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On the road home, Ye Xin suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to ask the vendor for tips on raising ducklings. She turned to Shen Zhuo and asked, “What do ducklings eat?”
Shen Zhuo had never raised ducks before either and could only guess. “They’re so small; maybe we should start with something soft?”
Ye Xin nodded, “I’ll cook extra rice tonight to feed them.”
He sighed but agreed, “Alright.” It felt a bit extravagant, but it was the same approach she had taken when feeding the chicks. After a few meals, they would be able to eat other food.
In the past, her family hadn’t raised many animals, so they exchanged the byproducts of grain processing, like wheat bran and rice husks, for work points with the collective. But that wasn’t a great deal; a bag of wheat bran was only worth one or two points.
Now that they had chickens, they kept the bran for themselves. Mixed with some greens, grass, and cornmeal, it made excellent chicken feed.
Of course, once the chickens grew up, it would be much easier to just feed them corn kernels, since their primary diet was rice, followed by flour. The leftover grains were perfect as feed.
The chicks thrived on this diet and laid eggs regularly. She figured the ducklings could be raised the same way.
That evening, Ye Xin stepped into her space. After the joyous New Year celebrations, she had been neglecting her duties for a few days.
On New Year’s Eve, she had thought about staying up to welcome the New Year, so she took a break; on the first day of the New Year, she wanted to relax; and on the second day, she had played until she fell asleep before even making it home. It wasn’t until the third day that she finally stepped in to check on things.
Counting the days, it had been quite a while since her last visit—she hadn’t been in since last year!
Yet, even just a few days away made the space feel a little unfamiliar. The crops were thriving, growing rapidly and entering their next stages of growth:
The sunflowers planted a month ago had shot up, their sturdy stalks adorned with broad leaves, and large flower buds were emerging. Soon, they would bloom into vibrant golden blossoms, followed by a bountiful harvest of seeds.
The corn had matured days ago, but she hadn’t had the chance to harvest it, and the ears were now heavy and hanging from the yellowing stalks. But that was okay; it would be used for feed.
In the rice paddy, the robust rice plants were entering their grain-filling stage, their heads bowing low—ready to be harvested soon.
In the watermelon patch, many melons awaited harvest, but she hadn’t had time to store them yet…
Ah, there’s so much to do!
Ye Xin frowned, hands on her hips, as she surveyed the plots of land, feeling overwhelmed.
There was no way she could finish all this work!
She moved on to check the fruit saplings and herb garden; thankfully, these required less attention. She could just let them grow without much fuss.
Finally, she headed over to the fish pond—more accurately, the fish ditch—where she spotted a few small fish swimming in the clear water, lively and happy. They probably looked hungry too, considering she hadn’t fed them in several days.
Ye Xin hurried back to the flourishing vegetable garden and grabbed a large handful of greens. As soon as she tossed them into the water, the fish darted over, eager to nibble and gulp them down. They were indeed starved!
After feeding the fish, she glanced back at the plots and felt a wave of lethargy wash over her.
Ugh, I still don’t feel like working…
She was tired from playing all day.
How about she just put off the chores until tomorrow? After all, it was only the third day of the New Year; surely she didn’t have to start working this early…
With a satisfied clap of her hands, she decided to embrace the moment and promptly turned to leave the space, collapsing onto her bed for a good sleep!
This was exactly the philosophy she lived by: A moment of rest is refreshing, but an endless rest is pure bliss!
On the fourth day of the New Year, Ye Xin and Shen Zhuo decided to stay in. After two days of festivities—visiting the temple fair and exploring the town—they felt a bit worn out by the similar activities.
That day, they turned their attention to work, specifically digging a pond.
After breakfast, Shen Zhuo grabbed a shovel and hoe and headed to the vegetable garden behind their house. The garden was nearly empty; they had harvested most of the crops, leaving only a small patch with some green onions, garlic, and celery.
He turned to Ye Xin, raising an eyebrow, “Are you sure we should dig a pond here?”
Ye Xin nodded earnestly. “Our garden is already a bit larger than the regulations allow. Sure, we live on the outskirts, but if we’re not careful, people might start talking. So far, only Wang Xiaowei and Zheng Wenwen have visited, and while they aren’t gossips, we can’t guarantee that no one else will find out. Plus, digging a small pond here will help collect water for irrigation. We won’t have to keep hauling water from the front.”
Shen Zhuo nodded, appreciating her thoughtfulness. According to the regulations, each household was entitled to two-tenths of an acre, which meant they had four-tenths to work with, yet their garden had grown to half an acre.
