Chapter 91

Chapter 91

With that, Zhao Xiaobao lifted her little head, her eyes sparkling as she looked at her parents, waiting for praise.

Her mother often grumbled that the mystical realm could only accommodate one person at a time, so there was no one to help with the work, which was really inconvenient. But now she could! When her father was working, she could bring her mother in too. Then she and her mother could watch her father work and talk to him. Heheh, her father would surely be very happy.

Whether or not her father was happy, her mother, Wang-shi, was truly delighted. She immediately bent down, cupping her daughter's face in both hands, heaping praise on her before saying, "Today is Xiaobao's birthday, yet it's my dream that's come true. My precious, how did the mystical realm suddenly allow two people to enter? Is it hard on you? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?" While the convenience was nice, she was more worried about whether this sudden change would impact her daughter. She didn't know if it was her imagination, but although all children love sleep—which is normal—she always felt Xiaobao slept more than the other kids. She slept until the sun was high every day, sometimes even until noon before waking up. They couldn't wake her no matter how hard they tried. If it weren't for hearing her breathing, it would be terrifying.

It was like she'd used up all her energy somewhere else and needed sleep to recover.

"No, Xiaobao is perfectly fine." Zhao Xiaobao thumped her little chest, grinning to show her little white teeth for a moment. Then, taking one of her parents' hands in each of hers, she led them to the peach tree and pointed at the two tiny peaches, each the size of a little finger, on the branches. "Dad, Mom, look! New peaches!"

Her parents looked up and saw that beside the only remaining peach of immortality, two small peaches had appeared at some point. They were so small you'd miss them if you weren't looking carefully.

The peach tree originally bore three peaches. One was picked during the earthquake, sliced thin, and fed to Er Lai, Chun Ya, and Widow Lü, who were clinging to life after being hit by a beam. Another was when Zhao Dashan was poisoned; Zhao Xiaobao ate half and fed the other half to her eldest brother. She kept the peach pit, secretly burying it in a hole beside the peach tree, because she'd heard someone say that doing so would grow a new peach tree.

Of course, no new tree sprouted, but two small green peaches appeared on the original tree.

The third peach was the plump, round, pinkish peach on the branch, it looked just like a peach of immortality—large and round, with the tip and entire body tinged a delicate pink, emitting a fragrance so rich it could be smelled even from the newly opened four acres of land.

The first peach was picked before it ripened. Old Man Zhao still remembered its scent. Compared to this ripe, giant peach of immortality before them now, it was like the difference between a princess and a maid.

He'd secretly regretted it before—how much better it would've been to pick it after it ripened; surely the effects would have been different. Such an extraordinary peach would probably only bear three in a lifetime. He wished he'd saved it, keeping it for critical moments to save lives.

Later, seeing his daughter's plump, round face, he made his peace with it. What 'critical moments'? If Xiaobao wanted to eat it, that was the critical moment. Save people? If your time isn't up, even if the King of Hell hooked your neck, he couldn't drag you away. If your luck has run out, even if you ate a peach, you'd still die. You can't rely on peaches for everything—that's a bad way of thinking.

Just when he had finally convinced himself, two more peaches appeared on the tree. His trembling heart was so excited his fingers shook. That was one thing, but if picking them meant more would grow, providing an endless supply of new peaches, that would be a godsend!

His daughter, the little deity, was really coming into her own. Good news kept coming one after another. Wonderful, wonderful!

"Xiaobao, will these two peaches take another three years to grow?" he murmured, gazing at the two small green peaches. "Even if it takes three years, it's fine. We can wait, as long as they're willing to grow!"

"I don't know. They'll take their time." Zhao Xiaobao got a crick in her neck from looking up, so she stopped and pulled her parents toward the four newly opened acres of land. "Dad, Mom, when the new peaches ripen, Xiaobao will pick them for you to eat. Eat more peaches, don't get sick, live a long life!"

