Dragon, Truly Shameless (Yuri Futa, Farming) - Chapter 12

The days after returning to the old Shen family were very difficult. It’s said that going from frugality to luxury is easy, but going from luxury to frugality is hard. This didn’t seem to apply to Shen Qingming.

Shen Qingming quickly adapted to the old Shen family’s life. She lived her numb existence as before, getting up before sunrise to boil water and chop firewood, then cutting pigweed and cooking pig feed. Her third aunt’s severe morning sickness also required her to cook sour things separately, which consumed a lot of firewood, so she often had to go into the mountains to chop wood.

Although she was busier than before, her thin and withered little body seemed to have an endless source of strength, driving her to work almost day and night.

Madam Li saw that busy little figure reappearing in every corner of the old Shen family’s house more than once, chopping firewood, boiling water, going in and out, day and night, and she couldn’t help but sigh at the vagaries of fate.

The summer heat gradually passed in the high temperatures. When the first gust of north wind blowing from the north crossed Black Dragon Mountain and poured down, the high temperatures that had gripped the village for months turned into several rainstorms. The heat subsided, replaced by coolness. The dry and refreshing autumn wind heralded the approaching end of summer, and autumn arrived silently.

The rice planted in spring had already grown to the appropriate size and was in the heading stage. The lush green paddy fields gradually took on a layer of light yellow. When this layer of yellow spread all over the paddy fields, and the view was filled with orange-yellow, the one season of farming was considered complete.

The financial foundation of ordinary families often couldn’t withstand the slightest risk. From breeding to harvesting in autumn was like passing five levels and defeating six generals. Whether a year of hard work would yield any harvest depended on whether the heavens would be kind in the last month. The heading to maturity of the rice was crucial, and no mistakes could be made during this period.

The farmers deeply understood the importance of this time, but the heavens seemed to always like to play tricks on them. The relief from the summer heat meant rain. When the cold air carrying chill from Black Dragon Mountain met the rising warm air currents in the low-lying areas, continuous rainfall formed. Rainfall during the heading stage was not a major issue, but it had been raining for several consecutive days, with rolling dark clouds covering the sky all day long.

The village chief observed this celestial phenomenon and secretly felt uneasy, so he gathered the whole village to worship at the Dragon King Temple.

Dragon, may you bless us to live and work in peace for generations, quell the rain, and protect our crops.

Do not let our whole family lose their livelihood. We do not want to lose our loved ones.

Dragon, please accept our gifts.

People stood in the temple, offering incense and stating their wishes to the Dragon King. To show their sincerity, the villagers tied livestock to rafts and let them float down the river, as a tribute to the river god. The incense and candles on the altar burned brightly, purple smoke curled around, and the fragrance filled the entire temple. At noon, a sudden clap of thunder sounded in the sky, seeming like the dragon’s response to the people.

A heavy and anxious atmosphere enveloped the entire village. Madam Li brought lunch to her husband and, on her way back home, happened to encounter that familiar small figure coming down from the mountain.

Still carrying a bamboo basket, the basket was filled with pigweed, and two bundles of firewood were tied underneath. The heavy bamboo basket once again bent the girl’s thin back.

Just as she was about to go forward and speak, an unkind voice came from the resting paddy field ridges.

“Look, that girl has cut a full basket of pigweed and firewood again. It’s about to rain, and she’s carrying so much stuff on the mountain road. Isn’t she afraid of falling to her death?” A woman surnamed Zhang swallowed a mouthful of rice and muttered, looking at the small figure in the distance.

“Madam Zhang probably doesn’t know, but our man said that Xiao Shen escaped from the tiger’s mouth and probably received the Dragon King’s protection in the mountains. She might have great luck, so how could she fall to her death?”

“Alas, what great luck? If she really had it, why would she still be working like a beast of burden in the old Shen family? Not to mention that the old Shen family is even worse off than before. This girl’s future is probably bleak.”

Hearing the woman’s words, several women showed pity. The old Shen family now had a foolish grandson. If the one in the third daughter-in-law’s belly wasn’t a boy, the old Shen family’s foundation would be eaten away by the brothers in the clan, leaving the few women and children with no way to survive, let alone an orphaned girl.

“Alas, you say that since the Dragon King protected her from the tiger’s mouth, why didn’t he just take her in and stop her from coming back to suffer?”

“Yes, if she had been taken in by the Dragon King, she might even have ‘ascended to the ranks of the immortals.’ That would truly be something everyone envied.”

“What do you think the life of an immortal is like?”

“It must be free from worry about food and clothing, and one would live to a hundred years.”

Several women looked envious when they talked about immortals, but due to their limited knowledge, they could only think of the basic necessities like not worrying about food and clothing. While they were still talking, a sudden and particularly harsh laugh rang out.

