The Daily Life of Farming and Raising Children in Ancient Mountain Residences

Chapter 40 2/2

Then, pointing to where she stood, she said, “The space between my current grass hut and the west courtyard wall, the position we are standing in, I want to build a gate here, which will be the gate between the front and back courtyards. What do you think, Grandpa?”

Chen Youtian glanced at Sang Luo. Most rural families had a few rooms and a courtyard wall surrounding the house. They rarely had a separate front and back courtyard, let alone a separate gate between them.

However, thinking of Sang Luo’s tofu-making process, which they didn’t understand, perhaps she needed a secluded place to work with materials. He didn’t say much, just nodded and said, “Alright, if you need some simple woodworking done, I can help you. If you don’t mind it being a bit rough, the doors he makes may not be as pretty, but they’ll be sturdy and practical.”

This was like finding money falling from the sky. Sang Luo wouldn’t mind at all. She smiled and said to Chen Youtian, “Thank you so much, Uncle Arita.”

Chen Youtian waved his hand modestly. “It’s not a big deal. As long as you don’t mind it being a bit rough.”

Thinking of the time when the Shen family split up, it seemed they hadn’t received anything from their family. He added, “While we’re at it, think about what else you might need, and I’ll make them for you. Do you need tables and chairs?”

“We don’t have them, Uncle Arita. Your help is greatly appreciated. To be honest, we either stand or squat to eat every day. We really need them. Also, if you have time, see if you can help make a small bed. Once the kitchen is built, we won’t need the makeshift kitchen in our current house anymore. I plan to dismantle it and use reed mats to divide the space inside and outside. Then, Shen An can live in the outer room.”

According to his virtual age, Shen An was already nine years old. How could he still sleep with his sister and brother-in-law? This was just a rural area where conditions were hard, and no one cared about these things. But having a separate space was necessary under such conditions.

So, Sang Luo asked Chen Youtian to help build a bed, and Chen Youtian, who never refused a request, agreed readily.

Sang Luo was quite pleased. Although she didn’t subscribe to the theory of separate seating for boys and girls at seven, having better living conditions was certainly desirable within the existing circumstances.

But in that narrow bed, with three people squeezed onto it, truth be told, there wasn’t enough room to turn over. One wrong move, and you’d end up on the floor. After sleeping on it for a night, every bone in your body would ache.

As for where Shen An would live once he grew bigger, it wouldn’t be for long. Sang Luo planned to fill in a spacious plot of land next year on the lower terrain to the west and move the western courtyard wall outward. Then, she would build another room, dividing it into two smaller rooms so the siblings could have their own space.

But for now, there was no need to fuss. With the busy farming season approaching, Sang Luo was grateful enough for the help from the Chen, Shi, and Lu families to build the kitchen and walls. She couldn’t ask for more, as expanding the land was no small task.

Furthermore, Sang Luo couldn’t afford to delay the construction for too long. The money earned each day was limited, and expenses were everywhere. She still needed to store food for autumn and winter, and there were clothes and bedding to buy for the three of them.

After finishing the rounds, all the places where lines needed to be buried were neatly done. Just as Qin Fangniang came up the mountain, calling everyone down for dinner,.

As evening approached, a group of men, exhausted from a day’s work, were all starving. After a quick wash by the mountain spring, they hurried down the mountain. Sang Luo didn’t rush to join them but went back to the house, waiting for everyone to leave before heading down to wash up and eat.

Chen Ershan and the little girl followed their mother down the mountain first. The three Shen brothers were still very excited, jumping around the stone lines buried by the adults.

As Shen Jin wandered, he admired, “Shen An, this is what your house will look like. Your sister-in-law is really good to you, even letting Uncle Arita make a bed just for you.”

Shen An’s lips curled up with pride, but then he became cautious. “I know my sister-in-law is good to me. I don’t need you to tell me.”

