Accompany by A Fool to do Farming

Chapter 2 : 遇见 ( Meeting)

When he opened his eyes again, Zhong Ziqi was feeling better, he no longer had that heavy feeling as if he was carrying a lot of loads. It was already dark outside, his stomach rumbled so he took a look around the room. There were two large boxes in the corner, a square table and two chairs in the middle of the room, but nothing to eat.

He propped himself up, went to the dressing table and picked up a bronze mirror. His reflection looked like a madman with a pallid face and scattered hair. Unconcerned by it, he put the mirror back. He then took an oil lamp and walked to the kitchen according to his memory.

It was very late into the night, the moon was high up in the sky and the chirping of frogs and crickets could be heard. After arriving at the kitchen, he searched it carefully but only found a steamed corn bread. The texture of it was very hard. But, Zhong Ziqi was so hungry that he opened his mouth and ate it. However, it really was quite dry and he choked on it, he then went to the water jar and drank some water.

Wowotou

[窝窝头

wowotou /Wotou, also called Chinese cornbread, is a type of steamed bread made from cornmeal in Northern China.]

This wowotou was made from coarse flour, which was hard to swallow and scraped down the throat. Zhong Ziqi couldn't help but disdainfully mock this family in his heart; this family was indeed good enough (he means sarcastically), the nephew was sick yet they did not find a doctor for him, they cooked meals but didn't leave any food for him. Every account of these, he would remember it!!! It is possible that he was influenced by the memories of the original owner; he also particularly disliked this family. But it wasn't that easy to leave this place. He was a ger and a newcomer to this world, and it wasn't safe to go anywhere, so he might as well stay in this village where at least his safety was guaranteed.

The next day, at dawn, Zhong Ziqi who was shaken awake, immediately saw the annoying face of his uncle who looked at him without saying a word.

Li Xiujuan, with his hand on his waist, said in a loud voice: " You still have time to lie in here, look how bright the sky is! Hurry up and go out to work!" After saying that, he gave him a cold glare.

Zhong Ziqi was silent. He was going to move out in a few days anyway, so it is better to avoid unnecessary trouble. It would be troublesome to talk back to Li Xiujuan, so he would just endure it for a few days until he is free.

[多一事不如少一事: it is better to avoid unnecessary trouble (idiom) / the less complications the better]

Outside the house, the sun was still just peeking out. The side house he lives in was built by his own father, Zhong Zhenhang. And the tall brick house in the middle was also funded by his father, but was occupied by his eldest uncle's family and grandparents.

His father had found a good job in town and the money he brought back everyday made his eldest uncle's family greedy. They were so lazy that they couldn't be bothered to do any work in their lands.

As they had a money machine, they couldn't possibly let go of it. On one occasion, when Zhong Zhenhang proposed to move out, they refused to let him do so no matter what the reason was. Later, Zhong Zhenhang, who was a man of great affection*, did not mention that matter again.

*[Editor additional thought : I guess this could mean that he is a man who greatly respects the affection between a family. Or, he has great affections towards his family. Or, he is a sentimental and soft-hearted person in general]

[Translator's answer to this : Both, he loved his family and also a soft hearted person in general]

Early in the morning, Zhong Ziqi looked around and did not know where to start. Seeing his uncle who came into the kitchen, he hesitated to go in. With a light voice, he asked: "What do you want me to do?"