Chapter 180
Just half a month after the full-month celebration, it was already mid-October, the time to harvest the autumn rice.
Once Lu Gu had finished his postpartum confinement, they no longer hired Xia Fulang. While the child was asleep, he could boil water and wash diapers, but once the busy farming season arrived, there was no one to help. Taking care of the child might seem like an easy task done at home, but when the child was well-behaved, it was manageable. If the little one cried nonstop, holding and soothing him was exhausting. Shen Xuanqing didn’t want him to do too much work, just focus on taking good care of the child. Three days before harvesting the rice, they found Ge Chunsheng from the neighboring village and hired him to work in the fields.
Ge Chunsheng’s family was poor. Half a year ago, he had even sold his meager plot of land to treat his ailing wife. He was old, and no one wanted to hire him as a long-term laborer, so he could only barely scrape by by gathering firewood and doing odd jobs.
In previous years, the Shen family would wait for Lin Jinhu and his brother to finish harvesting their own rice before hiring help. This year, they hired someone early. Shen Xuanqing didn’t let Wei Lanxiang work in the fields anymore, she wasn’t young anymore. At home, she could cook, fetch water, and help take care of her two grandsons. This way, Lu Gu wouldn’t be too overworked either.
Ge Chunsheng was over fifty and had no sons, only a daughter. His son-in-law’s family was also poor and couldn’t offer much support. Having farmed his whole life, he naturally had strength in his hands when it came to working the land. These few days of harvesting rice paid better than usual, so he worked diligently without cutting corners.
Shen Xuanqing never hired lazy or cunning people to work the fields. Spending money only to have to watch them constantly was exhausting enough, why add more trouble? Hiring Ge Chunsheng was something he and Shen Yaoqing had discussed. They even asked a young man they knew from the neighboring village and learned that although this Uncle Chunsheng was slow-spoken and not much of a talker, he was honest and reliable, so they hired him.
This year’s autumn harvest was again under a blazing sun. The ripe rice had to be cut quickly, or the grains would dry out and fall to the ground, making them hard to gather. Every single grain of food could be life-saving in the future, so the urgency was natural.
Besides paying wages, they also had to provide one meal a day during these busy days - eating well meant more strength for work.
Wei Lanxiang and Lu Gu brought lunch to the fields in baskets. Today, Ge Chunsheng was the only temporary laborer, but as usual, there were two dishes - one meat and one vegetable. Unexpectedly, Ge Chunsheng took a steamed bun, bit into it once, then looked around at the people sitting on the ground before slowly tucking it into his clothes, his face uneasy. When Shen Yaoqing glanced at him, the wrinkles on his aged face deepened, and he stammered, "I won’t eat much, just this one."
Realizing how it might seem, he quickly added, "I have strength for harvesting rice, I won’t slack, I won’t."
Wei Lanxiang and Lu Gu had already eaten at home. Thinking he was just afraid of going hungry and wanted to save the bun for another day, she smiled and said, "Uncle Chunsheng, eat as much as you want, no need to hide it. There are enough buns."
Ge Chunsheng hesitated and didn’t take the other bun she offered. Instead, he appeared extremely nervous and fearful. He took off the old bamboo water carrier hanging at his waist, the water inside was already finished, and stretched out his dark, calloused hand holding the carrier. In a low, anxious voice, he said, "I... I’d like to take some soup back. My wife hasn’t had any oil or meat in a long time. I’ll take just a little, just for her to taste."
So he had been saving a bite of his own food to take back. Shen Xuanqing’s expression didn’t change. Chewing on a bun, he couldn’t speak, but he glanced at Lu Gu. Without words, Lu Gu immediately understood.
Wei Lanxiang sighed inwardly. Poverty made people like this, unable to eat properly. She stuffed the bun in her hand into Ge Chunsheng’s grasp and said, "Eat this one, and take that one back for your wife."
Meanwhile, Lu Gu took the bamboo water carrier from Ge Chunsheng and Shen Xuanqing’s chopsticks. He picked out two portions of stir-fried autumn vegetables and four pieces of chicken, then poured in some of the soup and meat broth. The family watched silently from the side.
"Uncle." Lu Gu handed the bamboo water carrier back after sealing the lid.
He had even given meat and broth. Ge Chunsheng was overwhelmed with gratitude. Illiterate and having spent his whole life toiling in the dirt, he didn’t know how to express thanks. His weathered face remained wooden as he carefully reattached the bamboo water carrier to his waist, afraid to spill even a drop.
Seeing that he refused to eat more of the meat and vegetables, Shen Yaoqing stuffed two more buns into his hands and said, "Uncle, eat your fill here first, so you’ll have strength to work for us."
"Yes, yes." Ge Chunsheng nodded repeatedly.
At home, Zhao’er and Lingjun were both asleep. Wei Lanxiang returned early, and Lu Gu didn’t stay long in the fields either. Before heading back with the basket, he glanced at Shen Xuanqing and, seeing mud and sweat on his face, he dared to take out a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe it off only after everyone else had dispersed.
Shen Xuanqing lowered his head when Lu Gu raised his hand. In the end, his face broke into a bright smile as he said softly, "Go back quickly, it’s too hot outside."
"Mm." Lu Gu smiled back and asked, "What do you want for dinner? I’ll make it."
"Fry some eggs and a bowl of autumn peppers, pick the green ones, the red ones are wilted and don’t taste good." Shen Xuanqing wanted to pinch his fulang’s earlobe but remembered getting his hand smacked last time when he did it in public, so he held back.
Lu Gu nodded in agreement. It was just these two dishes, but with so many people at home, they’d need to cook two large bowls to feed everyone.
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