Chapter 130: Help
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling rubbed her eyes, grabbed Xiuhong, and asked, “Do you think there’s someone on our land?”
Xiuhong stood on tiptoes to take a look. “Yes, there’s someone. Someone must have come to steal the wheat seeds.”
“Who would steal the wheat seeds planted on the ground?” Mu Yangling ran over to take a look. Behind her, Mu Shi and Madam Ma-Liu also narrowed their eyes and looked over. Madam Ma-Liu said, “Why does that figure look so familiar?”
Of course it was familiar. It was an acquaintance!
Mu Yangling shouted happily, “Uncle Zhuang, Cousin Li, why are you here?”
Standing in the field were Liu Zhuang, Liu Xuan, Liu Li, and Liu Yong. Liu Lang was squatting on the ground. When he saw Mu Yangling running over, he jumped up and shouted, “And me. How could you not see me? I’m here to help you farm.”
Liu Lang said casually, “My grandfather said that you and Uncle have never farmed before and asked us to help.”
Mu Yangling looked at Liu Li and Liu Yong. She didn’t expect them to come too.
Liu Li stood at the side uneasily, while Liu Yong looked at Mu Yangling calmly and smiled. “I’m here to help.”
Mu Yangling hesitated for a moment but did not refuse.
Mu Shi was only stunned for a moment when he saw them. Mu Yangling glanced at the wheat seeds they had brought and knew that it was definitely not enough, so she said, “Father, go back and get more wheat seeds.”
Mu Shi nodded and handed the things to Mu Yangling. Liu Zhuang and the others also started to work. With the addition of these five, their speed increased a lot. In just a day, they had actually planted about 12 to 13 acres. Liu Xuan repeatedly flipped the ‘double-sided rake’ that Mu Yangling had made. Seeing Mu Yangling looking at him, he asked with a smile, “Ah Ling, did you make this? Not bad. I wonder if you can make one for me. With this, we’ll be able to farm at a faster speed.”
“No problem. I’ll cut down some branches later and make it for you when I get back tonight.”
When Mu Yangling said that, Liu Zhuang also requested for one. Mu Yangling looked at Liu Li and Liu Yong and waved her hand. “I’ll make one for each of your families when I get back.”
Liu Yong smiled and said, “I think it’s not too difficult to make. I can make it myself when I go back. You should make it for Ah Li.”
Liu Li smiled awkwardly, but he did not refuse. There were only him and his mother in their family. If they had this thing, their work speed would definitely increase a lot.
Mu Yangling wanted to ask them to stay for dinner before going back, but Liu Zhuang did not wait for her invitation and simply carried his things back. Liu Li and Liu Yong also left together.
On the way, Liu Yong sneered when he saw Liu Li walking with his head lowered. He quickened his pace and walked to his side. Turning his head, he asked, “Why are you avoiding us like a girl?”
Without looking at him, Liu Li said in a muffled voice, “Everyone in the clan is avoiding me. Why are you even speaking to me?”
Liu Yong’s eyes were filled with sarcasm. “Aren’t the people in the clan avoiding me too? We’re the same now. If you don’t despise me, just call me along if you need anything in the future.”
Liu Li stopped in his tracks and turned to look at him. With raised eyebrows, he asked, “The patriarch and my grandfather have already said that I’m an unfilial and disloyal person. Are you willing to interact with such a person?”
Liu Yong said nonchalantly, “The people in the clan also said that I’m unfilial and disloyal. Neither of us has the right to criticize each other.”
Liu Li was silent for a moment before suddenly saying, “The people in the clan are right. You are indeed unfilial and disloyal.”
Liu Yong was so angry that he kicked him and snapped, “I’ve already changed my ways. Just say if you’re willing or not.”
Liu Li was silent. He did not object or agree.
Liu Yong snorted and walked away. Behind him, Liu Li opened his mouth and muttered, “I didn’t object.” Liu Yong caught that.
Not sure whether to laugh or cry, Liu Yong turned around and pulled him over. “Alright, it just so happens that my section commander despises me for dragging them down and is thinking of a way to chase me out. I’ll look for you in your section later.”
Liu Li frowned. “You have connections?”
“No.” Liu Yong said frankly, “Connections can always be built. Just wait. We can look out for each other from now on.”
Liu Yong smiled slightly, and his gloomy temperament instantly disappeared. Liu Li turned to look at him and couldn’t help but admire his good luck.
Liu Yong had good parents, a good younger brother, and a good younger sister. Although his parents blamed him for what he had done back then and hated him, they still treated him as their son after the period of anger. Although they were guarded around him every day, they treated him well.
Ever since he took the initiative to stand up and fight off the enemy with Mu Yangling, the knot in his parents’ hearts disappeared and they now treated him extremely well. His younger brother even worshiped him as an idol. As long as he didn’t do anything atrocious like selling his parents and younger brother, the entire family would agree with his decisions.
Sometimes, Liu Li was so envious that he wanted to beat him up. Liu Yong was clearly not doing as well as him in the past and was isolated by the family. As for Liu Li, he had a grandfather, uncles, and a bunch of cousins. He had thought that the entire clan was his backer, but now, he felt like he had nothing left. Only his mother was still by his side.
“Are you still going tomorrow?”
Liu Li nodded. “Let’s help for two days. We’ll go again tomorrow.”
Liu Yong said with a frown, “Your family situation is different from mine. I still have my parents and younger brother at home. You and your mother are the only ones in your family. If you go for two days, can you finish planting your own fields?”
Liu Li didn’t say anything, so Liu Yong advised, “Forget it. Otherwise, Ah Ling will feel guilty when she finds out later. Since we only have a few days off, you should settle your own fields first.”
Liu Li remained silent. Liu Yong thought that he had agreed, but he was surprised to see Liu Li show up again the next day. Mu Yangling frowned slightly at the sight of Liu Li, but she didn’t say anything and just pulled a plow in front.
When they finished work at night, Mu Yangling took out a few fish from the wooden bucket at the head of the field and handed them to them. “Take these fish back and don’t come back tomorrow. You guys have a lot of land to tend to yourselves.”
Liu Lang took it in surprise and asked, “Where did this fish come from? Geez, it’s so cold.”
Mu Yangling smiled and said, “I caught these some time ago and froze them with ice. It’s still considered fresh. Hurry up and take it back.”
Liu Lang was about to drool.
Liu Li and Liu Yong also took one fish each. The few of them went back together, but in fact, Liu Zhuang led Liu Lang and Liu Xuan in front, leaving Liu Yong and Liu Li walking at the back.
The two of them didn’t mind and slowly walked back with their things. Looking at their backs, Mu Yangling said, “Liu Li and Liu Yong seem to have been isolated by the clan.”
Mu Shi frowned, feeling slightly uncomfortable as it reminded him of how he had been isolated by the villagers when he was young.
Madam Ma-Liu also looked up and said, “Don’t worry about them. Your Great-uncle He and Eldest Great-uncle are getting more and more muddle-headed as they get older. Liu Li’s grandfather is extremely biased and didn’t even say a word of fairness. Now that the child has established himself, your Great-uncle He disdains him for being unfilial. Liu Li isn’t a bad person. Ah Ling, you ought to interact more with him in the future.”
Madam Ma-Liu lost her parents when she was young and grew up with her siblings. She lost her husband when she was young and her son when she was middle-aged. Therefore, although she was a woman, her breadth of mind was not inferior to a man’s. In fact, she could see further than the patriarch, Liu He, in some matters.