Qingmu laughed. "I only asked you for a hand, but you're the one who's come out ahead! Just look at this path—it's half again as long as the one to my house."
Zhang Huai smiled, his lips pressed in a thin line. "Then just think of it as helping me. I'll owe you one!" With that, he swung his hoe with all his might, first breaking the soil and then quickly scooping out the loose earth to form a shallow trench.
He worked with his head down, utterly focused, his movements quick and skillful. It was as if he weren't building a simple path, but undertaking a major construction project. The truth was, he had long wanted to improve this area, but many things couldn't be done until the house was built. On top of that, he was incredibly busy with farm work and squeezing in time to study, leaving him with hardly a moment to catch his breath.