"Good, good, good. Dad wants to live a long life, to always watch our Xiaobao grow up." Old Man Zhao laughed, his smile wide and unreserved, following his daughter's weak pull as she led him along the field ridge. He couldn't help but get to thinking about the old days. "Xiaobao is Dad's youngest child. Dad was also the youngest once, but I was less fortunate than you. Your grandparents passed away early, so I didn't get to enjoy much parental love. Your uncles and aunts weren't good people. They didn't even raise their own children and grandchildren well. Dad suffered greatly at their hands. Although your brothers, sisters-in-law, and nephews aren't like them and seem decent now—simple and honest—no one compares to your own parents. Everyone has their own thoughts, which is normal. Your mother and I know this and don't blame them; we just try to be fair... I don't want Xiaobao to suffer the hardships I endured, so Dad needs to eat more peaches and stay with Xiaobao longer. Dad can only rest easy when Xiaobao is all grown up, becomes more capable, and can live well even without Mom and Dad."

On the field ridge, the family of three walked slowly. The wind rustled the green rice seedlings, carrying away their murmured conversation.

Here, it was just the three of them. Old Man Zhao spoke words he would never reveal outside.

If his sons and daughters-in-law heard these words, they would all shed tears, thinking their father didn't trust them to treat their little sister well, that he thought poorly of them. Truth was, he didn't really trust them; Old Man Zhao was a bit narrow-minded, mainly because he had suffered this hardship himself.

He went on like this for a bit, and Wang-shi didn't interrupt, knowing the hidden pain in his heart.

Zhao Xiaobao didn't understand the deeper meaning behind his words. She just gently shook the large hand holding hers and beamed a silly smile. "Dad, Xiaobao will definitely give you more peaches to eat and become more capable."

"Good, good, good. Dad believes in Xiaobao." Old Man Zhao was deeply moved.

"Then Dad should close his eyes and sleep peacefully. Snore a little softer; it disturbs Xiaobao."

Her daughter's innocent, playful words made Old Man Zhao laugh heartily. His rough palm rubbed her little head back and forth. "My little birthday girl should always be carefree and happy like this, with no worries, waking up to clothes to wear, food to eat, and money to spend. Let others handle the hard work. In this life, we should just enjoy our blessings!"

This was the deepest wish of an aging father for his youngest daughter, who had only been in this world for a few years.

She was born extraordinary and deserved to enjoy life.

Wang-shi shook the hand her daughter was holding and said with a smile, "Your dad said everything I wanted to say. Mom has nothing left to say."

"Mom has something to say. Mom says she likes Xiaobao the most!" Zhao Xiaobao looked up at her expectantly.

"Haha, Mom likes my Xiaobao the most." Wang-shi laughed, stroking her little face. "Stay healthy forever."

"Mm!" Zhao Xiaobao nodded vigorously. She would stay healthy, happy, and always listen to her parents.

As they talked, they reached the newly opened four acres of land.

The family of three sat on the field ridge, with Dad on the left and Mom on the right. Zhao Xiaobao looked at her dad, then at her mom, happily swinging her little feet. She was so happy.

With a wave of her little hand, a small basket filled with red ground fruit appeared. Wang-shi and Old Man Zhao didn't hesitate, each grabbing a handful. They ate while discussing future plans.

They temporarily set aside thoughts of the great drought; there was nothing they could change, so they had to brace themselves and endure.

Wang-shi said, "When the weather warms up, we'll need to prepare for spring planting outside. Whether the great drought happens this year or not, we still have to plant crops. We can't stop living our lives because of something that hasn't happened yet."

"But we need to find a way to deal with wildfires and beasts coming down the mountain." Wang-shi spat out the fruit skin in her mouth. "Here's what I think: after spring planting, let Xiao Wu and the others go cut the grass in the forest where the fire starts. Since we go into the mountains every day for firewood anyway, we might as well have the boys handle this. Also, let's cut down some trees behind our house to clear some space. A fire in the mountains absolutely cannot happen. For our family, this is even more serious than a water shortage in the fields."

Old Man Zhao nodded, peeling a fruit and feeding it to his daughter. After she ate it, he took another and started peeling it. "Let the village kids join too—Er Lai, Donkey, Dagouzi, and the others. They're all mischievous; give them something to do. I'll go talk to Da He and the other families later. First, clear the area behind our house, then the sandy area. If necessary, cut down some more trees. We just can't let a fire start." The work wasn't easy. Weeds grew back the day after you cut them. They had no better solution, so they had to use this clumsy method.

Whether it worked or not, they'd do it first.

