Chapter 80: Harvesting Crops Part 2

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Mrs. Yang felt much more relieved after hearing Xiaoguo’s words. She said, “That’s right. Treat her like a fart. Just ignore her.”

Seeing Zhuang Zhuang walking towards her with the cows, Xiaoguo quickly covered Mrs. Yang’s mouth.

“Sister-in-law, Zhuang Zhuang has been learning to speak recently. Don’t let him hear these words.”

Mrs. Yang quickly nodded to show that she understood. When Xiaoguo let go of her hand, she swallowed the vulgarities down her throat.

The three of them walked home together and parted ways when they reached their respective houses.

Xiaoguo led the donkey cart and walked beside Zhuang Zhuang. Zhuang Zhuang looked up at Xiaoguo, his eyes filled with curiosity.

“Mother, what were you talking about just now?”

Zhuang Zhuang was a distance away. He could only see Mrs. Yang’s mouth moving, but he couldn’t hear what she was saying. As Mrs. Yang was around just now, he was too embarrassed to ask. Now that there were only two of them on the road, Zhuang Zhuang quickly asked the question that he had been dying to ask since earlier.

“Nothing.”

Xiaoguo’s expression was calm, but she was shouting in her heart, “Zhuang Zhuang, please let me off!”

In the past, she had taught Zhuang Zhuang not to lie. If she were to lie to Zhuang Zhuang, it wouldn’t feel right. Therefore she just tried to skim over the subject.

Seeing this, Zhuang Zhuang wanted to ask more questions. Xiaoguo quickly requested that he open the door as he still had the key in his pocket.

With the key in hand, Zhuang Zhuang had to open the door first. He was intending to ask Xiaoguo again what she and Mrs. Yang were talking about.

But as soon as she got home, Xiaoguo got Zhuang Zhuang to feed the chickens, ducks, puppies, cows, donkeys, and gather the eggs. He was kept so busy that he had no time to take a breather.

As soon as he was done, it was time for dinner. Once Zhuang Zhuang finished eating, he quickly washed the dishes.

After washing the dishes, Xiaoguo returned to the house and prepared a book, brush, and paper for Zhuang Zhuang so that he could do his revision and dictation.

After studying, Xiaoguo put Zhuang Zhuang to bed. The boy, who had no chance to rest since arriving home, quickly fell asleep.

After a good night’s sleep, he had long forgotten the questions he wanted to ask. He opened his books and started studying the new chapter.

Xiaoguo heaved a sigh of relief. Children were indeed forgetful. She hummed to herself and went to the kitchen to make breakfast.

After Xiaoguo left, Zhuang Zhuang looked up helplessly and glanced towards the direction in which she left. “Forget it. Since Mother doesn’t want me to continue asking, I’ll pretend to forget about it…”

It was another morning of motherly love and filial piety. After eating, she left Zhuang Zhuang at home to study and went to Mrs. Yang’s house herself.

They had agreed beforehand for Xiaoguo to go over and teach Mrs. Yang how to make clothes.

Xiaoguo knocked on the door. It was Xiaohua. She greeted her and looked behind Xiaoguo expectantly.

At first, Xiaoguo didn’t know what she was doing. She was halfway into the house when it dawned upon her.

“Zhuang Zhuang is studying at home.”

Hearing this, Xiaohua nodded and stopped holding on to the door. She closed the door and followed Xiaoguo into the house.

“Mrs. Yang, I’m here!”

Xiaoguo shouted so that the occupants in the house could hear her before she opened the door.

Mrs. Yang had already prepared the fabric and laid it flat on the bed. She was waiting for Xiaoguo to arrive.

Xiaoguo was holding one of Zhuang Zhuang’s shirts in her hands. If Mrs. Yang was not sure about the sewing, she could refer to the garment.

Mrs. Yang was indeed an experienced sewer. She was able to understand quickly and draw out the lines after Xiaoguo briefly explained the steps to her.

This time, there was nothing much for Xiaoguo to do. Mrs. Yang quickly finished cutting the fabric and all that was left to do was to sew up the pieces. Xiaoguo was in no hurry to go back, so she helped Mrs. Yang with the sewing. Time flew passed quickly as the two of them sat together sewing and chatting.

When the top was sewn up. Xiaoguo put down the needle and thread. Zhuang Zhuang must have done quite a bit of work. She bade farewell to Mrs. Yang and headed home.

