Chapter 56 - Stealing wine

It was only after watching Grandma Liu walk away with the little baby in her arms that Axiu loosened his clenched fists and turned back.

He wanted to take Nannan back.

This impulse exhausted all his restraints.

Nevertheless, he was still happy.

He found the burning clouds in the sky bright and dazzling.

Shengsheng couldn't bear to part with him either.

He used to think that after escaping from that place, the days would just change from walking on thin ice to a pool of stagnant water.

Unexpectedly, someone named Shengsheng intruded into his world, bringing him waves, and painting bright colors in his field.

Shengsheng, Shengsheng.

Back at the cabin, Wanrong had just packed up the herbs drying in the courtyard and was frying pancakes in the kitchen.

For dinner, they almost always ate this.

Wanrong's cooking skills were very poor.

Fortunately, the Liu family sent them delicious vegetables. Even if only boiled, it was still delicious and rolled in the pancakes.

"You haven't stopped smiling since you came back. Only Nannan can make you so happy." She teased as she served the pancakes on the table, "Let's eat."

"Mother, let's eat."

At the table, there was barely a sound, smack of elegant dining etiquette.

It wasn't until she finished eating that Wanrong spoke up with some hesitation, "Xiu'er, it's been over a year since we arrived here. If you stay at home all the time, it's tantamount to neglecting your schoolwork. This time, we should be able to get a sum of silver from supplying medicinal wine recipes for the winery. I was thinking of sending you to school to pick up on your studies again. What do you think?"

"Mother, ordinary schools can't teach me anything." Before fleeing that place, his knowledge had been second only to that of a college scholar.

If he wanted to learn something more profound, he would have to enter the best school and find the best great scholar.

But their situation didn't permit it.

Axiu fell silent for a long time then smiled bitterly: "I really don't know if I've done you good or harmed you from bringing you out."

"Mother, if I hadn't come out, I might have gone crazy by now. How can I still talk about learning? You're thinking too much and worrying for nothing. Besides, we'll be living here in the future. No matter how well-educated a peasant is, it's of no use.

"Xiu'er, tell me. Do you really… want to live in a place like this for the rest of your life?"

"Is it bad here?" Axiu asked rhetorically, and for a long time, Wanrong couldn't say anything.

It wasn't bad. It just shouldn't be where he lived. He was supposed to be God's favored one.

However, she was more reluctant for him to go back there again. Anytime, anywhere, he had to guard himself against cannibals.

"Fine, if you've made up your mind, I'll do as you wish. But you mustn't abandon learning. Whether it's useful or not, it's better than not knowing anything. I'll find some suitable books for you later and you'll just have to learn on your own."

"Okay." After hearing this, the smile reappeared on Axiu's face.

As long as they didn't leave here, everything was fine.

At Liu's house, Grandpa Liu belched and got ready to carry Liu Yusheng out for a stroll after dinner.

Because of the winery, the entire Xinghua Village was in a state of euphoria this entire period.

After dinner, the villagers didn't go to bed early like before, but gathered in groups under the ancient acacia tree at the entrance of the village to chat.

They chatted about the winery, the scale of the building, the fruit wine, and future recruitment – all of which were related to the winery, and they never got tired of talking about the same old stuff.

The two boys saw their sister about to be carried away by their grandfather again and quickly stopped him, "Grandpa, you're all a bunch of old men chatting there. Nannan will be bored. We'll take her out later to play. Go out on your own!"

"Hey, little brat, robbing people with me. Where are you going to play in this darkness?"

"Don't worry about it Grandpa, just get out of here! Get out of here!" The two children joined forces to push the old man out the door.

"You can play outside, but just in the village. Watch out for Nannan, or else I'll peel your skin when you get home!"

"Got it!"

After being warned one by one by the family, the two boys pulled Liu Yusheng and quietly felt their way to the cellar door.

"What are you doing, brother?"

"Shh! Nannan, keep your voice down!" Liu Zhiqiu quickly covered Liu Yusheng's small mouth. "Nannan, let's go get some wine. I told Dabao and the others that I'd bring some fruit wine and give them a taste today. They'll also bring some goodies at home in exchange, so be quiet. We'll just fill half a jug and take you to a potluck!"

Liu Yusheng was speechless. So they needed to whisper to take wine. Children could drink grape wine, so just say a word to the family. There was no need to lurk around like a thief in their own home.

But she nodded in cooperation and also acted cautiously. Then she stood at the cellar door and served as a lookout for her brothers.

Grandma Liu came over with a packet of snacks and saw her little granddaughter gesturing to her in a panic – meaning that she should be quiet.

Her little hand pointed to the cellar again.

Oh~ The two boys were stealing wine.

"Grandma, just pretend you don't know, ah, don't scold Brothers." Lowering her voice, Liu Yusheng exhorted.

"Okay, am I that tactless?" She tucked snacks in the baby's pockets and brushed her little face. "Be back after playing a while, hmm, or else I'll come looking for you."

"I know, thank you, Grandma. You're the best!"

Grandma Liu smiled and walked away: "These kids really… Can't this old lady spare that little wine?"

Forget it, just let them have fun.

The two young brothers, unaware of the episode, thought they had kept it a secret from everyone in the family. They hid the wine jug, took their sister in tow, and went out happily.

In the autumn night, the vast sky was adorned with the bright moon and stars, covering the earth with a layer of haze.

Even without a lamp, it was still faintly bright.

The three children headed straight to the field by the Qinghe River, and before they reached their destination, they heard noises of children from afar.

"Eh, Zhixia, Zhiqiu, Nannan! Here, here!. Hurry up and get over here! What took you so long? I almost thought you weren't coming!" Dabao jumped out of the crowd and shouted excitedly at the three.

"How can we not come? We've made a deal. Did you think we won't keep our word?" Liu Zhiqiu walked over with his chin raised and one hand patting the wine jug at his waist, "Here, I brought you grape wine."

"You really brought it? Come on, let's taste it!" The little fellows came around with a bang, their eyes shining.

"What's the hurry? What about you? What have you brought? I won't eat anything that doesn't taste good, and also, anything spicy. My sister can't eat spicy food."

Liu Yusheng was just standing by, so she saw the children pulling things out of their pockets. It was dim, so she couldn't see what they were.

However, the atmosphere was fun, carefree and relaxing.

"Whoever brought a flint, light a handful of the straw. It's so dark, I can't see."

After the harvest, the rest of the rice stalks were tied into bundles and stacked together, and were left to dry in the fields, to be moved home when they were needed. After so many days in the sun, the straw was already dry and would easily burn.

Liu Zhixia took a flint from a friend, gathered some straw in the haystack, and lit it.

Immediately, the entire small place brightened up.