country bumpkin

Life is about following the routine of each day, going on and on in a cycle of habit.

The workers continued their daily routine. Meanwhile, the villagers had already begun their autumn harvest.

Some villagers had already harvested their crops before the Mid-Autumn Festival. Others, however, planted their crops later, and they were not yet fully ripe.

These include: corn, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans.

The corn at Granny Niu's house is exceptionally plump, with kernels that look like tiny golden beans.

She stood in her own field, looking at the crops that had not yet been fully harvested, a simple and honest smile on her face.

Her eldest son's family and her youngest son's family all came to help harvest the crops. Caixia and Kong Chunhua also followed behind, picking up any leftovers to help.

As for Granny Xu's family, because their eldest son, Liu Dayong, was arrested and imprisoned and had not returned, they were short-handed and the peanut harvesting was slower.

The day after Liu Dayong was arrested, her second son, Liu Dagang, went out to work with his wife and children, abandoning their own land.

Her eldest daughter-in-law took her child back to her parents' home and hasn't returned since.

Granny Xu was kind-hearted and gentle. She got along well with everyone in the village. Seeing this, the neighbors spontaneously went to help.

As everyone harvested peanuts, they chatted about everyday things, and the lively conversation eased Granny Xu's anxiety.

The village children weren't idle either; they followed the adults, picking up any sweet potatoes that had been missed.

A boy named Little Tiger accidentally tripped and fell, getting his face covered in mud, which made everyone laugh.

Just then, a tractor drove up from a distance; it turned out to be a grain merchant from the town coming to buy the early-maturing crops.

The villagers crowded around, and the sounds of bargaining rose and fell.

At this time, the whole village is full of life and energy. Everyone is busy, feeling the joy of the harvest, and continuing the simple and unpretentious rural life tradition.

Kong Xiangdong's crops had been harvested before the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Kong Tongming, Mu Shuyun, and Yunya helped with the harvest. Zhou Caiyun only needed to stay home and cook.

Now that they've come to help at the old house, Zhou Caiyun is still in charge of cooking and boiling water. Everyone else is working in the fields.

Kong Tongming, though old, was still very capable and did just as much as Kong Xiangdong. Mu Shuyun was also keeping up in speed.

As long as Xiaoyunya works for a while, she'll drink some water, then work for a while more to pee. She takes several breaks back and forth like this.

Mu Shuyun asked her curiously, "Yunya, what's wrong with you today? Why do you keep drinking water and peeing?"

Yunya said with a bitter face, "It's because my second aunt cooked too salty food, and I was so thirsty."

Kong Xiangdong gave a helpless, bitter smile.

Mu Shuyun asked worriedly, "Drink more water if you're thirsty. Are you feeling better now?"

After thinking for a moment, he added, "When I get back today, I'll talk to your second aunt and ask her to put in less salt."

Yunya said, "I feel much better. I've drunk a lot of water, and I don't feel so thirsty anymore."

Mu Shuyun finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Around 2 p.m., the group finished gathering all the crops and loaded them onto the donkey cart. Kong Tongming then drove the cart home.

Mu Shuyun and Yunya stayed in the field to watch over the remaining crops. Kong Xiangdong followed behind the donkey cart, helping to push it.

After arriving home by donkey cart and unloading the crops, the two returned to the field to load the cart.

Upon arriving at the field, Mu Shuyun helped load the cart, while Yunya tidied up the water bottles and porcelain jars. They also packed the leftover food from lunch into a basket.

The remaining crops were all loaded onto the cart. Yunya also carried a basket and dragged it toward the donkey cart.

Looking back at the field, only weeds and plant roots remained. Having left nothing behind, everyone went home together.

It was already 4:30 when they got home. Kong Xiangdong and Kong Tongming unloaded the crops from the truck.

Mu Shuyun went to help Zhou Caiyun cook. Yunya went to help start the fire. Everyone was busy with their own tasks and had a great time.