"As for the beasts coming down the mountain, we can't just watch. Xiaobao didn't dream of wild boars hurting people, and the wolves only occupied the riverbank, but these things are terrifying. There are many village kids; one might get snatched away if they're not careful." Not only do wolves eat people, but wild boars do too. If they're coming down the mountain, maybe even more dangerous creatures will follow. If the drought gets so severe that not a drop of water can be found in the mountains, it won't just be villages fighting over water—it'll be people against people, beasts against beasts, and beasts against people. "Should we build a sturdy outer wall for our house? Make it high enough so wild boars can't knock it down and wolves can't jump over."

"We can build one, but not now. It would raise suspicions." Old Man Zhao thought for a moment. "Let's wait and see if the heavy rain comes this year. If it does, we'll build it at the start of summer. If the village asks, we'll say we're worried about wild boars coming down the mountain because of the strange weather. Our house is at the foot of the mountain, and we have many kids, so we're not at ease."

Wang-shi nodded. "Alright."

Zhao Xiaobao held the small basket filled with wild fruits, occasionally being fed by her parents, listening obediently to their conversation.

"It's hard to talk to the village about the drought, and it's not easy to bring it up with the in-laws either. Digging another well now would be too conspicuous. Xiaobao said even the old well eventually ran dry, so digging a new one wouldn't help much." Old Man Zhao sighed. "Later, we'll talk to Da He and the others. Regardless of anything else, they must stock up on grain. It's best to exchange all the remaining new grain for stored grain. As for the in-laws, let the eldest and the others take their wives back to their parents' homes. Talk about grain—exchange if they have it, and hide the grain securely. Don't lend it to others. If a great drought really hits, who knows what will happen to the fields? We might not harvest a single grain."

Last year, the weather was good, and the harvest was plentiful, so they wouldn't go hungry this year. But if this year's harvest was poor, next year would be unbearable.

Country folk had few ways to earn money; selling new grain was one of the few ways to make some silver for daily expenses. All three in-laws were hardworking and honest. After the conscription last year, they sent word not to sell the new grain from this year's harvest but to keep it. He figured they listened, but he was afraid the women in their families might be tempted to exchange it for money.

Women managed the household expenses—food, clothing, weddings, and dowries—all requiring money. Watching the money box only empty out would surely make them anxious. But with harder times ahead in the coming years, grain would definitely be scarce. If they sold it this year and next year's crops failed, grain shops in town would likely raise prices sharply.

Merchants chased profits. Natural disasters and human calamities hurt the common people but enriched them!

Old Man Zhao feared that even with money, they might not be able to buy grain later. By then, half a bag of grain could buy a young girl as a wife. Life for the poor would only get harder.

Wang-shi understood the seriousness of the matter and said decisively, "Tomorrow, let the eldest and the others take their wives back. We'll also remind our daughters-in-law to explain the situation clearly to their mothers." A son-in-law's words might not carry much weight, but a daughter's words certainly would. Even if they couldn't speak openly, women had their own ways of communicating. She believed the mothers-in-law would take it seriously.

If they didn't give advance notice and the in-laws ran out of grain next year, they would surely come to borrow. If that day came, their family would definitely lend, but it was best to avoid that situation altogether. Helping each other was right, but it was better to prevent it if possible. On the surface, their family wasn't doing well either; they couldn't afford to give away too much.

As for whether the daughters-in-law would favor their birth families, Wang-shi never worried about that. It was normal to do so. What kind of person would a daughter be if she didn't care about her own parents?

She would rather put in more effort to maintain good relations with the in-laws, for the sake of her daughters-in-law and grandchildren. If you wanted your daughters-in-law to respect you from the heart, you had to be a good mother-in-law too.

Interests could bind everyone on the same boat, but only sincerity could foster mutual trust. She firmly believed this.

She was willing to lend a hand to the in-laws for the sake of her daughters-in-law and grandchildren.

After settling this matter, they moved on to buying an ox.

When the weather warmed up, they would need to prepare seedlings and level the land not only outside but also for these four acres in front of them.

Since they knew the great drought would cause grain shortages, they naturally needed to open up more wasteland for planting.

"Our family has the means, so let's open up as much wasteland as possible. As long as we have plenty of grain and our granaries are full, we won't fear any great drought or war." Wang-shi said, "With Xiao Wu and the others cutting grass in the back mountains, we'll be short a few laborers. You mentioned buying an ox earlier. I've thought about it, and it's feasible. Buy one to help with opening wasteland and plowing. It'll make things easier for you and the boys."

"Then what do we do with the ox after we buy it? Keep it outside or in the Blessed Land?"

