Daily life of farming and supporting a family on the ancient Loess Plateau

The next day, just as dawn broke, the gate to Old Ji's house was knocked open, and the family began to busy themselves again, collecting, packing, and weighing mugwort leaves. The whole courtyard was filled with the fragrance of mugwort leaves.

Everyone was so busy that they didn't even have time to eat. They just ate plain water with vegetable dumplings and made do with whatever they could find.

It wasn't until midday, when the villagers had almost finished harvesting the mugwort, that Grandpa Ji told everyone to stop and take a break.

Ji Manchuan and Ji Manqing had worked the hardest, and as soon as they heard to stop, they collapsed into the shade of a tree.

Ji Manqing took the cool boiled water that Ji Yongling brought him, gulped it down, shook his collar to shake the water down his neck, smacked his lips, and said, "Oh dear, these past two days have really worn me out, almost like the wheat harvest—"

Ji Manchuan finished his bowl of water and said, "These past two days have really been exhausting, like an ox climbing a hill. But at least I'll be able to exchange it for silver tomorrow, so it's still worth it. Who's going to give you a copper coin when you're sleeping on the kang?"

Ji Manqing moved closer to Ji Manchuan and whispered, "Third Brother, after we exchange the money tomorrow, do you want to buy some big white steamed buns to eat?" As soon as he finished speaking, his ear was pulled.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch—it hurts, it hurts, it hurts—"

Yang grabbed Ji Manqing's ear and said through gritted teeth, "I think you're like a tailor who's lost his scissors and all you have left is a ruler! You haven't even done anything yet, and you're already thinking about eating white flour buns. You're just like a beggar who can't keep food overnight! The copper coins haven't even entered your pocket yet, and you're already thinking about all sorts of things!"

Ji Manqing pried Yang's hand away, rubbed his reddened ear, and said a little aggrievedly, "Mom, I'm a grown man, can't you give me some face and not pull my ear in front of the child?"

Hu Xirong came out of the kitchen to empty the water used for washing vegetables and happened to hear this. She was gloating and opened her mouth to make a few sarcastic remarks when Zhao Yunxia's voice came in from the doorway.

"Father, Mother—" Zhao Yunxia stepped over the threshold and came in.

Hu Xirong quickly carried the basin into the kitchen.

Grandpa Ji continued smoking his pipe and replied, "Yes, you're here. Didn't you bring over all the mugwort leaves yesterday? What brings you here now?"

Standing under the shade of the apple tree, Zhao Yunxia asked, "Dad, should we collect the mugwort from the neighboring village?"

Everyone in the courtyard was puzzled and looked up at Zhao Yunxia.

Although the Ji family didn't say they only accepted mugwort from Niujiazhuang and not from other villages, the quantity needed this time was small and the time was tight, so they didn't mention other villages. However, judging from Zhao Yunxia's words, it's likely that people from other villages wanted to send mugwort over.

It turned out that Zhao Yunxia had taken the aged mugwort from her home to the old courtyard early yesterday morning and immediately asked her second son, Ji Yonghua, to inform her family. However, her family hadn't saved any mugwort leaves, let alone aged mugwort for three years. So, her mother and brother planned to go to the village to collect them today, and then come to Niujiazhuang. They estimated that they had collected quite a lot this morning.

Zhao Yunxia came to ask for two reasons. First, she was worried that her father was too proud and would definitely refuse to let her mother and brother come if he heard that the Ji family did not accept mugwort from outsiders. Second, she was worried that her mother and brother had accepted too much aged mugwort. If the old courtyard had already purchased it by weight, then the extra mugwort from her mother's family would be stuck with them.

Ji Yongling thought for a moment and said, "Second Aunt, the merchants from the south are only asking for a small amount of mugwort this time. It's enough for the villagers, so we won't be accepting any from other villages for the time being."

Zhao Yunxia said anxiously, "Why didn't you explain it clearly yesterday!"

