Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life] 94

Chapter 94

Worried about the looters returning, Village Chief Zhou had the men guard the road for a few more days. After five or six days, and hearing news from outside, they finally removed the barricade and opened the village road. The chaos in town had subsided, the county government had sent officers and arrested the looters, and the shops were reopening. Several other villages had been looted, some not as well-prepared as Shanxiu, losing some of their grain. It took a while for things to completely calm down, almost until Start of Winter.

Ye Xi and his family stayed in their mountain home, unaffected by the events.

Winter arrived quickly, and Lin Jiangshan, never idle, made more charcoal. Although the price wasn’t as high as last year, it still brought in some income. Ye Xi’s vegetable garden thrived this winter, and he sold vegetables in town several times, earning over two taels of silver.

Ye Shan’s family had planted lotus roots in a muddy patch of land this summer, and they harvested and sold them in winter. Few people grew lotus roots in the area, considered a delicacy, and the restaurants in town had even pre-ordered several baskets. The price was high, ten wen per catty, bringing a small fortune to the Ye Shan family this winter.

Secretly, Lin Jiangshan used the money from selling charcoal to have a pair of silver bracelets made at the silversmith’s, a gift for their baby, due after the new year. He also had a silver hairpin made for Ye Xi, with a blooming magnolia flower carved on it.

After Beginning of Spring, Ye Xi stayed home, embroidering and awaiting the birth of their child. Lin Jiangshan hired Mother He from the village to help and keep him company, paying her two hundred wen a month, he trusted her to take care of Ye Xi, so he could work without worry.

The spring days were warm, and Ye Xi, nestled in a bamboo chair, embroidered, feeling drowsy, the fawn and goat curled up at his feet, wild cotton blooming in the courtyard, the wind rustling the bamboo leaves, a beautiful spring scene.

Mother He brought a bowl of sweet soup from the kitchen and, seeing him drowsy, smiled. “Xi-ge’er, if you’re tired, go and rest inside, it’s normal to feel sleepy and tired when you’re pregnant.”

Ye Xi smiled. “Li-ge’er is coming to visit later, I’ll wait for him.”

Mother He handed him the bowl of sweet soup. “Lin lad bought another packet of brown sugar yesterday, I’ll poach two eggs in brown sugar water for you tonight.”

Ye Xi touched his rounded belly and smiled. “Please, don’t feed me anymore, I’ve gained so much weight, I’m getting clumsy.”

Mother He, sitting beside him, laughed. “That’s normal, everyone gains weight during pregnancy. Xi-ge’er, you’re so blessed! Your husband dotes on you, he’s so hardworking and capable, I heard he bought more land?”

Ye Xi nodded. “Farmers rely on land, it’s always good to have more, so we bought that plot by the village entrance, to plant sesame and buckwheat.”

Mother He’s eyes were filled with envy. “You’re living a good life, and your brother’s family is doing well too, their fishpond is getting bigger and bigger, I’m happy for you.”

Ye Xi said, “Isn’t your family doing well too? Big Brother He is working in town now.”

Mother He beamed with joy. “Yes, he’s apprenticing at the blacksmith’s shop in town, it’s hard work, but it’s a skilled trade, he won’t go hungry after he learns the craft.”

Ye Xi knew Big Brother He was a hardworking and capable young man, he had a bright future now, and he would be able to support his family after mastering the craft.

“Now only Xiu-guniang and Little He are helping us with the cow and the grass. Our cow is expecting a calf in the second half of the year, I’ll increase their wages.”

Mother He quickly refused. “No need, you’ve been so kind to our family, we owe you everything, they should help you! I’m just waiting for your baby to be born safely, so I can help you.”

Mother He had been taking such good care of Ye Xi, even closer than a mother-in-law, their relationship very close.

Li Ran had mentioned wanting Little He to be her godson and sending him to learn carpentry from her uncle in Xiushui Village when he was older.

Carpentry was a valuable skill, not easily taught, and her uncle, Lu Jingshan, only had one son, so he needed an apprentice. Li Ran recommended Little He, firstly because he was her godson, related to Lu Jingshan, and secondly because he was honest, hardworking, filial, and responsible. Her uncle had agreed, and Mother He was overjoyed, her two sons learning valuable trades now, after years of hardship, their future looked bright.

While they were drinking the sweet soup, Li-ge’er arrived. Li Xi’s pork stall in town was thriving, his honesty and good quality meat attracting more and more customers. Ye Xi noticed the heavy silver bracelet on his wrist and teased him, “You’re a true butcher’s wife now, your bracelet is getting heavier.”

Li-ge’er playfully scolded him. “Don’t tease me, your husband dotes on you even more, hiring Mother He to take care of you, always bringing home delicious food, you’re so well-fed and pampered.”

Ye Xi said, “You’ve also gained some weight.”

Li-ge’er blushed and lowered his eyes. “I… I’m also pregnant.”

“Really?!” Ye Xi sat up straight, overjoyed.

