Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Of course the crucian carp must be braised!
The ditch in the north of the city is dry for more than 300 days a year.
During the flood season, some water from the main trunk will overflow and flow here. If you are lucky, you can find traces of crucian carp in the ditch. It is difficult to catch them, but many people still try their luck.
Jiang Shuangshuang is one of them.
The next day, she left the house at daybreak, still followed by a follower.
I don’t know if it’s because I ate too much steamed buns yesterday, but I feel so energetic when I go out now and don’t feel sleepy at all.
She kept asking excitedly, "Sister, can we catch any fish? Sister, what is this oil bag you brought? Is it our lunch? Sister..."
"If you keep nagging me, I'll throw you down to feed the fish."
This time Jiang Xiaozhou was not afraid but eager to try. He really wanted to get into the water.
But I didn't dare say it in front of my second sister. If I did, I would probably get kicked a few times. It was better to just follow quietly.
The north ditch of the city is quite far away and it takes an hour to walk there.
When the two siblings arrived, many people had already gathered here to try their luck.
“Sister, look, they’ve all gone into the water!” Jiang Xiaozhou looked at the creatures in the water that were smaller than him, and he really wanted to just rush in. “Just let me… ahhhh, stop kicking, stop kicking!”
I endured it all the way, but in the end I still got kicked a few times.
Jiang Shuangshuang pointed to the side and said, "If you really want to go there, then go there. But if I see you go to the deep water area, don't come up."
The chances of an accident in the water were slim, but she just didn't want to worry about it.
So just stop it and avoid all trouble.
Jiang Xiaozhou looked in the direction of her hand, excitement frozen on his face.
He wanted to swim, not soak his feet. The water was so shallow, he might as well go home and soak his feet.
Knowing it was impossible, she stayed by her second sister's side and her lips started to itch again, "Second sister, how are you going to catch fish if you don't go into the water?"
"Wait." Jiang Shuangshuang found a stone block to sit on, waiting quietly for her fishing partner.
After staying in the ditch for several minutes, no one caught any fish.
It’s not that we didn’t see any fish, but it was difficult to catch them with bare hands without any tools. Some of them disappeared before we could even touch them.
“This is too slippery.”
"It's getting harder every year. I can't even see any fish."
"If the fish can gather together, we can surround them."
Jiang Shuangshuang suddenly chuckled.
Jiang Xiaozhou didn't understand, "Sister, what are you laughing at?"
"They are coming." Jiang Shuangshuang raised his chin and pointed to the people walking in front. There was a boy about the same age as Jiang Xiaozhou, and there were three middle-aged men who looked similar to him.
You can tell at first glance that it is a big family.
"Sister Shuangshuang!" Grasshopper strode over. "Sorry to have kept you waiting. When we first came out, we found that the basket was broken, so we went to borrow two more before coming here."
"It's okay, I didn't wait long." Jiang Shuangshuang stood up and greeted the people around him.
Jiang Xiaozhou looked at these people. Except for a teenager who was about his age, he didn't recognize any of them.
As for this Grasshopper, he had encountered it before when he and his second sister went to the railway track to pick up coal slag.
"Comrade Jiang Xiaozhou, hello." Grasshopper grinned and greeted him. He was tanned and his teeth looked very white. Jiang Xiaozhou also greeted him and asked, "Do you want to go fishing with my second sister?"
"Yeah." Grasshopper nodded heavily. "We made the appointment last month. We're just waiting for the water to rise here."
He and Shuangshuang met a few months ago.
At that time, the railway track was a bit messy, and if they were unlucky, they would always run into some scoundrels who specifically robbed their baskets. That time he was lucky and picked up two palm-sized pieces of coal, but when he was about to leave, he ran into that group of scoundrels. After being kicked a few times, it was Sister Shuangshuang who rushed over and beat them away.
Because of Sister Shuangshuang's presence, those scoundrels didn't dare to come to the railway track, and they didn't have to worry about being beaten or robbed.
Later, when they were chatting, they talked about the ditch here. Shuangshuang knew that their family came here to catch fish every year, so they thought about trying to form a partnership.
"Sister Shuangshuang, have you brought the bait?" Grasshopper asked impatiently, "Is it really as good as you said? Can it attract all the crucian carps in the ditch?"