However, the idea of digging a pond on a hillside felt a bit odd, but he knew only she could think of something like this.
He had to remind her, “The soil here might not hold water very well.”
“No worries!” Ye Xin replied confidently. “Just start digging. If it won’t hold water, we can come up with another plan. I mean, we could consider laying cement or using plastic sheeting… There are always more solutions than problems!”
Shen Zhuo found her words inspiring. “There are always more solutions than problems.” Ye Xin was clever, quick-witted, and full of energy.
Her enthusiasm fueled his own determination, and he had no more objections.
As Ye Xin strolled around the garden, she noticed that on the right side, closer to the house, was the outhouse, where Shen Zhuo had previously applied some organic fertilizer. To the left was a path leading up the hill, which couldn’t be disturbed for safety reasons, while the left side had a sloped curve that wouldn’t hold well for digging. It wouldn’t make sense to dig in the middle of the garden either, so they settled on the upper right corner, against the hillside.
Despite being on the slope, the area had been cultivated for many years, and the vegetation had stabilized the soil, making landslides unlikely.
Ye Xin marked a spot for the pond, measuring two meters long by three meters wide, and said, “Let’s dig here!”
Shen Zhuo gripped his shovel and moved to the designated spot, ready to work.
Meanwhile, Ye Xin headed back to the yard to fetch the ducklings.
Last night, she had mixed some greens with rice to feed them and had even brought out some spring water for them to drink. Knowing that newly hatched chicks and ducklings were fragile and prone to illness, she believed the spring water would help restore their vitality.
To keep the delicate ducklings warm, she had covered them with straw and placed them on the right side of the yard.
Now, all five little ducklings were doing well. Since she had no other place to keep them for now, they were still in their small basket.
Ye Xin carried the basket of ducklings to the back, thinking it was time to let them stretch their legs since the pond would take a while to dig. But letting them roam freely would lead to chaos, so she needed to enclose an area first.
Using wood would be cumbersome, especially since they would need to move it again once the pond was finished. Instead, she considered bamboo as a more convenient and efficient option.
Although there were no bamboo trees on the hillside, plenty grew down by the rice paddies and pond edges—tall, thick moso bamboo that was perfect for weaving and making simple fences.
Ye Xin had been meaning to ask Shen Zhuo, “Can we go down and cut some bamboo?”
Shen Zhuo paused his digging and shook his head. “Those bamboo stands belong to someone; each clump is owned by a specific family, and there’s a system to it. Our family doesn’t own any bamboo.”
Ye Xin nodded, understanding.
In the countryside, even a small patch of wasteland had an owner; it was said, “Wasteland left unplowed will be contested when someone decides to farm it.” If this was true for wasteland, how much more so for a bamboo grove?
And Shen’s family was a newcomer to the village…
Clearly, they had no local connections.
Still, Ye Xin believed that bamboo would be useful and efficient, so she suggested, “Why don’t we ask someone if we can cut a few bamboo poles?”
Shen Zhuo hesitated for a moment but then nodded. “That should be fine. Bamboo grows quickly, and most families can’t use it all, so it just keeps growing…”
Ye Xin glanced at his expression and realized what he was hesitating about. Knowing his personality, he’d rather haul wood down from the mountain than go ask someone for a few bamboo poles. But Ye Xin wasn’t interested in putting in that extra effort. With so much farming to do, she wanted to conserve her energy whenever possible.
She set the basket of ducklings down in the empty vegetable plot and said, “I’ll go ask a neighbor for some bamboo.”
Shen Zhuo felt a twinge of guilt and nodded, “Okay.”
Realizing that bamboo wasn’t light and that carrying it back would be tiring, he added, “I’ll go with you.”
Ye Xin shot him a look. “No need! I can manage. You stay here and dig the pond. No slacking off!”
Reluctantly, Shen Zhuo stayed behind to continue digging.
Ye Xin returned to the front of the house, thinking it wouldn’t be right to just ask for bamboo without offering something in return. So, she grabbed a bamboo basket and filled it with her homemade snacks—crispy deep-fried treats, sesame balls, and corn-sweet potato cakes. She had made quite a bit, and by now, she was a bit tired of them.
While these treats weren’t particularly rare, they weren’t commonly made in every household, either. They would make great snacks for kids. Surely, she could exchange a few for some bamboo?
She also packed a hatchet and some rope used for bundling firewood, covered everything with a clean cloth, and slung the basket over her shoulder as she walked down the slope.