Ji Manchuan complained, "What? Do I need your permission for everything?"

Zhao Yunxia was furious. She glared at Ji Manchuan and said to the old man, "Father, I asked Yonghua to inform my mother yesterday and have her bring the mugwort over."

Ji Manchuan sneered, "I knew you were up to something." After saying that, he turned around, his back to the front door, and started picking at the soles of his feet.

Grandpa Ji frowned, his expression obscured by the smoke from his pipe. After a moment, he spoke: "Logically speaking, it was Ling'er and her father who arranged the collection of mugwort. Although I am an elder, I am only helping out and cannot make the decision. Since you said your mother wants to bring the mugwort over today, I will act as an elder and take charge. Let's bring it over."

"Father—" Ji Manqing called out, "We've collected enough of this thousand catties. Do we need to spend extra money to buy fuel?"

Zhao Yunxia rolled her eyes at Ji Manqing.

Grandpa Ji sighed and said, "However, let me make this clear from the start: only three-year-old aged mugwort, dried thoroughly, is acceptable. Otherwise, it will be taken back exactly as it was brought here."

"I understand, Father," Zhao Yunxia replied happily, then turned and left.

Just as she reached the door, she saw her mother and younger brother arrive with a cart, so she turned back in and called out, "Ling'er, your Grandma Zhao and Uncle Zhao have brought you mugwort leaves—"

"Manchuan, you two go and push the cart for Aunt Zhao," Grandpa Ji said to his two sons as he stood up.

Ji Manchuan frowned, and Ji Manqing sneered. The two looked at each other and walked helplessly towards the courtyard gate.

"Aunt Zhao, Brother Zhao, you've arrived." Ji Manchuan said, taking the reins from Zhao Xiaodi and helping to pull the car in.

Looking at the cart full of mugwort leaves, Ji Yongling estimated the weight in her mind, estimating it to be at least two hundred pounds.

Grandpa Ji greeted Zhao Yunxia's mother, saying, "Mother-in-law, sit down and have some water first. Grandma, Aunt Zhao is here, come and keep her company."

Seeing that Ji Manchuan and the others didn't look too happy, Zhao Yunxia's mother guessed that her daughter had had a falling out with the two brothers over selling mugwort. So she smiled ingratiatingly and said, "In-laws, we drank water on the way and we're not thirsty. We're really sorry that we've spilled so much mugwort."

Grandpa Ji waved his hand: "It's alright, you and your brother-in-law sit down first, I'll have Manchuan and the other two go weigh it."

Ji Manchuan called Ji Manqing to unload the mugwort from the cart. Ji Manqing had a long face and looked unhappy. He muttered under his breath, "It's only because of Second Brother's face, otherwise, humph, I would have just smashed him to death!"

Ji Manchuan glared at Ji Manqing: "What nonsense are you spouting? Get to work!"

When Grandpa Ji saw his two sons unload the sacks, he called to Ji Yongling, "Ling'er, go and check the mugwort from your Grandma Zhao's house. Is it three-year-old mugwort? If there's nothing wrong with it, then accept it. I'll have your grandma give you the money."

Hearing this, Ji Yongling knew that Grandpa Ji wanted to buy the mugwort leaves himself, rather than have her accept them and send them to the county.

She thought for a moment and said, "I understand, Grandpa. Grandma doesn't need to give me any money. My dad paid for it anyway. It's alright. An extra hundred or two pounds isn't much. I can handle it."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yunxia's eyebrows shot up, and she said to Ji Yongling with a beaming smile, "Quickly weigh your Grandma Zhao, because Grandma Zhao and your Uncle Zhao still have to hurry back."

Ji Yongling silently untied the sack of mugwort that Zhao Yunxia's mother had brought, poured the mugwort into a large cage, carefully examined it, and seeing that it was of good quality and clean, asked Ji Manchuan and his brother to help weigh it.