Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the end, they threw away more than half of the pigweed they had painstakingly harvested because there were too many things to carry.

Sanhu carried the heaviest peaches, which weighed five to six catties, and a bundle of pigweed in his arms. Xiaohu carried a basket of strawberries on his back. Gu Nian and Xiaohu took turns carrying the tied-up rabbits. They walked home excitedly.

Fortunately, Gu Nian had reminded them to cover their baskets with pigweed so other people would not know what they had collected.

However, they could not hide the rabbit.

Just as they reached the door of their house, they met Xiaoniu, who had returned with her sisters.

Xiaoniu immediately noticed the rabbit in Gu Nian’s arms. “Hey, brat, where did your rabbit come from?” he asked.

No one noticed that Sanhu had a sneer. He then whispered a few words to Xiaohu.

Xiaohu was stunned for a moment. Although he did not understand what Sanhu meant, he still walked in front of Gu Nian and blocked her way. He snorted and said, “I won’t tell you I’m craving this rabbit. I kowtowed to the big tree for a long time. I begged it for giving me a rabbit!”

“After saying that, Xiaohu pulled Gu Nian along. “Let’s go home. We’ll ask Mother to make us braised rabbit meat tonight.”

Behind them, Xiaoniu’s eyes were wide open as he looked at their departing figures, deep in thought.

Xiaoniu’s two sisters were beside him, but they found it funny.

Kowtowing to a tree and begging for a rabbit was nonsense.

However, they didn’t expect Xiaoniu, who had always been overbearing, would believe it.

When they got home, Xiaohu couldn’t wait to ask Sanhu, “Third Brother, why did you ask me to tell Xiaoniu all that? ”

Xiaohu felt that something was off.

However, Gu Nian burst out laughing. As an adult, she naturally understood Sanhu’s purpose.

However, Gu Nian didn’t know if Xiaoniu, who always looked down on girls, would be fooled!

Gu Nian ran over to check on her river snails. The water was already muddy. She quickly changed it to clean water and made them continue to spit out sand.

Sanhu poked his head out of the kitchen. “You two wash your hands now. Mother left some rice for us in the pot.”

It was pleasantly cool in the morning, so Lin Sanshui and his wife went to the fields before dawn. The couple did not see the children when they returned home. Hence, the couple left the rice in the pot for the children to eat after they came back.

There was even stir-fried cucumber for breakfast, which was a flavorful meal. After Gu Nian finished eating, she placed a bench under her feet and washed the pot and dishes before leaving.

It was not child abuse. Here in the countryside, the children in the village were not so carefully raised.

When the children became sensible, they would go out to catch insects and feed the chickens. After they became older, they would help with the work. It was like letting the children grow freely.

It was scorching in the middle of the afternoon. The three siblings squatted under the sycamore tree in the courtyard and continued to process the fish. Lin Sanshui and Mrs. Jiang returned not long after. Their bodies were drenched in sweat, and their clothes were wet.

After Mrs. Jiang washed her face, she took the fish they had killed to the kitchen. Gu Nian quickly followed after her and pulled on her sleeve. “Mother, can you let me prepare lunch today?”

Although Mrs. Jiang looked tired, she still smiled gently. She extended her index finger and gently tapped Gu Nian’s forehead. “You little girl, I know you want to help me with more work. However, you’re still young. I’ll do the cooking for you.”

“Mother, I know how to cook. Just let me do it once. I’ve done it before. This time, just watch me. If I don’t cook well, I won’t bother you again, okay?” Gu Nian tugged at her sleeve and shook it from side to side.

“Alright, alright. I can’t argue with you.” Mrs. Jiang had no other choice.