It rubbed its nose and, with a little hop, scampered into the kitchen.

Tao Hua was seated by the hearth, breaking dry twigs. As the puppy approached, she gently nudged it with her foot. Taking her action as playful, the puppy rolled onto its back, exposing its belly. When she didn't move, it flipped over to nuzzle her again.

"You're so clingy," Tao Hua laughed affectionately, patting its head.

The puppy sprawled back on the floor, belly up, offering its tummy once more. Its moist doggy eyes gazed at her as it panted through its nose.

Deciding to put aside her task, Tao Hua crouched down, kneading the puppy's soft belly with both hands. She gently rubbed upwards along its stomach, scratched its chin, then held its puppy face, pinching its ears between her index finger and middle finger.

The puppy shivered in delight, whimpering softly as it extended its tiny tongue to lick her fingers.

"Tao Hua hasn't given you a name yet," she said, cradling its face and rubbing it affectionately. She then lifted the puppy and addressed the elder Wei, who was sitting at the entrance of the main hall. "Father, shall we give this little pup a name?"

"You can decide," the elder Wei replied.

"But you should, since you brought it home," Tao Hua insisted.

In their village, dogs were named after their fur color – a yellow dog was called Big Yellow, a black one Big Black, and a spotted one Lazi Dog. Wanting his puppy to have a unique name, the elder Wei pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Let's call it Xiao Hu."

"..." Tao Hua looked down at the black puppy in her arms, its mouth open as it nibbled on her finger. Xiao Hu?

She tried calling out, "Xiao Hu?"

The puppy lifted its head.

"Xiao Hu," Tao Hua repeated, looking into its eyes.

"Yip!" This time, the puppy responded, wagging its tail against her fingers, realizing that it was being called.

Tao Hua held back her laughter, but eventually couldn't resist and chuckled, addressing the old man, "Father, his name is Xiao Hu. Will Big Hu have any objections?"

"Any objections can wait until he returns," the old man replied. Noticing his daughter's recent loss of appetite and frequent distraction, obviously worried about her husband's safety, he tried to reassure her, "I reckon that Big Hu should be back within a day or two. Don't worry too much. With his physique, he can surely take care of himself. Didn't you mention wanting to make pickles? When he comes back, ask him to buy a jar in town. Our vegetable field has just been cultivated, and the seeds were sown recently. I saw this morning that they've just sprouted. For any other vegetables needed for pickling, we'll have to buy them in town."

Tao Hua scratched the puppy's chin, understanding that her father was trying to ease her concerns. Initially, they expected Big Hu to return in no more than two days, yet now it had been five or six with no news, causing her great worry.

Despite her concern, meals still needed to be prepared.

With one less person at home, Tao Hua had been seeking convenience in cooking. She would prepare a large pot of mixed-grain porridge in the morning and bake some flatbreads to last the whole day.

Today was no different. The drizzle and mist made even the eaves damp, and her thoughts lingered on Big Hu, draining her energy to cook. So, she settled for another simple meal of mixed-grain porridge and flatbreads to satisfy her basic needs.

The entire afternoon, Tao Hua sat beneath the eaves, sewing shoes while occasionally glancing at the rain and fog, hoping to catch sight of the burly man returning.

As evening approached, the rain intensified, and the wind grew stronger, causing the kitchen door to creak. Tao Hua, in the darkness, carried Xiao Hu to the main room and created a makeshift dog bed with dry straw next to the chicks.

By midnight, the rain fell even heavier, and the strong winds howled through the forest behind the house, sounding like a chorus of wailing ghosts. Tao Hua, startled awake, found it difficult to fall back asleep.

The house was dimly lit, so she lay in bed for a while, tossing and turning. Unable to find solace, she got up, draped a cloak over herself, lit the oil lamp to bring some light into the room, which brought her a sense of comfort.

Now devoid of sleep, she grabbed the sewing basket and sat by the table, sewing shoe soles under the dim light of the oil lamp.

Wei Dahu spent his days in the mountains, where the rugged paths wore out his shoes quickly. A new pair would be as tattered as his decade-old worn-out shoes within just a few days, either with holes at the heels or toes exposed. He was a tall and sturdy man with broad feet, and Tao Hua had never seen such large feet, much like his towering presence that she had also never encountered before.