Don’t think he didn’t know. Shen Jin would occasionally bring snacks home, especially meat and pastries, which he coveted.

He glanced disdainfully at Shen Jin. “Besides, it’s not like your parents didn’t give you a bed to sleep in.”

Shen Jin raised his voice and said, “So what? The four of us siblings sleep together, and Tianya still wets the bed. It’s not like having a bed all to yourself is better.”

Thinking about Shen Tian wetting the bed twice a night, Shen An remained silent.

But Shen Jin was typical of someone who always admired what others had. The third aunt was a bit strict, but she was still good to Shen Jin and his siblings. Shen An had always envied the affection Shen Jin and his siblings received from their parents.

While he was lost in thought, Shen Jin had already circled around the kitchen, bathhouse, front yard, and backyard and had come back to Shen An. His eyes were shining brightly. “Shen An, Shen An, your house will take quite some time to build, right? Can it be built in a month?”

That hopeful look.

Shen An:…

“So are you hoping for meat every day?” Shen An rolled his eyes and pushed away the head that had come too close to him. “What are you daydreaming about? Let’s go home for dinner. We need to eat too.”

“If you don’t listen to me now, and your mother finds out you’ve been playing here with Xiao Yin and Xiao Tie, you’ll see if you get punished.”

Shen Jin pouted, still feeling sulky about the beating he received in the morning. “Do you think I’m stupid enough to stand there and get beaten? I’m not dumb like that. I only got caught by my mom this morning because I wasn’t prepared. Next time, see if she can catch me.”

Shen An looked at him, feeling quite pleased with himself.

After saying this, Shen Jin immediately returned to the main topic, with an unwilling expression on his face as he confirmed with Shen An, “Really, you won’t have meat every day? My dad said when Erniu was building the house, they had meat every day.”

Shen An didn’t know; he just said, “I don’t know, but even if there is meat, it won’t be big chunks like this every day.”

With just a few small pieces in the dish, kids like them might not even get one piece each. Who would give them a whole chunk?

Shen Jin felt a bit regretful and said, “Remember, if there’s meat, you have to save me half a bite to taste. I’ll come to work for you every day.”

Thinking about pastries again, his mouth watered. “If your sister-in-law buys pastries for you, leave me a bite too. I haven’t had any yet.”

Shen Ning, who was beside them, cut in, “You’re heartless. Where haven’t you eaten? My eldest brother used to give some to me and my second brother when he bought them. Xiao Tie is too young to eat, but you and Xiao Yin also had a share.”

Shen Jin and Shen Yin, who were playing with mud beside him, looked confused.

Shen Jin said, “Really? How come I don’t remember?”

Shen Ning pouted, “You never lack food, so why would you remember?”

Shen Jin’s internal warning radar immediately went up. He keenly sensed the resentment from his cousin. Thinking back to when they were at home, delicious treats were available for their siblings, but Shen An and Shen Ning might not have had the same. Instantly feeling guilty, he quickly surrendered.

“I’m younger than you. My mom says kids don’t remember things when they’re young. How many years ago was that? I was only a few years old back then. How could you blame me for not remembering?”

He tried to say, “I’ll share my food with you in the future. I’ve seen my mom’s oil jar; there’s not much oil left. Really, next time my mom renders oil, I’ll give some to you and Shen An. I promise.”

This led Shen Yin and Shen Tie, playing with mud behind them, to promise as well, “We’ll share ours with our sister and second brother too.”

Sang Luo couldn’t help but almost burst out laughing in the grass hut.

It was the first time she realized how amusing Shen Jin, this little rascal, could be. He was really determined for a mouthful of food, even resorting to flattery towards Shen Ning and promising to buy their favor.

This little rascal spent hours digging in the dirt here every day. Well, maybe tomorrow she should buy a pastry and bring it back to share with these little guys?

You reap what you sow. These little ones were quite determined, so perhaps they deserved a treat to reward their efforts.