"I should go to the riverbank," Cheng Youfu said, standing up as he looked at the sun. But then he bent over, clutching his stomach, "Ouch, why does my stomach feel so uncomfortable?" With that, Cheng Youfu dashed off.
A little while later, Cheng Youfu came back! "Mom, why do I feel unwell in my stomach?"
Grandma Cheng didn't take it seriously. "Who knows what you ate that made you feel unwell?"
A little while later, Cheng Youfu exclaimed, "Oh! My stomach is so uncomfortable! If I don't go pick up my sister soon, she'll be worried sick. Ugh, my stomach really hurts!" His face was contorted in pain.
Cheng Youfu was sitting next to Li De's wife when she casually said, "You can have someone else go for you."
Cheng Youfu felt that Li De's wife was like a mind reader, knowing exactly what he wanted!
"Aunt Li, could you go for me? I'm really not feeling well!" Cheng Youfu clutched his stomach, looking like he was about to run to the outhouse at any moment.
"What a stroke of luck! Seeing how many fish Song Yan caught, how could anyone not be envious? But Song Yan doesn't like having people around her. People who came to watch the spectacle left without a word; who would dare follow her? Even Cheng Youfu, who calls her 'sister' so sweetly, only helps carry the bucket. Song Yan doesn't let him near her when she's fishing. Li De's wife wasn't really hoping to benefit from it; she was just curious and wanted to see. 'Okay, I'll go for you.'"
Song Yan's fishing hook was still in the water. She glanced at the bucket beside her; there were already five fish. She waited patiently, wondering if Youfu had managed to get things done yet.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone approaching in the distance. It was Li De's wife. Song Yan thought to himself, "That brat didn't waste his time eating that fish; he handled things quite reliably."
"Song Zhiqing, Youfu isn't feeling well, let me help you." Li De's wife smiled broadly, her attitude unusually kind; she wasn't usually like this. Li De was the brigade's accountant, and the villagers generally fawned over her.
"This kid is unreliable; he even brought Aunt Li here." Song Yan put away his fishing rod and stopped fishing.
Li De's wife was a little disappointed; she couldn't see her fishing anymore. "It's still early, why don't you fish a little longer?"
"Let's stop fishing. This bucket has enough for us."
Li De's wife looked into the bucket and was startled. There were... 1, 2, 3... five fish in the bucket, each weighing more than three pounds.
The bucket, with the fish and water, was quite heavy. By the time Li De's wife and Song Yan carried the bucket to Song Yan's house, she was panting heavily. "That's why you always take care of Cheng Youfu, that half-grown boy; these things are really heavy."
"Nothing much, only a half-grown boy has the strength. Who else can we use if not him?" Song Yan also felt very tired! If Fu were here, she wouldn't have to lift a finger.
When Li De's wife was leaving, Song Yan caught a fish for her. She felt really embarrassed. It seemed a bit much to ask for a fish when she hadn't done her a huge favor.
"Don't be so polite. You can just deliver it to the canteen for me tomorrow morning." Everyone in the village knew that Song Yan was fishing today to feed the electricians.
Li De's wife thought about it and agreed; with Song Yan's small frame, delivering the fish to the cafeteria tomorrow would be quite a struggle. Li De's wife took a fish, and everyone was happy…
Cheng Youfu jumped out. "Sis, what exactly are you trying to do?"
"Don't worry about it. And don't say anything more, or you'll ruin my plans. Here, take this." Song Yan scooped a fish weighing over four pounds from the tank and handed it to Cheng Youfu…
The next morning, Li De's wife arrived. She was a very forthright and outspoken woman, and Song Yan thought she was quite nice. Unfortunately, she succumbed to the ravages of age; years of hard labor combined with her age had etched wrinkles onto her face, and her cheeks were stained with red veins. She couldn't compare to Widow Wang in either appearance or age.
Li De's wife helped deliver the fish to the canteen. The storekeeper weighed them; the five fish weighed eighteen and a half jin (approximately 9.5 kg), and Song Yan readily calculated it to be eighteen jin (approximately 9.5 catties).
Widow Wang has not arrived yet.
Song Yan took the initiative to invite her, "Aunt Li, are you busy? If you're not busy, sit down and talk to me. It's quite boring for me to be alone."
A fish as big as yesterday would have cost more than two yuan. Li De's wife felt she got a good deal. Of course, she would be happy to help Song Yan if he needed anything.
Song Yan began to process the fish.
"That widow Wang is really something, what time is it and she still hasn't come?" Li De's wife said, reaching out to help.
"Sigh! If this fish isn't cleaned and marinated beforehand, it won't taste good later! I really can't wait for it," Song Yan complained.
Li De's wife: "Who sent Widow Wang? She always avoids doing the easy tasks."
Song Yan looked up at Li De's wife. "Aunt Li, you don't know? It was Accountant Li who sent Widow Wang." Li De's wife was taken aback, seemingly genuinely unaware. "I think Accountant Li should recommend capable people regardless of kinship. Aunt Li, look how efficient you are at work, it's much better to have you come."
Song Yan asked Cheng Youfu to help him find someone, and unexpectedly it was Li De's wife, which was perfect.
It's unclear what Li De's wife was thinking, but she remained silent.
"To be honest, Aunt Li, if I weren't a military dependent now and had to be aware of my place, I wouldn't have taken this job. Widow Wang speaks so sarcastically, I don't know what I did to offend her." Song Yan spoke with righteous indignation, and she wasn't lying at all.
"Don't you know? Before..." Li De's wife trailed off, then changed the subject. "Not many people in the village liked Widow Wang. By the way, your husband went to join the army. Do you miss her?"
Song Yan pretended not to notice that Li De's wife was changing the subject. "He treats me so well, how can I not miss him?" Song Yan deliberately lowered his voice for the last sentence, and his face showed an embarrassed expression. This amused Li De's wife.
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