Reborn with a Space: Building a Fortune Amidst Famine

Chapter 855: Chapter 855: Autumn Harvest

The two sisters heard their little sister crying and immediately ran out.

With no one else at home, the two sisters took their little sister out to work with them.

Zhao Xiaole skillfully fed their little sister some water.

Zhao Xiaoling saw that her little sister was fine, and packed the cotton from the shoulder bag and the basket into a burlap sack.

"Xiaole, I’ll go work now."

"Sis, wait for me a bit. I’ll carry Little Hong and let her stay in the basket, so we can be at ease."

The two sisters went into the cotton field. Actually, Zhao Qingxiang didn’t want them to work so hard. Although the family hired some workers this year, both girls felt sorry for their parents and wanted to save money for the family, so they thought they could do more work to reduce labor costs.

Besides, picking cotton wasn’t too tiring, just a bit prickly.

The two sisters worked until it was too dark to see, and their little sister in the basket fell asleep, so they returned from the field. They harnessed the cart at home to carry the cotton from the field.

Zhao Qingxiang had just arrived home as well. "You two rest at home, I’ll go get it."

"Dad, you’re too tired."

"It’s okay. The pigs and chickens at home haven’t been fed yet either." Zhao Qingxiang felt sorry for his two sensible daughters.

The sisters didn’t argue further. Zhao Xiaoling went to boil water and cook, while Zhao Xiaole fed the pigs, as the chicken feed had already been filled at noon.

Sun Yun also came back from the wheat field, seeing the two girls working, "Why haven’t you cooked yet? You just eat for free."

In truth, she didn’t dare to say anything harsher.

The two sisters didn’t dare to retort, they simply spun around in busyness. Little Hong sat on a bench in the yard.

The two daughters remained silent, yet Sun Yun was still dissatisfied, "You are worthless. Don’t you know to save money for your little brother in the future? Want to go to school, do you even think you have such a destiny?"

Zhao Xiaoling held back tears and said nothing, the corn cakes were already steaming. Since there was meat at home, she cut a piece to stew with potatoes.

Sun Yun stood in the yard cursing. Since her husband wasn’t home, she took the opportunity to vent her anger.

Just as she was in the middle of her rant, Zhao Qingxiang returned with the cart.

Sun Yun stopped swearing. "You take a break."

"This was picked by Xiaoling and her sister."

Sun Yun felt embarrassed and helped unload the cart.

The dishes were also simmering in the pot, Zhao Xiaoling quickly fetched water to bathe her little sister, knowing that soon the child would be ready to eat and sleep.

Zhao Qingxiang watched his two daughters, noting that they never seemed to have a moment’s rest, and felt deeply upset inside. His eldest daughter had been cooking since she was four, barely reaching the stove, standing on a little stool to cook.

The second daughter also began following her elder sister to work since the age of four.

The two daughters never rested and still had to look after the little sister.

He was very proud of such responsible daughters. They were his pride.

Zhao Xiaole prepared hot water for her parents, for they too needed to bathe.

By the time the cornbread and potatoes were ready, Zhao Xiaoling served a bowl of potatoes and four large cornbreads to take to her grandparents.

"Xiaoling, I’ll go."

"Dad, take a rest. I can handle it." Her father was truly exhausted, and as he was so good to them, she felt compassion for him and wanted him to rest a bit more.

Zhao Xiaole fed her little sister, taking a few bites herself when she could.

Sun Yun ate alone, completely ignoring her youngest daughter, who wasn’t even two years old yet. But she rarely took care of her.

Zhao Qingxiang had already gotten used to this. He occasionally fed the little daughter a few bites and even added a couple of pieces of meat for the second daughter. "Xiaole, have some meat."

"Okay, Dad."

Though she said this, she didn’t actually eat it.

Zhao Xiaoling arrived at her grandparents’ house with a basket.

Zhao Tian and his wife, being elderly, had just laid down on the kang bed, planning to cook once they had rested enough.

"Grandma and Grandpa, I’ve brought you some food."

An Lixia struggled to sit up.

"Grandma, don’t get up. I’ll place the food on the table for you, you eat first."

Zhao Tian looked at his eldest granddaughter, wondering how this child could be so considerate. No, he had to tell his daughters that they should care more for this girl.

Zhao Xiaoling set the table for the elderly couple, also served some bean paste, pickles, and picked a few green onions.

"Grandpa and Grandma, please eat, I’ll head back now."

"Be careful. No need to always bring us food."

Zhao Xiaoling just smiled, said nothing, and turned to run back.

"This child, so considerate," An Lixia said while eating.

"Indeed. When National Day and Xiao Bing come over, we must tell them to look out for Xiaoling more.

She’s just this big, doing all sorts of chores, not even willing to drive the car over."

"Yes, we must tell them. Sun Yun is good in every other way, except she disregards her own daughter."

"It’s okay; we can still manage, and we will save more for Xiaoling and Xiaole."

After finishing their meal, the old couple tidied up. The livestock at home hadn’t been fed or cleaned yet, and after a full day’s work, it felt uncomfortable not to clean themselves up.

By the time Zhao Xiaoling got home, everyone had nearly finished eating, leaving over half a bowl of potatoes and a big cornbread for her.

"Sister, eat quickly, I’ll put Little Hong to sleep. I’ll take care of the table later."

Zhao Qingxiang handed an onion to his daughter, "Xiaoling, hurry up and eat."

"Mom, Dad, you go to sleep. I’ll clean everything once I’ve finished eating."

She knew that they needed to start harvesting corn the next day, set to begin at four in the morning.

Just after Zhao Xiaoling finished eating, Zhao Xiaole emerged, having left the four pieces of meat from her bowl, and together they had two each.

In reality, she knew two of those pieces must have been saved by her sister for her.

After eating, they quickly cleaned up, and Zhao Xiaoling even set some dough to rise, planning to steam buns the next morning.

The two sisters didn’t know when they eventually got on the kang bed, but they managed to change and put their little sister to bed.

Hearing some noise, Zhao Xiaoling struggled to open her eyes, exhausted. What ten-year-old girl wouldn’t crave sleep?

Yet she painstakingly got up, making sure to move quietly, as her second sister was also utterly worn out.

"Xiaoling, go back to sleep," Zhao Qingxiang felt deeply pity seeing his eldest daughter up so early.

"Dad, it’s okay. I’ll start cooking, and then I’ll bring it to you."

"There’s no rush. Go back to sleep a bit more."

At this time, Sun Yun also got up and, as a mother, said nothing.

"Mom, Dad, I’m fine. Once the food is ready, I’ll bring it to you both."

Zhao Qingxiang and his wife took the sickle and left. Zhao Xiaoling began cooking, with the dough already risen; she decided to pick some leeks and also used some shrimp shells given by her aunt to steam some vegetable buns.

Zhao Xiaoling worked quickly, and an hour later, the buns were steaming on the stove, and immediately she turned to cook food for the pigs, and also prepare chicken feed.

At that moment, Zhao Xiaole got up too, hastily taking over the work from her elder sister.