The second aunt of the Shen family emerged from some corner, holding a bowl of dark, lumpy noodles. “Heh, ascend to the ranks of the immortals? Look at that girl’s withered body. Don’t even mention the Dragon King; even men would dislike her for being infertile. Who is the Dragon King? He’s a main deity of this region. What kind of woman hasn’t he seen? Why would he take a fancy to a yellow-haired girl like her? Isn’t she already rejected? Maybe the Dragon King is still angry that you let such a girl go into the mountains and disturb his old age.”

“Shhh, you crow’s beak!” The few women had been listening with interest to the first half of her sentence, but by the second half, their faces had turned pale with fear. They quickly clasped their hands together and chanted towards Black Dragon Mountain, “Dragon King, please don’t blame us. Please don’t blame the words of a woman.”

“Tch.” The second aunt of the Shen family sneered when she saw them like this. Her gloomy expression made it unclear whether she was mocking others or herself.

“Second Madam Shen, what are you saying? No matter what, you are Xiao Shen’s second aunt. When her parents are gone, the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. How can you curse your own niece like that?” Madam Li really couldn’t listen anymore. The second aunt and this group of women gathered all day to gossip about an orphaned girl without parents. They really didn’t have the generosity of elders at all.

“I’m just telling the truth. It’s about to be autumn harvest, and it’s been raining all day. Isn’t that the Dragon King’s anger?” The second aunt of the Shen family said unconvinced.

“You crow’s beak, shut up! Cursing one girl isn’t enough, you want to curse us all too? It’s a waste of effort to talk to you!”

Madam Li turned around and left. The second aunt of the Shen family was so angry that her dark face turned a purplish-red. Hearing the low laughter coming from the women behind her made her feel even more humiliated.

Shen! Qing! Ming!

She stared at the little girl walking towards the old Shen family with a bamboo basket on her back, her eyes bloodshot, wishing she could go forward and devour her flesh and bl00d. Clearly, Xiao Shen and her son had been snatched by the tiger together, so why was her son crazy, while Xiao Shen was unharmed? She herself had ended up in this situation all because of Xiao Shen. This orphaned girl without parents was a jinx. They shouldn’t have taken her in in the first place.

Xiao Shen, just you wait and see.

Over here, Madam Li quickly caught up with the little girl. “Xiao Shen.”

“Aunt Li,” Shen Qingming stopped and called out softly.

Madam Li was a little surprised that she could actually speak to people. This girl seemed to have changed after surviving this great disaster. She used to never talk and seemed particularly withdrawn. Withdrawnness was considered a bad quality in the villagers’ eyes, so she wasn’t liked. Only she had interacted with Shen Qingming over the years. She looked at the increasingly heavy dark clouds in the sky. “It’s going to rain soon. Hurry home. Take this back to eat.”

What was handed to her were still a few dry pancakes. Madam Li had often given her food over the years and was the only one who pitied her and would offer help. Shen Qingming was very grateful but shook her head. “Auntie, take it back. I’m going home to cook.”

“Just take it if I give it to you. How can you still be so stubborn after surviving such a disaster?” Madam Li, knowing Shen Qingming wouldn’t accept, stuffed the pancakes into her arms again as she had always done. Seeing how much she was carrying, she asked, “Are those girls in your family still not working?”

Shen Qingming shook her head again, lowering it bitterly. Madam Li was referring to her several cousins. Her second and third uncles each had two daughters. They used to do needlework in their rooms, and even after the changes, her cousins still did needlework, so all the household chores still fell on her shoulders.

“Alas, with the family in such a state, what’s the point of doing needlework? You’re doing all the big and small chores; how can you manage?” Madam Li sighed again, and seeing Shen Qingming lowering her head as if she had something on her mind, she asked, “By the way, did you encounter any good fortune in the mountains the other day?”

“Good fortune?” Shen Qingming was puzzled.

“I mean, did you see the Dragon King?” Madam Li had to be direct.

Shen Qingming was at a loss for words for a moment. The Dragon King? She had indeed met someone, but it was a strange girl. The Dragon King should be a man, right? But she didn’t mention Long Qing and just shook her head.

“You, escaping from the tiger’s mouth definitely wasn’t just luck. Someone must have saved you. If possible, listen to your aunt. Since that man could save you, it means he’s capable and righteous. Go with him and don’t come back.”

“This, Aunt Li, this won’t do,” Shen Qingming shook her head hurriedly, as if frightened.

Madam Li was truly worried sick. “I’m telling you, why are you so stubborn? You’ve reached the age for marriage. The old saying goes, a life-saving kindness should be repaid with oneself. You’ll have to marry someone sooner or later. Isn’t it better to marry someone you know? If you continue to be a beast of burden in their family, you’ll definitely be sucked dry in the end.”

“I, I…”

“Stop with the ‘I, I, I.’ Go back and think carefully about what your aunt said. It’s going to rain. Your aunt is going back to take in the clothes first.”

Madam Li finished speaking and went home. Large raindrops splattered on Shen Qingming’s face, and the icy coldness woke her up from Madam Li’s rebellious words.

Go with Long Qing? In fact, she had never thought of leaving Taohua Village, nor had she thought of leaving the old Shen family to make a living on her own. But if she were told to live with Long Qing… she wasn’t sure, but just thinking about it made her feel inexplicably shy. Long Qing was indeed capable, gentle, and righteous, but Long Qing wasn’t a man, but a girl.

Moreover, looking up at Black Dragon Mountain, which had been shrouded in mist for many days of rain, the mist was like an invisible wall separating her and Long Qing.

Since that day they parted, every time she went into the mountains, it wasn’t just to chop firewood, but even more to hope to meet Long Qing. At first, it was to thank her, but later it was just to see Long Qing. The belief that she could see Long Qing supported her working day and night. It was a pity that no matter how early she got up or how long she lingered in the mountains, Long Qing never appeared again. Perhaps Long Qing had already left Black Dragon Mountain.

Thinking of this, the inexplicable shyness that arose from hearing about marrying Long Qing quickly faded away. She lowered her head again and walked towards the old Shen family with disappointment.

That night, two emotions weighed heavily on Shen Qingming’s heart. Madam Li’s words did indeed make her feel inexplicably happy, but the cruelty of reality made her very depressed. The two completely opposite emotions clashed fiercely, and she could only try her best to keep herself busy and not think wildly.

After working again until everyone else had fallen asleep, she rubbed her stiff shoulders and neck and returned to the bedroom.

Summer had passed, and several autumn rains forced the temperature to drop rapidly. The nighttime temperature had been very low recently. The old Shen family was poor and notoriously had many girls, so the Yin energy was heavy, and at night it always felt like there were gusts of cold wind, making it even colder. There weren’t enough quilts to go around, so the girls all squeezed onto one kang bed, sharing one quilt.

Shen Qingming slept with her several cousins. The four cousins who only knew how to do needlework all slept soundly. They had all grown up, and the already not very spacious bed was now completely occupied by the four sisters.

Shen Qingming looked around, her eyelids half-closed, unsure where to lie down for a moment. Not daring to wake the girls, she finally had no choice but to curl up in the corner and sleep with her clothes on.

It rained again tonight, and the rain was heavy. The temperature continued to drop due to the heavy rain, so sleeping like this obviously couldn’t keep her warm. She tried her best to curl up, but she was still shivering from the cold. Just as she was about to freeze, a warm hand suddenly reached over. Shen Qingming’s body stiffened. She raised her head. It was Shen Sanya.

Sanya was her third sister, the eldest daughter of her third uncle. She was thirteen years old this year, younger than Shen Qingming, but more developed. When they stood together, people would basically think Sanya was the older sister. In fact, among the girls in the Shen family, only Wuya, who was only eight years old, looked like a younger sister. The rest were more developed than Shen Qingming.

Perhaps the third branch’s situation used to be similar to hers, and Sanya was also close to her age. In this family, besides Grandma, only Sanya had spoken to her.

“Eldest sister, why are you sleeping here? Why don’t you squeeze in with me? There’s still room for one more person.” Sanya hadn’t expected to wake up to the sound of thunder and see her eldest sister curled up in the corner, shivering. Although she didn’t have any particular feelings for her eldest sister, they had lived under the same roof for so long. Even raising a dog would lead to feelings, let alone a person.

“Won’t it be too crowded for you?” Shen Qingming was a little timid. Sanya had already pulled her into the quilt. The quilt was narrow and had a musty smell, but Shen Qingming couldn’t help but feel her eyes grow hot. She tried her best to curl up under the quilt, not daring to take up too much space, only sleeping in a narrow gap. Sanya, who was asleep, didn’t see the glistening tears sliding down her eldest sister’s eyes in the darkness.

That night, Shen Qingming tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Outside, thunder roared and lightning flashed, forcefully splitting the sky and illuminating the earth. Such a celestial phenomenon was truly frightening. She thought of Long Qing. If Long Qing was still on Black Dragon Mountain, how could that cave withstand such a torrential rain? With worry in her heart, she finally succumbed to exhaustion and fell into a daze.

The next day, Shen Qingming was woken up by the cold.

After a night of heavy rain, the temperature dropped again. Shen Qingming breathed into her hands, and the air she exhaled seemed to condense into tiny ice crystals.

Walking out of the room, she found that the adults, who were usually still sound asleep at this time, were awake and gathered in the main room, their brows furrowed. She hurriedly returned to her room and listened by the door.

“Husband, how is it?”

She only heard the old woman of the Shen family’s worried voice, and then the old man of the Shen family said disconsolately, “Last night there was a big flood. The water from the Black Dragon River overflowed and directly washed over the Dragon King Temple.”

“What?”