Chapter 34: Cutting Grass

Chapter 34: Cutting Grass

Hearing that he had already thought of a plan, Gu Chaoning was curious and asked him to explain.

Actually, this plan was a twist on Gu Chaoning's own idea.

Yin Hongxue was a bit shy, but he still wanted Gu Chaoning to check if it would work, so even though he was embarrassed, he told him straight.

Gu Chaoning deliberately paused, as if thinking it over.

Seeing Yin Hongxue so anxious that his eyes widened and he couldn't help leaning in, Gu Chaoning finally spoke, sounding pleased: "Not bad, it'll work."

Yin Hongxue didn't care one bit that he had taken so long to respond. Upon hearing it was good and workable, he pumped his fist happily.

You could tell he was itching to try it.

After the two returned home, they washed their hands and got ready for lunch.

Wang Xiuxiu walked out carrying a plate of just-cooked stir-fried spring bamboo shoots and saw the pile of grass Gu Chaoning had set down in the shadow of the eaves.

There was so much of it.

Xue Geer was really hardworking—he'd already made two trips this morning.

First he went out with Gu Muan, then later he went out alone.

The family had just announced that they would treat Xue Geer like their own son.

If the villagers found out they were making Xue Geer go cut more grass, they might say the Gu family was all talk and no action.

Besides, the family didn't expect the kids to work.

Chen Youyan and Gu Daniu both said there'd be plenty of time to work later—when you're a kid, you just do what you can.

Wang Xiuxiu hesitated for a moment and decided not to say anything about it. "Xue Geer, go call your Chaoning Ge to come eat."

Gu Chaoning had gone back to his room to change into something lighter. Though he'd only be home for the noon break, a short-sleeved shirt was more comfortable.

He was probably just about done changing by now.

Yin Hongxue gave a quick "mm" and headed toward the east wing.

Meanwhile, Wang Xiuxiu set down the stir-fried spring bamboo shoots and went to the backyard, to a room that had been sectioned off for Gu Wen to do his wood planing.

Gu Wen called it his carpentry room, but Wang Xiuxiu and the others thought he was a lousy carpenter and just called it the wood-shaving room.

When she arrived, Gu Wen was shaking wood chips out of his clothes. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he had even taken off his quilted jacket.

"Ma, what's for lunch today?"

Someone had asked him to make a cabinet and a table—carpentry work paid better than tagging along with his dad doing odd jobs, so he had been working at home these days.

Seeing Wang Xiuxiu come over at this hour, he figured she'd come to call him for lunch.

Gu Wen chuckled, not expecting to get the same treatment as the kids.

Wang Xiuxiu stepped forward and plucked a wood chip off the back of his collar that he hadn't shaken out.

"Go to Dashicun tomorrow and tell Hao Laifu to come over early."

Gu Wen wiped the sweat from his brow and looked up, looking confused: "Isn't it still a bit too early for that?"

Hao Laifu was the family's regular day laborer.

He worked for the Gu family in spring, summer, and fall.

However, a strong, able-bodied laborer was expensive, so most of the time he only came for half a day, or once every other day.

His main tasks were tending the fields, cutting grass, and feeding livestock—basically all the usual farm chores.

Dashicun was on the other side of the mountain from Xiaohecun. The village was full of rocks, and the villagers couldn't grow enough grain to feed themselves, so most of them went out looking for work.

Gu Wen had been there a few times, mostly to track down Hao Laifu.

The kids there ran around barefoot, crawled in the dirt, with blackened hands and faces, and snot running down their noses with nobody to wipe it.

In these prosperous times, land prices were high, and the people of Dashicun didn't even have anywhere to move to.

And so, generation after generation, they'd scraped by in poverty.

Gu Wen's mind wandered back to the present.

The family's wheat had been planted in early winter last year.

Though the weather was getting warmer day by day and the weeds in the wheat fields were coming back to life, there were still far fewer than in summer—he and his father could handle it in their spare time.

As for the rice, it had only just been started in the nursery, and transplanting would have to wait a while.

Calling Hao Laifu over now really did seem too early, didn't it?

Actually, at first the family only hired day laborers during the rush of harvest and planting.

For weeding, loosening soil, and tending seedlings day to day, the family mostly did the work themselves in the early morning and evening hours.

But one year, heavy rain hit Xiaohecun, and a corner of a courtyard roof in Wuliu Village caved in.

The estate manager made a sweeping gesture and decided to renovate the whole courtyard.

Because he trusted Gu Daniu and Gu Wen's craftsmanship, he not only gave them the masonry work but also taught Gu Wen some basic carpentry.

Combined with the farm work piling up at home, the two men were run ragged.

Wang Xiuxiu and Chen Youyan, feeling bad for the two of them, often went to the fields to do extra work before they even returned home.

Gu Chaoning, worried about the grown-ups, also pitched in after school.

Yin Hongxue and Gu Muan did their part too—cutting grass and feeding the livestock.

And so they made it through the busiest stretch.

Gu Wen saw his mother and father, who had both grown noticeably thinner, and the two young lads and Gu Chaoning, whose skin had become darker and rougher.

He tossed and turned half the night, then brought up hiring a day laborer at the dinner table the next day.

The person was easy to find—it would be Hao Laifu, who'd always worked for the Gu family.

