The Farm Girl and the Executioner (Rebirth) 60

Chapter 60: A Room of Their Own

The rice planted in March had turned a golden yellow by the end of July.

Ever since the mohele business had passed, Lin Shuang had nothing special to do. She would take Ping’er to the fields every day to shoo away the birds.

Jiang Huaizhen had also become idle. At home, she was tinkering with building another room to the east, saying that when Ping’er grew up, she could have her own room.

Lin Shuang’s meaning was that since they were not short on money, they could just hire someone.

But she was unwilling.

She said that she was idle anyway, and the room was not in a hurry to be lived in. It didn’t matter when it was built.

Lin Shuang let her be.

Ever since they had become familiar with Zhang Mainiang’s family, Caitou would sometimes bring Dahua and Xiaohua over. The little girls would often play together, chasing each other on the ridges of the fields, having a great time.

The sun was very strong, and after just a few days, the few children were tanned dark, and when they smiled, only the whites of their eyes and their teeth were white.

And at this moment, Jiang Huaizhen was sawing wood under the eaves, drenched in sweat.

Lin Shuang sat on a rattan chair to the side, fanning herself leisurely.

Seeing that the bowl next to her was empty, she got up and went to the kitchen to get a pot of luo han guo tea, filled a bowl, and handed it to her.

Jiang Huaizhen put down the saw, took the bowl, and drank it all in one go.

“So hot,” she grumbled, picking up the towel on the stool next to her and wiping the sweat from her neck.

Lin Shuang’s gaze followed the towel, sweeping over her long, slender neck, and the faintly visible black mole near the side of her neck. A few drops of sweat rolled down her neck and into the deep groove of her clothes, leaving only a wet trail.

Her throat couldn’t help but bob slightly.

It took her a long time to force her gaze away to the golden rice outside.

She must be getting old. Those kinds of thoughts were getting stronger.

Jiang Huaizhen was already eighteen, and she had lived eleven years longer than her. The soul in her body was now almost thirty.

At this age, it should be normal to have all sorts of strange thoughts and needs.

“It’s autumn. The autumn tiger is even hotter than summer. Let Ping’er sleep with Grandma at night.”

Jiang Huaizhen, who was wiping her sweat, heard her words, her hand paused, and then she replied, “Alright. You can tell her when she gets back. Grandma’s room has a kang and a bed. If she doesn’t want to sleep with Grandma, she can sleep by herself. We’re not short on mats at home… If you feel hot, how about I get you another bed?”

Lin Shuang stared at her, annoyed at her lack of understanding, and replied, “I’ve never seen a young couple sleep in separate beds.”

Hearing this, Jiang Huaizhen was stunned.

Lin Shuang snorted, ignored her, and turned to go to the kitchen, planning to make some mung bean soup to cool down.

In the room, Old Madam Jiang was chattering, “It’s so hot. Will it rain if it’s too hot? The rice is about to be harvested. If it rains, it will be a disaster if it’s soaked in water.”

A careless grumble, but to Lin Shuang’s ears, it was like a clap of thunder.

She suddenly remembered that in her second year at the Qin residence in her past life, the entire Lingzhou had flooded. Several counties along the Qin River were all flooded, and in Changping County alone, over a hundred people had died.

Some had drowned, some had been trapped in trees and had starved to death because the government had given up on the rescue, and some had died of illness after the flood.

There were also nearly a thousand families who, because of this storm and flood, had no harvest from their fields and had to sell their children…

By her calculation, the disaster would happen in a few days.

Lin Shuang, who had broken out in a cold sweat, did not immediately make a sound. She just sat for a while and then said to Jiang Huaizhen, “I want to eat mung bean paste. We’re out of sugar at home. I’ll go to the village entrance and see if there’s a peddler passing by to buy some.”

Jiang Huaizhen was still in a daze from her words just now. Now, hearing her speak, it took her a long time to understand what she was saying. She looked at the sun outside and said, “It’s so hot. Why don’t we eat it tomorrow? I’ll go to the city early tomorrow morning to buy some household items and some sugar on the way back.”

Lin Shuang shook her head. “No. I want to eat it now.”

Jiang Huaizhen was helpless. “I’ll go. You stay at home and rest.”

“What’s the difference between you going and me going?” Lin Shuang glared at her and turned to go to the stable to get the horse.

Riding Jing Lei, she quickly left the village and wandered around the main road for a while. Whenever she saw someone, she would say that she had met a Daoist who could tell fortunes and had said that it was going to rain heavily and there would be a big flood.

Over a hundred lives, Lin Shuang could not just ignore them.

She couldn’t just run to the government and tell them about this. The government wouldn’t believe her. Because in her past life, some of the disaster victims had died because of the government’s inaction.

She could only use this method to remind everyone to be prepared as much as possible.

After walking for over an hour, she met a passing peddler and bought some sugar, then led the horse back.

The matter of the mohele clothes and accessories had greatly improved the villagers’ impression of her and Jiang Huaizhen. Seeing her pass by, they all greeted her.