Despite the dim light, Tao Hua's hands moved swiftly, her stitches tight and meticulous.

During the summer, they could still wear straw sandals, even if they wore out a pair a day. It wouldn't cause too much distress. But in winter, it was a different story. The winters there were bitterly cold, with snow piling up to three feet. Forget about straw sandals, even wearing cotton shoes outside for half a day would leave their toes numb with cold.

The elderly couldn't endure the harsh winters, and the poor couldn't witness the spring snow.

Winter was bitter, and impoverished families often lacked sufficient winter provisions, firewood for warmth, or money to buy blankets and clothes. Starvation and frostbite plagued them during the long winter months. If an illness struck without the means for treatment, not just the elderly but even strong men would struggle to survive.

Tao Hua had experienced hunger and cold firsthand. In her memory, the number of elders who perished in winter, whether in Zhou Village or Apricot Flower Village, was especially high.

Their house nestled at the foot of the mountain, summers were cool, but winters were harsher, much colder than in the village. The wind could slice through cheeks like razor blades.

Lost in these thoughts, Tao Hua's mind wandered, and she instinctively glanced at the spot where she hid her savings. Even before winter arrived, she began to worry about whether they had enough silver for winter food supplies and bedding, two sets of warm clothes for each family member, especially for her father whose legs couldn't withstand the cold. Winter required extra care for warmth. They couldn't exhaust all their money; some had to be set aside for unforeseen emergencies...

In her distraction, the needle pricked her finger.

Tao Hua deftly sucked on her finger, her eyes feeling slightly strained. Noticing the late hour and having grown accustomed to the eerie howling winds in the mountains, she returned her sewing notions to their basket, set aside the cloak draped over her shoulders, and removed her shoes, preparing to retire for the night.

"Woof!" Xiao Hu barked from the main room.

Soon followed the faint scrabbling of dog paws against the wooden door. Tao Hua's heart skipped a beat. Hastily, she dressed, slipped into her slippers, and carried the oil lamp to the main room.

"Woof! Woof! Woof!" Xiao Hu ceased his clawing upon seeing her, turning to bark at her before directing his barks outside.

The light flickered on in Old Wei's quarters as well.

Tao Hua's heart raced with anxiety. Holding a lantern in one hand, she secured the door bolt with the other. As she pressed her ear against the crack, the familiar voice outside confirmed it was Wei Dahu. Only then did she hastily unlock the door and swing open the entrance to the main hall.

Outside, darkness enveloped everything. A tall and robust man stood in the rain, drenched from head to toe. Despite his soaked appearance, he somehow exuded an even more imposing presence.

Upon seeing his wife at the door, the smile on Wei Dahu's face couldn't be concealed despite the raindrops cascading down his face. He reached out to embrace her. "Wife, why are you the one opening the door? Why aren't you resting yet? It's already the third watch."

A thick mist of water hit Tao Hua's face, causing her to instinctively step aside. Wei Dahu looked down at himself, realizing he was entirely drenched, with mud half a finger thick on the soles of his feet. He looked as filthy as a cow that had rolled in the mud. Then, he glanced at his wife, with her rosy lips and white teeth, clean and untouched. Ah, how could he bear to reach for her now?

"Why are you back now? Why didn't you stay in town for the night? It's dangerous to travel in such heavy rain," he retracted his hand. But Tao Hua, instead, reached out to grasp the edge of his garment, only to find the ground soaked through.

Missed you, missed your father, missed home – that's why I rushed back in the night, Wei Dahu grinned at her face illuminated by the oil lamp. "Not afraid of the rain, just eager to return. I was worried about the family."

He stood motionless under the eaves, and Tao Hua grew anxious. How cold it was outside, and he was soaked through! Relying on his strong constitution, what if he fell ill? She reached out to pull him in. "Why are you still standing there foolishly? Quickly come inside. Did you have dinner? First, take off those wet clothes, I'll heat up some water for you to clean up..."

Despite being drenched, Wei Dahu felt warmth in his heart. His father called for him from within the house, so he replied, asking him to rest and not come out. Then, turning to Tao Hua, he said, "I had something on the way, but now I'm hungry. It's raining in the city too, started yesterday, even heavier than here. I was worried about the family, and since I'm used to the mountain roads, I didn't stop in town."

