Chapter 208

Putting aside the matter of Liu Shuixian for the moment, tonight’s meal is comparable to a New Year’s feast. The chicken is the traditional white-cut chicken, and Li Yufeng has prepared the Liyu fish, which weighs over ten kilograms, in three different ways. The fish head is steamed using an ancient method; the fish bones and tail are fried until golden and served with tomato and tofu soup; and the fish belly and meat are braised with dried bean curd. Additionally, a large plate of fresh vegetables is stir-fried, and some cucumber is sliced. Though the variety of dishes may not be many, each portion is generous, far surpassing what most families could even dream of having, even during the New Year.

The happiest person is, naturally, Xiao Roubao. Although the ingredients these days are all healthy and organic, growing up in Grandma’s house, where they consumed various grains and cereals, and having raised free-range roosters and wild fish from the reservoir for years already gives Xiao Roubao a winning edge in terms of ingredients. Add to that Li Yufeng’s own cooking skills, and Xiao Roubao ends up eating five bowls of rice tonight!

In terms of portion size, he ate the same amount of food as everyone else. None of them is a selfish child who disregards others and eats voraciously. He will eat whatever food they put in his bowl and will never rush to snatch another person’s food. His last two bowls of rice are finished off with the fish soup and then with the broth from the braised fish and a bit of greens.

Since he was just over two years old when he returned, it was evident that he had a good appetite, but no one expected him to eat so much at the age of five. His appetite far surpasses that of his older brothers, who claim to have bottomless stomachs. While the rest of the family puts down their chopsticks, he’s still happily eating away, savoring every bite, much to the surprise of the entire Su family.

The last grain of rice in the pot entered Xiao Roubao’s stomach. Seeing him licking the sauce from his lips with a look of satisfaction, she can’t help but feel a bit sorry for him. “Xiao Roubao, are you still not full? Grandma can make you another bowl of noodles if you want.”

“Cough cough…” Su Zhenhua, who was drinking tea, almost choked. This five-year-old guy ate more than him; why did his mother think he wasn’t full? Su Zhenhua finally knew why Han Cheng gave him a strange gaze when he stopped him from buying groceries.

Xiao Roubao put down the bowl and said with a satisfied expression, “Grandma, I’m full now!”

Su Xiaoxiao wanted to pick up the cub from the chair, but she couldn’t lift him, so Han Cheng ended up carrying him down.

Pouting, Xiao Roubao asks his mother to help him wipe his mouth. Su Xiaoxiao wipes his mouth and says, “Mom, Xiao Roubao has eaten too much today; he shouldn’t eat anymore.”

Li Yufeng thinks of the five bowls of rice and almost says something, but she stops herself and instead says, “As long as he’s full.”

Da Bao and Xiao Bao secretly asked Fantuan, “Does Xiao Roubao eat like this every day?”

Fantuan shook his head and said, “No.”

Xiao Bao breathed a sigh of relief and was about to say, “That’s good,” but then he heard Fantuan add, “This amount barely fills him up; sometimes he eats even more.”

Da Bao Xiao Bao: “…?!!” 

No wonder Xiao Roubao, who’s the same age as Xiao Tangyuan, is a whole circle bigger than Xiao Tangyuan!

After finishing the meal, the older brothers were responsible for tidying up the dishes. Li Yufeng took Xiao Tangyuan to bathe since she was full. 

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Sujia Village started using electricity last year, but the Su family still hasn’t bought a fan. On this unusually hot day, with so many people waiting to bathe, Su Xiaoxiao and Han Cheng decided to take a walk outside first to cool off and digest their food, planning to bathe later.

The summer night in Sujiavillage has a unique charm.

It was also the first time for Han Cheng to visit Sujia Village in the summer. This village has no commercial atmosphere at all—everyone rises and rests with the sun. Although the afterglow of the sunset has faded, leaving only a faint red glow in the sky, and occasional lights can be seen in the distance, there’s no hustle and bustle. The sounds of dogs barking, frogs croaking, and cicadas chirping are exceptionally clear, giving those accustomed to city life a sense of tranquility that cleanses the soul.

