Chapter 6: The First Meal

Mingyuan hurriedly went back to fetch the rake. It’s the kind made with bamboo strips curved at the top, arranging those curved bamboo strips in sequence becomes the head of the rake. After attaching a handle to it, it becomes a rake, which makes gathering grass much quicker.

Wang Qian saw from afar that the young lad was carrying a basket on his back and shouldering the rake. His small frame was not even as big as the basket. Therefore, carrying these two things seemed a bit strenuous for him.

“Brother, let me take the rake; you carry the basket. It’ll be easier that way.”

“Sister, is your head still hurting? If it is, I can go gather the grass alone.”

Little Mingyuan touched his sister’s head, the lump from earlier still not completely gone. Feeling a bit distressed, he tightened the scarf around her head.

“Brother, it doesn’t hurt anymore, just occasionally. When we go back at noon, I’ll take medicine, and it’ll be better in a few days.”

Seeing that his sister didn’t seem to be lying, Mingyuan put his mind at ease.

“Sister, I’ll take you to a place where few people go. There’s a lot of grass there, and we’ll be able to fill a basket in no time. At noon, Mom can cook us a meal.”

Wang Qian had already heard her brother’s stomach growling noticeably. Ah, he hadn’t eaten breakfast, and the little one was clearly hungry.

Ming Yuan, holding his sister’s hand, arrived at a place. In Wang Qian’s memory, this place should be called Dong Gou Li, and it had quite a few ownerless deserted graves.

“Brother, there are many graves inside. Do you dare to go in?”

Perhaps she didn’t believe in ghosts and deities before, but now that she had crossed over to this place, she couldn’t help but believe.

Mingyuan had no idea about these things and nonchalantly said, “Sister, these are all ownerless graves, many years old. If there were ghosts, they would have reincarnated long ago. Don’t be afraid; with me here, look, there’s a lot of grass in the ditch. Let’s quickly gather it, and we’ll be home soon.”

Wang Qian couldn’t express her fear and could only follow behind Mingyuan cautiously, entering the overgrown ditch.

On both sides of the ditch, there were several dilapidated graves, the tomb gates in front already collapsed.

Mingyuan, wielding the rake plow, swiftly gathered the grass, while Wang Qian followed, putting it into the basket frame. Soon, the two filled a basket. The grass itself was light and didn’t weigh much, but Mingyuan packed the basket full and pressed it down firmly. With such weight, he couldn’t carry it alone.

“Brother, let’s lift it together; otherwise, you won’t be able to carry it alone.”

Mingyuan tried a few times before finally heeding his sister’s advice. He threaded the handle of the rake plow through the gap in the basket, allowing the siblings to carry the two baskets in the middle.

“Sister, can you manage? If not, I can ask big brother to help me.”

“No need, it’s just a basket of grass. We can handle it for sure.”

However, Wang Qian completely overestimated her strength. At seven years old, she and nine-year-old Ming Yuan were still children. The basket, pressed down firmly with packed grass, did have some weight. Moreover, both hadn’t eaten breakfast, making the weight of the grass quite a burden for the two.

The two swayed and carried the basket of grass out of the mountain ditch. Wang Qian walked in front, and Ming Yuan followed behind. However, as they walked, she felt the weight on her shoulders getting lighter. Turning her head, she found that the young lad had shifted the basket considerably toward his end. No wonder she didn’t feel tired—she appreciated having such a caring brother.

As the two carried the grass back, the house was almost completed. It consisted of simple wooden poles buried in the ground, additional poles secured with iron wire, a layer of plastic sheeting surrounding it, and a grass curtain on top. The roof was covered with oilcloth paper, and they even nailed a window in the sleeping quarters. The window frame was attached to the wood, and the glass window could be opened up and down. The house was considered built, and the elders helped them arrange a simple kang (a heated brick bed) and stove inside. However, a layer of clay was added in the middle of the kang to separate the kitchen and bedroom. The chimney was obtained from someone else’s new house construction, discarded but temporarily useful for Wang Zhenhe.

Although the kang was set up, it was quite damp, so a considerable amount of fire was needed to quickly dry it out. Otherwise, the family would have nowhere to sleep at night.

