The kang (heated brick bed) for left-behind women

"What does your uncle want to see you about?"

After meeting up with Li Ruoxue on the mountain, Ruoxue asked.

"It's nothing. Let's get to work." Lin Dachun wanted to tell the truth, but he held back.

At this moment, Lin Dachun also had his own selfish motives.

After all, Li Ruoxue is just too beautiful.

Lin Dachun carried a hoe on his shoulder, with two bulging cloth bags full of seeds slung over his shoulders.

Li Ruoxue was carrying a basket containing a water bottle, dry rations, and a small sickle.

They were also herding lambs.

The two walked briskly along the winding dirt road toward the back of the mountain.

"This year's bean seeds are excellent, large and plump. I specially bought them from town," Lin Dachun said as he walked, turning back to look at the joy that comes with seeing good seeds.

Li Ruoxue hurried a few steps to catch up, her shoes already dirty from the muddy road.

She wore a slightly worn blue cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her forearms, revealing her slender yet strong wrists.

Although the clothes she wore were work clothes, simple and worn, they still couldn't hide Li Ruoxue's stunning beauty.

"Hmm, corn seeds are good too; I heard they're resistant to lodging," Li Ruoxue said in a clear, bright voice, full of youthful energy.

They were heading to the sunny slope halfway up the mountain.

That was the farmland allocated to Lin Dachun's family. It was a bit far from the village, but the soil was loose and there was plenty of sunshine, making it a good place to grow beans and corn.

By the time we arrived at the field, most of the fog had dissipated, and sunlight shone through the thin clouds, making the newly turned soil on the slope appear dark and glossy.

The two put down their things, and Lin Dachun picked up a hoe and began to skillfully create furrows.

The hoe rose and fell, carving evenly deep furrows into the soft soil.

Li Ruoxue squatted down and opened the cloth bag containing the bean seeds; the golden beans glittered in the sunlight.

She grabbed a handful of seeds and, following the furrows Lin Dachun had prepared, deftly placed two or three bean seeds into the soil, then gently covered them with a thin layer of soil with her fingertips.

His movements were practiced and skillful, clearly indicating that this wasn't his first time doing this job.

"Keep the spacing about a fist's width, don't make it too close together," Lin Dachun stopped what he was doing, looked back, and reminded him.

"I know," Li Ruoxue replied, her hands continuing their work without pause.

She lowered her head, her expression focused, and fine beads of sweat seeped from the tip of her nose.

After clearing furrows in a field, Lin Dachun squatted down and planted seeds with Li Ruoxue.

The two squatted side by side on the ridges of the field, one digging furrows and the other planting seeds, working together seamlessly and hardly needing to say a word.

The mountains were quiet, save for the muffled thud of hoes breaking the soil, the soft "tap-tap" of seeds falling into their holes, and the occasional chirping of birds in the distance. The sunlight gradually warmed, its rays comforting my back.

"Take a break and have some water."

Lin Dachun straightened up and rubbed his lower back.

He picked up the kettle from the ground and handed it to Li Ruoxue first.

Li Ruoxue took it and drank it in small sips.

The water soothed her dry throat, and she breathed a satisfied sigh of relief.

The sunlight shone on her slightly damp cheek, giving it a healthy glow.

A drop of water slid down Li Ruoxue's fair neck, and her dewy appearance looked delicious.

After a short rest, the two continued working.

After planting the soybeans, they started planting corn.

Corn seeds are large, so more force is needed when planting them to ensure they are buried at a sufficient depth.

Lin Dachun was in charge of digging the holes, while Li Ruoxue followed behind, dropping the seeds and covering them with soil.

"If the rains come in a good way this year, the harvest from this land will be pretty good," Lin Dachun said as he dug a hole. "After we harvest the corn in the fall, we'll grind it into flour and steam some big buns for you."

Li Ruoxue blushed slightly and whispered, "Who cares about your steamed bun?"

But his hands never stopped, steadily dropping plump corn kernels into the pit.

"How could I not like it? The steamed buns I make are big and fragrant. I can make them for you tonight. Do you want some?" Lin Dachun said jokingly.

"No, I don't want to eat your big steamed bun." Li Ruoxue blushed.

As the sun rises higher, the shadows grow shorter.

Their clothes were soaked with sweat and clung to their bodies, and their faces were covered in dirt, but they both wore expressions of fulfillment and joy unique to those who had worked hard.

"Let's take a break, the sheep have eaten their fill." Lin Dachun sat down and drank some water.

Li Ruoxue also sat down next to Lin Dachun.

The two people watched the sunset.

Calm, and relieved.

"I'll cook tonight. Corn porridge with steamed buns, and some cured meat. It'll taste amazing," Lin Dachun said to Li Ruoxue.

Li Ruoxue blushed and avoided Lin Dachun's burning gaze.

After finishing their work, they went down the mountain and returned home.

Upon entering the cave dwelling, my clothes were soaked with sweat.

"You're all sweaty and smelly. You should take a shower first, right?" Li Ruoxue asked.