Chapter 3: Mutual Support and Encouragement

  I don't know why, but it seems that this year's spring has arrived especially early. It's only just March, and already the green willows are half yellow, and the tender buds are opening, leaving people unprepared.

  "A year's plan starts with spring, a day's plan starts at dawn."

  This sentence has an important role for ordinary people, but it has a special meaning for the people of Wangjiatun. They have been living on this mountain waist since their ancestors, and they are very aware of the difficulty of making a living. Every diligent farmer remembers this sentence all the time, so before dawn, they start working early, although some of them haven't realized the deep meaning of this sentence, they still lazily lie in bed, but eventually, under the scolding of their parents, they slowly get up, obediently holding farm tools and standing behind their father, facing the morning sun, carrying a large pancake made of millet flour, and finally disappearing slowly from view.

  But there was one exception, at this time the sun had already risen more than half from the east, but this household was still quiet, as if it were still asleep, without any movement. What's even more surprising is that when people who got up early passed by and saw this quiet courtyard, they didn't show a hint of abnormality, from their eyes, what could be seen wasn't disgust or contempt, but rather thick envy.

  They knew that a big shot was now living inside, although they were scared enough yesterday, but by today they also gradually understood that the scholar of their village might have really come back to life, and originally planned to bring some things here to visit.

  But today was a fine day, and it had just rained yesterday. The long-time farmers knew that the land after the rain must have been cloddy again, so they had to hurry up to loosen the soil. This is their * , and it's related to a family's annual food supply. So I came here and took a quick look around before hurrying away.

  At this time, the gate of the courtyard made of woven branches was slowly opened, and a slightly weak figure carefully squeezed in sideways. The girl held an axe and carried a large bundle of firewood on her back, the weight of which was clearly not light, and the girl's waist was slightly arched at this moment.

  She gently placed the firewood on the ground, trying not to make any noise so as not to disturb her husband who was still fast asleep. She knew that he had just woken up and his body must still be very weak, so he needed enough rest. The firewood for heating had been used up yesterday, so she took an axe and went up the mountain early this morning when it was still a little dark.

  The rice at home was almost gone, and her husband's body clearly couldn't eat that coarse bran that was hard to swallow. On the way back, clever Yunniang also borrowed some grain from San Shu's house along the way. It was said to be on the way, but it was actually a considerable distance away.

  Such a back-and-forth, not to mention a weak woman, even a strong man would be somewhat unbearable. Therefore, as soon as the firewood was put on the ground, she couldn't help but stumble and almost fell down. With great difficulty, she stabilized her body, but was exhausted and panting heavily. Her beautiful hair, who knows when it had been soaked wet with sweat, making her look even more exceptionally beautiful.

  She was Qin Yunniang. However, Yunniang didn't feel tired at all now, because her husband had woken up again and his body was starting to recover. In her heart, her husband was her earth, her sky, and everything to her.

  After a brief rest, she got anxious again, opened the door, and tiptoed in. It was dawn, and she had to go prepare breakfast for her husband!

  "I slept really well!"

  When the sun had fully risen, Wang Min slowly woke up. After a night's rest, Wang Min felt that he had more energy in his body and estimated that he could now walk alone without anyone's support. Suddenly feeling empty beside him, he vaguely stretched out his hand to feel forward, but grabbed nothing. Opening his eyes to take a look, it turned out that Yunniang had quietly gotten up from bed at some unknown time. Seeing this scene, Wang Min couldn't help but smile in his heart.

  "This little girl!"

  "Bang... Bang... Bang"

  Suddenly, a considerable commotion came from beside him. He turned his head and saw a busy figure.

  The firewood in the stove crackled and popped, with flames flickering constantly. The pot was also bubbling away, emitting a "gurgling" sound, as steam rose up in waves, releasing an enticing aroma that made one's mouth water and stomach growl in anticipation.

  Yunniang turned her head upon hearing the noise, and seeing that Wang Min had woken up, she smiled warmly at him and said: "Master didn't eat all day yesterday, I suppose you must be starving. I've cooked some porridge, please wait for just a moment."

  She smiled softly at him, her face red, and stuttered: "The new clothes are on the bed, now... let me help my husband change first!" She then walked towards Wang Min with a shy expression.

  Wang Men had never seen such a grand sight, in his previous life he was born poor and destitute, so there wasn't a single woman who could look up to him, let alone help him dress up.

