NOVPUB
Chapter 278: Chapter 280: People You Can’t Indulge In_1
The next morning, Qiao Duo’er and Tan Zhenghong went to the field together, pulling a rice bucket, to thresh the grains.
Threshing was simple: the bundled rice was smashed and hit against the horizontal wooden planks inside the rice bucket, causing the grains to fall into the bucket, while the remaining straw could be saved for fire.
This method was primitive and its drawbacks were obvious.
That was, too many grains remained on the straw, necessitating a subsequent manual check.
While picking up grains, Qiao Duo’er reminisced about the threshing machine she saw at the museum.
That must be more advanced than this.
It looked approximately like a cylinder with many small iron arches and a pedal which, when stepped on, would cause the cylinder to roll and dislodge the grains.
Later, with the advent of electricity, the pedal-operated threshing machines were replaced by electric ones, but the basic principle was the same.
If she studied it well, she should be able to come up with something. It would also be a benefit to humanity.
Two hours later, the threshing was completed.
With this, the rice harvest was complete; the next tasks were to plow the land and plant wheat.
Tan Zhenghong transported the rice home and spread it out in the courtyard to dry.
If it rained, he would pile it in a corner and cover it with a tarp, waiting for the sun to come out before drying it again.
In this way, no matter the weather, his rice was safe and sound.
"Fourth Boss, have you gathered your rice?"
Tan Zhengyuan came over to ask; his eyes were gleaming, someone could be available to help him with his work.
"My family just bought land and still needs to build a house; it’s killing us." n𝚘𝚟𝚙u𝚋.co𝚖
Tan Zhenghong didn’t give Tan Zhengyuan a chance to continue; he knew this kind of person couldn’t be indulged. If you helped this year, there would be next year, and when would it ever end?
So, he refused to dig his own grave.
Undeterred, Tan Zhengyuan shamelessly said, "I heard it’s going to rain soon. If I can’t finish cutting, what will I use to pay the taxes next half year?"
"Then, big brother, you better hurry. Look at Tan Zhongzhong, he’s not in good shape but still goes to work in the field."
Tan Zhongzhong chimed in at the right moment: "Big brother, Fourth Brother, Second Brother’s family has about ten acres of land and they like to shirk. Mom and dad are both out in the fields, you guys shouldn’t just stand by and watch. You should go and help out. I can only manage to take care of our own two acres."
Only when it came time to work did you realize that Second Brother was the laziest, spending half a day in the field and cutting only two small bundles of rice.
Now the old couple was infuriated; with eleven acres of paddies, how many days would that take to cut?
Tan Zhenghong wasn’t surprised in the slightest; Tan Zhengyong was that kind of person.
His own dry land had been sown by Tan Zhengyong, and the yield of those two acres was less than what others got from one acre.
Because, halfway through, Tan Zhengyong begrudgingly planted a soybean every meter, the most outrageous part being that you couldn’t see a soybean plant for several meters.
"When Second Brother didn’t think the land was too much, why should I join in the fuss?"
Tan Zhengyuan said irritably, recalling how the Second House used to brag so much.
If he went to help now, wouldn’t he be just degrading himself?
Moreover, it was another matter whether he could finish harvesting his own land.
Tan Zhenghong said nothing. His parents... they had brought it upon themselves. What place did he, their estranged son, have to talk?
Suddenly realizing he had gone off-topic, Tan Zhengyuan said again, "I’ve only got two acres of paddy fields. I should’ve had enough time, but this year I also have to help your sister-in-law collect rice, now I can’t make it. Fourth Brother, you have to help me out."
"If you can’t finish harvesting in time, give the land to Sister Lan. Da Ya and Er Ya are both your daughters, don’t go too far."
Tan Zhenghong kindly reminded him, as in the future his big brother would likely have to rely on his two daughters for support.
Blocking the way now, he would be the one to suffer in the end.