But she looked anxious and said, “Third Aunt, I just went out to the main road and met a traveling Daoist. He said that it’s going to rain heavily in the next few days, and there will be a once-in-a-century flood. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but the rice at home is all ripe. If you can harvest it, you should do it as soon as possible.”

Hearing this, Third Aunt Yang was startled. “Really? My family has seven mu of land. If it rains heavily, it will be a disaster. I have to tell my husband.”

With that, she quickly ran into the house.

As Lin Shuang walked, she told seven or eight families about the rain. Before long, everyone in Whitewater Village knew that there was going to be a big rain and a flood.

Some believed it and rushed to the fields with their sickles.

Of course, some didn’t believe it and wanted to let the rice grow in the fields for a few more days.

When Lin Shuang returned home, she also told Jiang Huaizhen the same thing.

Jiang Huaizhen was clearly stunned and quickly asked, “Why are you in such a hurry? The rice has just turned yellow. It would be best to leave it in the fields for a few more days and harvest it after August.”

“If we leave it for a few more days, I’m afraid even the ears of rice will rot in the fields!”

“What if the Daoist is wrong?”

Lin Shuang said, “I think he’s right. Don’t you think that the weather this year is exactly the same as the precursor to the big flood ten years ago?”

She couldn’t reveal the news from her past life and had to make up another reason.

Hearing this, Jiang Huaizhen’s brow furrowed. She was only so old ten years ago. How could she remember what the weather was like?

But Lin Shuang’s decisions had never been wrong.

She gritted her teeth. “Alright then. We’ll harvest the rice tomorrow. I’ll go and sharpen the sickles.”

Old Madam Jiang had also heard their commotion. She was a little hesitant. “I was just saying. I haven’t heard that it’s going to rain…”

But the two children had already made up their minds. How could she stop them?

Jiang Huaizhen asked, “Should we tell the villagers? I’m worried that if everyone follows us and harvests early, and it doesn’t rain, they will inevitably blame us.”

“The villagers all know,” Lin Shuang looked at her cautiously. “I was the one who spread it…”

Jiang Huaizhen thought for a moment and did not blame her. She comforted her, “It’s said. Those who believe will naturally believe. Those who don’t, even if you force them to cut the rice, they might not be willing.”

Lin Shuang was relatively satisfied with her attitude. “We can’t do anything about those who don’t believe us. But we still have to remind the few families we’re close to. When Caitou comes to pick up Dahua and Xiaohua later, we have to tell him and have their family harvest. If Sister Mai’s family harvests, then Sister Xiuzhi will definitely get to work.”

Jiang Huaizhen thought it was reasonable.

Lin Shuang had spread this huge news, and her heart was a little lighter. She turned to make the mung bean paste, sprinkled some sugar, and after cooling the pot in water, she called the children back to drink the sweet soup.

The few children had been playing like crazy and were all sweaty when they came back.

Old Madam Jiang grumbled and wiped their sweat with a towel.

Ping’er was already used to her sharp tongue and soft heart and giggled as she burrowed into her arms. Dahua and Xiaohua were much more obedient and stood there quietly, letting Lin Shuang wipe their sweat.

After they were wiped clean, they skipped to drink the sweet soup.

When Caitou came, he saw that his two younger sisters were eating at the Jiang family again. He was too embarrassed to enter and stood outside the door, calling for them to go home.

Lin Shuang got up and walked to the door. “Come in and eat together. I’ve made a lot.”

Caitou shook his head and ran away, refusing to enter.

Lin Shuang was helpless and had to say, “Go back and tell your mother that it’s going to rain in the next few days. Have her harvest the rice tomorrow. Your family has four mu of land. If you don’t harvest it now and it rains and it’s soaked in water, you’ll be starving until next year.”

Hearing this, Caitou knew that this was no small matter and quickly replied, “I’ll go back and tell my mother.”

With that, he still didn’t enter the door but went to the stable to see Jing Lei. It wasn’t until his two younger sisters had finished eating and called him that he ran over, bid farewell to Lin Shuang and the others, and led the two of them toward the end of the village.

Old Madam Jiang looked at the three of them’s retreating figures and said with emotion, “Mainiang’s few children are so sensible. When they grow up, it will be her turn to enjoy her old age.”

Ping’er said, “Grandma, when I grow up, I can also let you enjoy your old age.”

Old Madam Jiang’s mouth curled up, but she didn’t give her any face. “Do I have to wait for you? I’m already enjoying my old age now.”

With that, she sighed. “You two, you’re also of age. You really don’t want to get married. I’ll have Erqiao help me look. If there’s a suitable one, we can just find someone to marry into the family.”

Hearing this, Jiang Huaizhen glanced at the person next to her without a sound.

Lin Shuang didn’t say anything.

She could only say slowly, “I don’t want to.”

“What don’t you want?” Old Madam Jiang glared at her.

“I don’t want to get married, and I don’t want to have a son-in-law.”

“You—what’s so good about being a nun? All alone, you don’t even know what it’s like to be a woman.”

Hearing this, Jiang Huaizhen seemed to realize what the old woman was saying, and her ears instantly turned red.

