Chapter Ninety: Ask Forgiveness Afterward

At night, the family of four gathered in their room to conspire.

Wen Xiuyi said, “We have to buy the ox. Without it, nothing will get done, and even if we manage somehow, it won’t be of much use. We can’t possibly have someone walking ahead while dragging the plow behind, can we?”

Wen Yao replied, “Grandma definitely won’t agree.”

Wen Xiuyi glanced at her. “Then we’ll just keep digging by hand.”

The siblings leaned back in unison, their faces full of protest.

Bighead sat cross-legged beside them, glancing at each in turn, and said directly, “Why don’t we just buy it in secret and not tell Grandpa and Grandma?”

Wen Xiuyi looked at his two older children, then scooped Bighead into his arms. “The two older ones aren’t as clever as the youngest, are they, son?”

Bighead blushed at being held like this, sneaking a look at his brother and sister. Seeing they didn’t resent him for being praised, he finally relaxed.

“Bighead is right. As long as we keep it from your grandparents, we can act first and explain later. Otherwise, we’ll never survive at this rate. We’ve only just begun—what happens when we buy more land? Are we supposed to keep working ourselves to death? Isn’t that foolish?” While talking, Wen Xiuyi ruffled Bighead’s hair.

Bighead didn’t try to escape, and sat obediently, letting his father muss his hair.

Wen Xiuyi laughed heartily. Children really were more fun at this age.

After he’d had enough, he continued, “Here’s what I think: we must buy an ox. But if we want to be efficient, the ox alone isn’t enough—we need the right tools. Jun, fetch some paper and a brush. I’ll draw you a diagram.”

Wen Jun ran to the cabinet, retrieved Bighead’s writing supplies, and spread them out on the table.

Wen Xiuyi set Bighead down and began to sketch.

Very soon, a curved-beam plow took shape on the paper, with various parts labeled with their names, uses, and instructions.

Bighead leaned over the table for a while, then said, “This one’s not the same as the one at the village head’s house.”

He’d seen the plow behind the ox at the village head’s place—it wasn’t curved like this, but straight.

Wen Xiuyi and the others looked at him and asked, “Bighead, you’ve seen the village head’s plow?”

Bighead nodded, took the brush, and with a few swift strokes on a fresh sheet, drew the village head’s plow.

Though the lines were childish, they were clear and precise.

At that moment, what astonished the three was not the straight-beam plow on the paper, but Bighead’s speed and decisiveness with the brush.

They exchanged glances—truly a prodigy, just as described in the original story.

Such a promising child couldn’t be allowed to go to waste. They would have to find a good teacher for Bighead in the future.

Wen Xiuyi placed the two drawings side by side, pointing out features as he explained, “The one at the village head’s is called a straight-beam plow, an early design. It’s a bit faster than sheer manpower, but has drawbacks—turning is difficult and it’s hard to break up the soil. This one, though, is a modified version, known as the curved-beam plow. Compared to the straight-beam, it turns more easily and is lighter to handle. With an ox pulling in front and someone guiding from behind, the work is a hundred times more efficient. With this, one leads the ox and one guides the plow—easy work.”

“Is that easy to make?” Wen Yao asked.

Wen Xiuyi folded the diagram and replied, “Not hard for a skilled carpenter. If we explain the principle, he’ll be able to make it. Don’t underestimate the ingenuity of working people. Here’s the plan: tomorrow, Yao and I will go to town, find Liuzi’s father to see if he can build the curved-beam plow, then go to the brokerage at the south gate to buy an ox from Broker Deng. Jun and Bighead, you two stay home and take the scolding for us.”

The two treasures newly returned to the Wen family: get scolded? Hardly.

“Don’t worry, Dad, I’ll handle Grandma,” Bighead promised, patting his chest.

Wen Jun remained calm, but his words pierced Wen Xiuyi’s heart: “Grandma won’t scold us, she’ll only scold you.”

Wen Xiuyi’s mouth twitched. “Son, you don’t need to stab me like that. Let’s sleep. Yao, wake me early tomorrow, and don’t forget to come up with a good excuse for going out—think of one for me too.”

With that, Wen Xiuyi scooped up Bighead and went to bed.

Now that they had returned, they were living in the east wing, where they’d stayed before the family split. After the split, the rooms had been given to the children. With their return, the other children had gone back to their own homes for now, and once the Wen family moved to their new house, the rooms would be vacated again.

At dawn the next day, Wen Yao got up and roused Wen Xiuyi. The two quickly washed and prepared to leave, looking as if they were in a hurry.

Madam Luo glanced at them. “Where are you off to?”

Wen Xiuyi tugged his daughter’s sleeve and signaled her with his eyes. Wen Yao grinned, “Grandma, I have something to do in town and want Dad to go with me.”

Madam Luo looked at her, then at Wen Xiuyi, who immediately flashed a fawning smile. After a moment, she said, “Be back early,” and ignored them.

Wen Xiuyi breathed a sigh of relief and whispered to Wen Yao, “If your grandma had stared at me any longer, I might have lost my nerve.”

“Should I just tell Grandma now that we’re going to buy an ox?” Wen Yao teased him fearlessly.

“You little rascal, trying to get me killed so you can inherit early? Dream on.” Wen Xiuyi glanced over at Madam Luo, and only relaxed when he saw she hadn’t overheard.

After a quick bite, father and daughter set out.

Old Wen saw them leave and was about to ask Madam Luo where they were going when Bighead ran over with a book and sat down beside him, saying sweetly, “Grandpa, shall I read to you?”

“Of course!” As for where Wen Xiuyi and Wen Yao had gone? Who cared—he wanted to hear his precious grandson read.

Bighead’s crisp, soft voice rang out in the courtyard, and everyone passing by couldn’t help but marvel at how much the Wen family had changed.

There was still farm work to be done today, but with Wen Yao and Wen Xiuyi gone, the cooking fell to Madam Luo, who called her two granddaughters back to help. As for the others, it was off to the fields as usual.

Wen Nong was delighted to see Wen Xiuyi heading to the docks with him. Heaven knew that yesterday, managing the stall alone, he’d almost thought he wouldn’t survive. He’d worried over seasoning the fried rice, fretted about the accounts, and spent the whole day on edge.

But as soon as they reached the docks and set up the stall, Wen Xiuyi turned to find Liuzi, intending to visit his house.

“Uncle, aren’t you here for the stall?” Wen Nong was stunned.

Wen Xiuyi glanced at him, “No, I’m here to see Liuzi’s father. And don’t forget to study while you work. If you can’t answer the questions or write what I assigned you, you’ll have your grandma to answer to.”

Wen Nong: … This isn’t fair. Someone save me!