Digging for lotus roots is a laborious task. The roots are deeply buried in the mud, and by September, the mud becomes chilly; those who dig must stand in this muddy water, leaving their limbs prone to rheumatism.
Yet, no matter how difficult it is, it must be done to sustain life.
Shi Nian would always bring a thermos of hot soup when she came. When the villagers took a break from work, she would call them over for a drink. She would sit by the pond with the villagers, drinking and chatting.
In truth, when digging lotus roots, the area around the pond can be quite dirty, and there's a smell in the mud. Huangfu Huazhang didn't approve of them watching. But Shi Nian didn't mind, saying that she grew up in the north and had never seen lotus roots being dug, so she was curious; even more surprisingly, Jieyou was not squeamish and wanted to join the villagers in transporting the lotus roots by boat, so Huangfu Huazhang reluctantly agreed.
