The Sweet Little Fulang

Chapter 119

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, marking the passage of time. The warm spring sun bridges the gap between winter's chill and summer's heat, evoking a sense of fleetingness.

The wheat seedlings in the dry soil gradually withered and turned yellow, signaling their readiness for harvest in a few days. Shen Xuanqing and Lu Gu returned home ahead of the wheat harvest to ensure there were enough hands available.

Shen Yaoqing, known for his farming prowess, estimated that it would take two more days for the wheat to fully dry, so the second room of the Shen family remained unoccupied for the time being.

Rural folks are not ones to sit idle. With a few days of free time, Shen Xuanqing and Lu Gu ventured up the mountain to chop bamboo while also rising early each morning to cut bamboo. Progress was steady, although building the rabbit nest took longer due to its overhead nature. Meanwhile, Shen Yaoqing worked on constructing the rabbit nest at the new house.

Shen Xuanqing carried hemp rope on his shoulders while wielding a sharp machete in his right hand, with Lu Gu walking beside him, hatchet in hand.

The loyal family dog, like a child returning home, always ran out to play with other dogs upon their return to the village. Although Lu Gu saw him, he refrained from calling out and let the dog be.

As they ascended the gentle slope, Shen Xuanqing remarked, "This year, there's no need to purchase more farmland. We already have 13 acres of dry fields and 8 acres of paddy fields. The harvest from these fields is enough to sustain us for the year and tend to household affairs."

Twenty-one acres of land constituted a sizable holding in the village. Whether for farming or harvesting, additional help was necessary; otherwise, ripe crops would go to waste.

Luckily, the wheat and rice harvests didn't overlap, allowing the family to keep busy without needing to hire long-term workers.

"Indeed," Lu Gu nodded. While he couldn't control land purchases, he took comfort in knowing that with such extensive fields, food and clothing were assured, bringing him genuine happiness.

With only 80 taels left, Shen Xuanqing decided to exercise caution in his spending. He could reconsider further investments once he had accumulated more funds.

This time, they ventured up the mountain to chop bamboo for fencing, relocated the chickens and ducks to the new house, and even installed a door in the mud wall across the river to ease access for the ducks.

Chickens were housed indoors, but it was essential to keep them contained to prevent the floor from becoming soiled. A fenced area provided a space for the chickens and ducks to roam during the day without being confined to the shed.

The bamboo forest wasn't far away. Upon arrival, Shen Xuanqing began chopping, while Lu Gu assisted by gathering the branches.

Working diligently, they soon cleared a section of the bamboo forest. Once the bamboo was felled, Lu Gu gathered the branches, which were later dragged home and dried for use as fuel.

As the sun grew hotter, they were grateful for the shade of the bamboo forest. By the time Shen Xuanqing had finished chopping the fifth bamboo, Lu Gu had tied up a considerable amount of branches.

On their way home, they encountered Da Hui, a familiar dog from the village. Although surprised to see it in the bamboo forest, Lu Gu greeted it warmly before returning home with Da Hui.

As they ascended the gentle slope, they spotted the loyal family dog eagerly awaiting their return in front of the door.

Wei Lanxiang heard the commotion and joined them in dragging the bamboo branches back to the yard. Afterward, Lu Gu set down the hemp rope and rubbed his shoulders, then asked, "Mother, is Brother Daqing going to the new house?"