Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life] 14

Chapter 14

The sun was high in the sky, and the market crowd gradually dispersed. Ye Xi bought some needles and thread and walked back with Lin Jiangshan.

This town was the largest in the area, and surrounding villages came here to sell goods or buy household supplies. Many people walked on the official road. Some drove ox carts, charging three wen per person.

There were also better horse-drawn carriages, faster and less bumpy than ox carts, but more expensive, costing five wen per person.

Elderly people who couldn’t walk far or women with children would spend the money to take a ride, but most people walked back on their own.

Ye Xi was always reluctant to spend money on transportation. Lin Jiangshan had long legs and walked quickly and effortlessly, but his strides were larger than Ye Xi’s, so he had to deliberately slow down.

“Don’t worry too much about your brother. It’s expensive in the shops, but maybe there’s some in the mountains, we can look for it,” Lin Jiangshan said as they walked.

Ye Xi’s eyes lit up. “Can we really find it? If we can, then there’s hope for my brother’s injury!”

Lin Jiangshan didn’t want to make any promises. “There are many medicinal herbs in the mountains of Shanxiu Village. I don’t recognize Sanqi, but I think with such a blessed place, there’s hope of finding a plant or two.”

Ye Xi couldn’t wait to go into the mountains. If they could find it, they would save a lot of money.

Lin Jiangshan saw his eagerness and warned in a low voice, “The mountains are full of tigers, wolves, insects, and ants. If you don’t often go into the mountains, don’t go alone. It’s easy to get in, but hard to get out. I’ll take you.”

Ye Xi nodded. Several people from his village had entered the mountains before and never returned, which was why hunters had a good life. There were many valuable things in the mountains, but not everyone could obtain them. Only hunters who frequented the mountains knew how to survive there; it was dangerous for others.

“Then I’ll have to trouble you again,” Ye Xi said. It seemed that Lin Jiangshan had been helping him ever since they met.

Lin Jiangshan pursed his lips, seemingly hesitant, and stammered for a while before saying, “Can you bring me another jar of pickles?”

To be honest, he hadn’t had a full meal in days. Before, he could just make do with a simple meal, but after eating at the Ye family’s house, his taste buds seemed to have become more refined. He used to be able to swallow hard steamed buns without a problem, but now they stuck in his throat. He couldn’t even stomach the dark and mushy dishes he made, and hadn’t had a satisfying meal in days.

He said he came to the market to buy things, but he actually went to a noodle stall and ate three large bowls of noodles.

Ye Xi looked at him and said, “If you like it, I’ll bring you as much as you want. It’s just vegetables from our garden, I can make as many jars as you need.”

Lin Jiangshan smiled faintly. “It seems my taste buds have been spoiled by your family. I used to be content with just anything edible.”

Ye Xi wanted to say, could it be because the food you cook is too terrible?

The two walked and chatted, keeping a distance of about two meters between them. After about an hour, they arrived back at Shanxiu Village.

Ye Xi pushed open the fence gate and invited Lin Jiangshan in for tea. He stood at the gate and shook his head. “I still have chores to do at home, I won’t drink tea.”

Ye Xi acknowledged and said, holding the gate, “I’ll bring you the pickles when they’re ready.”

Lin Jiangshan nodded slightly and left with his things.

Ye Xi went back to the house, first cut a basket of grass and poured it into the chicken coop, then swept the fallen leaves in the courtyard with a broom. After finishing the chores inside and outside the house, he sat under the shade of a tree in the courtyard and started weaving straw sandals with dried rice stalks. Farmers couldn’t wear cloth shoes when working in the fields. Firstly, they weren’t durable, and secondly, they would get muddy. Straw sandals were much more practical and convenient.

They had just harvested rice, so there was plenty of dry straw. He could replace his father and brother’s old straw sandals and also make a few extra pairs. Although straw sandals were cheap, they still cost ten wen a pair at the market. Farmers saved money bit by bit like this.

Ye Xi was skillful, and the straw sandals he wove were neat and soft. He made two pairs in a short while. When Liu Xiufeng returned from the village mill, she pushed open the fence gate with a gloomy expression.

Ye Xi looked up. “Mother?”

Liu Xiufeng put the bag of flour in the cupboard in the kitchen, then came out and sat heavily on the chair next to Ye Xi. Her face was dark as she said, “I went to the east end of the village to grind flour this morning and met a few aunts in the village. Guess what they told me?”

Ye Xi continued weaving the straw rope, his hands moving deftly. He asked, “What is it?”

Liu Xiufeng slammed the table angrily. “They said Yao-ge’er from the Lin family has his eyes on the Cao family, the one you were engaged to before, and they’re looking for a matchmaker to check their compatibility!”

Ye Xi simply replied with an “oh,” not caring at all. Lin Yao was rushing into that wolf’s den, what was it to him?

Liu Xiufeng didn’t know about Ye Xi’s feelings. She just thought that her Xi-ge’er’s good marriage was now going to the Lin family. If it were any other family, she wouldn’t mind, but the Lin family had always been at odds with her, and the thought of it made her feel resentful.

Ye Xi smiled faintly and comforted his mother. “This is all destined. Since the Cao family broke off the engagement with me, it’s none of our business who they marry. If the Lin family wants to marry into their family, then let them. We won’t get involved.”

Liu Xiufeng sighed. “I just feel upset.”

