Qingshi Town—and indeed all of Qinghe County—grew very little rice. Even where rice was cultivated, yields were extremely low due to the climate and environment. Most farmers in Qinghe County mainly planted millet and wheat.
Millet was generally sown between Qingming and Grain Rain in spring and harvested around the beginning of autumn. After harvest, autumn vegetables could be planted.
Winter wheat was sown around the Autumn Equinox and overwintered in the fields before being harvested between Grain in Ear and the Summer Solstice the following year. Afterward, farmers planted short-term crops such as beans or buckwheat.
The Lin family’s twenty-five mu of fertile land followed a typical “two years, three harvests” rotation cycle:
Sometimes the autumn beans were replaced with buckwheat.
The family’s fifteen mu of poorer land used a “one year planting, one year fallow” system.
One year they planted sorghum millet, the next year spring beans, and occasionally hemp.
Because the soil was too barren, the land had to rest every other year.
Sorghum millet was planted between Grain Rain and Beginning of Summer and harvested between Limit of Heat and White Dew.
Spring beans were planted in April and harvested in July or August.
Spring hemp was planted between March and April and harvested between July and August.
Under ideal weather conditions, the Lin family’s twenty-five mu of fertile land produced approximately:
This averaged out to around 5,525 jin of grain per year.
The fifteen mu of poor land yielded far less.
In good years, one mu of sorghum millet produced only around 120 jin, while beans yielded around 80 jin. Since the land rested every other year, the average yearly harvest came to only around 750 jin.
Altogether, the family’s forty mu of land produced roughly 6,275 jin of grain annually—equivalent to about 79.6 shi.
However, the imperial government collected taxes twice a year, during summer and autumn.
Each mu of average land required approximately one dou—around twelve jin—of grain tax annually.
That meant the Lin family paid around six hundred jin of grain in taxes every year.
Including newborn Lin Mei, the family now had twenty members. Divided evenly, each person only had around 283 jin of grain per year.
There was also the poll tax.
Men between twenty and sixty years old were considered taxable adult males and each had to pay 360 copper coins annually.
The Lin family had to pay a total of 1,800 copper coins every year in poll taxes alone.
So although the Lin family owned a fair amount of land, and several of the men earned extra money—with even Lin Xiyong copying books to supplement the household income—the family still lived quite tightly.
The fact that they had managed to build so many rooms, including three proper blue-brick main rooms, was entirely due to the old couple’s careful management of the household.
Because lunch had been unusually lavish today, Old Madam Lin decided dinner would be simpler.
She arranged for a large pot of sorghum porridge and a basket of bean-flour corn buns to be made. However, tonight everyone could eat the buns until full.
For vegetables, there would still be eggplant, only served cold this time with a few drops of sesame oil mixed in for flavor. Together with a bowl of salted pickles, that was enough.
With Chen Shuyun helping, Old Madam Lin quickly finished preparing the meal.
When the Lin family returned from work and saw the food on the table, several of the younger children immediately started howling in protest.
Especially seven-year-old Lin Dahe from the eldest branch.
“Grandma! Grandma! Fourth Uncle just came home and we had such a great meal at lunch—how did dinner suddenly turn into this? The difference is way too huge! Every time I eat these bean buns, I can’t poop afterward!”
“Shoo, shoo, what does a child know?” Old Madam Lin scolded with a laugh. “After eating meat at lunch, your stomach has oil in it. Eating bean buns tonight balances it out perfectly.”
For the first time in her life, Chen Shuyun was eating food like this.
The sorghum porridge was acceptable because it had been simmered for a long time and was fairly sticky and soft—not nearly as unpleasant as she had imagined.
But the bean-flour buns were nearly impossible for her to swallow.
Today’s buns were made from ground mung beans and black beans mixed with sorghum flour, bran, and wild vegetables.
Not only did they scrape painfully against the throat, they also tasted bitter.
Chen Shuyun broke off half a bun and took one bite before she simply could not continue.
Just as she was wondering what to do, Eldest Sister-in-law Little Liu, seated beside her, noticed immediately.
“Fourth Sister-in-law, can’t get used to it? These bean buns really aren’t tasty. If you can’t finish it, just give it to me.”