"Let's give it a try." Jiang Shuangshuang took out a bag of prepared bait and said to the Grasshopper elders, "Little Grasshopper should have told you all about this, right? I'll give you the bait and you can use the basket to go into the water and catch the fish. We'll split the fish in half."
"I've said it all." One of the middle-aged men smiled innocently, "We're getting a bargain even if we split it in half. The bait costs a lot of money."
"It's okay. You guys have also contributed." Jiang Shuangshuang handed the oil bag over and explained how to use it. She then said, "Before the fish come, they should try not to move in the water. When there are a lot of fish, don't use your hands to catch them. Just use the basket to scoop them down."
It’s a detailed explanation, but we’ll have to go there to find out whether it works or not.
Uncle Grasshopper is a good swimmer. He comes here every year to try his luck. If he is lucky, he can catch two small fish. If he is unlucky, he may not catch any.
As for using bait, I wouldn't even think about it that way.
Let’s not talk about how to make the bait, but I heard that the main ingredient in the recipe is grain. Who would be willing to waste grain like this? What if you don’t catch anything, won’t you be heartbroken?
This time, when they heard my nephew say that someone was willing to cooperate with them, one party would go into the water and the other would provide bait, and the fish caught would be split in half, how could they not be willing?
I even feel like I'm getting an advantage.
I thought about giving in a little, but the Grasshoppers are all very simple-minded and didn't know what to say to a lesbian.
Grasshopper pulled them towards the water, "Let's go catch them first, and talk about it after we're done."
Others thought the same thing. It is not certain whether they can catch the fish. Bait is a good thing, but if it is not prepared well and the luck is not good, everything you say will be in vain.
Several people went into the water one after another, swam to a deserted place, swam a circle and a half according to Jiang Shuangshuang's instructions, and then threw the bait in.
The bait is about the size of a fist, and you can probably tell what's in it when it falls into the water.
“Is this bran?”
"The white one is white flour?"
"It's definitely not white flour. Who would be willing to use white flour to make bait?"
"Even if it's not white flour, it's expensive. I hope to get a few more fish later... Second brother, do you smell the aroma of wine?"
Uncle Grasshopper swallowed and nodded silently.
He smelled it as soon as the oil bag was opened.
Hey guys, there's white wine mixed in this bait?
He suppressed his greed that was aroused by the aroma of wine and said in a muffled voice, "Half is too much. We can't take it back later."
They guessed about the ingredients.
But it’s actually not as expensive as you might think, it’s just a little cumbersome to make.
The bait recipe made by Jiang Shuangshuang is very simple, but it is also recognized as a good bait in the previous life. The main ingredient is wheat bran, which is wheat husk.
Before adding the ingredients, you need to fry them in a pan until fragrant.
As soon as the aroma comes out, remove from the heat immediately, add in the bean dregs and steam until cooked.
After cooling, add minced garlic and a little cornmeal. The most important thing is to add two drops of white wine while stirring to enhance the flavor.
Don't add too much, as too much alcohol will negate the effect.
Two drops are just right, and if you are not a wine connoisseur, you can hardly smell it.
"Sister, you've been working so hard at home just to make bait." Jiang Xiaozhou stood on a stone pier and looked out. He asked curiously, "When did you learn how to make bait?"
"Do you think I'm like you, I don't know anything?"
Jiang Xiaozhou hummed and hawed, trying to find a skill that he was good at to refute his second sister.
But after thinking about it, he just couldn't find any reason, so he changed the subject dryly, "I heard from grandpa that many people came to ask for the bait made by Grandpa Liu in the alley next door, but he just couldn't bear to tell others how to make it. Sister, whose bait is better, yours or his?"
Jiang Shuangshuang tilted her head.
It's really hard to compare. To be sought after by so many people, there must be something extraordinary about him.
At this time, several people in the water began to move.
They each took a basket and scooped the fish from the bottom to the top, so that the fish in the basket could not escape.
“Got it!”
"Hey, why are there so many fish over there?"
"It's bait. The bait is too strong. There are still a few fish that haven't been caught in the basket."
There were four people in the Grasshopper family, and each of them carried a basket. However, since it was their first time and they were not very experienced, and it was rare to see so many fish surrounding them, they either failed to control the angle or the strength when they scooped them, and a few fish were left outside.