Ye Xi said, “The Cao family is not a good family either. We used to think they were great, but since they came to break off the engagement last time, haven’t you seen their true colors, Mother? Cao Bin’s mother is mean and harsh, values money more than life, controls the entire family, and doesn’t give anyone any leeway. Although Cao Bin appears to be a refined scholar, he’s actually a hypocritical and lecherous person. Father Cao is timid and has no say in the family. Isn’t such a family a mess? Even if they’re wealthy, life wouldn’t be easy marrying into their family.”

Liu Xiufeng was also relieved. If her Xi-ge’er had married into their family, he would have suffered under that wicked mother-in-law. They put on a friendly and agreeable facade during the marriage discussions, but their true nature was revealed when things turned sour. She wouldn’t be a match for Cao Bin’s mother.

“You’re right, Xi-ge’er. If you had married there, you would have been a village away from Mother and Father, rarely able to visit. How would Mother know if you were suffering there!”

Ye Xi smiled. “It’s good now. I’ll stay at home with you and Father. Isn’t it better for our family to be together?”

Liu Xiufeng glared at him and said angrily, “Nonsense, how can a young man not get married? Don’t be disheartened just because the Cao family broke off the engagement. You should still get married if you find a suitable person. Having a happy marriage and grandchildren is the ideal life.”

Ye Xi mumbled in agreement and took a sip of water from the bowl on the table.

Then he heard Liu Xiufeng say, “I think that Lin lad is quite good. He’s tall and strong, a hard worker, not a loafer. I’m thinking of asking your brother to spend more time with him and get to know him better.”

Ye Xi almost spat out the water. He averted his gaze, his neck turning red, and stammered, “Mother, what are you talking about? We’ve only known him for a short time, how can you think about these things already?”

Liu Xiufeng winked and smiled. “He’s a good man, that’s why I noticed him. If he’s taken by another family, it’ll be too late.”

Ye Xi muttered softly, “It also depends on whether he’s willing. I’m not the same as before.”

Liu Xiufeng sighed and said with the straightforwardness of a village woman, “Then just ask him directly. If he’s willing, then get married. If he’s not willing, then just pretend we didn’t say anything, and we’ll still be friends. We’re not forcing anyone.”

Ye Xi picked up the straw sandals from the table, stood up, and walked away. “Mother, you’re becoming ridiculous. I’m going to cook.”

Liu Xiufeng called after him, “Look at you, why are you so shy? Just give me an answer, and I’ll ask your brother to talk to him.”

Ye Shan, inside the house, heard his mother’s hearty laughter and came out to ask, “Mother, did you call me?”

Liu Xiufeng covered her mouth and laughed. “No, I was laughing at your shy brother.” Now that she saw Ye Shan, she couldn’t laugh anymore. Here was another clueless son who hadn’t settled his marriage yet.

This was truly a headache.

Three days later, the fermented chili peppers and mustard greens Ye Xi pickled were ready. He took the jar and went to Lin Jiangshan’s house.

Lin Jiangshan wasn’t home. Ye Xi squatted at the door and waited for a long time, but he didn’t return, so he pushed open the door and waited in the courtyard. It wasn’t appropriate for a young man to enter a man’s house, but it was fine to sit in the courtyard.

The courtyard was filled with freshly chopped firewood, neatly stacked under the eaves, showing the person’s patience. Ye Xi was about to take a chair from under the eaves when he saw a coarse cloth garment hanging on the firewood pile. He took it down and saw a large hole worn out on the back.

It must have been torn by thorns when the owner was chopping wood in the mountains. Ye Xi placed the jar of pickles in the kitchen, took a chair, sat in the courtyard, and took out needle and thread from his pocket.

Fortunately, he had the habit of carrying needle and thread with him, so he could mend the garment now.

Threading the needle, Ye Xi sat quietly in the courtyard and started sewing. He sewed carefully and didn’t notice when Lin Jiangshan returned.

Lin Jiangshan returned from the fields, carrying a hoe, and saw Ye Xi sitting in his courtyard, his head lowered as he worked with needle and thread. His fingers were nimble, the small needle moving swiftly between them, and the tear in the garment was being mended seamlessly.

He didn’t interrupt Ye Xi and leaned against the door, waiting for him to finish. A delicate young man, sitting quietly in the courtyard, his black hair tied up with a bamboo hairpin cascading down his back, the strands swaying gently in the breeze, fallen leaves swirling down from the sky.

This peaceful scene made Lin Jiangshan feel a sense of life in the house, no longer so empty, and he was momentarily captivated.

A long cry of an egret from the woods snapped him out of his trance. By then, Ye Xi had finished mending the garment. He looked at Lin Jiangshan at the door and smiled. “I didn’t know you were back. I came to bring you pickles, and seeing this garment, I took the liberty of mending it for you.”

Lin Jiangshan carried the hoe into the courtyard. “Thank you. I’m a man and don’t know how to do this delicate work. I was planning to throw this garment away, but now that you’ve mended it, I can wear it for a few more years.”

Ye Xi put the needle and thread back into his sleeve. “Saving a little is still saving. As long as you’re satisfied. I came to ask when you’re free, so you can take me into the mountains to look for Sanqi.”

Lin Jiangshan put down the hoe and said, “Today is fine. It rained two days ago, and the mountains were foggy. Today is sunny, suitable for going into the mountains.”

Ye Xi said happily, “Alright, then I’ll go into the mountains with you now!”