When Mrs. Yang arrived at the fields, she worked while carefully repeating to Zheng Changhe and their son everything Juhua had just told her.
Zheng Changhe listened, his heart aching for his daughter, but he was also deeply moved.
He said, "Alright! We'll listen to our daughter this time and get two more piglets. Let's finish up early today; this plot is mostly cleared anyway. Once we're done harvesting the corn on the west plot, we can prepare all the land at once and start digging holes to plant wheat. This evening, I'll go home and weave a shrimp net for our girl. Qingmu, from now on, you'll help your sister catch some fish and shrimp in the mornings and evenings so she can eat something nice for a change—our girl has had it rough lately."
Qingmu mumbled a quiet, "Mhm," in response.
That afternoon, Zheng Changhe did indeed finish work early. He made a detour to the other side of Little Qing Mountain and came back with some freshly cut bamboo.
He moved a small stool into the courtyard and sat down. Using a hooked knife, he split the green bamboo and carefully shaved the pieces into thin strips. He then wove the strips into a dustpan-like scoop, though it was bigger and deeper than a regular one. Finally, he tied a long bamboo pole to the top—and there it was, a shrimp net. You could use it to scoop up fish and shrimp right from the riverbank.
He wasn't a professional bamboo weaver, but he was a farmer. As long as a tool wasn't too complicated, farmers made most of their own things. It just had to be functional; it's not like he was going to sell it!
The setting sun stained half the sky red, its light illuminating Zheng Changhe's earnest, focused face. He spat into his palm and rubbed the shrimp net. There was only a little left to do. His ten fingers flew, constantly turning the net as he performed the final finishing touches.
When Qingmu got home, he saw his sister digging for earthworms by the firewood pile at the side of the house. He quickly went over and started helping her without a word.
Juhua was naturally happy to see him helping. "You're back, Brother!" she called out. "Are you tired? Why don't you rest for a bit?"
"Not tired!" It was as if Qingmu had to squeeze the words out; he was very sparing with them.
Juhua didn't mind. 'Less talk is good. It makes him seem profound!'
The two siblings buried their heads in their work, digging for earthworms. They first put them in a broken clay pot, then poured the wriggling, soft-bodied creatures onto the manure pile Juhua had gathered that afternoon.
Juhua asked Qingmu, "Brother, do you think this will work? I specially dug up the soil from under the firewood pile. It's soft and moist, and I mixed in a lot of rotten grass and leaves."
Qingmu took a serious look and, for him, uttered a long sentence: "I think it'll work. Isn't this exactly the kind of place earthworms love to burrow in?" He had also grown up playing in the mud and naturally knew their habits. Besides, he used to dig for earthworms all the time to go fishing when he was a boy.
After a moment's thought, he added, "Tomorrow, I'll move this firewood pile. That bottom layer of rotten grass and mud will be perfect for raising these earthworms."
Seeing he'd gotten her point exactly, Juhua couldn't help but smile, pressing her lips together. 'This brother of mine is a smart one; he gets it instantly!'
During dinner, Mrs. Yang brought up Juhua's afternoon plans again, and the family launched into a lively discussion. Of course, it was mostly Zheng Changhe and his wife talking; Qingmu and his sister didn't say much.
Mrs. Yang and her husband decided to go to the market tomorrow to get the piglets. Qingmu would also get up early to help his sister gather pig feed.
Zheng Changhe then said that starting tonight, he would begin clearing the patch of wasteland by the outhouse to plant some things. He could dig a little each evening; it was right outside their door, so he could just come in and sleep when he got tired.
"That plot of land was originally set aside for Qingmu to build a house on. But we don't have the money to build a house right now anyway. It's just sitting idle, so we might as well clear it and plant something. At least we'll get some kind of harvest."
As he spoke, he praised Juhua for being so sensible. A kind, simple smile appeared on his benevolent face. He felt his daughter was just so capable.
Seeing her family so cooperative, Juhua smiled faintly, completely forgetting about the scar on her face.
The next morning, Qingmu woke up just as the sky began to lighten.
He slept in the main hall. His bed was a simple cooling platform used in the summer, with a thick layer of straw spread over it and a thin quilt on top.
Juhua got up soon after.
After hastily washing their faces and braiding her hair, Qingmu took his sister to the banks of the Little Qing River to cut pig feed. He also carried the shrimp net, planning to catch shrimp after they were done.
The riverbank was quiet in the early morning. Wisps of thin mist drifted like light smoke, and the river flowed silently, winding its way east. Dewdrops clung to the wild vegetables and weeds, and the small wild chrysanthemums looked especially fresh and pleasant.
Cutting pig feed was actually very simple; you just had to cut the wild vegetables that still had green leaves. Pigs would eat anything; they weren't picky.
However, they wouldn't be able to do this for many more days. The plants were already turning yellow, and the bleakness of autumn was fast approaching.
Her brother Qingmu was a down-to-earth person who worked without a word of complaint, putting his all into it. With him doing the heavy lifting, Juhua wasn't worried about her own slower pace.
