The life of a farmer's family is all about working in the fields and going home to eat. Their lifeline is the land. In the past, the Guo family had few members and enough land to work on. However, as Zhang Xiaolong and Zhang Xiaohu grew older, Zhang Cai had been worried about finding enough land to cultivate. Initially, he and his wife Guo Sufei led Zhang Xiaolong and cradled Zhang Xiaohu to the clan leader's house to pay their respects, for the sake of Guo Shan's face, they were given a small plot of land by the riverside, which solved Zhang Shan's "urgent need."
Zhang Xiaohua was born when his eldest brother was seven years old, and by then, their family had two and a half laborers, and their impoverished situation had eased slightly. Speaking of Xiaohua's birth, there was something quite magical about it. Originally, there had been a drought for more than two months, but on the night little Xiaohua was born, a heavy rain poured down suddenly. The amount of rain in the mountains increased dramatically, and the small river outside the village overflowed its banks and covered the small bridge, a frightening scene.
When Guo Sufei gave birth to Xiaohua, she saw a sky full of flying petals. Therefore, Zhang Cai had high expectations for Xiaohua. When it came to naming him, they even asked a neighboring village's instructor for inspiration, proposing names like Zhang Zhen, Zhang Yu, Zhang Xueyou, and others; but after much consideration, they were overwhelmed by the choices. In the end, recalling the petals that filled the sky and their late father, Guo Sufei insisted on giving the name that is so well-known to Zhang Xiaohua, even though he was a typical boy.
At this time, Xiaohua was already twelve years old. Rural children always mature early; as early as a few years ago, Xiaohua was already helping his father and two brothers with various tasks in the fields. Zhang Cai had thought about letting the kids attend school to learn to read and write so that they could aim for a career when they grew up.
However, Guo Village is a small village, and there were no scholars among the clans, so they couldn't support a small school. The neighboring village's school was run by a large family and charged high fees to the children of Guo Village. Xiaolong and Xiaohu didn't have a chance, as their family was too poor at that time, and Zhang Cai was willing but powerless. Xiaohua was sent to school for a few days when he was young, but according to the instructor, Xiaohua's aptitude was average among students. Although he could manage to read and write, he could not aspire to become a literary or distinguished figure. It would be like placing the moon in the water.
Zhang Cai weighed his purse and looked at Xiaohua's thick eyebrows and big eyes before giving up on his ambitious hopes. He brought the child back to Guo Village and focused on the family's farming business. However, Xiaohua's mother still seemed to remember the auspicious signs of Xiaohua's birth and occasionally invited young men who could read and write in the village to teach Xiaohua. Although Xiaohua liked to follow his brothers in farming activities, his mother's urging also made him learn quite a few characters and able to read some things. He served as the literate person in the family, handling anything related to characters.
Today was Zhang Xiaohua's first day of farming independently. His father had already told him yesterday that this piece of land was given to him, and it was his own bowl of rice. Although the land currently showed no signs of being cultivated, Xiaohua remembered a young scholar in the village who once said that once you have a goal, you can start, and if you start, you have achieved half of the success! With success comes your hope, and Xiaohua's hope was to enjoy a delicious piece of pork belly~
In November, the days had already started turning cold. The sun overhead cast a pale light and heat, and the mountain wind blew through the slopes, causing the treetops to rustle. Everything seemed to signal a solemn chill.
However, Zhang Xiaohua didn't have time to pay attention to these things. He held a hoe and tirelessly reclaimed a piece of land in the center of the slope. According to Xiaohua's plan, he would first dig an oval or square boundary around this land, then move the rocks out of it and clean up the small stones. After that, he would deal with the weeds, gradually work on the land, and thoroughly plow the entire field to lay a foundation for sowing seeds. Farm work is always time-consuming, and when Xiaohua finished cleaning up the perimeter and was about to move the large rocks in the land, it was already noon. Xiaohua stopped working, wiped the sweat from his forehead, went to the edge of the field, drank half a jar of water that his mother had prepared for him, and only then stretched his lazy waist and pounded his back, which had been bent the whole time, feeling a comfortable sensation.