In the following days, the two of them gathered together to sew clothes when they had time. Xiaoguo managed to pick up a lot of techniques from Mrs. Yang as well.

Time passed quickly. Many people in the village have started working in the fields. People were carrying bags and bags of grains. Everyone was smiling. With this harvest, they would not have to worry for a whole year.

Xiaoguo went to take a look at the fields. The area around her plot had been emptied out. Now, the only plot left untouched belonged to her.

Xiaoguo thought that she would start harvesting tomorrow.

With that in mind, she would have to get up early the next day. There were a couple of sacks at home, but they had not been used for a long time.

Xiaoguo thought to herself that they must have been used for planting the crops previously. But they had not been used for so long, she wondered if they were damaged.

She tugged at the sacks with all her might. Fortunately, they seemed to be in good condition and could still be used. That will save her the trouble of buying new ones.

She brought out the sacks and put them on the cart before going to the cupboard to look for old clothes and shoes. She will wear them to work in the fields tomorrow.

After everything was packed, Xiaoguo returned to the house and prepared to rest. She had to rest early and go to the fields early in the morning.

The next morning, Zhuang Zhuang wanted to go with her, but Xiaoguo didn’t let him. Zhuang Zhuang pleaded with her for a long time, but Xiaoguo didn’t give in. In the end, Zhuang Zhuang stayed at home to look after the house while Xiaoguo drove the donkey cart to the fields.

Wheat was the first crop to be harvested. Xiaoguo went to the fields and rolled down the hem of her trousers until they covered her ankles. After ensuring that no part of her skin was exposed, she felt more assured.

If her ankles were exposed, she would definitely get cut by the wheat leaves.

When she got to the end of the plot, Xiaoguo raised her scythe and swung it at the wheat stalks. The wheat stalks fell one after another. Xiaoguo followed a pattern as she went along and piled the wheat stalks into a small pile.

There was a pile every few meters. This way, it would be easier to find and gather them later.

Xiaoguo was barely midway through her harvesting when she heard someone calling out to her. She raised her head to wipe her sweat and squinted. She couldn’t see much. The sun was too bright.

Xiaoguo raised her hand to shield her eyes. With the sun glare out of the way, she could clearly see who it was.

“Brother!”

Qin Anming drove the carriage over from afar. Xiaoguo called out to him happily, wondering why he had suddenly returned.

Qin Anming tightened the rope.

The carriage stopped steadily beside the donkey cart. Qin Anming got out of the carriage and came to Xiaoguo’s side with a sickle.

“Why did you start harvesting the crops yourself! You should have told me!”

Although he sounded like he was reprimanding her, his eyes were filled with worry.

“Sigh, I felt that it wasn’t much work. I can do it myself. You must be so tired working in the noodle shop every day!”

The more she spoke, the more guilty she felt. Seeing Qin Anming’s disapproving expression, Xiaoguo stopped talking. She was afraid that Qin Anming would start nagging at her again.

“Brother…”

Qin Anming didn’t say anything. He just stared at Xiaoguo with eyes that looked exactly like hers.

The more Xiaoguo waited, the more guilty she felt. “Forget it, I’ll just admit my mistake!”

“Brother, I was wrong. I’ll look for you no matter what happens in the future! I promise!”

Qin Anming snorted. Seeing that Qin Anming’s attitude had softened, Xiaoguo immediately made use of the change in his attitude and kept saying more promises and good words, until Qin Anming stood up and said, “Let’s start work.”

Qin Anming had been thinking about the crops in the fields. Seeing that it was about time for harvesting, he got a day off from Ruyi and came back to take a look.

Early in the morning, he rode the cart used for buying goods from the restaurant and arrived at the village entrance. He saw someone sifting the grains in front of their house and there were bundles of harvested grains everywhere. Hence, he quickly drove the carriage home.

As soon as he entered the house, he saw Zhuang Zhuang sitting in the courtyard reading a book.

Hearing the door open, Zhuang Zhuang thought that Xiaoguo had returned. He quickly looked up and was about to call for his mother when he saw that it was his uncle. He immediately put down his book and ran to his side.

After asking Zhuang Zhuang, he found out that Xiaoguo was in the fields. He picked up a sickle from the courtyard and hurried over.

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