After finishing their evening meal, the family sat in the courtyard to enjoy the cool air. Because they lived near the mountains, there was more moisture in the air, which kept the temperature relatively low. The dense mountains not only provided them with countless treasures and resources but also created a comfortable living environment, offering a touch of coolness during the sweltering heat of summer. Watching the sunset and feeling the gentle evening breeze was truly refreshing.
At this time of day, farm folk were usually preparing to rest; after a long day of hard work, evening was the only time they could catch their breath. It was also the only time the whole family could sit together and chat about daily life. If the early morning was the start of labor, then the evening was a time for leisure. As cooking smoke began to rise in the east, children who had been out playing knew it was time to head home, or they would face a thrashing and the inevitable chaos that followed.
Zhao Yan’s home was relatively quiet. It lacked the noise of the village, devoid of children’s shrieks and filled instead with the rustle of trees swaying in the breeze. A few days had passed, and some of the vegetable seeds Zhao Gao had planted were starting to sprout. Even as tiny, budding heads, they looked adorable. Zhao Gao and Madam Chen had managed the plot well, watering and weeding it on schedule every day. Zhao Yan had been busy gathering and drying medicinal herbs, so caught up in his wo…
Chapter 78