Free Web NovelChapter 420: Chapter 221: A Beautiful Life
Qingmu laughed. "I only asked you for a hand, but you’re the one who’s come out ahead! Just look at this path—it’s half again as long as the one to my house."
Zhang Huai smiled, his lips pressed in a thin line. "Then just think of it as helping me. I’ll owe you one!" With that, he swung his hoe with all his might, first breaking the soil and then quickly scooping out the loose earth to form a shallow trench.
He worked with his head down, utterly focused, his movements quick and skillful. It was as if he weren’t building a simple path, but undertaking a major construction project. The truth was, he had long wanted to improve this area, but many things couldn’t be done until the house was built. On top of that, he was incredibly busy with farm work and squeezing in time to study, leaving him with hardly a moment to catch his breath.
He was delighted to finally squeeze in some free time to start on this tree-lined path. After all, digging the path was the easy part, but the trees had to be planted as soon as possible. Otherwise, it would take them another three to five years before they could provide any shade!
Once the trench was ready, Qingmu and Zhang Huai hoisted bamboo baskets onto their shoulders and began hauling small, round stones from a more distant part of the riverbank, dumping them into the channel.
Juhua happily swung her hoe and said to the two boys, "You two just worry about hauling the pebbles. Mom and I can spread them level—that part doesn’t take much strength. Afterward, when you’re finished, you can go over it with the stone roller to make the path even more solid."
Qingmu nodded and added, "Just focus on spreading the pebbles out, and be sure to pick out any sharp ones—they’ll tear up your shoes. All you need to do is make it level with the ground next to it. We’ll take care of the rest after we’re done hauling."
Yang Family chuckled and said, "Do you think you need to teach me that? I know what to do. Your sister and I can only spread the pebbles flat; we don’t have the strength to pack them down. You two, hurry up and get hauling. Let’s try to get both these paths finished today."
She also considered the path to Zhang Huai’s future home very important—after all, that was the path her daughter would one day walk. The thought made her so happy that she worked alongside the young people with gusto, not feeling the least bit tired despite having spent so many days transplanting rice seedlings.
Being strong young men, they were incredibly efficient. After about ten trips back and forth hauling pebbles, Qingmu and Zhang Huai had already finished paving the path in front of Juhua’s house.
As Juhua and Yang Family used their hoes and shovels to spread the piles of pebbles level, a grayish-white path began to take shape. It stretched in a straight line from their courtyard gate toward the river. Though it wasn’t yet lined with rows of willows and fruit trees, the path, nestled between patches of green grass, had a charm all its own.
Qingmu and Zhang Huai had already stripped down to their thin inner shirts, yet their backs were drenched in sweat, and more of it streamed down their foreheads. Far from feeling exhausted, they looked at the path taking shape and felt a surge of motivation, wishing they could pave both paths and plant all the trees in one go.
Watching the two industrious young men, Juhua’s heart filled with warmth. She ran back to the house, fetched two dry cotton towels, and brought them to Qingmu and Zhang Huai. "Use these to wipe away the sweat," she urged. "If you sweat this much and let the wind chill you, you’ll get sick!"
Qingmu eagerly took it, wiped his face, and draped the towel around his neck. His flushed face was practically steaming. He then accepted the hot tea from Yang Family, tilted his head back, and GULP, GULP, GULP, downed the whole thing. "Ahh, that hits the spot!" he exclaimed with a grin.
Zhang Huai wiped the sweat from his face with the towel and also drank two cups of hot tea. He looked at the new pebble path emerging from the grass, then turned his smiling gaze to Juhua. ’An indescribable joy filled his heart!’
Juhua felt his gaze and looked up. A fresh sheen of sweat was already beading on the face he had just wiped. His tanned cheeks were flushed with a genuinely happy smile. He was looking at her, his eyes sparkling, his gaze filled with pure delight!
’In that moment, she felt they had grown even closer, as if they were sharing in the joy of building their home. Watching their surroundings change day by day, she knew this land now held their dreams and hopes, their sweat and their laughter.’
’He and her brother were laboring with all their might, while she supported them from behind, bringing tea and towels. Everything felt so harmonious, so natural. It was a different kind of "the man plows and the woman weaves," the fundamental rhythm of life in the countryside.’
’It suddenly struck her as absurd. Here she was, a woman who had lived two lives, scrutinizing this farm boy with such a cautious and skeptical gaze. It was laughable—he, or any of the other boys in this village for that matter, wouldn’t waste their energy trying to hide their true feelings.’
’A farmer’s joys and desires are always written plainly on their face!’
These thoughts flashed through her mind, softening her heart. She smiled and asked, "Are you two hungry? How about I make some soup to go with a bowl of crispy rice for you?"
Before Qingmu could say a word, Zhang Huai nodded eagerly. "Yes! I wasn’t hungry, but now that you mention it, I am. I’d love a bowl of crispy rice. Don’t bother with soup; just boiling some water to soak it in will be fine. It’s great with a bit of chili paste."
Seeing Juhua looking at him with a knowing smile, he realized he had been a bit too eager and rubbed his head, laughing shyly.
Qingmu chimed in, "I’d like some too. I wasn’t really hungry either, but after working and sweating this much, my stomach feels all empty. It’d be good to have something to put in it."
Zhang Huai nodded vigorously, confirming that was exactly how he felt.
Juhua suppressed a smile. "Alright, I’ll go get it ready. I’ll call you when it’s done."
Hearing their conversation, Yang Family put down her shovel and stopped Juhua. "I’ll go make it, you get some rest. And you two," she said to the boys, "take a break as well. Don’t work yourselves into the ground." With that, she hurried into the courtyard.
Feeling for her children, she beat several eggs and made a soup with tender Little Cabbage seedlings. She also boiled a few salted duck eggs before calling Qingmu and the others back to eat.
After finishing this meal, which was too late for lunch and too early for dinner, they all went back out to work. Yang Family, meanwhile, remained at home to cook supper and feed the pigs and chickens. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
