Chapter 207: Start Harvesting
Editor: Atlas Studios
The two of them walked in silence for a while. This was the path that led to the 5th Division’s camp. Other than the soldiers, almost no one else walked here. Qi Haoran stopped and asked her, “What did you discover?”
Mu Yangling said, “Not all the people who passed by just now were villagers of Chenggu Garrison. It’s not so obvious on this path yet. When I went to the county yesterday, I realized that two or three strangers had appeared on the road from Chenggu Garrison to the county. Yesterday might have been a coincidence, but I saw them when I went to the county again today, so I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
Although the other party had disguised themselves, she had also learned how to disguise herself. She was even a farmer now. Since the wheat was about to be harvested, almost no one went to the wheat field these days. Instead, they were all at home cleaning the venue and repairing scythe, carts, and other things to be used on the day of harvest. For the past two days, Great-aunt did not even enter the city to set up a stall. Every day, at dawn, she would clear out the things in the storeroom to make room to stack the harvested wheat. The grass behind was also padded with wooden planks. Mu Yangling sent the necessary tools like scythes to the county to find someone to repair them.
Those people on the road were either pushing carts to rest by the roadside or walking around with hoes. The first time Mu Yangling saw them, she was merely puzzled. The second time she saw them, she confirmed her thoughts.
Looking at the 5th Division’s camp, Mu Yangling asked, “Have you built the watchtower at the corner of the city wall?”
Qi Haoran nodded and asked thoughtfully, “Do you think it’s someone from the Great Zhou or the Jin Kingdom? Or West Xia?”
Mu Yangling shook her head. “Who cares? Since they’re here, just capture those people.”
However, Qi Haoran lowered his eyes and already had an idea in his heart. If he captured one, ten more would come. Although he was not afraid, it was too troublesome. He preferred to make them his people and would only kill them should he fail to do so.
Mu Yangling did not know that Qi Haoran had already thought of such a ferocious way to deal with it. She only reminded him, “Anyway, be careful. I’m afraid it’ll be very difficult for the people to attack from the outside. I’m just afraid that someone from the inside is not on your side. With so much corn piled up in the storeroom, even if one or two bags go missing, you won’t be able to detect it for a while.”
Qi Haoran’s brows twitched as he thought of the two disobedient training commissioners. Speaking of which, the two of them had indeed become much quieter recently.
Qi Haoran smiled and said, “I understand. Go back. With me around, it won’t be easy for them to get the corn out.”
Seeing that he had heeded her words, Mu Yangling went home in relief.
Together with Shu Wanniang, Xiuhong and Xiulan, Great-aunt was putting wooden planks on the grass behind the house. Bosi and Kejia were placed on a piece of cloth, and they were crawling on it. Seeing their sister return, they reached out to ask for a hug.
Mu Yangling kissed them and patted their butts. “Go play by yourself. I’m going to work.”
Mu Yangling entered the house, carried the wooden planks, and placed them on the grass one by one. Great-aunt couldn’t help but massage her waist. “It’s faster with you here. Your mother, your cousins, and I spent the entire morning and only managed to do this much.”
Xiuhong looked at Mu Yangling enviously and said, “Who can compare to Cousin? If I’m half as capable as Cousin, let’s see who still dares to bully me.”
Mu Yangling couldn’t help but laugh. “No one dares to bully you now.” Xiuhong was famous in the village for being hot-tempered. Even adults didn’t offend her easily.
Snorting, Xiuhong said, “It’s all because of you. When I was in West Mountain Village, I had the same temper, but even a three-year-old child dared to throw stones at me. This was because there was no one in my family who could back me up. Look at them now, who doesn’t call me Miss Xiuhong when they see me?”
Great-aunt poked her forehead with a finger and scolded jokingly, “Don’t flatter yourself. That’s because they respect you. Don’t be arrogant and let others see you as a joke.”
Xiuhong raised her head and said, “Who says I’m arrogant? Grandma, am I someone who doesn’t know the severity of things?”
“Alright, alright. Hurry up and get to work. I’ve been listening to your nonsense all morning. Ah Ling, your Grandpa Sun has already chosen a date. The day after tomorrow, we’ll start harvesting. Tomorrow, go to the city and buy a chicken and two catties of pork. Since our family has extra money this year, prepare more sacrificial items so that the Earth God will bless us with a bumper harvest next year.”
The corners of Mu Yangling’s mouth twitched. Not daring to object to this feudal superstition, she agreed.
Since she could reincarnate after death, even if she didn’t believe in all that ghost talk, she was no longer as resistant to such ideas. Since she didn’t believe it, she would revere it. This way, it would be good for her and everyone else.
This year was not considered a bumper harvest, but the situation in Mingshui County was slightly better than other places. Firstly, it was because there was a river in Mingshui County, and secondly, it was because of the water in the reservoir that Qi Haoran released later on.
Of course, things were even better for the military households of the 5th Division.
The Mu family’s wheat farming situation was considered above average in Chenggu Garrison. Great-aunt, who had always been top-notch in farming, was dissatisfied with this, but Mu Yangling felt that it was not bad. After all, considering this was her first time farming, it was already God’s blessing to have such an outcome.
Early in the morning, Mu Yangling placed the entire stewed chicken in a basin and covered it. There was also a piece of cooked pork and two eggs inside. This was a very big sacrificial gift. Although it would be used as an offering to the deity before they could bring it back to eat, they were still the first ones in Chenggu Garrison to prepare such a big offering.
According to Great-aunt, if she wasn’t afraid of attracting too much attention, she would have bought a pig’s head.
After putting the things away, Mu Yangling carried the basin out. Great-aunt followed behind and glanced at Bowen. Thinking of what Mu Shi had said before he left, she still didn’t stop her.
She turned and went back to get the firecrackers.
Other families had males carrying the basin. When the villagers saw that it was Mu Yangling who carried the basin in the Mu family and Mu Bowen walking behind her, they couldn’t help but be stunned. At the thought that the Mu family was now Mu Yangling’s family head, they all looked away.
Mu Yangling brought Mu Bowen to the village entrance and placed the basin under an old banyan tree before turning to look at her great-aunt.
Great-aunt went forward and lit the incense sticks. She inserted them into the ground in front of the banyan tree before pulling Mu Yangling and Mu Bowen to kneel at the back.
Mu Yangling hesitated for a moment. Seeing that everyone was kneeling in front and she was still standing, she had no choice but to kneel down as well with Great-aunt. In front of her, Old Man Sun was rambling on, mainly asking the Earth God to be merciful and give them a good harvest this year and bless the weather next year. If his wish was fulfilled, he would do his best to build a temple for the Earth God…
After he finished speaking, the families behind closed their eyes and prayed. They kowtowed three times to the Earth God together. Then, each family went forward to burn the firecrackers they brought before bringing the sacrificial items home.
After worshipping the Earth God, Great-aunt heaved a sigh of relief and said happily, “In a while, your Grandpa Sun will start harvesting. We can harvest the crops tomorrow. All of you have to sleep well tonight in order to wake up early tomorrow morning. You can’t get to the fields later than others, understand?”