  Seeing this, Wang Qian was anxious and hastily said: "No need, no need, I'll do it myself." After speaking, he busily put on his clothes, but he still underestimated the complexity of ancient clothing. It took a long time before he finally finished dressing, and his clothes were even more wrinkled than before.

  "Hmph"

  The young girl couldn't help but burst out laughing, and Wang Min was also very embarrassed, his face turning bright red. In the end, it was only with the young girl's help that he managed to get dressed properly, which made Wang Min feel quite awkward.

  Breakfast was not sumptuous, just a bowl of rice porridge and a plate of pickled vegetables. However, the appearance of the pickled vegetables seemed somewhat familiar to Wang Min, "What is this?" Before he could investigate further, his stomach protested loudly, "Gurgling" sounds came from within.

  Actually, Wang Qin had not eaten anything until now, and he was starving for a whole day and night. He sat down and started eating hastily, and he didn't know if it was because he was too hungry or because Yunniang's cooking skills were too good, but this simple bowl of porridge was exceptionally delicious.

  But as he ate, he found something was off. It seemed like he was the only one eating around him. He raised his head suspiciously and saw a girl sitting alone by the stove, holding a bowl and eating something to herself.

  Wang Min's eyebrows furrowed, and he quietly lifted his feet and walked over. At a glance, he was shocked.

  What is this, black and sticky, very thick, like a ball of paste, without any fragrance that rice should have, but instead there is a kind of musty smell that keeps coming out, smelling it makes people want to vomit!

  Can this be called a meal?

  At this time, the girl had not yet discovered Wang Min standing behind her and continued eating on her own.

  Seeing this scene, Wang Jian felt even more heart-wrenching pain. Even someone as strong as Wang Jian had tears welling up in his eyes.

  When he saw this house last night, he vaguely understood that the family was not very rich. However, no matter what, he could never have imagined that a home could be poor to such an extent.

  It wasn't until then that he realized, the so-called pickled vegetables were actually just dried wild vegetables. He still remembered, as a child, sitting around the table with his parents in the cold wind, a plate of wild vegetables, a few steamed buns, and a bowl of rice porridge, almost getting through the entire winter like this. So he had an especially deep memory of these vegetables that were picked in summer, dried, and then soaked in hot water in winter.

  No wonder it looks so familiar!

  "How could I be so careless? Why didn't I discover it earlier?" Wang Min's heart also felt a pang of regret as he thought about this.

  Wang Qin could no longer bear it, and with a swift motion, he snatched the bowl from Yunniang's hands. Not giving her any time to react, he pulled her to the table, pressed her onto the stool where he had been sitting earlier, and sat down opposite the girl, holding the bowl of "gruel". With great effort, he suppressed his discomfort and began eating voraciously.

  Seeing Wang Min like this, Yunniang was also startled. But as soon as she met her husband's bright red eyes, the clever her immediately understood everything.

  "Master, this is you being too kind to yourself, and can't bear to let yourself suffer alone!"

  Struggling free from the restraints, he stretched out his hand, and just as the other hand was about to come up and pry open his fingers to grab the bowl back, but repeatedly failed to get a grip...

  Tears fell one by one, unstoppable from the eye sockets, and later they flowed faster and faster until they became a string. Seeing that there was no hope of catching up, the girl suddenly squatted on the ground and burst into loud wails, her heart-wrenching cries piercing the air.

  The cry also scared Wang Min, who was devouring his food. He didn't understand what was wrong with the girl? But when he saw her pair of bright red eyes, Wang Min suddenly understood that Yunniang was...

  "Alas!" With a sigh of resignation, Wang Min also let out a faint sigh, and a sharp pain suddenly welled up in his heart, instantly overflowing like the sea.

  "What virtue and ability does our king have, that he can obtain such a virtuous wife in this life!"

  She clenched her fists so tightly that the joints of her ten fingers turned pale. At the same time, she secretly vowed in her heart: "In this life and this world, as long as you don't betray me, I will never betray you!"

  Pour the remaining rice porridge and dregs back into the pot, stir it evenly with tears, ladle by ladle, divide it into two bowls, and hand them back to the girl.

  The girl was dazed for a moment, and then her face burst into a radiant smile like a flower in bloom. In an instant, everything else faded into the background, set off by those sparkling tears, forming a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

  At this point, Wang Qian also smiled with relief, looking at each other, a strange feeling also quietly lingered in the hearts of the two...

  "I guess... this is what they mean by 'to be as close as lips and teeth'!"