"You hold the basket, I'll try to catch these with my hands." Uncle Grasshopper handed the basket to his brother, dived into the water in one move, and caught the fish with his bare hands.
It is somewhat difficult to catch fish in the water by hand.
But Grasshopper was smart. He poured the fish in his basket into his third uncle's basket, then dived into the water and cooperated with his second uncle to drive the two crucian carps into the basket.
"Comrade, did you make the bait yourself? It's really effective." Someone swam over. I was too far away to see clearly, but it was obvious that there were fish in every basket. Even if there was one fish in each basket, there were now four or more.
Not to mention that I finally dived into the water and caught two more.
Oh, he was really shocked after calculating. He quickly explained his purpose, "Can I exchange some with you? Cloth coupons or food coupons are fine, just a small handful."
Not only this person had the idea, but several people around him also suggested changing it.
"We didn't do this ourselves." Grasshopper shook his head and pulled a few uncles towards the shore.
As soon as they got ashore, Jiang Xiaozhou rushed over impatiently. Just as he was about to ask how many fish they had caught, Grasshopper grabbed his hand and walked towards the woods nearby.
"What are you doing?" Jiang Xiaozhou was confused, but when he found that his second sister had also come to the woods, he thought for a while and understood, "She's doing it secretly, right?"
Grasshopper nodded, his big eyes shining brightly, "We caught a lot!"
He had understood since childhood that good things must never be exposed. Even two pieces of coal slag could attract snatchers, let alone other things.
"This bait is really useful." Grasshopper couldn't wait to share. "Not long after we put the bait down, a fish swam over. Luckily, Uncle San told us to wait a little longer. After about five or six minutes, many more fish swam over!" Most of the fish gathered in one place, and they used a basket to scoop up the bottom of the bait. Even though they didn't get it right the first time, they still caught a lot.
"I was just a little unskilled and let a few fish escape." Grasshopper assured, "Now that we have experience, the uncles and I can practice how to fish at the bottom. Next time, we will never let a single fish go."
"Yes, yes. I didn't control the strength well this time. The basket almost slipped out of my hand."
"The water is different after all, and we have to identify the direction first."
The Grasshopper uncles were actually quite embarrassed because their bait attracted fish but they didn't catch all of them. It was such a failure.
"It's okay, just practice more and you'll be fine." Jiang Shuangshuang didn't care much and curiously poked his head out, "How many are there?"
"I just counted them, there are seven crucian carps in total." Uncle Grasshopper smiled foolishly, "The heaviest one looks to be about 4 or 5 kilograms, and the smallest one looks to be over 2 kilograms."
"So big!!" Jiang Xiaozhou sucked.
A fish weighs four or five pounds. I never thought that Jiang Xiaozhou would have a day to eat fish to his heart’s content!
"Sister Shuangshuang, this fish..."
"Just follow the previous distribution." Jiang Shuangshuang didn't want to calculate who was fighting and who was losing. Unless she was willing to go into the water herself, she would have to share everything with others. She only knew that she only gave a bag of bait, and now she could get three and a half fish.
This is not a loss for her.
"It's hard to divide an odd number. I don't want that half. Give me the biggest one."
"Okay, okay." Uncle Grasshopper not only picked out the largest one, but also the largest of the remaining two. However, Jiang Shuangshuang did not accept it. "I heard from Grasshopper that you can find a way to exchange things?"
Before the three middle-aged men even opened their mouths, Grasshopper sold them out. "Sure, Auntie is sweeping the alleys. She knows a lot of people. There must be someone willing to trade fish with you."
They say they are exchanging money, but they still use banknotes in private.
Unless there is a specific object you want.
"Can these two fish help me exchange some cotton cloth?" Jiang Shuangshuang asked, "The material should be more comfortable. If that's not possible, I can exchange it for cloth coupons and cotton coupons."
"Okay, I'll ask when I get back." Uncle Grasshopper agreed. They were giving away four fish for free, so why wouldn't they help?
With bait in hand, anyone who can get into the water can cooperate.
But they can't do that. Without bait, they can only waste time in the water. If they are lucky, they may catch a fish in three or four days.
They all understand the truth, so they still have to accept this kindness.
"Then come again tonight?" Jiang Shuangshuang said, "I'm not sure if the bait is effective, so I just made a little to try it out. I'll go back and make some more, and come again in the evening when there are fewer people around, so as not to attract too much attention."
