Xiao Lingyu's excuse was temporary, and so was Mother Xiao's consent. Xiao Lingyu wanted to delay until the appearance of Xiao Tong. Then, she'd have a better excuse to stay.
Mother Xiao agreed with her husband. When Xiao Lingyu realized how tiring farming really was, she would pack up and return to the city.
After getting Mother Xiao's permission, Xiao Lingyu said, "Mom, I need to use the plot of land in our backyard." Xiao Lingyu didn't know how to use her farming space yet. She had to test it first, but she couldn't do it too openly.
The Xiao Family was a quintessential small farming family in rural China. This kind of farming house had a wall about two meters high to separate the plots in the front and back yards.
Most families used the front yard to sun-dry produce or for leisure. The backyard was reserved for planting small vegetables like leeks and onions. These products could be picked at any time, so it was convenient.
