CHAPTER 47: 47 FARM WORK

For lunch, we had dumplings with three fresh ingredients, mixed with cucumber, crispy and delicious, it was particularly satisfying.

I took off my jacket and lay on the kang, humming a tune, and even put a piece of chocolate in my mouth.

Lying down for about half an hour, it was past one, so she got up, grabbed the hoe, and continued to work.

If this kind of thing was put in today’s context, she would certainly attract attention, but back then, everyone was like this. Although young children didn’t have much strength, they still had to do the adults’ work.

Arriving at the field, she saw the Zhao Family next door still working, not taking any rest?

Using a big hoe meant she didn’t need to bend over. This girl was accustomed to doing chores, and Su Yuanyuan had done it before too, so she quickly got the hang of it. The big hoe was risky for hurting the crop seedlings, but they were skilled workers.

After a morning of work, now was the ideal time, she worked alone and managed to cover nearly one acre the entire afternoon.

She left together with the Zhao Family.

"Yuanyuan, you’ve become so capable? You weren’t as good last time. You hurt the corn seedlings last year and were beaten by your mom."

"After getting beaten, I remember. So, I wouldn’t make the same mistake again?"

"Your parents don’t want you anymore, you’re alone at home, who would beat you now?"

"Hmm, that’s true. But now I’m working for myself, isn’t it the same?"

"Yeah, now you’re working for yourself." Zhao Yanli leaned closer to Su Yuanyuan. "You don’t know, many people say you can’t handle these two acres of land. But I see you could do three acres."

Su Yuanyuan looked speechlessly at this little girl, thinking it was nice to be appreciated.

Actually, for someone not consuming grain, two acres of corn, three acres of sorghum, and one acre of sweet potatoes are more than enough.

Accumulating two years’ worth of grain, wanting to do this wouldn’t be realistic.

Suddenly, Su Yuanyuan thought about asking the village head to turn the three or four acres near her house into her compound?

Su Yuanyuan shook her head, dismissing her fanciful idea, probably won’t do it. But getting one acre should be possible. Then she could grow vegetables and beans in her yard, which would be food for the future, right?

"Yuanyuan, what are you thinking about?"

"Yanli, do you think the village head would agree if I wanted to expand my garden here?"

"Given how things are right now, expand it as much as you want. It’s not reaching anyone else’s property. Nobody goes there to build houses.

What do you need such a large garden for?"

"Who would dislike their home being bigger?" Su Yuanyuan countered.

Zhao Yanli paused, nodded, "Exactly, you’ll grow up eventually."

Su Yuanyuan didn’t quite understand, what does growing up have to do with it?

But they’ve reached the crossroad, their paths diverged, so any doubts went unasked.

Seeing their family of six made her envy having a big family.

Instead of going inside, she directly led the sheep home, seeing their bellies full. They only needed some cornmeal when they returned.

Taking care of the sheep, it was already dark by then, she boiled a pot of water. After eating and taking a bath, lying down felt incredibly comfortable.

For sure one week will suffice to finish the first round of weeding. Considering the uncultivated land beside the clearing, might as well tidy it and plant winter melon, which would be effortless.

Then she could sell it in the county in the autumn.

The next day, she rewarded herself with a basket of dumplings filled with soup, a bowl of millet pumpkin porridge, then headed to the field.

She hadn’t reached the field end when she saw many people surrounding her field, hearing there was an argument? Why was there a commotion in her field?

Su Yuanyuan started running with the hoe, only upon arrival did she realize it wasn’t her field, it was the Zhao Family next door.

Zhao Yanli, this little girl stood there stubbornly. What’s going on?

Since it had nothing to do with her, Su Yuanyuan stopped paying attention. Whatever happened had nothing to do with her as an orphan; it wasn’t her place to intervene.

"I’m not going."

Su Yuanyuan heard her little companion’s voice, who had just become acquainted yesterday. She was distracted listening to their conversation.

"Xiao Li, your cousin isn’t feeling well, go help."

"If they don’t feel well, I do? Every year it’s the same, whenever it’s work time, they feel unwell. I feel fine working,

besides, we always weed more on our field than others every year. Have any of them helped us?"

Su Yuanyuan couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up in her heart for the little companion. Their fighting spirit was noticeable.

The companion finished speaking, and her brothers and sisters all stopped their work.

"Dad, why don’t we stop our work, and go help our uncle’s family instead. But I don’t know, when our family reduces production and goes hungry, will they give you food?"

Su Yuanyuan curiously looked at the boy speaking, this should be the Zhao family’s eldest, right? But this was well-said.

Su Yuanyuan had no respect for people like Zhao Tian, who she viewed as hypocritical and selfish in her heart.

It’s one thing to have your own family, but thinking about others constantly, they are all relatives, it’s not wrong but there should be limits.

Furthermore, even if you want to be a nice guy, don’t boss people around, whether they are your children or not.

"Uncle, I’m really aching all over." Zhao Yanmei looked pitifully at Zhao Tian.

Before, she always succeeded with this tactic, this time would be no different. Even if they resisted, it would be the same. She was quite confident.

Zhao Tian frowned at the five children who stopped working.

"It’s just to help. What are you doing?"

"Dad, I’m aching all over. I can’t lift my arms."

The other four siblings also said they couldn’t work anymore.

Zhao Yanmei froze, not only were they not listening but they were getting angry?

"Uncle."

"Cousin, sorry, we’re aching too, I’ll ask my big cousin if he can cover for half a day, then I’ll recover."

Zhao Yanli said pitifully, looking at Zhao Yanmei,

Zhao Yanmei was furious, nearly bursting, speaking with reckless words, "You think you’re fit to be unwell? You’re meant to be a worker."

It was an eight-year-old girl. Hearing this, she wailed loudly.

Zhao Tian also stopped working. "Xiao Jing, since Xiao Li’s not going, you should go."

"I’m aching too. My big sister is the same."

"Great, you guys have gotten guts. You are born slaves destined to work when I tell you."

Su Yuanyuan paused her work, surprised by the audacity of these words.

The eldest Zhao Qingxiang threw down his hoe, towards Zhao Yanmei, "Get lost."

"Uncle, look at them?"

"Yanmei, if they don’t want to, forget it. I’ll go help when I have time."

"Uncle? You don’t love me anymore?"

"Haha, my dad loves you, more than son or daughter. Someday you’ll have to take care of my dad."