“I like this place, but do these animals sound a bit exaggerated?” Han Cheng has been to the countryside before and has heard frogs croaking and cicadas chirping, but tonight’s sounds from nature seem more like some kind of warning or lamentation. He wonders if it’s because he’s not accustomed to hearing them often.

Su Xiaoxiao said, “It sounds a bit unusual, and I’m a bit scared. Let’s go back and ask my parents.” 

Seeing no one around, Su Xiaoxiao took Han Cheng’s hand and tiptoed to kiss his lips. “Let’s go back.”

In the dim night, Han Cheng’s eyes darkened as he pulled Su Xiaoxiao behind a willow tree, trapping her between his arms. He lowered his head and gave her a lingering and affectionate kiss until they both became breathless; only then did they loosen their embrace.

“Han Cheng…” Su Xiaoxiao’s voice was delicate and soft as if she were being coquettish.

Unable to resist, Han Cheng lowered his head and pecked her lips. “Be good; don’t call me like that.”

Su Xiaoxiao felt “something” and didn’t dare to do it again. She hugged his waist and rubbed against his chest before asking softly, “Han Cheng, do you think we only started dating after marriage?”

For most couples, the order is to meet, get to know each other, then fall in love and stay together.

Their order is reversed; they talk about marriage as soon as they meet. After marriage, most of their time revolves around their children. They gradually get to know each other while spending time together. It’s only when their children grow up that they have time for romance. In the context of the 21st century, this could be considered marriage before love.

Han Cheng hugged her tightly and said, “It’s okay, we still have decades left.” This is what Han Cheng often says.

Love is said to be blind, isn’t it? On such a hot day, the two of them cuddle together without feeling the heat.

They only had each other in their eyes, completely unaware of Liu Shuixian, who had also come out for a walk.

Having saved Su Xiaoxioa, Liu Shuixian holds no ill will towards her now. But her own marriage hasn’t been smooth, and seeing Su Xiaoxiao so happy, it’s hard not to feel jealous. They’re both women, both high school graduates, and both delayed for ten years. Why is Su Xiaoxiao able to marry into the city, attend college, and live such a happy life while she has repeatedly faced criticism? 

Liu Shuixian angrily thinks that every time she puts her heart into something, it ends in failure. Life is truly unfair, forcing her to be stuck in this remote mountain village forever. She would rather die.

-o-o-o-o-o-

After the couple finishes their walk and most of the family members have finished bathing, it’s still too hot inside the house. The children decided to lay out bamboo mats in the yard to sleep together, hoping it would be cooler.

“Go to the county town tomorrow to buy two fans,” Han Cheng said.

“Let’s buy two fans in the county tomorrow,” Han Cheng suggests.

It’s been an exceptionally hot day, much hotter than in the capital, and the lack of even a breeze makes everyone feel restless.

Su Zhenhua shook his head. “Ever since the nearby villages got electricity, electric fans have been in short supply year-round. Even with tickets, you can’t buy them. I’ve been asking those scalpers in the county to help me find some since the beginning of the year, but I still haven’t gotten any.”

Su Xiaoxiao said, “If we had known, we could have brought two back from the capital. It’s easier to find small appliances there.”

Su Weimin shook his big sunflower fan and said, “We’ve been used to this for so many years. Every summer is like this. It’s just that with electricity now, people have more ideas, but a calm mind naturally keeps one cool.”

Li Yufeng wiped the sweat off her forehead, feeling a bit worried. “I think the weather this year is hotter than usual, and I’m afraid the typhoon will arrive earlier, which will damage the crops. This year, I need to cook more sour plum soup and mung bean soup to help everyone cool down.”

Han Cheng and Su Xiaoxiao also mentioned the abnormal chirping of frogs and cicadas.

Su Weimin naturally noticed, and he also noticed that the sunset this evening was unusually red. He was most worried about the typhoon and nodded, saying, “With the weather being so stuffy and the sky full of red clouds, even snakes, insects, mice, and ants can’t stand it. The typhoon might come early. Tomorrow I’ll go check the fields. If the rice is ripe enough, we’ll have to start the double harvest a few days earlier this year.”

