TFFFS CHAPTER 18

 Chapter 18 - Chunrong

Tang Chunming fed the ewes soybeans that had been soaked in spring water early in the morning. Now the ewes can be milked twice a day and the savings can be used for Tang Chunming and the three children to drink. 

After drinking the goat's milk, Da Mao Er Mao said that he would mow and feed the sheep every day when the grass grew on the mountain in spring.

 

Putting the two lambs into the space, Tang Chunming walked out of the sheepfold and returned to the house, and took the goose and chicken cubs back into the space, and then brought A Lin who was holding the little flower into the space.  

For the routine activities after dinner in the past few days, A Lin would giggle and run after the little flowers, and the small animals would also move within the range Tang Chunming marked out. Every time Tang Chunming would cut some vegetables and throw them in for them to eat.

At first Tang Chunming hesitated whether to bring Ah Lin in, but the space is more nourishing than the spring water, perhaps because jade buckle space is the fundamental factor.

And after experimenting for a period of time, Tang Chunming found that Ah Lin was carried out his instructions very seriously, and the food that emerged out of thin air had never been mentioned to anyone, even if it was a best playmate like Da Mao Er Mao.

Tang Chunming regards Ah Lin as his own son and loves him, since he is a family member, he doesn't want to feel estranged. Even if he hides it from Ah Lin now, when Ah Lin grows up and remembers things, he will definitely discover abnormalities in his family.

How will he solve it then? Anyway, Tang Chunming admitted that he had no ability and would not reveal any suspicious information. 

Previously, it took him a lot of brain cells to fight the Zhao family, and he himself was always too lazy to use his brain. The goal was to be live easy and happy, so it's better to confess to Ah Lin from the beginning and tell him that this is a place given by Gods.

Now seeing more and more laughter from Ah Lin and his increasingly dependent eyes on him, Tang Chunming feels that everything was worth it.

The little lamb loves to bleat next to Tang Chunming, and the two little geese who first settled down in Tang's house will take on the responsibility of parents and lead a group of chicks to play in the field. A-Lin was tired from running and took Xiaohua back to Grandma, and softly called: "Ā mǔ, Xiaohua and I are hungry again."

Tang Chunming knelt down to touch his belly on purpose: "Come and let Ā mǔ see if Ah Lin's stomach is really hungry."

Before he could touch, Ah Lin giggled and got into his mother's arms to play tricks :  

"Amu, I want to eat red fruit, and even Xiaohua wants to eat them."

Tang Chunming happily stood up and grabbed his son's hand as he walked towards the wooden house, saying,

"Okay, but only one can be eaten, otherwise your stomach will ache at night, and xiaohua can't eat more"

"Okay, just one." Zhao Lin's dark eyes were filled with joy, and Xiaohua seemed to know that it can satisfy the appetite of the mouth, ran happily around Tang Chunming and Zhao Lin on both sides with short legs. 

The reason why it was named Xiaohua by Zhao Lin is because of its fur color, mixed with black and brown, with a soft and fluffy texture. When it grows up, it will be dignified, but now a little milk dog will only make people feel look naive and charming.

The red fruit that Ah Lin wants to eat is actually tomatoes, sour and sweet. Even Tang Chunming likes to eat them, not to mention being a child. 

Tang Chunming took two from the storage room, one for Ah Lin to hold in his hand and let him eat slowly, and the other was thrown to Xiao Hua's side to chew and play with. 

Tang Chunming himself ran to the field to pick vegetables, and the first batch of vegetables planted could already be picked.

Green vegetables, Chinese cabbage, spinach, radishes, eggplants, cucumbers, and of course, tomatoes that can be eaten as fruits and vegetables.

Apart from the latter, Tang Chunming basically selects locally grown vegetables, so that he can openly take them out and eat them himself in the future. Of course, what he is considering now is how to exchange a batch of vegetables for silver. Not to mention, this really gave him a chance.

