Chapter 120 Harvesting Rice

Chapter 120: Chapter 120 Harvesting Rice

Xiao Yunjing, his father, and his brothers arrived in the fields with all their tools. The villagers on the road and those working in the fields watched them curiously.

“What’s that thing? They’re harvesting rice; why are they carrying that?” someone mumbled.

“I don’t know. Let’s go and see what it is later.”

“What’s there to see? Get back to work! Is your rice going to grow if you just stare at it?”

“Fine, I won’t go then. What’s the big deal?”

Although they were sarcastic, they still minded their own business. Even if they were envious or jealous, their own rice wouldn’t be as good as the Xiao Family’s; they only had themselves to blame.

At first, when they saw the Xiao Family pulling out extra seedlings, everyone said the Xiao Family had gone mad. But now, who would dare to go and mock them for being foolish?

Don’t they have any self-awareness? Any shame?

Just look at Second Brother Gu’s and the Village Chief’s rice fields—they’re having a bumper harvest this year, just like the Xiao Family.

The Village Chief visited the fields every day, grinning from ear to ear.

And those in the village who planted medicinal materials? Every family was overjoyed.

It was disheartening just thinking about it.

As the saying goes, “the timid starve while the bold feast”—they were the timid ones.

The four men of the Xiao Family—father and sons—went into the fields and began harvesting. Mr. Xiao and Second Brother Xiao cut the stalks, while Xiao Yunjing and Eldest Brother Xiao threshed the grain. At first, the two brothers hadn’t quite gotten the knack for it and scattered quite a few grains. But once they became proficient, they worked so quickly that Mr. Xiao and Second Brother Xiao couldn’t keep up with their cutting.

“Third Brother, this contraption your wife came up with really works!” Eldest Brother Xiao exclaimed as he loaded grain from the threshing tub into a basket. “Three mu harvested in a single morning! What speed!”

“But of course! Li’er is incredibly smart,” Xiao Yunjing said, his heart swelling with pride. Who wouldn’t be pleased to hear their wife praised as capable and intelligent?

This was especially true for Xiao Yunjing; he’d pick a fight with anyone who dared say a bad word about his wife.

“Xiao Third, you’ve harvested this much already?” Gu Chang’an came trotting over just as the two brothers were chatting excitedly. His eyes, sparkling like stars, were fixed on the threshing tub in the field.

So this is what Xiaoli came up with! This child truly didn’t disappoint me. What a fantastic device!

“Second Grand-uncle, would you like to give it a try?” Eldest Brother Xiao asked, noticing Gu Chang’an’s eagerness.

“Yes, yes! HEHE!” Gu Chang’an kicked off his straw sandals, rolled up his trousers and sleeves, and waded into the field.

“Well, look at that! A fish even bumped into this old man! HAHAHA!” Gu Chang’an laughed, scooping with his hand as he spoke.

He walked over to the threshing tub, examined it, and said, “This thing is truly excellent. Come on, Eldest Xiao, teach this old man how to operate it.”

“Alright. First, you grab a bundle of rice stalks, like this…” Eldest Brother Xiao demonstrated for Gu Chang’an.

“It’s that simple?” Gu Chang’an remarked.

He swung the rice stalks in his hand, and grains went flying everywhere.

Eldest Brother Xiao was speechless.

Xiao Yunjing simply shook his head, shouldered a carrying pole with baskets of grain, and headed back.

Gu Chang’an felt quite embarrassed. After Eldest Brother Xiao explained it again, he improved significantly, and soon enough, he got the hang of it.

A wide grin spread across Gu Chang’an’s weathered face, crinkling his eyes like a blooming chrysanthemum.

This thing is amazing! Simply marvelous!

HAHAHA!

Gu Chang’an was overjoyed.

「Later that afternoon」

Gu Dalin also came to try the threshing tub and then helped cut the rice stalks. His few mu of fields could be harvested in a single day, so when he heard the Xiao Family was harvesting, he came to lend a hand.

