Chapter 163

On the 13th of the first lunar month, Xu Ran returned home and started to prepare for planting potatoes.

Ten mu of newly opened wasteland that hasn’t been planted yet. Xu Ran planned to plant potatoes with five mu and to plant corn with the remaining. The harvest would not be much, but it shouldn’t be too bad. Anyway, he thought so.

There were still only three people who could work at home. After all, they had to have one person take care of children. And Tangtang and Guoguo were going to school after this month, so they couldn’t help to take care of little Baozi.

They would get the seeds of the potatoes at home by themselves. The long-term workers would do for the rest. Anyway, Xu Ran had to pay them, and they could learn how to plant them without teaching them by himself.

It saved time and energy.

It was a big workload and would take at least half a month to plant ten mu of potatoes.

After getting the potato seeds prepared, Xu Ran just left the rest to the long-term laborers and fully believed them.

On the 15th of the first lunar month, the whole family went to the town to appreciate the various lanterns and ate the Yuanxiao (or Tangyuan, food eaten on the Lantern Festival, which is on the 15th of the first lunar month), they had to spend the festival together no matter how busy they were.

On the 16th, Xu Ran sent Tangtang and Guoguo to the village’s school with the present for their Fuzi.

Liu Tong specially made book bags which were embroidered with patterns for the twins. Although the bags were not very delicate, it looked good.

It was the liveliest at school that day. Apart from the children who had been studying originally in school, there would be many new students. The students of Xu Village’s school were not only from the Xu Village, but also from neighboring villages. There were 20 or 30 children in this school every year, which could be said to be a lot.

Fuzi, who was living in the village, did not know Xu Ran, but he had seen Xu Ran a few times, so he enthusiastically greeted Xu Ran when seeing him, “Xiucai Xu, are you sending children here to study?”

Xu Ran nodded. “Yes, they are almost seven years old, and it’s time to come.I’ll trouble you to teach my children in the future.”

A flattering smile appeared on Fuzi’s wrinkled face. “You’re welcome. It’s my honor to teach your little childes. Xiucai Xu, rest assured. I’ll definitely teach them well.”

Xu Ran got goosebumps all over his body upon hearing that. He handed the thing in his hand to Fuzi, “Thank you Fuzi. This is the present of my children. Please accept it.”

Fuzi hesitated and stretched his hand out but didn’t take it as if in a dilemma. Then Xu Ran said, “Fuzi, just accept it. I’m just the same as everyone else. You don’t have to be so polite. I’m here to send the two children to school. It’s no different from others. Just do what you have to do.”

“I see, I see. Xiucai Xu, rest assured,” Fuzi said sincerely.

But Xu Ran didn’t know exactly what Fuzi knew.

Fuzi accepted Xu Ran’s present, and then Xu Ran started to remind his children.

Xu Ran said, “Tangtang, Guoguo, you guys are still young here, but mark my words, we will not attack unless we are attacked; if we are attacked, a tooth for a tooth.”

Tangtang and Guoguo nodded although they were still a little confused.

Xu Ran explained to them, “It means that if others don’t come to make trouble for you, you should not go to make trouble for others, but if someone makes trouble to you,  you just do the same back to them, but don’t be stupid to be found by others that you are tricking them. And you got me no matter what happens, don’t worry!”

Tangtang and Guoguo understood. Guoguo clenched his fists and said, “Dad, don’t worry, I won’t let people bully me and my brother. I’m not very strong yet, but I can definitely protect Tangtang.”

His firm promise suddenly reminded Xu Ran of the scene that Tangtang had been protecting Guoguo when he woke up.

Fortunately, those days had passed, and they were not that weak and got bullied.

Xu Ran touched Guoguo’s head and said gently, “Guoguo, you are right. Tangtang was protecting you when you were younger. Now, you know to protect him, so you’ve gotta protect him well, got it?”

Xu Ran clenched his fist and touched Guoguo’s fist. Guoguo nodded seriously, “Got it.”

Tangtang, on the other hand, was a little dissatisfied. He rubbed against Xu Ran’s thigh and said, “Dad, I’m the elder brother. I should protect my younger brother.”

Xu Ran smiled, “Mm, Tangtang is right, too. How about this? You protect Guoguo, and Guoguo protects you, okay?”

Tangtang turned happy now and put on a bright smile, “Okay.”

Xu Ran continued to rub the children’s heads. Their hair was so soft, which feels quite comfortable.

Xu Ran said, “Go ahead, ask Fuzi where your seats are. I will pick you up in the afternoon.”

“Alright, Dad, you can go home. I know it’s busy at home,” Tangtang said sensibly.

“I’ll see you go in and then go back,” Xu Ran said.

Tangtang and Guoguo waved their hands at Xu Ran and then walked inside hand in hand.

When he couldn’t see them, Xu Ran turned around and walked back. He happened to meet Xu An and the others who came here with their children.

Xu Ran greeted with a smile, “Xu An, Xu Fa, Xu Zhen, you’re here!”

They nodded; Xu An asked Xu Ran, “Why are you here so early? Where’re Tangtang and Guoguo?”

