Chapter 3: The Double Harvest

The Maple Leaf Production Brigade’s "Double Rush"—the intensive period of harvesting early rice and planting late rice—officially began. With students on summer break and workers taking leave, almost everyone capable of breathing headed into the fields to harvest the grain.

At the cowshed, several individuals were participating in the Double Rush for the first time. Knowing the critical importance of this harvest, no one dared to drag their feet. Tong Lingxian was assigned to a group with Tang Yao’s grandmother, Wu Meixia.

Neither woman possessed much strength, and their pace was slower than the others. After working for half a day, they had harvested less rice than others could in a single hour. Both felt a growing sense of anxiety, especially Wu Meixia. By the end of the morning, she was drenched in sweat. Furthermore, the dressing covering the wound on her head had become soaked, feeling sticky and uncomfortable as it irritated her skin.

Wu Meixia had only been at the Maple Leaf Brigade for a few days. Because her prior injuries were so severe, the brigade leader had made an exception and allowed her time to recover; today was her first day on the job. She had never performed farm work before, and being thrust suddenly into the most grueling task of the year, the Double Rush, proved physically exhausting. Tong Lingxian was in no better shape; she, too, had never labored in the fields, and it was a stroke of luck that she had managed to endure for two days.

Fortunately, the rest whistle sounded before long. Everyone stopped, tossed their tools aside, and collapsed wherever they stood.

Wu Meixia stood up shakily and climbed onto the field embankment, intending to return and cook. It was her turn to prepare the meal today, and no matter how tired she was, she had to go back. Tong Lingxian forced herself to stand up as well. "Sister Xia, I’ll go back with you."

Wu Meixia gave a grateful smile. "Lingxian, thank you."

"It’s nothing. Yaoyao is helping me watch Xixi, so don't mention it." Tong Lingxian waved her hand with a smile. Fang Bosong also walked over; he was worried about his granddaughter at home and took the opportunity to check on her during the noon break.

As the three of them reached the embankment, they suddenly spotted a figure in the distance. The silhouette looked familiar. Wu Meixia rubbed her eyes and tugged at Tong Lingxian. "Lingxian, look, why does that person look so familiar?"

Tong Lingxian’s eyesight was better than Wu Meixia’s. One glance was all it took to recognize the newcomer. "It’s Yaoyao, and she’s carrying Xixi on her back." Seeing her granddaughter, she and Fang Bosong immediately went to meet her.

Yaoyao was here? Wu Meixia’s spirits lifted, and she hurried forward.

On the path, Tang Yao was walking toward them, carrying Fang Mingxi on her back and lugging a wooden bucket nearly as tall as herself. She didn't know what was in the bucket, but it was heavy; Tang Yao struggled with it, forced to stop and rest every few steps. Moreover, Fang Mingxi had two water skins strapped to her back, and miraculously, they hadn't fallen off during the long walk.

"Yaoyao, what is this? Did you bring water for Grandma?" Wu Meixia rushed up to Tang Yao, looking pained at the sight of her granddaughter’s flushed, heat-reddened face, and quickly used her hand as a fan to cool her down.

"Yes, Yaoyao. The sun is so strong, you didn't have to come deliver water." Tong Lingxian removed her straw hat and placed it on Tang Yao’s head, unbuckled the strap around her waist, and took Fang Mingxi into her arms.

She felt Fang Mingxi’s diaper and realized it wasn't the one from the morning. She asked happily, "Thank you, Yaoyao. Did Xixi go to the bathroom? I was just saying I’d change her when I went back at noon."

Tang Yao took a deep breath. "She went just as I was leaving the house, so I changed her."

Fang Mingxi’s cheeks turned red. She hadn't wanted to go, but she had held it all morning and simply couldn't hold it any longer.

"Yaoyao, why did you bring a wooden bucket?" Wu Meixia lifted the lid and was startled to see the contents still steaming: a bowl of boiled wild vegetables and eight pitch-black potatoes and sweet potatoes. Was this... lunch?

Tang Yao said somewhat sheepishly, "Grandma, I heard the Double Rush was busy, and I guessed you wouldn't have time to cook, so I tried boiling some sweet potatoes."

Wu Meixia picked up the bucket with delight. "Yaoyao is so thoughtful, knowing how to cook for Grandma now."