Without even waiting for a response, Little Liu reached over, grabbed the half-eaten bun from Chen Shuyun’s hand, and took a huge bite.
The sudden action left Chen Shuyun completely stunned.
She had never experienced something like this before—someone taking and eating food she had already bitten into.
Her face instantly turned bright red.
Second Sister-in-law Li Xue noticed her embarrassment and helplessly rubbed her forehead at Eldest Sister-in-law’s carefree behavior before quickly speaking up.
“Fourth Sister-in-law, don’t feel awkward. It’s normal not to be used to this kind of food—we’re simply accustomed to it. Eldest Sister-in-law is just very informal. It’s fine if she helps finish what you can’t eat.”
“Exactly,” Little Liu chimed in while chewing. “If you can’t finish it, I’ll eat it for you. If you throw it away, Mother-in-law will definitely scold someone. She absolutely can’t stand wasting food.”
“Thank you, Eldest Sister-in-law,” Chen Shuyun replied softly.
Because she had only spent three days with her husband’s family during the wedding before being separated for so long, this was really her first time properly interacting with her sisters-in-law.
To be honest, Chen Shuyun’s first impression of Little Liu had never been very good.
Little Liu had a broad frame, thick shoulders, a round face, and narrow half-lidded eyes that always seemed slightly squinted. Her nose was round and sturdy-looking, though fortunately her mouth wasn’t very large. Her voice carried tremendous force, and she walked and worked with whirlwind energy.
At first glance, she seemed like a fierce woman not to be trifled with.
On the second day after the wedding, Chen Shuyun had even seen her standing outside the house with hands on her hips, loudly arguing with another village woman. She had genuinely worried the enraged Little Liu might poke the skinny woman straight into the drainage ditch with one finger.
For a long time, Chen Shuyun had worried about how she would get along with such a fiery sister-in-law.
Yet unexpectedly, beneath that rough exterior was a surprisingly thoughtful heart.
Warmth suddenly filled her chest.
As for Second Sister-in-law Li Xue, Chen Shuyun knew even less about her.
Li Xue always seemed to have little presence. She quietly worked all day and rarely spoke unnecessarily.
Chen Shuyun only knew that Li Xue had given birth to three daughters, and according to her husband, five years ago she had nearly died from hemorrhaging while giving birth to her third daughter, Yulan. Since then, she likely could no longer bear children.
Li Xue looked completely opposite from Eldest Sister-in-law.
She was small and thin, standing over half a head shorter beside Little Liu. She possessed peach blossom eyes, and although she worked in the fields year-round, her skin remained fairer and smoother than most village women. She had a small elegant nose and delicate cherry lips. Her voice was soft and gentle, and her entire demeanor seemed tender and mild.
Normally, a woman who had only borne daughters and could no longer conceive would become timid and deeply insecure.
But after spending the day together, Chen Shuyun realized Li Xue was nothing like that.
Though outwardly gentle, the calm steadiness in her eyes and the constant faint smile at her lips revealed a resilient woman.
This brief time spent with her husband’s family made Chen Shuyun feel unexpectedly warm.
The family was not wealthy, but they were remarkably harmonious.
About halfway through dinner, Old Madam Lin suddenly slapped her thigh.
“Where’s Third Son? Why hasn’t he come to eat?”
“Grandma! Grandma! Ask me! I know where Father went!”
Little Lin Fuping eagerly raised his tiny hand while speaking through a mouthful of food, not even afraid of choking.
“Hahaha, good grandson, slow down. Swallow first before answering,” Old Madam Lin laughed warmly.
After finally swallowing the bun in his mouth, Fuping said sweetly:
“Father said Grandpa from Mother’s side sent someone to tell him to come over again.”
“Yes, Third Son mentioned it to me. I completely forgot,” Old Man Lin nodded.
“Did Third Son say what his father-in-law wanted? He only went this morning to announce the birth, so why call him over again this afternoon?” Old Madam Lin asked worriedly.
“Third Son didn’t know either. The messenger woman wasn’t clear about it. She just happened to run into Third Son’s father-in-law while returning to her own natal family, so she brought the message along.”