Chapter 40 Sweet Pole

  It turned out to be so, Lian Man'er took a look at the few people in the distance who were harvesting sorghum. After a while, they already had an order of precedence. Lao Yezi was over 50 years old and, compared to his three sons in their prime, he was actually ahead by a short distance.

  "Dad, take a break," Lian Shou Xin suggested, following closely behind Lian Lao Yezi and looking up at the sky before glancing at Lian Lao Yezi's sweaty back. Lian Lao Yezi was a man who hated to slack off, as farmers would say. He was the type of person who wanted to finish his work in one breath, without knowing how to rest.

  Lao Laozi heard his son's words, grasped the cut sorghum stalks with one hand, straightened his waist, and looked up at the sky. He estimated that it had been about an hour and a half since they started drying. He turned around to look at his sons and grandsons, who were all sweating profusely, and nodded in agreement.

  "Take a break."

  Even the old man put down his sickle and sat on the ridge of the field to rest.

  Wulang and Lianmeng walked to the side of the board car, where there was a large ceramic jar wrapped in tattered cloth with a spout, filled with water that had been brought from home that morning.

  Wu Lang held the jug and poured a bowl of water into the bowl that Lian Man'er was holding. Lian Man'er then handed it to Old Master Lian.

  "Dad, drink some water."

  Lao Lao Ye nodded and took the bowl, tilting his head back and drinking the whole bowl of water in one gulp.

  Wu Lang is going to pour another bowl for Lian Lao Ye Zi again.

  "Grandpa won't drink anymore. Grandpa will smoke." As soon as the old man said this, he pulled out a pouch containing dry tobacco and paper from his waistband, rolled up a cigarette and started smoking.

  At this time, everyone also came over to fetch bowls and drink water. Lian Man'er saw Zhang Shi leaning against the corn stack, poured a bowl of water, handed it to Zhang Shi, and then sat down beside Zhang Shi.

  "Tired, aren't you, Lianmeng?" Zhang took the bowl and drank a mouthful, asking Lianmeng.

  "It's not tiring," Lian Mian'er said, "my brother and sister both help me with that."

  Just as they were talking, Lianzhi, Wulang and Xiaoqi also walked over and sat down beside Zhang Shi. Xiaoqi even leaned into Zhang Shi's arms with a pout.

  Lian Shouyi and Lian Shoulai sat down beside Old Master Lian, also rolling up their sleeves to smoke. Lian Shouxin didn't smoke, he drank a bowl of water. Then he walked over to the side, picked up several stalks of sorghum that had been left behind on purpose, cut off the sorghum ears from above, and then cut the sorghum stalks into segments about half an arm's length long. He walked over to where Zhang Shi and the children were resting.

  "Sorghum stalks. Dad picked out sorghum stalks for us." Little Seven looked at Lian Shouxin carrying the high stalks of sorghum over, immediately sat up straight, and smiled with two dimples on his cheeks.

  What's sweet?

  Lian Shouxin walked over and put down that bundle of sweet potatoes.

  "They're all sweet, be careful not to cut your mouth." After finishing speaking, he also leaned against the side of the sorghum stack and sat down.

  Lian Tzer, Wu Lang and Xiao Qi all picked one up, Lian Man also followed suit and picked one up.

  Sorghum stalks are also joint by joint, similar to sugarcane, but much thinner. Most sorghum stalks are not sweet, only a few are sweet. Lian Shouxin is best at picking out the sweet ones. He only picks those that are long and green, cuts them down, and tastes one mouthful from the base of the stem to make sure it's sweet. If it is, he'll specially set it aside, cut it into small sections, and give it to a few kids as a snack.

  In rural homes, material goods were extremely scarce, and sugar was rarely eaten. The sweet sorghum stalks were a delicacy for young children.

  First, peel off the outer skin, and inside is a pulp full of sweet juice. Take a bite in your mouth, swallow the sweet juice, and then spit out the residue, just like eating sugarcane.

  Lian Miao carefully chewed, not as sweet as sugarcane, but with a lot of water content, the entrance was clear and sweet. Not bad, Lian Miao thought to herself in praise. Lian Zhi was a girl and also the eldest, so she ate more elegantly, Wu Lang also felt like he was an adult now, but still couldn't hide his inner fondness, Xiao Qi didn't even bother to conceal it, chewing with a face full of happiness.

  Lian Shouxin and Zhang's wife stood beside them, watching the children with smiles in their eyes.

  A gentle breeze blew by, blowing up the sweat-drenched clothes of Lian's vines, and she suddenly felt that all the pores on her body were open, very comfortable. The hardships of labor and the poverty of material things did not hinder them from feeling true happiness at this moment.

  Happiness can be very simple, and even a little thought in one's heart is the true flavor of rural life.

  Of course, if it can be richer, then it will be even more perfect. We must work hard for this, Lian Man Er. Lian Man Er secretly cheered herself on.

  After drinking enough water and smoking a pack of cigarettes, Lao Ye got up from the ground again.

  "Second brother, you go push the cart."

  Is this going to start moving into the house?

  Lian Shouyi responded with a "yes" and went to push the flatbed cart. First, he used sorghum stalks as padding, then piled up bundles of sorghum ears on top. Once the cart was full, he started transporting it back home. The others in the field continued their original tasks, waiting for Lian Shouyi to return from his trip before switching with Da Lang and Er Lang, followed by Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin.

  When Lian Shouyi pushed the cart back home, Fourth Son and Sixth Son also followed to help push the cart. Eldest Son and Second Son were a team and didn't need anyone else's help. When it was Lian Shouli's turn, Lian Ye'er would hurry to help her father push the cart, and when it was Lian Shouxin's turn, Lian Zhi'er and several other children would take turns helping out.

