Chapter 28

Chapter 28

The weather seemed to have suddenly turned cold. Just a couple of days ago, it was so hot that one couldn't even wear clothes comfortably; this morning, dew had fallen, and the leaves on the mountains were starting to turn yellow.

Lu Yao planned to make some clothes in the next few days. With his previous experience, he didn't ask Aunt Tian'er to cut the patterns this time. It's better to rely on oneself than others, besides, every scrap of cloth has its uses.

The cloth bought from the store came as a single piece. If measured by modern standards, it would be about six and a half meters long and around one meter twenty wide.

The cotton fabric was a deep brown color, durable and resistant to dirt. Most coarse fabrics were this dark shade since common folk worked daily, and even the prettiest clothes wouldn't last under constant wear and tear.

This piece of cloth should be enough to make a set of clothes for each of the three siblings. Lu Yao himself didn't plan to make any new clothes; he already had plenty, including three pieces brought from his wedding, two thin ones that could be layered when it got colder, and a thick cotton coat for winter.

Following the pattern of their old clothes, Lu Yao quickly cut out the pants for all three, making the waistbands with drawstrings.

For the tops, Lu Yao didn't intend to follow the ancient style. He wanted to leave less fabric for the front placket, using the remaining material to sew collars to block the wind and add pockets for convenience.

Ancient garments didn't have pockets; items were either tucked into the front placket or sleeves, which was quite inconvenient. With these two pockets, even if they didn't carry anything, they could still keep their hands warm.

After planning, he mimicked Aunt Tian'er by using a burnt charcoal stick to sketch on the cloth, finally determining the dimensions and cutting them out.

The rest was a long sewing process. Fortunately, there wasn't much entertainment in ancient times, so during the day, after selling tofu, he would work on the clothes, and at night, after finishing tofu-making, he would continue sewing.

These days, Zhao Beichuan had been going to the fields every day. The millet was almost ripe, and many wild birds had started flying around, causing damage within minutes if left unattended.

The crops on the slopes this year were growing well, expected to yield at least ten dan of grain. The lower slopes weren't doing as well, barely managing five dan.

Fifteen dan of grain sounds like a lot, but a fifth had to be paid as tax to the government, leaving the rest for their own use. After deducting seed costs and other expenses, it was barely enough for four people to survive the year, leaving no savings.

That's why life was hard for common folk; there was simply no way around it.

In the afternoon, Zhao Beichuan returned from the fields carrying his hoe. As soon as he entered the courtyard, Lu Yao called him over, "Wash your hands and come try on the new clothes!"

"Okay." He immediately put down the hoe, scooped some water to wash his hands, and hurriedly went inside.

"Take off your clothes and see if the new ones fit."

Zhao Beichuan untied his belt and swiftly removed his old clothes, putting on the new ones handed by Lu Yao.

"They look good," he said, feeling awkward in the new clothes, constantly rubbing the fabric.

Since his mother's death, no one had made clothes for him. The clothes he wore now were hand-me-downs from his father, patched up and barely recognizable.

Lu Yao helped adjust the front placket. "The size fits well, just the sleeves are a bit long. Take them off, and I'll shorten them."

Zhao Beichuan hesitated to take them off. "The sleeves aren't too long; I can roll them up."

"I'll sew a few stitches to make it easier for you to work," Lu Yao said, pulling his hand and rolling the sleeves inward an inch before sewing them.

They were standing close, and Lu Yao's warm breath brushed against his arm, making Zhao Beichuan's heart race faster.

"Done. Let's try the pants..." Lu Yao looked down and saw his bulging pants, his eyes widening.

Zhao Beichuan's face turned beet red, and he rushed out, leaving Lu Yao standing there, bewildered by the size of Little Beichuan...

*

In the afternoon, Lu's father delivered the stone mill, which took him half a month to carve.

The round millstones had a groove carved underneath, allowing the soy milk to flow smoothly, reducing waste.

Lu Yao tried it out. The new mill not only required less effort but also produced smoother soy milk.

"Dad, your craftsmanship is impressive, better than the stonemasons in town!"

Lu Guangsheng proudly replied, "It's simple, just time-consuming. I finished it before the harvest."

"How's tofu sales?"

"Pretty good. We sell about one slab a day, keeping what's left for ourselves."

Lu Guangsheng added, "Sales are great. Your tofu is famous now. Many villagers have asked me how you make it and when you'll start selling in Lujia Village."

Lu Yao thought, "We could sell there, but we need someone to transport the tofu." The villages were five or six miles apart, mostly mountain roads, which would exhaust anyone pushing a wooden cart.

"We're thinking of saving money to buy a mule cart. Then we can sell in nearby villages."

"A mule cart would be useful for the fields too." Lu Guangsheng spoke a bit more and then prepared to leave.