That same afternoon, Gu Chang’an anxiously urged Gu Dayou and his son to quickly build another set of the threshing equipment for him; he wanted one too. That device was incredibly practical for harvesting rice.

Gu Dayou had already prepared the necessary timber when he was working before, so making another set was quick. Working overtime, they finished it in just two days.

「The next day」

Gu Chang’an took his sons to harvest their own rice.

Harvesting rice was usually the happiest time for the villagers. Having rice to harvest meant having food to eat. But this year, few families in Qinghe Village were happy. They thought about the rice they would harvest and how little would be left after paying taxes.

Meanwhile, the Village Chief’s family, the Xiao Family, and Second Brother Gu’s family—now *they* were having a true bumper harvest.

It was utterly depressing to think about.

Families with larger fields, in particular, were kicking themselves with regret. If only they had planted even half their fields like the Xiaos, they would have harvested so much more rice.

However, the villagers only sighed for a short while. They could plant the same way next year. Moreover, the wealthier villagers began to buy up wasteland in large quantities, intending to plant medicinal materials the following year as well.

With hope came motivation, and with motivation, they found the energy for any task, and their spirits lifted.

The Xiao Family and Gu Dalin’s family finished harvesting their rice, which was now piled in their courtyards to dry. Fortunately, Qinghe County didn’t experience much rain, and the rice dried completely without any downpours.

During the days Gu Qingli and her two sisters-in-law spent drying the grain, the tunnel leading from the depths of Blue Clouds Mountain was finally completed. The exit was located behind their house, where members of the Secret Sect had built a utility shed to conceal it.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yunjing, his father, and his two brothers were catching fish in the rice paddies. The fish they caught were transported by horse-drawn cart to the Auspicious House Restaurant.

Every day during this time, Wuyou sent back messages stating that business at the Auspicious House Restaurant was so overwhelmingly busy it was almost frightening. People had to queue up just to get a chance to eat the fish.

When Gu Qingli read these messages, the corners of her mouth curved into a wide smile—so wide, one could almost hang an oil pot from it.

Delicious food… how few can resist such temptation?

「That evening」

Xiao Yunjing sat in the bath barrel while Gu Qingli scrubbed his back. She had done this for him every night recently, and the man had consequently fallen in love with backrubs.

“Li’er, we have to leave again tomorrow,” Xiao Yunjing said, taking her hand. “This time, we might be gone for a longer while.”

Gu Qingli caressed his large, calloused hands.

I’m so reluctant to see him go. I guessed they would be leaving around this time. The autumn harvest is just over; with ample provisions, they’ll be well-supplied for battle.

“What’s wrong? Can’t bear to part with your man?” Xiao Yunjing gently pinched Gu Qingli’s pouting, melancholic face.

Gu Qingli nodded. Perhaps I’ve grown accustomed to this man’s affection; I truly don’t want to be separated from him.

Xiao Yunjing stood up, his heart aching as he pulled her into his embrace. “Li’er, don’t worry,” he comforted her. “When I return next time, we won’t be separated again, alright?”

Gu Qingli tilted her small face upward, her eyes glistening with unshed tears and a profound reluctance to part. She nodded, then rested her cheek against his broad chest.

「Back in their room」

Gu Qingli had gathered and packed all the supplies Xiao Yunjing and the others would need for their journey, ready for them to distribute amongst themselves. Xiao Yunjing watched her quietly as she worked.

“Li’er,” he said, “the passage out back is ready. If anything happens, go through there to find the people at the base.”

“Mm, we know. You all must be careful out there. As they say, an open attack is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is hard to guard against,” Gu Qingli replied, setting down a bundle and coming to sit beside Xiao Yunjing.

“Mm.” Xiao Yunjing understood her meaning.

In my previous life, I was too trusting of my close aides. On the battlefield, one must never carelessly entrust their back to another.

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