Ordinary Days

Zhou Yao drove the horse and carriage leisurely back to his home in Happiness Village.

The sisters Yang Aijin and Yang Ailian saw that their husband Zhou Yao had returned, driving a horse and carriage.

Delighted, they said to him, "Husband, did you buy this horse and carriage?"

Zhou Yao smiled and replied, "Of course. I bought this horse and carriage so it would be easier to take you two sisters along when I go to the county town. Next time I go, I'll take you both with me."

Hearing their husband Zhou Yao say that, Yang Aijin and Yang Ailian danced for joy. The two sisters couldn't remember how long it had been since they had gone shopping.

All these years, the two sisters had dirty, exhausting work to do every day. Finishing their work early and getting their fill was a rare enough happiness; they didn't dare think of anything else, much less indulge in it.

"All right... all right... thank you, husband," Yang Aijin and Yang Ailian hurriedly replied, delighted.

"Oh, I forgot. In the luggage compartment of the carriage are four laying hens and four roosters I bought at the county town market. In a little while, slaughter one of the roosters and stew it for dinner. Take all the other chickens to the coop in the backyard and keep them there. Once the hens start laying, you two sisters must each eat an egg every morning to build up your nutrition. Understood?"

Hearing their husband Zhou Yao say that, Yang Aijin and Yang Ailian replied, touched, "Yes... husband, you're so good to the two of us. We..."

Zhou Yao raised a hand to interrupt what the two sisters were about to say, then said to them, "I know what you two are going to say again. You're my wives now. As your husband, shouldn't I treat my wives well?"

Hearing their husband Zhou Yao say that, Yang Aijin and Yang Ailian smiled happily. Then they carried the chickens from the carriage to the coop in the backyard and shut them inside. They fed them some millet and then some vegetable leaves, poured some water into the trough, and went to slaughter the rooster for dinner.

Before Yang Aijin and Yang Ailian's family had their property confiscated, the two sisters had never dipped their fingers in spring water. After their property was confiscated and they were sent to the army camp, the two sisters had done every kind of dirty, exhausting work: washing clothes, cooking, and cleaning.

So ever since the two sisters had recovered, they had done everything around the house, refusing to let their husband Zhou Yao do any of this women's work.

Zhou Yao also went to unharness the horse from the carriage, then led it to the stable in the backyard. He put a large bundle of ryegrass in the manger, filled the water trough, and put some salt in the manger as well.

Only then did he turn to feed and water the cattle, sheep, and pigs. By then, the ewe had given birth to two lambs, and both were growing nicely.

Because the goat ate and drank well here and lived in complete comfort every day, she had plenty of milk. The two lambs were growing quickly and were very strong.

The wild pigs were growing well too. Zhou Yao saw that the sow's belly had grown big again. He could only say that wild pigs reproduced far too quickly. It looked like in another two months, he could make more cured meat and sausages to eat.

Finally, Zhou Yao went to look at the vegetables growing in the soil. Since more people would be joining the household, he had cleared another plot of land beside it and planted vegetables there. They had all sprouted now. Zhou Yao smiled with satisfaction and nodded when he saw them.

Meanwhile, the horse saw so much fresh, delicious ryegrass, along with salt and water. It neighed happily, then ate the grass and drank the water, looking blissfully content.

Zhou Yao quite liked these ordinary days in the countryside.

By then, waves of chicken aroma were already drifting out. It smelled wonderful.

Zhou Yao walked into the kitchen and handed two roast chickens to Yang Aijin and Yang Ailian. Smiling, he said, "I bought these two roast chickens for you sisters in the county town. Warm them up and we'll eat them later."

Yang Aijin and Yang Ailian were so happy they seemed ready to melt. Smiling, they said, "All right, husband. The meal will be ready soon, and we'll eat together."

With that, the two sisters shooed Zhou Yao out of the kitchen. They were afraid their husband Zhou Yao would start cooking or doing something else again. That work was for the two of them, not for their husband Zhou Yao.