Chapter 8: The Autumn Harvest Begins

Unknowingly, Wang Yi had already been back in the Northeast for more than half a month, and it was now autumn harvest season.

Every household was checking their vehicles, afraid something might break down during the harvest. Her father had prepared everything too—the family hired someone else’s harvester to gather the corn. It could strip the husks directly or even thresh the kernels.

In the past, when harvest season came, they would wake up before dawn and work until late at night, breaking off ears of corn by hand. Their backs would ache so much they couldn’t straighten up, and their hands would swell. If it rained, it was even worse—wet, cold, and exhausting.

She remembered when she was a child, the whole family would be mobilized during the harvest, working busily and cheerfully. It was nothing like the relaxed pace of today.

Standing on the ridge of her family’s field, Wang Yi gazed at the soon-to-be-harvested farmland, her heart full of anticipation.

Just then, Brother Zhang from the village drove his harvester over, calling from afar: “Yiyi, you’re back! I’ll start with your grandpa’s field—he’s got the smallest plot in this section.”

Wang Yi replied with a smile. As the harvester rumbled into the field, the golden corn ears were swallowed into the machine, spitting out big, yellow cobs.

Before long, the machine moved on into the distance.

Wang Yi carried a sack to gather the ears the harvester couldn’t reach at the field edges. Her cousin soon came over to take her place, telling her to go home and cook for everyone—just bring the food to the field when it was ready.

Hurriedly, Wang Yi headed home, thinking about what dishes to make along the way.

Lost in thought, a group of chickens suddenly appeared from nowhere. She saw Auntie Li waving at her for help—they were her chickens that had escaped.

After they herded the chickens back, Wang Yi and Auntie Li sat in the yard and chatted.

Auntie Li sighed, “Harvesting is so much easier these days—we even have free time to talk.” Wang Yi agreed wholeheartedly.

“Exactly! Things are really good now. Auntie Li, I’ve got to hurry home to cook for my parents and the others. If I’m too slow, they might not have food on time.”

Auntie Li waved her off, “Go on then! I need to cook too, so I can bring lunch to your uncle. Hopefully we can finish everything today.”

Back home, Wang Yi saw that her father had bought pork belly early in the morning. She decided to make braised pork, braised eggplant with soybean paste, a cold lettuce salad, some dipping vegetables, and homemade flatbreads. That should be plenty.

Thinking this through, Wang Yi quickened her pace.

As soon as she got home, she washed her hands and got busy.

First, she mixed the dough for the flatbreads and left it to rest.

Then she cut the pork belly into evenly sized cubes, placed them in cold water with cooking wine, and blanched them to remove the odor.

While the meat simmered, she slipped into her “space” to pick fresh eggplants. They were plump, glossy, and deep purple—irresistibly tempting.

She washed them and set them aside, then went back to tend the pork. After caramelizing sugar and adding seasonings, she left it to braise.

Next, she pan-fried the eggplants. Since they weren’t dried completely, the oil sizzled loudly as they hit the pan. Once they were cooked enough, she added soybean paste and stewed them.

Northeastern cuisine is mostly stew-based, since large pots of stew can both feed big families and heat the brick beds (kang).

She finished the braised eggplants and kept them warm.

Then she quickly prepared the cold lettuce salad.

She also washed some greens from her “space,” paired them with dipping sauce, and that was another dish done.

Finally, she rolled out the dough and started cooking the flatbreads.

Flatbreads needed a low flame—too high and they’d burn. She preferred using the big pot, which could cook five at a time.

Since the family had about ten people, she made 25 flatbreads—meaning 50 pieces, since Northeastern flatbreads are made by stacking two dough rounds together. Once cooked, they separate into two.

With everything ready, she packed the food into insulated containers. For some dishes, since there weren’t boxes large enough, she just used bowls.

Then she set off on her electric scooter, heading toward the fields. Along the way—A gentle breeze brushed her face as she imagined her family happily eating a delicious meal. The thought filled Wang Yi’s heart with warmth.

