The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 406 - 395: Not Bad

Chapter 406: Chapter 395: Not Bad

Once Mother Fang was certain that the Zhou family wasn’t just putting on a show for them, but truly took such good care of pregnant women, she completely let her guard down and returned home with her son and daughter-in-law that very afternoon.

The next day, two baskets of chicken eggs were sent over. Ms. Qian was overjoyed, and Old Zhou even more so; he then waved his hand and had Zhou Silang, who had just finished working in the fields, take Wulang and Liulang to help with the Fang family’s farming, observing the proper courtesy of reciprocity.

The Zhou family’s efficiency this year was remarkable, not only were they the fastest to complete farming tasks in Qili Village, but they were also renowned for their speed in Dali Village.

In contrast, the Fang family worked much slower.

In the past years, the family had always lagged behind in finishing their fieldwork because the father and son had to run the business of selling meat as well as attend to the fieldwork, naturally slowing them down.

The fieldwork actually relied mainly on Mother Fang and Sister-in-law Fang, and previously on Ms. Fang as well.

Zhou Silang had helped the Fang family during the last autumn harvest, but actually, because of the poor harvest that year, everyone wasn’t that busy, so he didn’t feel it as much.

But now, at the critical moment for spring planting, Zhou Silang leading his three younger brothers to help was like lifting a huge weight off the Fang family’s shoulders.

Moreover, the three brothers’ efficiency in farming surpassed that of the older Fang family father and son. Not only the Fang family, but even the villagers of Dali Village were envious of their good fortune. Openly and secretly, people admired, "Ms. Fang’s second daughter married well. Half a son, half a son, she indeed got herself a half son."

Zhou Silang, listening to these praises, was smug. Zhou Wulang said to him, "Fourth Brother, now we’re following you to help your father-in-law. When we get married, you have to help us at our fathers-in-law’s homes too."

"You get a wife first, then we’ll talk," Silang replied.

"Just promise me now anyway."

"Fine, I’ll promise," Silang said, then thought something was amiss, "Wait, that’s not right. When I was unmarried, Eldest Brother and Third Brother often took me to help at their wives’ parents’ homes, but now I don’t see them helping me."

"Third Sister-in-law doesn’t even like letting Third Brother go back to help at her parents’ home, do you think you could snatch him from her?" Zhou Wulang rolled his eyes and said, "As for Eldest, if you dare, go talk to father about it."

That’s because Eldest Brother’s in-laws were also father’s in-laws; whenever the Qian family needed help, all the brothers had to go, and it wasn’t just to help Eldest Brother’s in-laws, but because he was their uncle! Uncle!

Zhou Silang felt regretful, thinking that all the times his older brothers had dragged him around to help were all in vain.

Zhou Wulang probably foresaw this and hence specifically highlighted it, wanting Zhou Silang to make a commitment so he wouldn’t forget like the other brothers might have.

The April sun gradually became warmer, and last night’s spring rain brought more water to the fields. Early in the morning, Old Zhou hurried his sons out the door and also took a hoe to manage the water in the fields.

Apart from the wheat fields, the paddy fields near and within the village were a tender green, showing the young seedlings they had just transplanted.

At this time, one must not have too much water in the fields, or the seedling’s roots would not take hold in the mud. If the water flows, the seedlings would be uprooted and float away, and with the sun’s heat, they would die.

So, since it had just rained last night, Old Zhou was up early this morning to check on the seedlings, ready to drain water if needed.

After inspecting the seedlings, he went to check on the wheat in the fields. The winter wheat was turning a deep yellow. Old Zhou pinched an ear of wheat to examine the grains inside.

He chewed it and looked up at the sky, thinking that if it didn’t rain in the next few days, they should hurry to harvest the wheat, but if it did rain, those two plots of wheat should be harvested overnight...

Many others, like Old Zhou, were assessing the situation in the fields. When they met, they inevitably stood together and chatted.

"The autumn harvest is uncertain, but this season’s winter wheat is secure."

"Exactly," beamed Old Zhou, his eyes crinkling with a smile, "these fields can be harvested. Do you think it will rain in the next two days?"

"Watch tonight. If there are stars, we can relax a bit the next two days. If not, we must be out before dawn to reap a bit before the rain. Otherwise, if it gets rained on again, I’m afraid it’ll collapse," someone replied.

"I’m worried about the same thing," said Old Zhou, "We’ve come ninety-nine steps already, and if it fails at the harvest, my heart, it would die of grief."

"Uncle Jin, your wheat looks great. I’ve just seen it; among the surrounding fields, yours is the best," someone complimented.

"Right, right," another person chimed in, "I think the village’s winter wheat is all growing well this year. I passed through Dali Village a few days ago and took a special look. Their wheat isn’t nearly as good as ours, I reckon it’s worse due to the seed."

Upon hearing this, many began to regret, "When we planted winter wheat this spring, we all used our own saved seed, not Uncle Jin’s."

Old Zhou responded, "Even if you wanted it, I don’t have much left. I traded most of it to you all before the year’s end. Even the wheat we eat at home now is what you traded for."

"We’d better save this batch of wheat seed properly. If possible, we should plant winter wheat again."

"That’s going to be tiring."

"What’s a bit of tiredness? Just look at Uncle Jin’s family. How hard were their days before? Now look at them, getting on just fine," an elder lectured, "It’s all due to hard work. When did you see their family idle?"

Old Zhou felt proud, but also somewhat displeased to have his past brought up, so he waved his hand and walked away.

Once he left, the elders spoke more freely, "You just didn’t marry good wives. Had you married diligent ones, you would have prospered by now."

"Uncle, you say that to us, fine, but you can’t say that in the village."

Some took a different perspective, "From what you’re saying, Uncle Jin succeeded because of Auntie Qian..."

"He used to be lazier than you are, it was his wife who spurred him to work harder. They had many sons too. His family was once known as the poorest in the village. Don’t say anything, but Old Qian’s daughters truly turned out well; both are diligent," the elder remarked.

The not-so-diligent Old Zhou, hoisting his hoe, returned home, and after meeting his three sons, asked, "We’re starting to cut tomorrow. How many patches of wheat do you think are ready for harvest?"

Old Zhou saw Zhou Wulang leading an ox back home and glanced at the ox’s belly, frowning, "How come it’s not full after grazing all day? Weren’t you attentive when tending to the ox?"

Zhou Wulang protested, "I even cut grass with a sickle for it to eat. Dad, I think it’s fine; if an ox overeats, it can get sick."

Zhou Dalang and the others nodded in agreement.

"Alright," Old Zhou snorted, "hurry up and take the ox back, let it rest up properly. And Eldest, come with me up the mountain this afternoon. I’ve arranged with the carpenter from Dali Village to make a new ox cart for our family, and I need to deliver three logs to him."

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