"Stay for lunch. I'll have Da Chuan get you some wine."

"No need. There's still work to do at home. I need to go back."

Last time, he drank too much and got into a big argument with Grandma Lu, who scolded him for being too eager for alcohol, saying it made him look bad in front of potential in-laws with two unmarried daughters.

Though Lu Guangsheng was unhappy, he felt a bit regretful, fearing it might embarrass Lu Yao in front of his husband.

After sending off his father, Zhao Beichuan returned with his hoe.

"How are the crops in the field?" Lu Yao washed the bean bags, which needed cleaning daily to prevent spoiling.

"The millet is ripe; we can harvest it in a day or two." Zhao Beichuan took out a stack of sacks to hold the millet, many of which needed patching due to rodent damage.

Lu Yao noticed him threading a needle. "Leave those; I'll patch them later."

"Okay." Zhao Beichuan put down the needle and started sawing wood. Lu Yao had told him to make another mold for winter tofu production.

Zhao Xiaonian and Zhao Xiaodou squatted beside them, sorting beans. The beans they traded often contained chaff and stones, which needed to be picked out for easier tofu-making.

Several chickens circled the children, rushing to grab any spoiled beans thrown out.

After sorting the beans, Lu Yao sent the children to play outside. Once they left, he said, "Zhao Beichuan, come here."

"What's up?"

"Can't I sit closer to you?"

Zhao Beichuan blushed and moved his things closer.

Lu Yao nudged him with his elbow. "Let's go to the fields together tomorrow to harvest the grain."

"No need. Our land isn't much; I can manage alone."

"It'll be faster with two people."

Zhao Beichuan's face reddened again. "You should stay home and sell tofu; it earns more than farming."

"That's true. Everyone is busy harvesting and doesn't have time to cook, so tofu will sell better." Besides, Lu Yao had a new mill, which was less tiring to use, allowing him to grind beans for an hour without much effort.

"The work in the fields is hard on you."

Zhao Beichuan shook his head. He didn't find it hard. Before Lu Yao came, he did everything by himself. Back then, he was younger and not as strong as he is now, so he found it even easier now.

Zhao Beichuan: "I'm thinking of helping my father-in-law after we finish harvesting our own land."

"Tsk, no wonder my father likes you so much. You're really good at flattery."

Zhao Beichuan said seriously, "My father-in-law is getting older, and Second Brother has trouble with his legs. They helped me build the house without asking for payment, so I naturally want to help them in return."

Lu Yao stopped teasing him. The two worked side by side, each doing their own tasks, amidst a subtle yet intimate atmosphere.

*

In recent days, every household was busy harvesting crops. Even the half-grown children weren't playing around anymore; they followed the adults to the fields to pick up fallen grains and wheat stalks.

Looking around, the fields were bustling with people. Golden crops were being cut down, bundled, and packed into bags.

Millet, also known as xiaomi or sorghum, has been nourishing the Chinese people for centuries. When mature, millet can grow as long as an adult's hand and as thick as a thumb, covered with tiny seeds. "One grain sown in spring yields ten thousand in autumn" refers to this crop.

The Zhao family had over ten acres planted with millet. The fields below the mountain were waterlogged, so Zhao Beichuan replanted some wheat, which wasn't fully grown yet. For now, they could only harvest the millet.

Zhao Beichuan was skilled at farm work, swift and efficient. While others were still cutting one row, he was almost done with the second.

During a break, a few farmers joked, "Da Chuan, are you hurrying back home to see your husband?"

Zhao Beichuan didn't respond, but he was indeed thinking about Lu Yao. After finishing the harvest... Zhao Beichuan's gaze fell on his siblings. It was time for them to sleep on their own.

Zhao Xiaonian and Zhao Xiaodou didn't realize they were becoming a nuisance. They were enthusiastically picking up the fallen grains.

Many ripe millet grains had been pecked off by birds. Not picking them would be a waste. This task was too tedious for adults but perfect for children, who could quickly fill a basket with their nimble bodies.

By midday, Lu Yao arrived with a willow basket full of food: three gray flour pancakes and a bowl of scallion tofu.

The gray flour was exchanged for beans, three measures of beans for one measure of flour. Baking pancakes in a clay pot was challenging, as the pot couldn't be heated too intensely for fear of burning. Thus, they had to wait for it to heat up gradually.

Despite the difficulty, the pancakes tasted good. Lu Yao had eaten one at home, adding a bit of oil to make them soft and fluffy.

"Sister-in-law, look how many stalks I picked!" Zhao Xiaonian and Zhao Xiaodou ran over.

"Wow, impressive! Are you hungry? Go call your brother for lunch."

"Big Brother, it's time to eat!"

Zhao Beichuan straightened up, put down his sickle, and walked over.

