Chapter 179
Autumn grew deeper, and every family in the fields worked with bustling energy, pulling up firewood beans and peanuts. Few could afford to idle, and even half-grown children were called to help.
[柴豆 (chái dòu): lit. firewood beans; fig. An old term for soybeans, referencing their dual use as food and fuel.]
In the courtyard of the Shen family’s second branch, Xia Fulang, who had just returned from washing clothes by the river, carried a wooden basin inside. Two small yellow dogs were fighting and biting in the yard. He glanced at the boiling clay pot on the earthen stove and called inside, "Guzi, the milk fruit is boiling. I’ll bring you a bowl later."
Lu Gu, who was playing with Zhao’er and Lingjun inside, called back through the half-open window, "Got it, Ahma. If you want some, have a bowl too."
"Ah, good." Xia Fulang immediately beamed. Milk fruit was a precious thing, and thanks to Lu Gu’s good fortune, he could now drink a bowl every few days to nourish himself.
The Shen family could have milk fruit every day. Sometimes, if they didn’t feel like cooking it, they would share some with their neighbors. After all, throwing it away would be a waste. Just the day before yesterday, Wei Lanxiang had given a few to the third branch. Children were clean, few people would reject a milk fruit that had been eaten by another. They’d just cut off the bitten part. Besides, it was a valuable thing, and many people schemed to beg for some from others.
Xia Fulang hung the clothes and diapers to dry in the yard, then fetched two bowls from the kitchen. He reduced the fire under the earthen stove, lifted the clay pot, and ladled out two bowls of broth to bring inside.
He set the bowls on the table to cool, so they wouldn’t scald anyone’s mouth.
Ji Qiuyue had gone to work in the fields, leaving Zhao’er at home for them to look after for half a day. Tomorrow, once He Zhi and Chen Dongdong finished their own work, they could hire them to help. Xia Fulang’s family had strong laborers, his sons and daughters-in-law would handle the work. He only needed to earn his monthly wage of one qian of silver. The Shen family treated him well, sometimes even inviting him to meals. Moreover, looking after children was nothing difficult.
Lu Gu placed little Lingjun in the wooden cradle by the bed to sleep. Zhao’er crawled around on the bed. At just one year old, he didn’t understand caution. Earlier, he had crawled next to Lingjun, babbling loudly and even poking Lingjun’s cheek with his finger. Lu Gu had no choice but to separate the two.
Xia Fulang sat by the bed and chatted idly with Lu Gu. His tasks weren’t heavy - washing clothes and shoes, helping with cooking these past few days, preparing milk fruit for the children, and other odd jobs. Looking at Zhao’er, his heart swelled with fondness. The chubby little boy smiled at people, so he said, "Wenzhao’s got such a lively look - tiger-headed and tiger-brained. He’ll surely grow up accomplished."
[虎头虎脑 (hǔ tóu hǔ nǎo): tiger-headed, tiger-brained describes someone (often a child) who looks strong, lively, and a little mischievous, with a round, cute face.]
Lu Gu smiled warmly. Zhao’er was clever, of course he’d grow up accomplished.
Since he was in confinement and couldn’t leave the room or handle cold water for cooking and laundry, having Xia Fulang around was a blessing. With someone to talk and laugh with at home, and both children still small - fortunately, little Lingjun mostly ate and slept without much fuss, they could manage without too much chaos.
At noon, Ji Qiuyue, worried about the children, came back to fetch the meal Xia Fulang had helped prepare, taking the chance to check on Zhao’er. For dinner, there was no need for delivery. At dusk, as the sun sank behind the mountains, the whole family would return, wiping sweat from their foreheads.
Xia Fulang cooked two extra meals but also ate with them, so his wages naturally covered it. He was clever, he’d first go home to cook for his own family, then come back to prepare meals here without eating again.
After a full day of labor in the fields, everyone washed up hastily at night and retired to rest. Shen Xuanqing hadn’t returned all day and hadn’t seen his little shuang’er. By the time the moon climbed overhead, he lit an oil lamp in the room to amuse the child.
Little Lingjun needed a milk fruit before bedtime. Sitting by the bed, Shen Xuanqing held the child in one arm and the milk fruit in the other, feeding him with utmost care. Lu Gu watched from the side and couldn’t help smiling. It had been nearly half a month, and Shen Xuanqing still held the child like this - afraid of using too much strength, his posture and expression stiff and awkward. Fortunately, Wei Lanxiang had taught him how to hold the baby properly. Though he himself looked uncomfortable, at least the child wasn’t bothered.
Seeing Lingjun eat the milk fruit contentedly, Lu Gu said with a smile, "No need to get up at night. I’ll change the diaper and leave it on the chair. You just sleep."
Shen Xuanqing looked up and nodded. "Good. The night wind is cold, just don’t go outside."
With no other noise outside, everyone must have been exhausted and fast asleep. He lowered his voice and added, "It’s been busy these days, the family went to the fields early. Eldest Brother said the ewe might give birth to a lamb in the next few days. Tomorrow, Sister-in-law won’t go to the fields, she’ll stay with Zhao’er to keep watch. If anything happens, she can call me or Eldest Brother back."
Little Lingjun let go of the milk fruit’s tip. Shen Xuanqing glanced down, then handed the empty fruit to Lu Gu. Patting the swaddling clothes to soothe the child, he murmured, "We bred the ewes late this year, right during harvest. Next year, we’ll do it earlier to stagger the timing."
"Mm." Lu Gu nodded and placed the milk fruit in the basket. Seeing Lingjun fast asleep, he lifted the little blanket.
Shen Xuanqing knelt on the bed with one leg, leaning forward to carefully lay his little shuang'er down before finally exhaling in relief.
Before, the two of them had slept under the same quilt. But with the child sleeping between them now, they had to separate. Worried the adult quilts were too heavy, Lu Gu had specifically asked Wei Lanxiang to sew a thick little blanket for Lingjun. Even if it got cold on rainy nights, it was fine, whether it was him or Shen Xuanqing, they could just pull their own quilt over the baby.
With a soft puff, the candle was extinguished, and the room quickly fell silent.
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