Chapter 47

The morning sun had just risen, casting gentle rays on the country roads, filling the air with warmth.

There were several paths leading out of the village, but only one was wide enough for the ox cart.

Along the way, they encountered several groups of people from Shanshui Village.

Those with slightly better conditions pushed wheelbarrows, carrying grain and other miscellaneous items;

Those with less means but strength used a pole with two baskets, filled with grain;

And those with less means and not much strength carried baskets on their backs, filled with grain and topped with saved-up chicken and duck eggs.

Aunt Zhang and her eldest son were of the latter two types.

Seeing Aunt Zhang struggling with her basket, Shuiqing called out, “Aunt Zhang, why don’t you put your basket on our cart? I’ll give it back to you when we reach the market.”

“No need, no need! The distance isn’t far, I can carry it,” Aunt Zhang replied with a warm smile.

Shuiqing’s cart was obviously packed with her family heading to visit her parents, with seven people on the cart, along with two sacks of grain and some fabric. Aunt Zhang didn’t want to impose by adding her own load to it.

Besides, carrying a heavy load of grain made Aunt Zhang feel more at ease and happier.

Zhang Jin Niu, carrying two full baskets of rice, wiped the sweat off his forehead and cheerfully said to Shuiqing, “My mother is very happy.

Originally, we were just going to let Yin Niu carry the grain, but my mother said we needed to buy a lot of things, so she came along.”

Aunt Zhang, unreservedly toward her son, grumbled, “We’re almost out of salt, and we need oil for the lamps. We have to buy more. You all have been working day and night, and as a mother, I worry. I want to buy some oily food for you. You ungrateful one, if I’d known, I wouldn’t have come!”

Previously, her family wouldn’t have bought lamp oil, relying on moonlight for chores if it was late. But now, they needed lamp oil to shell lily seeds at night, and it was more cost-effective.

Salt was essential for strength to work. With plenty of rice now, it was wise to trade for more salt, as it doesn’t spoil. Who knows what next year will bring?

Zhang Jin Niu’s ears perked up at the mention of ‘oily food’. Swallowing his saliva, he excitedly asked, “Mom, are you buying pork?”

He couldn’t remember the last time he had fatty pork, especially after his father squandered their land and went into debt, they hadn’t even seen a trace of fat.

Aunt Zhang couldn’t bear to disappoint her hard-working eldest son but didn’t want him to have false hopes either, so she said, “Don’t get too excited. We can’t afford fatty pork, only some lean meat from the pig’s leg, and maybe a bone for soup.”

“That’s enough! As long as there’s something to eat, lean meat and a bone for soup are great!” Zhang Jin Niu felt reinvigorated, the burden on his shoulders seeming lighter at the thought of meat and bone soup.

Yan Qiu, Xing Hui, and the others understood Jin Niu’s joy. Even though they had eaten meat several times since the family split, each meal with meat still brought immense happiness.

Shuiqing was genuinely happy for Jin Niu’s family.

She then heard Aunt Zhang reminding Jin Niu, “Remember your second brother and sister-in-law’s kindness! Without them, you and your siblings wouldn’t have even black gruel to eat, let alone meat and bone soup. Because of them, we’ve been able to eat black bread in just a few days. They are our great benefactors!”

Shuiqing blushed, feeling undeserving of such praise and recognition.

Zhang Jin Niu laughed and agreed, “Mom is right! Don’t worry. In our hearts, apart from you, Mom, second brother and sister-in-law are the dearest to us! No matter what happens, we’ll always protect them! If not, may heaven strike us down!”

Shuiqing, feeling embarrassed by such a grand declaration of loyalty, quickly interjected, “No need for that.”

But Aunt Zhang didn’t give Shuiqing a chance to say much, immediately addressing Fan Jin, “We are slow and need to rest from time to time. You go ahead.”

Fan Jin glanced at Shuiqing, whose face was still red, and nodded to Aunt Zhang, “Alright, Aunt Zhang, we need to visit my father-in-law. We’ll go ahead.”

With a flick of the reins, the ox sped up, gradually leaving the walking villagers behind.

Shuiqing was still reflecting on the sincerity of Aunt Zhang’s family when the ox cart entered Niutou Town.

The streets were lined with small, crowded houses, each with a small stall in front, mostly empty at this hour.

“Father-in-law must be at the market by now,” Fan Jin said as he stopped the cart in front of a house.

The wooden door was not very sturdy but was wider than those on either side.

Fan Jiang was the first to jump off the cart, running ahead and knocking on the door while shouting, “Grandmother, Uncle, open the door, we’re here.”

Shuiqing realized they had arrived.

She examined her parents’ house. When Butcher Hu brought people to help build the house and delivered a large cartload of goods, she had assumed their condition was quite good.

But now, seeing the narrow and simple house, she understood that they were generous to their daughter but their own living conditions were not that great.

Footsteps quickly approached, and the thin wooden door was opened. Seeing the people outside, Hu Mother’s eyes instantly welled up with tears.

She took Fan Jiang’s hand and walked towards Shuiqing, unable to hold back her emotional words, “You’re back? That’s good.”

Then she remembered and quickly invited Fan Jin inside, “Son-in-law, please come in and have some tea.”

She also looked at Yan Qiu, Xing Hui, and the other children, admiringly saying, “They’ve grown so well, better than before. Your grandfather mentioned it, but I didn’t believe it until now.”

Fan Jin led the ox cart into the courtyard, unloaded the cart, and brought in the goods. He then fetched a basket and a sickle to cut grass to feed the ox.

The children entered the house noisily, and Shuiqing stayed back to wait for her mother.

Hu Mother was instructing the neighbor to go to the market’s butcher shop to inform her husband and son, reminding them to bring back some fatty meat.

Turning back and seeing Shuiqing waiting for her, Hu Mother’s smile grew even wider. She approached and said, “It’s been a long time since you’ve been home. Hurry inside and rest, I’ll make something good for you.”

“Grandmother, we brought some good food,” Xing Hui said, feeling more at ease here than at Fan’s house and spoke more.

Hu Mother looked disapprovingly at Shuiqing, “Last time your father brought back two pounds of brown sugar, and I gave him a good scolding. You just split from the family and lack many things. You should keep it to nourish the kids. Why bring it here? Even if you wanted to bring something, a little would do. How much can I eat? It would be a waste. You should take it back later.”

Hearing her mother’s scolding, Shuiqing felt incredibly warm inside.

She stepped forward, taking her mother’s arm and whispered, “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll tell you a secret. We found some He Shou Wu on the mountain after splitting from the family. It’s worth quite a bit, so don’t worry about us.”

This was the reason Shuiqing and Fan Jin had agreed upon, otherwise her parents wouldn’t accept the rice, flour, and fabric they brought.

Hu Mother was first surprised, then delighted, unable to hide her happiness for them, “Really? That’s wonderful.”