Harvesting the five acres of wheat was only the beginning; the subsequent tasks of threshing, drying, and bundling the wheat stalks followed one after another.
After four or five consecutive days of hard labor, Ye Yao finally managed to catch a short breath.
There was still poultry at home that needed daily care, and since Ye Hanzhu was now fully occupied with looking after the ailing Xie Moyan, all these burdens fell squarely on Ye Yao’s shoulders.
Xie Moyan should have returned to the county school three days ago, but unexpectedly, before his departure, he had insisted on going to the fields to help collect wheat stalks.
At that time, Xie Hanshuo was pulling the cart alone, while Xie Moyan was responsible for bundling and loading the stalks.
It was a very windy day, and after laboring and sweating, Xie Moyan was struck by a chill; he fell ill that very night and was now too weak to even get up.
Mother Xie was heartbroken and consulted Xie Hanshuo: “Second son, you go into town tomorrow, sell those two hundred or so catties of wheat, and exchange it for some money to get your elder brother some good medicine. He is truly very ill… don’t hold any grudges against Mother.”
For the harvest of the whole year, the second son put in the most effort, yet in the end, most of it was turned into medicine costs for his elder brother.
Hearing this, Xie Hanshuo only gave a bitter smile and replied: “Alright, I will also invite a physician to take a look tomorrow. Human life is paramount; I have nothing to complain about.”
The next day, Xie Hanshuo pushed the cart loaded with grain into the city by himself.
A cart full of heavy wheat was ultimately traded for only a few packets of light medicinal herbs.
After diagnosing him, the physician said that Xie Moyan was deficient and needed ginseng slices to nourish his vital energy and blood.
Once ginseng was added to the prescription, the price soared, which was staggering.
Mother Xie’s face was filled with worry; with winter approaching, this illness of Xie Moyan’s undoubtedly added insult to injury for their already tight family finances.
Previously, in order to arrange marriages for both brothers, she had paid a significant dowry to the Ye family, and combined with the expenses for setting up their households, most of the family’s savings had been exhausted.
This sudden illness of Xie Moyan also disrupted Ye Yao’s original plan to go to the city.
Ye Hanzhu now needed to wait upon the sickbed, so the cooking and various chores at home naturally fell entirely upon Ye Yao.
Just as Ye Yao was carrying pig feed, preparing to go feed the pigs, Xie Hanshuo walked out of Mother Xie’s room.
“I’ll do it.” He took the load from Ye Yao’s hands and walked straight to the pigsty, feeding and cleaning with very efficient movements.
Ye Yao followed him and asked: “Have all the medicines been collected? What did the physician say?”
“Yes,” Xie Hanshuo replied. “The physician told him to recuperate well, avoid the wind at all costs, and eat some good things to nourish his body.”
Ye Yao’s gaze swept over the only two chickens remaining in the courtyard, and she fell silent.
Chicks were hard to keep alive in winter, so even if she wanted to raise more, she would have to wait until next spring.
As for the pigs, they would have to wait until the end of the year to be fattened before they could be slaughtered.
In the current household, where could one find any decent meat for nourishment?
Seeing her brows knitted and her face showing distress, Xie Hanshuo couldn’t help but speak: “In a couple of days, I will go into the mountains to hunt. Don’t worry, no matter what, I will never let you go hungry.”
Ye Yao was startled by his words, but immediately realized he had misunderstood, so she explained softly: “I wasn’t thinking that, nor do I feel aggrieved.”
In her previous life, Xie Moyan was sickly and medicine expenses were enormous; she was long used to it.
Since they hadn’t divided the family yet, he was his own brother; how could she sit idly by?
The most urgent task was for them to work together to find ways to open up new sources of income and increase their earnings.
Ye Yao looked at Xie Hanshuo, her tone sincere: “Since I have married you, sharing both bitterness and sweetness is my duty.”
As she spoke, she noticed a trace of complex fluctuation in the man’s cold, stern eyes, like signs of frozen ice beginning to thaw.
So, Ye Yao immediately added, “I am your properly wedded wife, after all; you must remember that firmly.”