She initially intended to look for Wu Lili. She was somewhat familiar with her, making it easier to ask for help. Plus, Wu Lili had a straightforward personality and didn’t shy away from refusals; Ye Xin had previously borrowed green onions and garlic from her. Also, Wu Lili’s husband, Li Jianbang, was a team leader, and his family had some status, so they likely had a bamboo grove.
However, Wu Lili lived a bit farther away, and as Ye Xin walked, she noticed several people watching her. With so many villagers visiting relatives on the fourth day of the New Year, the village felt lively and crowded. Though she didn’t have social anxiety, she still felt a bit self-conscious.
As she passed by Lin Meihua’s house, Lin Meihua was standing at the door and curiously called out, “Ye Zhiqing, where are you headed?”
Ye Xin walked over to her and asked, “I’m looking for Aunt Wu. Is she home?”
Lin Meihua looked a bit puzzled. “Oh, that’s unfortunate! She took the kids to her sister’s house early this morning! What do you need her for?”
Ye Xin decided to abandon her plan to visit Wu Lili and explained, “We want to use some bamboo to make a chicken coop, but there isn’t any on the slope, so I thought I’d ask Aunt Wu if she had some.”
Lin Meihua brightened up at this. “I thought it was something serious! It’s just bamboo, after all! Every household has some. You don’t even need to ask her—just come to my bamboo grove and cut what you need!”
Ye Xin readily accepted, saying, “Thank you so much!”
She lifted the lid of her basket and added, “I brought some homemade snacks. We have more than enough, so please let your kids have some.”
Lin Meihua waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, you’re too kind! Bringing food to trade! Bamboo isn’t worth much; we have plenty. It just keeps growing wild, and no one bothers to cut it, so it’s practically overflowing!”
Ye Xin laughed, “For your family, it may not be special, but for us, it’s a treasure. These snacks aren’t much, either, so please don’t refuse. If you do, I’d feel awkward taking your bamboo!”
Seeing Ye Xin’s insistence, Lin Meihua accepted, smiling as she led her inside to get a bowl.
The snacks filled the bowl nicely—there were several types, all golden and crispy. Even Lin Meihua couldn’t resist taking one, and her children quickly gathered around. The two older girls stood back shyly, while the little boy dashed forward, shouting, “Mommy, I want to eat!”
Lin Meihua playfully scolded the little boy, “You greedy little thing!” but still pulled him into her embrace, giving him a piece to eat first.
Ye Xin watched this scene quietly, offering the two girls a sesame pancake each. The girls took them with soft-spoken “thank yous.”
Once they had their fill, Lin Meihua filled a bowl to the brim, and her smile grew even warmer as she said, “Why don’t you sit for a bit? It’s only the fifth day of the New Year, and you’re already hard at work. Can’t you take a few more days off?”
Ye Xin politely declined. “We’ve already had a few days off. The weather has warmed up, and if we don’t get things ready soon, the chickens will be stifled!”
Thinking of her eldest daughter working at home, Lin Meihua called to her second daughter, “Yao Niu, take Ye Zhiqing to our bamboo grove and don’t get lost!”
The little girl obediently replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lin Meihua turned to Ye Xin again and said, “You can cut as much as you need. Get the older bamboo; it’s more durable! When spring comes and it rains, bamboo shoots will sprout up everywhere, so you’ll have plenty to choose from!”
Ye Xin smiled and thanked her, saying, “Thank you, Aunt Lin.”
After saying their goodbyes, she followed Yao Niu down to the pond.
As they walked, Yao Niu munched on her pancake, hardly saying a word. She seemed shy and timid, taking tiny bites as if she hadn’t had enough to eat in a long time.
Ye Xin observed the little girl for a while and finally asked gently, “How old are you?”
Yao Niu appeared startled by the question, glancing back at her in surprise. Seeing Ye Xin’s warm smile, she relaxed and answered softly, “I’m nine.”
Ye Xin was a bit taken aback; given how thin and small she looked, she had thought Yao Niu was only about seven. “Don’t you go to school?”
Yao Niu shook her head. “There’s no school anymore.”
Ye Xin furrowed her brow, recalling that there didn’t seem to be a primary school in the village. Since she hadn’t spent much time below, she was unsure where the village children went to school—surely they couldn’t all be skipping it!
Realizing how isolated her living situation had made her, she casually inquired, “What about the other kids? Where do they go to school?”
They had just exited the densely built area when Yao Niu pointed toward a slope near the pond. “There used to be a school there, right between the drying yard and the old canteen. But then no one went to school anymore, and they locked the gates.”
