Chapter 9
Grain Plant
Before Xiaoguo could reject her again, Mrs. Yang swiftly dropped the bag into Xiaoguo’s arms and ran off with the basket. As she ran, she waved at Xiaoguo. “Go back into the house.”
Xiaoguo put away the things and looked at Mrs. Yang’s departing figure. She was extremely touched. She promised herself that she would repay Mrs. Yang in the future. Xiaoguo turned around and had just closed the door when Zhuang Zhuang ran to her. “Mom, is it Auntie Yang? Did she bring us food again?”
“Yeah, she got us a lot of stuff.”
A long time ago, Mrs. Yang’s family were very poor and could not even afford their meals. It was the Jiang family’s elders who supported them with their living needs. The Yang family were indebted to them for their kindness. After Jiang Danhe’s mother had passed away, Xiaoguo and Zhuang Zhuang were the only members left of the Jiang family. The Yang family conscientiously looked out for the pair, even though they themselves were not very well-off either. Xiaoguo was filled with gratitude for the help she received from the Yangs. She vowed to remember this favor and would definitely repay them when she has the means.
Xiaoguo and Zhuang Zhuang brought the items to the kitchen. Zhuang Zhuang was putting the bags down when he felt a hard object sitting among the contents of the bag. “Mother, what is this?”
Zhuang Zhuang handed over the small bag to Xiaoguo. She opened it and saw that there were copper coins inside. It was a total of 30 copper coins. Xiaoguo realized it must have been Mrs. Yang who had hid this money among the food.
Xiaoguo looked at the copper coins in her hands—she was touched beyond words. Ever since Jiang Danhe died on the battlefield, they had stopped receiving money from the army. Their remaining savings were completely used up after Mrs. Jiang’s death. Mrs. Yang must have known about their situation, that was why she decided to hide money among the food to help them out.
Xiaoguo had intended to send the money back, but on second thoughts, she did not have a single cent with her. In order to make more money, she had to have some capital. Xiaoguo decided to keep the 30 copper coins. She would return double the amount to Mrs. Yang in future.
After putting away the money, Xiaoguo led Zhuang Zhuang out of the house. She wanted to see if there was anyone planting seeds yet.
When they reached the fields, they saw that there were already people sowing seeds. Xiaoguo greeted each one of them as she made her way towards her assigned plot of land. The family working on the adjacent plot told Xiaoguo that it might rain two days later. They urged Xiaoguo to plant the seeds quickly before the rain came. The soil would be soaked through after the rain, making it perfect for the seeds to germinate.
Xiaoguo thought that made perfect sense. She only had two portions of seeds at home, so it would be quick and easy to sow them. It was still early in the day, so she sorted out with Zhuang Zhuang to see if they should start planting the seeds right away. Zhuang Zhuang quickly told her that he would help her with the planting.
The two of them hurried home to get the hoe. Once they returned to the fields, Xiaoguo took charge and started loosening the soil. Zhuang Zhuang followed closely behind her, helping to scatter the seeds.
Xiaoguo gathered speed as she continued tilling on the plot. She let Zhuang Zhuang sow the seeds at his own pace. Once she was done, Xiaoguo took the seeds from Zhuang Zhuang and told him to sit nearby and not to run far.
She began scattering the seeds and watched over Zhuang Zhuang at the same time. Seeing the child sitting obediently on the ground waiting for her, Xiaoguo was relieved and hastened her speed.
Even though she had been working continuously, Xiaoguo did not feel tired at all. Perhaps, the healing power she possessed before the apocalypse was still attached to her soul. When she was done scattering all the seeds, she saw that the area she had covered was the exact size of a single plot of land.
As the Jiangs were considered as immigrants, they were allocated with just a small plot of land. In comparison with the other families, the land size they got was considerably small. But in Xiaoguo’s opinion, this size was just right. The harvest from this plot would be adequate for the two of them.
Xiaoguo rubbed her waist and stood up. She picked up the hoe and walked towards Zhuang Zhuang. “Let’s go home,” she said to him.
Zhuang Zhuang stood up and took his mother’s hand. Xiaoguo glanced at the sun and lowered her head to ask Zhuang Zhuang, “Are you hungry?”
Zhuang Zhuang was so engrossed working in the fields. He didn’t notice that the sun had almost reached its highest point in the sky. It must be midday now. He saw that everyone in the fields had left. They must have gone back for lunch.
Zhuang Zhuang shook his head sensibly. “No, I am not hungry, Mother. You’ve worked hard. I’ll massage your back when we reach home.”
Zhuang Zhuang’s sweet words made Xiaoguo’s heart burst with joy. This little man is filled with so much love and understanding. “When I hear your words, I feel so empowered. Even if I’m really tired, I won’t feel so.”
Zhuang Zhuang blushed upon hearing those words and thought happily. “Mother is so nice.”
At that moment, Zhuang Zhuang’s stomach rumbled. Zhuang Zhuang immediately put his hands on his stomach and smiled shyly at Xiaoguo. His face, which was already red, turned even redder. Xiaoguo gently pinched Zhuang Zhuang’s nose. What Zhuang Zhuang did not tell her was that his stomach had been growling for some time.
Both mother and son made their way home. Xiaoguo fetched a basin of water from the well and washed her hands. She then called Zhuang Zhuang to come and wash his hands too. Xiaoguo entered the kitchen again, as she wondered what to have for lunch.