Chapter 15 Beating Up My Heartless Parents at the Start

Lin Cuizhi’s youngest son had died, weakened by extreme hunger and illness — it was like adding fuel to the fire.

The child was too young and had no resistance at all.

Lin Cuizhi’s cries tore through the night of Dawa Village, echoing across the village for a long time.

The next day, Geng Feng came to tell Qin Nian that after his aunt and cousin left, the two of them would go back up the mountain.

Otherwise, bringing farming tools while his relatives were around would surely arouse their suspicion.

After breakfast, Geng Feng’s aunt was about to leave.

Ye Meizi and Geng Feng followed behind to see her off.

Tang Xiaomei’s eyes flickered constantly, often glancing at Geng Feng’s face.

Geng Feng’s aunt took Ye Meizi’s hand: “Sister-in-law, my eldest brother is injured, and it’s all thanks to you for taking care of him. You’ve worked hard.”

Ye Meizi smiled and said, “We’re family. It’s what we should do.”

Tang Xiaomei spoke up: “Aunt, my family lives in Dahe Village, not too far from here. When we have free time, my mother and I will come visit you.”

Ye Meizi nodded helplessly, “Alright, come by when you can.”

Tang Xiaomei’s mother was quite meddlesome and did not get along well with Ye Meizi.

Whenever they came, they would say ambiguous, unpleasant things.

Ye Meizi really disliked this sister-in-law.

Since Geng Zhenhai’s leg was injured, Tang Xiaomei’s family, after hearing the news and coming over, had been quite unhappy.

Tang Xiaomei and her mother said a lot more things.

Geng Feng said nothing.

Finally, after sending them off, Geng Feng was full of energy again. He went to the storage room to get two back baskets, placed them on a wheelbarrow, and put a sickle inside one of the baskets.

He also took a Western-style iron fork for turning the soil and a hoe for making ridges and put them both on the wheelbarrow.

He covered them with the two baskets so they wouldn’t look conspicuous.

That morning, Ye Meizi had made a basin of corn porridge, which the two adults took as breakfast.

She also steamed corn, wild boar meat, and mushroom stuffed vegetable buns early in the morning.

Once steamed, she placed them on the stove board and covered them with a basin — these couldn’t be taken out and eaten yet.

Geng Feng and Qin Nian were going up the mountain to clear land — physical labor — so they needed to eat lunch.

Ye Meizi prepared the vegetable buns to bring up to the mountain for lunch and packed two bowls for them to drink water with.

Once everything was packed, Geng Feng called Qin Nian over from behind the low wall and then pushed the wheelbarrow out the door.

Like last time, they hid the wheelbarrow at the foot of the mountain.

Each carried a basket on their backs; Geng Feng held the iron fork and hoe and avoided the wild vegetable pickers as they quickly climbed up.

After crossing the nearly ninety-degree steep mountain ridge, the two saw the Bashful Spring again.

They began work.

First, they used the sickle to cut down the grass on that patch of land. After putting down the sickle, Qin Nian tidied up the grass that was over half a person’s height.

Geng Feng used the iron fork to start turning the soil. They collected the wild vegetables in the ground and put them into the baskets.

After turning just a small patch, they had already filled half a basket with wild vegetables.

The two young people worked enthusiastically and took short breaks when tired.

Qin Nian carried the water pouch, saying she wanted to fetch water from the Bashful Spring, but she actually took the spiritual spring water and poured it into a bowl to drink.

At noon, they ate the meat-stuffed vegetable buns. Geng Feng’s young face was lit up with a bright smile.

“Xiao Nian, I’ve worked all morning and I’m not even tired at all. It feels like I have endless energy.”

So young, and drinking spiritual spring water—of course he wasn’t tired.

Qin Nian smiled, “I’m not tired either.”

After lunch, they continued working.

Geng Feng turned several forks of soil, tossing a giant wild shepherd’s purse plant into the basket, then looked at Qin Nian and said:

“At this speed, we can finish turning this piece of land in three to five days. Once the ridges are made, we can start planting.”

Qin Nian suddenly realized a problem and stared blankly at Geng Feng.

“Oh no!

We have land but no seeds! I only have one or two silver coins—not enough to buy seeds.”

Geng Feng was also stunned. He stood there holding the iron fork, motionless in the wind.

There are countless difficulties in the world, but having no money is one of the hardest.

Soon, Geng Feng came up with a plan.

He looked at the somewhat sorrowful young girl and said, “Xiao Nian, at dusk, I’ll take you down to the foot of the mountain. I won’t come back tonight.”

Qin Nian didn’t understand and hurriedly asked, “Why are you staying on the mountain?”

“Many animals like to come out at night to forage. I’ll hunt on the mountain at night. If I catch a wild boar or other animals, I can sell them and have money to buy seeds.”

Qin Nian hesitated, “But you work all day turning the soil. Can your body handle hunting at night?”

Geng Feng smiled, “I can handle it, don’t worry. Besides, it’s already mid-May — we must earn the seed money as soon as possible. If it’s too late, it might be impossible.”

There was no other choice.

They worked until dusk, then Geng Feng said to Qin Nian, “That’s enough for today. Let me walk you down.”

Qin Nian thought for a moment, “Geng Feng, I can’t climb down that mountain peak by myself. You only need to see me down the peak. You’ve worked all day, no need to go all the way to the foot.”

“It’s getting late. You’re a young girl walking mountain paths alone — what if you run into bad people? I’m a grown man; walking a little farther isn’t a big deal. Bring me breakfast tomorrow and I’ll meet you.”

Qin Nian nodded, “Just meet me at the foot of the mountain tomorrow. It’ll be daytime — there will be villagers digging for wild vegetables in the mountain, so no need to go all the way down.”

“Alright, I’ll wait at the foot of the mountain tomorrow morning.”

After Geng Feng escorted her down, Qin Nian went back to the village alone.

Ye Meizi had already prepared the meal for both Li Pozi and Qin Nian. When she heard Geng Feng would stay on the mountain hunting and not return that night, she felt very sorry.

But there was no other way — the children of poor families must endure hardship.

After eating, Li Pozi said, “Xiao Nian, take some of our cornmeal over to Geng Feng’s aunt. You and Geng Feng work on the mountain, and she makes your lunch every day. Their family has too much cornmeal; it won’t go to waste.”

Li Pozi was a wise woman.

Qin Nian agreed and filled a basin with cornmeal, along with half a basket of wild vegetables she had gathered, and delivered it over.

Ye Meizi refused to accept it, saying Qin Nian’s family had it hard, too.

Qin Nian said, “Aunt, please accept it. The food we bring up the mountain every day is from your family. I just eat it without hesitation. Please don’t be polite with me; otherwise, I’ll feel bad eating lunch.”

Only then did Ye Meizi accept. But she kept only half the wild vegetables, letting Qin Nian take the rest back.

That night, Qin Nian lay on the kang thinking, Geng Feng probably isn’t sleeping now. Where could he be hiding, waiting for prey?

What might he catch? Wild boar? Mountain raccoon? Wild rabbit?

Thinking of wild rabbits, Qin Nian felt a surge of joy. Right! Wild rabbits like tender grass — if she soaked grass in her space water, would that attract rabbits?

Definitely, definitely.

Qin Nian was thrilled, almost wanting to get up right then to gather fresh grass in the mountain and soak it in spiritual spring water.

The next morning, before dawn, Qin Nian got up. Breakfast was still millet porridge; there was nothing else at home.

As usual, Qin Nian added a spoonful of brown sugar to Li Pozi’s bowl.

Just after finishing breakfast, Ye Meizi arrived.