Ye Xin followed her finger to look. The place wasn’t really a mountain, just a low hill.
In this hilly terrain, there were plenty of gentle slopes that weren’t suitable for farming, but the cool pond area could be developed for other uses.
For instance, the slope directly opposite was centrally located and had been converted into public land, home to a storage facility and the drying yard, as well as the old canteen Yao Niu mentioned. Last autumn, during the busy harvest season, Ye Xin had overheard some team members discussing how the canteen had been built in the 1950s during the communal dining era. It had fallen into disuse but had never been demolished.
Besides that, there were several old buildings she hadn’t explored, unaware that one of them was an old primary school.
The closure of the school must have been influenced by recent events. Now, those old structures likely became playgrounds for the village children, who might have found joy in not having to attend school.
Ye Xin sighed and turned her gaze back to Yao Niu. “Did your sister used to go to school?”
Yao Niu shook her head. “My sister has to help with the housework.”
As they spoke, they arrived at a lush bamboo grove by the water. Yao Niu stopped and quietly told her, “You can cut it here. Mom said you could take what you need.”
Ye Xin smiled and said, “Thank you for bringing me here. You can go back now.”
Yao Niu nodded and turned to head back.
After walking a short distance, the little girl couldn’t help but glance back at the bamboo grove by the water, her heart warming at the sight of the beautiful, cheerful “sister” who seemed so kind. Not only was she pretty, but her laughter also brightened the air, making everyone around her feel happy. She had shared some delicious treats with Yao Niu and her sister, and Yao Niu couldn’t help but think how much she liked her.
…
Ye Xin set down her basket and took out her machete, assessing the lush bamboo in front of her. It truly was dense, stretching from the bank to the water’s edge. The side by the bank, where there was a small path used for work, had been cleared of any errant branches, while the water side was a jumbled mess, thick with intertwining stalks, some even dried and withered.
Remembering what Lin Meihua had said about cutting down the older bamboo for its durability, she chose a thick, dark green stalk that was much wider than her arm and began to chop.
However, it proved difficult to cut through; the dense growth made it hard to swing her blade, and she risked nicking herself in the process.
She cursed herself for not bringing a saw, realizing too late that it would have been much easier. Yet, having come this far, she didn’t want to waste time going back and risking more curious glances from the villagers. With one hand pushing the bamboo aside and the other swinging her machete, she persevered.
Frowning in concentration, she eventually succeeded in felling a stalk after quite a while. Feeling one wasn’t enough, she cut down two more before stopping. She wasn’t sure if that would be sufficient, but any more would be overkill. Despite having the strength to carry it all, she couldn’t shake the feeling that it would look odd for such a small girl to be able to handle so much.
Ye Xin cleaned the branches with her machete, trimming off unsuitable segments and cutting each stalk into three or four pieces about two meters long, bundling them together. After neatly arranging the bamboo to keep the area clear for others, she hefted the bundle onto her shoulder and started back.
With one hand stabilizing the bamboo, she held her basket, which contained her machete, with the other.
Chopping bamboo had been manageable; after all, it was only the fourth day of the New Year, and not many people were out working in the fields. But on her way back, she had to pass through the village, which was bustling with activity.
As she trudged along, her impressive bundle of bamboo drew attention, and she could hear the whispers of the villagers clearly.
“Hey? Who is that girl? She’s up so early and working so hard!”
“That bundle of wet bamboo must weigh over thirty pounds! How can she manage it looking so frail?”
“Is that Ye Zhiqing? From the Shen family up the hill?”
“Who did she go to chop bamboo for?”
“It wouldn’t be for my family, would it? I’d better check!”
Ye Xin rolled her eyes inwardly, thinking, Don’t worry, I definitely didn’t chop bamboo for you.
The scrutiny of the villagers was far more intimidating than the weight of the bamboo on her shoulder.
She quickened her pace, weaving through the crowd and heading up the slope. Once she reached a quieter area, she let out a silent sigh of relief.
Carrying the bamboo back to her small yard on the slope, she headed straight for the vegetable garden.
With a loud thud, she dropped the bamboo in the empty patch, relieved that there was enough space to let it fall without worry.
Shen Zhuo, who had been digging in the earth, looked up in surprise and rushed over. “How did you carry such a heavy load? Is your shoulder hurting?” He frowned, adding, “Next time, I should go instead.”
Ye Xin caught her breath and smiled, “It’s nothing! The bamboo is hollow; it’s not that heavy.”
But Shen Zhuo knew better; wet bamboo wasn’t light. He had heard the thud and immediately said, “Is there more? I’ll carry it for you.”