He set his goal in the county town, after all, the scale of the market town is limited, and it is easy to encounter acquaintances. If he is not careful, it will be exposed, and he cannot explain the source of these off-season vegetables clearly. 

The county town has a large scale, and even with a large number of wealthy people, these vegetables can be sold at a good price. No, during our conversation with Shen Fulang, we learned that he was going to the county town in a few days to deliver some supply and food to his two sons. 

Tang Chunming was ready to take a ride, and when Shen Fulang went to the school to visit his son, he went to the city to explore his way.

In addition, he also plans to raise seedlings early and plant the vegetable fields in the yard, so that they can ripen a batch earlier than others' home, and these vegetables can be openly sold in the town, which the source of income is considered to be over the clear way.

However, in this way, Tang Chunming's task has increased again, and he must first reclaim the land in the yard. With his current body, Tang Chunming has a headache to think about.

With the increase in the number of months, the things that Tang Chunming tried to ignore could no longer be ignored, because his stomach had already begun to take shape. 

Perhaps due to eating well and keeping up with the nutrition, the meat in his stomach was also growing. Every time he looked at the protruding lump of meat, Tang Chunming wanted to cry without tears. 

Thinking of the scene when brother Ming's gave birth to Ah-Lin in his memory, he would shiver. Damn, it's really hard life of a human being.

Just like now, Tang Chunming had to stand up after squatting down for a while, otherwise his stomach would be very uncomfortable. Fortunately, picking cucumbers was not a big problem because the rack he had built could be picked standing up. 

In a moment, Ah-Lin, who had eaten the tomatoes well, also came to help his mother. Tang Chunming did not stop him. Although he was small and slow, he ultimately solved some of Tang Chunming's burden.

The collected vegetables are placed in the baskets brought in in advance, and baskets of them are placed in the ground first, and then Tang Chunming will use his spiritual power to transfer them into the storage room when he leaves the space. Of course now can also be, but such a move in the end is too amazing, Tang Chunming does not want to explain to his son that he has also learned the skills of the immortals.

Just as Tang Chunming was worried about how to organize the vegetable fields in his backyard, free labor automatically appeared. Tang Chunming looked up at the sunny day outside, and the heavens were still treating him well. 

Tang Chunrong, who was regarded by Tang Chunming as a free labor force who automatically sent him to his door, looked at his clothes with his brother's eyes that made his scalp tingle, just like before. Why did he look at him with that kind of look?

"Brother, what are you doing? Where's Ah-Lin? Uncle's here." Tang Chunrong instinctively thought it would be better to leave his brother's sight first, so he bypassed Tang Chunming and searched for little broter Lin.

Tang Chunming stretched out his hand and pointed in the direction of the sheep pen: 

"They are all feeding the sheep there, Da Mao and Er Mao are there, by the way, it's where the pigsty used to be."

Tang Chunrong rushed towards the other side at a speed twice as fast as before. As soon as he approached, he saw three small heads gathering together and the sound of sheep bleating. He felt that his brother's yard was much more lively than when he came last time.

"Hello Uncle," Ah-Lin heard the call and turned around holding Xiaohua. He called out politely, and Da Mao Er Mao followed suit to call him Uncle.

Tang Chunrong responded and looked at Ah-Lin's face. It was indeed better to separate from the Zhao family, and it didn't take long for his face to improve compared to last time. : "Does Ah-Lin miss Uncle? Uncle brought candy for Ah-Lin, and Da Mao and Er Mao also have a share."

Da Mao pursed his lips and said thank you with a reserved expression, making Er Mao's behavior much more straightforward.

However, because they learned to recognize and write with Tang Chunming, they all thought they were different from the wild boys in the village, so they sometimes behaved rigidly when facing outsiders, and Zhang Xiu couldn't help but laugh at these two skinny monkeys when he saw it.

But Xiaohua in Ah-Lin's arms yelled at Tang Chunrong, it's delicate voice was not threatening, but it's bowed the body desperately to protect the little master. Ah-Lin quickly patted Xiaohua and coaxed, "Xiaohua, this is uncle, don't shout."

