Chen Dongdong had always been timid, and his family was poor, so few had spoken much to him before. But since cutting grass for the Shen family’s second branch, two cartloads earned three copper coins. Though small, they worked hard, sometimes managing three cartloads a day, and with his parents helping, they saved up. Ten days meant thirty copper coins, making life better than before. His family smiled more now, and he gave a shy nod. "Okay. I’ll head out with Dazhi first."
He Zhi had already gone to the back to fetch the cart. They usually left through the rear gate, closer to the river and wild grass.
Chen Dongdong hurried to the back, while Lu Gu watched the pups playing by the gate. With Dabai keeping an eye, they wouldn’t go far. Hearing Shen Yan call that the water was boiling, he went to wash up.
Eating the crispy oil cake, since only one was left, he split it with Shen Yan. He couldn’t hog it as an adult, and sharing made both happy.
The sun rose higher, and the day brightened. The hens and ducks were nesting, under Wei Lanxiang's watchful eye, so Shen Yan was spared the task of tending to them and the hassle of chasing after ducks.
Lu Gu opened the calf pen to let the young ox graze. His belly had grown, and though he used to squat to pick wild vegetables, Shen Xuanqing wouldn't let him do it anymore. During Ji Qiuyue's pregnancy, the family had been cautious, not letting her work much, now it was the same for him. His daily tasks were just herding the ox. With warmer weather, washing vegetables or cooking wouldn’t freeze his hands, so sometimes he’d return to the old house to cook with Ji Qiuyue.
After feeding the livestock yesterday’s leftover grass and refilling the water trough, Wei Lanxiang took Shen Yan to weed the wheat fields. The wheat grew greener and taller each day, tending it well meant a better harvest later.
Hiring He Zhi and Chen Dongdong had proven useful. With so much land, the family couldn’t manage alone, especially with grass-cutting. The livestock ate over a cartload daily, sometimes two, so grass had to be stockpiled in case of rain.
Fortunately, weeds and wild vegetables from the fields could also feed the animals. Wei Lanxiang, Shen Yan, and Shen Yaoqing could gather two or three baskets a day, and more if Shen Xuanqing was home.
As the sun grew hotter, Lu Gu sat on a white stone under a tree. Hearing the pups bark, he called them, and they ran to him.
Shen Yaoqing came out the back gate after cleaning the manure, and as he supervised the fields, he spotted Lu Gu from afar and shouted out. "Guzi, I’ve closed the front gate. Keep Dabai inside, and don’t wander far from the back."
"Got it, Eldest Brother." Lu Gu replied. Dabai was well-behaved, if no one was home, he’d rarely roam, instead guarding the house from the backyard.
The water shimmered, occasionally rippling in the breeze. Lu Gu played with the dogs and herded the ox until Ji Qiuyue called him. He looked toward the mountain and answered, hurrying over as the pups ran ahead.
Ji Qiuyue carried Zhao’er on her back and held a bamboo basket. Before reaching him, she smiled and said, "Since everyone’s here, I thought we might as well cook lunch here too. Saves running back after a busy morning. I brought bamboo shoots and cured meat."
The sun was strong, and Zhao’er, now half a year old, wasn’t so fragile. A little sunlight was good for him.
The calf knew its way home and wouldn’t stray while grazing, especially with He Zhi and Chen Dongdong cutting grass nearby. Lu Gu called to Chen Dongdong to watch the ox, then took the basket and returned to the house with Ji Qiuyue.
In the main room, Ji Qiuyue untied the sling and held Zhao’er in front. The boy was strong for his age, sometimes gripping something so tightly adults couldn’t pry it loose.
Lu Gu set the basket down, eager to hold him. Recognizing his xiao mo, Zhao'er nestled in Lu Gu's arms, beaming with adorable babbles that melted his heart.
[Xiao mo (小嬷, xiǎo mó): a term of endearment for a paternal uncle's wife in some dialects]
Ji Qiuyue, accustomed to carrying the child daily, was grateful for the break. In winter, family members lent a hand, but during busy seasons, the task fell solely on her. However, she knew how fortunate she was, few had such a good mother-in-law and husband, letting her focus on the child. Even in town, many didn’t have this luxury, carrying infants to the fields or foraging while doing needlework to scrape by.
"Did you feed the ox and sheep?" she asked Lu Gu, rolling up her sleeves as the walk had warmed her. She checked for other chores, none in the family were lazy, and with extra rabbits and four piglets, even Wei Lanxiang needed rest after long days. The point of coming here was to share the workload. Now that spring had arrived and Zhao’er was healthy, she could help more.
Catching her meaning, Lu Gu said, "They’re fed. Only the fields need work, nothing else here. When Dong ger brings back grass later, we’ll give some to the pigs and sheep."
"Alright." Ji Qiuyue nodded. The sun was strong outside, so she added, "I aired the quilts on my way here. I’ll hang yours too, sunlight’s good for them."
Lu Gu swayed gently with Zhao’er, smiling at the child’s laughter, and agreed, "Sure."
Ji Qiuyue went to fetch the quilts.
Once winter’s idleness passed, farmers had no rest, work filled every day. In spare moments, Wei Lanxiang planned to buy sesame oil. Lu Gu didn’t find egg custard fishy, he could eat it, but the small jar of sesame oil at home was nearly empty. The day before spring plowing, she had Shen Yaoqing harness the mule cart to visit the Liangzhang Bridge market.
Returning, she brought not just sesame oil and food, but also four yellow goslings.
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