CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 57: KICKING UP A FUSS

As soon as Liu Ji saw his own front door, he could barely take another step.

Who knows how far that mountain road stretches, and he had to carry this much wheat back, walking all the way to the brink of exhaustion.

On the way back, he had already cursed himself hundreds of times.

Liu San, oh Liu San, why didn’t you sell those two mu of land together back then? Now you’ve really brought this upon yourself.

His Qi drained, and his whole body, along with the burden on his shoulders, collapsed onto the ground. He lay on the straw gasping, eyes rolling, not knowing what day it was.

Qin Yao clicked her tongue twice, knowing how tiring the work in the field is, and rarely showed sympathy by glancing at Liu Ji.

The four children gathered around worriedly, offering water, wiping sweat, consoling him.

No one else gets this kind of treatment. Have you seen anyone else coming back with wheat from the field being pampered like this?

Most people would set down one load and immediately turn to carry the next.

Qin Yao stepped forward, lifted him up off the straw, took over the burden, and took the two large bundles of wheat into the yard.

Liu Ji watched, stupefied, as the wheat that nearly crushed him was lifted single-handedly by her, keen to ask why, given her strength, she let him suffer.

However, he dared not ask and crawled into the yard with a shout, "Hungry, food!"

Qin Yao was too lazy to cook and didn’t know how, so she just made a pot of white congee.

Liu Ji glanced at the uninspiring white congee and weakly asked, "Wife, can I add some sugar?"

Qin Yao, considering the two bundles of wheat in the yard, nodded.

The four kids immediately followed suit, each adding half a spoon of sugar, making the congee sweet and quite tasty.

Qin Yao found the four children easy to take care of, not picky at all, eating whatever they are given without complaints and even helping to pick wild vegetables.

She glanced at the basket of wild vegetables hanging from the kitchen beam, planning to stir-fry them tomorrow at noon, curious about the taste.

Having eaten fewer vegetables, the outhouse trips haven’t been comfortable these past days.

Si Niang was there for a long time this morning, tearfully coming back saying, "Mother, tummy bloated."

Upon checking, Qin Yao confirmed it was constipation.

This can be a big or small issue; most villagers ignore it, even if some children might die because of it. Given the workload, it’s just overlooked.

Qin Yao wasn’t at ease, immediately handed Da Lang twenty copper coins to get some laxative from Doctor Liu.

After dinner of white congee, Qin Yao boiled the medicine, and the six of them each had a small bowl.

"These days we’re just drinking congee, easy to digest," said Qin Yao decisively.

Liu Ji after having the medicine sprawled out on the main hall chair in a trance-like state.

Usually chirping away, Qin Yao found it rather annoying.

Suddenly he was quiet today, and the house felt eerily silent.

She went to the shower room for a hot bath, scooping two buckets of hot water inside, asking Da Lang and the four to wash up.

Afraid of catching a cold this whole winter, the family hadn’t bathed or washed their hair, except she couldn’t bear it and washed her hair twice.

It was fine when it was cold, but now that temperatures are rising, the smell on the body, tsk tsk, if not washed soon will be marinated.

Qin Yao sat by the main hall door drying her hair with a towel, "How much wheat is left to be harvested?"

Hearing her query, Liu Ji’s eyes regained a bit of spark, weakly replied:

"Today harvested one mu, tomorrow another one, and two more days to carry it back."

His voice grew smaller and quieter, and at some point appeared behind Qin Yao, carefully tugging at her hem, "Wife, spare me, if I keep working like this, tomorrow I’ll die in the fields!"

Qin Yao startled by him, frowned as she pulled free her hem, "If you didn’t die today, you definitely won’t tomorrow."

Liu Ji started lamenting, lifting his sleeves and pant legs, "Wife, pity me, look at my body, is there any good skin left? All pricked by the wheat barbs, bitten by venomous mosquitoes, I’m dizzy now thinking of going tomorrow, I’d rather you beat me to death."

Qin Yao scoffed disdainfully, "Hah!"

"Then beat me to death, dead at least won’t suffer anymore!"

Liu Ji suddenly laid down on the ground, demonstrating what it means to lose face, invincible.

The freshly bathed Da Lang brothers and sisters came out of the shower, seeing their father rolling on the main hall floor, turning left and right blatantly, portraying the rogue to the fullest extent.

The sight left them stupefied.

Qin Yao was equally stunned, took a full five seconds to react, kicked him, and sent the worm squirming on the ground upright.

"What are you going crazy for! Is it just harvesting wheat, is it worth all this whining?" Qin Yao raised an eyebrow, chided.

Liu Ji shrank against the door frame, head lowered, shoulders slumped, pink eyes moist, biting his sleeve, weakly replied, "Worth it..."

Qin Yao: "..."

She finally got it, seeing Da Lang and the four already out, pointed at the bathroom, urged distastefully:

"Go bathe, stink to high heaven!"

Liu Ji only shuffled slightly, gripping the door frame, appearing as if his bones fell apart, peach blossom eyes with tears.

Qin Yao couldn’t deny there was a hint of pity. Still, maintaining a steely face, commanded coldly, "Go quickly!"

"Tomorrow you harvest, I’ll carry, aim to get all the remaining wheat back in one day."

She added this line.

Liu Ji’s somber eyes instantly brightened.

Excitedly he extended a hand to grab hers, but she sidestepped; he withdrew awkwardly, grinned revealing white teeth, cheered, "Wife, I knew you were more kind-hearted than the Bodhisattva!"

Suddenly energized, he went to the kitchen to pour the remaining hot water into the wooden bucket, carrying it for a shower.

Qin Yao helped Sanlang and Si Niang dry their hair, noticing the moon risen high, patted their little buttocks saying, "Go to bed now."

Reminding Da Lang again, "Tomorrow morning I’ll cook extra congee on the stove, you can eat breakfast and lunch yourselves, remember to practice writing well at home."

Da Lang keenly aware adults were heading to the field, sensibly responded, "Auntie rest assured, I’ll take care of Second Lang and won’t let them run about."

Qin Yao patted the young lad’s shoulder appreciatively, Da Lang shyly looked at her once, leading his younger siblings to the room to sleep.

Watching the children’s room lights go off, Qin Yao turned around, catching sight of Liu Ji in the thin white innerwear, black hair waterfall-like, striding out of the shower.

He poured leftover dirty water into the drain, placed the bucket by the bathroom door, raising his head, moonlight falling onto his handsome and romantic face.

Qin Yao’s pupils trembled, anger rising in her heart.

Why did heaven grant this rascal such an unrivaled face?

"Liu Ji, what immortal did you save in your previous life?" Qin Yao gritted her teeth and curiously asked.

Liu Ji found the words familiar as if someone had once raised this question before.

But who could it be? He couldn’t recall.

He looked over bemusedly, those pink eyes gazing at dogs so affectionately, had Qin Yao not seen him rolling on the ground, she might have been somewhat dazzled.

Leaving him with a "Wake up early tomorrow," Qin Yao turned to return indoors, sleep.

Liu Ji pondered that tomorrow he finally wouldn’t suffer alone, felt much relieved, and even fell asleep with a smile on his lips.