Honey (Part 4)

Her movements were now precise and efficient.

Feeling exhausted, Huo Tianzhou didn't try to overexert himself.

He washed his hands and slowly drank from the bamboo tube.

He didn't rest long, though.

After they finished covering the ridges with compost, the two of them went to wash up.

Seeing that Huo Tianzhou was on the verge of physical collapse but still pushing himself, Liang Hongyu carried all the farming tools and didn't let him carry the empty compost basket.

When they returned home at noon, Huo Tianzhou who had worked all morning, was thoroughly exhausted.

He slumped weakly into a chair in the main hall, his back bent with fatigue.

Liang Hongyu glanced at him, then went to the backyard to put away the farming tools before heading to the kitchen.

The kettle was by the kitchen window, and the water inside was warm from the sun.

She poured half a bowl of water and grabbed a ladle before going to the inner room.

Kneeling by the honey jar, she added two ladles of honey and stirred it thoroughly.

She then handed the bowl to Huo Tianzhou, "If you want more after this, make it yourself."

Huo Tianzhou took the bowl and watched as Liang Hongyu walked out of the main hall.

He turned back and drank the sweet honey water.

After sitting for a while, feeling somewhat better, he took the bowl and went to the backyard.

After working hard, they had to eat rice to feel full.

They had finished all the pork the previous day, and the only food left in the house was eggs.

Liang Hongyu was pondering what to make for lunch when she heard footsteps and looked up.

Huo Tianzhou's complexion had improved.

Knowing he couldn't just sit and wait for lunch, Liang Hongyu handed him the bamboo basket filled with rice.

The basket held about a pound of rice.

Huo Tianzhou looked up at Liang Hongyu.

They usually made rice porridge during the day.

In order to avoid any misunderstanding, Liang Hongyu added, "Cook rice. Don't add too much water."

The basket contained a mix of polished and brown rice.

Huo Tianzhou, having grown somewhat accustomed to this, quietly took the rice outside to wash it.

He returned, added water to the pot, and started the fire on the small stove.

With limited ingredients, Liang Hongyu ended up making an egg soup.

Despite the simple fare, Huo Tianzhou ate with a good appetite, though Liang Hongyu missed the days of having three dishes and a soup.

By the next morning, the honeycomb that was hanging over the gauze had stopped dripping.

The jar now held over two pounds of honey.

Seeing that it was ready, Liang Hongyu removed the gauze after finishing her meal.

Liang Hongyu watched him as she finished sealing the jar with the cloth and lid, preparing to put it away.

Huo Tianzhou sat at the dining table, his lips slightly parted as if he wanted to stand up, but he remained seated, making no further move.

Having spent so much time together with him, Liang Hongyu could usually read his expressions.

She noticed his hesitant look that was directed at her.

After waiting for a while, he didn't show any sign of speaking, even considering to backing out.

Liang Hongyu asked, "Do you want to take some to the Wu family?"

Caught off guard by her perceptiveness, Huo Tianzhou was briefly surprised.

He closed his slightly parted lips and nodded, his eyes questioning her opinion.

Sending a small gift wasn't a big deal, and Liang Hongyu understood why he was so hesitant.

Ever since she had mentioned the idea of separation, Huo Tianzhou had tried not to trouble her with anything.

It was as if by doing more, he felt he owed her more.

Huo Tianzhou would eventually be marrying someone he liked, and Liang Hongyu just wanted to repay her debt and leave.

She couldn't stay here forever.

Now, seeing Huo Tianzhou's effort to keep his distance and avoid troubling her, which was exactly what she had hoped for, she felt an inexplicable discomfort.

The thought passed quickly, and Liang Hongyu didn't dwell on it.

She walked over and placed the honey jar in front of Huo Tianzhou, "Take as much as you need."

The jar of honey could fetch a good price if it was sold, but Liang Hongyu had no intention of selling it.

She had left it for Huo Tianzhou to use, entirely at his discretion.

Huo Tianzhou stared at the jar for a while before getting up to fetch a clean bowl to fill with honey.

...

After finishing lunch, Tao Xia was relaxing under the eaves in the front yard to digest her food when she saw Huo Tianzhou and Liang Hongyu approaching.

She stood up from her chair.

As they got closer, Tao Xia noticed the dried mud that was still clinging to their clothes.

She then asked while smiling, "Did you go to the paddy fields? Do you have enough rice seeds? If not, we have extra."

"They're enough," Liang Hongyu replied with a smile.

Normally, the Wu family courtyard was bustling at midday, but today only Tao Xia was outside.

Liang Hongyu glanced around and asked, "Isn't Wu Erlang home?"

"There's a restaurant in town that ordered a batch of vegetables. He and my father delivered them early this morning," Tao Xia replied while looking up at the sky, "They haven't returned yet, so I expect them back in the afternoon."

The Wu family always produced good quality vegetables and they were regularly taken to town for sale.

Some restaurants would place the orders in advance, and any extra vegetables would be sold on the spot.

Huo Tianzhou listened to Tao Xia and then handed her a bowl.

The bowl had been left by Aunt Wu when she brought food over last time.

Yesterday, Huo Tianzhou had been busy weaving bamboo and then went to town, so he hadn't had time to return it.