Indeed, although he had worked with his father and brothers before, he hadn't felt too tired since he was the youngest and everyone didn't want him to work too much. Now that he had taken on the responsibility alone, he realized how hard it was. However, thinking of his grandmother, his mother, his family, and his future, he felt it was worth it.
Zhang Xiaohua learned to read with the young scholar, and although he didn't pay much attention, he occasionally heard them talk about mysterious things like the future, life, and love, which left an impression on him. During his daily work, he would sometimes think about his own life, but these thoughts would quickly be destroyed by reality, and he would lower his head to face the land once again. At this moment, remembering these things, he guessed they were just daydreams, and he should be taking advantage of his break.Just as Zhang Xiaohua was lost in his thoughts, his stomach was growling constantly. It seemed it was time for lunch. Before, he would always eat with his mother at home. But now, he was tending to his own farm. When he left in the morning, his mother had told him she would bring his lunch, and it should be about time.
As expected, a voice came from the slope below, "Xiao Hua~ come help me!" There was a steep and slippery slope to climb from the bottom of the hill. When Zhang Cai went to see the field last time, he fell down the slope. Zhang Xiaohua quickly replied, "Mother, wait a moment. I'm coming down now. Don't try to come up on your own." As Zhang Xiaohua went down the slope, he saw his mother standing by the road with a bamboo basket in her hand. Zhang Xiaohua took the basket and carefully escorted his mother up the hill. He let her sit on a rock at the edge of the field, then took off the cloth covering the basket. Inside was a bowl of pork belly and a few coarse cornbread. Realistically, Zhang Xiaohua asked if she had eaten anything, and his mother's reply was as expected, she had already eaten. Seeing Zhang Xiaohua eating like a starving wolf, Guo Sufei felt a little distressed and told him, "Eat slowly, don't choke yourself. Drink some water quickly."
"Mother, why did you suddenly cook pork belly?" Zhang Xiaohua asked.
"Today is your first day working by yourself. Your father told me yesterday to make this meal for you as a reward." Xiao Hua's mother looked lovingly at her youngest son and said, "You've also worked hard, Xiaohua. You're only twelve this year. While many children your age in neighboring villages are still attending school, you're working alone in the field."
"Mother, look at what you're saying. Didn't my big brother start working separately from Father when he was only ten? It's really nothing. Besides, this land is mine. My second brother is still working together with my big brother. I'm so happy, I can't even find time to worry." To avoid his mother's nagging, Zhang Xiaohua quickly asked, "What about grandma? Has she eaten the pork belly?"
"Your grandmother is over eighty years old; how could she eat this? I cooked millet porridge for her." Xiaohua's mother said, "It's only now that you've eaten that you think of your grandmother. She was worried about you all morning."
Zhang Xiaohua scratched his head awkwardly, seemingly forgetting about his grandmother.
Speaking of Xiaohua's grandmother, Guo Sufei's face darkened with worry. Although life in their family had gradually improved as the children grew older, the grandmother's health was getting worse. Although being over eighty years old was already considered a great age in a rural area, who wouldn't want to have their elders by their side even longer? Recently, Zhang Xiaohua's grandmother's eyesight had also deteriorated. Guo Sufei and Zhang Cai had discussed having a doctor examine her, but the elderly woman had adamantly disagreed. She said that it was normal for eyesight to deteriorate at her age and that she didn't want to waste money on it. Unable to persuade her, the couple eventually agreed. Now, the elderly woman did chores around the house daily, feeding chickens and pigs while groping in the dark.
Seeing that Zhang Xiaohua finished his lunch and drank some water, Guo Sufei said, "Xiao Hua, do less work in the afternoon and go home early. Your grandmother misses you. I still have to deliver food to your father and brother." Zhang Xiaohua was now stunned, "Mother, I...I ate all of the pork belly. What will father and brother eat?"
"It's okay, there are other dishes. Remember to work less in the afternoon and don't catch a cold!" Guo Sufei lovingly stroked Zhang Xiaohua's head and looked at her flushed and anxious young son, as if he was still the little child who was once playful and spoiled by her side.
As Zhang Xiaohua accompanied his mother down the slope and watched her receding figure, he felt guilty in his heart. Alas, how could he have eaten all the pork belly!