Chapter 110: Busy

In the early hours before dawn, Ping’an woke up right on schedule. Zhang Guoqing prepared the formula, expertly cradled his son, and fed him. After the baby finished drinking, he changed him into the diaper he’d readied the night before. Under the dim light, he glanced at his son—eyes closed, drinking his milk, and falling back asleep as soon as his diaper was changed. Amused, Zhang Guoqing kissed the top of his son’s head. He listened for any sounds from the inner room—nothing. His wife must still be exhausted from the past few days, and the red wine had helped her sleep. Zhang Guoqing gently laid his son back on the kang bed, then carefully tucked himself in beside him, pulling the quilt snugly around them both.

Before dawn, the rooster crowed. Zhang Guoqing woke with a start and checked on his son. It was almost five o’clock—soon his parents would be up, and today his mother-in-law needed to catch the train. He quietly slipped out from beside his son, pulled the small blanket down to his neck so it wouldn’t cover his face, then used his own big quilt to block any drafts from the outside. After getting dressed and gathering his towel and toiletries, he carefully opened the door and slipped out, closing it quickly behind him.

As the New Year approached, the weather was getting colder, not much different from the winters in the south. He wondered if they’d have to hunker down for the winter like in previous years. His breath came out in clouds in the freezing morning air, and a chill ran through him as the wind bit at his face.

Moving quickly in the dark, Zhang Guoqing made his way to the kitchen, lit the kerosene lamp he’d brought from the provincial capital, and fetched a bucket of water from the well. This well stayed cool in summer and warm in winter—one of his favorite things about the house. He washed up quickly.

The east wing of the main house was already lit. He walked over and called out softly through the window, then hurried to the outer room of the west wing. Once he’d warmed up, he dared to check on his son again. The coal stove wasn’t burning too hot, but the room was warm enough for the baby.

He went outside, took down two wild rabbits hanging from the eaves, and brought them back to the kitchen. He took the iron pot off the stove, set up a rack, and started roasting the rabbits—he had no choice, roasting outside wasn’t convenient. He had to keep turning the rack, running back and forth to check on his son. Luckily, they used firewood at home, so he didn’t have to watch the stove constantly. After half an hour, the aroma of roasting meat began to overpower the scent of the braised pork. He added another log to the stove and, as the delicious smell filled the air, made a few careful cuts with a small knife before checking on his son again. He felt incredibly busy—if he could, he’d buy an oven no matter the cost. It was exhausting. After an hour of work, the rabbits were finally done. He plated the meat, put the iron pot back on the stove, added water, and carried the plate back to the room. The rich aroma of roast meat filled the air.

Zhou Jiao, half-asleep, was dreaming of biting into a chicken leg when the smell of roast meat drifted in, pulling her from her dream. She stared at her mother for a while before remembering where she was. She saw the outer door half open and Zhang Guoqing tending the coal stove, trying not to wake her mother. She quickly waved her hand to get his attention.

Feeling someone watching him, Zhang Guoqing turned around and laughed when he saw her waving and making faces, silently mouthing words at him.

He picked up his son, blanket and all, and brought him over to Zhou Jiao, signaling for her to scoot over. He gently laid the baby down on the outside, then quietly went to the outer room and built a barrier with his own quilt to keep the baby safe. Finally, he breathed a sigh of relief, and the two of them shared a quiet smile.

Worried that she was hungry, Zhang Guoqing pointed to his stomach and mouth, then mimed drinking soup. Seeing Zhou Jiao shake her head, he gestured for her to keep resting, then pointed to their son, reminding her to be careful. Once she nodded, he indicated he was heading out.

Zhou Jiao wanted to ask what smelled so good, but decided to let it go. Watching his pantomime, she couldn’t help but laugh, waving him out.

Zhang Guoqing breathed a sigh of relief—what a busy morning. He headed to the kitchen, but didn’t see his mother. It was almost six, and usually she’d be up by now. He checked the east wing and saw the light on, then hurried inside, worried.

“Dad, Mom, are you feeling okay?” Zhang Guoqing looked at his father, then his mother, concerned.

His mother laughed, “What are you thinking? There’s no work today, and there’s meat stewing in the pot, so no rush for breakfast. I told your dad to rest, but he can’t stay in bed. We were just about to get up.”

“You’re usually up by five. When I saw the light, I thought something was wrong. Dad, I’ll go check the backyard for any chores.” With that, he headed out.

There wasn’t much left in the backyard garden—he hadn’t been home for a few days, and it looked like the potatoes and sweet potatoes had all been dug up, even the cabbages harvested. He thought back to what they usually did this time of year, then headed to the woodshed, grabbed a hoe, and started turning the soil. His body was made for farm work—strong, skilled at farming and hunting, able to do the work of three men. Luckily, he’d come to this world with his memories, or he wouldn’t have known how to farm or hunt.