The court strictly controls farm oxen. Buying an ox requires reporting to the officials, and someone in charge might even come to the village to inspect it. Except for oxen that die of old age or illness, killing one for any other reason is forbidden. Even if an ox is too old to work, slaughtering it for meat while it's still alive is against the law. If you were turned in to the authorities, you'd face beatings and jail time.

In serious cases, it could even mean the death penalty or exile and forced into military service—a scary thought.

Of course, farmers usually don't slaughter their plow oxen, partly out of fear, partly because they can't bear to. Marrying a wife costs only a few taels of silver, but buying an ox costs over ten taels. To put it bluntly, an ox is more valuable than a person.

Killing an ox is practically like killing your own family.

"Of course, keep it in the Blessed Land. Why keep it outside? With so many strong hands in our family and just a few acres of land, what do we need an ox for?" Although Old Man Zhao was eager to show off to the villagers, common sense won out. If he brought the ox back, people would immediately start saying he'd lost his mind.

With the little land in their village, honestly, it'd be a waste of an ox.

Such a tiny plot of land—how lazy must someone be to rely on an ox to do the work!

His wife also thought it was better to keep the ox in the Blessed Land, but the problem was: "What if someone comes down to inspect the ox? Can we just suddenly bring it out? And if the villagers ask about it, what do we say?"

Old Man Zhao was also stumped, hesitating as he said, "Our village is so remote. After reporting it, would anyone really have nothing better to do than travel all the way here to check?" Even the recruiting officers thought it was too far, considering the round trip not worth the effort.

His wife looked at him, and Old Man Zhao looked back at her. Neither could guarantee it!

"Mom, we need to buy a donkey too," Zhao Xiaobao tugged at her mother's clothes, whining playfully. "Dad promised Xiaobao we'd buy an ox and a donkey."

A donkey—acquiring assets is no small matter, especially for expensive items like oxen and donkeys, which cost over ten taels of silver at a time. His wife counted on her fingers and thought it was feasible. Donkeys are gentle, can climb mountains, and carry heavy loads. During busy seasons like the autumn harvest, the grain can be carried by them to the threshing ground. Besides, there are four acres of newly cleared land in front of them, and more will be cleared in the future. Although two people can now enter at once, the threshing ground in the Blessed Land is on a cliff. Carrying grain from the fields or bringing it back after drying is no easy task. Having a donkey to help would make things much easier.

The donkey can be kept outside. With a cart attached, it becomes a donkey cart. Even though the road in their village is impassable for donkey carts, it might come in handy someday.

After all, her husband and daughter had mentioned earlier that wealthy families in Shilin Town were planning to relocate their entire clans.

Suppose, just suppose, the prefect's soldiers lose the war.

His wife pressed her hand against her wildly beating heart and thought, if Qingzhou Prefecture falls, life for ordinary folks will surely become impossible. When everyone flees, their family will have to run too.

Those who stay behind will only suffer more.

"Buy it!" She patted her daughter's head, looked at her husband, and made up her mind. "Forget it, we'll buy it now and figure it out later. If this year turns out to be a severe drought, who would have the time to come to the countryside to inspect oxen? They'd probably be too busy guarding the wells."

Xiaobao had said that in towns and counties, people had to queue to fetch water, with dedicated guards at the wells.

Old Man Zhao thought it over and realized it made sense. Who would come to the countryside every day to keep an eye on you? This wasn't an official ox bought by the county government and assigned to a village—it was something they bought with their own money. Who's going to keep tabs on someone else's business?

If it's not your own, you wouldn't care that much.

So it was settled: buy an ox, buy a donkey, but not in Tongjiang Town. Instead, go to the farthest town, Shilin Town, to avoid running into acquaintances and make it easier to keep the ox in the Blessed Land.

"Our family is going to have an ox and a donkey!" Zhao Xiaobao laughed brightly, waving her little hands. "Yay!"

"Haha." With another worry off his mind and plans for the future in place, Old Man Zhao felt relieved. Despite his age, he playfully imitated his daughter, waving his hands. "Whoo-hoo! This old man is finally going to have an ox!"

His wife peeled the fruit, took a gentle bite of the sweet red ground fruit, and shook her head with a smile.

Never mind, no one can control the future. Living well in the present is enough.

"Let's go," she patted her pants and stood up. "If we don't go out soon, the longevity noodles will get soggy."