Ye Xin waved her hand dismissively, “Nope, I only chopped this one bundle, and it was from Aunt Lin’s place—Uncle Jianye’s house. I just didn’t want to keep going back and forth…”
“Ugh, just one load is enough for now. If we need more, you can go get it next time,” she said, urging him to continue digging the pond while she returned to the front yard to lock the gate before heading back to her work.
In the back, Ye Xin set to work on the bamboo. Each piece needed to be cut into two segments before being split in half, turning each into four pieces. She aimed for strips about three centimeters wide and a meter long—perfect for making a fence. This would save material compared to using wood and be much more convenient.
Meanwhile, Shen Zhuo was still uneasy, watching her dig. “Be careful! Don’t hurt your hands,” he called out. Ye Xin didn’t bother looking up, a bit annoyed by his fussing. “I know! Stop nagging me.”
Just as she spoke, she miscalculated, and the bamboo didn’t split properly. The blade got stuck, almost slicing her hand. “Ouch!” she exclaimed, throwing both the knife and bamboo aside in shock.
Shen Zhuo, already on edge, dropped his shovel and rushed over. “What happened?!”
Seeing she wasn’t injured calmed him, though his frown deepened. “You should stop. Let me handle this.”
Ye Xin rubbed her wrist, raising an eyebrow at him. “If you do this, will I go dig the pond?”
“You don’t have to dig the pond,” he replied.
“Then how long until this pond is done?” she pressed.
“Just take your time digging…” he started.
Ye Xin shook her head. “Take my time? The New Year will be over before you know it! The team will start working again soon, and on the seventh day, you’ll be off to town. When will this pond be ready? When can the ducklings swim?”
Shen Zhuo paused, considering her words. “I’ll keep digging tonight…”
Ye Xin shot him a glare. “Digging at night? You won’t sleep? You need to make progress now—get back to work! We have today and tomorrow to finish digging. It’s just breaking bamboo! I may be inexperienced, but I can do it without you making a fuss!”
Stunned into silence by her remarks, Shen Zhuo turned and picked up his shovel again, returning to his task.
Ye Xin, undeterred, picked up the bamboo that had trapped her knife. Finding a sturdy rock, she struck the bamboo to realign it before successfully splitting it in two. At first, it was a bit clumsy and exhausting, but as she continued, she found her rhythm. The hollow bamboo emitted a satisfying crack with each break, a sound that relieved her stress and sparked her enjoyment.
After lunch, she took a short break before diving back into her work. Shen Zhuo methodically dug deeper, tossing the dirt into a basket to fill in a sloped area nearby, expanding the usable space. They planned to plant some fruit trees later to help stabilize the slope.
Meanwhile, Ye Xin focused on the bamboo. Once she finished breaking it down, she had one last two-meter piece left, which she didn’t cut but transformed into thin, elongated strips less than a centimeter wide. She carefully separated the bamboo green from the yellow to use for connecting the earlier strips.
Once all the bamboo was ready, she pondered how to weave them into a screen. The gaps couldn’t be too wide; otherwise, the ducks might escape, yet they couldn’t be too narrow either or it would be a waste of materials. When she finished, she ended up with a curtain over four meters long. After connecting the ends, she set it up to form a lightweight, circular fence.
Though it was small and wouldn’t be enough to enclose the pond, it was perfect for a temporary duck pen. Standing back, she clapped her hands together, beaming with pride. “Hey, I’m really clever!”
Shen Zhuo glanced over to see her accomplishment. He realized she truly was clever; despite never having done this before, she managed to create something that looked quite professional on her own. Satisfied, he turned his focus back to the deep hole he’d been digging, continuing to shovel out the mud and move it aside.
Ye Xin was pleased, confident that her work would help them and the little ducklings soon.
The little ducklings were taken from their basket and placed into the freshly made bamboo pen. After being cooped up for so long, a few of the ducklings let out cheerful quacks, their tiny feet scurrying excitedly across the ground. However, Ye Xin noticed that two of them seemed a bit sluggish, perhaps from being cramped for too long.
Panic set in as she thought, This isn’t good! These little ducklings are hard to come by; not a single one can be missing! She was counting on these ducklings to grow their flock!
Rushing back to the front yard, she searched for a suitable container to hold water. When she couldn’t find anything, she decided to head into her space and pulled out a large water bucket filled with spring water.