A smile touched the corner of Lin Shuang’s lips.

Ping’er blinked her innocent big eyes and asked, “Grandma, what is it like to be a woman?”

Old Madam Jiang raised her hand. “What are you asking these things for, a little child? Go, go.”

Ping’er stuck out her tongue at her and ran away.

Lin Shuang stood up and said to her, “Ping’er, you’ll sleep in Grandma’s room tonight. Go and get your little pillow.”

“Why?” Ping’er was a little unwilling. She liked to sleep with the fragrant Aunt Shuang and her older sister.

But when they were not at home before, she had also slept with the old woman for a few nights.

But she still liked to sleep with Aunt Shuang.

Lin Shuang said, “It’s too crowded for three people to sleep, and it’s also hot. I have to sweat all night when I sleep in the middle.”

Ping’er pouted, said “oh,” and compromised.

…

That night, Ping’er went to sleep in the old woman’s room.

The bed, which had originally been for three people, was suddenly missing one person. The two adults seemed a little unaccustomed to it. They lay on the bed, and neither of them spoke.

Lin Shuang was holding a cattail fan and was fanning the two of them gently.

Just as she thought that Jiang Huaizhen was already asleep, the other suddenly said, “I’ll get up early tomorrow morning and go to Guiying’s house to have them harvest the rice quickly. You can sleep a little longer. When I get back, we’ll go down to the fields together. Our family only has two mu of rice. We can finish it in less than two days.”

They had also planted some on the dry land, but that was only a little over one mu of grain, and it wasn’t mature yet, so it wasn’t suitable to harvest now.

“Then you have to make sure they harvest the grain in these few days. Their house is near the river, and that river is connected to the Qin River. It might flood. Have them pay more attention. If the water level rises, they have to evacuate in advance,” Lin Shuang said.

“By the way, it’s best to prepare some epidemic prevention medicinal herbs in advance.”

Jiang Huaizhen was puzzled by her conviction in this matter, but in the end, she didn’t ask.

She closed her eyes slightly, her mind on what the old woman had been nagging about during the day.

The night wind carried the scent of soapberry and a woman’s body, wafting from the slightly open collar of the person next to her.

“Let me fan for a while,” she suddenly opened her eyes and reached for the cattail fan in Lin Shuang’s hand.

The bamboo bed creaked slightly, and Lin Shuang moved closer.

Jiang Huaizhen could feel the other’s hot forehead against her shoulder, and her breath was cool.

She didn’t dodge and let her press against her tightly, her right hand continuing to fan.

“Jiang Huaizhen…”

Jiang Huaizhen hummed softly in response.

“Do you know what Grandma meant by what it’s like to be a woman?”

Jiang Huaizhen’s arm, which had been fanning, slowly stopped, but it soon returned to its previous speed.

“I don’t know… It’s getting late. Let’s sleep.”

“But my back is itchy…”

With that, Lin Shuang turned her back to her.

This was not the first time she had scratched her itch. Jiang Huaizhen asked, “Where is it itchy?”

“The same place as last time.”

Jiang Huaizhen put down the fan, pulled up her clothes, and reached in, to a spot above her shoulder blades. “Here?”

“Yes… a little harder…”

Jiang Huaizhen scratched for a while, and Lin Shuang directed again, “A little lower… a little to the side…”

Jiang Huaizhen’s hand paused.

Because a little further in front of that, it was a little soft and springy…

“…Why did you stop?”

Lin Shuang’s voice was a little dissatisfied.

Jiang Huaizhen hesitated, reached a little further, but she didn’t know which of Lin Shuang’s ticklish spots she had touched. The woman before her was now really a little itchy and turned backward.

With this turn, she had just let that soft melon bump into Jiang Huaizhen’s hand.

Jiang Huaizhen was caught off guard, her palm suddenly filled with softness.

When she realized what was happening, she quickly withdrew her hand.

Lin Shuang’s ears were already red, and her heart was pounding.

She had intended to seduce Jiang Huaizhen, that was right. But when she was really touched by the other, the thoughts in her heart were in a mess, and her mind was a jumble, not knowing how to continue.

Behind her, Jiang Huaizhen looked at her hand, which was suspended in mid-air, with a strand of Lin Shuang’s loose hair still wrapped around her fingers.

She suddenly picked up the cattail fan next to her and fanned it quickly a couple of times.

“I’m sorry… I accidentally offended you.”

Lin Shuang wished she would offend her, but how could she say such a thing? The nearly thirty-year-old woman in her heart was still very thin-skinned when facing an eighteen-year-old girl.

Her skin was thin because she was not sure if Jiang Huaizhen would like women, or if she would be seduced by her.

From their usual interactions, the other did not seem to be repulsed by her closeness. The matter of the household registration was an example.

She had also said more than once that she would not get married or have a son-in-law. Then why couldn’t she make her status as her wife a reality?

But Lin Shuang was not completely sure…

In the darkness, she bit her lip, but her tone was as if nothing had happened. “I’m going to sleep.”

“Go to sleep,” Jiang Huaizhen continued to fan the cattail fan, saying softly.