Chapter 227 – Thinning Seedlings

Yan Lao’er found Qi Wu and said he wanted a raft, asking if he could help store some timber.

After explaining a bit, Qi Wu understood what it was for and asked how big a raft he had in mind.

Yan Lao’er thought back. This stretch of river near their village was actually at its narrowest—so might as well go bigger? But if it’s too big, it’d be unwieldy and harder to handle, so…

“About the size of our old ox cart, just a bit longer.”

Qi Wu promised, “No problem, Yan Lao’er. The timber’s all ready. If you’re in a hurry, we can pull an all-nighter and get it done by tomorrow.”

“No rush, no rush,” Yan Lao’er quickly said.

“Just help me pick out the wood tomorrow. Once I get back from Crouching Tiger City, we’ll get a few of the guys together and lash the raft.”

Qi Wu grinned. “Got it.”

By late afternoon, those who’d gone into the mountains were trickling back to the village.

Standing in the Cui family courtyard, Yan Lao’er saw little Fengnian working diligently at the scale and ledger. Quite a few elderly folks were sorting their medicinal herbs, filling a basket at a time before calling for someone to carry them off for washing and slicing…

Physician Cui sat nearby, busy with his hands, occasionally glancing over. But more often than not, he didn’t need to say anything. In just a few days, everyone had become familiar with the process—they knew what to do and how to do it. Each played their part.

When Yan Lao’er returned home, Granny Rong had already finished cleaning the fish and stacked them high in a large basin. Whatever she was planning, he couldn’t tell yet.

There were fish, but no sign of Granny Rong.

Yan Lao’er took a walk around the courtyard, checking on the pigs, goats, and chickens. The vegetable beds were already sprouting seedlings. His heart swelled with contentment.

“Papa, where are you going?” Yan Yu called, stopping him at the door.

“Just heading out to check the fields,” he said.

“I’m coming too.” Yan Yu slipped her little hand into his.

The father and daughter strolled toward the nearest plot of land.

As they reached the edge, they saw Granny Rong there already.

“Aunt Rong!” Yan Yu called out.

Granny Rong straightened up and gave them a warm smile.

The two of them walked closer.

“Thinning the seedlings?” Yan Lao’er rolled up his sleeves, ready to help, but Granny Rong stopped him with a wave of her hand.

She gestured for a while, and Yan Yu, half guessing, translated, “She says the thinned-out seedlings need to be transplanted elsewhere… and the weak ones should just be pulled out and tossed.”

Yan Yu whispered, “Papa, I think Granny Rong doesn’t think you can tell which seedlings are good and which aren’t. She’s afraid you’ll mess them up.”

Yan Lao’er wasn’t having it. “How hard can that be?”

He squatted down and pointed to one of the sturdier seedlings. “This one—clearly a good sprout.”

Then he pointed to another, much smaller one. “This one’s no good, should be pulled out.”

Just as he reached out, Granny Rong moved faster and plucked the seedling he had just called ‘good.’

Yan Lao’er: …

“Right,” Yan Yu added, “it’s easier for stronger seedlings to survive transplantation.”

The next moment, they watched as Granny Rong ruthlessly tossed the seedling aside, clearly not putting it in the transplant pile.

Yan Yu gave her father a long stare.

Yan Lao’er was thoroughly embarrassed.

“Alright then, let’s go check the plots near the woods.” He stood and left briskly without looking back.

Yan Yu jogged after him.

Her father was walking like there were dogs chasing him.

Wait a second—wasn’t she the one running after him right now…

Woof?

The kids returning from the mountain were gathered around offering tribute to the rabbits.

Yan Lao’er leaned in for a closer look, and his face filled with shock.

Turning to Yan Yu, he said, “You kids feeding rabbits this intensely now? That rabbit looks like it wouldn’t even be able to run if you let it out.”

Yan Yu rolled her eyes. “Papa, what are you talking about? That one’s a female and she’s pregnant, okay?”

“We’re not stupid. We know not to overfeed her.”

Even if they hadn’t known before, Granny Rong had taught them well.

Turns out raising rabbits isn’t just about giving them grass. You have to pay attention to balanced nutrition too.

Right now, the kids were picking the freshest, most tender greens and holding them out for the rabbits to choose—purely for fun.

This particular cage of wild rabbits had clearly been trained. Surrounded by children, they didn’t even flinch. Teased with the grass, they’d hop from one side to the other.

Yan Yu thought it was perfect—lively, full of energy. The kids were happy, and the rabbits were getting their exercise.

Today was San Tie’s turn to collect rabbit droppings, but since the Luo family’s older boys were a bit more mature, they were happy to let Si Tie and Wu Tie take this task. Especially little Wu Tie—he loved bringing stuff home.

At the moment, Wu Tie was clumsily poking at the round pellets with a little wooden stick.

Si Tie stood nearby, watching but not helping.

Yan Lao’er couldn’t bear it anymore. Thinking he’d lend a hand, he walked over and lifted the cage.

A chorus of gasps erupted from the children.

Yan Yu facepalmed.

Wu Tie froze, stick in hand, his eyes wide and mouth agape—an expression uncannily similar to the panicked rabbits in the cage.

Tears welled up instantly.

“Waaah—!” Wu Tie wailed.

Clutching his little stick, he looked around wildly before locking eyes with Yan Yu.

Yan Yu had a bad feeling.

The tiny ball of fury dashed toward her, like a cannonball locked on target…

Yan Yu calmly held him off—one arm’s length away.

Because her arms were only this long.

Wu Tie kept struggling, trying to throw himself at her, bawling, “Xiao Er-ge… sob sob… the bunnies are scared…”

Yan Yu: Got it. Loud and clear. But could you please stop poking my clothes with the stick you just used on bunny poop?

“Papa! Put it down now!” Yan Yu shouted in frustration.

“Oh… oh, right.”

Yan Lao’er set the cage down. The rabbits immediately huddled in the farthest corner, a jittery ball of fluff.

Yan Yu shot him a glare.

Why couldn’t he just keep his hands to himself? Now look at this—crying kid in front of her.

Wu Tie didn’t even bother opening his eyes—just kept howling.

“Alright, alright, Wu Tie, look—my dad already put the rabbits down. They’re fine now. Really, see for yourself.”

His wailing softened a bit. The little one turned his head slightly, peeking out of the corner of his eye. Seeing the rabbits truly back on the ground, he fully turned around, eyes brimming with tears as he looked at Yan Yu. “Xiao Er-ge, the bunnies got scared. They need to eat the food Madam Rong mixed for them.”

“See? Isn’t Madam Rong coming over right now? I’ll talk to her in a bit and ask her to make something special for the bunnies.”

Wu Tie was satisfied. He rubbed his eyes, clutching his little wooden stick, and squatted at a distance from the rabbit cage, staring unblinkingly.

Yan Lao’er was still rattled.

He whispered, “What’s the little guy doing now?”

“Waiting for the rabbits to calm down so he can go back to poking at their poop balls,” Yan Yu warned him. “Don’t get involved, Papa—let him do it himself. Didn’t you see Si Tie just standing off to the side, not moving a muscle? Wu Tie guards his ‘food’ fiercely. He’s the only one allowed to touch it. No one else can.”

“Guards his food… is that even the right phrase?” Yan Lao’er nitpicked her wording.

“Well, that’s basically what it is. No one’s allowed to help unless he asks. All the kids in the Luo family’s generation are boys—he’s the youngest, so they all spoil him. He’s fine in other ways, but this crying—oh, he’s got it down to an art. One sniffle and the tears are flowing…”

“Little crybaby,” Yan Lao’er concluded.

((End of Chapter)