Chapter 19
Arriving in Another World
Although Su Lianyi had spoken up, Mrs. Zhao didnât believe her. The small, fan-shaped slaps continued to strike Da Huâs back of the head. âYour wife is just a little plump, but a plump woman is fertile. You, still not even fully grown, donât understand anything, and yet you dare to look down on my Lianyi girl?â
A peasant woman who had worked the fields for years had a lot of strength. Each slap made Da Huâs head throb painfully. He dared not strike back and could only run around, dodging here and there, looking utterly patheticâbut he also didnât dare run away, afraid that Su Lianyi would really reveal his secret. He had no choice but to silently endure the injustice and take the beating.
Su Lianyi was exasperated and stepped forward, grabbing Mrs. Zhaoâs hand. âAuntie, Da Hu really didnât steal anything!â
Mrs. Zhaoâs hand was held, but her mouth didnât stop. âLook how loyal your wife is to you. You go and do something filthy, and your wife even tries to cover for you. Tell me, how can you justify yourself to your wife?â
ââŚâŚâ Da Hu stood off to the side, helpless and furious, his lungs about to burst. That damn Su Lianyiâwhat nonsense was she talking about?!
âAuntie, he really didnât steal. He⌠he⌠he gambled!â Su Lianyi quickly thought of a way out.
Gambled?! Da Hu froze, staring at Su Lianyi, who kept making up increasingly ridiculous lies without batting an eye. He swore to heaven that he had never gambled once in his life!
âReally?â Mrs. Zhao paused and asked Su Lianyi.
Su Lianyi nodded vigorously. âYes⌠thatâs right. This guy lost all the familyâs grain. Our household even ran out of food.â
Da Hu continued to stare at this woman who lied without hesitation. Out of food because he gambled? That was clearly her own wastefulness!
Su Lianyi shot Da Hu a look. Gambling is better than fooling around with women, isnât it?
Women are strange creatures. Compared to menâs gambling or promiscuity, they can tolerate gambling more. In ancient times, polygamy existed, but that was a game for the wealthy. In this remote, poor area, there was only one husband and one wifeânot because they didnât want more, but because they couldnât afford it. Over time, this became the local custom.
âI see,â Mrs. Zhao finally stopped struggling. âLianyi, men all have some bad habits. But your Da Hu, aside from being a bit foolish and gambling, hasnât messed around with other women. A wife has to be somewhat tolerant.â She then began lecturing Su Lianyi.
ââŚâŚâ Su Lianyi could only nod and listen. âYes, yes⌠your advice is well-taken, Auntie.â
Da Hu shot Su Lianyi a scornful sideways glance. Su Lianyi looked up, met his disdainful eyes, and glared at him. âWhy donât you say something too? Do you think gambling gives you a reason?â she said, glaring at him threateningly.
Da Hu was helpless. He gritted his teeth but couldnât do anything about Su Lianyi. âA⌠Auntie⌠your teaching⌠is correct,â he managed to squeeze out between clenched teeth.
âYes, thatâs the right attitude. Being poor isnât a big deal. Husband and wife must work together to live well and make their life prosperous. Donât you agree?â Mrs. Zhao continued lecturing the two of them.
âYes, yes, we do,â they both nodded helplessly in agreement.
Seeing Mrs. Zhao about to launch into another long speech, Su Lianyi quickly changed the topic. âAuntie, look at this field. Did Da Hu plant it correctly?â This question was just asking for a slap in the faceâjust looking at that lush green patch of weeds, a single weeding machine could turn it into a football field. How could it be right?
Mrs. Zhao squatted down and pulled out some weeds. âDa Hu, what is this?â
Da Hu didnât respond.
Su Lianyi jabbed him sharply. âAuntie is asking you. Donât play dumb.â
Da Hu furrowed his thick brows and finally shook his head. âDonât know.â
âDonât know?â Su Lianyi was stunned. âYou planted it yourself. How could you not know?â
Da Hu raised an eyebrow, expressionless as usual. âYour father gave me the seeds, so I planted them all.â His tone was innocent.
