Spring scenery in the fields

She straightened up, turned her head and looked at the people looking for wild vegetables, and then said, "There are still many children who die young. For us women, giving birth is like walking through the gates of hell."

"For those who are lucky, both the adults and the children can be kept safe. For those who are unlucky, either the adults or the children cannot be kept safe. No one dares to have children in a famine year."

Ji Wenhe squatted down and said, "We don't have enough food at home during the Chinese New Year. It will be even more difficult to have another child."

Medical conditions were poor at that time, and were even worse during famine years.

Lan Qiuhua turned around and continued looking for wild vegetables: "This is one of the reasons. I heard my grandmother say before that during famine years in their time, they would exchange food for children."

"Ah? Swap kids... and eat?"

She frowned.

"How can I bear to give up a child that I have carried for ten months and given birth to with so much difficulty?"

"My grandma said there was nothing she could do. We already have a kid at home and if we don't eat, he'll starve to death. That's why she wanted to exchange it with someone else because she couldn't bear to part with it."

Some people can sacrifice everything for their children, but some people are also selfish.

While digging wild vegetables, Ji Wenhe thought of some cases he had seen in his previous life. There were many cases where biological parents hurt their own children. So not all mothers love their children.

At this time.

Shen Wenshan came up from the river, holding a handful of wild celery in his hands: "Aunt Lan, take half back."

There was the most wild celery by the river, but they arrived late and a lot of it had already been picked.

Lan Qiuhua walked over with a smile: "Half is too much, just a small handful will do. Xiaoya and I are at home, and we can't eat much. You have a big family, so take more back."

Wild celery has a pungent taste, so she uses it to make soup or eat it with black flour pancakes.

"Okay." Shen Wenshan separated a handful and put them into her basket.

"Wenshan, come and put it in the basket."

She planned to go back and stir-fry the pheasant.

Ji Wenhe looked behind her. They had been walking forward since they left the village. This was her first time in this area.

Going further, after passing a forest, you can vaguely see the village.

“Are there many villages on the other side?”

They are on high ground, and the village opposite is much lower.

"Yes, there are a lot of people living in the village over there. I heard that it used to be a big river, but it dried up somehow, and later people who were fleeing famine moved in."

Lan Qiuhua had heard about it from the elders in the village.

Ji Wenhe looked at Shen Wenshan who was walking in front of him and asked, "Wenshan, have you been to the village over there?"

"No, the entrance to their village is not here. You have to go east and pass through a forest."

"I thought about going closer first. I didn't dare to go to their village alone. I heard from people in nearby villages that someone was killed in a fight two years ago."

"Beat someone to death?" Lan Qiuhua looked up. "I haven't heard of it. Is that nonsense?"

It is impossible not to know which village such a thing happened in within a hundred miles.

Good things don't go out, bad things pass thousands of miles.

Shen Wenshan shook his head: "I don't know either. I heard it from an aunt."

"They started fighting over rations, and they took stones and knocked the man's brains out, and the man who beat him ran away."

Ji Wenhe felt that it was very likely a rumor, but for safety reasons, it would be better to be cautious.

"Then don't go alone. Whether it's true or not, let's be careful. Go with Yuanshan from now on, or let your eldest brother accompany you."

"Yes." Shen Wenshan held up the sickle and said, "Sister-in-law, I'm going to cut the grass, and you and Aunt Lan can look for wild vegetables around."

Lan Qiuhua took over the conversation: "Cut more, I'll help you carry it back later."

"Thank you, Aunt Lan."

"Oh, what are you thanking me for? You are not familiar with your aunt."

She patted her lower back and looked in the direction of the market.

"I wonder how our Anguo is doing in town. Has he found a good job?"

After the busy farming season, it's hard to find work in town.

It is easiest to find a job during the busy farming season, but my family needs someone and I can’t go to work in town.

"Aunt Lan, Uncle Shen and An Guo come back every few days."

"Sometimes it takes half a month, sometimes a month, it depends on how well the work is done. Those who don't have any work will come back early."

Ji Wenhe was curious: "What about the residence?"

Many of them just look for odd jobs and then move on to another one after finishing the job.

"Some employers will arrange accommodation for you, but if they don't, you can just rent a house with someone you know."

"A yard? It should be very expensive to rent a yard in town."

Lan Qiuhua nodded: "Yes, I'm not talking about that kind of yard. The yard they rented is remote, dirty, messy and poor."

"I understand. There are yards that are rented out specifically for people who do odd jobs. If a few people rent it together, it won't cost much."

She nodded.

Ji Wenhe stood up and looked at the person who was cutting thatch behind him. Shen Wenshan moved quickly and soon he had cut two piles of thatch.

"Aunt Lan, I'll take a bunch back and let him cut them here."

The shed is big, so a lot of thatch is needed.

Lan Qiuhua turned around and said, "Okay, I'll go with you. The more people there are, the faster it will be."

Ji Wenhe was about to refuse, but she raised her hand to stop him: "Don't be polite with your aunt, I have dug enough wild vegetables to eat, I will send them back on the way."

He smiled and replied, "Hey."

The two men came to the thatched pile.

"Wenshan, Aunt Lan and I will carry two piles back. You continue to cut them. We will come back soon."

Shen Wenshan replied without even raising his head: "I understand, sister-in-law."

He cut the thatch very quickly, thinking that he should finish cutting all the thatch needed for building the shed today so that he wouldn't have to come again tomorrow.

Ji Wenhe picked up the thatch, carried the basket, and followed Lan Qiuhua towards the village.

Passing by the vegetable field.

Some people don’t plant all their vegetable gardens, leaving some space empty, and then plant other vegetables when the time comes.

She was happy when she thought of the vegetable garden full of fruits and vegetables.

Lan Qiuhua walked in front and said, "Wen He, should we put the thatch in the yard or outside?"

"Put it outside." Then come out and hug it when needed.

Ji Wenhe put the basket into the kitchen. The wild vegetables would wilt if left in the sun.

"Aunt Lan, drink some water."

"No, I'm not thirsty." Lan Qiuhua looked around the yard. "Why is there a fence next to the toilet? Are you planning to put the chickens in the yard?"

She drank half a bowl of water and walked out: "Yes, I can't always trouble Aunt Lan. It will be hot later, and there should be nothing in the yard."

During this period, the chicks stayed at their home at night.

You can ask for help once or twice, but if you ask for help to take care of the child every day, I’m afraid that person will feel uncomfortable over time.

Lan Qiuhua smiled and said, "It's up to you. Let's go and bring back a few more."

Ji Wenhe nodded: "Hey."

When they were going down the mountain, they saw Shen Xiaoya in the yard, waving at them.

"Mother, sister-in-law, what are you doing?"

"Your sister-in-law's family wants to build a shed. We are going to the outside of the mountain to cut thatch. Do you want to go?"

"Go." She replied without thinking.

I had been doing ligaments at home for a long time and my neck and waist were sore. I went out for a walk and saw them.