Recently, everyone in the village has been busy with the autumn harvest, so they haven't had time to gossip.

Granny Zhang was very dedicated; she listened to all the recent events in the village and helped spread the word.

She saw that Mu Shuyun's family had returned and had come to spread the news again. Mu Shuyun smiled and invited Granny Zhang into the house.

To be fair, Granny Zhang was quite easygoing; even though her daughter had run away, she had her son look for her.

After finding his daughter and getting 2000 yuan back, he never bothered her again.

Her son has already told her that her sister is now with the person she loves and is very happy, so they shouldn't disturb her new life.

Although it was Granny Zhang and her eldest son who "sold" Zhang Qingjiao in the first place, they still wanted Zhang Qingjiao to live a happy life in the future.

As for the 2000 yuan that was recovered, it remained in Zhang Qingguo's hands.

He had just returned from his sister's place and went to Zhu Mengmeng's house, intending to bring her back.

But Zhu Mengmeng had already been "sold" by her mother again. In return, her mother got her brother Zhu Zhiqiang a wife.

Although she was replaced by a mentally challenged woman, she became pregnant.

Things had already come to this; he was too late, and there was nothing he could do but go home in despair.

He also thought about going to Mengmeng's in-laws' house to find her, but when he thought of his sister's experience, he stopped.

He was afraid that Zhu Mengmeng, like her sister, would be gossiped about by people in her husband's village, who would say that she was still having an affair with him and that she had an immoral lifestyle.

In the end, he also ended up having to run away.

Zhang Qingguo could only return home dejectedly. Once home, he locked himself in his room, refusing to go out, eat, or drink for three whole days.

In the end, Granny Zhang couldn't stand it anymore and pushed open the door to wake him up.

Granny Zhang is a bit of a chatterbox, but she has a quick temper. She's also very easygoing; despite the series of misfortunes in her family, it doesn't stop her from going around listening to gossip.

Perhaps this is the secret to her health and longevity. She has a broad mind and a generous spirit, never holding grudges. She can take everything in stride.

By this time, Mu Shuyun had already prepared the meal. Zhou Caiyun, heavily pregnant, slowly helped to serve the dishes.

When Granny Zhang saw this, she quickly took the plate and said, "Oh dear! My little darling, you mustn't work, be careful of the baby in your belly."

Zhou Caiyun smiled and said, "It's alright, Aunt Zhang. The doctor at the hospital said that moving around more will make it easier when you give birth."

Granny Zhang said, "That makes sense. But your belly is a bit too big! Could it be twins?"

Zhou Caiyun smiled and gently stroked her belly: "No, it's just one baby. It's because I'm eating well and getting enough nutrition that the baby is growing bigger."

Granny Zhang looked at Mu Shuyun with envy: "Old sister, look how lucky you are, you'll be holding your grandson soon."

Mu Shuyun smiled brightly and said, "Yes! When the children are well and the family is happy, life is complete."

Mu Shuyun then asked, "Old sister, did you ask Qingguo to look for Jiaojiao?"

Granny Zhang then told Mu Shuyun what had happened after her son found her youngest daughter.

The two were best friends, so she wouldn't be angry if Mu Shuyun asked about her family.

She would also feel that Mu Shuyun was thinking of her. Because they had been friends for many years, they understood each other well.

Mu Shuyun then advised, "My dear sister, I think you should go there in person after some time has passed! That might be the best way to win back your daughter, Jiaojiao."

He continued, "As we get older, we still hope that our children can live happy and harmonious lives. We also hope that our children can stay by our side."

Granny Zhang listened and kept everything in mind, saying, "Okay, I'll go see her in a while. To be honest, I miss her quite a bit."

The family was eating together, but Granny Zhang politely declined to sit at the table, saying that she had already finished eating.

After chatting at Mu Shuyun's house for a while, rambling about village gossip, it got dark, and she went home to rest.