Xiaohua yelled twice more in a thin voice before stopping unwillingly, turned around and buried in the arms of the little master, and pointed the butt at the visitor. For some reason, Tang Chunrong felt that the little milk dog was very disdainful towards him: "This is the puppy my brother brought back for you, called Xiaohua?" Well, the name is easy to understand, maybe it's a female dog.

Actually, Xiaohua is a male dog.

"Yes, Xiaohua, say hello to Uncle." Ah-Lin waved Xiaohua's front leg towards Tang Chunrong.

"Uncle, Xiaohua is very good and obedient. Amu said that Xiaohua will help us take care of the yard when he grows up"

"Yes, Xiaohua will be very powerful when he grows up." At such a young age, he bark his teeth at strangers.

Tang Chunrong touched his nose, but he was actually very embarrassed. Last time he came, he was too hasty and only focused on worrying about his brother's situation. 

He forgot to bring some snacks or something for his little nephew until he left. He was worried about this matter in his heart until he left. 

Therefore, this time when he asked his mother's permission to take a break to visit his brother, he specially saved his pocket money and bought a bag of candy to bring over.

"Come on, two yuan per person, put the rest at Ah-Lin's mother, and get it after eating." 

The three children all looked at the paper bag in Tang Chunrong's hand eagerly, even if Ah-Lin is not bad for food now But the candy has not been eaten for a long time. 

He took two pieces of candy and put them in the mouth. They were sweet and delicious, and gave the remaining piece to his mother.

&&&

Tang Chunrong held Ah-Lin in his arms, with Xiao Hua in his arms, followed by Da Mao Er Mao. The group entered the room like this. Tang Chunming couldn't help but smile, and in his eyes, Tang Chunrong was just a big child, and now he looks even more like a child's head.

"Brother, what did you say? "Tang Chunrong put down his nephew and asked with embarrassment.

"It's nothing, " Tang Chunming didn't tell the truth while taking care of his younger brother's self-esteem

Tang Chunrong then understood the expression on his brother's face when he first entered the door, and was somewhat grateful that he had arrived in time. 

So he said, "Brother, please rest, let me do whatever work you have. It's the vegetable field behind the yard, right? Where is the hoe? I'll hurry up and help you finish it today"

Tang Chunming was moved that such a good younger brother should have been met by him. He must take good care of it and not be deceived. Perhaps because his stepmother was too strong, Ah Rong's temperament appeared a bit weaker than that of ordinary men, but it wasn't that he couldn't adjust. Last time, he ran over despite Ah's mother's opposition, thanks to his move.

Tang Chunrong came over wearing a long shirt just like last time. Tang Chunming opened the box and found him a short shirt. As soon as Tang Chunrong entered the room, he saw the little chickens placed inside, each with great vitality and chirping. Ah-Lin told his uncle in a gentle voice, 

"This is what AMu entrusted to Ah Lin for keeping. In the future, he will pick up eggs and sell them for money"

"Ah-Lin is really capable!" Tang Chunrong felt sour in his heart. For the sake of mother, for the sake of his brother, Ah-Lin, and the little one in his belly, he must pass the imperial examination so that his relatives won't be easily bullied.

If he had achieved fame as a scholar, his mother wouldn't have to work so hard, his brother wouldn't have to be forced to remarry, and his nephew Ah-Lin wouldn't have made people have any plans.

The last time he saw brother work so hard to break away from the Zhao family, his feelings were very deep. 

It wasn't because him, the only man in the Tang family, was too useless, so he didn't want to follow his mother's arrangement to go back home and farm this time.

"In the future, uncle will make a lot of money for Ah-Lin, so much so that he can't use it all up, and no one will bully Ah Lin anymore," Tang Chunrong promised, touching Ah Lin's head.

"Ah-Lin also earns money for Amu,"

Ah-Lin couldn't understand the complicated words and only pointed to the chicken cubs in the basket.

