Rebirth: Not Being a Waste - Chapter 94

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, a month passes.

The Zhang family’s youngest member, Zhang Yao, reaches his full-month milestone. Born on September 27th, today is October 27th. In just a few days, the village will begin harvesting potatoes. Holding the banquet before the busy season lets everyone celebrate first and work afterward.

When the baby was born, nearly the entire village came to see him.  A banquet is expected, and it has to be done properly.

Early in the morning, Li Mujin gets up, and Zhang Shu boils two large pots of water so he can finally take a proper bath. Because there are elders at home and Li Aba is strict about traditional confinement practices, Li Mujin hasn’t been able to bathe for the past month, only wiping down with a damp cloth.

Now that he can finally bathe, he soaks in the warm water and refuses to come out. Zhang Shu helps him wash, his hands brushing against the smooth skin, momentarily distracted.

But he restrains himself. The real highlight will come in the evening.

Li Mujin changes the water three times before he’s satisfied. By the time he’s done scrubbing from head to toe, he feels as though he’s shed three or four pounds.

Meanwhile, the little one is bathed in another room, where a charcoal fire burns to keep the precious baby warm. He isn’t afraid of water at all. Supported by Li Aba’s hands, his chubby little arms splash the water as he lets out a delighted giggle.

Grandma Zhang and Li Aba can’t take their eyes off him, their hearts filled with love for the little ger.

After the bath, they dress him in small clothes and wrap him snugly in a bright red blanket before carrying him out.

The little one has a good temperament. He’s content being held by anyone during the day and sometimes smiles unconsciously, completely different from a fussy baby.

Sometimes, Zhang Shu worries that his son is too well-behaved—what if someone takes him away and he doesn’t even react? But then he thinks about the five puppies in the house—there’s no way anyone can just walk in and take the baby.

The dogs have grown into half-sized guard dogs. Without someone from the household leading them in, even adults wouldn’t dare approach the house.

The courtyard is packed with guests. More than a dozen tables fill the front yard, while twenty to thirty tables are set up in the back for the villagers. Seating is informal—everyone can sit wherever they please.

Aside from the villagers, the owners of Lin Family Inn also come, as does Hu Da, who runs the brick kiln, and Shopkeeper Yan arrives with their families as well. A few days ago, Hu Caiwang stops by, delivers some gifts for the child, and leaves, saying he’ll be traveling soon and can only offer his congratulations in advance.

It isn’t surprising that Lin Family Inn and Shopkeeper Yan come, but Hu Da’s attendance is unexpected.

Some time ago, Zhang Shu buys tens of thousands of bricks from him—a massive order. Since Hu Da can’t supply everything at once, he makes multiple deliveries and, in the process, becomes more familiar with the Zhang family. Over time, he even starts sharing meals with them. Business relationships, after all, are built through food.

Zhang Shu’s purchase of so many bricks is part of his plan to expand his business.

Beyond his backyard, past one neighbor’s house, lies the village river. Washing autumn potatoes requires water, and being too far from a source won’t work. The villagers can wash and deliver potatoes to him, but if he receives too many at once, they might rot before they can be processed. Therefore, potatoes from other villages have to be transported dry, as wet ones won’t keep well.

To streamline his operations, Zhang Shu buys a nearby property. The previous owners have lived in the city for years and have little use for the village house. Since they aren’t originally from the area, it isn’t their ancestral home.

The Zhang family pays 70 taels for the property—a steep price compared to the 15 taels they previously spend on wasteland, but worth it.

This time, the village chief personally accompanies Zhang Shu for the purchase. The process goes smoothly, without the delays or attempts to extract extra money like last time.

Everyone in the area knows that the village chief of Shuitou Village is the father of a juren scholar who is only in his twenties and has a bright future ahead. Petty officials have keen eyes for power. They wouldn’t dare to exploit someone with such strong backing.

At the banquet, fourteen dishes are served per table: four cold appetizers, eight hot entrées, and two soups. Not only is the food delicious, but the portions are also generous.

Except for Zhang Shu and his family, who pause occasionally to toast guests, everyone else eats heartily. Each table seats eight people, and no one leaves hungry.

Wrapped in a red swaddle, Zhang Yao’s little face is rosy as he sleeps soundly. His rocking cradle is filled with gifts—silver bracelets and locks from the wealthier guests, red string-wrapped copper coins from those with modest means. But no one judges each other.

Everyone understands each family’s circumstances. No one needs to put on airs or pretend to be wealthier than they are.

This is how social relationships work: gifts are exchanged based on what one can afford. Today, one person gives; tomorrow, they receive in return. Everyone keeps an unspoken tally in their hearts, ensuring that no one oversteps the balance.

The evening meal is simpler. The leftovers from lunch are gathered into large basins and placed on the tables for anyone to help themselves. Each person takes a bowl, fills it with rice, and eats wherever they please. Compared to the formal banquet, this feels more like an intimate village gathering.

Once everything is cleaned up for the night, Zhang Shu finally has a moment to rest. Holding his chubby little ger, he lets the baby lie on his chest and plays with him.

Meanwhile, Li Mujin carefully packs all the gifts Qianjin receives into a newly prepared wooden box.

From now on, this box and its contents belong to Qianjin alone.