"Wait, weren't you going to the county? Why did you go to the city?" Tao Hua asked, surprised.

"I'll explain more tomorrow." Back in the house, Wei Dahu stripped off his wet clothes, wiped himself with a handkerchief, and changed into the attire Tao Hua fetched from the closet.

His hunger was unbearable. Who knew that on such a rainy day, he managed to navigate the slippery mountain paths without falling, only to almost faint from hunger. Freshly dressed, he regained his energy and no longer restrained himself. He bent down to embrace his wife affectionately and pleaded, "My dear Tao Hua, my good wife, please cook me a bowl of noodles. Your man is starving!"

Tao Hua pushed him away, wiped her face from his saliva, blushing as she glared at him. "You have no sense of propriety when you come back!"

Then, turning her head to the door, she put on a stern expression. "Little Hu, bite him for me!"

Wei Dahu was momentarily confused before following her gaze to the entrance.

"Bark!" Little Hu ran over with all four paws, tilting his dog head to nip at his trousers.

Huh?

Wei Dahu looked down at the puppy that clung to his pant leg, refusing to let go. He lifted his foot, but the puppy's teeth remained locked on, its body dangling in mid-air without releasing its grip.

"It? Xiao Hu?" Wei Dahu turned to his wife with furrowed brows and an indignant expression. "Why does it have the same name as me?"

In the dead of night, a wisp of smoke rose from the thatched cottage at the foot of the mountain, only to be swiftly concealed by the pouring rain, making it impossible to discern clearly.

The hearth was warm, and Wei Dahu picked up the puppy by the scruff of its neck, throwing it into the pile of firewood with some resentment over its name, applying a considerable amount of force. He then stuffed a handful of pine needles into the stove, igniting the dry wood with a fierce crackling sound that startled Tao Hua, who was kneading dough.

"Why is the fire so strong? It's not time to cook yet," Tao Hua scolded.

Wei Dahu grinned mischievously, feeling completely relaxed now, a stark contrast to when he had just arrived home, drenched and tense.

"How has everything been at home these past few days?" he asked.

"Everything's fine. Nothing much has happened," Tao Hua replied. She had rolled out the dough, which she had prepared before going to bed, planning to steam coarse grain buns the next day. Little did she know that Wei Dahu would return in the middle of the night, soaked through. Now, however, it worked out perfectly, saving her the step of letting the dough rise. As she continued her work, she shared the happenings of the past few days with him. "On the day you went to the county, the land beside the courtyard was tilled. Father borrowed vegetable seeds from Uncle Two. I also went to the village, where I met Erniu's wife. We had a chat. She's quite a straightforward woman and even invited me to visit her home. I was thinking of making pickles, and Father said we'd wait for you to come back to buy a jar and some vegetables and coarse salt."

After a pause, she hesitated before saying, "As for San Hua, the girl seems to have matured a lot from this incident." Recalling her sister-in-law's words, Tao Hua realized that San Hua had suddenly become more sensible, starting to help with the household chores.

Wei Dahu nodded. "It's good for her to grow up a bit. Innocent girls can easily be taken advantage of in the future. She's almost at the age where she'll start being considered for marriage."

He continued, "Erniu's wife is called Wu Zhaodi. When she was little, she liked to follow us around and play. She's quite a tomboy, but she has a straightforward character. I'll take you to visit her place another day. We'll rest tomorrow, then I'll take you to the town the day after."

"Tao Hua, I'm going too?" she asked, somewhat delighted.

"Why wouldn't you? Even if you want to go to the county, I'll take you there," Wei Dahu said, unable to resist meddling with the sleeping puppy, stroking its head from time to time with his large hand.

Upon mentioning the county, Tao Hua couldn't help asking, "Didn't you say you were going to the county to inquire about the official who's friends with Butcher Zhu? Why did you end up going to the city?"

The unfolded dough was cut into long strips, not perfectly straight. Tao Hua asked him to stoke the fire, so Wei Dahu added more wood to the stove. The fiery glow illuminated his face, emphasizing his unusually solemn expression.

Tao Hua sliced the dough into strips and shook them apart before dropping them into the pot, stirring them with chopsticks. The kitchen had become strangely quiet. She looked up at him in surprise, only to see his stern face.