Relying on his memory and good eyesight, Zhang Guoqing started hoeing the sweet potato patch. By the time his father arrived, he’d already finished turning the whole plot. The sky was brightening, but he didn’t stop to chat—he figured the more work he did, the less his family would have to do, especially with the house construction keeping everyone busy. Once it snowed and the ground froze, it would be too late to work the soil. He moved on to the cabbage patch, working more carefully since his mother wanted to keep the cabbage roots. He slowed down, leaving the roots untouched—his second sister-in-law would come help after feeding the pigs.

When his father joined in with another hoe, Zhang Guoqing quickly moved on to the potato patch. The two of them worked quietly, only exchanging a few words. By the time his second sister-in-law came out after feeding the pigs, the father and son had finished turning all the soil in the backyard. They left the cabbage roots for later, as Zhang Guoqing had always refused to help with fertilizing.

“Dad, we’re done here. You’ll have to handle the fertilizing tonight—I’ll stay out of it. Is there anything else that needs doing? If not, I’ll go up the mountain to gather firewood. We’re definitely short this year.”

“Go ahead, just be back before breakfast. Don’t go too far. Your brother and I will work the private plot—three of us is enough, we’ve already done half.” His father looked at the freshly turned earth, then at his youngest son with envy. Such strength—one man doing the work of three. Yesterday, three of them had only managed half the private plot before work, but this morning, Zhang Guoqing had finished the huge backyard by himself without even breaking a sweat.

Zhang Guoqing put away the hoe, grabbed his machete, rope, and carrying pole, and headed out the back door. Many women from the village liked to gather firewood on North Mountain, so there was little deadwood left on the outskirts. He followed the mountain path, found a good spot, and set down his pole and rope. He didn’t even need the machete—he snapped the thinner dead branches by hand, broke the thicker ones with his foot, and soon had a pile. After a while, he checked his watch—almost time for breakfast, and he still needed to check on Jiao Jiao’s postpartum meals. He bundled the firewood into five large bundles, hung four on the ends of his carrying pole, and carried the fifth in his hand, heading home with ease.

His mother was waiting at the back door and called out as he approached. After he stacked the firewood in the woodshed, it was nearly full.

“Xiao Wu, you finished turning the backyard and still went to gather firewood? Don’t you need a break? Come to the main room and have some water, breakfast is ready. You really shouldn’t work so hard—look at you carrying so much at once. Don’t tire yourself out. Next time, leave some for your brothers.” His mother scolded him, but her tone was full of affection.

Zhang Guoqing just smiled, knowing she was worried about him and forgot how strong he was.

After breakfast, he checked the wild boar meat outside the kitchen—it had drained and was ready to be packed. He wrapped it up, making four bundles in total, each nearly a hundred jin (about 50 kg). He felt sorry for his mother-in-law, who would have to take them home. He’d have to send a telegram in the afternoon to arrange for a train attendant to help carry the bundles off the train. The more valuable items—wolf pelts, ginseng—he’d pack with their clothes and carry himself. Worried that there would be too many people around once the house construction started, he locked all four bundles in the car and added two wild rabbits.

It was 6:30. He changed clothes and told his mother to get ready—they’d need to leave soon, buy tickets in the provincial capital, eat, and catch the train. The timing would be tight.

Zhang Guoqing went to the west wing and saw his mother-in-law packing. She was efficient, a true military woman. He cut up the roast rabbit, removed the heads, wrapped the legs and meat in oiled paper, added some pastries from the provincial capital, and a few apples from Jiao Jiao, making a small food bundle for the trip. “Mom, here’s some food for the road. We’ll need to leave around 7:00.”

Lin Lishan took it, not noticing the bundles in the car. She and Zhou Jiao were saying their tearful goodbyes. When Zhang’s mother came to get her, the two finally separated. Zhou Jiao couldn’t hold back her tears as her mother left. Outside the west wing, Lin Lishan wiped her eyes, looked back, listened for a moment, then steeled herself and left.

Zhang Guoqing carried her luggage and bundles, comforting her as they walked: “Mom, you’ll be back to visit in a few days. When Ping’an is a bit older, you can come to the capital to see him. It won’t be long before you’re together again. In a few years, when you’re less busy at work, Jiao Jiao and Ping’an can move to the capital and you can see them every day.”

Zhang’s mother wiped her tears as she comforted her as well.

Zhang Guoqing started the car, and once everyone was in, they waved goodbye. Lin Lishan thanked everyone again, asking the sisters-in-law to take good care of Zhou Jiao. Everyone reluctantly said their farewells, and only after the car disappeared did they go back to their work. Huang Cuilan and Lin Juhua, the two sisters-in-law, went to the west wing to comfort Zhou Jiao."