Chapter 122: Pulling a Big Net to Catch a Big Fish
Despite the passage of time and the passage of millennia, the wisdom bequeathed to future generations by the sage known as the "Father of Rice" continues to shine. Thanks to his research, even barren lands can blossom into the magnificent spectacle of rice.
Upon hearing this, Tu Subo smiled gently, then walked over slowly and gently put his coat on Gu Yuexuan's shoulders.
The dress exuded a warm atmosphere, gently surrounding Gu Yuexuan. She instinctively wanted to refuse: "I'm already warm enough, I don't need it..."
"Even so, please wear it."
Tu Subo rolled up his sleeves, wielded his heavy hammer, and struck the pile fiercely. Each blow made a dull thud, accompanied by a gentle smile. "This is a priceless treasure; we must not let it get dusty," he said.
"Also, from now on, you don't need to worry about your dirty clothes. Leave them with me and I will wash them together."
At dawn, Tu Subo, as usual, stepped into the quiet forest and checked the traps he had set.
On the way back, he unexpectedly discovered that Gu Yuexuan had already washed the dirty clothes she had taken off yesterday.
Gu Yuexuan just did it casually, but when Tu Subo saw her red fingertips from the cold, he felt a pang of pain in his heart.
"The doctor told you not to get cold, so it's best to avoid cold water. I'll take care of the laundry as well."
Nowadays, everyone in the family has their own tasks, and household chores such as laundry are also shared among them.
Xi Lanfang felt overwhelmed by having to take care of two young children, so Gu Yuexuan simply put Tu Subo's clothes into her own wooden basin, thinking that washing clothes was the same work after all.
But before that, Tu Subo usually took care of it himself, and before Gu Yuexuan even noticed, he would quietly return from the well carrying a wooden bucket full of clothes.
Today, it was the first time that she did the laundry before Tu Subo.
Gu Yuexuan hesitated for a moment, then, holding the hoe, slowly said, "It's said that men shouldn't be involved in housework. They should take the world as their responsibility, putting the country before their family. You wash clothes and cook day after day. Aren't you afraid that if someone sees you, they'll think you lack ambition?"
The women washing clothes by the well were all from the village. Only Tu Subo chose to go there at nightfall so as not to be surrounded by women and attract countless gossips.
Tu Subo chuckled and said, "Does my ambition depend on what others say?"
He added delicately, "If I remain this 'useless', it's enough if you don't despise me."
"Or do you think that I am willing to sink into depravity by revolving around Madam?"
Gu Yuexuan's cheeks flushed slightly when he said the word "Madam". As if to hide her shyness, she lowered her head and blew into her hands, responding vaguely: "That's just your own nonsense. What does it have to do with me?"
Tu Subo was about to smile when Hu Hongsheng called out excitedly from the other side of the ridge: "Tu Subo!"
"Brother Hu?"
Tu Subo was surprised: "How did you get to the field?"
Hu Hongsheng, eagerly anticipating what was about to happen, ran over excitedly, grabbed Tu Subo and said, "Come on, I'm taking you to a happy event!" Tu Subo helplessly raised his hammer and gestured, "What happy event are you talking about, Brother Hu? I'm busy with farm work right now, so I'm afraid I won't be able to get away."
"It's okay. We can do farm work anytime, but if we miss the chance to break the ice and fish, we'll have to wait until next year!"
Hu Hongsheng said with joy, "Winter fishing is the highlight of our village's year-end event. All the men, women, and children in the village work together to participate in it. How could you be absent?"
As if worried that Tu Subo would misunderstand his intentions, he quickly added, "The winter fishing nets are treasures of the village. Only at this time of year, when the river ice is frozen solid, will the village elders choose an auspicious day, take out the fishing nets, and collectively head to the river to break the ice and fish."
"Everyone worked together and the fish they caught were shared equally. The fish caught from the icy river were plump and delicious, and were an indispensable delicacy on every household's table during the Lunar New Year!"
Tu Subo was curious about this custom. After a moment's pause, he smiled and said, "So, everyone who can go participates?"
"Is that even necessary?"
Hu Hongsheng smiled and said, "Your Third Uncle was warmly invited away by the villagers halfway. I came here specially to inform you and your wife!"
"Hurry up, or we'll miss the auspicious time to break the ice and set up the net!"
At Hu Hongsheng's enthusiastic invitation, Tu Subo and Gu Yuexuan had to put down their work and follow Hu Hongsheng.
It was obvious that Hu Hongsheng had been looking forward to winter fishing for a long time. He happily showed his front teeth and said with a smile, "Are you two just busy setting up the shed? How difficult is that?"
"In winter, no one has much farm work to do. After these two busy days, I will come to help you!"
"How can this be so embarrassing?"
Gu Yuexuan smiled awkwardly and said, "It's just some miscellaneous housework, nothing important, why would I need it..."
"Sister-in-law, aren't you being too polite?"
Hu Hongsheng said proudly, "It's just some physical work. What's the trouble?"
"Come on, let's go catch some fish for the New Year's Eve dinner!"
When they arrived at the scene, Gu Yuexuan and Tu Subo realized that what Hu Hongsheng said was true. The hard ice on the river was crowded with people. Even the old grandfather who usually went out to buy grain seeds was enthusiastically pulled to the scene by the village chief.
Although the family members went out for different purposes, when they gathered together on this occasion, the cold wind blowing from the river could not blow away the joyful smiles on their faces.
The old grandfather sighed, "This kind of folk custom is really new. We have never seen it before."
Tu Suting couldn't contain his excitement and nodded repeatedly, saying, "There are still too few rare and interesting things to see in the capital. This kind of activity is quite interesting!"
Tu Subo coughed lightly, hinting to Tu Suting not to accidentally reveal his identity.
Fortunately, the onlookers were all staring excitedly at the big net that had just been pulled out, and no one paid any attention.
Tu Suting squeezed into the crowd in a naive manner, while Gu Yuexuan was quick-eyed and quick-handed, and quickly caught Tu Suminyang who was slipping away.
"There's a turbulent lake beneath the ice. You guys can't run around recklessly."
"Yanting, you are all here, where are your mother and the others?"
Tu Su Yanting held Gu Yuexuan's hand obediently, exhaled a puff of white mist, and pointed to where the crowd was gathered: "They are all over there."
"Aunt Hu said that the first thing to do is to check the fishing nets. The damaged parts need to be repaired, so they were called over there to help."
Different from the aloofness and invisible distance when they first entered the village, these ladies who once lived a life of luxury now indulge in the joy of blending into the crowd and get along exceptionally well with the women with loud voices in the village.
Chipping ice is a physical job, and Tu Subo took the lead.
Seeing that the children could not help here, Gu Yuexuan simply took them to repair the fishing nets.
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