Her heart skipped a beat. She ventured cautiously, "Is that official very powerful?"

She had never seen him so serious. Could it be that Butcher Zhu really had an influential backer? Had her two cousins' injuries been for nothing?

Who among ordinary folks didn't fear officials? Every year when they came to collect taxes, they would all have swords hanging at their waists, their imposing presence leaving no room for resistance. Even the most respected elders in the village, who were highly esteemed by the villagers, would treat them with utmost hospitality, bowing so low that their backs nearly touched the ground. They treated these officials like ancestors, pleading for them to show mercy when measuring the grain.

In every village and household, such was the case. Whenever people mentioned officials, fear would appear on their faces.

That's why they say, "All professions are beneath, only scholarship excels." Eating from the government's bowl, even the lowliest of minions become objects of awe, for they can control the very lifeline of common folk in various ways.

Even a simple country girl like Tao Hua understood that if Butcher Zhu truly had an influential official backing him, then her two cousins' injuries were truly in vain.

The common people dared not challenge those in power.

The water in the pot bubbled and steamed, while the firewood in the hearth crackled, intensifying the flames.

Wei Dahu whispered, "There's something you should know, Tao Hua. We need to start storing food."

Tao Hua paused stirring the noodles, lifting her head to look at him.

Wei Dahu didn't elaborate further. Tao Hua felt uneasy, yet after cooking the noodles, she ate with him and shared some recent gossip from the village. Li Dalang had been bitten by a venomous snake. His wife, fearing contamination, refused to suck out the poison despite being slapped by her mother-in-law several times.

Though Li Dalang sought medical help, the delay left him weakened, and he was still recuperating at home.

Now, the Li household was in constant turmoil. The rumor about Zhou Miaohua's impending death had been proven false, and she was now engaging in daily arguments with her mother-in-law. Filled with energy, she blamed Li Dalang for attracting the snake with his unclean behavior. Otherwise, why would the snake choose to rest in his embrace and wait until he woke up to bite? It couldn't be just a coincidence; he must have unintentionally offended this supernatural creature somewhere along the way, and now it had come seeking revenge in the dead of night.

Li Dalang lay on his bed, quivering with rage but devoid of strength to retaliate against his shrewish wife. His mother, however, could not tolerate such remarks, perceiving them as curses on her son. She constantly displayed her authority as a matriarch, trying to humble her daughter-in-law, reminding her that men were the pillars of the world and without one, she would amount to nothing.

It was precisely at this time that Zhou Miaohua, who had been childless for two years of marriage, missed her monthly cycle. Empowered by the prospect of carrying a son, she dared to confront her formidable mother-in-law, their rivalry reaching an unprecedented peak, providing ample entertainment for the villagers.

In Dahe Village, half the talk revolved around the Chens, while the other half centered on the Lis. The gossip never ceased, with one amusement following another.

These tales were shared by Chen Dashi when he visited his uncle's house with his wife, delivering vegetables. Fang Qiuyan laughed heartily, believing that justice had prevailed – how could this be a venomous snake? It was a divine serpent!

Wei Dahu, listening with astonishment, dared not reveal to his wife that he was the one who had released the snake, fearing to frighten her.

At that moment, he only sought to vent his anger and satisfy his resentment. As for whether the bitten person would die from the venom, it all depended on the fates of Li Dalang and his spouse.

In rural areas, encounters with snakes, insects, rats, and ants were common. Poisonous snakes slithering into homes were no exception, and bites were frequent. However, if the venom was squeezed out immediately and the affected limb bound tightly to prevent the spread of poison, followed by prompt medical attention, survival was feasible.

If Li Dalang were indeed unfortunate enough to succumb to the venom, Wei Dahu did not feel much remorse. Such was his destiny.

Living his days in the mountains, Wei Dahu had taken countless wild creatures' lives. To him, there was little distinction between humans and wildlife; each was a life, and the strong survived.

The blood coursing through his veins was not particularly warm.

Satiated, Wei Dahu carried the dishes to the kitchen. Finding Little Hu sound asleep amidst the firewood, he decided against following Tao Hua's advice to carry it to the main room. Instead, he secured the kitchen door and returned to their quarters.

The room was pitch black, Tao Hua having extinguished the oil lamp, aware that he could see in the dark. He undressed, kicked off his shoes, and climbed into bed. With a sweeping motion of his long arms, he pulled his wife into an embrace.