Li-ge’er nodded. “It’s not stable yet, just over two months. I didn’t have morning sickness, just constant cravings for meat, I would drag Li Xi to the kitchen, and he would tease me about gaining ‘spring weight.’ It was my mother who noticed and suggested I see the doctor.”

His story made Ye Xi and Mother He laugh.

“Li Xi must be treasuring you now, his parents and siblings have disowned him, and now, he has you and a baby on the way, he finally has a family.”

Li-ge’er knew his husband’s life had been difficult, and he would cherish him. “He treats me well, and I’ll do the same, I hope to have many children with him and build a good life together. He even asked if we could ask Mother He to help when I give birth.”

Mother He, who was sitting beside them, smiled. “Of course, I’m happy to help, you don’t mind that I’m a widow, I’ll take good care of you.”

Laughter filled the small courtyard on the mountainside, a beautiful spring day.

On the first day of the third lunar month, under a gentle spring rain, Ye Xi gave birth.

Lin Jiangshan paced anxiously outside the room, Ye Shan, holding Little Thunder, trying to comfort him. “Don’t worry, Mother He and the midwife are there.”

Lin Jiangshan’s eyes were red, how could he not worry, his husband and child were both inside.

Little Thunder, wearing his tiger hat, reached out to touch Lin Jiangshan’s face, trying to comfort him in his own way.

His soft little hand touched Lin Jiangshan’s cheek as a loud cry came from inside the room, and Lin Jiangshan’s eyes welled up for the first time, an urge to cry rising within him.

He wiped his face and asked anxiously, “He’s born?!”

The door opened, and Mother He came out, holding a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, smiling. “Yes! A healthy baby boy! So small and soft, like a little rice ball, so cute!”

Lin Jiangshan clumsily took the baby, his heart overflowing with emotion as he looked at the small bundle in his arms, his and Ye Xi’s child!

He extended a finger, and the baby’s small hand instinctively grasped it, as if recognizing his father.

Lin Jiangshan’s eyes reddened at the touch.

Little Thunder reached out to touch his brother’s face, babbling, and Ye Shan, holding him, smiled. “Little Lei Zi knows this is his brother, you have to protect him in the future, don’t let anyone bully him!”

Later, Lin Jiangshan named their baby Lin Yuxi , which Li Ran and Li-ge’er teased him about for days, saying it was too mushy and sentimental.

[Translator’s Note:the name Lin Yuxi  can be  interpreted as “Lin with Xi” or “Lin and Xi.” It’s a powerful testament to their love, symbolizing that their child is the perfect fusion of both of them]

But Lin Jiangshan thought it was the perfect name. He loved his husband and his child, and he wanted to spend his whole life with them in this small courtyard.

From then on, there was a new addition to their family, a babbling little person, toddling around the courtyard, chasing after the dogs, followed by the goat and the fawn. Ye Xi sat in the courtyard, brewing tea and embroidering, occasionally glancing at his son playing. The sound of the cowbell echoed from the mountain path as Lin Jiangshan returned home, pulling a cart of grain.

Ye Xi stood up and smiled at his son. “Yuxi, your daddy is home!”

As soon as Lin Jiangshan entered the courtyard, a small figure rushed into his arms, calling out in a sweet voice, “Daddy!”

His heart melted, and he lifted his son, kissing his chubby cheek. “Daddy bought you candy!”

Ye Xi smiled gently. “You’re spoiling him! Always giving him things, he’s getting as plump as a little rice ball.”

Lin Jiangshan doted on his husband and child. “I want to give you everything good, now that our family is well-off, I want you to have a good life. I even bought you a gift.”

“Oh? What is it?”

Lin Jiangshan took out a piece of cloth, a delicate pink.

Ye Xi blushed at the sight. “I’m a father now, can I still wear such a bright color?”

Lin Jiangshan smiled. “When I first met you on the mountain, you fell, and I saw a glimpse of pink under your collar, you looked beautiful in pink.”

Ye Xi glared at him playfully. “Come and eat! The food is getting cold!”

Lin Yuxi, his arms around his father’s neck, looked at his blushing other father entering the kitchen and asked, confused, “Daddy, what’s wrong with Little Daddy?”

Lin Jiangshan smiled. “Yuxi, do you want a little brother?”

Lin Yuxi nodded. “Li-ge’er’s Fuge’er has a little brother now, and Aunt Ran gave Lei-ge’er a little sister, Yuxi wants one too!”

Lin Jiangshan said, “Then let’s ask your Little Daddy!”

Hearing their conversation, Ye Xi smiled and called out, pretending to be annoyed, “Come and eat! Your little brother is already in Little Daddy’s belly, no need to ask!”

Their eyes lit up, and they cheered, “Yay! That’s great!”

Ye Xi smiled, looking at his family, life couldn’t be better.

A small courtyard, a few acres of fertile land, a peaceful life in the mountains, season after season.

-END OF MAIN STORY-