The Lucky Farmgirl

Old Zhou sat on the threshold looking up at the sky, while Manbao, having just finished her notes and following Keke’s advice, came out to give her eyes a rest by gazing into the distance. Seeing her dad sitting on the threshold, she joined him, and they both looked up at the sky together.

Big and small, they sat on the threshold in silence until passing villagers, unable to help themselves, chuckled and asked, "What are you two looking at?"

Old Zhou sighed deeply, "Looking at the sky."

Manbao nodded solemnly, "Looking at the clouds."

Villagers also looked up at the sky, saw the sunset clouds, and leaned against the wall to join in, "Uncle Jin, do you think the weather will clear up?"

Today, there had been two showers, on and off, and although the sun had come out in the afternoon, such weather still made it difficult for everyone to harvest the rice.

Old Zhou touched his smoking pipe and said, "Whether or not it clears up tomorrow, we can’t wait any longer. The paddy rice has ripened and must be harvested."

"You’re starting the harvest tomorrow?"

"Mhm, after cutting it, we’ll carry it back home to dry. We won’t leave it in the fields anymore."

Some villagers expressed their envy, "Uncle Jin, your household naturally has no issues with many hands. As for my family, that’s not the case. We’re only six people with two kids, we can only harvest a small plot in a day, carrying it back would be impossible."

Old Zhou felt a hint of pride but still laughed and said, "My family may be large, but so is our land. It’s all the same, all the same."