Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life] 69

Chapter 69

From the forested mountains, wisps of smoke curled upwards. As Ye Xi finished cooking, Lin Jiangshan returned, leading a cow. Ye Xi, overjoyed, hurried out to greet him. “You bought a cow!”

Lin Jiangshan had bought an adult water buffalo, its horns sharp, its hooves sturdy, a perfect animal for plowing the fields.

“The livestock market was busy. The owner wanted eight taels of silver, but I said it was too expensive, and after much bargaining, he finally agreed to sell it for seven and a half taels. I’ve already registered it with the government office.”

The imperial court required all horses, oxen, mules, and other livestock to be registered for easier management and also for requisitioning during times of war.

Oxen were especially valuable, used for plowing, grinding grains, pulling carts, and transporting goods.

Ye Xi was a bit intimidated by the large animal and cautiously reached out to touch its rough hide, not as soft as the goat or fawn, but strong and sturdy.

“We’re a family with a cow now!” This was truly a joyous occasion.

Lin Jiangshan’s eyes also crinkled with a smile. Every time he and his husband went to town, Ye Xi was always reluctant to spend money on an ox cart, and it pained him to see his husband walk. During the market days, they had to rent an ox cart from the village to transport their goods, and he had been thinking about buying a cow ever since. With their own cow, his husband would have a cart to ride, and he could also earn money by plowing fields for others.

He said, “We’ll build the cowshed next to the pigsty, so it’s easier to feed them together.”

Ye Xi was delighted with their new cow and said happily, “Let’s celebrate with braised pork for lunch!”

After lunch, Lin Jiangshan went to build the cowshed, and Ye Xi took a basket. “Husband, I’ll go cut some grass, it’s its first meal here, we have to make sure it’s full.”

Lin Jiangshan gave him a few instructions, and Ye Xi left.

The best grass grew by the riverbank, where Ye Xi used to collect pigweed. It was almost Beginning of Spring, and the grass elsewhere wasn’t as lush yet.

Ye Xi put down his basket. The cogon grass by the riverbank had already sprouted forearm-length tender leaves, and peeling off the outer layer revealed the tender white core inside, which was edible and sweet when young. Ye Xi used to chew on them while collecting pigweed, and he would also take some home to make tea, it was said to clear heat and promote urination.

After cutting half a basket of cogon grass, Ye Xi felt thirsty, went to the riverbank, folded a leaf into a makeshift cup, and drank some water. After quenching his thirst, he cut some more grass, filling the basket.

Estimating it was enough for the cow’s first meal, he tucked the sickle back into his waist and casually chewed on a piece of white cogon grass.

He hadn’t walked far when he saw two figures approaching, one tall and one shorter, seemingly a man and a young man. Ye Xi didn’t pay much attention and continued walking.

As they got closer, he realized it was Yao-ge’er and his husband, Cao Bin. What a coincidence, Ye Xi hadn’t wanted to see them since their last encounter at the paper shop.

Why did he run into them again? It was on this riverbank that he had threatened Yao-ge’er with a sickle when his face was burned, and now he was here collecting grass again. Ye Xi thought this riverbank must have bad feng shui for him, he should go to the wasteland on the east side of the village next time.

Since getting married, Yao-ge’er hadn’t been back to the village except for his homecoming visit seven days later, almost two months ago. He had returned alone that time, Cao Bin hiding in the private school, unwilling to come with him. He had lost face, and it would have been obvious that they were having marital problems if Cao Bin hadn’t come with him, so this time, he insisted on bringing him back, only to run into his nemesis, Ye Xi, shortly after entering the village.

Ye Xi, carrying his basket of grass, completely ignored them. Yao-ge’er, however, still looked at him with resentment, jealousy, and hatred.

Ye Xi didn’t understand why he was so obsessed with him, he didn’t even consider him a rival, as long as his own life was good, that was all that mattered. Yao-ge’er, after all his scheming, had finally married into the Cao family, satisfied, but whether his life was good or not, only he knew.

Seeing that Ye Xi was ignoring him, Yao-ge’er could only grit his teeth and watch him walk away, thinking to himself, wait until my husband becomes a Xiucai, I’ll be a Xiucai’s wife, a hundred times better than you, married to a country bumpkin, who do you think you are!

Turning around, he saw Cao Bin still staring at Ye Xi’s retreating figure, and he became even angrier, snapping, “What are you looking at? A lowly pigweed-collecting farmer, and you’re staring at him like that! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. It’s over between you two, he’s married to a country bumpkin, and you’re a scholar aiming for the imperial exam, do you still think you two are engaged?!”

