Chapter 039

Chapter 039

As the sky began to lighten, the Xiao family had already gathered together.

The men had all changed into their oldest clothes, quickly finished their meals, and some carried hoes while others hitched up the donkey carts. Those carrying seeds did so diligently, and after a flurry of activity, they all left the house in unison.

Since the main food for today had been prepared last night, the women were relatively relaxed.

Tong Sui had never been idle during the busy farming season. When her family planted crops, it was always her father and second brother who dug the furrows, while she and her mother sowed the seeds.

The Xiao family's land was vast. Tong Sui asked Lady He, "Should we also go help in the fields? We can come back half an hour earlier to prepare dinner."

Lady He: "Who would watch the house if everyone leaves? Although refugees can't enter now, there are still people in the village who like to steal. Our three courtyards need someone to keep an eye on them."

Xiao Yuchan: "Ever since I can remember, our family has never used women for fieldwork. Second Sister-in-Law, just enjoy your leisure with us."

For this reason alone, many young girls dreamed of marrying into the Xiao family. Even though Sun Xinghai was the patriarch of the Sun family and the head of the village, his family still required everyone, including women and children, to work in the fields.

Tong Sui: "Then who will watch over Grandfather's courtyard?"

Lady He: "If you're willing, you can do it."

She preferred staying in the West Court, where she could rest on the heated bed. In Grandfather's courtyard, she could only sit.

Tong Sui was more than happy to do so, as this way she could both watch the house and read openly.

First, she went back to the east wing, locked the inner and outer doors, and instructed Liu Chu to shout if anything seemed amiss. Then, Tong Sui came to the central courtyard and sat at the back door of the main hall, just like Xiao Zhen, overseeing both the front and back courtyards.

After a while, Lin Ningfang and Mianmian arrived. The private school had given a break for the busy farming season, so Lin Ningfang, having nothing else to do, offered to tutor Mianmian for a few days.

After greeting each other, the two entered the schoolroom.

Soon, Xiao Yuchan escorted Qi Yao over. She felt embarrassed to go in herself and told Qi Yao to find Lin Ningfang. However, Qi Yao, being clever despite his young age, sensed the tension between his grandmother and third aunt, hesitating to enter.

Tong Sui watched the mother and son tugging outside the west wing, as if watching a play.

Xiao Yuchan glared at her from afar, but Tong Sui just smiled.

At that moment, Mianmian opened the door and called out to Qi Yao, "Yao Ge Er, Third Aunt said you can come in and study with me, but you must behave and not cause trouble or disrupt sleep."

Qi Yao replied obediently, "Then I won't go."

Just as he finished speaking, Xiao Yuchan slapped his bottom and pushed him inside.

—

They spent the morning leisurely. As noon approached, the women reheated the stuffed buns and cooked a large pot of egg drop soup. With fewer eggs than broth, it was time to bring lunch to the men working in the fields.

There was too much to carry: a basket with stuffed buns and utensils, a large pot of soup, and a large bucket for leftovers. The two donkeys that plowed the fields were also deserving of praise!

Lady He looked at the four young women, "I'll stay home. Who will go?"

The noon sun was intense, and even standing in the courtyard felt hot. Xiao Yuchan was reluctant, but considering Lin Ningfang's temper and her slender arms, she knew Lin Ningfang couldn't carry heavy items far. She pouted and said, "Mother, there's no point asking. It has to be me, Big Sister-in-Law, and Second Sister-in-Law."

Lin Ningfang wanted to work alongside Tong Sui and Liu Chu and was about to speak, but Lady He glanced at her, "You'd better not. You'd just be a hindrance."

If Lin Ningfang were to struggle carrying things to the field, her husband and son would blame her for mistreating their delicate daughter-in-law.

Xiao Yuchan grabbed the basket with the food.

Tong Sui and Liu Chu each carried a bucket, following behind Xiao Yuchan.