With the bucket in hand, she hurried to the back, pouring the entire contents into the bamboo pen before gently placing the two lethargic ducklings into the water. As soon as they hit the water, the ducklings flailed around in a moment of panic but quickly settled down, dipping their beaks to take a sip. Their tiny mouths moved quickly, making soft sounds as they drank. It was clear they enjoyed it, and their spirits visibly lifted.
Ye Xin let out a sigh of relief and placed the other three ducklings in as well. The bucket may not have been large, but the ducklings were small enough to fit comfortably. Watching the five fluffy gray ducklings floating on the surface, joyfully drinking water, Ye Xin found it utterly delightful.
After squatting to observe for a while, she turned to Shen Zhuo and asked, “Why do ducks like water so much?”
Shen Zhuo shrugged, unable to provide a definitive answer. “Because ducks are waterfowl.”
Ye Xin nodded, satisfied with his response, and skipped back to prepare a mixture of greens and leftover rice, placing it into a wide bowl to feed the ducklings.
Shen Zhuo approached, glancing at the bowl with a silent thought. That’s one less bowl in the house… But these bowls had seen better days; they were cracked or chipped, hardly worth lamenting. They hadn’t bought new bowls last year, so perhaps they could replace them by the end of this year.
As he mentally noted to buy some bowls, he reminded himself to work harder this year to earn more money. His gaze shifted back to the water bucket, curiosity piqued. “Where did this bucket come from?”
“Oh, I bought it a while ago. It was originally in my room, but I thought I’d let the ducklings use it for now,” Ye Xin casually replied.
Shen Zhuo didn’t press further. It looked familiar but was just a wooden bucket—nothing remarkable. He checked the sky and said, “It’s getting late; let’s head back and make dinner.”
“Agreed! I’m starving after a long day!” Ye Xin nodded enthusiastically.
After a long day of digging and shoveling, Shen Zhuo was equally hungry. They cooked together, filled their stomachs, and then washed up before retreating to their rooms to rest.
However, Ye Xin wasn’t ready to sleep yet. She entered her space, surveying the fields, and couldn’t help but sigh. Oh my, it looks exhausting just to look at!
She hesitated; the thought of more work made her reluctant. But she had already slacked off for too long. If she didn’t start now, the chores would pile up, and she’d become lazy.
Living in the countryside, laziness was the last thing you could afford. Without farming, there would be no food, and even with a special advantage, she needed to be diligent.
“Get to work! A new year means a fresh start!” she motivated herself, grabbing a basket from the storage room and diving into the cornfield to harvest.
After filling three or four baskets, she finally felt exhausted and decided to take a break with a watermelon. As she munched, her eyes wandered over the expansive watermelon patch. There were still so many large melons left to pick, and the thought of moving them all to the storage made her feel tired just thinking about it.
Frowning in contemplation, she thought, What if I…
Forget it, I won’t pick them. They don’t taste good anyway; let them rot in the ground and nourish the soil instead… With this thought, her brow relaxed immediately. Yes, that’s decided!
After finishing her watermelon and washing her hands, Ye Xin didn’t head straight to bed. Instead, she made her way into the wooden house and headed up to the second floor.
She was starting to feel overwhelmed by the never-ending farm work—more tasks piled on as she completed them, leading to more exhaustion. She couldn’t help but ponder if there was an easier way to handle it all.
After all, this space wasn’t passed down from the realm of immortals? How did the previous owner manage farming? Those cultivators must have been more adept—surely they didn’t toil like she did!
Perhaps with a wave of their hands, they could cast spells to plant and harvest like pressing a button in a video game?
Ye Xin felt this was entirely possible! I want to learn too!!
There were a few books in the study on the second floor. She remembered reading one about the origins of this space and, once she understood it, got busy with farming to earn money, leaving the other books untouched.
Now she regretted not reading them first; perhaps they contained methods for cultivation! If she could cultivate first and farm second, wouldn’t that yield twice the result with half the effort?
Excited by the thought, she hurried to the second-floor study. There were three books on the desk, and she quickly dismissed the first one—she had already read it. Flipping through the second book, she discovered it was a former space owner’s alchemy notebook filled with recipes for rare herbs and materials that were impossible to find now. It seemed utterly useless.
She picked up the last book and skimmed the preface. Sure enough, it discussed matters related to the realm of immortals! Her spirits lifted as she settled into a chair to read intently.
However, after just a couple of pages, she felt drowsy…
What a shame; the ancient script is so hard to read, and I am genuinely exhausted from today’s work.
Feeling unable to focus while sleepy, she closed the book. “I’ll stop here for today and continue tomorrow,” she decided with a yawn, then headed off to bed.