Cao Bin reluctantly looked away. His husband was always like a firecracker, their constant arguments giving him a headache, and he said impatiently, “Your foul language is vulgar! Can you stop shouting? It’s uncivilized!”

Yao-ge’er sneered and pinched his ear, dragging him home. “Now you think I’m vulgar? Didn’t you praise me for being gentle, virtuous, and beautiful when we had our secret affair? Have you forgotten everything?”

They bickered and fought as they walked back to the Lin family’s house. Mother Lin and Father Lin were in the courtyard, and they could hear Yao-ge’er’s voice from afar, seemingly scolding someone.

Mother Lin went out to greet them, and seeing Yao-ge’er pinching Cao Bin’s ear, she exclaimed, “Oh dear, how can you treat your husband like this in public? It’s embarrassing!”

Yao-ge’er finally let go of his ear. “Mother!”

Father Lin came out and saw that they were both empty-handed. His face darkened, and he snorted, turning back to the house.

Yao-ge’er pursed his lips, feeling embarrassed and ashamed. He hadn’t even brought any gifts back for his parents, wasn’t this a slap in their face?

Mother Lin felt sorry for her son and said with a forced smile, “Come in, let’s go inside.”

Cao Bin then addressed his mother-in-law and followed them inside.

As soon as they entered, Father Lin slammed the table and said angrily, “Do you have no manners? Coming back to your parents’ home empty-handed after getting married, aren’t you embarrassing our family? The Cao family’s face isn’t looking good either!”

Cao Bin didn’t say anything, just sat there. He didn’t care about these things. Since his mother didn’t give him any money to buy gifts, what could he bring? Besides, he needed to save money for drinking and poetry gatherings, buying gifts for the Lin family would be a waste of money.

Yao-ge’er’s face burned. He hadn’t gained control of the household finances at the Cao family yet, everything was managed by Mother Cao. Even if he wanted to buy something small, it was difficult. She was a miser, and today, for his homecoming visit, he had asked her for money several times, but that old woman pretended to be sick and refused.

He was furious and was waiting for her to get old, so he could take his revenge.

“We came back in a hurry today, so we didn’t prepare any gifts. We’ll bring some next time.”

Father Lin snorted. “The Cao family claims to be a wealthy and respectable family, but they have no face. We thought it was a good match for our son, but now it seems he’s not even as well-off as that Ye family boy.”

Yao-ge’er couldn’t stand being compared to Ye Xi and immediately retorted, “Xi-ge’er married a farmer who plows fields and chops firewood, and he’s better off than me, married to a scholar from a wealthy family? Father, have you lost your mind?”

Mother Lin said enviously, “That Xi-ge’er’s husband is hardworking, he can fish, chop firewood, and during winter, I heard he earned a lot of money selling charcoal. Village Chief Zhou said he’s selling that wasteland by the mountainside to them, and he even bought a cow today! They’re living a good life! That Liu Xiufeng, always bragging about her son and son-in-law, how filial and capable they are, always bringing her good things, it makes me sick!”

Yao-ge’er felt both annoyed and jealous, why was Ye Xi’s life so good? Even with a burn scar on his face, he married a good man who listened to him and doted on him.

He turned to look at his own husband, who was sitting there in a daze, his mind wandering.

Cao Bin’s mind was still on Ye Xi, whom he had just encountered. It had been a while, and his face was rounder, his figure fuller. Although he used to be slender and graceful, he looked even more charming now, even better than the courtesans in the brothels. He was the epitome of a beautiful young man nurtured by the mountains and rivers.

The more he thought about it, the more he yearned for him, his mind wandering, imagining how to talk to him, how to get close to him.

Yao-ge’er, unaware of his husband’s impure thoughts, tried to appease his parents. “Father, Mother, don’t worry, the spring imperial exam is after Beginning of Spring, and your son-in-law is a diligent scholar. The private school teacher said he’s talented and has the bearing of an official, he’ll definitely become a Xiucai. Once he becomes a Xiucai, do we still need these material things to show off? You’ll have plenty of face then, even the village chief will have to be polite to you.”

Hearing this, Mother Lin and Father Lin felt much better. If they had a Xiucai son-in-law, wouldn’t that be impressive? They wouldn’t have to envy the Ye family for buying land and a cow.

Mother Lin smiled. “Dinner isn’t ready yet, the stove is cold, I have to get started, we’ll have some meat. Yao-ge’er, come and help Mother tend the fire.”

Yao-ge’er agreed and followed his mother to the kitchen, where they whispered and plotted, Mother Lin giving her son advice on how to deal with his wicked mother-in-law.