Volume One, Chapter Seven: The Warmhearted Aunt Chunxing and Her Family

By now, the sun had risen, though it wasn’t yet strong enough to scorch the skin. Judging by the time, there were still at least two hours before the noon break. If this continued, he would likely collapse in the field before the workday even ended.

Yu Nian’an pursed her lips, glanced down at the man still bent over in labor beside her, and silently sighed. She walked over to him and gently urged, “Take a break for a bit.”

Gu Shen looked up, his eyes filled with confusion.

Yu Nian’an pointed to his pale face. “Did you bring your water bottle? Drink some, rest for a moment.”

Seeing that no one nearby was paying attention, she sat down firmly on the ground. As an educated youth, he was never well regarded by the villagers. If she let him rest alone here, the gossipmongers might spin all sorts of stories behind his back.

Yu Nian’an told herself she was just doing a good deed. But if he fell ill later, she’d be left to do all the work alone.

She made this excuse for herself, but Gu Shen, who noticed her gesture, felt a pang of emotion. Silently, he sat down on the other side, opened his water bottle, and drank slowly.

Neither spoke again.

Seeing his color improve, and as a few other educated youths began resting nearby, Yu Nian’an stood up and resumed the remaining work.

The morning passed quickly, and by now the sun was beating down so fiercely it made the skin ache.

Yu Nian’an draped her straw hat over her head and hurried out of the field. She had to get back quickly to prepare a meal, then later visit Aunt Chunxing to discuss the matter of the dry toilet.

Gu Shen watched her brisk figure disappear, his eyes clouded with a complicated, unreadable expression.

“Hey, what are you daydreaming about?” Ye Xiao came over from beside him, curious, and patted his shoulder.

Gu Shen ignored him, brushed the dirt from his hands, and headed straight for the educated youths’ quarters.

Lunch was still a pot of coarse rice, but this time there was a side dish to accompany it.

Yu Nian’an ate as if finishing a task, then headed to Aunt Chunxing’s house. Passing by the tributary river, she cast a sidelong glance downstream.

Aunt Chunxing’s husband also shared the surname Yu, so by family rank, Yu Nian’an should address him as Uncle.

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Since she came to seek help, she should have brought a gift, but Yu Nian’an hadn’t yet been to the county seat and arrived empty-handed, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Fortunately, Aunt Chunxing was warm-hearted and didn’t mind. Upon seeing her, she quickly invited her inside.

The couple had two children: their son worked as a manager at a factory in the county town, living in employee housing; their daughter, thanks to her brother’s help, had married into the township. So now only the elderly couple remained at home.

Uncle Jianping had learned of her purpose early on from his wife and asked where she planned to relocate the shed.

In her free time these days, Yu Nian’an had been planning the layout of the courtyard and even sketched it on paper. Hearing Uncle Jianping’s question, she took out the drawing and spread it on the table.

The toilet and shower would be moved to the left side of the main house to separate them from the kitchen, making nighttime use more convenient. The main house’s walls and door needed replacing, as did the courtyard wall, which should be rebuilt with yellow earth and raised higher. A wooden fence was useless—not even to keep out petty thieves, let alone well-intentioned guests.

Moreover, she hadn’t forgotten the enmity she bore against Yu Dingguo.

Aunt Chunxing was shocked by her plan.

“Girl, you never mentioned you’d be altering the main house too!”

Yu Nian’an smiled gently. “The mud chunks have been falling from the walls these past days. It’s been unsettling me, so I thought it best to reinforce it.”

Uncle Yu Jianping had no objections. After understanding her intentions, he pointed at the drawing and explained the details.

“The courtyard wall is simple — just fetch a bucket of stones and mix with yellow earth to build it up. It’ll just require more effort. We have plenty of mud and straw for the walls. As for the toilet and shower, forget tiles; switching to a wooden roof will save quite a bit on materials.”

All these considerations were for her sake. Yu Nian’an knew well that Aunt Chunxing had previously given these reminders out of kindness.

She couldn’t help but feel touched.

“Uncle Jianping, I’m just a layperson. Please help me think through the courtyard and materials.” Yu Nian’an took out the money she had prepared. Not knowing the going rates for labor and materials nowadays, she pulled out fifty yuan, planning to settle any difference later.

Uncle Jianping took the money, counted it, and returned half.

“Girl, yellow earth is everywhere here. All you really need to buy are some stones and wood. You don’t need this much.”

“And then there’s the labor pay. You can’t expect you to work for free, right? You know I live alone and might not even be able to afford meals,” Yu Nian’an quickly explained.

This was the truth. Usually, when someone worked for a household, the family provided meals. But Yu Nian’an was truly at a loss and wanted to make up for it with extra wages.

Aunt Chunxing saw through her thoughts. After spending these days with the girl, she knew she wouldn’t let others take advantage, nor would she suffer losses herself.

She readily accepted the money, redistributed it, and returned twenty yuan.

“Girl, you’re right. I’ll take this as your meal money. Don’t worry about the rest — just focus on moving into your new courtyard when the time comes!”

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Leaving Aunt Chunxing’s home, Yu Nian’an clutched the twenty yuan in her pocket, feeling a sudden hesitation. She suddenly remembered she hadn’t mentioned the well she planned to dig and turned back.

Seeing her return, Uncle Jianping, about to rest indoors, looked over. “Girl, is something else wrong?”

Yu Nian’an said she intended to dig a well in the courtyard.

“Your home isn’t far from the village well, right?” Uncle Jianping was curious. Digging wells was costly and laborious; everyone typically fetched water from the village well and didn’t waste money on this.

Yu Nian’an understood his thoughts and sighed softly.

“Uncle, you’ve seen for yourself. It’s just me at home, no laborers. I’m truly unable to manage.”

The weather was still good now, so she could manage to carry half a bucket of water back. Over time, she could fill half the water tank. But come winter, trudging through snow and ice was perilous. One misstep could be costly.

Yu Nian’an was willing to spend more to avoid that hardship.

Uncle Jianping pondered for a moment, then tried to persuade her.

“Girl, digging a well is expensive. What if you don’t live here later? Wouldn’t it be a waste?”

“Don’t worry, Uncle. I’ve thought this through. Just give me a price, and I’ll trouble you with the well-digging.”

Seeing her resolve, Uncle Jianping agreed.

“Alright then. I’ll bring the stones you need tomorrow, but I can’t do all the work myself. We’ll need a couple of helpers.”

That meant they’d need labor wages as well.

Yu Nian’an nodded in understanding and handed over the twenty yuan Aunt Chunxing had returned.

“Uncle, please take this. If it’s not enough, I’ll add more later.”

The money she brought was already planned for this. She didn’t begrudge the expense. Since she planned to live here, she resolved to spend as needed and not shortchange herself.

Uncle Jianping nodded, took the money, and watched her leave.