LAVW – Chapter 89 Going Up the Mountain to Eat Pears

When he reached the doorway, Chen Niu could still hear the wailing of his second uncle.

He rarely saw men cry, let alone cry with such deep sorrow, grief, and utter desolation.

As a young bachelor, Chen Niu had his own troubles when it came to emotions. But still, he couldn’t understand Second Uncle’s obsession with “must have a son.”

For the sake of some illusory future, wasn’t he throwing away the present?

Even so, he couldn’t shake off the impact of that sorrowful atmosphere. His whole spirit felt weighed down, his mind muddled.

The neighbor’s yard didn’t have a wall, and suddenly the door opened, revealing a gap in the dim light of dusk.

“Chen Niu, everything okay at your house?”

“No problem, Uncle,” Chen Niu replied simply.

The man didn’t press further. Thinking back to the past, he hadn’t even had the thought of stepping out to mediate. He needed time himself to calm down from the shock of it all.

Besides, though the quarrel had been fierce, it ended quickly.

Both sides had sharp tongues like knives, and with old grudges between them, each knew precisely how to stab at the other’s heart. They were masters at it.

The neighbor uncle nodded, and Chen Niu went straight back home.

Hearing movement, Shi Qian, who was pulling down grass from a higher spot for himself, called out: “Moo moo.”

I’m here.

Chen Niu headed for the cowshed at once. “Qian Niuhua, are you hungry again?”

As naturally as asking that, he started helping the calf fetch grass.

Looking at the grass stockpile, Chen Niu thought to himself that he’d have to find time to store more soon. Feeding the calf required even more care than feeding a full-grown cow.

Once Shi Qian started munching the grass, Chen Niu stood to the side watching for a while before quietly asking:

“Grandma… is she alright? She didn’t get too worked up, did she?”

“Moo moo.”

No.

Shi Qian shook his head.

Then, remembering something else, Shi Qian walked out of the cowshed. He turned back and gestured for Chen Niu to follow.

In the main room, Shi Qian led him to the table.

There, wrapped in oil paper, was half a jin of brown sugar—left behind by Lin Nanyin.

Only when Chen Niu unwrapped it did he realize what it was.

Brown sugar was rare. Only women in confinement after childbirth could get ration coupons for it, and even then it was often impossible to actually buy. It was extremely difficult to come by.

In simple terms, it was a very heavy gift.

Chen Niu looked toward the other side of the room. Hearing no sounds, seeing no light, he guessed his grandma had already gone to bed.

So how to handle the brown sugar was up to him.

His grandma had always been this way—letting him try first, only correcting him if he did something wrong. As he grew older, she interfered less and less.

Back when he was younger, she used to scold him, “Don’t bother me, stop meddling with me.”

To the point where now, Chen Niu often felt like he was the only one in the house.

At this moment, Shi Qian nudged him and pointed with his chin in his grandma’s direction: “Moo moo?”

Why don’t you go ask her yourself?

Even without Shi Qian speaking, Chen Niu understood. He shook his head—he wasn’t going.

What could he say if he did? With his clumsy tongue, grandma would probably only find him more irritating.

After all, he was the one who had caused trouble in the first place.

Chen Niu rewrapped the brown sugar and placed it beside his grandma’s water cup.

This way, when she got up in the morning, she would know his meaning—that she should accept it and eat it.

What he liked most about his grandma was that she would always accept whatever he gave her. She wouldn’t stubbornly reject everything just to draw a line between them.

Of course, it couldn’t be anything taken from Chen Erjun, and it absolutely couldn’t be obtained through improper means. If so, he would be beaten with the cane.

Thinking of the strike he had taken earlier today, Chen Niu’s eyes lowered, glancing once at his own leg.

Shi Qian didn’t know how to comfort him. Being new here, he didn’t fully understand the relationship between grandmother and grandson, so he simply went back to eating grass.

He really was a grass-bucket, eating endlessly, more than Chen Niu himself!

Shi Qian figured he didn’t need to worry about Chen Niu emptying out the household’s food stores. The real concern was whether he would run out of grass to eat first.

Chen Niu drifted along like a wandering soul, following the calf back to the cowshed, watching it eat.

His body was probably tired, but his spirit remained in a painful wakefulness, with no sign of sleepiness at all.

Shi Qian had been chewing for a while when he heard Chen Niu’s soft voice.

He was probably talking to him—the little calf—since no one else was around.

Chen Niu asked—

“Tell me, why is being a person so hard?”

“Is living just about enduring suffering?”

Shi Qian raised his head with effort, able to glimpse Chen Niu’s face close by.

Confusion and weariness covered his young features. His broad shoulders drooped, his whole figure listless. A faint air of despair hung around him.

Shi Qian thought, was Chen Niu thinking of his parents?

What kind of years had it been—this home without parents, with only a disabled grandmother and a young grandson—how had they survived the past decade?

It seemed Chen Erjun had never mentioned Chen Niu’s grandfather. So even earlier, it might have been a disabled widow raising a foolish child.

And why had the old lady ended up needing a crutch? Was she born that way, or was it caused by something later?