  When the sun reaches its peak in the sky, it's noon, the hottest time of day has arrived, and the farmers in the fields are preparing to finish work.

  Even Lao Yezi said that there was no need to cut anymore, and the last cart of high millet that had been cut would be taken back. The work for this morning was considered finished.

  The whole family walked towards their home, entering the village. From a distance, they saw several mule carts parked in front of the Lian family's gate, with several porters unloading goods from the carts and sending them into the house. One of the mule carts had a sedan-shaped canopy on top, which the villagers called a "sedan cart". In this village, only the Wang Juren family had such a sedan cart, and it was also the one that Wang Youheng rode in.

  "Grandpa is back!" Lian Shouxin laughed and said.

  The old man nodded and quickened his pace.

  As soon as they entered the gate, Lian Man'er saw a young man wearing a brown silk robe with white cuffs directing the workers, who was none other than Lian Shouren's eldest son, Lian Jizong.

  Lian Jizong saw Lao Lianye entering the door and hurriedly came forward to greet him.

  "Grandfather." Lian Ji Zu was about to kneel down.

  Lian Lao Ye Zi hurriedly supported Lian Ji Zu, and Gu Shi brought a young daughter-in-law to welcome them. This young daughter-in-law was Jiang Shi, the wife of Lian Ji Zu. Jiang Shi held a two-year-old little girl in her arms, who was their daughter, nicknamed Niu Niu.

  "It's good that you're back, let's go inside and talk." said Lao Yezi.

  Everyone rushed into the house, even Lao Yezi sat on the kang, and Jianzong and Jiangshi knelt down again, properly kowtowing to Lao Yezi. Even Niu Niu was held by Jiangshi to kowtow to Lao Yezi.

  Lian Lao Ye Zi's face was full of uncontrollable smiles, and he let Lian Ji Zu get up and sit beside him. He also asked Lian Shou Ren to sit down, and Lian Shou Yi, Lian Shou Li, and Lian Shou Xin all sat down as well. The old and young masters of the Lian family began to speak.

  Gu returned the porters outside. He said that he had moved all the things in the town back, and also returned the rented house. Jiang and Lian Hua'er arranged the boxes and baskets in the west room, and Gu came again to check the gifts brought back from the town with Zhou and Lian Xiu'er.

  Inside and outside the house, it was lively all at once.

  Lian Man'er glanced westward into the house and saw large and small boxes stacked one on top of another, almost filling up more than half of the room.

  The whole family is now reunited, and Lian's old man is overjoyed.

  "Man Er, Xiao Qi, you two go to the temple head, bring back half a catty of wine for Grandpa." Lian Lao Ye also asked Zhou Shi to give Lian Man Er money to buy wine.

  It turns out that Lao Yezi has two hobbies, one is smoking and the other is drinking. The tobacco is self-cultivated dry tobacco, dried tobacco leaves. As for wine, there isn't any at home, so he can only buy it outside. Lao Yezi loves to drink, but because of the lack of money at home, every time he lets Lian Man'er and a few younger ones take a small wine jug to the temple's grocery store to buy one or two liang (a unit of weight). One or two liang of wine can be accompanied by a little food, which can be drunk for two or three meals.

  Zhou was also happy and took out money from his wallet.

  "Grandfather, I've brought wine back for you." Lian Jizu hastily stopped Zhou Shi, "It's genuine Li Huai Bai."

  Lian Jizong got up and picked up a jar of wine from a pile of gifts for Lao Yezi to see.

  Even Lao Yezi usually drinks high-gluten sorghum liquor brewed in a small pot, as soon as he heard about Pear Blossom White, his eyes lit up immediately.

  "Alright, alright, let's just drink the wine my great-grandson brought back, Pear Blossom White."

  "There are also pastries, sugar, and fabric for Grandpa, Grandma, and Old Aunt to make clothes. Lian Ji Zu pointed to the two packages of pastries, one package of sugar, and two rolls of fabric on the cabinet. "Yue Niang also bought Hang powder for Grandma."

  Zhou's family was also delighted.

  "What's the use of rouge, it's expensive, I'm old, can I still use that? Give it to your aunt instead."

  "Milk is not old." Lian Ji Zu said, "Lao Gu's share also has it, and there is also rouge."

  "This child knows how to be affectionate." Madam Zhou smiled and rubbed Lian's back.

  Everyone in the house burst out laughing.

  There were too many people, and the house was so crowded that no one could stand still. Lian Piao pulled Zhang's sleeve, and several mothers and daughters came out of the upper room and returned to the west wing. Lian Zhier brought in a basin of water, and everyone washed their hands and faces.

  Lian Man'er looked at Lian's family's attire, grooming, and behavior, and couldn't help but ask Zhang Shi the doubts in her mind.

  "Are Sister, Eldest Uncle and Eldest Brother in town very rich?" asked Lian Manger.

  This question has stumped Zhang.

  "...Your great uncle was a Xiucai, at first he had 2 jin of rice every day and was exempt from labor service. Later, he didn't pass the Imperial Examination to become a Juren, and as a Xiucai, there were also county-level exams to evaluate grades, only those who passed the top 20 could get rice. Your great uncle only received it for a few years, and then never got it again."

  "How much money can that old man make by teaching at a private school every year?"

  "At first, it was okay, the temples were good, and there were also twenty taels of silver every year. During the four seasons and five festivals, there would be additional gifts. Later on, your uncle wasn't able to get promoted in rank, so he didn't have a good temple to work at. This year, he just resigned from that temple, which only gave ten taels of silver per year, but included food and lodging."

  "How much did they spend in a year?"