Chapter 332 A Good Performance

Yan Yu opened her eyes to a night sky dotted with sparse stars and a bright moon. The sound of leaves rustling in the wind and the gentle murmur of running water filled her ears.

Because the donkey was hauling an impressively tall stack of bamboo, it moved slowly under the water, prioritizing steadiness over speed.

Yan Lao’er was muttering something under his breath, barely audible, with only a few words slipping out now and then.

Yan Yu listened carefully for a while.

He was reciting texts…

Clearly, the pressure of the upcoming school term was weighing heavily on her father.

But that was a good thing. She refused to believe that with this level of effort, he still wouldn’t make it as a Tongsheng.

“Dad, where are we now?” Yan Yu asked, her voice slightly hoarse.

“Just passed Gufeng, we’re almost there.”

So she’d been asleep for quite a while!

Wait, what?

They’d passed Gufeng?

“Why didn’t we stop? Weren’t we going to tell Uncle?” Yan Yu asked in confusion.

“I thought about it,” Yan Lao’er said, “and figured there’s no need to worry your uncle. He’s got duties and can’t leave. Whether we tell him or not, it’s the same. Telling him would only make him worry for nothing.”

“True,” Yan Yu agreed. It made sense.

…

Li Xuemei matched the iron arrows to a diagram of the same size.

She had her Eldest Nephew deliver the drawing to the neighbors.

Madam Qi had stopped by and chatted with her for a while about this family surnamed Kang.

Upon learning that it was the old man’s son who got into trouble, she felt more at ease.

At least it wasn’t the head of the household. That made using them a bit less risky.

The five Arrow Towers in the village had all been completed one after another. Master Lu advised against climbing them just yet, recommending they be left to dry for a few more days to let the mortar set completely.

He had marked out the size and depth of the cellar beneath each tower. All day, the villagers had been digging.

To increase the load-bearing capacity of the cellars under the towers, they used wooden supports and cement bricks for reinforcement. The results were excellent.

On the flip side, the supply of cement bricks was now dangerously low.

Sifting soil took time, and turning the slurry into solid bricks took even more.

Feeling something odd in her body, Li Xuemei placed her hand on the slight curve of her belly and gently stroked it.

As if sensing her tender caress, the baby in her womb settled into sleep once again.

It happened in an instant and passed just as quickly.

As if the recent movement was no more than her imagination.

By the look of things, she was in her fifth month, just shy of six. Perhaps she’d been nurturing herself well these past months, because her belly had suddenly grown, from a barely-there bump to a pronounced swell.

She had worried it might be twins, but after consulting Granny Rong, she finally got a definite answer.

It wasn’t.

There was only one.

One was enough. If it were two, she’d really have something to stress about.

She had hesitantly asked Granny Rong if she could tell the baby’s gender.

To her surprise, Granny Rong actually knew.

After much deliberation, she decided not to ask.

Boy or girl, it didn’t matter.

The child’s father might be happily preparing to be a dad, but for Li Xuemei, everything was different. She could truly feel this tiny life growing inside her day by day. Her emotions had already shifted.

From acceptance to anticipation.

Especially now that the pregnancy was further along and the baby had started moving, it made her feel an intimate connection – one bound by blood, deep and unshakeable.

Granny Rong stepped into the room and pointed in the direction of the river.

Li Xuemei caught on immediately.

“They’re back?”

Granny Rong nodded and gestured something in front of her.

Li Xuemei said quickly, “Then go now, and be discreet about it.”

Granny Rong left the Yan household and headed to her own home.

She brought something up from the cellar, but didn’t rush out right away. After waiting a bit and making sure no one was around, she finally hurried toward the river, weaving through the reed marsh straight ahead and precisely locating the hidden Yan father and daughter by the riverside.

“Granny Rong, put it here,” Yan Yu whispered, revealing two clear spots left for the iron anchors.

Granny Rong stepped closer, unavoidably soaking her shoes and pants.

