"What's up?"
Elder Niu suddenly looked up at the sky. Dark clouds were pressing down, accompanied by lightning and thunder. This...
A Jiu also looked up. The clouds and fog had dispersed, revealing the same sun that seemed intent on baking the earth.
"Grandpa Niu, let's go home, it's too hot."
As A Jiu stood up, her eyes held a hint of reluctance towards the heavens.
Tuoba Yan also got up:
"Don't be unhappy, Sister A Jiu. Since dark clouds have appeared, it will surely rain soon."
"I hope so." A Jiu was still not giving up, parting the curtains to look outside. Just moments ago, there were dark clouds and lightning.
She truly hoped that as soon as she pulled open the curtains, she would see it raining.
But several times, A Jiu was disappointed.
"Little Yan Yan, has it rained where you are?"
"It has, it was very beautiful. Sister A Jiu, when I find my subordinates later, will you let me take you to see it?"
Tuoba Yan's heart filled with excitement at the thought of the flames created by the collision of planets.
"Then you are lucky. I haven't seen rain for three or four years."
A Jiu leaned tiredly into the corner of the carriage.
But as if still unwilling, she parted the curtains. Outside, it was still scorching hot.
"We're home."
Even Elder Niu's voice was tinged with a sigh. He had clearly seen dark clouds just now, and it should have rained.
As A Jiu got out of the carriage, she saw Elder Niu's hunched back and not a word spoken. She opened the door, entered the courtyard tiredly, pushed open the door of the main hall, and walked in, closing the door behind her.
"Old woman, did you hear the thunder just now? It rained. Water the fields thoroughly. The water in our reservoir will be filled up soon, and our crops will definitely yield this year. Don't worry, I'll be fine on the other side."
A Jiu looked at the closed main hall door, her heart filled with an indescribable feeling.
A Jiu sighed and entered the east room, closing the door behind her. She left Tuoba Yan, who had followed her in, outside the door:
"I'm changing."
A Jiu changed into her worn but familiar clothes.
"A Jiu, you're back."
Mao Junlan got up, her voice exceptionally soft because the children were asleep.
"Mmm, Auntie, I'm going out." A Jiu finished speaking without further explanation, took a basket from the carriage, and went to the place where she had planted seeds the night before.
Pushing aside the dry grass and soil, the watermelons inside were as large as a hug.
And the pomegranates that hadn't fallen yesterday.
A Jiu gritted her teeth and walked step by step towards Grandpa Niu's house.
Finally, she persisted until she reached the place, and she cried... Grandma had said that next time they planted seeds, they should call her. She could help dig the holes and carry things back.
"A Jiu, what's wrong?"
Seeing Aunt Li, A Jiu lifted the sedan curtain. Let the fruits remain on the carriage.
"Give these to the children to eat." A Jiu took out a few pomegranates and handed a heavy watermelon into her arms.
"Jiu'er... this is... so heavy. We... we aren't hungry either."
Mao Junlan walked with painstaking care, carrying the fruits to the east room.
A Jiu looked dimly at the carriage, then suddenly glanced at her aunt placing the watermelon at the foot of the bed. Neither Tie Dan nor his brother showed any craving:
"Auntie, why are you... eating already?"
As A Jiu asked this, Mao Junlan's face broke into a smile:
"Girl A Jiu, you are too kind to us. Before you went to town, you left so many pomegranates under the bed, and two watermelons... My child ate a watermelon at noon."
Huh? Under the bed? A Jiu looked puzzled, bent down, and saw that indeed, there were still quite a few pomegranates piled up there.
Suddenly, a flash of lightning seemed to strike her mind, and for a moment, it went blank.
She seemed to have wronged Grandma. Grandma had secretly left so much at home, and it wasn't because she had eaten it all, as A Jiu had thought.
"Girl Jiu'er." A knock came at the door.
A Jiu opened the door: "Grandpa Niu, is there something?"
Niu Dasheng hesitated, then gritted his teeth and said, "Will you accompany me to town tomorrow morning?"