Chapter 94

Chapter 94

The next day, just as dawn was breaking.

A loud shout rang out, and the men wrapped hemp ropes around their carrying poles, draped hand towels over their shoulders, and with a slight exertion at the waist, shouldered two baskets of grain and set off.

This trip would take two days. Those who had been to Shilin Town before were fine; they had prepared dry rations and water, their minds at ease, without a worry. For men like Zhou Dalang, who were leaving the village for the first time, he himself wasn't fazed, but his mother, old lady Zhou, was worried sick. She chased them out of the village, repeatedly urging the team leaders Zhao Quan and the others to take good care of her son, making Zhou Dalang blush with embarrassment.

"Mother, go back. What's there to worry about? I'm not a child." With so many people watching, Zhou Dalang felt he was losing face, waving his hands repeatedly to shoo her away.

"Keep your wits about you, don't fall behind. You don't know the way." Seeing her son's displeased expression, old lady Zhou knew he was having another bout of his prideful old habit. She didn't dare follow further, just kept waving her hands and urging, "Don't worry, I'll make sure Da Tou and the others behave. I won't let them go swimming in the river."

Zhou Dalang nodded hastily, clenched the hemp ropes with both hands, and quickened his pace.

"Man Cang, keep an eye on my Dalang, don't let him get lost..."

"Mother! You should head back now!"

"Going back, going back." She said she would, but she didn't budge, unconsciously taking a few more steps forward. Only when she could no longer see them did old lady Zhou turn back, looking over her shoulder every few steps.

On the way back, she saw Zhao Dagen setting fish traps in the river early in the morning. She initially wanted to pretend she hadn't seen him, but after a moment's thought, she stopped and called out, "Da Gen, could your family use some extra hands from the kids? I'll send my Da Tou and San Tou to help too! No need to keep them for meals, just put them to work, just like with Dagouzi and the others!"

She used to look down on the old Zhao family, mainly because Zhao Xiaowu and those other rascals had fierce tempers and didn't back down. Coincidentally, her eldest grandson was also a little tyrant. The village was only so big; kids of the same age either got along as well as real brothers or were like enemies, unable to stand the sight of each other. Over time, they'd fight over the smallest things. If the kids didn't get along, how could the adults possibly have a good relationship?

Because of the grandchildren's fights, she and Madam Wang had argued plenty over the years. In the village, they'd pass each other without a word, never exchanging a smile... Life just went on like that, and she hadn't thought much of it. But who could have imagined? When trouble came, the Zhao Dashan brothers, who in her eyes had been useless, suddenly rose to prominence. And that Zhao Dagen, a farming old man with no great skills like her own good-for-nothing old man, huh, suddenly became a somebody in the village.

She twitched her thumb, stopping short of giving a thumbs-up, her heart resisting the thought.

People, especially those without much ability, are drawn to capable people. And if they can latch on, that's even better.

She couldn't bring herself to make nice with Madam Wang. That deadbeat husband of hers was also proud and wouldn't say any flattering words. But kids? It's common for kids who quarrel and fight when young to become as close as sharing pants when they grow up. She wanted her two grandsons, Da Tou and San Tou, to build a good relationship with the Zhao family's grandchildren generation, just like Er Lai and Dagouzi. Best if past conflicts were forgotten, so they could count them in for anything in the future.

Like this time the Zhao family was cutting trees; it would be best if they could call Da Tou and San Tou too.

As long as the grandchildren generation got along well, wouldn't the Zhao family notify them first if anything happened in the future? She was quite envious of Widow Li now—though everyone called her Widow Lü now, she was still used to calling her Widow Li. Widow Li was a smart one. She didn't know how Widow Li had latched onto the Zhao family back then. Just look at this grain exchange trip; although she was the only woman, Zhao Quan and the others took good care of her, keeping her with them to help, not letting her lag at the back of the group, treating her even better than her own son.

Her eyes darted around, her mind dreaming up a scheme, wanting to dump her grandsons here: "There are only so many boys in Xiaowu's generation; they should play together. Form strong bonds when they're young, and when they grow up, they can lend a hand for anything! Look at our village now, how united it is. When Xiaowu and them grow up, if they encounter something big like conscription again, with just a wave and an arrangement, hey, the stage can be set up again, and the brothers will all listen to him!"

"Smooth sailing depends on long-standing bonds."

"I think Xiaowu is a promising child. When he grows up, he'll definitely become village head. In the future, Da Tou and the others will all listen to him."