Looking at the pig feed piling up in the basket, she stretched her back. 'I'm exhausted! Waking up this early, my eyes are barely even open! Besides, I'm not the original owner of this body. I haven't done this kind of work in years. And this body itself is actually very frail.'
Qingmu glanced at his sister and quickened his pace. 'If I do more, she can do less!'
When the sun had risen, Qingmu said to Juhua, "Juhua, that's enough. Let's go catch some shrimp!" As he spoke, he piled the pig feed into the basket, pressed it down firmly, and secured it with two thin hemp ropes crisscrossed to prevent it from falling out when he carried it on his shoulder pole later.
Juhua immediately perked up when she heard that. 'This is a job I actually like!'
She eagerly shouldered the shrimp net and ran toward the river, calling back to Qingmu in a crisp voice, "Brother, I'm heading over first! You come soon!"
Qingmu shouted from behind, "Wait for me! What's the rush? Be careful you don't fall in the river!" His hands moved even faster, and in a few quick movements, he had tied up the two baskets of pig feed securely. Then he chased after Juhua to the riverbank.
Seeing Juhua clumsily holding the bamboo pole, about to push it into the river, Qingmu walked up and took the net from her. "Let me do it," he said. "This is heavy; you can't lift it."
As he spoke, he cast the net far out, then slowly dragged it back toward the bank. When he reached a spot with aquatic plants, he pressed down hard, since shrimp usually hid among the roots.
Juhua's eyes were fixed on the shrimp net, eager to see what this first haul would bring.
When Qingmu lifted the net and dragged it ashore, the woven bamboo basket was a scene of lively chaos: small fish flopped over, flashing their white bellies; shrimp of all sizes arched their backs and jumped nonstop; and mixed in were a few black beetles and several small loaches.
Juhua, grinning from ear to ear, started picking out the shrimp and small fish and putting them into a bamboo creel.
But the few loaches were impossible to catch. They kept squirming, slippery and slimy, and in the end, she had to scoop them up with both hands to put them in the creel.
Qingmu helped her sort them, and the two siblings would occasionally look at each other and smile.
Juhua noticed that her brother was much more animated around her. Though he still didn't say much, he was clearly more relaxed and affectionate with her than with anyone else, even their parents.
It made sense. The siblings had a very good relationship. In Juhua's memory, the original owner of this body had also been very dependent on her older brother!
Next, Qingmu specifically targeted areas thick with aquatic plants, and sure enough, he caught a lot more fish and shrimp.
Juhua asked, "Brother, is it easier to catch them in the morning?"
Qingmu replied, "Of course. In the morning, the shrimp come up to get the dew. Once the sun comes out, they sink to the bottom. It's also good to catch them in the evening."
Juhua watched her brother, his hands constantly busy, his expression earnest and focused. He had a square-jawed face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. His lips, which rarely spoke, were pressed into a firm line. If you had to use one word to describe him, it would be "cool"! Even in patched-up coarse cloth clothes, his posture was tall and straight, and he had a heroic air about him!
'Whoever marries my brother will be very lucky,' she thought. 'He's handsome and has a good temper, too.'
When Qingmu saw his sister watching him, he looked up and gave her a brilliant smile, revealing a set of straight, white teeth. Juhua returned his smile with a wide one of her own, not at all self-conscious about the scar on her face.
Qingmu had gotten used to seeing his sister's face, so he didn't find her smile frightening. In fact, he felt that when she smiled like this, she was genuinely happy.
'Poor girl,' he thought. 'Because of her face, she rarely even goes into the village and just stays at home all day.'
He secretly made a resolution to take his sister out to fish and catch shrimp more often in the future. When winter came, he would take her up the mountain to catch rabbits. He could tell his sister enjoyed these kinds of activities.
After a busy morning, it was time to head home. Qingmu walked in front, carrying a large load of pig feed on a shoulder pole, while Juhua followed behind, shouldering the shrimp net and carrying the creel on her back. The creel, of course, was filled with a considerable catch.
On the way, a short, stout woman—waddling like an old duck with her plump bottom—was walking toward Little Qing Mountain carrying a basket. Seeing Qingmu, she called out enthusiastically, "Qingmu! Out gathering pig feed?"
Qingmu grunted, "Mhm," and walked past her without even looking up.
Juhua glanced over and saw that it was Gou Dan's mother. Her chubby face was wreathed in smiles, and she seemed to hold Qingmu in very high regard.
Juhua didn't say anything either. She just gave the woman a look and walked past. After all, her reputation was that of a quiet girl.
'Why is this woman so friendly to my brother?' she wondered. 'Trying to cozy up to him?'
Gou Dan's mother watched the siblings' retreating backs, secretly plotting to matchmake her niece for Qingmu. He was a top-notch young man. If she weren't afraid that having her own daughter marry so close to home would cause trouble, she would have wanted to marry Meizi to him.
There was just one problem. It looked like this Juhua girl would never be able to marry. When her niece married into the family, would she be expected to support her sister-in-law for the rest of her life?
'Hmm, I'll have to find a way to marry Juhua off first,' she thought. 'That way, when my niece marries over, there won't be an eyesore in the way.'
Musing all the way, she continued up the mountain to deliver a meal.