Chapter 146: Chapter 145: Farmers’ Market and Wheat Harvest

On Children’s Day, the cinema had special daytime screenings. As the family left the theater, they saw more parents with children lined up, waiting to enter.

Little Xing eagerly eyed the kids in line, wanting to suggest that they go in for another show. But seeing little Shi Tou asleep in their father’s arms, she could only sigh and give up on the idea.

Ling Chengyan noticed the change in the young girl’s expression and smiled at Wang Liansheng, saying, “You take the kids home first, and we’ll go to the market to pick up some good food for dinner.”

Since they missed having lunch at a restaurant because of the movie, they decided to celebrate at home with a special dinner in the evening. Seeing how delighted Little Xing was, it was clear the suggestion hit the little girl’s sweet spot.

Before Wang Liansheng could respond, little Shi Tou, groggily leaning on his shoulder, said, “…I want to go too.”

Little Xing tiptoed and pinched his nose, “You little clingy bug, you don’t even know where we’re going, but you insist on following.”

Little Shi Tou wasn’t happy, shook off his sister’s hand, buried his face in his father’s arms, and shouted, “Mom, sister is picking on me.”

Laughing and chatting, the family headed to the market. By noon, quite a few vendors had just set up their stalls, and the freshly-picked vegetables looked especially fresh and full of life.

Wide awake, little Shi Tou ran ahead with his sister, while Xiao Yu followed to keep an eye on them.

Ling Chengyan quietly observed, “Since the land was allocated in the countryside, there’s been a noticeable increase in people growing vegetables and fruits once they had autonomy. Look, all these were brought in from the nearby villages for sale.”

Wang Liansheng nodded, “It’s not peak farming season now, so growing vegetables and fruits helps supplement family expenses.”

As more people entered business, some items that used to require ration tickets to buy could now be purchased with cash. In the city, you might only occasionally see someone selling fish they’d caught themselves, but it’s said that village markets have butchers who slaughter pigs and sell pork now.

Ling Chengyan remarked, “This will become more common in the future.”

Wang Liansheng nodded as well, “It’s a good thing, villagers will have more opportunities.”

With the ability to raise poultry and livestock, and plant vegetables and fruits, farmers won’t be completely trapped by the land anymore, working hard a whole year only to go hungry in bad harvests.

Ling Chengyan smiled, “Once these wheat crops are harvested, we’ll know for sure.”

A few days ago, she visited her uncle and aunt and heard that since the land was allocated to households, villagers took more care of the wheat fields than their children, and the seedlings looked better this year. Her older cousin estimated that the wheat yield this season might increase by at least ten percent.

These were still the seedlings planted by the production team.

This year’s autumn crops will be planted by villagers themselves after land allocation, and the yield is expected to be even higher.

As the couple chatted, they encountered someone from the countryside selling chickens. The old hen, raised for two or three years, wanted to brood without laying eggs, so in frustration, it was brought to the city to be sold.

Little Xing still had some memories of rural life. She looked back at her parents, “Let’s buy it. We can hatch chicks.”

Ling Chengyan laughed, “Our courtyard is small and already has Big Yellow. There’s no room for chickens.”

“Mom, let’s keep chicks!” Little Shi Tou rushed over and hugged Ling Chengyan’s leg.

Wang Liansheng softly suggested, “Second sister-in-law just moved to a large courtyard; perhaps we can raise them there.”

Wang Lianfa and his wife had moved again.

A small factory operated by their street had stopped production, but the factory buildings and equipment needed someone to watch over them. Wang Lianfa found this caretaker job through some means. The salary was only twelve yuan a month, but it came with housing and a large vacant courtyard.

Zheng Xiaotian couldn’t stay idle. She had already reclaimed a big vegetable patch in the courtyard. Such a spacious place would be perfect for hatching and raising a brood of chicks.

After talking it over with Little Xing and Little Shi Tou, the kids were a little disappointed but agreed. They just thought that later, their parents could take them to visit their cousins to see the chicks.

Ling Chengyan bought the hen while Xiao Yu, knowing how to choose eggs, tugged on Ling Chengyan’s sleeve and went to buy over forty eggs from a nearby egg stall.

Just by looking, they could tell if the eggs were fresh. To pick out the ones ideal for hatching, they’d need to use a flashlight at home.

While discussing this, a farmer with buckets of fish approached a few steps away. The fish, caught by himself, varied in size and included some freshwater shrimp.

Ling Chengyan looked at the fresh fish and shrimp, wrapped all the shrimp, and bought the two largest fish in the bucket. The two fish weighed over three kilograms and were carp, which the seller claimed were caught in the Yellow River Reservoir, authentic Yellow River carp.

That night, the two fish were made into sweet and sour fish. The shrimp, not very large, were deep-fried, both dishes favorites of the children, who ate with great enthusiasm.

Little Xing took a bite of the sweet and sour fish, then a crunchy shrimp, happily praised, “Dad’s cooking has improved again. Dad, let’s make fish sweet and sour from now on, okay?”

Ling Chengyan patted the little girl, smiling, “Already thinking about the future before finishing this meal? Eat up, and be careful of fish bones.”

After much pleading from the children, the hen stayed to hatch eggs at home, with an apple crate in the storeroom turned into a nesting spot. Dry straw already lined the crate, and Xiao Yu arranged the selected eggs. The hen settled in to brood, unbothered by her new quarters.

The children had something to look forward to, running to check on the hen after dinner. Little Xing even solemnly declared she would learn from her aunt to keep a diary, documenting the hatching process.

Xiao Yu shook his head with a smile, “Wait until your teacher assigns diary writing; it won’t be as much fun then.”

A couple of days later, Wang Liansheng ran into his cousin on his way to work. Wang Lianfa had come to ask if he and Ling Chengyan could look after Zheng Xiaotian for a while.

After the land allocation earlier in the year, their family’s four-person land share was settled. Though it was a relief for the family, it also brought dilemmas. The production team used to allow them to take leave without working and still buy grain at the end of the year.

But now that the land was allotted to each household, all the work fell to the family members. His uncle and aunt were getting older, Hongjun had joined the army, so only his elder brother and sister-in-law were left to do the heavy lifting. Wang Lianfa and Zheng Xiaotian felt guilty.

With the wheat harvest season looming, the busiest time for harvesting and planting in a year, Wang Lianfa couldn’t afford to ignore it. So, he had to go back home to harvest the wheat, but leaving a very pregnant Zheng Xiaotian behind made him uneasy, prompting this visit to discuss it.

Wang Liansheng quickly agreed, noting the wheat had a promising yield; he reminded with a word of caution, “Be careful on your return.”

Come New Year’s, someone might doorblock; harvest season, likewise.

A moment of rigidity passed over Wang Lianfa’s face. He hung his head and said, “I have to go back…”

Wang Liansheng offered a suggestion, “Our brigade has families with more labor power; how about Second Brother sends some money home and lets Big Brother hire a few to harvest?”

This way, Second Brother wouldn’t feel too guilty about paying for help, and avoid potential problems… Second Sister-in-law’s baby is over eight months along, likely due in a month, and it’s not the time for anything unexpected.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep