Chapter 20

As the rooster crowed, wisps of cooking smoke began to rise across the village. Every household stirred into activity; though it was not the busy farming season, there was still plenty to be done. The fields required watering, firewood needed to be stocked for the coming winter, and children were sent off to weed the plots or forage for wild vegetables on the hillsides. In a farming family, there was rarely a moment of rest—as soon as one opened their eyes, it was time to work. The home of Zhao Yan was no exception. Madam Chen had risen early to prepare breakfast, as Zhang Shi and Sanlang were heading to town today to sell medicinal herbs. She needed to have the meal ready so the father and son could eat their fill before the long trek. It was no short distance to town—a full two-hour walk—and they couldn't afford to go on empty stomachs. Especially Sanlang; at his age, he was in the middle of a growth spurt, and Madam Chen couldn't bear the thought of him going hungry. Glancing at the bottom of the rice jar, Madam Chen sighed. It was nearly empty. She could only hope that Sanlang and his father would successfully sell their herbs and return with fresh grain.