The Xiao family's land was extensive. Despite trying to consolidate it into one area when they bought it, it was still divided into four major sections across the four directions.

These past two days, they were planting corn, which was located in the southeast part of the village. From the Xiao residence, it was over a mile away.

Tong Sui observed the fields along the roadside.

The terrain was flat and stretched endlessly, with villagers bustling about everywhere. The war had ended less than a year ago, and most of the oxen previously owned by the villagers had been stolen or eaten. New calves were still too young to be useful, and occasionally, one could see families using donkeys to plow, like the Xiao family, indicating they were wealthy households.

Some families were already eating under the shade of trees by the fields and greeted them as they passed by.

Xiao Yuchan suddenly chuckled, a sound that indicated something interesting was happening.

Tong Sui looked ahead and saw Sun Dian's family about fifty steps away. Everyone else was fine, but Sun Dian stood by the roadside, holding a bowl and staring longingly at Liu Chu.

Such a robust and imposing man was hard to ignore.

Liu Chu walked to the side farthest from Sun Dian.

Tong Sui noticed Sun Dian take a step forward but then hesitated and stayed put, watching Liu Chu without saying a word.

Even as the three women passed by, Sun Dian only stared at Liu Chu, not uttering a single word.

Xiao Yuchan remarked curiously, "That's strange. Has Sun Dian changed his ways? He used to ask about Big Sister-in-Law whenever he saw me, but today, seeing her in person, he's acting so restrained."

Liu Chu couldn't explain, but Tong Sui admired Sun Dian for keeping his promise and not disturbing Liu Chu in public.

Switching arms several times while carrying the buckets, Tong Sui started sweating before they finally reached the Xiao family's field.

The Xiao family members were still working.

Although Xiao Mu and Xiao Shouyi were strong, their age meant their endurance wasn't as good as the younger ones, so they each used a donkey to plow. As martial artists, they were skilled at farming; unlike other families that needed two people—one to guide the plow and one to lead the donkey—Xiao Mu and his son worked independently, with the donkeys trained to obey them perfectly.

This was the first time Tong Sui had seen donkeys plowing up close. She noticed that although the donkeys moved faster, they didn't plow as deep as oxen, but it was sufficient.

While both could plow, donkeys required grain in addition to grass, which ordinary families couldn't afford. Thus, they preferred raising oxen, which could survive on grass alone.

Xiao Zhen and his three brothers, along with the two refugees, were digging trenches with hoes.

Xiao Yan, Xiao Ye, and Xiao She all took off their shirts, revealing their sweaty, glistening arms. Xiao Zhen merely rolled up his sleeves.

The two vagrants had already been intimidated by the martial prowess of the Xiao men. With the promise of food for their labor, they worked diligently without any thoughts of escape. Even if they tried to run, it would be futile, as the entire Lingshui Village was filled with farmers. A shout of "Catch them!" would surely gather the villagers to surround and subdue the vagrants.

Xiao Yuchan put down what she was holding and called out to the old man, "Grandfather, come have dinner!"

As Xiao Mu led the donkey toward the edge of the field, the others gradually put down their tools and gathered around.

"Put these on."

Xiao Zhen arrived first and picked up the shirts his brothers had discarded at the edge of the field, tossing them one by one.

After all, there were two sisters-in-law present, one of whom had only recently married in. The three brothers obediently put their shirts back on.

Liu Chu went to feed the two donkeys, while Tong Sui and Xiao Yuchan distributed bread and ladled soup for the men.

Xiao Zhen held his bowl and deliberately sat a bit farther away.

Tong Sui, having finished her tasks, couldn't stay with the elders, so she sat next to him.

Despite having only plowed half a day, Xiao Zhen's face had already darkened from prolonged exposure to the sun. As he drank his soup, a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.

Tong Sui instinctively pulled out a handkerchief and wiped it for him.

Xiao Zhen turned to look at her.

Tong Sui blushed and was about to turn away when Xiao Yan suddenly coughed loudly, drawing her attention. Xiao Yan was indeed looking their way.

