Chapter 27 - Transmigration: The Farm Life of a “Fool”

Translator's Note:

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Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

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Up the Mountain

 

 

That day, the family's harvest was bountiful. They filled two large baskets with chili peppers, and Xu Ran had gathered a basketful of soybeans and dug up quite a few potatoes, which they packed into sacks. Liu Tong had also hunted plenty of game, including, most notably, a live muntjac deer* with a leg injury, which made it more valuable than if it had been dead.

 

[T/N: Muntjac deer, also known as barking deer, belong to the genus Muntiacus and are small to medium-sized deer native to South and Southeast Asia.]

 

Since the deer was still alive and would probably survive until the next morning, Xu Ran suggested that Liu Tong sell it the following day.

 

With so much to carry and the sun setting, Xu Ran said to Liu Tong, "Tongtong, why don't you take the children and head back first? I'll stay here and watch over the rest of our things. You can come back for me later, and we'll go home together."

 

Liu Tong looked at Xu Ran for a moment but said nothing. He simply gathered the game, took the children, and headed home.

 

Each child carried a small basket filled with chili peppers—about half full—and they managed to carry them easily.

 

The sun had just set, and though it wasn't completely dark yet, Xu Ran found himself bored being alone, so he grabbed his hoe and began digging for more potatoes.

 

He was worried that if others discovered the potatoes, they would start digging too, cutting off his family's food supply. It was better to be proactive.

 

Liu Tong returned quickly, his forehead covered in sweat, making it obvious that he had run the whole way.

 

Xu Ran walked over to him and wiped his sweat with a sleeve. "Why are you in such a hurry? Look at you, dripping with sweat."

 

Liu Tong smiled shyly, not saying a word. He had been worried that Xu Ran might feel afraid being alone in the mountains, but he wasn't about to admit it.

 

The two worked together: Xu Ran carried the basket of soybeans, while Liu Tong shouldered the remaining basket of chili peppers and a sack of potatoes.

 

As Xu Ran looked at his strong and capable husband, he couldn't help but feel his masculine pride was a little challenged.

 

Truthfully, Xu Ran's body had recovered well—he wasn't sick or in pain anymore. The only problem was his lack of strength, but everything else was fine.

 

When they returned, Xu Ran saw that Dahu and YueYa'er were already at their house.

 

After setting down his load, Xu Ran called out, "Hey, what brings you two here?"

 

Dahu and YueYa'er had arrived while Liu Tong was making his second trip up the mountain. Seeing Xu Ran and Liu Tong now, they greeted them eagerly, "Uncle Xu Ran, Liu Tong Ah-mo, Ah-mo* sent us over to invite you to dinner."

 

[T/N: Their mother, Wu Mei. I thought it was getting a bit confusing.]

 

Xu Ran ruffled Dahu's hair. "Go back and tell your Ah-mo that we won't be able to join you today. We found plenty to eat on the mountain, but we'll visit your place in a few days."

 

Seeing the seriousness in Xu Ran's eyes, Dahu knew Xu Ran wasn't going to change his mind, so he said nothing more and turned to leave with YueYa'er.

 

"Wait, Dahu!" Xu Ran called out, stopping him. "Take a few potatoes with you." He asked Liu Tong to pack some potatoes for Dahu.

 

After thanking them, Dahu left with his younger brother.

 

Xu Ran saw them off at the door, reminding them, "Be careful on your way home, and make sure to tell your Ah-mo that Liu Tong Ah-mo will be heading to town tomorrow morning. He'll wait for you at the village entrance."

 

"Got it!" Dahu shouted back as he hurried away.

 

Only when Xu Ran could no longer see the children did he turn and head inside.

 

Liu Tong was already busy in the kitchen preparing dinner, while Tangtang and Guoguo were still playing with the two rabbits. Seeing how happy they were, Xu Ran smiled and said, "Tangtang, Guoguo, how about we let you keep these two rabbits? What do you think?"

 

The children's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really?"

 

Xu Ran chuckled. "When has Daddy ever lied to you? Tomorrow, your Ah-mo* will make a cage for you. But first, you both need to go take a bath—you're covered in dirt."

 

[T/N: Liu Tong.]

 

"Okay, we'll go right now!" they shouted, running off toward the kitchen.

 

Xu Ran went to find clothes for the two children. When they had left the Xu family, they only had the clothes on their backs, and later, Wu Mei and a few others had given them some old clothes. Tangtang and Guoguo were wearing hand-me-downs from Dahu and Gouzi. Xu Ran's heart ached a little, and he resolved to make them some new clothes soon.

 

Liu Tong heated water, and Xu Ran led Tangtang and Guoguo to bathe. The children loved playing with the water, and since the weather was warm, there was no worry of them catching a cold. Xu Ran let them enjoy themselves.

 

For dinner, Liu Tong stewed a wild chicken with potatoes and made coarse rice. The whole family ate heartily and filled their bellies.

 

That night, as they were about to sleep, Liu Tong asked Xu Ran if he wanted to go to town together. Xu Ran shook his head. "No, you go. You know what to buy—I'm not good with these things. Tomorrow, I'll stay home and start processing the chili peppers and soybeans so we can make the chili paste as soon as possible."

 

Liu Tong lay beside Xu Ran, and later in the night, Xu Ran, out of habit, snuggled into his arms. But in their current situation, neither of them had the luxury of indulging in romantic thoughts.

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