CHAPTER 45: 45 PLASTIC SISTERS’ FRIENDSHIP

The wisdom of the working people really should not be underestimated.

"Thanks, Hongying."

Friendship among children really comes swiftly. Su Yuanyuan looked at Sun Hongying, who was chattering away to her, and hoped from the bottom of her heart it wasn’t just a superficial sisterhood.

"Yuanyuan, how did you train the sheep? Why can’t the sheep at my house pull the plow?"

Su Yuanyuan thought to herself that this indeed did feel a bit like a superficial sisterhood.

"Hongying, I don’t know either. As you know, it’s just me at home. How am I supposed to plant these two acres of land? So I went to the county to custom-order a plow, harnessed the sheep, and it surprisingly worked."

"Yuanyuan, you’re unaware that many families have tried using sheep to pull the plow, but none succeeded. Only you did."

"Maybe the heavens took pity on me?"

Su Yuanyuan said this offhandedly, not expecting the girl to actually nod in agreement.

"That’s what I thought too."

The two girls chatted while digging for wild vegetables.

Over there, Sun Hongliang was also digging for wild vegetables, which were to be eaten tonight.

"Yuanyuan, after we plant the fields, should we go up the mountain to dig some mountain greens to eat?"

"Does your family let you go up the mountain?" In my impression, most families wouldn’t allow their children to go up the mountain.

"Who in my family cares about us siblings? My parents are compliant ones, doing more work and eating less. We two are also the most mistreated at home. Who would care whether we live or die?"

The girl spoke these words with such resentment, clearly part of the group that’s not favored.

"Alright then, going to the mountain to take a look is fine." Better to console her promptly.

Sun Hongying looked at Su Yuanyuan with a dilemma, "They all say you’re a jinx. Say you’re a bad omen, but I don’t believe it.

You’ve even managed to capture a wild boar yourself. How could you be a jinx?"

This is the main point, right? This illiterate little girl actually has such thoughts, I really underestimated her.

Su Yuanyuan thought for a moment, "Actually, at that time, I felt as if I saw my grandparents."

"Yuanyuan, remember me when good things happen in the future."

This is the main point, right?

"Alright, if there are wild boars in the future, I’ll call you. But probably not, right? By then, the wild boars will have run away too." Su Yuanyuan acted very dejected.

Sun Hongying felt condescending. Isn’t she just a fool?

Su Yuanyuan felt this was too exhausting. It’s better to go back, but not wanting to talk requires extra caution.

"Hongying, I’m heading back first. The sheep have eaten their fill too."

"Alright. I’ll look for you to play when I’m free."

"Better not. I’m afraid it’s not good for you, keep your distance from me." How outrageous.

Sun Hongying felt a bit embarrassed, but looking at this foolish girl staring firmly at her, as if what she said was true.

Su Yuanyuan was really fed up with such hypocrisy.

Su Yuanyuan called out, the mother sheep came out first, followed by two more sheep.

Without even saying a goodbye, she took the three sheep and left.

After Su Yuanyuan left, Sun Hongying pouted, "She really is a jinx. I went out of my way to talk to her, and she acted all holier-than-thou? Who does she think she is?"

Sun Hongliang came over, "Didn’t I tell you not to talk to her?"

"No wonder the whole village ignores her. She really is detestable."

Su Yuanyuan was also in a very bad mood. After returning home, she still tied the three sheep at the foot of the mountain.

Today is a sunny day, presumably, she can get to work tomorrow. The half-acre of seedlings needs weeding.

This rain has helped the crops grow, but the weeds will also grow very quickly. These two acres are indeed quite the workload.

Su Yuanyuan is a bit of a perfectionist. As long as the weeds in the sorghum field and the seedlings are not sorted, she can’t rest or sit still.

Biting her teeth, she took a small hoe and went into the field. It turns out, maybe because it was barren land and relatively dry, the field didn’t cling to the soles of her shoes anymore.

Su Yuanyuan was happy about this and squatted down to start weeding.

A layer of grass had sprung up on the ground. Trying with the small hoe, it wasn’t effective. As the hoe struck down, the grass would be covered over, which wouldn’t kill the weeds at all.

No choice. The weeds would have to be left like this for now. It’s better to first sort the seedlings, the weeds can be hoed in a couple of days.

The distance between sorghum seedlings could be closer. This won’t affect the sorghum yield.

She worked squatting the whole time. Honestly, it was really tiring.

But Su Yuanyuan felt at ease, with each task she finished, she had one less to worry about.

It was past seven o’clock, and she couldn’t see anything anymore. It was only then she stood up to take the sheep home.

She hadn’t eaten a thing all afternoon, only drank Spiritual Spring Water twice midway, otherwise, she wouldn’t have lasted till now.

In the evening, she gave the sheep an extra meal, cooking cornmeal with hot water, then adding water for the sheep to drink.

These sheep will be her aid in the future. They must not be mistreated.

She showered, ate, and then came out to sleep in the space.

She slept without dreams, and the next day, as soon as it was light, she got up to continue working in the sorghum field.

After about two hours of work, Hu Chunhua came over.

"Yuanyuan, just now your uncle went to the field, it’s still no good this morning. The earliest would be this afternoon before you can work the land.

If the ground gets too many footprints, weeds will easily grow."

"Aunt, I know. I’ll go tomorrow, anyway, I only have half an acre left. I’m not in a rush. I’ll continue with the sorghum field for now."

"Why are you in such a hurry? You’ll have to put in a lot of effort into this sorghum field, just weeding will take another round of effort."

Su Yuanyuan knew this too, but being small, if she didn’t rush and work, gathering things together wouldn’t work at all.

Without herbicides, timing the weeding perfectly might save one round of effort, but in the future, no energy could be spared in weeding.

Hu Chunhua has plenty of work herself, their family is opening up over ten acres. Although there are many people in the family, if she didn’t work, her mother-in-law would definitely scold her furiously upon returning.

Su Yuanyuan continued working, planning to finish sorting the sorghum seedlings that day so she could work in the fields with peace of mind tomorrow.

At noon, she just sat in the field and ate a chicken bowl meal. She really didn’t want to walk back home, even though it’s just a five-minute walk.

After lunch, she drank a cup of Spiritual Spring Water, rested for ten minutes, and continued working.

Su Yuanyuan found joy amid hardship, as she was working for herself. If she really started a cooperative, she definitely wouldn’t have this enthusiasm.

It has already been five or six years, and it’s close to the establishment of the cooperative.

Over the next two or three years, she took this opportunity to store more grain. When the cooperative was established, her little frame would surely be a supply line for the children. However, it wasn’t without benefits; she wouldn’t be as tired by then.

Just seeing everyone’s rejection of her, even working more wouldn’t guarantee more gains. It was just as well, she could nurture herself then.