When she reached the edge of the field, she shouted at the top of her lungs, “Mealtime!”

Her voice was like a trumpet call, setting off a lively chorus of shouts echoing back from all directions.

Everyone gathered. Wang Yi handed her eldest brother the water jug so they could wash their hands.

Her sister-in-law helped her bring out the food, and the fragrance instantly filled the air. Everyone couldn’t help but swallow hungrily in unison.

Wang Yi laughed at the sight and told them to dig in quickly.

Grandpa and Grandma praised how tasty the food was. Wang Yi poured each of them a cup of boiled water that had been infused with spiritual spring water.

She had made fifty flatbreads, and they were almost not enough. Wang Yi worried they might eat themselves sick.

After lunch, they sent Wang Yi home. Even though it was autumn, the heat was no less than in midsummer.

Back home, Wang Yi fed the chickens, the geese, and the pigs. By the time she was done, her back ached so much she couldn’t straighten up.

She went into her room, immediately entered her space, and drank some spring water—otherwise she really wouldn’t have been able to bear it.

Just then, someone arrived outside and began shouting before even stepping into the yard.

Wang Yi immediately knew who it was. Who else could it be but her grandmother?

She went out to greet her, but her grandmother’s face was full of impatience.

Wang Yi didn’t much like seeing her grandmother either.

“Where are your parents? Tomorrow we’re working our land. Tell your father and mother to come help at my place,” her grandmother bellowed.

“Grandma, don’t you usually hire workers with tractors? That’s quicker,” Wang Yi asked.

“Hire what workers? You’ve got plenty of sons-in-law. If we don’t use them now, when should we? What do you little kids know?” she snapped, climbing straight onto the heated brick bed as if she wouldn’t leave until her mother came home.

Speaking of her grandmother, Wang Yi truly disliked mentioning her.

Back when their family was poor, her mother had chosen her father, but her grandmother had opposed it fiercely, blocking the marriage at every turn. In the end, her mother had insisted and married him anyway.

Since then, her grandmother had never treated them kindly. Every New Year or holiday, whenever they went to visit, her mother wasn’t even allowed to sit at the main table. Only after her father fought about it a few times did things improve slightly.

But whenever their family slaughtered pigs or geese, all the good things were sent to her grandmother’s house—yet it was never appreciated. And when her grandmother’s family killed cattle or sheep, they gave meat to everyone else, except their household.

There were countless stories like this. Wang Yi never liked talking about the “good deeds” her grandmother had done. Later, she just stopped visiting altogether.

It must have been five years since she last saw her grandmother.

Wang Yi held in her frustration, but calmly said: “Grandma, my parents won’t be back anytime soon. If you’re in a hurry, why don’t you go first? I’ll let them know when they return.”

Her grandmother immediately flared up. “Busy, busy, busy all day long! They don’t even care about their own mother anymore.”

Wang Yi couldn’t hold back and argued: “Grandma, our family has to live too. How could we sit idle every day just waiting to help out other people’s households?”

Her grandmother’s eyes widened. “You little brat! How dare you talk to me like that? No manners at all!”

Just as the tension was about to explode, they suddenly heard chickens clucking and dogs barking in the yard.

It was Aunt Liu from the village, who had come to borrow something. Seeing the scene inside, she quickly guessed what was going on. With a smile, she said, “Oh, Auntie, why such a big temper? These days, life isn’t easy for the younger generation. We should try to understand them.”

Her grandmother snorted. “You don’t know how disrespectful this girl is.”

Aunt Liu gently persuaded: “But the child’s words aren’t wrong. Besides, nowadays it’s convenient to hire help. Why make things difficult for your daughter and son-in-law?”

Her grandmother’s face darkened at that, but she didn’t say anything more. She just lay back down on the brick bed. Aunt Liu, seeing there was nothing else to do, took what she came for and left.

Wang Yi could only wait until her parents came home. This time, it seemed there was no avoiding that extra work.