The rain is enough and the fields are white, and we are plowing in the middle of the night. The strength of men and cattle is exhausted, but the east is still unclear. ——Cui Daorong of the Tang Dynasty, "Tian Shang"
The Tian family has few free months, but in May people are twice as busy. At night, the south wind blows, and the wheat is covered with yellow. The women carry baskets with food, and the children carry pots of pulp. When I went to the salary field, Ding Zhuang was in Nangang. The foot is steaming and rustic, and the back is burning in the sky. I’m exhausted and don’t know how hot it is, but I’m glad the summer is long.
——Bai Juyi, Tang Dynasty, "Viewing the Cutting of Wheat"