Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Where on Earth is it?

Translator: 549690339

He sat there, heaving constant heavy sighs. But soon enough, he stood up again, rolled up his sleeves and decided to give his full efforts. If everyone worked hard enough, surely their lives wouldn’t continue to get worse.

“What are you looking at?” Tang Zhijun asked, pinching his little niece’s face. The little one was round and tender. He believed no other kid in the entire village could be as beautiful as his little Yuxin.

Tang Yuxin broke out a milky white toothy grin.

She lowered her head, continuing to eat her meal, trying to figure out when her second uncle had had the accident. She remembered it vaguely happening around when she was three, not long after she had left the Tang family. She didn’t have strong memories of her third uncle; if she hadn’t been reborn, she wouldn’t even remember what he looked like.

Her third uncle looked a lot like her dad. However, he likely resembled their grandmother more, with his thick eyebrows and large eyes. All the Tang family members were tall – her dad was 1.75 meters and her third uncle was even taller, about 1.8 meters. Yet she was only barely over 1.5 meters after growing up, with Sang Zhilan not being too tall either at 1.63 meters. They hadn’t inherited great height, and maybe it was also because their nutrition was not good when growing up, leaving her quite short.

She continued to eat her meal obediently, and after she was done, her third uncle washed the bowls and then took her hand for a stroll outside. Lately she had been puzzling over when her uncle had had that accident. But she had no clue, and no one had ever mentioned it to her.

Where was it? Where could it be?

“Zhijun, good timing,” said old Mr. Zhang from the village, calling out to them.

“The manure has piled up a bit too much at the village entrance. Could you handle it? You could also make some money from it. You’re the only one who can handle this task.”

“Ha-ha… Okay uncle, don’t worry, I got it.” Tang Zhijun laughed, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. The village had good water which was nourishing, so even those who seldom brushed their teeth had good teeth. Even the teeth of the elderly folk were not too yellow.

“Once your second uncle completes the job, he’ll be able to buy some delicious milk candies for our Xinxin,” Zhinian said, picking up Yuxin as they walked towards the other end of the village. That place was where the villagers composted manure. How to dig out the compost was a mystery to the villagers but Zhijun knew. He was tall and sturdy, smart and handy. As long as he could excavate the compost from the village each year, he would earn a dozen or so yuan. Right now, in the transition between Spring and Autumn, those extra yuan could surely help in improving their living conditions.

Tang Yuxin was surprised and shocked at the same time.

Was that dreadful event happening soon? She had heard in her past life that the second son of the Tang family had died while excavating compost. The compost pile, which had accumulated over a year had collapsed on him, killing him instantly.

The previous day, the second son of Tang had even mentioned wanting to see his little niece after earning some money. But, he never got the opportunity to do so, and after that no one was left to support honest and straightforward Zhinian ever again.

Tang Zhijun took Yuxin over to the manure composting field to take a look, but kept their distance to avoid the stench reaching little Yuxin.