A Young Woman's Heart

"Uh, I'm here to help..."

"what?"

"I'll help with clearing the land." Yang Yankai scratched his head. "And you?"

"I just came here to have fun, um—on a whim?"

"Oh—" Yang Yankai drawled out. He could communicate normally with other girls, but he seemed a little awkward when facing Mo Xueyao.

Perhaps it's because her beauty is just too unique.

Especially her sky-blue eyes, so clear they seemed to reflect everyone's inner thoughts, making it hard to look directly at them.

"Want to go together?" Mo Xueyao jumped off the bicycle, patted her butt in her sweatpants, and said, "Phew, I've been riding for a while and I'm getting a little tired of sitting. I'll get off and walk around."

"Oh...haha, it's a beautiful sunny day today, a perfect day for farming." Yang Yankai scratched his head and laughed somewhat awkwardly.

It's clear he wanted to ease the awkwardness.

"Where did Xiaoxiao and the others get a plot of land? Didn't they grow some vegetables in their yard before? Are they going to cultivate a new one?"

“Yes, it’s a location a bit far from home.” Yang Yankai nodded. “Last time I came, it was for clearing land; this time, we should be able to plant seeds.”

"Were you alone last time too?"

"No, Xiaoxue came too. He built a ramp that we can climb up."

What are you planning to plant?

"It's definitely a vegetable suitable for spring."

"Speaking of which, my mom also grows a lot of vegetables on the flat roof of the fruit shop. If it weren't for the heavy rain during the Lunar New Year, she would definitely have to go there to water them every day."

"Growing vegetables is great! When they're ripe, we can eat them ourselves, and they're always fresh," Yang Yankai said with a cheerful laugh, putting his hands in his pockets.

Mo Xueyao pushed the cart and followed him forward. The two, who usually didn't interact much, seemed less awkward as they started chatting.

"By the way, why would Xiaoxiao ask you for help?"

"Because we often exchange tips on tending to flowers and plants at school, and I'm a farmer's child, I help out whenever I have free time during the busy farming season, so they called me over this time."

"I remember your home is in T County, right? It's quite a distance from here."

"Yes, but my family also has a house in the city, haha. Our old home is our ancestral land, and the house in the city was assigned to me by my dad through his job."

"Speaking of which, how many brothers and sisters does your dad have?"

"I have several older sisters, but my dad is my only son."

"Oh, so you're the only son now?"

"Uh, yes, my mom can't have any more children because of her health."

"Tsk tsk, your dad must often say things like, 'It's a good thing I had a son.'"

"Oh, how did you know?"

"Hmph, of course I know, I could guess it."

"Ha...haha...that's how most rural families are, right?"

……

(four)

Although it is a rural road, there are not only farmlands along the roadside, but also towering utility poles.

The electrical wires above were connected haphazardly, one after another.

Sparrows often perch on it, enjoying the view from above.

The two had already traveled halfway. When they arrived here, even the villages had been left behind. Further on, there were no more villages. The only household was Mo Xiaoxiao and her family's container house.

"...You've been doing farm work since you were six? You're an only child, but you're not spoiled at all."

"Haha, that's how it is where we are—oh!" Yang Yankai, who was chatting, suddenly stopped excitedly and pointed to the wild vegetables growing around the telephone pole. "Look, Mo Xueyao, these are wild vegetables that are unique to spring."

"What is this? It looks a bit like... a dandelion?"

"Haha, no, this is thistle—that's what we call it where I'm from." Yang Yankai happily squatted down and opened his empty schoolbag. "These thistles are very tender, and they're at their best right now. They're delicious whether you make a cold salad or cook them in porridge."

What flavor is it?

"It's a little bitter, very crunchy, but once you get used to the taste, it tastes a bit sweet." Yang Yankai squatted down, picked a wild thistle and put it in his schoolbag. "I can try it later, it's delicious."

"It's bitter again."

"Wild vegetables are all a bit bitter, haha."

"Oh! Yang Yankai, look at that one, it's huge!"

"Haha, I suggest you don't pick that, even though it's edible."

"why?"

"Yeah, the one next to the telephone pole, dogs and stuff like to pee there."