Tong Sui pursed her lips and moved closer, using Xiao Zhen's body to shield herself.

Xiao Zhen glanced at his Third Younger Brother.

Xiao Yan, who was drinking salty egg drop soup, felt as if he had swallowed a bowlful of vinegar.

Look at Second Brother; that's what it means to have a wife. He has someone to warm his bed at night and bring him food and wipe his sweat during the day. As for him, after working hard all morning, he couldn't even see his wife's shadow.

Seeing that Xiao Yan had calmed down, Xiao Zhen continued talking to his young wife, "Was it tiring walking over here?"

Tong Sui: "This short distance is much easier than climbing a mountain. But you all, didn't we have straw hats at home? Why aren't you wearing them?"

Xiao Zhen: "Those are for rainy days. They're too heavy. It's better to save energy for work."

Tong Sui nodded toward the old man and Xiao She, "There are only two straw hats at home?"

Straw hats made from wheat stalks are light and provide good shade.

Xiao Zhen explained, "Our old ones broke. When we returned last year, the autumn harvest was already over, so we forgot to buy new ones."

While they were fighting outside, only the old man and Fifth Younger Brother were left to farm, planting whatever they could during the chaos of war. The yield was entirely dependent on luck.

Tong Sui: "I can weave them. I'll work on it this afternoon and should be able to make three."

Xiao Zhen: "No need to overexert yourself. Just make two for me and Second Uncle."

Tong Sui smiled.

After finishing their meal, the men sat at the edge of the field to rest. Tong Sui and the other women carried their empty baskets and buckets back home. On the way, passing some willow trees, Tong Sui called Liu Chu and Xiao Yuchan to join her in gathering willow branches, specifically choosing those that were neither too thick nor too thin. "I'll weave a few straw hats for Second Uncle and the others."

Xiao Yuchan: "You can weave these too?"

Tong Sui: "I learned from my grandmother when I was young. She was skilled and could weave baskets and crates."

Sadly, the little old lady passed away in the first year of the war.

Willow branches were used to form the frame of the straw hats. After returning home, Tong Sui went to the old pile of wheat stalks in the woodshed and collected a full basket of long, good stalks.

Liu Chu wanted to learn but lacked the talent. Afraid of wasting the wheat stalks, Tong Sui asked her to rest inside.

Weaving for a while, then taking a break, and collecting more wheat stalks when needed, by dusk, she had only managed to make two hats.

Tong Sui smiled bitterly, realizing she hadn't woven anything in years and her skills had grown rusty.

Huo Shi, along with Xiao Yuchan and Liu Chu, had already prepared the stuffed buns for tomorrow, sparing Tong Sui since she was busy with something important.

As night fell, the men returned, their usually robust figures now slightly hunched from a day's labor. The women quickly set the dinner table.

The men ate silently, focusing solely on their food, and afterward, each went to their respective rooms to wash up.

After finishing her chores, Tong Sui returned to the east wing and found Xiao Zhen already lying down, bare-chested with no blanket, beside the hat she had woven.

Seeing that he was awake, she asked, "Have you tried it on? Is it too small?"

Xiao Zhen looked at her and said, "It fits perfectly. Mianmian told me you spent the whole afternoon on this. Don't do it again tomorrow."

Standing or sitting for too long can cause back pain.

Tong Sui smiled, "Second Uncle has one, but Fourth Younger Brother doesn't. If he feels neglected, Second Aunt will surely nag me about it tomorrow."

Xiao Yan was also working for the family, and Tong Sui didn't mind taking care of him.

Xiao Zhen remarked meaningfully, "You're still not tired enough."

At first, Tong Sui didn't understand, but when she finished washing up and climbed into bed, being pulled into Xiao Zhen's embrace, she gritted her teeth and said, "Neither are you."

Xiao Zhen thought, precisely because of the exhaustion during the day, they sought comfort at night.