Tao Hua nestled comfortably in his arms, her soft arm draped across his chest. Savoring his reassuring scent, she gradually grew drowsy, having not had a good night's sleep for several days.

Wei Dahu lowered his head, planting kisses randomly on her forehead. His large hands roamed over her lower back, engaging in playful antics. Tao Hua, annoyed by his teasing, let out a quiet grumble, gently pinching his waist muscles that were firm and solid.

"Stop it," she mumbled.

"I miss you," he said.

"I miss you too," Tao Hua replied.

His hand on her lower back became bolder, and Tao Hua attempted to push him away but found her efforts futile. Her waistband loosened, and his hand slipped beneath it.

Outside, the trees in the rear mountain grove swayed violently under the howling wind, while the storm raged on relentlessly in the darkness. The commotion mirrored the lively atmosphere within their humble abode.

Raindrops pattered noisily into puddles, drowning out the fiery sounds of collision resonating within the house.

The next day, the smog dispersed, and the rain diminished.

Old Wei woke up early. The doors to the main hall and kitchen were tightly shut, and the house was eerily quiet. There was not a hint of movement from his son and daughter-in-law's quarters. He wandered into the kitchen; upon hearing the noise, Little Hu, wobbled to his feet from the stack of firewood and stumbled over to the eaves, stretching his limbs widely with a long yawn.

After washing his face, he fetched a poncho from the main hall, rolled up his pants, put on his straw sandals, and went to inspect his vegetable patch.

Big Hu followed a similar routine, first making his way to the kitchen to wash the dishes he had left from the previous night's meal before leisurely starting a fire to boil water.

Stuffing dry logs into the stove, he let them ignite on their own. With a cold splash of water on his face, he ventured outside under the light rain to pluck a willow branch for brushing his teeth. Seeing his father crouched in the vegetable field, he approached for a closer look. The seedlings had sprouted, but after the heavy downpour, they appeared crooked and uncertain if they would survive.

"How come you're up so early? Why not sleep a little more?" he asked while brushing his teeth.

Without turning his head, Old Wei replied, "Light sleeper. Couldn't sleep anymore."

"How can you have light sleep? Aren't old people supposed to need more sleep?" Big Hu mumbled indistinctly.

Old Wei casually formed a mud ball and threw it at his son's forehead. This incorrigible, tongue-tied boy should know better than to speak without thinking: "Your father hasn't reached that age yet!"

"Well, you're not too old to admit it."

"Frankly, I'd rather sleep more and stay healthy for a few more years." Wei Dahu sidestepped out of his way.

The elder Wei didn't bother responding, leaving Wei Dahu feeling ignored. He then returned to his wife's room to rouse some excitement.

After the commotion of the previous night, Tao Hua lingered in bed before finally getting up slowly. By the time Wei Dahu entered, she had just finished dressing and was bending down to put on her shoes. She felt aches all over, unable to find any comfort. Seeing this, Wei Dahu came over, squatted down in front of her, and took her fair little foot into his large hand, personally helping her slip on her shoe.

Finished with her shoe, he still didn't rise, instead gazing at her like that.

Tao Hua saw him from this new perspective for the first time, usually having to look up at him. Now, she could meet his eyes on equal footing. His big hand still held onto her right foot, which she struggled to free, but failed. Annoyed, she lightly kicked his palm, reproachfully saying, "Let go."

Wei Dahu dared only tease her lightly, fearing she would be upset and refuse to make breakfast. Hearing her, he promptly released her, obediently asking, "Honey, what do you want for breakfast?"

Seeing him blocking her path, Tao Hua pushed him aside. Reaching for a wooden comb on a small cabinet, she brushed her hair, then skillfully tied her long tresses up.

Ignoring the man behind her, she put down the comb and headed to the kitchen.

Wei Dahu followed closely, trying to please her, "Honey, I boiled hot water for you to wash your face. It's been cold these past two days, so don't use cold water, it's not good for your health."

Hmph, not even boiling water could soothe her now. Just thinking about what he had done last night made her cheeks flush with embarrassment and indignation.

Where did he learn all these tricks? Who taught him while he was out?

He couldn't have picked up bad habits, could he?