Chapter 73: The End of the Summer Harvest

Zhou Yu was silent for a moment before softly responding, “Mm.”

Zhang Jinzhi immediately raised three fingers. “My lord, I swear to the heavens: if I reveal even half a word that would harm An’an, may I be struck by lightning and fall forever into the deepest hell!”

Zhou Yu turned to look at him, his face devoid of any amusement. “That’s unnecessary. You just need to forget all of this.”

“Yes, sir!” Zhang Jinzhi replied at once. “I didn’t know anything to begin with!”

Only then did Zhou Yu chuckle lightly and step into a household, with Zhang Jinzhi following closely behind.

In this manner, they visited four more homes after night had completely fallen, and then they headed to Uncle Chen Jiu’s house.

On the way, Zhang Jinzhi suggested, “It’s enough to leave one of our people to help with the Zhao family’s summer harvest. We should bring Zhao Hu along. We can say An’an couldn’t bear to part with her uncle.”

After all, Zhou Yu wasn’t related to them in any way, and taking someone else’s child so bluntly didn’t look good.

Zhou Yu found the idea reasonable and agreed.

Uncle Chen Jiu was lying in a rocking chair in the courtyard, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan.

He hadn’t noticed it before, but ever since Zhou Yu and his group had moved out, his neighbors on either side were gone too. It was tolerable during the day, but at night, it was unbearably lonely.

So when he suddenly saw Zhou Yu and Zhang Jinzhi, he immediately stood up and greeted them with a cheerful smile. “Lord Zhou, Mister Zhang, what brings you here at this hour?”

There weren’t many mosquitoes now, so sitting in the courtyard chatting was just right.

Uncle Chen gave up his rocking chair to Zhou Yu, brought a small stool for Zhang Jinzhi, and sat himself on a straw cushion.

Zhou Yu said, “Mr. Zhang and I just took a walk through the village. Things have improved a lot for everyone.”

“Yes, yes,” Uncle Chen couldn’t hide his pride as he spoke. “Our village folk really work with one heart!

“When everyone puts in effort together, how could the days not get better?

“Besides, after half a year of nourishing food, even those who were weak before can do some work now.

“Right now, the oldest in the village are just me, this old geezer, and Big Sister Wang from the Wang family.

“Even the two of us can carry water now! Though not much—only half a bucket at a time.

“Anyway, no matter what, we definitely won’t be a burden to the villagers!

“Big Sister Wang and I already discussed it. During the summer harvest, one of us will be in charge of spreading the wheat in the threshing yard, and the other will bring water to the villagers.

“In the dog days of summer, if you don’t drink enough, you’ll easily suffer heatstroke!”

Zhou Yu listened with a faint smile and then said, “I have to head out again tomorrow. Mr. Zhang will stay behind. I’ll leave a few more people to help protect the crops and assist with the harvest.

“When the harvesting begins, Uncle Jiu, be sure to give us a heads-up.

“From what I’ve seen these past few days, our village will likely be the first to harvest. Once we’re done, our people can go help the surrounding villages.”

Uncle Chen originally wanted to decline, but thinking that Lord Zhou’s offer was made in good faith—and considering that it’s always better to secure grain early—he accepted and repeatedly expressed his thanks.

Zhou Yu asked about other matters in the village. As the night grew darker, he stood up and took his leave.

This time, because he hadn’t announced anything, only the Zhao family saw him off.

Before dawn, Zhou Yu and his group quietly left Tongshu Village.

An’an was still asleep, so she was carried on Zhao Hu’s back, while her luggage was carried by Xu Xia.

Aunt Zhao and Qin Ying stood watching until the group disappeared into the distance. Only then did they slowly return home. Aunt Zhao couldn’t help but sigh, “Ah, who knows how long they’ll be gone this time… It feels like my heart’s been ripped out!”

Qin Ying said nothing, but her heart felt just as sour and heavy.

They could only hope for a smooth journey and an early return.

Back home, they washed up and started cooking: a big pot of porridge, a basket of steamed cornbread, and another pot of vegetables.

Once they’d eaten and the food had cooled, they stored it in open-mouthed jars and lowered them into the water tank to keep fresh.

Then they fed the rabbits, put on straw hats, carried hoes and baskets, and headed to the fields.

Since it wasn’t their turn for the communal fields, they went to tend the new land they had reclaimed.

Once they started working, the sorrow of parting faded.

As the sky brightened, more villagers began arriving in the fields. Not seeing An’an, someone couldn’t help but ask, “Why isn’t An’an here today? Did she go play with Lord Zhou?”

Everyone knew An’an liked sticking to Zhou Yu, and that Zhou Yu was fond of her too.

Aunt Zhao sighed, “Ah! Lord Zhou had to leave again. An’an couldn’t bear to part with her uncle, so she insisted on going with him.

“We had no choice. After talking it over with Huzi, we decided to let her go first. Once she falls asleep, he’ll bring her back.”

The villagers all sighed with understanding.

“So that’s what happened!”

“An’an really is such a lovable child! We’re so used to seeing her around—now that she’s not here, it feels strange.”

“When she comes back, you’ll have to coax her well. She’s sure to cry!”

Aunt Zhao mumbled an acknowledgment, and everyone returned to their work.

By nightfall, An’an still hadn’t been brought back. Someone came to ask again.

Aunt Zhao put on an act and scolded Zhao Hu loudly.

Qin Ying rubbed her eyes red and advised, “Mom, don’t blame Huzi… Once you’re out the door, things aren’t always in your control.

“Besides, if he had come back just to return An’an, the extra trouble might’ve delayed Lord Zhou’s plans.

“If that made Lord Zhou unhappy, Huzi might not get another chance to travel with him.”

The villagers also chimed in to comfort her, and only then did Aunt Zhao gradually stop scolding.

Because of this, no one brought up the matter of An’an leaving with Zhou Yu again.

Days passed like flowing water, and soon it was time for the summer harvest.

Everyone in Tongshu Village mobilized. In three days, all the wheat was cut and delivered to the threshing yard for the first round of threshing.

The people Zhou Yu left behind had already gone to help nearby villages.

Fortunately, there was no rain, so there was no rush to harvest or plant.

After the first round of threshing, the wheat straw was separated and piled to the side. The grains were pushed together with wooden boards, then moved to a different yard to be dried.

The straw was spread out again for a second round of threshing.

Those without much physical strength picked up stray wheat ears in the fields to make sure not a single grain was missed.

After three more days of work, not a single grain was left in the straw. The straw was then neatly stacked in the threshing yard—it was excellent kindling.

The wheat was dried for two more days, until a single bite gave a crisp crunch, which meant it was thoroughly dried.

Then it was bagged, weighed, and immediately distributed.

Everyone beamed with joy. Why? Because the harvest yielded far more wheat than what had been sown!

Everyone started planning: once they got home, they’d grind the wheat into flour and make dumplings with half cornmeal and half wheat flour!

After all, the vegetables were already ready to go!

But Aunt Zhao and Qin Ying weren’t as cheerful. With two family members missing, they had no appetite for good food.

Someone came over to discuss something. “Your second litter of rabbits is almost grown. How about giving me a pair? I won’t take advantage—I’ll trade two jin of wheat. What do you think?”