Disaster Apocalypse: Farming, Family, and My Hidden Secret Space-Chapter 8. The busy farming season begins

Old Lady Hua was truly distressed, thinking about how many things it would take to make up for all the blood lost, feeling sorry not just for the person but also for the stuff.

"Don't worry, kids grow fast. Just let her eat some good things, and she'll recover quickly." Aunt Lin naturally said things that Old Lady Hua loved to hear.

"Thank you for your kind words," Old Lady Hua replied with a smile.

"Of course, oh right..." Aunt Lin's eyes drifted to Big Yellow who was pulling the cart, and then she smiled ingratiatingly at Old Lady Hua, "Old Sister, is your Big Yellow available for rent again this year? I'd like to reserve a spot."

"Yes, still the same price as last year, but you must wait until my family's work is done first." Old Lady Hua wasn't surprised; she knew that was her intention the moment she came over, seeing as there were only a few animals in the village. During the busy farming season, they were always booked solid, working late into the night.

There was no help for it; relying on human power was time-consuming and labor-intensive. It's better to spend the time doing more work in the fields, harvesting grain earlier and bringing it home to dry.

Of course, the prices among the villagers wouldn't be too high, but not free either.

But because this aunt spoke well and was a decent person, Old Lady Hua was happy to talk to her and eager to grant her this favor. She agreed readily.

"I understand, then it's settled. Once your family's done, let my eldest son take the ox cart, make sure to put us first in line!" Aunt Lin repeated her reminder, not at ease until she got a definite answer, satisfied she left.

Thinking to herself how fortunate it was she acted quickly; otherwise, she would be way back in the queue.

She no sooner left than a few others gathered around, all queuing to rent ox carts, and even the village chief, Flower Old Man, and Hua Chengtian had people surrounding them.

The other households with livestock were the same; the animals were booked up almost entirely each night.

At such an important time, even the stingiest households knew the weight of the situation. Reluctant or not, they were willing to spend those few copper coins.

Don't underestimate those copper coins; there were over two hundred households in the village. Not all of them rented animal-drawn carts, but after a few days together, they could earn a few silver coins.

That's why they say the rich get richer, thanks to the benefits of being willing to invest.

If it weren't for their two money-burning scholars, life would be more comfortable for Flower Old Man's household.

Once the villagers got satisfactory answers, they dispersed in twos and threes.

Walking all the way from the village to the field, the atmosphere was harmonious; none of the dramatic scenes Hua Jin expected, like harsh cursing, appeared.

Indeed, everyone was busy on the road, worried they wouldn't finish the fieldwork. Who would waste time on quarrels during such a crucial moment?

At the field, they greeted the neighboring families, entrusted Hua Jin to guard the bullock cart and food under a tree shade, cautioning her not to wander off. The family equipped with hats and sickles, went to work in the fields without much talking.

Hua Jin just sat at the field's edge, watching her family and the surrounding people energetically swinging their sickles. She had only ever seen such scenes on TV or in movies, never expecting one day she'd experience it firsthand.

Even without joining them, just watching the scene of sweat pouring down made Hua Jin's heart burn with excitement, eager to get in and help.

But it was just a thought, because even though Hua Jin felt her body had mostly recovered, her family still treated her like a fragile porcelain doll; going down to the field would be causing trouble, not helping.

So Hua Jin obediently sat at the field's edge.

As the sun rose higher, their wheat fields gradually fell, with Little Brother and Little Fourth slowly transporting them to the field edge. Hua Jin quickly got up to help.

Helping was just lending a hand; the real heavy lifting was done by Little Brother.

Though mentally prepared for ancient yield, seeing the short wheat heads lined up, Hua Jin couldn't help but sigh.

Short wheat heads with mostly unripe grains didn't forecast a good yield, barely enough to fill the stomach, Hua Jin sighed to herself.

But soon, Hua Jin had no time for such thoughts, busy helping and delivering tea.

At noon, the family ate lunch at the field edge, rested for an hour, then continued the day's busy work until dusk settled.

Perhaps she was still recovering; even without heavy work, Hua Jin felt her face tingling and a bit dizzy in the afternoon.

Not wanting to worry her family, Hua Jin forced herself to bear it, imagining how exhausted those continuously busy in the fields must feel.

Every day they prepared a day's meal early, then busied themselves from morning till night.

During this, Hua Jin secretly mixed some of the fine flour from her space into the household's grain, so subtly that her grandmother and mother making the meals didn't notice, even adding a bit of sugar to the mung bean soup.

These days, Hua Jin explored more about her spacious house, like how if a bag was opened and not finished, the duplication function would pause until the bag was consumed. She learned this from an opened bag of sugar.

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Most other things had to be slowly figured out.

They worked several days until their ten-some acres were fully harvested, dried, and taxes paid, before taking a real breath.

Next, Hua Jin watched heartachingly as Grandpa and Father kept only a small amount of fine grain, selling the rest, converting it into silver coins and coarse grains stored in their granary.

Hua Jin quietly calculated their ten-some acres' yield was only about three to four thousand jin; despite which, considering the family's appetite, was enough to last through spring and autumn, but sparing extra for her brothers' education was difficult.

Regardless of the period, education was always costly.

Not to mention, many farmer families only had a few acres, some even none, relying on landlord's rented land to live. It's already challenging enough without thinking of savings; having a mostly full meal was a blessing.

Once again, Hua Jin felt the farmers' hardships, also grateful her family's situation wasn't starting on hell mode.

Perhaps you thought after farming there would be leisure time. No, after, they had to plant another crop, another round of busyness.

With the field work finally complete, Hua Jin's injuries healed almost thoroughly, the scar on her back fell naturally, the family no longer restricted her, but still prohibited her from the rear mountain, which was the cause of her injury.

Looking at the towering mountains behind the village, to be honest, Hua Jin was eager.

In autumn, full of harvests, the mountains should have lots of good things. As the family's only freeloader, she wanted to do what she could for the family, not just help with cooking and picking vegetables.

Moreover, it felt guilty to watch Little Fourth helping daily while she did the least.

Even though tying knots with Grandma earned a tiny bit of money, it was still far from tuition fees to send Little Fourth to school.