"Big shot's back, are we?"
"Even from two miles away, you could hear the villagers calling your name."
"From now on, when we three go out, we'll have plenty of face."
Shen Xue teased her husband, Chen Yang, who had rushed back in the dark.
"What's wrong? You don't like it that your man has the ability to bring you face?"
Chen Yang entered the house and helped Shen Xue, who was heavily pregnant, to sit on a stool.
"Of course not. I've kept your food warm, waiting for my 'big face' to come back and eat."
"The dishes in the pot are hot. We haven't eaten yet, so we served yours first. The rice is also hot."
Shen Xue gestured towards the stove, still steaming, her concern evident on her face.
"Do you want me to help you back to your room to rest? Where are the two little ones?"
What man wouldn't feel a warmth in his heart upon seeing his wife's hot, home-cooked meal waiting for him?
"Mom and Dad are taking them to bathe. Don't worry about them. It's been so long since you've seen the children, let them have them today."
"Eat quickly. I'll watch you eat."
Shen Xue gently stroked her belly. As it grew larger day by day, her maternal glow intensified.
"Then I'll eat, just don't drool."
Chen Yang used a rag to lift the pot lid and brought the dishes from the pot to the table.
Spicy stir-fried salted duck, fermented fish, and a simple stir-fried green vegetable. A portion of each was left for Chen Yang.
Holding the fragrant white rice and picking up a piece of the spicy salted duck, Chen Yang took a large bite of rice. He had to admit, after a whole day of traveling and not eating properly, he was truly hungry.
"Eat slowly, don't choke. There's boiled water in the cup next to you."
Shen Xue watched her man devour his meal, her eyes filled with happiness.
Chen Yang finished his bowl of rice in no time and then placed his bowls and chopsticks in the hot water in the pot, adding two scoops of cold water to rinse them.
"Have you washed up?"
Chen Yang looked at his wife, who was starting to doze off. This silly woman insisted on staying up to eat with him, even though she was so sleepy.
"I've washed. Oh, I can't anymore. I'm suddenly so sleepy. I need to go back to bed."
Shen Xue yawned. Pregnant women are like that; when sleepiness hits, they can fall asleep as soon as they lie down.
"Let me help you back to bed. I need to take a shower, I'm all sweaty."
He helped Shen Xue back to the room and tucked her in. Chen Yang then tiptoed out.
As he emerged, he noticed Zhang Dabiao sitting on his yard wall.
"Dabiao, what are you doing?"
Chen Yang, now full, didn't rush to shower and walked over to see Zhang Dabiao.
"Boss, I'm keeping watch. Observing the terrain, so if anyone tries anything, I can detect it immediately."
Seeing how dedicated Zhang Dabiao was, Chen Yang didn't want to disturb him. He instructed him to keep a good watch and sleep early, and didn't say anything more.
Chen Yang had great faith in the villagers. If he couldn't trust them, there wouldn't be many people he could trust.
After a brief stroll and seeing his two little ones being bundled up and carried into the house by his in-laws, Chen Yang finally started to boil water for a bath.
Although it was almost the vernal equinox, the nights were still a bit cool; it wasn't quite warm enough for a cold shower.
By the time Chen Yang finished his bath, Shen Xue was already asleep. Her belly was getting bigger each day, and she could no longer sleep lying flat. Chen Yang had to massage her back from time to time.
His wife lay on her side. He gently placed an extra pillow to prop her up a bit, which would make Shen Xue more comfortable.
Holding Shen Xue from behind, Chen Yang soon drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Chen Yang was awakened by the crowing of the rooster in the yard as soon as dawn broke.
He glanced beside him. Shen Xue was still fast asleep. After the initial insomnia and restlessness she experienced earlier, she was now becoming increasingly sleepy.
"Daddy, Grandma said we're having stewed chicken with mushrooms today."
As soon as Chen Yang stepped out of the room, he saw the two little ones already playing enthusiastically in the yard. The toddler, seeing him emerge, quickly ran over and threw herself into his arms.
"Then Yan Yan and Hao Hao should eat more, so you can grow up quickly."
He ruffled his daughter's hair, then set her down to play with Chen Hao. He then went to wash up.
Yesterday, the fish ponds had been divided, and the fry were also mostly allocated. They were still being kept in the ponds. Today, the seedlings needed to be planted in the fields, after which fish could be introduced.
"After eating, the two of us will go to work. Can you lead that young man to work? Have your mother stay home to look after the two little ones and Xue Yātou."
Shen Futang downed a bowl of congee with gusto. Today was seedling planting day, and he certainly couldn't lag behind the team.
"Uncle, I can work. But the land we have back home doesn't grow rice, so I'll have to learn a bit later."
Zhang Dabiao was also holding a large bowl, eating even more heartily than Shen Futang.
In the army before, the mess hall sergeant used to say that he alone could eat as much as a whole squad. And that was him holding back, otherwise, he'd eat straight from the pot.
"Alright. Mother will stay home to supervise the workers, and the three of us will go to the fields to plant rice."
Working wasn't something that happened every day; it would be done within these busy few days.
Although he didn't care much about these work points, his father-in-law had promised, so he couldn't refuse.
In a few days, after the seedlings were planted, he would definitely have to focus on revising. If he failed the exam, it would be a disaster.
Chen Yang quickly brushed his teeth and washed his face, then also had a bowl of congee and an extra steamed bun. He had no choice; transplanting seedlings was a physically demanding job. If you don't eat enough, you'll have to bend over to plant them.
If you get so hungry that your vision blurs and you fall into the muddy field, no one will notice, and you might even die. There were past lessons learned from this.
He followed his father-in-law to the field, picked up the seedlings, and headed straight for the three mu of land at the east end of the village. Today, the task for the three of them was these three mu of land.
He took off his shoes, rolled up his trouser legs, and stepped into the muddy field. The feeling of the soil clinging to his legs was quite pleasant.
Of course, this was under the condition that there were no leeches in the field. If there were leeches, it would be extremely painful.
What rural child hasn't experienced the terror of leeches in their childhood?
These things, once attached to you, can't be easily removed. They drain blood relentlessly. Even if you tear them off, the remaining half can still continue to suck blood.
Chen Yang started planting quite quickly at first, arranging the seedlings row by row quite neatly. Later, he discovered that his back felt as if it had been beaten; he couldn't straighten up once he bent down.
Transplanting seedlings is also a skill. Some people plant them perfectly straight, while others plant them crookedly.
Chen Yang's skill was barely enough to get the seedlings into the ground. As for their appearance, it was simply unsightly.
Even his father-in-law shook his head. His son-in-law was good in all other aspects, but his agricultural work was truly lacking.
However, it couldn't be blamed on him. After all, his son-in-law came from the city. For an educated youth sent to the countryside, being able to work in the fields diligently was already quite good; what more could you expect?