Ugly girl only wants to farm

In her spare time, Xu Chaoyan would help Meng's father chop some bamboo strips and fuss over her chicks.

She wished she could visit the chicks 800 times a day, hoping they would grow up quickly.

Li San Niang had laughed at her several times, saying that it takes time for a chick to grow up, and it's impossible to blow it up like air!

Xu Chaoyan used to dread going up the mountain to pick wild grass to feed the chickens, but now she's even more enthusiastic than Meng Jiuxia every day. There's not much food for people to begin with, let alone for these little chicks. The chicks can only eat bits and pieces, so she racks her brains trying to get them to eat more and grow faster.

She plans to keep a few to lay eggs and take the rest to town to sell, which will help improve her family's situation.

Meng Jiuhe sat there every day and watched Xu Chaoyan busy and happy, running around like a little bee, seemingly never stopping.

He once asked Meng Jiuxia with great confusion, "What are you and Xu Chaoyan busy with all day? I never see you two. Doesn't she complain about being exhausted and running all over the mountains and fields?"

He himself was unaware that his tone carried a hint of grievance.

Meng Jiuxia didn't even look up, continuing to look at the work in her hands, and replied, "Isn't it not long until the third day of the third lunar month? Our town holds a temple fair every year on the third day of the third lunar month, and they sell all sorts of things. Trumpet Flower said we should bring more of her to sell, and see if we can sell more. It's not a long-term solution to keep doing this bamboo weaving work. She's thinking of other ways to make money."

After these days of persistent training, Meng Jiuhe was able to stand shakily for a short while. Every time Xu Chaoyan saw him with his head covered in sweat and his teeth clenched, she couldn't bear to persuade him to rest for a while, but he gritted his teeth and persevered.

These days he has devoted all his energy to rehabilitation and has not gone to the market in town with them. He has forgotten about this matter.

Father Meng also sighed: "There is no one to work in the family now. The burden of the whole family falls on your wife. I really feel sorry for her. Dad, I don't have any other skills, but I can still lend a hand with these hands. While the weather is getting warmer, I will knit more. Once my legs are fully recovered, I will go to town to find another job to supplement the family income."

“Jiuhe, don’t be discouraged. You’re very lucky. You fell into that ravine and survived. It proves that God has eyes. As long as you keep going, you will definitely be able to get back up. Our family doesn’t ask for great wealth and status. As long as the whole family is together, healthy and safe, that’s the greatest happiness.”

Meng Jiuhe usually sits there reading a book. Except for the time he wrote Spring Festival couplets, he hadn't touched brush, ink, paper, or inkstone for a long time. Once, while he was doing his work, he inadvertently glanced into his son's room.

Seeing him staring blankly at the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the table, with an undisguised longing in his eyes, he knew that his son still longed to study and go to school, but given the family's current situation and his leg condition, there was definitely no chance for him to do so.

Meng Jiuhe nodded: "Yes, Father, you are right. I have figured everything out now. Don't worry, I will persevere in my training to stand up again. This little difficulty is nothing to me. Although my leg is crippled and I can no longer take the imperial examination, I will become a teacher in the future. Teaching and educating people will benefit the local people. It will be worth it. It will not be a waste of all the years I have studied."

Seeing his son's eyes dimming again, Meng's father quickly comforted him, "Jiuhe, don't be discouraged. Didn't the doctor say that your leg still has a chance to heal? Once your leg is better, we can pick up the lessons we've missed."

Just then, Xu Chaoyan returned through the gate, carrying a basket of grass on her back. Seeing that everyone looked a little pale, she looked at one and then at the other: "What's wrong with you all? You look so lifeless. Look how much grass I've cut today, enough for the chicks to eat for two days. Also, I found that bamboo shoots have already sprouted on the back mountain. Sister-in-law, let's go to that mountain in a couple of days and get some bamboo shoots."

Meng Jiuxia nodded: "We still have the winter bamboo shoots we made before the New Year. I don't know what you plan to do with them."

Just thinking about those dried winter bamboo shoots made Xu Chaoyan's mouth water. She glanced at the rabbits in the cage; the little guys had all grown quite a bit.

When Meng Jiuhe injured his leg, there was nothing at home to supplement his nutrition, and the rabbits didn't grow much. But after a year, these little guys started to grow taller like bamboo shoots after the rain.

"Once these little guys have grown a bit more, I'll make you some braised rabbit meat. It'll be a good treat for the whole family."

After saying that, he swallowed several mouthfuls of saliva. He had no oil or water in his stomach and felt hungry all day long. When he drank water, his stomach shook loudly.

Meng Jiuxia went over to help her lift the basket off her back and put it away, and then scattered a lot of grass for the chickens.

Meng Jiu handed her a glass of warm water: "Have a sip of water and rest for a while. Then help me stand for half an hour."

Xu Chaoyan gulped down the water and looked at him with some surprise: "No, half an hour is too long. Your legs won't be able to take it. We have to take it step by step and not try to do too much at once. You can only stand for a quarter of an hour at most before you have to rest."

Meng Jiuhe said somewhat stubbornly, "Fifteen minutes is too short. I feel some strength in my legs and I don't feel tired at all. Let's make it half an hour."

Xu Chaoyan knew she couldn't dissuade Meng Jiuhe and had no choice but to comply, muttering, "She won't turn back until she hits a brick wall."

After supporting Meng Jiuhe as he stood there for a quarter of an hour, she noticed that his legs were trembling slightly. Feeling sorry for him, she finally couldn't help but persuade him, "Look, your legs are protesting. Let's stop here for today. We've already gone on for a quarter of an hour longer than usual. How about we add more tomorrow?"

Meng Jiuhe glanced at her and, seeing the worry in her eyes, nodded.

"it is good."

The mechanic who made his wheelchair did not finish within half a month.

Li San Niang made a special trip back to see it. The old master said it was a bit difficult and he needed to think about it carefully. Half a month later, Li San Niang took some things and went back to her parents' home again. She returned with a look of surprise on her face.

“Dad, Jiuhe, look, this thing is finished. Jiudong and I pushed it all the way back. This thing is so much more convenient. From now on, wherever Jiuhe wants to go, we can just push it there. We really have to thank Yan’er for coming up with this idea.”

Meng Jiudong, being a child, had never seen this thing before, and kept pushing it around, insisting that his older brother sit on it and secretly push him around the yard.

Xu Chaoyan went over to take over for her: "Jiudong, you should rest for a while. Let your sister-in-law push your older brother around. You're too short to push him. You must eat more in the future and grow taller."

Meng Jiudong felt a little embarrassed by what she said and muttered a few words quietly: "I'm already very tall. In the village, I'm a head taller than other kids my age. Look at Gou Dan and the others, they only reach my shoulder."

After saying that, he stood on tiptoe to compare his height with hers, and everyone in the yard laughed.

Xu Chaoyan chuckled softly, "Yes, yes, you're much taller than them. Our Jiudong is all grown up now. Your sister-in-law will have to rely on you in the future."

"Meng Jiudong is young, so he just tilted the wheelchair up and pushed it. He can definitely push it that far. If Meng Jiuhe were to sit in it, wouldn't that kid be sweating buckets? What if he falls and hurts someone?"