21: Chapter 7: Helping at Uncle’s Field, Afterwards 21: Chapter 7: Helping at Uncle’s Field, Helping at Uncle’s Field, Afterwards As I mentioned briefly before, my father’s family home is a farming household.
Although my father left home to become a teacher and didn’t take over the farm, he still goes back sometimes to help out.
Mom, me, and Yuichi would often tag along when we had free time — usually on days off.
But after entering middle school and high school, with club activities and studies keeping us busy, we no longer had much free time… so we only visited a few times a year during longer holidays.
That’s why helping out on the farm like this feels quite refreshing after such a long time.
I am currently using a three-day weekend (including Saturday and Sunday) to help out at Uncle Yusaku’s fields.
Cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes, bell peppers… The seasonal vegetables have grown large and splendid.
To a vegetable lover, this sight looks like a mountain of treasure.
My job is simply to pick the ones that have grown big and delicious enough to harvest and put them in a basket.
Both Yuichi and I naturally developed the ability to judge them properly from a young age.
In more ways than one, “What you like, you get good at,” I suppose.
Thanks to being around fields and vegetables since we were little, both Yuichi and I love vegetables and can eat peppers, tomatoes, celery, and everything else without complaint.
I also quite like helping with farm work.
It’s hard and tiring, but it gives me a sense of accomplishment.
Of course, I take proper precautions since it’s work under the blazing sun.
I wear work clothes that protect against sunburn and can get dirty, and I frequently wipe away sweat and rehydrate.
Heatstroke is scary, after all (distant look).
…The only downside is that it gets steamy and stuffy inside the work clothes.
When I pull at my collar, a wave of sweaty scent wafts out… Ahh, I want to take a bath.
But I’ll endure until the work is finished… “Mizuha-chan, don’t push yourself.
Take proper breaks if you get tired.
It’d be terrible if you collapsed.” “Make sure to drink plenty of water.
You could die from heatstroke, you know~” “Yeees, I will~” The aunts working in the same field called out to me.
Well, a break sounds good.
As told, I retreated to the shade and quenched my throat with sports drink.
The aunts had prepared it beforehand using a 5-liter water tank.
They really are well-prepared.
Because my body was craving fluids, even after gulping down two or three cups, it still didn’t feel like enough.
And the moment I drank, more sweat poured out.
…It felt like the water I just drank was already leaving my body.
Thankfully I have decent stamina, so I could still keep working… but dehydration is scary.
I now understand that the aunts’ warnings weren’t exaggerated at all… including the part about “dying.” After continuing work for a while longer, we finally finished.
The 5-liter tank was almost completely empty.
Not just me — Uncle, the aunts, and everyone else had been drinking heavily without restraint, following the principle that “you should drink water before you get thirsty.” Seriously, working outside in the summer makes your throat dry endlessly.
I drank so much I surprised myself.
While handing me what seemed like the last cup, Uncle Yusaku smiled and said, “Sorry for making you help, Mizuha-chan.
We had a great harvest this year, but we needed to pick them today because the weather’s supposed to turn bad again tomorrow.
You really saved us.” “No, no, it’s been a while since I worked up a good sweat like this.
So… about these harvested vegetables…” Eggplants, cucumbers, tomatoes, bitter gourds, bell peppers, etc… I glanced at the large, fresh vegetables we had harvested, and the uncles and aunts nodded vigorously.
“Yeah, take as many as you want as a share!
They’ll be delicious no matter how you cook them!” “That’s right.
What should we make at home…?
They’re so fresh, salad is a must… tempura sounds good too.” “We have to pickle the cucumbers and eggplants… Since we got bitter gourd, goya champuru is a given.
For the bell peppers… meat-stuffed or chinjao rosu?” “If we’re making Chinese, mapo nasu too.
And don’t forget morokyu!” “Yeah, yeah, we need some for eating raw too.
Slather on miso or mayo and take big bites.” “Ahh, stop, stop, uncles and aunts.
My stomach is already growling.” A long list of delicious-sounding dishes poured out.
Looks like I’ll have to let Mom show off her skills fully.
Ahh, I’m looking forward to dinner.
I finished the last of my cup in one go and stood up, but… “…Whoa?” “!
Hey, are you okay, Mizuha-chan?
You just staggered.” “It was really hot today… Did you drink enough water?
Want another cup?” “There’s none left.
Well, the work’s done now, so you should be fine.
Mizuha-chan, we’ll handle the rest of the tools and cleaning up the field, so go rest in the shade.” “Yes… sorry, I’ll do that.” “Here, take this.” Uncle Yusaku handed me an unopened bottle of sports drink.
I took it and headed for the shade… Yeah, over there should be good.