Her mouth ran smoothly, flattering nonstop.

But Old Man Zhao wasn't having any of her flattery. He wouldn't dare take her up on that offer. He quickly finished placing the fish trap, stuck the tied stick into the ground, stood up, clapped his hands, and said, "How can we let Da Tou and San Tou come help our family with work? They're just kids; that's not how it's done."

"What village head or not, that's decades away. We likely won't be around to see it. Maybe your Da Tou will be the village head."

He walked quickly toward the village. Old lady Zhou didn't pick up on his attempt to dodge her at all—or maybe she did but pretended not to see—and followed closely: "Aren't Dagouzi and Donkey and them also kids? Fèndàn is even younger than my San Tou. If he can do it, why can't my Da Tou? We're all from the same village. Why are you being so polite? It's just a helping hand. My Da Tou is very diligent. When we raised pigs before, he had to cut a basket of pigweed every day. He's a quick worker..."

"Have I got it wrong? Wasn't the pigweed at your house cut by the Chūnyá sisters?"

"Nonsense! It was clearly cut by the Da Tou brothers, and Chūnyá carried it back. You must have seen wrong."

"My Xiaobao and Chūnyá cut pigweed together."

"..."

After greeting a few Village Elders sitting at the village entrance, Old Man Zhao didn't stop, taking a small path back home.

When he got home, morning porridge was just ready. He drank two bowls, ate his fill, put down the bowl, picked up hemp rope and an axe, and went up the hillside with his three sons. The day's job was felling trees.

Felling trees wasn't particularly troublesome. The family built houses from time to time and were used to it. It's just that although there was a small hillside behind the house, it was quite narrow. Small trees were fine, but for big trees, someone had to pull them; otherwise, if they fell straight down, they might hit the roof.

When cutting trees, no one could stay inside the house; they had to stay far away. Madam Wang and the others simply went up the hillside too, gathering and bundling wild grass in the woods, working and watching the excitement with the kids.

Tree-cutting made a big commotion. In the countryside, there wasn't much entertainment. If someone built an outhouse, a crowd would gather to watch. Tree-cutting was the same. Villagers who had gone into the mountains to gather firewood stopped here, squatting nearby. Those willing would lend a hand; those not would just watch.

Zhao Dashan's injury was completely healed now. Shirtless, he chopped a tree until only a bit connected it to the roots. Old Man Zhao and Zhao Ertian, standing nearby, quickly wrapped hemp rope around the tree several times and pulled, making the tree fall in another direction. Zhao Dashan chopped; they pulled. Madam Wang hurriedly called the kids who had gotten close to move away. Just as Xiaowu and the others stepped back, Zhao Dashan suddenly threw down the axe and supported the tree trunk. Old Man Zhao and his two sons gave a mighty pull, and the big tree fell straight to the ground in a direction away from the roof with a loud crash.

Leaves rustled, crushed branches scattered everywhere. The tree roots slid down the hillside, and Zhao Sandi quickly ran over to pull them, narrowly preventing them from sliding into the backyard.

"Wow." Zhao Xiaobao had never seen such a scene. She was both scared and curious. Seeing Xiaowu and the others run to help pull the tree, she wanted to go too, but as soon as she took a step, Madam Wang grabbed her by the collar.

"Mother." She looked back pitifully.

"Be good, don't go. Your brothers are working; they can't look after you right now." Worried she might get hurt, Madam Wang wouldn't let her go.

Zhao Xiaobao pouted, reluctantly retracting her little foot.

"Father, are all these trees going to be cut?" She pointed at this stretch of hillside. There were quite a few trees. Cutting one was so much effort; cutting so many must be exhausting.

"Just the ones lower down. The ones higher up don't need cutting; they're far from our house." Old Man Zhao picked up the saw from the ground, placed one foot on the tree root, selected a forked branch, and started sawing. "Those few up there belong to the Li family. We can't just cut them." Not every tree in the woods near the village could be cut randomly. Some were planted by villagers in the previous generation, left for the descendants of this generation to use. When a son married, a daughter married out, or when building a house and needing beams, they could cut their own trees, not needing to spend money on lumber, saving a significant amount.

It had been this way for generations: ancestors plant trees for descendants to enjoy the shade.

The year Xiaobao was born, he also planted a few trees in the mountains. After growing for over a decade, when it was time for her marriage arrangements, the trees could be cut to make a wardrobe and a bed.