Helping the Wang family build the house, those who assisted politely declined the invitation from Wang Zhenhe and his wife to stay for a meal. Everyone had heard about the situation with the third son’s family yesterday. At the time of the separation, they didn’t receive enough grain to feed their family for half a year, thus today they couldn’t afford to stay.

“Brother Wang, we’re leaving first. You quickly prepare a meal for the children with your younger siblings. The little ones can’t endure hunger.”

After seeing off the helpers, Zhang Lan remembered that there was no grass at home to cook.

“Mom, I’ll go gather some grass.”As Mingcheng finished speaking, he heard the two younger ones calling from outside, “Brother, come help quickly!”

Everyone went outside and saw the two children struggling to bring back a basket of grass.

Zhang Lan’s eyes immediately welled up with tears. The children were sensible, but still unwell, and on top of that, they hadn’t eaten breakfast. What strength could they possibly have?

The couple quickly took the heavy basket of grass carried by the children.

“Silly child, your sister is still sick. How dare you take her out to gather grass? Quickly, go inside and rest with your sister.”

“Mom, I’m almost completely better. It’s not a big deal.”

Following the young lad, they entered their new home. At a glance, it was simple, and there were hardly any household items for daily life.

“Mom, there’s no water barrel at home. What should we do for drinking water?” Mingyuan immediately noticed the absence of an essential household item.

“It’s okay. After we finish eating, Mom will go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some. Zhenhe, go fetch a load of water. The kids are hungry; we need to quickly prepare some food.”

Wang Zhenhe went out, but the children heard the sharp scolding from the neighbor’s yard. Not long after, Wang Zhenhe returned with a load of water, but his expression wasn’t very pleasant.

Zhang Lan gave her husband a glance. “Did they refuse to lend you the water bucket just now?”

“Yeah,” Wang Zhenhe replied in a gruff manner.

Understanding her husband’s feelings at the moment, Zhang Lan comforted him gently, “Zhenhe, you know what kind of person gmother is. Why get upset? Once we have everything arranged this afternoon, try not to let it bother you in the future.”

Zhang Lan started cooking, but as it was a new stove, the fire wasn’t easy to control, and the smoke filled the room. The children had to stay outside the door to avoid the smoke.

“Has your family had lunch, Mingcheng?” The old grandma, carrying a basket, came over to their house, seeing the children standing at the door looking a bit puzzled.

“Grandma, we haven’t eaten yet. Mom is still cooking,” Mingcheng honestly replied.

Wang Qian had a deep impression of the elderly lady in front of her. Yesterday, she had spoken up for their family. This person was her father’s older uncle’s wife.

“Grandma, where are you headed?” Wang Qian greeted the old lady warmly.

“Qian Qian, is your illness all better? Don’t catch a cold again. Come inside with Grandma.” The old lady held her hand and entered the new house.

Zhang Lan and her husband were cooking when they looked up and saw the old lady bringing their daughter inside.

“Aunt-in-law, why are you here? Come in and sit.”

Seeing the smoke-filled room, even the old lady couldn’t help shaking her head. “Zhenhe, I have to say, your mom is really causing trouble. Look at your home. Later, go to my place to get a large container, pick two jars of pickles, and bring back some fresh vegetables. Your days ahead are long; you can’t go without eating vegetables. Here, have lunch with what I brought. The new stove is not easy to use; don’t let the kids go hungry.”

The old lady lifted the floral cloth covering the basket and took out six pancakes and two plates of vegetables she had brought for their family. There was also half a can of pig lard.

“Aunt, what are you doing? Take the lard back.”

Lard was precious, and every household was not affluent, especially their own Aunt. Bringing such a valuable item at this critical moment made Wang Zhenhe’s eyes even redder.

“Third son, Aunt doesn’t have much oil at home, but this half can is still there. I didn’t bring it for you to eat; it’s for the children. Come, everyone, let’s eat. Don’t forget to come to my place later to get things. Consider these as gifts from your Aunt. I have some matters to attend to and won’t stay long. After you finish eating, bring the plates over.”

The old lady didn’t sit down and directly left the house.

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