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

When Ji Manchuan and Ji Manqing heard that their brother-in-law was sick, they became very worried.

Ji Manchuan asked, "What's wrong with my brother-in-law? What illness does he have? How serious is it? Why didn't he send a message home?"

Ji Shuicao immediately wilted and said, "It's nothing, I'm just tired, I'll feel better after a while."

Ji Manqing walked over, patted his chest, and said with a relieved expression, "Oh, that's good, that's good."

Just then, a few coughs came from one of the cave dwellings. "Cough cough cough, Manchuan and Manqing are here! Come in and sit down."

Upon hearing the weak voice of his brother-in-law Yu Fengshou, Ji Manqing and Ji Manchuan rushed inside.

When Yu Fengshou saw Ji Manchuan and the other man enter, a faint smile appeared on his thin face, which was flushed with an unnatural rosy hue. He said, "What brings you two here? Is something wrong at home? Cough cough cough—"

Ji Manchuan and Yu Liangshang quickly went to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) to help Yu Fengshou sit up. They propped him up with pillows and let him lean against the wall so that Yu Fengshou could breathe easier.

Ji Manchuan sat on the stool opposite him on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and said worriedly, "Brother-in-law, how long have you been sick? Why don't you go see a doctor?"

Ji Manqing also said with concern, "That's right, that's right. Look at you, you were such a good person, with such a big build, and now you've lost all your weight."

Yu Fengshou leaned against the wall and said casually, "It's nothing. It just rained a while ago, and I was thinking of going to the field to check on the watermelon seedlings, so I got a little wet. I'm feeling much better these past few days."

Although Yu Fengshou said that, Ji Manchuan didn't think that Yu Fengshou had any serious illness and thought it would be better to persuade him to go see a doctor.

Ji Shuicao said, "Please sit down first, I'll go and make you some food."

Ji Manchuan pulled Ji Shuicao aside and said, "Big sister, my parents asked me to bring you some food. It's not much, just a little. Manqing and I ate some dry food on the way, so we're not hungry."

"How can that be! We've come all this way to my sister's house, and we haven't even had a meal. If people find out, where will I put my face? You all sit down, I'll make something, it'll be quick." Ji Shuicao said unhappily, then turned and went to the kitchen.

Ji Manchuan called out to the door, "Big sister, make less food, we're not hungry, we're really not hungry."

Yu Fengshou coughed twice and said, "You've come all this way, why bring any food? We have enough to eat at home."

Ji Manchuan nudged Ji Manqing with his elbow, signaling him to get the things from the car, and said to Yu Fengshou, "Brother-in-law, I know your family has a lot of mountain land and potatoes, but those things can't replace wheat. My parents only sent us some. If you want more, there's none."

Yu Fengshou coughed twice and took a deep breath: "What brings you here?"

Ji Manchuan leaned forward and said, "A few days ago, Yongling made a deal with the county's pharmacy to help them collect medicinal herbs. But there's a flood in the south, and they need the herbs urgently, so Manqing and I came here to pick up your herbs."

Yu Liangdi sighed, "Wow, how come Yongling is so energetic? She's so young and she can already talk business with people? Tsk tsk."

Ji Manchuan chuckled twice, a little smug, and said, "It's quite a coincidence, we just happened to run into a flood in the south. But this girl is quick-witted, better than her mother and me. Anyway, none of us expected that she would talk to pharmacies about buying ordinary medicinal herbs that they usually wouldn't accept, and they agreed to take them. It's a good thing, even if these medicinal herbs that we can't sell are cheap, as long as someone wants them, we can still make some money and earn some copper coins for everyone."

Yu Fengshou nodded: "That's right. It's hard for us farmers to earn two copper coins, but nowadays girls are capable too. If they're capable, no one will dare to bully them when they grow up."

Ji Manchuan smiled and said to Yu Liang, "Liangdi, go and tidy up the medicinal herbs at home, see how much there is, and have your fourth uncle weigh them."

Yu Liangdi agreed and went out.

Yu Fengshou sighed, "The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and I'm not feeling well. It's really worrying me."

Ji Manchuan looked at Yu Fengshou's unusually red face and felt a little worried. He advised, "Brother-in-law, why don't you come with us this time? We'll go to the county to see a doctor. If you keep brewing medicine for yourself, it won't help if it's not the right medicine."

Yu Fengshou shook his head: "Let's wait a few more days and see. We need someone to take care of the family."

Ji Manchuan sighed. He knew Yu Fengshou was afraid of spending money. That's how people in the village are; if they can endure an illness, they will never spend money to see a doctor. Moreover, Yu Fengshou was coughing and wheezing, so he would definitely need someone to take him to see a doctor by cart. That would take at least two days round trip, which would indeed delay the work at home.

A moment later, Ji Manqing shouted loudly from outside, "Third Brother, all the medicinal herbs together cost two hundred and fifty coins. Hurry up and give the money to Eldest Sister."

Ji Manchuan called out, "I know. Pack the medicinal herbs and bring that bundle in later." He then pulled a cloth bag from his waist, counted out two hundred and fifty coins, and put it on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

Yu Fengshou took a couple of breaths and said, "Manchuan, what are you doing? Do you think I'd charge you for my little bit of medicinal herbs?"

Ji Manchuan hung the cloth bag around his waist, looked up and said, "Brother-in-law, when we buy medicinal herbs, it doesn't matter whose they come from, we pay the same amount. If you don't accept this money, I won't come to your door again."

Ji Shuicao walked in carrying two bowls of potato porridge and said, "Manchuan, you should put that money away quickly. It's embarrassing to give money away like that."

Ji Manchuan stood up, took the bowl of porridge, and said, "Sister, if you don't accept this money, I won't dare to eat at your house."

Ji Shuicao rolled her eyes: "They've been sending me grain and money, what's the point of those medicinal herbs!"

Yu Fengshou coughed a few more times and said repeatedly, "That's right."

Ji Manqing also came in and said, "Big sister, brother-in-law, if you don't accept it, we'll leave now."

Ji Shuicao glanced at Ji Manqing and said, "Alright, alright, you guys have a lot of money, send me more next time."

Ji Manqing shrank back: "No more. But if Ling'er can come up with some ideas, who knows. Haha, I'm waiting for people to call me Fourth Master Ji, Manager Ji, or Master Ji."

Ji Manchuan patted Ji Manqing's arm: "Wake up, what are you dreaming about in broad daylight?" Then he picked up the bowl on the table next to him.

Ji Manqing also picked up his bowl and started eating rice. After taking a bite, he looked up at Ji Shuicao and asked, "Big sister, aren't you eating?"

Ji Shuicao forced a smile: "We've already eaten, we're very full, you guys eat, you guys eat."

Ji Manchuan also put down his bowl: "Big sister, why are you putting so much flour in this potato paste? It's such a waste."

Ji Shuicao turned and sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), saying, "It's not a waste to give this to my own brother. Eat quickly so we can get going."

Ji Manchuan could only pick up his bowl and continue eating. He had only taken two bites when two childish voices rang out: "Mother, Uncle."

Ji Manchuan looked up and saw two thin girls, about seven or eight years old, standing by the door frame, looking at him with their big, wet eyes—or rather, at the bowl in his hand.