Fantuan asked, “Grandpa, what is a double harvest?”

Su Weimin explains, “Double harvest means harvesting and planting at the same time. It’s the hardest time of the year for us farmers when we have to finish harvesting the rice on one end and immediately start planting seedlings on the other. It’s a tight schedule, all within these ten days or so. Basically, it’s a race against time.”

Zhuzi asked, “Why not harvest the rice earlier?”

Su Weimin said, “Foolish child, it’s a pity to harvest rice before it’s fully ripe. Although each grain might be a bit plumper, and you might get a few more bowls of rice per acre, think about our village, the whole commune, with so many acres of land. Even if each acre produces a few more bowls of rice, how many people can be fed with that?”

Su Weimin sighed and said, “My child, it’s not that we don’t want to harvest; it’s that we’re reluctant to. Everyone wants to wait until the rice is fully ripe before harvesting. But the weather doesn’t cooperate. Compared to the losses from typhoons and heavy rains blowing the rice down into the fields, losing a few bowls of rice now is nothing.”

Everyone fell silent after hearing this. The first poem Su Xiaoxiao taught the children was “Bemoaning the Plight of Farmers.” They all knew “sweat drips on the soil beneath the crops; every grain is hard-earned,” but they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes. Now, just hearing about the heavy rice grains possibly being blown down by a typhoon made the children feel heartbroken.

Xiao Roubao was so upset that he ran over and comforted his grandfather, saying, “Grandpa, don’t be sad. Xiao Roubao will eat one less bowl, no, half a bowl of rice at each meal, and soon we’ll make up for the few bowls of rice we’re missing.”

The heavy topic from earlier was lightened by Xiao Roubao’s interruption, leaving everyone feeling a bit amused and moved.

Su Weimin hugged his chubby little grandson and thought that he had to make sure the child ate his fill, even if he didn’t eat himself.

“Grandpa didn’t mean that. There’s still enough food at home for Xiao Roubao to eat. He can eat as much as he wants.”

Xiao Roubao tilted his head and thought for a moment, “Grandpa, I also love eating sweet potatoes and taro grown by my grandmother. If I eat more sweet potatoes and taro, I can save a lot of rice.”

No wonder everyone likes Xiao Roubao so much. Who wouldn’t love such a sensible little chubby?

Fantuan and Zhuzi both said, “Grandpa, we also like to eat sweet potatoes and taro, and we can also help harvest rice in the fields.”

Li Yufeng said, “Xiao Roubao has always loved sweet potatoes since he was little. Grandma will dig some sweet potatoes and taro tomorrow.”

Su Weimin comforted, “Okay, okay, everyone will go down to the ground to help harvest the rice.”

Everyone didn’t sleep well that night.

-o-o-o-o-o-

The next morning, Su Weimin and Su Zhenhua went to the field to check the maturity of the rice. In fact, the rice was already more than 90% ripe. If they harvested now, the loss wouldn’t be significant. So, at noon, they broadcasted a message, notifying the commune members to start harvesting the rice a week earlier than planned.

Some members were puzzled. The rice would be fully ripe in another ten days or so. Wouldn’t it be a waste to harvest it now? They went to ask Su Weimin what was going on.

Su Weimin explained his thoughts to everyone.

Some people are worried, while others feel he is overly cautious. The weather was fine, and typhoons didn’t usually come this early in previous years. But Su Weimin was the village head, and Su Zhenhua was the team leader. Their families didn’t lack food, so whenever they decided to harvest, that was the final word. Even if others disagreed, what could they do? At most, they would work a bit slower and delay a few more days. Harvesting later might yield a bit more rice, but it could also mean more grain later on.

After this incident, Su Weimin became even more determined to allocate land to individual households.

Once the land was divided among each family, they could do whatever they wanted with it instead of secretly plotting like now. 

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Lucia: Hi! I unlocked Chapter 208-213! Happy Reading~

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