"Ah-Lin, we will also help you to raise together." said Da Mao Er Mao. If Zhang Xiu heard this and didn't know whether to get angry or laugh, he would definitely say to Tang Chunming, 'Look at these two young men, they are completely raised by your family, and we can even give them to you.'.

Tang Chunming naturally heard the conversation between his younger brother and his son, and he was moved, but he just pretended not to hear it, and walked out after finding the clothes. He was still wearing his own shorts, and his younger brother could still wear his clothes. 

Thinking about it this way Immediately, the moving emotions disappeared, leaving only sadness. His figure is not as tall as a man. After marrying in Pingshan Village, life has been difficult for the past few years and some of his growth had been poor. Tang Chunming himself estimates that he is only about 1.7 meters tall.

Sure enough, after Tang Chunrong replaced it, he only needed to slightly roll up his sleeves and pants, and there was no problem at all. 

After Tang Chunming assigned the three children the characters they learned today, he followed Tang Chunrong to the backyard. 

Tang Chunrong didn't expect his brother to still teach several children how to read, but he thought his brother's approach was quite good.

"Brother, I'll come and teach them when I have time in the future"

"Your own schoolwork is important. I can still teach them a few words. If you have a chance to go to school in the future, you can talk about it. What do you think? Does Mother let you continue studying or go home?"

Turning around the room and putting down the tools in the backyard, Tang Chunming asked his younger brother. 

Compared to his original memory, he can also feel that his stepmother doesn't have a lot of favoritism towards scholars, it's all a bad impression caused by their father, For people in the countryside, it is indeed difficult to read the beginning.

Tang Chunrong pondered over the ground with a hoe before looking up at his brother and saying, 

"Brother, I want to read and take an exam for fame, but my mother seems to disagree. Brother, you can see that Zhao Pingchuan is just a child, and his mother dares to act so recklessly. If I have a scholar's reputation, at least the Zhao family won't be able to talk to you again in the future"

"Of course it's good to get a official position in the exam. Not to mention other things, at least the family's taxes can be exempted."

In ancient times, everything was inferior except for studying. Once one passed the official position, it was like a carp jumping out of the dragon's gate and immediately changing its identity.

Tang Chunming can still remember the text that he learned in school when Fan Jin won the imperial examination school.

He was still studying and taking the official position at such an old age, not just to change his family one day. Tang Chunming thought it would be very cost-effective to focus on the exemption of taxes and corvee for a scholar, not to mention whether he would be promoted or not to become an official in the future.

"Brother, you also agree, right?" Tang Chunrong's eyes suddenly lit up.

Tang Chunming smiled and said, "The first thing you need to do is to convince Amu not to use me as a pretext, otherwise it will only have the opposite effect and make your Amu disapprove. How about you discuss with your Amu first, can you set a limit of years, for example, two rounds of the examination as the limit, if you can pass the examination, Amu should no longer be difficult for you, if you do not get ahead in six years, then you listen to your Amu's arrangements, go home to marry Ger and have children."

Upon hearing the previous content, Tang Chunrong was quite serious and agreed with him. The family situation did not allow him to continue taking the exam. The age limit he mentioned was just right, but upon hearing the following content, Tang Chunrong immediately blushed and turned his head to work quietly, ignoring his brother.

Embarrassed, Tang Chunming chuckled, but comforted his younger brother and said, "In the past two years, I can't help it. When I have more money in my hands, you can just rest assured and go to school. I support you." 

Tang Chunming believes he can definitely do it, and this is also his early investment in his younger brother. It is likely that his stepmother will also be willing to walk with him because of his actions, after all, the most precious thing in his heart is Ah Rong.

Note :

阿母 – ā mǔ – mother

哥儿 – gēr – brothers, boys, male

I will use Amu from here on. And Ger will not be translated, because gēr in bl novel is a man that can have children/give birth. Considered on par with women's social standing or below.

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