New ink fragrance in old times

After breakfast, Lin Mo found that everyone in the Lin family was ready to go.

Even the youngest He'er was tied to Lu's back with a cloth strap. An innocent smile hung on her little face, and she seemed full of curiosity about the work that was about to begin.

The three cows in the house were also led into the yard. They lowered their heads and made steady breathing sounds from their noses, as if they already knew what they were going to do next.

Lin Xuejin pulled the cart, his steps steady and powerful, each one firm and resolute. The squeaking sound of the wheels on the rugged path blended with the chirping of cicadas around him, forming a beautiful natural symphony.

Lin Mo was gently led by Han. He looked around curiously, observing the surrounding scenery.

The sunlight filtered through the sparse leaves, dappling onto them and adding a touch of warmth to the journey.

Lin Sizhe followed closely behind Xing'er, his little hands tightly wrapped in Xing'er's big hands, and every step he took seemed so steady.

By the roadside, wild flowers sway in the wind, emitting a faint fragrance, as if adding a touch of vitality to this warm picture.

Lin Siheng lay on Shen's back, his little face pressed against Shen's warm shoulder. He occasionally looked up, blinking his big eyes and gazing into the distance.

At this time, a breeze blew by, bringing a hint of coolness and also blowing a few strands of hair on Shen's forehead.

Lin Sinan lay quietly in Lin Xuebo's arms, his little hands tightly grasping Lin Xuebo's collar, as if that was the source of his sense of security.

Lin Xuebao's eyes were full of doting. He gently rocked the child in his arms, trying to help him find a little peace on this bumpy journey.

Lin Xueqin, Old Mrs. Lin and Old Man Lin walked at the end, waving their whips from time to time to drive the cows.

Especially Mr. Lin, whenever he reached a fork in the road or when the cow stopped to graze, he would whip the cow's butt with a whip. The "slap" sound echoed in the silent valley, forcing the cow to continue moving forward. And the cow seemed to be accustomed to this rhythm, it lowered its head and moved forward silently.

The sun hadn't yet completely broken free from the night's shackles; the horizon was only a faint bluish-purple hue, and the air still held the freshness and coolness of morning dew. Walking under this glimmer of fresh light, the crowd entered the cornfield.

After tying the cows to the slope next to the corn field, a new day of work began.

"Children, be careful not to step on the bean sprouts," Mrs. Lin reminded.

Sweat quickly gathered into beads on everyone's forehead, slid down their cheeks, and dripped onto the dry ground. It was instantly absorbed, leaving only faint traces.

Lin Mo had already drunk three or four bowls of water, but the thirst still lingered, a constant reminder of his physical exhaustion. His clothes, already soaked with sweat, clung to his back, causing an indescribable discomfort.

In the cornfield, the golden ears of corn hang low, as if they are nature's gift to the hardworking people, but they have also become the object of the Lin family's challenge today.

Everyone bent down, their hands nimbly moving between the corn stalks, expertly breaking off one plump cob after another. Their movements were quick yet meticulous. With a gentle "crackling" sound, their pace of breaking the cobs grew faster and faster.

Lin Mo carried a small basket full of corn and walked back and forth between the corn field and the cart again and again. Whenever Lin Mo was too tired to breathe, he would stop and rest.

But within a short while, he would hear a voice in his ears: "Sanlang, don't be lazy, go pick up the corn on the edge of the field, Silang is more capable than you." This voice was like a whip, forcing Lin Mo to continue carrying the corn.

As time went by, the sun gradually rose higher, illuminating the earth with a golden glow. The swaying shadows of the trees cast a mottled and colorful shadow on Lin Mo's exhausted face, adding a touch of softness and tranquility to him.

Lin Mo's body seemed to have been drained of all its strength. He leaned heavily against the tree trunk, his back pressed against the rough and solid wood, bringing a hint of imperceptible comfort.

Sweat slid down his cheeks, falling drop by drop.

Lin Mo looked at Lin Sinan and Lin Siheng playing at one side. Their carefree and energetic figures revealed an indescribable envy in his eyes: "It's good to be young. You don't have to work that hard."

What made him even more envious was the tiny figure on Lu's back in the distance—He'er. Her tiny hands tightly grasped Lu's shoulders, her face filled with an innocent smile, babbling happily, understanding nothing, yet simple and happy.

Lin Mo leaned against the tree with his eyes drooping, letting the sweat slide down. He secretly decided in his heart that no matter who urged him, he would not go to work.

However, to his surprise, no one from the Lin family came to urge him.

After a while, Lin Sizhe, exhausted, slowly approached the tree and also chose to rest in the shade.

The sun was getting hotter and hotter. Lin Mo, sitting aside, felt an unprecedented stuffiness, as if all the water in his body was being mercilessly evaporated.

The cows in the Linlin family all have time to rest and take turns pulling the cart, but the adults in the Lin family are always busy and don’t even have time to drink a sip of water.

A while later, as the sun scorched the earth even more mercilessly, Mr. Lin finally spoke with sympathy: "Everyone, stop what you are doing and take a break."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces suddenly revealed a look of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off their shoulders. They all stopped what they were doing and walked towards the shade.

Some sat directly on the ground, while others found a stone or wood to lean on, keeping a distance from each other so that everyone could enjoy the hard-earned coolness.

Although everyone wore a straw hat to try to block the glaring sunlight, sweat kept sliding down their foreheads and cheeks like beads that had broken off the string. Some dripped down the bridge of the nose, while others seeped directly into the neck and soaked the clothes.

Sweat gathered into streaks on the back of their clothes, recording the traces of their hard work.

In their hands, a tattered fan or a large leaf became their only weapon against the heat. They kept waving it, trying to take away a trace of heat. Even a moment of coolness was enough to make them feel satisfied.

This horrible weather is getting hotter and hotter day by day. Everyone was enjoying the cool air while cursing inwardly.

After resting for a while, Mrs. Lin and Huaer opened a medium-sized jar to serve food to everyone.

Bowls of porridge were handed to everyone, but no one was interested in the multi-grain pancakes because they were too dry and hard. Everyone's throats were dry and sore, and they urgently needed this coolness to relieve the pain.

Lin Mo held his small bowl, half rice, half water. This was the thickest porridge he had drunk in the past few days. Although the porridge was cold, it was very soothing to the throat. Lin Mo finished it in a short while.

Lin Mo's eyes swept over the heavy jar not far away, which was still filled with porridge, thicker than the one he had just eaten. The translucent liquid shone softly in the sunlight, evoking a trace of longing in his heart.

He swallowed lightly, stood up, and his feet involuntarily moved closer to the jar.