309: Chapter 298: Harvest 309: Chapter 298: Harvest Now, the wheat fields and their surroundings were teeming with birds, so the two went back to the edge of the field, found a fairly large tree, sat down under it, and then tied the fishing net to so sticks.
Daji went to help them dig holes.
The holes couldn’t be dug too deep, else they wouldn’t collapse, nor too shallow, lest they fail to support the sticks and fishing net.
As Daji dug, he couldn’t help but sigh with a tinge of sadness, feeling that the task was more troubleso than a fight.
After digging three holes in three locations according to the young master and Miss Manbao’s instructions, Daji just stood by with his hands on his hips, not moving an inch.
Manbao and Bai Shanbao strived to tie the net properly, and then they dragged the sticks to set up the net, only to realize it seed a bit heavy.
So the two children looked up imploringly at Daji.
Daji had no choice but to help them.
But after planting the first stick, they quickly realized the second stick couldn’t reach into both holes.
Manbao was shocked, “How can this be wrong, didn’t we asure with the sticks?”
Bai Shanbao: “Did we asure it incorrectly?”
The two children looked up at the fishing net, fell silent for a mont, and then said, “Let’s dig the holes again.”
Daji had anticipated this and silently continued to dig for them.
After finally planting all three sticks in the ground, Manbao handed the rope over.
Daji looked up at the net that was only slightly taller than him and resignedly helped them tie the rope.
The two children then pulled the ropes under the tree and lay down on the grass to watch.
After a long while, the birds in the sky still hadn’t landed, and Manbao felt sothing was amiss.
Upon getting up to check, she realized they hadn’t scattered the wheat yet.
Daji sat under the tree, yawning covertly with his hand over his mouth, his eyes slightly closed, but his ears perked up, ready to catch any sound the children made, no matter how faint.
Bai Shanbao and Manbao spread all the wheat heads they brought under the net, then lay motionless in the grass beneath the tree.
After a good while, birds began to land on the ground.
They looked around warily before pecking at the ground and quickly lifting their heads to survey their surroundings again.
Manbao, who had slightly raised her head upon seeing this, lay back down and whispered to Bai Shanbao, “Let’s wait a bit longer, until they’re less alert, then we’ll pull the rope.”
“Look, more birds are landing,” Bai Shanbao confidently said, “Let’s wait until they all relax their guard before pulling.”
Anyway, they scattered plenty of wheat heads, which should keep the birds busy for a long ti.
The two then obediently lay still again.
The grass under the tree was fine and dense; because it was often used as a resting spot, the grass was sowhat soft.
Both children rested their chins on their arms, and as the breeze blew gently, they started to feel their eyelids grow heavy…
Daji, listening to the children’s decreasing movent and the progressively lengthening breaths, couldn’t resist opening his eyes to look.
He saw both children lying on the grass, their heads resting on their arms, sound asleep.
Daji: …
He turned his head to look at the grassy field where birds had increasingly gathered, still alertly looking around, then silently chose not to speak.
More birds landed, and after a while, seeing that they weren’t under attack, they slowly relaxed and began to clamor for food.
From the start of the sumr harvest to the end of the autumn one, the birds in the fields were at their most nurous, as if they had all gathered from across the country.
The villagers of Qili Village hated them to death.
But since birds can fly, they were utterly powerless against them, except to chase them away with sticks repeatedly.
The birds were used to it, so they grew thick-skinned and bold, daring to swoop down to peck at the grain even when people swung sticks at them, not to ntion now when no one was brandishing sticks nearby.
Daji felt that if the young master slept any longer, today’s effort would be wasted.
It didn’t bother him much, but he feared it may upset the two children.
So, after weighing his options, Daji decided to nudge the young master.
Bai Shanbao opened his eyes imdiately, looking forward groggily.
As he glimpsed the busy little birds in front of him, his eyes brightened slightly, and he beca a bit more alert.
Keke was also calling Manbao.
Such a rare opportunity, once lost, would be hard to find again.
Just as Bai Shanbao reached out to nudge Manbao, Manbao yawned and woke up, his eyes heavy with sleep.
Then, seeing the birds on the ground not far away, he also perked up a bit.
The two buddies exchanged glances, then counted softly together, “One, two, three—”
Together they pulled hard, and in an instant, two of the sticks toppled over, the net swooped down with a whoosh, and the third stick, being the shallowest, wobbled and fell after the other two…
The birds on the ground, searching for food, instantly flapped their wings to flee.
Half of them flew away flapping, a portion was hit by the net and didn’t take off, and another panicked into flying right into the net and fell to the ground with it.
Bai Shanbao and Manbao had just pulled down the sticks and imdiately sprang up to rush over and pin down the net where there were gaps, trapping the ensnared birds firmly inside.
Manbao laughed heartily with joy, hands on her hips, exclaiming, “This is indeed an inescapable net, hahaha…”
Bai Shanbao exclaid, “Where did that phrase co from?
It’s apt, but it feels slightly out of context.”
They had been working hard to learn punctuation recently and were sensitive to sentences they had never heard before.
Manbao waved a hand dismissively, “I saw it in an ancient book; it must’ve been said by so ancient person from long ago?”
Keke: “…Host, that book is ancient for my species from that era, but not for you; the person who said that phrase is ancient for them, but equally not for you.”
Manbao couldn’t help but burst into laughter, saying, “It might not be sothing an ancient person said, maybe it’s from our future descendants.”
Bai Shanbao: …Manbao sure has a wild imagination.
Daji: …Kids are hard to understand, especially those who play with the young master.
They caught quite a few birds in the net.
Bai Shanbao was about to count them when Manbao said, “Go quickly and call Datou and the others over, have them bring the baskets with lids.
Rember to take the covers, we’ll move to a new spot and continue netting.
But I don’t know how to make birds tasty.”
Bai Shanbao imdiately replied, “Wait for , I’ll go get the stuff right away.
Leave the cooking to the cook, she definitely knows how to make it delicious.”
Bai Shanbao ran toward the Zhou Family house, and Daji hesitated for a mont before hastily following him.
He turned his head and instructed Manbao, “Miss Manbao, just stay here and don’t go anywhere.”
Manbao nodded, “I know, I’ll guard our birds.”
Daji felt awkward for a mont before quickly chasing after Bai Shanbao.
When they had gone, Manbao happily reached into the net to grab the birds, putting each caught one into the system for Keke to keep safe.
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