At this moment, the rest of the brigade members were also preparing to head home. Those too lazy to make the trek had brought their own dry rations, eating cakes with water before lying down to rest in the shade. As they passed the embankment, they looked at Tong Lingxian and the others with disdain.

"Hmph, the brigade leader is too soft-hearted, letting these 'stinking old nines' get medical care."

"You didn't see it—those two old hags only harvested a tiny patch of rice all morning. They’re not even as good as the children."

"I really don't know what the higher-ups are thinking, bringing these 'stinking old nines' to our brigade. What if they ruin our atmosphere?"

The men were loud, and their crude, dialect-laced insults reached the ears of Tong Lingxian and the others. Their expressions stiffened, and the joy on their faces vanished instantly. Fang Mingxi raised her head unhappily and babbled a few choice swear words at the gossiping men ahead.

The others in the cowshed heard the remarks as well, but they had been here long enough to grow accustomed to such treatment. They simply praised Tang Yao for her hard work and began dividing the lunch.

Tang Yao, feeling dejected, pulled herself together amidst the praise, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Grandma, you go ahead and eat. I’ll take my sister back."

Wu Meixia paused. "Yaoyao, have you eaten?"

Tang Yao nodded reflexively. "Grandma, I’ve eaten. My sister has too; she finished all the rice soup."

Fang Mingxi let out a few "aba" sounds in Tong Lingxian’s arms. *You haven't eaten, Grandma Wu. Yaoyao is lying to you. She steamed exactly eight potatoes and sweet potatoes, and they’re all here. Besides the soup, she hasn't had a single bite all morning.*

Fang Mingxi squeaked and fussed, desperately wishing she could communicate her thoughts to Tong Lingxian.

Wu Meixia had been with Tang Yao long enough to know her granddaughter was lying. Seeing the girl’s maturity, her eyes reddened. Once upon a time, potatoes were merely a snack for children to play with; now, in these circumstances, they had become a hard-won delicacy.

Wu Meixia blinked back tears. She said nothing, instead breaking a potato in half and stuffing it into Tang Yao’s hand before turning back toward the shade. "Yaoyao, hurry back with Xixi. It’s too hot."

Tang Yao stood dazed, holding the half-potato that still radiated warmth. She watched Wu Meixia’s hunched back for a long moment before hoisting Fang Mingxi back onto her shoulders, picking up the bucket, and turning to head back the way she came.

...

The rest period was short. The brigade members returned to the fields as soon as they finished eating. Tang Yao avoided the crowds on the way back, making the journey much longer than the trip there. With Fang Mingxi occasionally making noise to distract her, Tang Yao found herself wandering toward the back of Red Leaf Mountain.

Red Leaf Mountain belonged solely to the Maple Leaf Brigade, named for the maple trees that blanketed it. Every autumn, the entire mountain would be ablaze with brilliant red leaves. As the saying went, those who live on the mountain eat from the mountain, and those who live by the water eat from the water—Red Leaf Mountain was no exception. It offered wild vegetables throughout the four seasons, small animals running through the woods, mushrooms that grew wildly after the rain, and the occasional wild fruit.

The back of Red Leaf Mountain faced the village, and many villagers would go up to forage in their spare time. Over time, the paths on this side of the mountain were much easier and safer to navigate than those near the cowshed.

Tang Yao had never been here before, so as soon as she realized she had taken a wrong turn, she immediately thought of turning back. The place was crowded and complex; her grandmother had warned her never to come to this side of the mountain, as it would look bad if the brigade members saw them.

The brigade members disliked them, and Tang Yao knew her current status was sensitive; she avoided others in everything she did, fearing that those with ulterior motives would cause trouble. It wasn't the first time Tang Yao had been betrayed, but once was enough. Her grandmother was her only living relative, and since their lives were at stake, she had to be twelve times more vigilant.

Tang Yao wanted to leave, but Fang Mingxi would not allow it. Her "golden finger"—the key to her and her family's fate—was within reach; she couldn't let this opportunity slip away. Realizing Tang Yao’s intention to retreat, she immediately pulled up the interface and clicked "Explore."

[Commencing exploration of Red Leaf Mountain. Duration: 30 minutes (29:59). Foraging attempts: 3 (Must be three distinct types of plants or animals; items already on the ground do not count).]