Chapter 227 - 227 Slippery Roads on Rainy Days
227 Slippery Roads on Rainy Days
Su Fengmao and his wife were excitedly discussing the rice they were growing. Su Fengmao even smiled happily, looking a little silly. Su Binglan looked at her parents and smiled.
Their paddy fields grew well, and it was a good harvest. Her parents looked happier than if they made money. Su Binglan knew the villagers in this era valued their paddy fields more because some of the older villagers had experienced famine.
Having silver was almost useless in that era. Only with paddy fields could the villagers ensure they would not starve to death. Moreover, the price of rice was high during times of war. The villagers could not buy rice even if they had money.
Therefore, Su Fengmao and his wife could store more rice at home if they had higher paddy output. Then they would not panic during the winter especially. At least they could ensure everyone at home could eat their fill.
The sky had already darkened, but Su Wenzhe and Su Wenxiu had yet to return. Su Fengmao said, “Did those two go to Willow Village for dinner?”
Shen Qiuhua looked toward the village entrance from the door but could not see her two sons. She said, “I know Wenzhe would go to his in-law’s house for dinner. Perhaps he brought Wenxiu along too.”
Su Fengmao disagreed. “It won’t be appropriate if Wenxiu followed Wenzhe.”
Shen Qiuhua took firewood from the yard, saying, “It’s okay if they had one or two meals together. The two brothers are fine, so don’t worry about them. It’s already late. Let’s have dinner.”
Before Su Binglan and her mother left Old Madam Su’s house, Old Madam Su told them to bring home some duck blood. Then Su Binglan prepared a dish with the duck blood she took from her grandparents’ place.
She made duck blood soup and wild vegetable meatballs, and the main dish was steamed buns. The family had harvested wheat during the summer and ground them into flour.
The steamed buns Su Binglan made were from the flour they had obtained from grounding wheat. She knew she did not need to add much since the food she prepared was pure and natural.
As the family ate, it suddenly started raining. When the family heard the sound of thunder and rain, Su Fengmao and his wife were happy.
“Good! It’s raining!” The older couple revealed excited expressions as they talked about the rain. They were like little children as they put down their chopsticks and went to the yard to pack their things.
Farmers typically put many things in the yard, such as firewood. However, things like that would get wet in the rain, which was not good. Hence, the villagers would pack these things whenever it rained.
Su Binglan and her husband followed suit and packed their things. However, they did not have enough space for some things, so the family covered them with straw mats so they would not get wet.
The four quickly worked as they tidied up their things. After entering the house, the rain became heavier. The family felt waves of cold wind blowing over as they stood under the roof to look at the rain outside.
The wind on a rainy day brought with it a refreshing smell of soil. One would feel comfortable whenever the wind blew on their body, even if it were a bit cold.
Su Fengmao looked outside and said, “Autumn rain is cold. The weather will get colder soon.”
Shen Qiuhua sighed. “Fortunately, we lit a bigger fire tonight. Still, everyone is happy that it’s raining.”
Su Fengmao echoed, “You’re right. Everyone looks forward to the rain, especially when it’s too dry out there.”
Su Binglan understood what they said because the rain was crucial to the villagers who grew crops for a living. Moreover, there would be no rest days if everyone were farming. Most would have to work from sunrise to sunset.
One would say that while most went to the mountains to work, the rest would be idle at home. That would not make anyone feel at ease.
However, everyone could rest when it rained. Therefore, the villagers instinctively felt relaxed whenever they saw rain.
Su Binglan knew this feeling well as she urged her parents, who watched the rain, “Father, Mother, come and eat while the food is still hot.”
“Yes, let’s eat.”
“I would have forgotten to eat if it weren’t for your reminder, Binglan.”
After dinner, Shen Qiuhua and Su Binglan started cleaning up the dishes. Suddenly, a voice sounded outside, “Father, Mother, we’re home!” It was Su Wenxiu’s voice.
The family looked outside and saw that Su Wenzhe had also returned. The two brothers had gotten drenched in the rain.
Shen Qiuhua hurriedly said, “Come in, quickly! What’s wrong with you two?! Why did you come home in the rain?”
She removed some towels from the cabinet and gave them to her sons to wipe themselves as Su Binglan said, “I’ll boil some water so you two can warm yourselves up. You won’t catch a cold if you drink warm water.”
Meanwhile, Shen Qiuhua had already gone to the back room to get clean clothes for her sons.
Su Wenxiu took the clothes to the back room and said through the door, “Wenzhe and I wanted to come home earlier, but since the weather was terrible, we quickly went to look for Uncle Fengzhi.
“We wanted to help him pack up his stall earlier and place his things in our shop.” Su Wenxiu finished changing his clothes and exited the back room, using a towel to dry his hair as he continued, “Wenzhe planned to go to his in-law’s house for dinner, but it rained on the way, so we had to run home first since our home is closer to the town.”
Shen Qiuhua told Su Wenzhe, “But you’ve already told Yinyin you would go there for dinner tonight. We’ve also agreed it wouldn’t be appropriate if we came along.
“Also, it’s raining, and they won’t be able to see you. Won’t your in-laws get worried if you don’t show up? It’s better if we escort you there.”
Su Wenzhe said, “That’s okay. I’ll put on a raincoat and go there in a while.” He knew his wife would be worried about him if he did not show up.
Su Fengmao looked at how heavy the rain was and said, “I don’t know if it’ll get heavier. If it does, you’ll have a hard time going on foot. Also, what if something happens to you?”
Su Binglan said, “I’ll bring Big Brother on my horse.”
Su Wenzhe did not know how to ride a horse, but Su Binglan did. He would be more at ease with his sister around.
Su Wenxiu remained silent since he had witnessed his sister’s riding abilities.
However, Su Fengmao and his wife were worried. They would not let Su Binglan go because they did not want anything to happen to their daughter.
“The roads are slippery when it rains, and Willow Village is quite far from our village. You need to go up and down a slope while it’s dark. You won’t be able to see the road so well.”
Su Wenxiu said, “I’ll go since I can ride a horse too.”
He had experienced many things when he was on the way home from the capital. He was okay with riding a horse and sending his big brother off.
Everyone was talking when someone knocked on their door. “Hello? Guys?”
“Why does that sound like Yinyin?” Su Wenzhe was very familiar with his wife’s voice, after all.
Shen Qiuhua listened carefully, and her expression changed. “It does sound like Yinyin!”
Su Wenzhe could not care less about the rain as he hurriedly opened the door. Sure enough, he saw his wife. Even though she wore a straw cape, she had gotten drenched in the rain.
“Yinyin, why are you…” Su Wenzhe could not finish his sentence, yet Liu Yinyin asked, “I-Is Binglan home?!”
Liu Yinyin’s eyes were red as if she had cried.