On the fifth day, they resumed digging the pond behind the house. Ye Xin joined in, but the pond was proving to be quite a challenge. After a short while, her arms began to ache, so she shifted to hauling dirt to the side. After a bit more labor, she grew tired again and returned to digging.
Shen Zhuo, on the other hand, was working diligently, completely focused. He didn’t say anything about her half-hearted efforts; instead, he encouraged her to take a break.
Feeling a bit guilty—realizing her laziness was showing—Ye Xin figured she couldn’t let him do all the work alone. She resolved to help out a little more after taking a breather; it was her way of contributing, after all.
By afternoon, the small pond—two meters wide, three meters long, and one meter deep—was finally completed. After clearing the muddy bottom, Shen Zhuo started digging a few steps on the side, making them perfectly aligned and neat.
Ye Xin admired his meticulousness; sometimes, his obsessive-compulsive tendencies worked to their advantage. Watching him work beautifully was satisfying.
After dumping the last shovel of dirt, she returned to him and wiped the sweat from his forehead, showing her care. “You must be tired from digging. Take a break.”
He was indeed a little fatigued, but her concern sparked a new burst of energy in him. “Not tired at all. I’ll fetch some buckets of water and see if it leaks!”
He poured several buckets of well water into the pond. At first glance, the water level looked shallow and murky, blending with the mud. It was hard to tell how much had been added, but he knew it could seep through over time. They’d have to wait a bit to see the results.
If everything went well, come spring with its abundant rains, they’d have a decent water supply.
The bamboo fence they made yesterday wasn’t sufficient; not only did they need to enclose the pond, but they also had to leave a section of dry land nearby…
After all, the ducks couldn’t just float in the water forever; they needed a place for their feeding bowls. But there was no rush. Time was getting late, so they let the ducks stay in their enclosure while they returned to prepare dinner.
On the sixth day of the New Year, they didn’t stay home to work; instead, they headed out to the fields. In fact, some people had already started working a few days earlier. With so much public land and farm tasks always at hand, the only reason everyone took a break during the New Year festivities was tradition. Some couldn’t sit idle and returned to work early.
A new year meant the grind began anew, and the diligent ones naturally surged ahead. From the start of the year, they began calculating how much grain they would have by year’s end and what their bonuses would be. The plan for the year begins in spring!
The weather had been bright and sunny during the festival days, warming up a bit. The winter wheat had survived the cold and was starting to grow. By midday, temperatures soared into the twenties, prompting people to shed their heavy winter coats.
Ye Xin also took off her winter clothes. Not that she felt particularly cold; without the bulk, she worked more nimbly and comfortably. Tying her hair into a low ponytail, she bent over her tasks, focused, drawing the attention of several onlookers.
People noticed that she had become more attractive. In truth, her transformation had been gradual. Over the past year, her skin, hair, and complexion had improved significantly, but since she saw everyone daily, the changes hadn’t been glaringly obvious. After the New Year break, however, they were seeing her after several days apart, and with her fresh haircut, she looked even more different.
“How did Ye Zhqing become so beautiful?” they wondered.
Her beauty wasn’t just in her facial features; her skin was delicate and flawless, so much so that she didn’t look like a farmer at all. Instead, she resembled someone who had just come down from the city.
Curiosity sparked whispered discussions among the people:
“Most educated youth get sun-kissed in the fields, but look at her—she’s getting more radiant with each day in the dirt!”
“I thought I saw a young girl when I first glimpsed her; she’s stunning!”
“What did she eat during the New Year? Her complexion is rosy and radiant; it’s truly enviable.”
“Shen Zhuo is looking sharper too! I remember last year when they were just skin and bones; I had no idea how they turned it around…”
“It’s no surprise. It seems the couple is working together to improve their lives…”
Clearly, everyone could see that their health was improving in every way—not just in looks.
Wang Xiaowei had grown close to Ye Xin, and when they worked, she couldn’t help but ask, “I’ve never seen you slack off, yet you’re becoming more delicate by the day. What on earth are you eating?”
Ye Xin could only humbly respond, “I guess it’s because I didn’t work during the New Year, so I stayed home and got a bit whiter. There’s nothing to look at!”
Wang Xiaowei wasn’t buying it. “Just a few days off and you got whiter? I don’t see any change in my skin!”
Ye Xin joked, “I must just be blossoming; girls transform as they grow!”
Wang Xiaowei chuckled and shook her head, letting the topic go. She had been watching Ye Xin’s gradual transformation.
Changing the subject, Ye Xin asked, “Have Zheng Wenwen and Wang Youwei returned yet? When do you think they’ll be back?”