At first, Wang Xiuxiu didn't agree, and Chen Youyan also thought it was a waste of money. But after hiring the day laborer, everyone in the Gu family was totally sold on it.

With that lad taking on all the heavy work, the family could even afford to raise more livestock, no longer worrying about not cutting enough grass to keep them fed.

Wang Xiuxiu and Chen Youyan no longer had to watch the kids while working; they could make shoes, sew clothes, and even mend garments in whatever spare moments they could find.

And Gu Chaoning no longer had to worry about household matters after school.

Everyone in the family was noticeably more relaxed, and even the quarrels decreased.

Moreover, with more livestock, the money from them alone could cover the wages.

Wang Xiuxiu and Chen Youyan no longer minded the cost.

But the timing was still a bit too early.

Wang Xiuxiu knew what Gu Wen was thinking.

She spoke up: "A few more days won't make a difference. We have plenty of chickens and ducks, plus two pigs, all needing grass to eat."

As if echoing her words, a burst of duck quacks and pig grunts came from way out back.

Wang Xiuxiu chuckled, then told Gu Wen about how Yin Hongxue was always going out to cut grass and work.

Children of that age—especially now that it was warmer—would gather to play house, kick shuttlecocks, or head up the hills to forage for wild fruit.

Even Gu Muan would play with his friends until he almost didn't want to come home.

But their Xue Geer alone, after cutting one load of grass, would go out to cut a second.

His basket was stuffed to the brim.

Truth be told, when it came to work, aside from the landlord's children, which farm kid didn't work?

Except for a few families that were hard on their kids, most children would run off to play once they finished the chores assigned at home.

But Yin Hongxue, after finishing his assigned tasks, would find more work on his own.

During this period, Gu Daniu and Gu Wen found time to tend the fields, but she and Chen Youyan certainly couldn't just sit idle.

So actually, three people were working the fields, with only Wang Xiuxiu at home cooking, tidying the house, and feeding the livestock.

In past years, Gu Chaoning would have joined in too.

But this year, with his exams, he left for the private school early and came home late, and at night he'd study by candlelight until very late.

As parents, they couldn't let the child still worry about household matters.

Yin Hongxue saw this, and of course he would do more work.

Wang Xiuxiu recounted all this to Gu Wen, who understood and promptly promised to head to Dashi Village the next day.

Only then was Wang Xiuxiu satisfied, and she walked with her son toward the front yard.

Just then, Chen Youyan came to call them for a meal, and the two secretly told him about the matter.

Only then did Chen Youyan suddenly realize.

When children are too sensible, it makes the parents feel a bit uneasy.

He thought about this while eating and then took his afternoon nap.

When he got up, holding the shoe he was making for Gu Wen, he was still thinking about it.

Suddenly, a thudding of footsteps came, and Chen Youyan looked up to see Gu Muan pulling Yin Hongxue by the hand, running over.

"Dad, we're going out to play for a bit!"

Chen Youyan gave a start, immediately glancing at Wang Xiuxiu, who was washing clothes in the yard.

Wang Xiuxiu was clearly delighted too.

After Gu Muan spoke, he tugged Yin Hongxue and started to run off.

"Wait!" As the two turned around, Chen Youyan got up and grabbed a handful of dried red dates. "Take these to snack on while you play."

The dried dates were sweet, and the kids loved them.

Gu Muan cheered, quickly stuffing a handful into his pocket and another into Yin Hongxue's.

"Thanks, Dad!" they said in unison, one bubbly, one meek.

Gu Muan, all boisterous, dragged Yin Hongxue out and vanished in a flash.

At a small grove in Xiaohe Village, many kids were already waiting.

The grove had a little stream; though you couldn't wade in it in spring, it was convenient for playing house since water was available.

There were also wild fruits in the woods, and sometimes you could pick up a wild duck egg or catch a small fish.

The boys and girls, along with the little lads, all loved coming here to play.

Gu Lvliu spotted Gu Muan and stood up, waving happily at him.

"An Geer, over here!"

Then Gu Lvliu's voice paused—he hadn't expected Yin Hongxue to come along too.

Kids generally liked playing with older kids, and Yin Hongxue counted as one of the older ones.

"Brother Xue."

Yin Hongxue looked at Gu Lvliu, who lived up to his name—compared to the chubby Gu Muan, he seemed slender like a willow leaf.

The little boy also had long, narrow willow-leaf eyes and brows, looking very gentle even when expressionless.

Yin Hongxue smiled at him: "Brother Liu."

Gu Lvliu smiled happily, and Gu Muan immediately made faces at him.

Then he made faces at Yin Hongxue too.

Yin Hongxue's plan—he had told Gu Muan everything before they came.

Gu Muan kept signaling to Yin Hongxue—among the group of little lads not far off was Xu Xiaoshui's younger brother, Xu Guangzong.

Gu Lvliu looked at the two curiously and suddenly asked, "An Geer, are your eyes uncomfortable?"

Gu Muan's movements stopped abruptly, and he pouted angrily at Gu Lvliu.

Yin Hongxue couldn't help but laugh, then comfortingly patted Gu Muan's head and took out dried red dates from his pocket.

He called out, "I brought dried dates—they're really sweet. Want to share some?"

His voice was loud, and everyone present, including the little lads not far off, heard him clearly.

They all turned to look at Yin Hongxue.