Chapter 12 Children shouldn't play with fire, but I'm a big kid.
If it were really about catching fish in a stream, Xu Yinan would indeed have a hard time catching them.
But what he caught were the fish that Yun Zhao had released, the fish that were kept in the space spring.
Not only was it plump, but it was also a little dizzy from being shaken by Yun Zhao before it was released.
As expected, with Yun Zhao cheering him on, Xu Yinan finally caught the fish.
"Wow! Second Uncle is so great! He caught it, he caught it!"
Yun Zhao jumped up with joy and clapped enthusiastically.
Amidst Yun Zhao's encouraging words, Xu Yinan proudly carried the grass carp ashore.
The plump grass carp immediately attracted everyone's attention.
"Wow, that spoiled brat from the Xu family actually caught a fish!"
"Wow, that's amazing! Second Uncle is the best! Let's do it again!"
Yun Zhao clapped his hands and shouted excitedly.
"Okay! Your second uncle will catch a few more for you!"
Upon hearing his niece's words, Xu Yinan dropped the grass carp, rolled up his sleeves, and went back into the water.
Seeing him catch four plump grass carp in a row, the people in the exile group were also tempted.
Xu Qingyi couldn't bear to watch any longer; her younger brother's lips were turning purple from the cold. She hurriedly called out, "Alright, Anan, come up here quickly, it's too cold!"
"Okay, I'll listen to my sister!"
Xu Yinan was shivering from the cold and immediately went down the slope.
Yun Zhao scurried back to his uncle's side, watched Xu Yifei struggling to start a fire, and gave him a push.
"Uncle, hurry and get the grass carp!"
"ah?"
Xu Yifei had hoped that his younger brother could have a fire to warm himself by when he came back, but the firewood just wouldn't light, and he broke out in a sweat in anxiety.
Looking back, she saw four plump grass carp jumping on the ground. The older sister was at a loss, not knowing where to start.
"Zhaozhao, don't touch the charcoal! Your uncle will be back soon!"
Xu Yifei put down the charcoal in his hand and ran out quickly.
At this moment, the young master of the Ministry of Works threw a steamed bun on the ground.
"What kind of junk is this! I want to eat Guangtailou's peach blossom pastry!"
The young master is only eight or nine years old; when has he ever suffered like this?
The mother beside him hurriedly comforted her son.
"Xi'er, be good. I'll buy it for you later, okay?"
"No, no!"
The young master cried out loudly, but the officials pretended not to see it.
Everyone's attention was drawn to it, and Yun Zhao quickly squatted down.
After confirming that no one was watching him, Yun Zhao took out firewood from his spatial storage.
It is the coldest time of early spring, and both the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence and the Prince of Jin's residence have excellent charcoal and enough firewood.
It's inappropriate to bring out charcoal in front of everyone, but easily flammable firewood is perfectly suitable.
She touched the firewood; it was early spring, and the twigs she had collected were still wet from the melting snow, so they naturally wouldn't catch fire.
Xu Yifei, a pampered young master, certainly didn't understand this principle.
No wonder they couldn't light the charcoal they bought from the officials.
Yun Zhao secretly replaced the wet tree branches with firewood from the Marquis's residence, placed the charcoal underneath, and then stuffed in the firewood.
A slight gust of cold wind blew by, and the firewood ignited instantly!
The small pieces of firewood gradually caught fire, and before long, the pile of firewood was ablaze!
"Oh dear, the Yun family has lit the pyre!"
Someone called out, and Xu Qingyi draped dry clothes over her younger brother, instinctively looking in the direction of the voice.
"Whoa! It's lit! It's lit!"
Yun Zhao clapped his hands happily, which scared Xu Qingyi so much that she almost lost her mind!
"Zhaozhao!"
The shackles on her legs almost tripped her.
"Sister, be careful!"
Xu Yiyan held Yun Huaijin in one arm and pulled his sister along with the other.
Xu Yinan's legs were numb from the cold, but Xu Yifei was the fastest, slinging the grass carp over and running towards Yun Zhao.