Rope always breaks at the thinnest point. Misfortune always seeks out those fated for suffering.

Such words sounded helpless, yet they were impossible to refute.

Because when you are already struggling, life’s burdens only weigh heavier—one coin, one mouthful of food, could be enough to drive someone to despair.

Just as he was starting to feel the bitterness of it all, Shi Qian suddenly remembered— Wasn’t he himself basically a cheat code?

This unlucky fellow Chen Niu had finally caught a break.

And just like he told the old lady earlier, the future would only get better. With him here, what was there for Chen Niu to worry about? His life definitely wouldn’t stay this miserable forever.

The little calf, full from eating, strolled out of the cowshed: “Moo, moo.”

Stop overthinking. Let’s go to sleep.

Since Chen Niu still wasn’t moving, Shi Qian walked up behind him and directly pushed him forward.

Though Chen Niu was tall and strong, he was actually very thin. Shi Qian put in some strength and, like a bulldozer, shoved him flat forward.

Stumbling two steps, Chen Niu came back to his senses and felt a little spooked.

“Qian Niuhua, just how strong are you?”

It felt like the calf had pushed him effortlessly.

Qian Niuhua blinked his big eyes, shook his head, and went “Moo, moo.”

How would I know? Anyway, dealing with you is easy.

Not wanting to fall, Chen Niu obediently went back inside, lay down on the bed.

The red-covered Quotations still sat on the desk, the paper and brush left scattered. Chen Niu gathered up the writing tools with some effort, but left the book and notebook on the desk.

Lying there in the dark, he thought.

His mind drifted to Comrade Lin, and then to that heavy gift of half a bag of brown sugar.

Was it meant to sever ties, afraid he’d cling on? Or was it just thanks? Chen Niu had no way of knowing.

Then three other faces flashed across his mind. Thinking again of his own poverty, he felt it was just a delusion—like a toad wanting to eat swan meat.

If it hadn’t been for that famine, his youth would have been entirely different. Second Uncle wouldn’t have ended up the way he did, nor so many others…

If no one had reported him, if he had been chosen, his life should’ve been much better too.

Even though Chen Niu was skilled at farming, he knew well that doing other work was far more prestigious and rewarding.

But he had missed his chance. Where would the next one be? Would he miss it again?

Shi Qian, lying on the straw, listened to his sighing for about half an hour and decided it couldn’t go on like this.

He didn’t know when it would ever end.

And with Chen Niu not resting well like this, how would he manage the heavy work tomorrow?

So Qian Niuhua got up, climbed onto the bed, and while Chen Niu was startled and flustered, he squeezed him right off.

“Moo, moo.”

If you can’t sleep in bed, then sleep on the straw.

Chen Niu, both depressed and furious, said, “Qian Niuhua, that’s my bed.”

“Moo, moo.”

A bed is for sleeping.

After saying this, Shi Qian lay down, tugged the quilt over himself, and closed his eyes.

Chen Niu: “My bed!”

Shi Qian opened his eyes, glanced at him, then scooted over a little.

“Moo, moo.”

You can share half.

Chen Niu understood the gesture. He couldn’t figure out the bandit logic of this calf—so angry he didn’t want to get back up. Sleeping with a cow? No way.

But if he didn’t climb up, it meant he was silently giving up his bed to Qian Niuhua, which felt even worse.

After much hesitation, he still angrily climbed back up and tugged at the quilt.

Shi Qian asked: “Moo, moo.”

Now will you sleep properly?

Chen Niu: “Shut up and sleep.”

The clumsy cow’s hooves reached out for the quilt, but Chen Niu snatched it all away.

As Shi Qian shifted, the bed creaked loudly.

Chen Niu: “The bed’s about to collapse. Do you even know how much you weigh, Qian Niuhua?”

Shi Qian also thought that wasn’t good, so he obediently got off the bed.

When he jumped down, it landed with a loud thump. Fortunately, the dirt floor was solid, so no embarrassing hoofprints appeared.

Shi Qian, feeling wronged on behalf of the calf: “Moo—”

Barely one year old, yet already so heavy… Can’t even sleep on the bed, chased off instead.

But after all that tossing around, Chen Niu finally stopped sighing and turning restlessly.

Shi Qian lay back down on the straw, tilted his head, ready to sleep.

After a while, Chen Niu turned his head and saw the calf asleep.

Was it trying to comfort him? Or just wanted to steal the bed?

Judging from the end result, it seemed more like the former.

Chen Niu gently shook out the clothes he had set aside that morning and draped them over the calf.

Then he lay down himself, ready to sleep.

He had a bed to sleep in, enough food to eat, and by the end of the year, the debts owed to the production team would surely be repaid. Everything was already getting better.

Before falling asleep, Chen Niu wished that every year from now on would have such harvests, that everyone would have enough to eat, and live better lives.

What he regretted and feared most was that famine—may it never come again.

Another morning came, early.

Shi Qian woke up and faintly heard the words “all full” slip from Chen Niu’s lips.

“Moo, moo.”

Don’t worry, don’t worry. In the future, everyone will have enough to eat.

