Rebirth in Famine: She Thrives by Lucky Space

Chapter 865: Chapter 865: Chopping Firewood

Their village is quite far from the mountains, even walking takes more than half an hour.

On the way, the two of them had already discussed that they need to chop more branches, as it’s easier to carry back.

”Brother Guodong, the last time Aunt Jiang brought us wild boar meat, didn’t she? I wonder if we have a chance to encounter wild boars ourselves?”

”You’d better hope we don’t run into them, they’re way too dangerous.”

”I’ve never seen a wild boar before.”

”I haven’t either. But I think farmed pork tastes better.

Xiao Qiang, let’s raise pigs next year, just build a pigsty by our house.”

”Sure, we can feed the pigs with grass, and when the New Year comes, we can slaughter one for ourselves.”

”Things aren’t that good! We’ll definitely have to hand them over. Since our family is big, there’s nothing much for us to do, let’s find some work for ourselves.”

”I agree, we’ll take turns working, we’ll definitely raise the pigs nice and fat.”

Chen Hui was a bit tempted after hearing them talk. With the child being born next year, his wife wouldn’t be able to work, and their life would be particularly tight. If they raised a couple of pigs at home, things would be much better.

The other young men weren’t interested in the idea; they have endless tasks to do every day, and still need to look after pigs. Where’s the time to rest?

Once at the foot of the mountain, the group didn’t separate, staying together was much safer. Who knows what danger might be out there? Staying together was the safest option.

Everyone stayed there, but did their own work. Guodong told Zhao Xiaoqiang not to overdo it, or they wouldn’t be able to carry everything back.

”Brother Guodong, I’ve got strength, don’t worry.”

Everyone was moving quite fast; time was an issue, but mainly because of the fear of any danger.

The group slowly made their way up, and soon, each person had gathered a large bundle of branches. Chen Hui straightened up, ”Let’s just gather these today, otherwise it’ll be dark before we go back.”

Wu Hong had no objections, being a girl, her strength was no match for the men.

But the others were a bit reluctant to leave. ”Chen Hui, since we’ve managed to come here, let’s cut a few more branches.”

”Too many and we won’t be able to carry them back.”

A few said they could carry them back. The minority yielded to the majority, so they continued to chop firewood.

Wu Hong thought she could manage one bundle herself, and decided to share what she chopped with several fellow educated youths living together later.

While she was swinging her machete, suddenly a wild chicken jumped out, and by chance, she killed it with a swing.

Upon hearing Wu Hong’s scream, everyone rushed over.

”I caught a wild chicken. It suddenly flew up, and I hit it.”

”Haha, you’re really lucky.”

The male educated youths all got a bit excited at the sight of the wild chicken. They thought there was no gain initially, but seeing the girls manage to catch a wild chicken, they figured they could too.

Zhao Xiaoqiang was next to Lv Guodong, ”Can we catch a wild chicken too?”

”Xiaoqiang, that’s just luck, right?”

”Yeah, it is.”

The two sped up, getting home late would surely get their families worried.

Chen Hui looked at the time, considering they still needed to walk back; it really wasn’t early anymore.

”Let’s stop and tie them up to head home. It’s too late now.”

No one had objections; after all, each already had a lot of firewood.

”Chen Hui, let’s come back tomorrow afternoon, let’s work only half the morning, otherwise, we’ll suffer like last winter.”

Everyone remembered the previous winter and nodded in agreement.

”Brother Guodong, are we coming again tomorrow?”

”Ask Sister Jing Chu and your sister when we get back. If they agree, we’ll come.”

Guodong carried more than half, leaving only a little for Zhao Xiaoqiang, who still found it difficult.

But he gritted his teeth and stood up.

”Xiaoqiang, can you manage?”

”I can, Brother Guodong, let me help you get up.”

”No need, I can get up myself.”

Nine people carried big bundles; naturally, they couldn’t go fast.

”Xiaoqiang, if you’re tired, let’s stop to rest for a while. Anyway, it’s not dangerous now.”

”No need, I’m okay. Let’s try to bring a cart next time.”

”Not assured leaving it at the foot of the mountain.”

Zhao Xiaoqiang thought that made sense, worried it’d get pushed away by someone.

”Chen Zhiqing, you take this wild chicken back to Sister Xiaojuan.”

”No need, she’s well now.”

”Chen Hui, how about this, you take it back and we’ll bring grain and potatoes to your house for a meal.”

”No need to bring grain.”

”How can that be? It’s not easy for you two either.”

This matter didn’t concern Guodong, as he never got involved.

Finally, six people took rations and potatoes together to Chen Hui’s house.

Chatting helped distract from carrying heavy loads, and before it got dark, they entered the village.

The first to arrive was Old Yang’s house, where Chen Hui invited Brother Guodong and Xiaoqiang to his place for a meal, but they declined.

”Chen Zhiqing, we won’t go, or else it’ll just be my younger sister and the two of them at home.”

Chen Hui didn’t insist much, leaving with a smile.

Zhao Xiaoli saw them returning with so many branches, she felt very sorry for them.

She rambled on at the side, ”Our house isn’t short of firewood, why bring so much back?”

”Sister, we need a lot of firewood in the future; how can we not need it?”

”We have so much coal, plus your brother-in-law has agreed with the villagers we’re buying firewood.”

The two felt relieved, knowing they could just spend money.

Just then, Jing Chu returned from work and saw the large bundle of branches by her brother’s feet.

”What are you doing? Why carry so much?”

Guodong saw his sister was worried. He quickly reassured, ”I wasn’t paying attention and chopped so much. It’d be wasteful to leave behind, so I carried it back. I promise I won’t carry this much next time.”

”Your shoulder must be worn out?”

”It’s okay, I’m wearing a lot.” In truth, his shoulder was burning with pain.

”Sister Jing Chu, can we two go chopping wood again tomorrow?”

”Xiaoqiang, isn’t it dangerous up the mountain?”

”Sister Jing Chu, we didn’t climb very high; all afternoon, only Wu Zhiqing managed to catch a wild chicken, we didn’t see anything else.”

”Brother, Xiaoqiang, you two want to go?”

”Yeah, there’s not much else to do now. It’s good to prepare more firewood.”

”Alright, I’ll go with you.”

Jing Chu genuinely didn’t feel at ease with her brother, so she decided to go along.

Zhao Xiaoli wanted to stop them but ultimately didn’t say anything.

The evening meal was millet porridge and steamed buns. They steamed a special egg custard just for Zhao Xiaoli,

cabbage fried with smoked meat, and a plate of red pickled vegetables fried with eggs.

Guodong was already starving, coupled with a busy afternoon, so he ate with great appetite.

Sister-in-law Wu was a bit upset, as most of the food ended up in his stomach.