Ch 71: Daily Farm Life After Returning from Interstellar

Harvest

Grandpa Gu was in good health, but he was over seventy years old. With the fields bustling now, it wouldn’t be good if he bumped into something. After some persuasion from Gu Shi and Su Mu, they finally managed to dissuade him from personally going to harvest the rice.

Grandma Gu chimed in too, complaining, “You old man, you’re in your seventies. Don’t you have any self-awareness? Do you still think you’re as strong as you were in your prime? Let me make it clear: if you get into trouble showing off, I won’t be taking care of you.”

Grandpa Gu grumbled, “I just wanted to relive the old days.”

“In that case, you shouldn’t be eating a feast tonight, as if you’re still eating husks and drinking thin porridge?”

“You old woman, I can’t reason with you.” Grandpa Gu stubbornly held his ground. He knew he was in the wrong, but she was just going on and on about it.

Su Mu and Gu Shi exchanged a glance, amusement in their eyes. However, they didn’t dare laugh out loud; they focused their attention on the villagers working instead.

“Do you want to experience it?” Su Mu lifted the sickle in her hand and invited.

Before Gu Shi could answer, He Fu and Tang Hui, who were nearby, quickly spoke up. Excitedly, they said, “We want to try it too!”

“Sure, there are a few sickles in the bamboo basket. You can take them and learn from the village uncles. Just be careful not to cut your hands.”

In the days leading up to the harvest, the water in the paddies had been drained, leaving the ground firm. After they got onto the fields, they adjusted to the terrain. They humbly learned from the neighboring villagers.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Grandpa Gu patted Gu Shi’s back and raised his chin toward the field. “You should go too.”

Otherwise, he wouldn’t understand the preciousness of food. They were provided with delicious food and drink every day, and they still didn’t have an appetite to eat!

Gu Shi glanced at his grandpa and obediently went into the field. Su Mu followed suit. When she was young, she rarely did manual labor in the fields. It wasn’t because she didn’t want to but because her father wouldn’t allow it. He’d say he didn’t want his daughter, who was as fair as jade, to become as dark as coal.

However, she was still a country girl at heart, and she’d seen plenty. Despite a few initial fumbles, she quickly got the hang of it and soon left Gu Shi and the others behind.

Adjacent to her, an aunt praised, “Mu Mu, you’re really fast! You’re almost as fast as me.”

She also had a college-educated son, but when he had to work in the fields, it was like pulling teeth. He moved slowly, not as smoothly as Mu Mu.

Su Mu smiled and replied, “Well, I’ve seen a lot before, so cutting isn’t difficult.”

“Mu Mu, slow down.” After hearing He Fu’s words, she turned her head. He Fu thumped his slightly sore lower back and said, “You shouldn’t be so fast. It makes us look like slackers.”

His comment amused Su Mu and the villagers, causing a burst of laughter.

Grandpa Gu stood on the ridge of the field, laughing and scolding, “You little rascal, catching up with the girls is nothing to be proud of. What skill is there in letting the girls go easy on you?”

“Big Brother He, how is that any different from plugging your ears and stealing a bell?”

He Fu stood his ground, “At least it looks better on the surface.”

“This morning’s harvested rice was brought here to dry. Typically, during rice harvesting season, this square becomes insufficient, leading to conflicts and tensions among villagers. Fortunately, Su’s family harvested their rice earlier than anyone else in the village, so they are able to use a large portion of the square.

Father and daughter each took a rake and spread out the rice, which had been piled into a small hill, making it even and ready for drying on the ground. This was quite a labor-intensive task, and after about half an hour, both of them were busy and sweaty. Su Mu had just finished showering and was sweating again.

Father Su felt sorry for her. “You should go home and rest.”

After spreading the rice to dry, it needs to be turned over with the rake occasionally to ensure even drying and better quality. Plus, there were many birds and villagers’ chickens and ducks around. He needed to stay here and take care of things. Su Mu suggested, “How about I call Mom to come and help you?”

Father Su waved his hand. “No need. It’s so hot. Why call her here? Let her come to take my place around 4 o’clock in the afternoon.”

“Alright, then I’ll head back.”

Next to the village committee square was a large banyan tree with several hammocks hanging from its trunk. At this time, many villagers were resting here. Father Su wouldn’t suffer much staying here.

Su Mu returned to the small courtyard. She was afraid her parents would get bored being alone, so they usually stayed in the courtyard during the day and went back to their new house to sleep at night.

The small courtyard was quiet now. Grandpa Gu and the others had already gone home to rest. Her mother was lying on a hammock, and when she saw Su Mu come in, she sat up.

“Earlier, Grandma Chen came over. She said the puppies at her house have been born for over a month. She asked if you wanted one. If not, she’ll sell them in the county.”

Su Mu’s eyes lit up, and she quickly nodded. “Yes, how many puppies were born? How much should we pay?”

Her mother waved her hand. “No need to pay. These puppies are Big Orange’s offspring. There are seven in total.”

Su Mu looked at the curled-up Big Orange by her feet and exclaimed, “Big Orange, you’re quite a sneaky troublemaker.”

Big Orange wagged its tail and ignored her, continuing to sleep.

Su Mu picked up her phone and said, “I’ll call Gu Shi and ask if they want to raise any.”

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Thingyan: Big Orang is a scum huh