Chapter 236: Chapter 128: Why So Poor? (Part 2)

When you were this tired and busy, you didn’t have time to think about anything else. Life suddenly revolved around the simplest of needs: working and eating. The work was exhausting, of course, but it made the daily meals taste exceptionally delicious.

Zheng Changhe roared with laughter, agreeing completely.

“Last winter, after I hurt my leg in a fall, I couldn’t go anywhere. I did less work, and the food I ate was even better, but I just didn’t feel as content as I do now. You know, a person has to stay busy. That’s what gives life flavor, what gives you something to look forward to!”

Yang Family shot him a look and said, “That’s because you’re not fortunate enough for an easy life. Rich people certainly don’t think that way!”

Juhua smiled. “Rich people always eat well, so I’m sure they aren’t as happy as Dad is when they eat. Their lives are comfortable, so they definitely don’t feel the same contentment Dad does when he comes home to rest after a long day’s work. No matter what it is, the harder something is to get, the happier you are when you finally have it!”

Qingmu laughed. “Hey! That’s right!”

But no matter how content they felt, the next day was still bound to be exhausting.

This was the downside of having so much land. Other families were busy for a few days and then had all their rice in the granary, but Juhua’s family was still working nonstop. A two-day torrential downpour in the middle of it all threw everything into chaos.

No one is born to a life of ease. To say you’re too tired to go on, that you can’t work anymore—that just means you haven’t been pushed to the brink yet.

As the storm arrived, thick, dark clouds swirled overhead. A fierce wind kicked up, sending leaves and weeds flying everywhere. A farmer in the fields might have their straw hat blown away and would have to chase after it for a long while just to get it back.

That terrifying sight, like “dark clouds bearing down on the city, threatening to crush it,” made those who were drying rice panic even more.

Juhua was in the courtyard, frantically raking the rice grains together. Her normally slender arms and legs suddenly burst forth with unprecedented strength. In no time, she had gathered all the rice from across the courtyard, preparing to pile it into two mounds and cover them with straw.

The wind plastered her face covering against her skin, almost making it impossible to breathe. If she turned around, the wind would whip it up again.

Just as she was busy, she suddenly saw Zhang Huai and Qingmu hurrying back, each carrying a shoulder pole laden with rice, the veins on their necks bulging from the strain.

It turned out that Zhang Huai’s family had less land, so once they were done, he had rushed over to help Qingmu. Even Liu Ershun and Zhao San had come to lend a hand.

Seeing Juhua rushing around to rake the rice, Zhang Huai quickly set his load down in the house. A step faster than Qingmu, he snatched the wooden rake from Juhua’s hands and said, his heart aching for her, “Go and rest. Let your brother and me handle this.”

Seeing the two strong young men arrive, Juhua finally relaxed. She felt as if the divine power boost she’d read about in fantasy novels had just expired. Her burst of extreme energy gave way to listlessness as she slowly returned to her normal state.

But Juhua didn’t return to her normal state. Her arms and legs felt like jelly. She collapsed onto a stool, leaning against the doorframe, not wanting to move an inch.

She turned her head to watch the two sturdy young men working in the courtyard. With a few swift movements, they raked the rice into two piles and covered them with straw. A profound sense of security washed over her. Their broad shoulders inspired a feeling of deep reliance, the kind of peace that comes from being protected.

In the countryside, a family couldn’t survive without able-bodied men for the heavy labor.

After securing the rice, Qingmu and Zhang Huai came inside. Seeing Juhua slumped on the stool, her shoulders drooping and her energy completely gone, Qingmu quickly asked, “Juhua, are you okay?” ’She must have been completely exhausted just now,’ he thought.

Juhua replied listlessly, “I’m fine. I just need to rest and catch my breath. Help yourselves to some water. Brother, how are things in the fields?”

’We can’t get any more land,’ she thought. ’Even if we have the money, we shouldn’t buy it. It’s hard to find anyone to rent it out to in a small place like this. We should just raise more pigs! Raising one is the same as raising two. As long as it’s not more than ten, I think we can manage.’

Seeing her so exhausted yet still worrying about the fields, Zhang Huai didn’t know what to say. He quickly told her, “Just rest. Don’t worry about us. We have help in the fields. Uncle Zhao San and Liu Ershun are both here. They should be back soon; they won’t get caught in the rain.”

Qingmu also told her not to worry. He and their dad would handle things in the fields, and even their mother was staying home this afternoon to help with dinner so Juhua could rest.

Sure enough, a group of people returned just before the downpour began. The room, already piled high with rice, suddenly felt crowded.

Zhao San laughed heartily. “Brother Changhe, just look at this room! It’s a joyous sight. With this much rice, you’re going to have a good year!”

The room was piled so high with rice there was barely a place to set one’s foot. Even the kitchen was stacked with it. It might have looked like a mess, but to the eyes of a farmer, it was a deeply comforting sight.

Zheng Changhe eyed the rice stalks. “You wish. Hah! This rice won’t even have time to get warm in our house. In a few days, we’ll just have to send it away. More land means more taxes.”

Zhao San offered some comfort. “At least you’ll have some left. We won’t have much left at all. Thankfully, we have the pigs for some extra income.”

Lately, they had all been gazing at the acorns covering the mountains with growing excitement, almost able to see their pigs puffing up and getting bigger as if inflated with air.

As they chatted about the autumn harvest, the rain gradually let up—summer showers come as quickly as they go!

After resting for a while, Juhua got up and went to the kitchen to make dinner.

Seeing her dragging her heavy legs, Zhang Huai wished he could follow her into the kitchen to help. But that was out of the question. No man ever worked at the stove; at most, they might help tend the fire. ’Besides, if I ran off to help Juhua with the fire, wouldn’t everyone think it was incredibly strange? What would I even say?’

Instead, Yang Family hurried into the kitchen to help, which made him feel a little better.

Whether busy or tired, seeing the harvested rice made life feel full.

But a few days later, when the tax-collecting government officers from the Qinghui County Government arrived, the rice the farmers had just harvested was carried away by the basketful and cartload to Xiatang Market.

Looking at the now much more spacious and empty room, Juhua felt no joy. Instead, her heart ached—all that rice being carried away could have been bowls and bowls of fluffy white rice.

This place had beautiful mountains and clear streams, and the villagers were so hardworking. Why were they still so poor? This was the answer.

The yields weren’t high to begin with, and after paying such taxes, there was hardly anything left. This was only the summer tax. The autumn tax was still due after the tenth month.

They were lucky that County Magistrate Hu was in charge, as he didn’t impose extra levies. If a corrupt official were to take his place, who could even imagine what their lives would become?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep