Chapter 116: Hastening the Birth of Soybean Sprouts

The old craftsman’s eyes narrowed into joyful slits as he heard her praise. It was truly gratifying to have one’s skill acknowledged by others.

“Not at all, not at all. It’s just a humble craft. I used to be able to make a living down the mountain, but those days are long gone now.”

He patted his leg. Since injuring it, descending the mountain had become difficult, and climbing back up even more so. He was mostly confined to the house.

Fortunately, there were still things he could do at home. He wasn’t entirely incapacitated and could at least help his family.

“That’s no humble craft at all, Uncle. You’re too modest. I’ll take these troughs away now.”

Though it was possible to move all ten troughs at once, she hesitated, fearing they might fall.

After moving the troughs, Gu Xiaoyao brought some meat and placed it into the old craftsman’s hands.

“Uncle, this is a token of my gratitude. Thank you so much for helping me out on such short notice.”

“If I ask you to make something for me again, I’ll pay you. I won’t let you work for free.”

The old craftsman was tempted by her words, but knowing her situation wasn’t easy, he doubted she could afford it.

“Nonsense, no payment needed. These are just small things to make, nothing big.”

They chatted casually for a while. After Gu Xiaoyao left, the old craftsman weighed the meat in his hands, feeling touched by her sincerity.

“Hey, dear, did that girl Xiaoyao bring more meat again?”

His wife poked her head through the window. Seeing the meat in his hands, her eyes lit up with joy.

“Yes, such a big piece! We can enjoy a few good meals. Let’s fry some meat tonight. Doesn’t our eldest grandson love that?”

The old craftsman happily handed the meat to his wife, watching her smile so widely her teeth showed as she sniffed the fragrant gift. She laughed softly.

“Who doesn’t love meat? I wish we could eat it every day, but we don’t have the means.”

The couple looked at the meat as if they had already tasted it, their happiness palpable.

Gu Xiaoyao glanced at the troughs scattered in the yard and, after some thought, moved them to a less conspicuous spot.

The best place would have been inside the house, but there was no room.

“Chu Chengjin, do we have a place to store these troughs? I want to move them all inside.”

Hearing her, Chu Chengjin quickly got up and came to inspect the ten troughs.

“There’s nowhere here suitable to keep these. If you really want to store them inside, the storeroom would be better.”

Next to their house was a small storeroom for miscellaneous items—not large, but more than enough for the troughs.

Gu Xiaoyao agreed and soon moved the troughs there, clearing the clutter to the corners.

Once done, she saw Chu Chengjin still standing there, so she walked over and tugged at his arm.

“Since we’re both free, why don’t you help me? I’m going to dig some mud, and you can help too.”

Chu Chengjin looked at her hand holding his, and together they took hoes and baskets up the mountain to the muddy spots.

Filling ten troughs with mud was no easy task. Watching Chu Chengjin crouched and digging, Gu Xiaoyao couldn’t help but smile.

Despite his noble demeanor, when digging mud, he looked like a child, his face even smudged with dirt.