Su Tao kept eating bite after bite, sweat beading on her forehead, completely unable to stop.
She felt today’s dish was even more delicious than yesterday’s—fragrant and spicy. She couldn’t resist taking another mouthful before even swallowing the previous one, despite having just eaten breakfast and her stomach already feeling full!
Su Li also tasted it and agreed today’s version was indeed much tastier, especially satisfying to eat during summer. If only she could have a glass of ice-cold cola right now.
“Phew! Dad and the others will definitely love this,” Su Tao finally had to stop when the spiciness became too much, her lips already reddened by the heat.
Meanwhile, Su Li had packed the lunch to be delivered. For the rice, she followed her grandmother Wu Pozi’s instructions and steamed fresh rice—newly hulled grains from this year’s harvest. This was a Su Family tradition: every year after harvesting rice, they would hull new grains for a meal, symbolizing abundant harvests and good health in the coming year.
This was one of the rare occasions when the Su Family could eat plain rice, as they normally had bean rice or Hong Shu Fan.
The rice cooked from new grains was noticeably more aromatic, carrying a distinct grain fragrance much stronger than aged rice.
However, each person only got half a bowl, not much. Su Li packed portions for both herself and Su Tao, planning to eat together at the Garrison later.
After all, the round trip would likely take over two hours!
At the Garrison, everyone was harvesting rice, but nearly all were working half-heartedly, slacking off whenever possible. Rice that should have been harvested in ten days still had more than half left.
“Work faster! Dragging your feet slower than an old granny,” shouted an armored soldier cracking his whip, his tone filled with authority and anger.
But the moment he finished speaking, the crowd below burst into laughter.
“Laughing? What’s so funny? Asking for a whipping every day, are you?”
“That’s right, Zongqi Lin, my skin’s itching for it. Care to give me a good scratching?” one man said with a cheeky grin.
Another wave of laughter rose from the paddy fields.
Everyone knew these days during harvest, no matter what they said, the soldiers wouldn’t actually whip them, so they all talked back freely.
Some even hoped to be beaten so they could skip work.
Wu Laosan was particularly bold in this regard.
Zongqi Lin gritted his teeth in frustration but didn’t dare actually strike anyone. If the rice harvesting wasn’t completed on time, he would be the one punished when superiors inquired.
He had paid a hundred taels of silver for this Zongqi position and hadn’t even earned that back yet.
These wretched scoundrels! Just wait until he found a way to deal with them later!
Seeing his lack of reaction, the crowd grew even more rowdy, everyone joining in the teasing.
Nearby, Su Qingshan—Su Li’s second brother—saw this and smiled, about to add some comments of his own when Su Fu pulled him back.
“Why must you add your voice when others are talking? Focus on cutting your rice,” Su Fu scolded.
Others might not know, but he understood what kind of man Lin Gui was—petty-minded with a heart as narrow as a needle’s eye. Offending him would surely bring retaliation. Better not seek momentary satisfaction now only to face targeted revenge later.
Though unhappy about being stopped, Su Qingshan—being filial by nature—said nothing further.
Su Fu shook his head at the sight. His second son, despite having such a sturdy build, had no brains to speak of—always so reckless and impulsive.
Thinking this, he glanced at his third son diligently cutting rice nearby. Fortunately, the third son took after him: calm, self-possessed, brave and resourceful. Not bad, not bad at all.
Soon, it was time for lunch.
“Alright, everyone stop working. Time to eat, I’m exhausted.”
“Dashan, Dahe, call your father over to eat with us.”
By mealtime, everyone was worn out and starving. Those on good terms gathered in small groups, and the Li father and son from the same village were close with the Su family.
Lately, with no one from the Su family bringing them meals, they had been surviving on the distributed sweet potatoes and porridge. Only through the Li family’s help did they get any meat, barely managing to hold on.
But as time went on, no matter how good their relationship was, Su Fu felt too embarrassed. So this time, he refused without a second thought.
“Brother Li, you go ahead and eat. We’ll manage on our own.”
Knowing he was being polite, Li Shugen walked over directly and pulled Su Fu along. “Come on, come on! My wife made too much food. If you don’t join us, my son and I won’t be able to finish it.”
After some back-and-forth, Su Fu ultimately failed to break free.
“Uncle Su.”
“Uncle Su.”
It was Li Shugen’s daughter, Li Chunhua, who had brought the food.
Along with her was Li Shugen’s son, Li Shitou.
“Uncle Su, Brother Dashan, Brother Dahe, we’ve been waiting for you.”
“Ah, good kids.” Su Fu felt utterly helpless, as if the favors he owed were piling up beyond repayment.
“Sit down quickly, no need to stand on ceremony with me.”
As Li Shugen spoke, he uncovered the dishes in the basket. But the next moment, he saw only some pickled vegetables and a bowl of cowpeas with eggplant, with less than half the usual amount of rice.
For a moment, he was stunned, but then, as if remembering something, his dark face flushed red.
“It’s just simple, humble fare. Hope you don’t mind.”
With that, he laid everything out.