Idioms describing plowing and reading

Day Plowing and Night Reading: zhòu gēng yè sòng, plowing during the day and reading at night. It is a metaphor for studying diligently. As predicate and determiner; referring to laboring while reading.

Bǐ gēng yàn tián: bǐ gēng yàn tián (笔耕砚田) means to engage in mental labor, to read and write. As a predicate; referring to reading and writing as an occupation.