Ye Yao had tried every method to get close, using both soft and hard tactics, for no other reason than to tether this man by her side, make him settle down, live a steady life with her, and stop thinking about running off on his own.
Since he had a family now, he should have a sense of responsibility.
If he dared to be restless again… she’d break his legs!
Xie Hanshuo gave a low grunt in response, then quickly turned around.
The scorching emotions churning in the depths of his eyes were all concealed in the shadow cast by his lowered head.
“I’m going to cut some pig grass.”
He threw these words out almost in a rush and then strode out the courtyard gate.
However, the earlobes that were red enough to drip blood silently revealed the master’s current embarrassment.
Ye Yao watched his back as he practically fled and couldn’t help but smile.
Compared to Xie Moyan’s tepid and weak nature, this man was like an unpolished piece of jade—cold on the surface but warm at heart, surprisingly naive.
As for why he left without saying goodbye in her previous life…
Perhaps, there really was some unspeakable hardship?
A few days passed in a hurry.
Xie Moyan’s condition improved slightly, and as soon as he could get out of bed, he was anxious to return to the county school.
Mother Xie could not sway him, so she had to have Xie Hanshuo harness the cart and borrow an ox from the village head to take him into the city.
This time, Ye Yao and Ye Hanzhu also went along.
Days of labor had left Ye Hanzhu haggard; her complexion was now withered and her eyes dull, making her look like a soul had been drained out of her.
She remained silent throughout the trip until the ox cart stopped at the gate of the county school and Xie Moyan got off to whisper his goodbyes to her; only then did she regain some of her senses.
Ye Hanzhu looked up at the plaque in front of the county school; it was said to have been inscribed personally by the county magistrate.
Although she was illiterate, the imposing aura between the lines made her heart surge with excitement.
Thinking that her husband would pass the imperial examinations in the future and that she would be granted a title, the light reignited in Ye Hanzhu’s eyes, and she seemed to come alive.
The exhaustion of the past few days seemed to have some hope behind it.
Ye Hanzhu straightened her back, recovering her usual spirit, and raised her voice: “This is my first time at the county school; it’s truly magnificent! My husband is truly promising. Sister, don’t you think so?”
She lifted her chin, waiting to see Ye Yao show envy or awkwardness.
Unexpectedly, Ye Yao just gave a faint smile, her tone so calm it was almost perfunctory: “Yes, it is.”
Her pride hit a soft nail, and Ye Hanzhu was choked with anger for a moment, then huffed and turned her face away.
Before leaving the city, Xie Hanshuo asked: “Is there anything you need to bring back home?”
Ye Yao hurriedly took the lead: “Mother said the vinegar is almost out; let’s get a jar. Let’s go to Nanyu Alley; I heard there’s a shop there that has good, affordable vinegar.”
In her early years at the Ye family, she had gone into town with her family a few times. Although it wasn’t many times and she was young, she still vaguely remembered some places.
Hearing this, a trace of suspicion flashed in Ye Hanzhu’s eyes.
How could Ye Yao be so familiar with the county town?
Before she could think deeply, the ox cart was already bumping its way toward Nanyu Alley.
The road was rough, and Ye Hanzhu was bounced around so much that her insides were turning.
When they stopped, her face was pale, and she had no energy left to keep an eye on Ye Yao.
Ye Yao got out of the cart under the pretext of buying vinegar, her gaze eagerly casting toward the familiar street beside the vinegar shop.
It was a bustling place with vendors gathering, and the aromas of various snacks intermingled.
In her previous life, she had set up her stall right here to sell zeng gao (steamed rice cake) and glutinous rice balls.
Now, the scene before her remained the same; she could even see a few familiar faces.
The familiar hustle and bustle of the marketplace rushed toward her, and those sealed memories instantly became vivid, as if a lifetime had passed, yet also as if it were yesterday.
Ye Yao’s nose felt sour and her eyes grew warm; she murmured softly: “It’s me… I’m back.”
“Who are you talking to?”
Behind her, Xie Hanshuo’s puzzled voice suddenly sounded.
Ye Yao turned back abruptly, her reddened eyes still holding the moisture she hadn’t had time to hide, and she collided directly with his inquiring gaze.