Copper coins must be spent; if the court issues new ones, the old ones may lose value. But silver does not depreciate. The wooden box contains seven or eight pairs of silver bracelets.

Father Li and his family gift a pair, Grandma Zhang’s and her family gift a pair, Shopkeeper Yan gifts a pair, and Old Hu already sends a pair earlier. Surprisingly, even the village chief’s family sends a pair, which Zhang Shu doesn’t expect.

Li Mujin’s grandfather and uncles gift silver locks engraved with auspicious cloud patterns, making them look particularly beautiful.

As fathers, they can’t be left out either. The two of them have a large silver collar made as a gift for their little one.

Zhang Shu glances at the collection and says, “Our little ger is quite well-off. He’s already saved up so much at such a young age.”

Looking at the box, there has to be at least ten or twenty taels of silver—all gifted to a little child. If others knew, they would surely be envious. This is the privilege of being born into the right family!

“We’ll have to return the favor slowly in the future. This little one has taken advantage of everyone’s generosity.” Li Mujin chuckles.

“Then, as his fathers, why don’t we quietly take a little while he doesn’t know?” As soon as Zhang Shu finishes speaking, Zhang Yao begins to cry.

“Oh no, you’re crying just from hearing that we want to take your money? My little ger, don’t worry, it’s all yours. Father won’t take it, I swear!” Zhang Shu quickly kisses him and coaxes him softly.

“Stop joking. He’s just hungry. Bring the goat milk,” Li Mujin says, taking Zhang Yao and motioning for Zhang Shu to fetch the milk.

Zhang Shu hurries to get the milk and then takes the diapers and other laundry out to wash while Qianjin drinks. He’s more than happy to work for them.

At the start of November, Zhang Shu’s new courtyard was finally completed. Now that the villagers have free time, nearly all the able-bodied men in the village come to help him build the walls.

Construction began in mid-October, with only a single break two days ago when Zhang Shu’s family held the banquet. The rest of the time is dedicated to building the walls.

The new wall extends from Zhang Shu’s house all the way to the river. The courtyard of the family that had been in the way is long demolished, though their house remains and can now be used to accommodate workers in the future.

When the wall reaches the river, it curves back to include that family’s house, forming an enclosed area. From the outside, the two- to three-meter-high walls surround a spacious courtyard, no less impressive than those of the wealthy families.

What pleases Zhang Shu the most is that, while the old yard can only accommodate about thirty people, the new space can now hold over a hundred.

With preparations to make vermicelli underway, they need more supplies. Zhang Shu assigns this task to the two brothers, Wu Jiang and Wu Hai—one the son of Li Mujin’s eldest uncle, the other the son of his second uncle. Last year, when the Li family sells sour and spicy vermicelli, these two are involved as well.

Zhang Shu sees that they’re hardworking and quick-witted, so he decides to give them more responsibility.

The brothers take the money bag and drive out with an ox cart. Speaking of which, Zhang Shu’s family has recently purchased another ox. Unlike their previous calf that is only just growing up, this one is a fully grown, strong beast—much faster than the old one.

Two days later, the brothers return with a cart full of supplies. They buy seven or eight sets of powder filter racks and gauze, along with washing brushes, small stools, large spoons, and other tools. The cart is packed to the brim.

The large vats and grinding stones have been ordered from another village and will be delivered once they’re ready.

Zhang Shu is very satisfied with their work. Not only do they complete the assigned tasks, but they also consider additional details others might overlook. These are people who can truly be relied on—not like abacus beads that only move when pushed.

Once everything has arrived, it’s time to harvest the potatoes. Adults and children alike join in, and the lively atmosphere of the autumn harvest once again fills Shuitou Village.

During this period, Zhang Shu travels to nearby villages, confirming the digging schedules with them to ensure the deliveries are staggered. This way, the potatoes don’t all arrive on the same day, preventing processing delays.

Though the villagers are exhausted, they’re happy. In the past, their main sources of income are the summer and autumn harvests. If either fails, they could face famine.

Fortunately, in recent years, the weather has been good, and the harvests plentiful. However, after paying the seven or eight types of taxes, along with expenses for food, clothing, social obligations, and unexpected medical costs, many families still find their savings depleted by year’s end.

Now, thanks to Zhang Shu’s business, they have the opportunity to work in both summer and winter, earning an additional two to three taels of silver each year. For households with more workers, the extra income from Zhang Shu’s enterprise can even exceed ten taels annually—real, tangible money they can save.

If Zhang Shu isn’t from their village, such a good opportunity wouldn’t have fallen into their laps. People from other villages can only sell their potatoes, while those in Shuitou Village not only have a buyer for their crops but also jobs to earn extra income. With even more workers needed in the latter half of the year, aside from the lazy ones, nearly everyone can find work. Life is looking better and better, and with renewed energy, they swing their hoes with extra force.

The Li family’s father and son are hunters, but with winter approaching, they stop going to the mountains. Zhou Nan, who usually gathers herbs, also puts his plans on hold. Instead, they all come to work for Zhang Shu. Li Aba and Grandma Zhang stay home to care for the little one, while the others go to the fields. With six or seven people working together, the Zhang family’s entire harvest of potatoes is completed in just one day.