Chapter 24: Another Invitation

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Uncle Chen Jiu intended for Zhou Yu and An’an to develop a closer relationship, so he instructed Zhao Hu, “Go call all the villagers here. I have something to discuss with them.”

“What’s the matter, Uncle Jiu?” Zhao Hu stared eagerly at An’an. This little one—why wouldn’t she just ask her uncle to feed her?

“Just go when I tell you to!” Chen Jiu shot him a glare.

Only then did Zhao Hu get up and run out.

An’an only drank half a bowl of walnut porridge before refusing more. Drinking too much would make her need to pee, and having the handsome uncle help her pee would ruin her image!

Zhou Yu held An’an in one arm and drank the rest of the walnut porridge himself. It tasted slightly bitter and had a rather coarse texture.

But he finished it all in one go without a change in expression, then started playing with An’an to amuse her.

Soon, the villagers arrived one after another, gathering outside the courtyard and speaking quietly among themselves.

Chen Jiu raised his voice, “Sorry to take up your time, everyone. Lord Zhou has something to say.”

Zhou Yu smiled and said, “Uncle Jiu, it’s better if you speak.”

So Chen Jiu stepped up onto the smooth doorstep and conveyed Zhou Yu’s intentions. He emphasized at the end, “This is something he could’ve just ordered, but instead, the Lord respectfully chose to discuss it with us. We better not be ungrateful and bring bad luck upon ourselves.”

The villagers quickly chimed in:

“It’s an honor that the Lord is willing to trade food with us! Why wouldn’t we trade?”

“Uncle Jiu, you just give the word—when do we trade? We’ll go weigh our food right away!”

“We’re all reasonable folks. If it weren’t for the Lord and his people, who knows if we would’ve even gotten our harvest back this time? If the Lord speaks, we must listen!”

Chen Jiu was very pleased with the reaction and happily agreed. He specifically called out to Qin Ying: “Yingzi, you’re the only literate one in our village now, so you’ll help with the bookkeeping!

“No need for everyone to weigh their food themselves—just bring it all here and line up at my doorstep. We’ll weigh it family by family. Yingzi will keep the records for our side, and the Lord will definitely assign someone on his end too. That way, both sides can feel secure.”

The villagers all agreed and soon returned home to fetch their grain. Those who couldn’t carry it themselves asked others to help.

Before long, the area outside Chen Jiu’s home became bustling like a market.

Meanwhile, Zhang Jin had already sorted the food to be traded and had it set aside.

Those who were registered by Qin Ying then took their grain to line up for the exchange. Chen Jiu oversaw the trading. Although he wasn’t very literate, he had a precise sense of weight.

They were busy all the way until after dark.

During this time, An’an stayed with Zhou Yu, while Zhao Hu went to help Aunt Zhao select grain.

When Xu Xia prepared dinner, he also made enough for the Zhao family. Once the exchange was done and the villagers dispersed, Aunt Zhao and Zhao Hu came to pick up Qin Ying and An’an, and Zhou Yu invited them to stay for dinner.

Aunt Zhao and Qin Ying tried to decline politely, but Zhou Yu smiled lightly and said, “Miss Qin was a great help today—it’s only right to treat her to a meal.”

Chen Jiu also laughed cheerfully, “Don’t be shy! If you really feel bad, just bring over some of the vegetables and melons you’ve grown at your place!”

To make the Zhao family feel more comfortable, Zhou Yu didn’t eat with them. Instead, he took Xu Xia next door.

In Chen Jiu’s courtyard, a small square table was set up, and the four adults sat around it.

An’an had already eaten the egg custard and millet porridge Zhou Yu had fed her earlier, so Qin Ying asked Chen Jiu for a big bamboo basket, placed An’an inside, and let her play on her own.

Of course, she also noticed the peace charm hanging around An’an’s neck and quietly asked Zhao Hu where it came from.

Chen Jiu recounted what had happened, then glanced toward the neighboring yard and said in a lowered voice, “Don’t be foolish enough to refuse it! Even if not for yourselves, think about the child!

“These past two years have been okay, and the villagers still remember your kindness.

“But this famine won’t last forever. When it ends, those no-good ones who left will surely come back.

“When the time comes, people will talk, and memories fade quickly—what will you do if you’re bullied again?

“How many more years do you think this old man can live? Once I kick the bucket, I won’t be able to help anymore!

“But with this kind of connection, even if there’s no further contact, others will still be somewhat cautious.

“When An’an grows up, even her in-laws are likely to be a respectable family!”

Aunt Zhao and Qin Ying knew he was making sense, so they nodded and agreed.

Qin Ying also thought to go through her late mother’s belongings later to find something to give in return.

Although An’an was playing, her little ears were perked up the whole time. Wow, this old man really is a good person!

Once she “leveled up” in the future, she definitely wouldn’t forget his kindness!

After dinner, Qin Ying mentioned to Chen Jiu the sprouting rate of the unexpected batch of grain.

It was nearly 100%, and the seedlings were incredibly robust.

Chen Jiu was overjoyed and couldn’t stop smiling. The grain from the autumn harvest was already considered a bumper crop, but compared to this batch, it paled in comparison.

They were keeping this grain for themselves and hadn’t traded it with Zhou Yu.

After some more small talk, the Zhao family carried the sleeping An’an home.

After the autumn harvest, the residents of Tongshu Village mobilized once more to turn over the fields in preparation for planting wheat. They irrigated the land, and soon the wheat was sown.

Then came vegetable harvesting.

Initially, the priority was to plant grains. Once they confirmed the water source wouldn’t dry up, they cultivated several more acres to plant radishes, cabbage, green onions, and the like.

Additionally, every household had planted vegetables in their own yards, which also had to be harvested before the first frost.

They first collected the vegetables grown collectively, which were divided among the villagers right at the fields. Each household then managed their own yard’s produce.

The Zhao family received 100 catties of cabbage, 50 catties of radish, 30 catties of green onions, 40 catties of garlic, and several bundles of cilantro. They also harvested winter melons and pumpkins from their own yard and stored everything in their cellar.

The remaining vegetables that needed drying were hung out to dry.

Several more days passed in busy labor.

Zhou Yu sent someone again to invite Zhao Hu. This time, they would be going to a place much farther away, so he didn’t plan on taking Qin Ying.

Aunt Zhao offered to go instead.

Qin Ying said, “Auntie, it’s better if I go with Huzi. If not, it’ll be just me and An’an at home, and I’m scared.”

Aunt Zhao recalled past events and also thought it unwise. But with food and vegetables at home, someone needed to keep watch.

So she decided to stay with An’an.

Zhao Hu quickly said, “Mom, then let An’an come with us instead.”

“You foolish boy!” Aunt Zhao’s face darkened. “This isn’t like last time. The weather is getting colder every day. You’ll be eating in the wind and sleeping in the open. Why let An’an suffer with you?”

It was Xu Xia who came to fetch them, and he smiled when he heard this, “Don’t worry, Auntie! We have tents—no one will freeze.

“Also, the Lord said that everyone who goes out will be paid. Once we’re done, we’ll settle the wages.

“If you’d like to come, you’re welcome too. We’ll assign someone to help look after your home. If even a single grain goes missing, we’ll compensate you a hundredfold!

“What do you think?”