Chapter 109
109 Rice Seed
Time passed like an arrow. In the blink of an eye, the rice in the paddy field began to bloom. Li Yu brought Er Ya to the two acres of farmland with a straw hat and a rope.
Li Yu picked up a grain of rice and saw that there was already a lot of pollen. She looked up and realized that there were more than ten grains of rice per stalk in the two acres of farmland. They were thicker and taller than the other grains.
Li Yu took note of it and took out a rope to hand to Erya. “Er Ya, lead one up the field opposite and pull the rope with me to chase the pollen powder.”
“Yes, Miss.” Er Ya took one end of the rope and ran across to the field. When they reached the opposite side, they each held one end of the rope and stood facing each other on the two fields.
Together, they pulled the rope and slid past the rice seedlings to help the wild rice family hybridize and pollinate the rice flowers. When they were done, Li Yu looked at the two acres of rice hopefully, hoping that she could nurture different varieties as she wished.
The rice field was irrigated in mid to late July. Li Yu took the red line to the side of the rice field and planted the seeds. The dozen or so rice stalks and rice ears were clearly thicker and longer than the other rice stalks. The grains of the rice were also fuller than the other rice stalks and were tied with red lines.
Li Yu turned around and instructed Er Ya, “Er Ya, you must remember that if I’m not at home during the harvest, you have to collect these stalks of rice alone and store them well.”
Er Ya looked at the rice plants with red strings and said to Li Yu, “Miss, don’t worry. I’ll remember.”
Li Yu had just reached home when Uncle Zhou came over with a worried expression. “Miss, take some time to see Young Master. He’s been a little uneasy these days and hasn’t even eaten much.”
Li Yu was a little anxious when she heard that. “Alright, go back first. I’ll go wash my face and go over.” Uncle Zhou bowed and left.
Li Yu rushed to the entrance of the courtyard and saw Zhou Jia standing under the eaves with a frown. He looked at the pink Chinese roses blooming at the corner of the courtyard wall. Uncle Zhou stood in the corner and looked at Zhou Jia worriedly.
Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia’s tightly furrowed brows and walked over to hold his tightly clenched hand. She leaned her head gently on his shoulder.
Zhou Jia returned to hold Li Yu’s hand and kissed it. His tone was a little low. “Yu’er, Chinese rose is my mother’s favorite flower. She said that she liked how it blooms in a lively and festive manner. It makes me feel good just looking at it.”
Li Yu looked up at Zhou Jia and said in a soothing tone, “Xiao Xi, if your mother finds out that you’re still sad about her, she’ll be uneasy. She hopes that her Xiao Xi will have a smooth life and not be depressed because of her.”
When Zhou Jia heard this, he looked up at the distant sky silently. After a while, he looked down at Li Yu and said, “Yu’er, I want to eat your handmade noodles.”
Li Yu smiled and hugged him gently. “I’ll make it for you now. Go outside and pick some coriander. Also, come back with onions and chili.”
“Yes!” Zhou Jia walked out of the courtyard. Uncle Zhou came out from the corner and looked at Li Yu worriedly. “Miss, where is Young Master going?”
Li Yu looked at Uncle Zhou and smiled briskly. “Xiao Xi said that he wanted to eat handmade noodles. I asked him to pick onions.”
Uncle Zhou grinned when he heard that. “Oh! Oh! I’ll send him a vegetable basket.”
Li Yu went to the kitchen to see Uncle Zhou happily leave with the bamboo basket. She lifted the gauze covering the pottery basin and cut the instant noodles. She sprinkled some flour on the chopping board and began to knead the noodles. After kneading, she rolled them into thin skin. She sprinkled some flour and stacked the noodles into thin strips. She sprinkled some flour into the noodles and shook it out to the side. Then, she cut a piece of pork and began to chop it into pieces.
Auntie He returned with a few dishes and looked at Li Yu happily. “Miss, I’ll start the fire. Young Master finally has something he wants to eat.”
Li Yu chopped the meat a few times. “He doesn’t even eat properly. No wonder he’s getting thinner these days.”
