dwimmered path

  Chapter 42 The chef the Chen family hired had actually come by yesterday. Last night, the Chen family even saw him off to the village entrance. It was agreed he would come first thing in the morning to manage things, but they waited and waited, and no sign of him. Thinking he might be running late, they didn’t worry much. But seeing time was truly running out, they got anxious and talked about going to meet him outside the village. The eldest Chen’s son ran out to meet him and found out today happened to be market day in town. The chef, coming from another village, had taken the ox cart. But halfway, the ox somehow went wild, overturned the cart, and several people on board fell into a ditch. Fortunately, they weren't washed away by river water, but the chef injured his back from the fall and had to be carried to a clinic by passersby. How could they blame the chef? It wasn’t intentional. The Chen family had no reason to hold a grudge. At this point, how could the chef even think...

  Chapter 41 “The town’s not like the village; it's a mixed bag of all sorts of people. Hooligans and thugs here are much fiercer than the small-time bullies in the village. Mainly because there aren't many people in a village who can truly act up. You look up, it's a neighbor; you look down, it's a relative. Generations have lived there; there's always someone to keep them in check." “These people come to the city and forget all family ties, just bullying others.” The two bought what they needed and headed back to the village. Seeing Xu He still seemed distracted, Zhang Fangyuan spoke to comfort him. “They seemed very afraid of you.” Xu He suddenly asked, a bit naive yet serious, “Were you like that before too?” “I used to pick fights and cause trouble, but I never bullied ordinary folks. Mostly went with people to collect debts or guard establishments to prevent others from stirring trouble.” He was naturally strong and tall, intimidating, and being a butcher...

  Chapter 40 “He Ger, going to dig wild vegetables again?” Early in the morning, after transplanting the vegetable seedlings in the field, Xu He didn’t turn back home but headed straight for the mountains. A hollow gourd hung diagonally at his waist. After the weather warmed up, Zhang Fangyuan bought two gourds from town—one for Xu He to carry water while digging vegetables, the other he filled for himself to take to town. Villagers seeing him equipped like this knew he was going out to dig wild vegetables. “Mhm.” “Wild vegetables selling well lately?” Xu He said, “There are many farming households near Siyang City selling wild vegetables; prices can't be high. Just enough for some lamp oil money.” “Having some income is still a good thing.” Xu He chatted briefly with them before walking further away. A fulang hoeing the field, across a plot from another villager, gossiped, “Mountains in and around our village are probably all dug through by He Ger. The other day, I said I'd pi...