Wang Xiaowei replied, “They might not be back until after the Lantern Festival.”
Ye Xin was surprised. “Do they really get such a long leave for family visits?”
Wang Xiaowei explained, “Not too long. Think about those who live far away, like my home. The round trip can take seven to eight days. It’s rare for educated youth to visit home, so they need a few extra days to reunite with their families. They might as well extend the leave until after the Lantern Festival; even if they’re a bit late, the team won’t mind.”
Ye Xin nodded in understanding. Wang Xiaowei thought she was homesick and offered some comfort, saying, “You can go home this year! Just hold on a little longer, and by the end of the year, you’ll get to see your family.”
Ye Xin just smiled; she wasn’t planning to go back.
Changing the subject, Wang Xiaowei asked, “You mentioned on the first day that you were saving eggs to sell?”
Ye Xin replied, “I haven’t saved up many yet. If you want some, I can set them aside for you.”
Wang Xiaowei laughed, “Of course I want them! It’s hard to find eggs at the market. With your help, I’d be foolish not to take advantage! I’ll buy them from you at the market price, three cents each.”
Ye Xin nodded, “Sounds good. I’ll let you know when I have more saved up in a few days.”
Wang Xiaowei understood, “No worries; you need to eat too. If you can’t finish them, just sell us the rest.”
Upon hearing her say “us,” Ye Xin asked, “But how will you all eat? With so many people, if everyone shares, I doubt you’ll get many.”
Wang Xiaowei sighed, “What can I do? We all eat and live together, so I can’t cook separately. But since everyone contributes money, I won’t be at a loss either.”
Ye Xin thought to herself, Well, I’m glad I’m not in the dormitory. Sticking around Shen Zhuo’s family was definitely the right choice. Sharing with one person is much better than sharing with eight!
Then Wang Xiaowei remembered, “I recall you have one rooster and four hens. Doesn’t that mean you could hatch some chicks?”
Ye Xin said, “We could, but when they lay eggs, I want to collect them right away to eat! Who has the patience to let the hens hatch chicks? Besides, I can’t raise too many.”
This chick-hatching idea couldn’t be revealed to anyone—not even Shen Zhuo. Ye Xin remained clear-headed about it.
Wang Xiaowei suggested, “But you don’t have to keep them; you could hatch them and then trade them with others, like Granny Wu. It’s another way to earn food.”
Ye Xin laughed, “Let’s skip that; I don’t want to steal Granny Wu’s business. It’s not easy for her to make a living.”
Wang Xiaowei paused and nodded, “You’re right; we wouldn’t want to create conflict. I was planning to ask you for chicks, but it seems better to go to Granny Wu instead.” She admired how thoughtful Ye Xin was, feeling a bit inadequate in comparison.
After work, Ye Xin informed Lin Meihua and chopped some bamboo, carrying it back with Shen Zhuo.
The results of their pond test had come back: it was leaking! The water they poured in the night before had seeped through by the next morning.
Ye Xin shook her head, sighing by the pond. There was no time to fix it, so she decided to use buckets to let the little ducks play in the water.
On the seventh day, Shen Zhuo rode his bike to town early in the morning. Since there wasn’t much work that day, Ye Xin decided to take the day off.
In the chicken coop, some chicks had hatched and were snuggling under the hen. They must have been well-fed, as a few even hatched earlier than expected.
Ye Xin carefully lifted the hen to check on the chicks. Freshly hatched, they were still wet and a bit scruffy—not the prettiest sight. She noticed one that hadn’t fully emerged yet, and helped tear off a bit of the shell before returning it to the nest.
She hesitated, unsure if the newly hatched chicks could be moved yet. They looked so fragile. After a moment of contemplation, she decided to put them all back under the hen. They could stay warm a little longer; there was no need to rush.
Because of this, she spent the entire day at home, watching over the nest. But she didn’t just sit idly by; she continued to read.
Ye Xin had initially thought that somehow binding herself to this space meant she had a unique gift, perhaps even possessing a legendary spiritual root that could make her a natural talent for cultivation! But after reading, she realized she had been overly optimistic.
There was no mention of spiritual roots; the book stated that in order to cultivate, one must first have a lineage and a master to guide them. Next, it depended on personal insight—understanding the profound methods of cultivation. This book only skimmed the surface of the cultivation world without offering any real techniques.
In other words, she didn’t have that opportunity at all.
Cultivation was just a dream.
She closed the book and sighed, feeling a bit despondent. “Alas, I guess it’s back to honest farming for me!”