Su Lianyi was exasperated. âYou didnât even ask what seeds they were?â
âWonât I know when they grow?â Da Hu answered calmly.
Su Lianyi rubbed her temples. âEvery crop has a different planting method. You donât know that?â
âNope.â
ââŚâŚâ
âItâs wheat,â Mrs. Zhao interrupted their conversation. âDa Hu, this wheat should have been planted after harvesting the corn in early autumn. Planting it now isnât appropriate.â
ââŚâŚâ They looked at each other, completely lost.
âOnly in the north do they plant spring wheat. In our warm area, we plant winter wheat. Planting wheat in spring would make people laughâyou wonât get a proper harvest. This season, you should plant either corn or vegetables, which you can sell in town and make some money,â Mrs. Zhao explained.
They both nodded repeatedly, listening carefully.
It really looked like the young couple, just starting their life together, didnât know how to manage a household.
Mrs. Zhao looked at the two of them and felt they made a good match. Her smile grew gentler. âDonât worry. Life is something you live bit by bit. Experience comes gradually. These seeds are wasted now. Even if you remove the weeds, the wheat is unevenly planted, and the future harvest wonât be good. Listen to me and switch to planting vegetables.â
Su Lianyi nodded. âWeâll do everything you say, Auntie.â
Da Hu felt uncomfortable. He couldnât farm, but this land was his work, the seeds were planted by him, and now a month of effort was gone. Of course, he felt it.
Under Su Lianyiâs sharp glare, Da Hu swallowed his resentment.
Then Mrs. Zhao taught them how to use farming tools and methods. She led them to clear the weeds and seedlings, turning over a patch of land again. By the time they finished, it was already afternoon.
âLianyi girl, you must be tired,â Mrs. Zhao said, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
Su Lianyiâs hands holding the hoe burned. The hoe, which wasnât heavy, felt like a thousand pounds. âNo, itâs Auntie who worked hard. At your age, you still have to lead us in turning over the fields. I feel so guilty.â Her whole body ached.
Mrs. Zhao patted her shoulder. âLianyi girl, youâre a good child. How could people say such terrible things about you?â
Su Lianyi could only smile bitterly. Why? Because someone elseâs soul was inside her body.
Da Hu, who had practiced martial arts for years, was exhausted. Farming fatigue was different from martial arts fatigueâmore tormenting. He straightened up and took a cloth from his pocket to wipe sweat, looking relaxed yet dignified.
âOh, right. Lianyi girl, you havenât had lunch yet, have you? Itâs past meal time,â Mrs. Zhao remembered.
Su Lianyi suddenly realizedânot just lunch, Da Hu hadnât even eaten breakfast. She had eaten in the morning, then carried the lunchbox to the field, fuming. The lunchbox was still quietly there, and Da Hu had gone hungry all day.
âDa Hu, you must be starving,â she asked quickly.
He gave her a lazy glare, ignoring her.
âLianyi girl, come, letâs go home and eat with Auntie. Auntie will cook your favorite egg and chive dish from when you were little.â
Lan Feiju (10 flowers), Xiaoxiang Yunqing (3 diamonds, 5 flowers), Xiaoxiang Xinjing Rushui (18 flowers), Chu Ying (10 diamonds, 100 flowers, 10 votes), Xia Hao (2 diamonds, 20 flowers, 2 votes), liyuming2009 (11 flowers), Luoyu Ruyin (3 flowers), Ya Tou Gui Wo Shi Wo De (1 diamond), Lu Youâer (1 flower, 1 diamond, 1 vote), Gan Bian Baomihua (2 diamonds, 2 flowers, 2 votes), Mu Xi Ye Ying (6 flowers), Wo Shi Fusheng Xiwei (10 flowers), Yi Tu Yu007 (888 reward), Ban Ban Xianâer11 (188 reward, 10 flowers), 215812136 (2 flowers), a8015715 (97 flowers, 5 votes), Deng Deng123456 (1 flower), wangmc114 (1 vote), Miao Miao (10 flowers), tinalinda (1 flower), tamyatam (2 diamonds), aiwodijuanzi (25 flowers)
Thank you for your support! Every one of your names is firmly remembered in my heart. Love you all!