"It takes an hour by car from this town to Liangwan Town, and then an hour's walk from Liangwan Town to the river. If you happen to catch an oxcart or something, it only takes half an hour to get there."
Rong Lianhu said, "We should be able to buy a lot of fish and shrimp there. We'll buy more to take back and eat."
Rong Zhigao nodded: "That's fine."
Rong Jiaojiao's eyes lit up. She thought it was better than going to the city and said, "That sounds great! Mom and Dad, how about we go there?"
Fu Ya also thought it was a good idea, but still said, "Going to the river to play is fine, but it's already winter, won't it be cold?"
Rong Jiaojiao waved her hand: "Don't worry, I have a brilliant plan!"
Rong Lianhu nodded: "Okay, let's go to the Lanjiang River then. We'll set off after breakfast."
So the family had a simple breakfast in town and then set off.
They first arrived at the town's small bus station and boarded a dilapidated bus.
The bus was rusty, but there were quite a few passengers on board. Everyone was crammed together, thin and bony, but they all seemed to have an inexhaustible amount of energy.
Fortunately, they arrived early, and there were still two seats available for Rong Jiaojiao and Fu Ya.
After a bumpy, swaying ride of an hour, we arrived at Liangwan Town.
Rong Zhigao got out of the car with his family and said, "It's only an hour's walk from here to the Lanjiang River. Let's walk slowly."
Seeing her familiar manner, Rong Jiaojiao asked, "Has Big Brother been here before?"
Rong Zhigao nodded: "I came on my day off, and I even bought a lot of dried fish to send back to my parents!"
Fu Ya nodded: "Yes, your brother has sent them twice."
"Oh, what kinds of fish do you have? Are they big? Are they tasty?"
Rong Zhigao smiled and said, "There are carp, grass carp, mandarin fish, bighead carp, and crucian carp, etc. They are all quite big and taste especially delicious. My parents said the dried fish I sent back last time was delicious."
Rong Jiaojiao felt that no matter how good the fish were, they could never compare to the spirit fish of the immortal mountain. She wasn't very interested in these fish; she just thought they were there to make her parents happy.
Fu Ya also said with a smile, "Let's buy more today, and make fish soup and braised fish when we get back, so we can have a good meal."
The group walked along the path leading to Lanjiang.
The path is flanked by rice paddies that have been harvested, leaving only stubble and wild grass swaying gently in the breeze.
The distant mountains stretch endlessly, and occasionally you can hear birdsong, clear and melodious, making you feel relaxed and happy.
After walking for about half an hour, they finally saw the Lanjiang River.
The river shimmered under the sunlight, reflecting the distant mountains in its waters, creating a picturesque scene.
Fishermen are casting their nets on the river in the distance, while children play on the shallows nearby, their cheerful laughter echoing along the riverbank, creating a unique and delightful scene.
Rong Zhigao pointed to the village not far away and said, "Let's go, let's go find the villagers and trade some fish and shrimp."
"Exchange for fish and shrimp?" Rong Jiaojiao asked curiously. "How do we do that?"
"You can exchange them using various receipts."
Fu Ya asked softly, "Can't we exchange money here? We can exchange more to take back; it'll be enough to eat all winter."
Rong Zhigao nodded: "I'll go find Aunt Feng later and ask her to help arrange things. We'll have the villagers take us to the bend ahead, and then we can take them with us."
Rong Jiaojiao said, "Mom, I brought back a lot of fish. I can just take some back to change things up. We don't need so many."
Fu Ya said, "Take more back with you. If we have guests during the New Year, or if we're exchanging gifts, it's fine. We don't necessarily have to eat them ourselves."
"Alright!" She wouldn't be willing to give away spirit fish or wild pheasants and rabbits from the secret realm as gifts.
They soon arrived at the village, and Rong Zhigao led his family to the front of a house.
He knocked on the door, and after a short while, a middle-aged woman opened it. When she saw Rong Zhigao, she smiled warmly and said, "Oh, it's you, Comrade Rong! You're here again!"
Rong Zhigao replied with a smile, "Hello, Aunt Feng! We'd like to exchange some fish and shrimp. Could you help us arrange that today?"
Aunt Feng nodded: "Sure, my husband is home today, I'll go get him now."
She turned around and called out, "Old man, the Rong family's kid is here, he wants to trade for fish and shrimp!"
A short while later, a middle-aged man came out of the house, carrying a pipe in his hand.
He saw Rong Zhigao and said with a smile, "Comrade Rong, you're here again!"
Rong Zhigao nodded: "Uncle Feng, my family would like to exchange some more fish and shrimp today. Could you help arrange it?"
Grandpa Feng nodded: "Great! I just happened to have a lot of fish and shrimp drying in the sun, all of them are top-quality big fish."
What will you use to exchange for it?
Rong Zhigao took out some receipts from his pocket: "We'll use money and receipts!"
Grandpa Feng smiled broadly: "Comrade Xiao Rong is so generous. You wait here, I'll go ask the neighbors right away."
As he was about to walk out, Rong Zhigao quickly stopped him and whispered to Grandpa Feng, "Grandpa, this time we not only want dried fish, but also some fresh live fish. Could you please help us arrange it and deliver it to the bend in the road leading out of the village?"
Grandpa Feng didn't ask them how they were going to take it away. After finding out the approximate quantity, he nodded and left.
Their village is a dual-sector village, where villagers both farm and fish.
Every autumn, the fish and shrimp in Lanjiang are at their fattest. In addition to the collective catch, the villagers take advantage of the good weather to catch more, dry them into dried fish, and keep them for winter or to exchange for daily necessities.
As the village party secretary, Grandpa Feng naturally wanted the villagers to have more income.
Aunt Feng invited, "Comrade Xiao Rong, why don't you come in and sit down and wait?"
Rong Zhigao handed over a bag of brown sugar weighing about a pound, shook his head and said, "I don't think Grandpa Feng will be able to inform everyone so quickly. Let's go for a walk by the river."
Aunt Feng accepted it without hesitation, saying cheerfully, "That's fine too!"
"What's so interesting on such a cold day?" Aunt Feng thought these people were really ignorant, and she shook her head and muttered behind the Rong family.
The Rong family continued along the path leading to the river, putting Aunt Feng's grumbling behind them.
The riverside in early winter, though lacking the hustle and bustle of summer, possesses a unique tranquility and beauty.
The river breeze carried a slight chill, biting my face, but the sunlight was warm, making me feel exceptionally comfortable.
They walked slowly along the path by the river, their feet on soft sand, and occasionally they could see a few fallen leaves being blown around by the wind.
The reeds on both sides of the path have turned yellow, but they still stand tall, swaying gently in the wind and making a rustling sound, as if telling a story of winter.
The river water appeared exceptionally clear under the early winter sun, shimmering like a giant mirror, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and distant mountains.
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