In the past, Xu Chunhua was supposed to work in the fields too. But she was lazy—once she got to the fields, she would always find a place to slack off. After Meng Qiushi finished his own work, he would quietly do her share as well.
Even so, Meng Qiushi still had endless energy and would run up the mountains after work.
By October, it was autumn harvest season. The fields shimmered with golden crops, and the people working in them were drenched in sweat, their faces glowing with the joy of a good harvest.
Since Xu Chunhua had to breastfeed three children, she refused to work in the fields.
“I have to work in the fields and feed three children too? Mom, even landlords didn’t treat people this harshly. My life is harder than a long-term servant in a landlord’s household!” Xu Chunhua spoke in a sweet, delicate voice, but her words frightened Wang Cuilian badly.
“Shut your mouth! What nonsense are you spouting? Do you have a death wish?!” Wang Cuilian’s hair practically stood on end in fear. The scenes from the old days of criticizing landlords were still vivid in her mind.
A crafty look flashed through Xu Chunhua’s eyes. “Anyway, until these three children are weaned, I’m not going to the fields.”
Suppressing her anger, Wang Cuilian glared darkly at her. “Fine, fine! From now on, you can handle the housework while I go work in the fields.”
“No,” Xu Chunhua refused immediately. “Chen Rou eats for free at home, so the housework should be done by her.”
“One drop of milk costs ten drops of blood. My body’s practically been drained dry. I’m too weak to work. If you insist on making me work, then take Meng Zhu back. I won’t feed her anymore.”
Wang Cuilian’s head buzzed.
Lately, anytime Xu Chunhua was dissatisfied, she would use the phrase “one drop of milk costs ten drops of blood” to shut her down. Looking at Xu Chunhua’s rosy complexion, Wang Cuilian wanted to curse at her, but Chen Rou stopped her.
“Mom, I’ll do the housework,” Chen Rou said softly as she held Wang Cuilian’s arm. Lowering her eyes, a shadow flickered within them.
Her Zhuzhu still needed Xu Chunhua’s milk, so for now she had no choice but to give in to Xu Chunhua’s demands. Once Zhuzhu was weaned, she’d see how Xu Chunhua planned to keep acting so arrogantly.
After Wang Cuilian left for the fields, Chen Rou carried her daughter over to Xu Chunhua.
“Zhuzhu’s hungry. Sister-in-law, please feed her while I go pick vegetables and cook.”
Xu Chunhua took Meng Zhu into the room. Watching the baby greedily suckle, she thought the child was just like Chen Rou—cut from the same mold.
People were biased by nature, and Xu Chunhua was no saint. Because of Chen Rou, she also resented Meng Zhu.
Chen Rou was only an adopted daughter, so why did she get to enjoy the best resources in the Meng family?
Back then, her husband’s grades had been far better than Chen Rou’s, yet that biased old woman had insisted on giving the school opportunity to Chen Rou instead.
Thinking about it, Xu Chunhua’s eyes reddened, and she suddenly felt heartache for the young Meng Qiushi.
Back then, Meng Qiushi had been thin, and his living environment oppressive, yet the light in his eyes had always been dazzling. Deep in his bones was an unyielding resilience and vitality.
Xu Chunhua pinched Meng Zhu’s nose. The baby released the nipple and pouted pitifully.
In a low voice, Xu Chunhua cursed, “And you still have the nerve to cry? You and your mother are both blood-sucking leeches!”
Meanwhile, Meng Qiushi was harvesting wheat in the fields while Meng Wei and Meng Qing picked up the scattered wheat stalks from the ground. Those could also be exchanged for work points.
During harvest season, schools gave students leave so they could return home and help their parents work. Children could be seen all along the ridges between the fields.
Squatting on the ground, Meng Qing shook a wheat stalk in her hand, her eyes sparkling brightly.
“Brother, I want to bring the prettiest stalk home for Little Sister and Little Brother.”
Meng Wei glanced at it, then carefully picked out another beautiful stalk.
“Let’s go home and show them to Little Sister and Little Brother.”
The two children exchanged a grin and sprinted toward home.
