After the division of the property, all the dried rice was given to the Xu Family, leaving Xu Qinghe’s family with only the freshly harvested rice.
Xu Nianhua and Ji Ying worked together to sun the rice. Under the blazing sun, the mother and daughter frequently turned the rice and also had to clean out some straw and rice dust which, if it fell on one’s skin, was particularly itchy.
"Nianhua, stop turning them and go rest in the house, or you won’t be able to sleep later tonight." Ji Ying’s face was flushed red, reluctant to let her daughter also endure the sun.
"I’m fine, it’s faster with two people." Xu Nianhua flashed a smile, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and continued turning the rice.
Xu Nianhua purposely wore long sleeves and trousers and donned a straw hat. Although tired, if she left all the work to Ji Ying, Ji Ying would have been especially strained.
Although there wasn’t much rice at home, they used the oldest drying mats, the kind that was nearly worn out, and even the grain rake was just made by Xu Qinghe early this morning.
After turning the rice, Xu Nianhua went to the vegetable garden to pick vegetables.
Ji Ying wanted to go, but Xu Nianhua wouldn’t allow it.
Xu Nianhua had a good reason, "Mom, you stay at home and keep an eye on the rice, turn it a few more times. This way, I can also sneak a little break."
Her going to pick vegetables had a reason, knowing Liu Sanmei’s character, Ji Ying probably wouldn’t be able to pick much.
Xu Nianhua carried a large basket, planning to fill it up completely.
The vegetable garden was located in a hollow next to the Xu’s home, giving off a terraced field feel, one patch of soil after another, layer upon layer ascending, appearing lush and vibrant.
It was now the peak harvest time for the vegetable garden.
Cucumbers, string beans, eggplants, water spinach, rootless vegetables, amaranth, chili peppers, and broad beans.
In the village, every household grew vegetables. The Xu family had a large family, and Ji Ying was hardworking; they cleared more land for vegetables and grew a variety.
Xu Nianhua picked whatever she saw, not even sparing the sweet potato leaves. The freshly picked vegetables looked very fresh and pleasing.
"Xu Nianhua, are you planning to pick all the vegetables in the garden?" Liu Sanmei visited the garden daily and, seeing Xu Nianhua’s basket brimming with vegetables, her eyes widened in awe!
"Grandma, our family of five needs to eat vegetables. Moreover, although we’ve divided the family property, these vegetables were painstakingly grown by my mom, from hoeing the ground to planting the seeds, to later fertilizing; all were done by my mom. Grandma, you being such a reasonable person, would certainly not mind my picking them, right?"
With an innocent expression and her bright, clear eyes, Xu Nianhua seemed to say: If you forbid me from picking these vegetables, you are being unreasonable.
Liu Sanmei’s good mood from the division was completely used up at this point, anger stuck in her throat, neither rising nor falling. She thought about the impending dissatisfaction in the village towards their family because of the division. If it also got out that she even forbade Ji Ying from picking vegetables...
These thoughts flashed through Liu Sanmei’s mind. She snorted lightly and said, "When did you become so articulate? It’s not that Grandma is stopping you from picking, but you’re picking too much. These vegetables can’t be eaten so quickly, they will spoil."
"Grandma, we have a lot of mouths to feed." Xu Nianhua offered a bright smile, her hands not pausing for a moment. The basket now full, she pulled up seven or eight stalks of edamame in front of Liu Sanmei. Edamame could be kept for several days without problems since it was muddy and included the stems and leaves.