Xu Ran said, “They have already entered. They have always been very obedient, and I don’t have to worry about them too much.”

“They’re indeed very obedient, unlike my nuaghty children. You’re really lucky.” Xu Fa teased Xu Ran with a smile.

Xu Ran also smiled, “How come. Are your children not obedient?”

Xu Fa said, “Not really, but just look at your children, I always feel that my children are not that good.”

Xu Ran rubbed his nose. People tended to think that children in other families were more obedient that their own.

Xu Ran said, “Hurry up. I’m afraid you won’t have good seats if too late. I’ll go back first. My family is a little busy now.”

“Alright, don’t mind us. We’ll come to you later and talk about potatoes,” Xu An waved at Xu Ran.

“Okay, then I’ll wait for you to come over.”

When Xu Ran returned home, Baozi was blubbering. Xu Ran walked over to Liu Tong and asked, “Tongtong, what’s wrong? Why is Baozi crying so badly?”

Liu Tong shook his head. “I don’t know, either. I just fed him ewe milk, but he started to cry while drinking.”

Xu Ran asked, “Tongtong, when was the milk got? Is there anything added in it?”

Liu Tong said, “I milked the ewe this morning, and I didn’t add anything else. He used to drink like this but never cried.”

“That’s probably because of the food that the ewe ate. Don’t feed him now. See whether Baozi will have diarrhea. I’ll invite Doctor Liu to check on him,” Xu Ran said and hurtled out of the home.

They couldn’t afford to be negligent since Baozi was such a  little baby.

Liu Tong moved Baozi’s legs apart to see if he had had diarrhea. However, there was nothing unusual, except that he was crying. He even hiccupped while crying, which scared Liu Tong, so he hurriedly coaxed him.

“Good Ge’er, Baozi, don’t cry! Dad has gone to ask a doctor for you, don’t cry!”

Liu Tong was holding the child and anxiously walking around the yard. Now he was alone at home. Since no one could help him, he could only wait for Xu Ran to come back with Doctor Liu.

When Xu Ran arrived at the Doctor Liu’s home, but Doctor Liu went to work in the field. He found the doctor after asked the children of Doctor Liu’s family.

Xu Ran asked Doctor Liu to get the medical kit from home; then he pulled the doctor and hurriedly ran back home. On the way, he also told Doctor Liu about Baozi’s situation.

Xu Ran said, “Doctor Liu, Baozi hadn’t eaten anything else, so I suspect that the ewe might have eaten something by mistake. Please come and check on him with me. Baozi has been crying for a long time.”

Doctor Liu was already forty years old. How could he run like Xu Ran, who was twenty-something? Being dragged by Xu Ran, he was out of breath all the way and reached Xu Ran’s home before he could say a word.

Xu Ran shouted toward inside when they just reached the gate, “Tongtong, Tongtong, Doctor Liu is here, Doctor Liu is here.”

Liu Tong hurriedly ran to open the door for Xu Ran. Baozi was still crying in his arms, but he was probably tired from crying. His voice was a little weaker than before, but his little face was pale. Liu Tong looked so anxious as if he were about to cry.

Xu Ran asked Doctor Liu to treat Baozi directly in the yard without letting him enter the house.

It was a little difficult for Doctor Liu to take the pulse for such a young child, but Doctor Liu’s medical skills were not bad. In addition, he had lived in the village for so many years, so he had some experience.

Doctor Liu finished taking the pulse and frowned tightly. He asked Xu Ran to take the ewe milk. Doctor Liu smelled it and said with certainty, “There is croton seeds in the milk. It should be fed by someone. It would be fine as long as he poops. Don’t worry.”

Xu Ran looked at Baozi’s pale face; how could he be not worried?

Xu Ran said, “Could you please let him not cry now? He’s still young and can’t keep crying like this. Do something about it, please.”

Xu Ran was upset but didn’t know what to do.

Doctor Liu said, “I don’t dare to prescribe him since he’s so young. I’ll try to find a way for him to excrete it out.”

“Okay, okay,” Xu Ran nodded nonstop.

Liu Tong handed the child to Doctor Liu, and the latter checked on the child;. He pinched here and there on Baozi, but Liu Tong and Xu Ran had no idea what the doctor was doing. After a while, Baozi really stopped crying. When Xu Ran took a closer look and found Baozi had already fallen asleep.

Xu Ran asked worriedly, “Doctor Liu, is there no problem for Baozi to fall asleep like this?”

Doctor Liu said, “Don’t worry, there’s no problem. Feed him some warm water. He would excrete it out later and will be fine. Xu Ran, take me to see your ewe. This child must want to drink milk when he wakes up. I have to check on the ewe.”

“Okay, okay,” Xu Ran led the way. He didn’t think it was strange that the doctor was going to see the ewe right after treating Baozi.

Xu Ran thought that Baozi cried so badly after drinking a little milk, so the ewe must have worse symptons after having eaten croton seeds, but they didn’t hear the sound of the ewe. In that case, Xu Ran couldn’t help feeling it a little strange.

However, after really seeing that scene, Xu Ran knew better what was called ‘anger came with reasons’.