His clothes were drenched in sweat, so he took them off and tied them around his waist. His tanned skin glistened with sweat, looking particularly alluring.

Lu Yao licked his lips and handed him a water pouch. "Drink some water first and cool off."

Zhao Beichuan raised his head and drank heartily, with droplets of water trickling down his neck onto his chest...

Lu Yao stared intently, wishing he could touch him.

Zhao Beichuan blushed under his intense gaze and quickly squatted down to bite into a pancake.

Not far away, Song Changshun was watching them, his gaze glued to Lu Yao. Why did Lu Yao look so handsome compared to other husbands? Even through his clothes, one could see how slender his waist was.

Thinking back to his former husband Lin Daman, who was tall and strong but lacked any tenderness, their intimate moments felt more like a fight than anything enjoyable.

Later, when he got involved with Song Changshun, he experienced a few days of pleasure. Unfortunately, their affair was discovered. Seeing Lu Yao now, he felt a burning desire that wouldn't go away, making him want to pounce on him and lavish him with affection.

Lu Yao sensed someone staring at him and turned to see Song Changshun's lecherous face.

It made him shudder, and he quickly left with the empty basket.

On his way back, he unexpectedly ran into a familiar face: Lin Daman, his former husband.

"Daman Ge, you're back."

Lin Daman looked up upon hearing his voice. "Lu brother."

"Come in and sit down. What brings you here?"

Lin Daman hesitated as he followed Lu Yao into the courtyard. "When we separated, the Village Headman said I'd get half the yield from the fields. I have some free time, so I came to check when the harvest would be finished."

Lin Daman's family lived over ten miles away, making frequent visits difficult.

"Have you eaten lunch? There's still some tofu left. I can warm it up for you."

"No, no, don't bother. I'm not hungry." Despite his words, his stomach growled, turning his face red. "I left in a hurry this morning without eating."

Lu Yao warmed up the tofu and added some rice to cook a bowl of porridge.

He noticed that Lin Daman had lost weight and seemed less fiery than before. The vigor he once showed when dealing with Song Changshun was gone.

After their separation, Lin Daman returned to his parents' village with his two children, expecting support from his family. Instead, they chased him out, calling him a disgrace and telling him to beg the Song family for forgiveness.

Lin Daman never expected such a reaction. It was Song Changshun who had committed the wrong, yet he was blamed. He cried bitterly, feeling betrayed.

With nowhere to stay, the three of them lived in an abandoned temple in the village. They survived by buying some beans and millet from others, often going hungry.

Sometimes, Lin Daman wondered if he had made a mistake. If he hadn't separated, his children would have had a place to live. Now, they followed him, enduring hardships and hunger.

When Lu Yao handed him a steaming bowl of millet porridge, Lin Daman couldn't hold back his tears.

"Are you facing any difficulties? Feel free to share. If I can help, I will do my best."

Lin Daman wiped his tears. "They... all think I'm a disgrace... But I didn't cheat... I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I be ashamed of separating?"

"My parents are so heartless. They don't care about me... or even Xiaochun and Xiaodong... They kicked us out without a second thought. Seeing them starving..." Lin Daman sobbed, pouring out his grievances.

Lu Yao didn't expect Lin Daman to be in such a situation.

"Where are the children now?"

"They're staying in the abandoned temple in our village. I'll go back soon. Can I take this tofu with me? They haven't eaten either."

Feeling embarrassed, Lin Daman lowered his head. Without money, dignity vanished, and he had to set aside his pride for food.

Lu Yao frowned, pondering for a moment. "Daman Ge, do you want to earn money to support yourself?"

"Huh?"

"Why don't you help me make tofu?"

Lu Yao wasn't acting on impulse. He had been considering this idea for a while. Tofu-making was profitable, but he and Zhao Beichuan couldn't manage it alone due to their other responsibilities and farm work.

Zhao Xiaonian and Zhao Xiaodou are still too young; it will be several years before they grow up.

Hiring someone else doesn't sit well with Lu Yao. Making tofu isn't difficult; after a few days of learning, he's sure to master it. When more people start selling it, the price will naturally drop.

Currently, Lin Daman is the most suitable person for the job. He has no house or land, and after his divorce, he was betrayed by his family. He also has two young children in his care.

As long as Lu Yao provides him with shelter and food, Lin Daman will undoubtedly work hard to help establish the tofu business. Even if he harbors any thoughts of starting his own venture, he lacks the capital to do so.

"Can it really work?" Lin Daman, too excited to eat, grasped Lu Yao's hand.

"I need to discuss this with Da Chuan first. Come back tomorrow, and I'll give you a definite answer."

"Hmm! If this works out... if it does, I'll remember your kindness!"

Before leaving, Lu Yao packed up the remaining tofu and scooped a bowl of millet for him, instructing him to borrow a place to cook some porridge for the children.