It was just that for now, things were still tough, and had to be endured.

But Shi Qian thought of the major event next year—the resumption of the college entrance exams.

Wasn’t that the perfect chance to take off, to change one’s fate?

What education level did Chen Niu have again? Shi Qian recalled his neat, beautiful handwriting, and guessed he probably had a junior high education. Judging from the old lady’s attitude, she likely valued education too.

He could even start preparing in advance.

Shi Qian went to the desk, knocked the Quotations down, and flipped through it until he found the page that read: “Study hard and make progress every day.”

Satisfied, Shi Qian picked up the book with his mouth and dropped it over Chen Niu’s face.

Chen Niu was sleeping deeply and only woke up when it was time to get up.

But before even opening his eyes, he felt a strange heaviness pressing on his face.

He immediately raised a hand to swat it away and sat bolt upright.

Then he saw the red-covered Quotations fly off, and quickly stretched out an arm to rescue it.

“Qian Niuhua!” Chen Niu grabbed the book and couldn’t help but shout out the window. Other than the little calf, no one would do such a thing.

Shi Qian walked to the window and softly went, “Moo-moo.”

Don’t make such a racket, grandma is sleeping.

But the old lady, already awake, raised her voice and asked, “What’s the matter with Qian Niuhua?”

Chen Niu woke up completely, got up, washed, and started cooking.

When the old lady came out, Chen Niu explained, “Qian Niuhua put the book on my face. I woke up and nearly got scared to death.”

“What’s so scary about that?”

Zhang Peiyue gave him a disdainful glance and waved to the little calf. “Qian Niuhua, come here. Grandma washed some sweet potatoes for you.”

Clean sweet potatoes, still raw—the kind Shi Qian preferred.

Shi Qian also gave Chen Niu a disdainful look.

In his heart he thought: What a waste of my effort. Turning those pages wasn’t easy.

Then he walked to Zhang Peiyue, biting into the sweet potato.

Chen Niu said, “That’s a quotation book. If you ruin it, I’ll give you a beating.”

“A quotation book, huh? Then you really can’t mess with it.” Zhang Peiyue pinched one of the little calf’s ears. “Understand, Qian Niuhua?”

Shi Qian nodded, showing he got it.

Then he shook his head, turned toward Chen Niu, and went, “Moo-moo.”

It wasn’t like he was messing around.

Shi Qian had the best intentions, but unfortunately, this blockhead Chen Niu never noticed the details.

Knowing neither of them could understand him, Shi Qian quickly finished the snack sweet potato, then ran into Chen Niu’s room, dragged the book out, and brought it to the old lady.

Seated, Zhang Peiyue accepted the book. Shi Qian used his hoof to point to the spot he wanted.

She saw the line written there: “Study well and improve every day.” She looked at the little calf. “You want to tell Chen Niu this?”

Shi Qian nodded, then looked at Chen Niu again.

Chen Niu was dumbfounded. Thinking of last night, he suddenly felt very guilty toward the little calf.

Lowering his head, he said apologetically, “Sorry, Qian Niuhua.”

To show his remorse, Chen Niu quickly scarfed down his food and took Shi Qian out for an extra treat.

He knew the nearby hills well, and led Shi Qian up a slope where a patch of grass still lingered. It wasn’t particularly tender, but for this season, it was already a rare find.

Shi Qian buried his head into the fresh grass.

Chen Niu patted the back of the little calf’s neck. “Qian Niuhua, wait here a sec. I’ll go check if that pear tree in the valley still has any fruit.”

Shi Qian: ?

The calf’s big eyes lit up even more.

“Moo? Moo!”

Pears? Then what am I still eating grass for!

Shi Qian nudged Chen Niu, urging him to take him to the pear tree.

Chen Niu tried to reason with him, “It’s a bit far, the mountain road isn’t easy. Why don’t you keep eating grass, and I’ll bring some back for you?”

Shi Qian shook his head, “Moo-moo.”

Eat pears first.

With no choice, Chen Niu led the little calf to find the pear tree.

The mountain path was rough, and their goal was up a rather steep slope. But the calf’s body was nimble, bounding like a deer alongside the sturdy young man as they climbed.

As a lucky cow, Shi Qian managed to get his pears.

They weren’t as pretty or thin-skinned as the pears from Zhao Kang’s family, but pears were pears.

Crunch, crunch.

Shi Qian stood under the tree and ate three in one go.

Satisfied, he nudged Chen Niu. “Moo-moo.”

Not bad!

Chen Niu laughed. “So you forgive me now, Qian Niuhua?”

Shi Qian raised a hoof. “Moo-moo.”

That depends—give me one more pear.

Chen Niu was slowly learning to read the calf’s gestures. He picked out another pear and handed it over.

But Shi Qian didn’t eat it. Instead, he pushed it toward Chen Niu, who hadn’t had one yet, signaling, “Moo-moo.”

This one’s for you.

Chen Niu might not be very bright, but Shi Qian didn’t dislike his occasional foolishness—at most, just found it slightly irritating.

And as the new big brother of the household, of course he couldn’t hog everything for himself.