Meng Qiushi looked up and smiled faintly. He’d never expected the children to earn work points anyway. If they wanted to play, then let them play.
The children from the eldest and second branches obediently continued picking wheat stalks. They watched Meng Wei and Meng Qing’s running figures with envy.
They wanted to play too.
Meng Yu was drifting drowsily toward sleep when the door suddenly burst open and Meng Wei and Meng Qing rushed in, sweating heavily.
“You little monkeys, why are you running so fast?” Xu Chunhua said heartfully as she wiped the sweat from their faces with a handkerchief.
“I’ll make you each a bowl of malted milk.”
While Xu Chunhua prepared the malted milk, Meng Wei and Meng Qing waved the wheat stalks in front of Meng Yu and Meng Che.
Meng Yu instantly perked up and stretched out her arms, trying to grab the golden stalks.
“Little Sister likes my wheat stalk!” Meng Qing squealed excitedly.
Meng Wei immediately moved the stalk in front of Meng Che over to Meng Yu instead.
Meng Yu smiled brightly, clutching a stalk in each hand.
“Since Little Sister likes them, let her keep them,” Meng Wei said, placing the stalks on Meng Yu’s chest.
“The malted milk’s ready. Come drink it,” Xu Chunhua called softly.
Imitating her brother, Meng Qing also placed her stalk on Meng Yu’s chest before turning and throwing herself into Xu Chunhua’s arms to drink the sweet, fragrant malted milk.
“Drink some plain water afterward too. Don’t let anyone smell it on you,” Xu Chunhua reminded gently while fixing Meng Qing’s little braids.
Meng Wei and Meng Qing were bursting with energy. After finishing the malted milk and some water, they wiped their mouths and ran out again.
Xu Chunhua watched the children leave with a smile before returning inside and closing the door.
Meanwhile, Meng Yu quietly seized the chance to place the two wheat stalks into her spatial storage.
Xu Chunhua never noticed the missing stalks. Seeing that the two little babies had already fallen asleep, she yawned and closed her eyes as well.
Floating within the space, Meng Yu used her thoughts to shake the wheat seeds loose into the soil.
Clapping her little hands, she turned around and saw the ground covered with eggs. She could almost smell the delicious scent of steamed egg custard.
That evening, after returning home, Meng Qiushi washed up and lay face-down on the bed while Xu Chunhua sat on his legs massaging his lower back.
Meng Wei and Meng Qing sat on either side, massaging his arms.
After an entire harvest season, Meng Qiushi groaned, “My back’s probably going to ache for half a month.”
“Dad, I’ll massage you more,” Meng Qing said in her soft childish voice, pressing even harder.
Meng Wei stayed silent but sped up his movements.
Meng Qiushi chuckled and rubbed Meng Qing’s head. “My good daughter, you have to study hard in the future. Don’t end up digging in the dirt like your dad.”
Meng Qing shook her head. “Dad’s amazing. You can get us lots of yummy food.”
Praised by his daughter, Meng Qiushi beamed even brighter. “That’s right. I’m smarter and more capable than most people.”
Meng Yu tightly clutched a spiritual medicine in her hand. So far, she had only given the medicine to Xu Chunhua.
Once Meng Qiushi had rested enough, he sat up and picked Meng Yu up, bouncing her lightly in his arms.
“My little darling, little Yu’er’s gained weight.”
Meng Yu stared at him, clearly seeing the bluish stubble on his chin and the exhaustion covering his face.
Just as Meng Qiushi leaned in to kiss her, Meng Yu seized the opportunity to shove her tiny hand into his mouth.
The spiritual medicine melted instantly upon contact. Meng Qiushi didn’t notice anything. Instead, he held her little hand and gave it a playful suck.
Her hand covered in slobber, Meng Yu tilted her head lifelessly in despair.
The next morning, Meng Qiushi woke feeling completely refreshed, as though he had been reborn.
When he went to work in the fields, he deliberately slowed himself down. Everyone else was exhausted and working more slowly too. If he alone kept up his normal pace, it would be too suspicious.