Auntie He sighed when she heard that. “Young Master feels terrible every time before the August countryside examination. He’s much better now that you’re here. A few years ago, he would lock himself up in the small ancestral hall for half a month every time. When he came out, he was so thin that he was only skin and bones.”
Zhou Jia returned with the vegetable basket and handed it to Li Yu with a smile. “Yu’er, don’t put too much chili. It’s a little hot these days.”
Auntie He took the vegetable basket and said with a smile, “Young Master, give me the vegetable basket. I’ll wash the vegetables before giving them to Miss.”
Zhou Jia handed the vegetable basket to Auntie He and walked to Li Yu’s side with a smile. “Yu’er, thank you. I’m already much better.”
“Why are you thanking me? You’re the one who’s at a disadvantage if you don’t cherish your body.” Li Yu turned around and looked at Zhou Jia with red eyes. “Look at how thin you are. How will you sustain yourself when you’re taking the countryside examination? Have you forgotten that you promised me last time that you wouldn’t suffer anymore?”
Zhou Jia had never seen Li Yu cry sadly. No matter how difficult it was, he would always see her smiling at him. Seeing her red eyes filled with tears, his heart ached as he went forward to hug her. “Yu’er, it’s my fault. I will punish myself by eating a few more chili peppers and growing a big blister at the corner of my mouth.”
Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia and said solemnly, “Xiao Xi, I said that we’ll face everything together. As long as you have the confidence to work hard, I’m not afraid no matter how difficult it is. I don’t like you hurting yourself like this.”
Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu and raised his hand. He said seriously, “I promise this is the last time.”
Li Yu nodded. “Alright, aren’t you hungry? Sit and I’ll make you some noodles.”
Zhou Jia let go of Li Yu and smiled roguishly. “I’ll watch you do it here.”
Seeing that Auntie He had placed the vegetable basin at the door, and glancing at her and Zhou Jia before leaving happily, she pushed him with a red face. “Alright, watch me cook. Go and bring the vegetable basin at the door in.”
Zhou Jia carried the vegetable basin away. Li Yu scooped up a spoonful of bean paste, cut up a strand of red chili, and chopped it up. She scooped a large spoonful of oil into the pot. After stir-frying the bean paste with hot oil, she poured in the minced meat with small powder. After the minced meat was stir-fried, she placed ginger, garlic, and chopped green onion on the plate.
She mixed the base in a noodle bow. She then scooped a spoonful of chicken soup into it and placed the noodles and vegetable moss into the noodle bowl. With the minced meat piled on top, the dish looked very appetizing
Zhou Jia picked up the noodles and swallowed. He smiled and said, “It smells so good. I can eat two big bowls.”
Li Yu smiled angrily. “You can only eat one bowl. Otherwise, you won’t be able to eat dinner.”
Zhou Jia walked to Li Yu’s side with the bowl of noodles. “I understand.”
Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia and tapped his forehead with a smile. “You’re not shy.”
The two of them sat at the table. Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia’s ravenous expression and smiled. “Eat slowly. Be careful not to choke on the chili.”
Zhou Jia said without looking up, “It’s too delicious.”
Li Yu waited for him to finish eating and asked, “Xiao Xi, when do you plan to go to Tongzhou to take the exam?”
“Ji Xiang came back and said that he will enter on the eighth night of August. It’s July 20th today, and I plan to go in a few days. Yu’er, can you come with me?”
Li Yu hesitated for a moment. “The rice seeds are about to be harvested. I’m worried that Ruyi and Er Ya won’t know what to do.”
“They’ll know how to do it. Tell them the steps. Besides, there’s still Uncle Zhao and the other old farmers. They’ll know after you tell them.” Zhou Jia held Li Yu’s hand and placed it on his chest. He said seriously, “Yu’er, I need you to accompany me and give me courage.”
Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia and nodded. “Alright! I’ll bring Ruyi to the breeding field and teach him.”
Zhou Jia held Li Yu’s hand and walked out. “Let’s go! We’ll go find Ruyi now.”
The two of them found the manor and saw Xiaoyu and Ruyi standing at the entrance from afar. When they approached and saw Xiaoyu smiling and talking to Ruyi, Li Yu thought to herself, Hehe! When did these two become so familiar?