The good trees at the foot of the mountain were basically planted by villagers. Only trees deep in the mountains could be cut freely. If someone accidentally cut another family's tree, at best it led to arguments and fights; at worst, they had to pay compensation. Very troublesome.

The lumber for building the house at the divine land was found and cut by the Zhao Dashan brothers, who risked daily trips to the fringes of the deep mountains. And the trees for their own house were also their own, passed down from Old Man Zhao's parents and grandparents. When dividing the family property back then, besides fields, a patch of trees was also allocated.

This hillside also had their own trees, but more were ownerless. Cutting them was fine; just inform the village. Of course, it was only because he wanted to cut them that the village agreed. Woods like these, close to the village, were generally considered village property. Usually, firewood gathering happened around the foot of the mountain, so normally they weren't to be disturbed.

And village property certainly couldn't be touched by outsiders. If someone crossed the mountains to their area to cut trees, not only would they be chased away, but in serious cases, they'd pursue them to their village to demand an explanation.

These were unspoken rules, and they wouldn't go to others' territory to cause trouble either.

The Zhao family spent eight or nine days just cutting trees. By the time the grain exchange team had made several round trips and finished completely, they had also finished clearing this hillside. Sawn lumber was piled in the yard, and the back mountain changed daily. Dagouzi and the others not only cut the surrounding wild grass but also cleared the sandy patch, delighting Old Man Zhao, who praised the boys for being capable and proper.

Zhao Quan and the others rested at home for two days to recover their energy, then a group of men came to help cut trees on the sandy patch. Families who had planted trees in this area didn't wait for Old Man Zhao to ask; they picked up their axes and started cutting. They didn't take the trees back to their own homes either, hauling them all to pile in the Zhao family's yard.

After another ten or so days of busy work, the sandy patch was transformed. Big trees fell one by one, with the rustling sound of leaves crackling from morning till night.

"Uncle Da Gen, when is your family starting seedlings?" Seeing the work nearing its end, a young man asked while wiping sweat during a break.

"The seeds have already been selected. It's not too late to focus on that in another three to five days." Many hands made light work. Looking at the large cleared area, Old Man Zhao felt quite pleased. "I've troubled you all. You came to help me work right after returning without much rest. If you see any wood you like in the yard piled up, take it home yourselves."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony." A young man scratched his head and chuckled. "My younger sister is of age now, arrangements will be made next year. I'll pick a piece to take back and keep, to make her a cabinet later."

"Pick, pick a good piece of wood. Make a good cabinet that can last many years." Old Man Zhao smiled and patted his shoulder.

The next two days were spent sawing lumber and cutting branches. Those who wanted them could take them home for firewood. Those not wanted, Old Man Zhao kept himself. His family wasn't short of firewood now, but he couldn't bear to waste it. He took it all to the divine land to be split later, saved for burning to keep warm in winter.

After all these busy days, the results were gratifying. Looking down from a high point, the dense woods seemed to have been split with a large gash, impossible to mend. Old Man Zhao didn't know if this would be useful, but it was all they could do. The rest was up to the kids.

Now, the greatest priority under heaven was spring planting.

The village's experienced farmers observed the weather for two days and confidently declared that the coming days would definitely be good.

They weren't good at much else, but when it came to reading the weather and farming, they had a real knack for it, and the villagers trusted them completely. Many households immediately brought out their selected seeds and began sprouting them. Old Man Zhao believed it too, because he had also observed the weather for a couple of days and felt that the recent conditions were favorable. He set to work as well, preparing not only the fields outside but also the four newly cleared acres in the Immortal Land, deciding to get the sprouting done for all of them in one go.

The seeds were separated: the four acres would use the *Gu Zi* grain harvested from the Immortal Land, while the six and a half acres would use the grain harvested the previous year. Old Man Zhao was playing it smart. Seeing that this year was likely to be a drought, he was afraid. If every household suffered reduced yields, or even a total crop failure, and his family harvested significantly more grain than others thanks to the superior seeds from the Immortal Land, he worried it could lead to serious trouble.

After all, his family wasn’t short of food now, so it was better not to take the risk.

Once Zhao Dashan had leveled the seedling beds and sown the sprouted grain, the fields were filled with busy villagers, a picture-perfect scene of spring planting in the fine weather.

That very night, a heavy rain, unexpected by everyone, suddenly arrived.