CHAPTER 140: CHAPTER 140: LIU ZE IS VERY AFRAID

At home, Second Aunt went to the fields to pull weeds after the rain stopped.

After a rain, the fields were covered in dewdrops, and with a bit of sunshine, the wild grass grew as if it had been given a catalyst, spreading rapidly.

After taking care of Liu Ze’s change and wash, Qixi was sent by Liu Ze to help as well.

Wild grass is pulled year-round to feed pigs, rabbits, and sometimes even chickens and cows.

This tends to have its pros and cons. The Spiritual Spring water helps the crops grow better, but it’s not only crops growing in the fields.

Like now.

Liu Ze was also taken to the fields, although he was not in good health. Let alone helping with work, he couldn’t even stand for long periods.

Second Aunt overturned a basket onto the ground, making it a chair for him to sit on.

While Second Aunt and Qixi went to pull weeds, the other three kids, each holding a bamboo tube, were busy working.

As for what they were busy with...

Liu Ze said he dared not look, especially at the dense mass of bugs—beetles, earthworms, caterpillars, and sometimes even ants and small centipedes!

All crowded and wriggling in the bamboo tubes. Just one glance made his scalp tingle, his legs and feet weak, let alone dared to help.

The first time he saw this mass of bugs, he nearly screamed but managed to hold it in.

Yet his face still showed signs of fear.

"Brother Ze, you don’t actually need to be afraid. These bamboo tubes are very deep; the bugs can’t crawl out."

Little Xue held two thin wooden sticks, like holding chopsticks.

And the bamboo tube was a whole piece of bamboo, with one end sawed off very deep, indeed without worry about the bugs crawling out.

This was their standard tool for catching bugs, using small wooden sticks to pick up bugs without worrying about getting bitten by beetles or feeling itchy from caterpillars’ hairs.

Liu Ze felt somewhat embarrassed, but primal fear isn’t easily controlled.

Facing Little Xue’s concern, he could only brace himself and say, "Little Xue sister, I’ll take it slow; maybe eventually I won’t be afraid."

Hoping Little Xue wouldn’t hold the bamboo tube near him.

Meanwhile, he admired both Little Xue sister and Little Mi, Iron Egg; they both caught bugs in the fields. After the rain, there were plenty of bugs in the fields, but they weren’t afraid.

Now he felt somewhat thankful that he was unhealthy, allowing him to avoid it for now.

If he were in good health and yet hid on the side, he would be even more shy, truly inferior to even children and female kids.

Little Xue didn’t sense Liu Ze’s embarrassment, only knowing he was frightened now, possibly due to never seeing this before.

Thus, Little Xue nodded, seriously comforting Liu Ze.

"True, if you see it more times, you won’t be scared anymore. I used to be scared, too, but considering feeding them to the chicks to grow faster and lay eggs sooner, so Little Mi and Iron Egg won’t starve, I wasn’t afraid anymore."

Liu Ze felt a bit surprised: "Little Xue sister, are you referring to when you first arrived at Anfu Village?"

Though he rarely went out due to illness, he wasn’t completely shut off from external affairs.

Besides, his grandfather had been with them in the county several years ago until after the turmoil settled, returning home.

At that time, they resettled many displaced villagers, and Liu Ze heard about it.

Little Xue nodded: "Yes, at that time our family had nothing to eat, not even bran for feeding chickens, so we could only catch bugs to feed the chicks."

Liu Ze: "It must have been very hard at that time."

Farmers typically don’t earn much money, and at that time everyone was refugees. Liu Ze hadn’t seen refugees but heard of them; many starved to death.

Moreover, he had heard even more terrifying events.

Judging by the time, Little Xue sister was already three years old then.

Then Liu Ze continued with a smile: "Uncle Jiang and Auntie must really love Little Xue sister."

Little Xue blinked, unsure how Liu Ze drew that conclusion, but she nodded vigorously in agreement.

"Yeah! Dad and mom treat us very well." Her eyes even curved into crescent moons.

Little Mi walked over, just catching the conversation.

"Second Sister, what are you talking about? There are no bugs here; why are you still here?"

"Oh, I almost forgot while talking to Brother Ze."

Little Xue turned to leave: "Brother Ze, enjoy yourself, I must go find bugs."

Little Mi waved to Liu Ze: "Brother Ze, next time bring a book out, so you don’t get bored watching us, huh."

Then followed along toward Second Sister.

There were so many bugs in the fields today. She also aimed to catch plenty since their home had many chickens, and eating more bugs would help them lay eggs quickly.

But soon after, having pulled enough pigweed, Second Aunt led the children to head home.

After this morning’s rain, now the strong sun came out, causing the water vapor to rise from the fields, making them stuffy and hot. Staying long wasn’t good for health as it might cause rheumatoid pain when older.

"Qixi, you better hold up Little Ze, and I’ll come back later for the remaining basket."

Second Aunt called to Iron Egg and Little Mi who were still in the fields.

Qixi didn’t decline, nodded, and helped Liu Ze up while Second Aunt took the basket and packed wild pigweed.

Liu Ze couldn’t stand for long, let alone walk down from the hillside.

However, when Liu Ze was helped up, he patted his legs.

"Feel like there’s some strength in my legs these days. Maybe not long before I can walk by myself."

Second Aunt wasn’t surprised: "You didn’t eat before, where would strength come from? Eat more later, and soon you’ll be able to run everywhere."

For someone like her doing daily work, she understands well, if one meal isn’t filling, working lacks strength, especially with constant hunger.

Liu Ze’s illness, if in an average family, he wouldn’t have survived long and starved to death easily.

Second Aunt meant nothing else, it was simply her thoughts, and true facts.

Liu Ze’s face reddened: "Yes, eat more later."

Even the youngest Iron Egg and Little Mi, had tasks every day, while he couldn’t do anything, only watching from the side, feeling very embarrassed.

Although he lived with the Jiang family, having paid, yet the food he ate these days seemed ordinary in the Jiang family but wasn’t obtainable outside.

This was on a remote town; in the county, prices for these dishes would be even higher.

Earlier it didn’t seem so, but after staying at the Jiang’s for days, it felt like the ten taels of silver given by grandpa were somewhat little.

However, the matter discussed between grandpa and Uncle Jiang wasn’t something he could involve himself in, so he hoped to recover soon, so he could help out a bit.

"Mom, look quickly, dad is back."

Little Mi suddenly jumped pointing towards the village direction; her dad’s ox cart was already in the village center.

"Huh? Why did dad leave, going to Uncle Liu’s house?"

"Definitely sold the syrup, going to pay Uncle Liu, let’s go back too."

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