Country Maiden: Fields and Fortune-Chapter 77

76, Good Intentions (Second Update)

“Master, now that you can stomach food, try to eat something, even if just a little. Lychees help generate saliva and quench thirst. Your body has not fully recovered; eating some…”

Li Hengyi’s gaze deepened.

He glanced at Yuanbao and, after a moment’s thought, added, “Have them make more dried lychees over in Lingnan!”

“…” Yuanbao was taken aback.

Li Hengyi by then had already retreated to peel and eat lychees.

Watching him, Yuanbao then cheerfully went to give the orders.

With each lychee he ate, Li Hengyi felt that this year’s fruit seemed sweeter than in past years.

Xie Zhinuan was already preparing lunch when the mute carried some firewood over. Xie Zhinuan gave him two lychees.

“…” The mute hurriedly shook his head.

“Go on and take them. After you eat them, give me the seeds. I’ll try planting them. If they sprout, you can take the seedlings and plant them. Who knows, in a few years, they may bear fruit!”

After hesitating for a moment, the mute accepted them, but he tucked them into his pocket without the heart to eat them.

Using gestures, he communicated to Xie Zhinuan that he was leaving.

“Wait!”

Xie Zhinuan called out and handed the mute two more lychees, “Take these home for your younger brother and sister!”

The mute’s eyes reddened slightly. He nodded.

There were four children in his family, including himself. He was the eldest, followed by two younger brothers and a younger sister.

He had originally planned to take them back for the youngest two siblings, but now with four, each could have one.

That day, his younger siblings had also come with him to gather firewood in the mountains.

Once they reached the back mountain, the mute handed one to each of his siblings, but he kept the last one uneaten.

“Big brother, why aren’t you eating?”

The mute just smiled.

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He wanted to save it to take home for their mother to try, this fine thing he had never tasted or seen before.

“Big brother, did Sister Zhinuan give it to you?” asked the youngest sister.

Her eyes sparkled, exceedingly beautiful.

The mute nodded.

“Sister Zhinuan is so kind. It’s just a pity she doesn’t know me!” the youngest sister whispered, yet she didn’t have the heart to eat it.

The seven-year-old child understood a lot.

She and her two brothers didn’t dare to approach, fearing Sister Zhinuan would find out they were gathering firewood with their brother and stop accepting their firewood.

The mute stroked his youngest sister’s head.

He thought to himself that Sister Zhinuan must be aware, otherwise how could he bring back seven or eight loads of firewood all by himself in one day.

He quickly carried another load to Xie Zhinuan’s house, his stomach rumbling from the smell wafting from the kitchen, hungry yet filled with boundless energy.

They were now earning eighty wen a day. After saving for a few more months, their mother had said they could repair their house. Then, by building a little further away from the grandparents, they wouldn’t be bullied anymore.

Xie Zhinuan prepared meat for lunch. Seeing the mute coming and going, sweating profusely, she thought for a moment, fetched some banana leaves, and when he was on his final trip, gave him four steamed buns.

The mute shook his head insistently.

“Take them!”

After a moment’s hesitation, he accepted them.

With the steamed buns in hand, he called for his siblings to go home.

The mute’s mother, who had already cooked rice, was waiting at the doorway.

She was very thin and dark. The father was just as thin, his eyes honest and simple.

Having brought back water, “Haven’t they come back yet?” the father asked.

“Not yet, you eat first if you’re hungry, I’ll wait!” the mother said softly.

Accustomed to being bullied, her words lacked strength.

Now that the children were capable and bringing home money every day, the mother-in-law and sisters-in-law had come several times, hoping to involve the other children in the household. She however firmly refused.

If she had agreed, she feared her son would be pushed aside, never getting another chance to earn money.

“Mom!”

The youngest sister ran quickly over.

The mute’s mother hugged her and ruffled her hair, “Go inside and wash your face and hands quickly, then we can eat!”

“Look, Mom, Sister Zhinuan gave it!” The youngest sister showed her mother the lychee in her hand.

Chapter 78