"They're all reading in the study in the backyard. The two little ones went with your second grandpa's little grandson to herd the cattle."
Kids in farming families, as long as they're able to go out, can help with chores at home. When herding cattle, they can even pick some pigweed along the way.
Qixun stepped outside and told her aunt to go back: "It's all muddy outside, don't get your shoes dirty. Just head back."
Aunt Mrs. Guo laughed, "It's not like I'm going out visiting friends or relatives—who wears good shoes at home? What's there to be afraid of getting dirty?"
Seeing that Qixun's own shoes had come apart at the seams, she hurriedly said, "How can you still wear those shoes? I bet your house doesn't have any ready-made soles. It just so happens we have some at home that are all stitched up—I'll go get you a couple pairs, let your mother make new shoes for you."
She had little cousin brothers about her age, so the shoe soles prepared for them would fit her, too.