"Zhaozhao! Didn't your uncle tell you not to move? Are you burned? Let your uncle take a look!"
"Uncle, Zhao Zhao is alright. I've seen the wet nurse burn firewood before, and that's how she does it! Aren't I amazing?"
Yun Zhao tilted her little face up, looking like she was waiting for praise.
Xu Yifei was speechless.
Xu Qingyi finally returned to Yun Zhao's side and pulled her away.
"Zhaozhao! Children shouldn't play with fire, you know that!"
This was the first time Xu Qingyi had reprimanded Yun Zhao so seriously.
“Mother, Zhao Zhao wasn’t just playing around. Zhao Zhao only did it because she was confident! You see, Zhao Zhao can also help with the chores!”
Yun Zhao held his mother's hand earnestly, his young face full of determination.
Xu Qingyi's eyes immediately welled up with tears.
Her daughter could have lived the life of a wealthy young lady in the capital.
But he was exiled as soon as he got home, and the little boy, who was only five years old, had to start learning how to burn firewood and make a fire!
She hugged her daughter tightly, choking back tears, and said, "Zhaozhao, I'm so sorry!"
Yun Zhao felt a pang of sadness and hugged her mother back with her short arms.
"Mother, don't cry. Zhao Zhao can read and write, and can learn to play the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She can also learn to cook firewood and start a fire. As long as she can be with her mother, Zhao Zhao is willing to do anything!"
This little girl is only five years old, yet she is so sensible.
In contrast, the young master of the Vice Minister of Works, who was only eight or nine years old, was already of school age.
But on the way to exile, he cried out for pastries from Guangtai Restaurant.
This comparison clearly shows the difference in quality.
Xu Yinan shivered to the side, while Yun Zhao tilted her head and asked, "Mom, Second Uncle looks so cold. Does he have any clothes to change into?"
"Uncle, Uncle isn't cold!"
Xu Yinan answered shakily, his teeth chattering.
Even with a fire to warm them, how could they not feel cold while wearing wet clothes?
Just as Xu Qingyi was struggling with her problem, Xu Yinan made a trembling suggestion.
"Sister, why don't we give some of the fish to the officials and ask them to give us an extra undergarment?"
"That's a good idea, since we can't eat that much anyway."
Xu Qingyi immediately agreed.
Yun Zhao blinked and asked earnestly, "Mother, can we also exchange fish for money?"
She pointed to the family of the Vice Minister of Works not far away, where the young master was still crying for pastries.
"He was crying so pitifully. If we sell the fish to them, will we get some money? I saw it; they have so much money!"
Xu Yiyan, who hadn't spoken until now, also poked his head out at this moment.
"Sister, I'll make you some fish soup. You and eldest brother go help second brother change his undergarments, and then see if the Gao family is willing to pay for it!"
Xu Qingnan said tremblingly, "Sister, change your inner clothes first. We're waiting for the Gao family to come and beg us."
That's how you get a higher price! Three taels of silver for a bowl of meat soup? This plump grass carp should sell for at least five taels of silver!
Yun Zhao couldn't help but be surprised.
Who would have thought her second uncle was such a shrewd businessman!
"Okay, move closer to the fire, I'll go change your undergarments!"
Xu Yifei picked up the fattest grass carp and headed towards the area where the officials were gathered.
Taking advantage of her mother's absence, Yun Zhao looked up at her two uncles.
"Uncle, I want to go over there and collect some firewood!"
"I'll go with you!"
Xu Yiyan was holding Yun Huaijin when he remembered that Yun Huaijin had woken up from hunger and started crying loudly.
Yun Zhao didn't want anyone following him, so he immediately patted his chest like a little adult.
"Third Uncle, please sit down. I can manage on my own. I'm a big kid now!"
"yawn!"
Xu Yinan sneezed and hurriedly moved half a step toward the fire.
"Then Zhao Zhao, be careful and don't run too far!"
"Okay! I'll be back soon!"
Worried that Xu Yinan might really catch a cold, Yun Zhao hurriedly ran towards the woods not far away.
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