"Sure!"
"Sure, sure. I'll go back and ask and give you the letter in the evening."
There was no one in the Grasshopper family who would not agree.
As soon as the two siblings left, Uncle Grasshopper said to his third brother, "Don't trade for two fish when you go back, trade for three. They are kind-hearted, but we can't be unscrupulous."
"Okay, I have the same idea." Uncle Grasshopper nodded, "Comrade Jiang has a really good heart."
"I've already told you that Shuangshuang is a very good sister." Grasshopper raised his head proudly, "If it weren't for her, I don't know how many times I would have been beaten."
Uncle Grasshopper frowned, "I told you, if you get bullied outside, just come back and call me Uncle. I don't know who dares to bully our children!"
Uncle San patted his head and said, "Bring Uncle San with you next time. I will beat them up."
Grasshopper smiled instantly.
Even though his father is not responsible and is a drag, he is still a child who is loved by his uncle.
Still three uncles!
…
Here, the two siblings brought home a four-pound crucian carp.
On the way back, Jiang Xiaozhou was so excited that he almost jumped up and down. He kept saying, "Sister, I want to come tonight too. You must take me with you."
"Of course you have to come." Jiang Shuangshuang walked forward empty-handed, "If you don't come, who will carry the fish for me?"
"I'll carry it, I'll carry it, no matter how much!" Jiang Xiaozhou was very happy to be assigned this task, and he wished he could do this kind of work more often.
"Sister, you are so smart. You just sit on the shore and wait for the fish to eat, unlike others who have to go into the river to catch them themselves." Jiang Xiaozhou said this honestly. He felt quite wronged at first, but then he looked at his second sister calmly basking in the sun on the shore. It seemed that she didn't have to do any work and just wait for the harvest.
Jiang Shuangshuang glanced at him and said, "There's something wrong with you."
Jiang Xiaozhou asked in a flattering tone, "Sister, are you buying the fabric to make clothes?"
Jiang Shuangshuang hummed.
Jiang Xiaozhou said shamelessly, "What about my share?"
Jiang Shuangshuang glanced at him, and Jiang Xiaozhou quickly promised, "From now on, leave all the household affairs to me, including cleaning, washing, and cooking. If you need anything, just let me know, and I will definitely agree without saying anything."
"Okay."
Jiang Xiaozhou's eyes widened. How could his second sister agree so easily?
He quickly said, "Keep your word, or you're just a puppy."
"Okay, whoever regrets it is a puppy."
"..." Jiang Xiaozhou didn't know why, but he always felt something was wrong.
Jiang Shuangshuang raised the corners of her mouth, looking as white as a guard.
The family was divided yesterday, and from now on, all of Xu's wages will be distributed by herself. She can earn more than 40 yuan a month. How could she not be willing to buy new clothes for her children?
There was no need for her to pay for it, Mother Xu could change Jiang Xiaozhou into new clothes from head to toe.
Of course, she and her elder sister would definitely not be left out.
In this matter, Mother Xu is quite fair and gives everyone what they deserve within their means.
As for her desire to buy fabric and cotton, it was simply for the winter. She wanted to replace the several old quilts at home.
Thick bedding must be prepared, otherwise the winter will be too difficult to endure.
When the two returned home, it was not yet time to get off work. Jiang Shuangshuang first prepared a whole box of bait, and then asked Jiang Xiaozhou to clean the stove. When they finished cleaning and it was almost time for dinner, she instructed him to kill the crucian carp.
Crucian carp must be braised!
And it has to be rubbed with oil to be fragrant.
Jiang Shuangshuang acted as the manager and taught Jiang Xiaozhou how to do it step by step.
When he picked up the oil kettle, he said in horror, "Pour, pour so much? Mom will scold me when she comes back..."
"Just fall down." Jiang Shuangshuang said firmly.
Jiang Xiaozhou hesitated for a moment. After all, it was his second sister who asked him to fall. So when his mother came back to scold others, she wouldn't scold him, right?
He gritted his teeth and poured out half the pot.
When the oil is hot, the aroma will hit your nose.
Jiang Xiaozhou no longer felt sad, and thought to himself that he might be able to eat the most delicious food in his life!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
