Chapter 111: You woman, hurry up and control them!

As soon as Qiao Sheng said that.

Shi Jin pursed his lips, squatted down, and began picking, imitating Xiao Shitou and the others.

While they were picking.

Qiao Sheng chatted with Li Fang: "Li Fang, how old are your Da Hu and Er Niu? They're quite handy at work..."

Upon hearing that,

Li Fang laughed and said: "They're dragon-and-phoenix twins, about the same age as your Xiao Shitou. Don't praise them so much—there are plenty of kids in our village more capable than them..."

Shi Jin instinctively looked over at Da Hu and Er Niu, who were picking peanuts.

As skinny as a monkey.

Their clothes were also tattered.

Are they really Li Fang's biological children?

Just as Shi Jin was about to look away, he saw Da Hu pick up a mud‑covered peanut, give it a quick rub, put it in his mouth, bite it open, gently split it, and toss it back in.

Da Hu noticed Shi Jin watching him, thought he wanted some too, quickly prepared another and handed it over.

"Here, eat."

Seeing dirt on Da Hu's hands and mouth and a bit of peanut debris at the corner of his mouth, Shi Jin felt a wave of nausea and hurriedly waved his hand.

"Brother, eat."

"Er Niu took the peanut from her brother's hand and shoved it into Shi Jin's mouth."

"Shi Jin got up and ran to hide behind Qiao Sheng: 'You woman, hurry up and control them!'"

"What do you call me?"

Qiao Sheng turned, stared straight at Shi Jin, and asked.

"Shi Jin fidgeted with his hands and said softly: 'Aunt Qiao, please control them—I don't want to eat any peanuts, and I certainly don't want to eat the ones they gave me.'"

"How can there be such people, forcing others to eat!"

"Qiao Sheng sized up Er Niu who had run over, figured out what was happening, and said: 'They mean well—if you don't want to eat, just say so; why run?'"

Li Fang also spoke about Er Niu.

"Er Niu, go pick your peanuts; if your brother wants to eat, he'll shell them himself."

"Oh."

"Er Niu stuffed the peanut her brother had shelled into her own mouth and went back to picking peanuts."

"Li Fang apologetically said to Qiao Sheng: 'Qiao Sheng, sorry, our Er Niu and them…'"

"Upon hearing her say that."

"Qiao Sheng called her aside to talk: 'Li Fang, you don't need to apologize; your Er Niu and them are just being warm and hospitable, so they made peanuts for Shi Jin to eat.'"

The two chatted a few sentences before returning to pick peanuts.

"Qiao Sheng bought ten jin of peanuts; after buying them she didn't leave right away, but instead took Shi Jin and the others around the village."

"In this village, children start school late, and begin helping with household chores at a young age."

"They walked around once."

"They not only saw children cutting pigweed, but also children gathering firewood and carrying it home; most of them were working, with little time to play."

"While Qiao Sheng walked with Xiao Shitou and the others, she didn't speak, quickly arriving at the ox cart where they had previously sat."

"She said to Shi Jin: 'Shi Jin, did you see those children just now? They're not old, but most of them are working.'"

"Their parents are too harsh, making them work at such a young age."

"Shi Jin said somewhat indignantly."

"Qiao Sheng's aim was to let Shi Jin witness human hardship, to let him know he is far happier than these children and should cherish what he has; the result was, he said this."

"But upon reflection, it's not surprising that he would say that."

"After all, he has never had to work since childhood."

"Qiao Sheng was about to think how to tell him, when Xiao Shitou spoke: 'What's excessive? Their parents work hard to raise them; isn't it right for them to do some chores?'"

(End of chapter)