So, no one looked up and acknowledged Su Sanlang.
Su Sanlang didn’t mind, but his eldest brother’s youngest son, Shun, suddenly lost his temper. He swung the lawnmower in his hand and shouted at Su Sanlang angrily, “Third Uncle, why aren’t you working? Why aren’t Eldest Brother and Second Brother working? Why can they play but I can’t?”
Su Chong and Su Hua had not been working for the past two days so they could play at home, he thought.
In Su Shun’s opinion, clearing the well and digging the mud was just a game.
Su Dalang walked over and slapped his youngest son, Su Shun, and said, “What are you shouting for? Hurry up and go back to work. Do you still want to eat or not?”
Su Shun felt extremely aggrieved after being slapped. He was not Su Chong or Su Hua, who could hold it in. He was furious and his face was red with anger. He wanted to cry but was slapped again.
Su Sanlang stopped for a moment when he heard the shout, but soon he walked away without looking back. His heart had gone cold for that home.
His father and brother did not even want to talk to him. They were probably afraid that he would shamelessly go and ask for food.
Su Sanlang left without looking back. Su Shun was still sniffling and asked Old Master Su indignantly, “Grandpa, Father hit me. I didn’t do anything wrong. Third Uncle clearly didn’t do any work.”
Old Master Su said sternly, “Your Third Uncle’s family has been separated. From now on, there’s no Third Uncle in the family. Don’t call him that in the future either. Stay away from those two fools. I’ll send you and Qing to school next year. Don’t tell those two fools in case you get led astray.”
“You and Qing must study hard and bring glory to our Su family in the future.”
Old Master Su had high hopes for his two grandchildren and was determined to send them to school.
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Su Erlang tugged at his son, Su Qing, who was beside him. “Qing, swear to your grandfather.”
Su Qing immediately stood up straight and looked at Old Master Su seriously. “Grandpa, I swear that I will study hard and study hard to get scholarly honors.”
Su Dalang did not want to lose to his brother either. He tugged Su Shun, who was still sniffling. “Shun, swear to your grandfather too.”
Su Shun was still angry, but when he saw his father’s gloomy expression, he knew that he would be beaten up if he didn’t say anything, so he copied Su Qing and swore too.
Old Master Su nodded in satisfaction and said with a smile, “Alright, I believe you. Get to work.”
Without the burden of the third branch at home, work was even more tiring.
4
The effectiveness had clearly decreased over the past two days, so only Madam Wang and Madam Li were left at home to cook. Everyone had to go to the fields, and Madam Li and Madam Zhou would take turns cooking each day.
Last night, Madam Wang was still nagging at Old Master Su that if she had known earlier, she would have waited until the autumn harvest was over before separating the third branch. As she nagged, she could not help but curse Madam Zhao again giving birth at this time.
2
Old Master Su did not feel good either. He had been paying attention to the movements over at Salang’s house for the past few days.
It didn’t sit well with him to see Su Sanlang renovating the roof and taking charge.
1
However, despite his discomfort, life at home still had to continue. He had separated the third branch to get rid of the burden, so the family’s lives would get better and better.
4
—-
Su Sanlang quickly forgot about meeting his parents. He only had one goal, and that was to cut the weeds.
Usually, after the autumn harvest, most people would cut some and bring them home to repair the family’s cowshed and so on. This was the time of year when the weeds were the best. Su Sanlang was also on time for it.
He cut a large patch and saw Old Wu coming down the mountain. He smiled and greeted, “Doctor Wu, are you going to pick herbs?”
Old Wu glanced at Su and recognized him. When he reached Su, he simply sat down to rest. “How is your wife?” he asked.
Su said gratefully, “She’s much better. She’s been taking medicine for the past few days, and she looks better.”
Old Wu looked at the grass that Su Sanlang was cutting and said, “I heard that you’ve been renovating the old house these past few days. These weeds are going to be gone in no time.”
Su Sanlang scratched his head, embarrassed. “Yes. I had no choice.”
Old Wu smiled. “What’s there to be embarrassed about? This is ownerless to begin with. Anyone can cut it. Anyone who wants the weeds can take it. I was joking.”
When Su Sanlang cut the weeds. The villagers were indeed a little sore. This meant that if they wanted to get weeds, they would have to go further away.
Su Sanlang scratched his head, unsure what to say.
After Old Wu had rested, he carried the basket on his back and said, “Come to my house tonight. I’ll give you some insect-resistant herbs. You should crush them and sprinkle some on the grass appropriately when you lay it down. This way, your roof can last for several years.”
Su Sanlang was overjoyed. “T-this is great. Thank you, Doctor Wu.”
After thanking him, Su Sanlang looked troubled. “B-but I don’t have the money to pay—”
Old Wu snorted and walked away without looking back. His arrogant voice entered Su Sanlang’s ears.
“Who asked you for money? It’s just a few bucks. I don’t care for it.”
Although Old Wu was old, he walked steadily and quickly.
Su Sanlang was both happy and touched. He shouted at Old Wu’s back, “Doctor Wu, thank you.”
With the insect-resistant herbs, his roof didn’t have to be renovated every year.
This was the second person who had come to his aid.
4
After Old Wu left, Su Sanlang immediately continued cutting the grass. When he was almost done, he made two rounds to carry them all home.
As for the well at home, all the smelly mud had been dug up by the three children. The silt at the bottom was already visible, and the water that flowed out had turned from black to yellow. With a little more cleaning, the water would be clear.
When Su Saburo was cooking, he asked Su Sanmei to get medicine from Old Wu.
7
When she brought it back, Su Sanlang realized that the medicine was already ground. He made a mental note of Old Wu’s good intentions.
1
After a simple binding, Su Sanlang climbed onto the roof. After scattering the herbs, he asked Su Sanmei and her siblings to hand over the grass and thicken the roof by two layers.
2
That settled his mind. The renovation of the roof is now complete.
After letting the three children wash up and sleep, Su Sanlang also returned to the house to sleep in peace.
The fifteenth of August was a sunny day. It was also the Mid-Autumn Festival.
In the village, the fragrance of meat wafted out from every house. The Mid-Autumn Festival symbolized reunion. After working hard for a long time, the autumn harvest was finally over.
Su Sanlang also cut an extra piece of meat to cook. The rice at home was still ground gold and jade sticks mixed with rice. The meat was cut into cubes and added into the vegetable soup.
They had eaten a portion of the vegetables from the separation a few days ago. The other portion had also been dried and stored for eating.
The roof that worried him the most had been refurbished. Now, he could start preparing the fields and growing vegetables.
1
In the morning, Su Sanlang took the three children to clear the well. With him around, the well was quickly cleared and the water became clean. Su Sanlang looked at the mud that had been cleared. Many of it had dried, and the weeds in these areas around him had been cleared.
“Father, come and see, quickly.”
At this moment, Su Sanmei’s exclamation came from the chicken coop.