"Ah...! Oh no—"

"Hahaha……"

"Speaking of which, Yang Yankai, you really are... like an old man, so interested in these wild vegetables and crops. I feel like only people my mother's age would get excited about things by the roadside."

“Food is precious, so it’s normal to feel happy when you see edible wild vegetables, right?” Yang Yan grinned. “Imagine how wonderful it would be to see these things during a famine.”

……

Chapter 174 Bamboo Shoots, Milk, and Mushrooms

(One)

"Huh? Xiaoyao, what brings you here? And you're with Yang Yankai."

"I happened to run into them on my way here. I woke up at four in the morning and was bored, so I thought I'd go somewhere a little further away."

"Hey~ Haruka's here!"

"Ah, Youyou, you're up so early today?"

"Hey! What do you mean, Haruka?"

"Cough cough..."

"Yang Yankai, what's bulging in your backpack?"

"Wild vegetable, I don't know if you've heard of it, it's thistle."

"Thistle? The kind of wild vegetable that tastes great after blanching and making a cold salad?"

"Most wild vegetables can be eaten like that... Yes, let me show you?"

"Wow, so many, so beautiful!"

"right."

Where did you find it?

"Right by the roadside."

"I hadn't seen it a few days ago."

"It must have just grown recently. By the way, is Xiaoxue coming today?"

"He came yesterday, but he has something to do today so he won't be coming."

"So, it's still four of us today! Me, my sister, Xiaoyao, and Yang Yankai! Let's go!"

"Wait, wait, wait, Youyou, don't be in such a hurry, we still need to prepare..."

……

(two)

The spring sunshine lightens the heart that has been dormant all winter. The warm sunshine gives people enough motivation to breathe fresh air, to look at the dew on the wildflowers and grass by the roadside, and to slow down and appreciate the beautiful scenery.

Beside the farmland, there is a winding stream, which makes watering much easier; even if you use buckets, it's just a few extra steps.

Yang Yankai walked to the riverbank, opened another compartment in his backpack, unfolded a folding net and put it into the river, then opened a plastic bag, put some leftover food inside, and hung a few pieces of fatty meat on the hook in the net.

Mo Xueyao bent over, supporting herself on her knees: "Are we going to fish?"

“Yes, it’s just the beginning of spring, and these little creatures in the river are definitely short of food, so we only need simple bait to lure them in. We’ll leave the net here and take it in when we’re done. We should be able to get some fish.”

"Fish in spring."

"It's not just fish, there might also be shrimp and crabs." Yang Yankai found several heavy enough stones to weigh down the upper part of the fishing net, and only after making sure it was secure did he stand up again.

"Xiao Yao, why don't you stay here for dinner before you leave? Or maybe stay overnight?" Mo Xiaoxiao turned her head as she stood in front of the slope.

"Ah—great! It's been so long since I've enjoyed Xiaoxiao's cooking."

"Hehe, isn't the food that Wanyan and your mother cook delicious?"

"It's alright, but it's not the same style. My mom's cooking is too bland, while Wanyan likes to cook with lots of oil and salt, and she also likes to add chili peppers."

"Xiao Yao can't eat spicy food?" Mo Zhuyou looked like she had found a kindred spirit.

"Uh, I can't eat anything too spicy, but I quite like spicy food..."

"What a contradiction?"

"Some dishes just have to be spicy," Mo Xueyao said, smacking her lips lightly, feeling saliva already welling up in her mouth.

……

(three)

Mo Xueyao wasn't there to work; she was there to observe. Although she would occasionally try to do something herself out of curiosity, she would quickly give up because it was troublesome or tiring.

This is a small field on the edge of a hill. It looks like a potato that has been cut in half from top to bottom. The cutting stopped when it reached the last small piece at the bottom, so that only the top half was peeled off.

Although it wasn't very high, it would probably be quite dangerous for someone to roll down it directly. So a fence was built around it, and a thatched shed was built in front of it. A foam box and tools for farm work were also placed there.

"Speaking of which, why don't we use this half? Isn't that a waste?" Mo Xueyao asked, sitting on the small stool that was probably made by Mr. Xue, rocking back and forth.