CHAPTER 161: CHAPTER 161: THE HARVEST MOMENT ARRIVES

Before harvesting the rice, the water in the fields must be drained and dried for a few days. Once the rice is fully ripe, everyone starts working with great enthusiasm.

The fish caught earlier had already been sent to the restaurant by Jiang Hu in batches when delivering vegetables, at least the threshing tub was freed up.

Threshing rice is exhausting, and since the rice is ripe, it can’t be delayed; it needs to be brought in early.

So Jiang Hu asked Qixi to help him deliver vegetables for the next few days, while he stayed home to work.

Just after breakfast, when Xiaoxue was washing dishes, Jiang Hu and his wife took out the equipment.

Besides the threshing tub, there was also a high woven bamboo screen blocking the other three sides, preventing the rice from flying outside when tossed.

Just as everything was moved out, Liu Yang arrived.

"Brother Jiang, our family’s rice is still a bit green, so we’ll help harvest yours first today. Ours can wait a couple of days."

"That sounds great. Once we’re done, we’ll come to help you too."

Jiang Hu did not refuse. Over the years, the two families often worked together, not just once or twice.

In the past, it was mostly Liu Yang offering courtesies, but later the two families became closer and more familiar.

"Aren’t Xiaomi and Xiaoxue going to the fields? I’ll send Liu Qiang over later, and they can watch him for a while. Wang Xiang will also help."

Xiaomi hurried out of the house: "Uncle Liu, we are all going to help!"

Not only Xiaomi and Xiaoxue but also Tiedan and Liu Ze changed into practical clothes, with shorter, tighter pant legs and sleeves, convenient for work.

Liu Yang was a bit surprised: "You’re all going?"

Jiang Hu was also helpless: "I originally said they should stay at home, but all the kids want to go. They probably won’t get much done and will be tired soon."

Xiaomi pursed her lips, unable to argue.

Liu Yang laughed too: "Alright, I’ll just take Qiangzi to the fields as well, and when Xiaoxue and the others get tired, they can look after him."

Xiaomi sniffed, clearly dissatisfied: "Uncle Liu, we’re not going there to play!"

"Alright, alright, you’re not going to play. Then, when you get tired and take a break, can you help Uncle watch your little brother?"

Xiaomi sighed: "Alright then, let Tiedan accompany Qiangzi to play first."

Anyway, Tiedan can’t really contribute much work.

Liu Yang shook his head: "Brother Jiang, why is Xiaomi so smart? When my Liu Hai was over two years old, he couldn’t even speak clearly."

Jiang Hu smiled: "Isn’t Tiedan the same?"

Indeed, Liu Yang nodded silently; Xiaomi was an exception, most were like Tiedan.

Since Liu Yang was here, he didn’t rush to leave and helped Jiang Hu move the threshing tub to the fields.

Jiang Hu’s wife carried the bamboo screen, and the back basket and sickles were placed inside the threshing tub to be carried over together.

"Xiaomi, Brother Ze, when you cut the seedlings later, grab a little at a time. These seedlings are much harder than wild grass and not easy to cut. Be careful not to cut your arms."

Xiaoxue had helped cut rice last year, so she spoke from experience.

Before this, Xiaomi and Liu Ze had already practiced on wild grass in the wasteland, mainly learning how to use a sickle.

Xiaomi was okay, but Liu Ze was completely new to everything.

Xiaomi wasn’t listening at all, running to catch up with her parents, still making sure to call Tiedan not to lag behind.

Liu Ze nodded seriously: "Alright, Miss Xiaoxue, I will be careful."

Xiaoxue glanced at her sister, who had already run far ahead, and sighed gently: "Xiaomi, though very smart, it’s still her first time, and she’s not afraid at all."

Last year, she wasn’t stable with her strength while helping, and cut her arm with a sickle, slicing through her sleeve. Luckily, it only left a red mark on her arm, with no real injury.

Even so, she was frightened, which is why she warned the others, fearing they might be careless.

But Xiaoxue could tell at a glance that Xiaomi wasn’t even listening to her concerns!

Liu Ze, following beside Xiaoxue, saw her worried expression and couldn’t help reassuring her: "Don’t worry, Miss Xiaoxue. Xiaomi is smarter than most kids and won’t get hurt."

Indeed, Xiaoxue nodded; Xiaomi is the smartest, smarter than any kid in the village!

"By the way, Brother Ze, are you really going to work in the fields with us? Won’t Grandpa Liu be upset if he finds out?"

Obviously, Grandpa Liu gave some Silver for Brother Ze to rest well at their house, and now he’s not only digging up sweet potatoes but also helping to harvest rice.

Liu Ze shook his head: "He won’t. If I can work, it means I’m healthy. Grandpa will be happy."

Besides, since everyone went to the fields, he had nothing to do at home and would’ve been bored instead.

The most important thing is that since childhood, due to health reasons, Liu Ze, who lived in a large courtyard, had never encountered these things.

After all, he’s just a child. No matter how stable and calm, he’s only seven years old, and doesn’t he still like to play?

The Jiang family’s paddy field was not far, and everyone soon arrived.

Jiang Hu pointed to a plot: "This plot was specially selected earlier. You see, it’s indeed different from the other rice."

Clearly, though they were planted individually, once grown, they would turn into a large cluster.

But this plot had larger and more abundant rice spikes and clumps, and even the grains were a size larger!

Liu Yang was also surprised and nodded: "Indeed, my family noticed it too. But Brother Jiang, I have to say, your family’s rice is the best!"

Jiang Hu did not modestly decline but was genuinely happy about it.

The better they grow, the more grain there is!

The threshing tub was set aside for the moment: "Let’s cut this plot first, dry it separately, and use it as seeds for next year."

"Brother Jiang, do you think that with this year’s example, after the rice is harvested, will more people want to buy rice seeds from us?"

Corn and sorghum seeds had already, as Jiang Hu previously proposed, been exchanged with almost all the surrounding villages, except for what they needed themselves.

At that time, people had already inquired about the rice, but it wasn’t ripe then, so it was just a conversation, with nothing confirmed.

Jiang Hu: "It’s not impossible. If we can, we should indeed exchange some seeds as a good deed."

After all, who knows whether Lord Xie might want to do this with rice again next year?

While they talked, Jiang Hu already went down to the fields, not having to take off his shoes.

The water had already been drained a few days ago when they caught fish.

The autumn heat was no joke, and after several days of sun, while the paddy field wasn’t as dry as an upland field, it no longer had mud you’d sink into at every step.

At the very least, walking in the field would leave a deep footprint, but wouldn’t dirty the shoe tops.

"You all be careful, cut slowly, there’s no rush. Don’t hurt yourselves, understood?"

All the children were eager to start, with even Tiedan adamant about holding a sickle, attempting to work along with the older kids.

It’s unclear how long he’ll last.

Xiaomi waved her hand generously: "Dad, you get to work first. Don’t worry about us. We know what to do."

Jiang Hu was completely helpless; this little one was already giving him orders.