She didn’t mind and set the supplies down, smiling at Yan Yu.

The raft dipped twice before struggling back to the surface.

The weight of the two iron anchors was obvious.

“Granny Rong, you’d better head back now. We’ll be home soon,” Yan Yu said.

Granny Rong nodded and quickly left.

Yan Lao’er gripped the push pole tightly and heaved…

Fortunately, the donkey beneath assisted him. Without it, he wouldn’t have been able to move at all.

Village Chief Luo had been sending a few of his grandsons to the river every so often to check.

It was Si Tie who discovered that the two rafts had now been joined into one large one.

“Uncle Yan Lao’er is back! Uncle Yan Lao’er is back!”

The boy dashed off, shouting the news with glee.

By the time Yan Lao’er finally managed to tie the ropes of both rafts to the stakes at the Ferry Crossing, his welcoming party had arrived.

Good grief, it was a full crowd.

Looking closely, nearly all the village men had come. Each one wore a look of joy as they stared… at the bamboo on the raft.

The quick-witted ones, like Hu Da and Hu Er, had already brought their carts over.

Even his eldest nephew was sharp enough to drive the ox cart.

“We’ll haul it to the Big Rock first and divide it later,” Yan Lao’er said, sensing everyone’s impatience.

No one objected. They let the Yan Family’s ox cart take the first load, then the Hu Family’s. As for the rest, they divided it up, two people per bundle, carrying one at each end.

Yan Lao’er sat sideways on Sanbao’s back.

Everyone could see how exhausted he was. They didn’t let him lift a thing or get involved. If he hadn’t insisted on climbing up himself, Qi Da would have hoisted him onto the donkey.

Yan Xiangheng walked beside him, talking about the Arrow Tower, while others around occasionally chimed in.

Yan Lao’er quickly understood the situation.

“I’ll figure something out for the materials,” he said, then asked Yan Xiangheng, “How’s your prep going for school in Crouching Tiger?”

Yan Xiangheng replied, “I’ve got everything packed. Uncle, are we really going?”

Yan Lao’er gave him a sharp look, full of uncle-like authority. “Of course we’re going. Everything’s been settled. Magistrate Tian sent the word himself and even gave us an extra spot. Not going would make us look ungrateful.”

But inside, his heart bled.

Magistrate Tian, why are you being so foolish?

“Uncle, I’m worried about home…”

“I’m worried too. Sigh! But life still has to go on. We can’t freeze up just because we’re scared of what might happen,” Yan Lao’er said. “Besides, this time you and I are heading there with a mission.”

Yan Xiangheng looked confused. “What mission, Uncle?”

“We’ve got to make a good impression,” Yan Lao’er said, his expression solemn and earnest. “The supplies Magistrate Tian promised our village still haven’t arrived. The arrow tower is finished, but the perimeter wall hasn’t been built yet. While the weather’s still mild, we should build as much as we can.

But right now’s also when the autumn grain is going into storage. The government office is busy, and the magistrate might not think of our situation. So, we’ll need to find a chance to remind him.”

Since they were hoping for something, they had to behave like good students to win the teacher’s favor.

Yan Lao’er was determined to work harder than ever.

He knew he wasn’t very scholarly, not like his Eldest Nephew with all his learning. But that was fine—he’d just carve his own path.

After careful observation and thoughtful consideration, he realized the magistrate had a real fondness for food, yet no one around him seemed to take good care of him. The man led a rather austere life.

This had nothing to do with money.

You could still live comfortably without much of it.

What really mattered was whether someone paid attention.

And when it came to attentiveness, Yan Lao’er was second to none.

In a word: thoughtful!

—-

Magistrate Tian: Two promising students headed for the County School—so excited~ (^▽^)~

Yan Xiangheng: Carrying out a mission, under so much pressure~()

Yan Lao’er: Winning over the teacher, vying for his favor~ o(￣︶￣)o

(End of Chapter)