Chapter 148 Wild Duck Saltpeter + Wild Duck Hunting
Lin Shu scooped a spoonful of the jam, blew on it, and then fed it to Lin Xiaopu's mouth, "Try it."
After Lin Xiaopu took a bite, she nodded in delight, "Sister, it's delicious!"
The fruity aroma is rich, sweet with a hint of refreshing sourness, which is completely different from the taste when eaten dry.
But eating it directly is too extravagant. Next time she wants to spread it on pancakes!
After Lin Shu finished feeding Lin Xiaopu, she licked the jam off the spoon handle. "It would be even better if you added a little more rock honey. It would be even better if you added two spoonfuls of honey."
After tasting it, Lin Shu put the jam from the pot into a bowl, covered the mouth of the bowl with a cloth, and tied it with a hemp rope.
Finally, put a large bowl upside down to prevent mosquitoes from crawling in.
I have a lot of bottles and jars at home, but most of them are open-topped. Bamboo tubes are useful, but they're not suitable for storing foods like jam. I'd better have a few more covered jars.
Just now, while Lin Shu was making jam, Lin Zhaodi arrived. Seeing her busy, she didn't interrupt, but continued washing brown rice and steaming it in an iron pot. When Lin Shu finished, she called out, "Ah Shu, I brought some fresh cucumbers again today. I picked them early this morning, and they're still wet with dew. I brought a lot this time, so you and Xiao Pu can each take one!"
Lin Shu replied, "Auntie, since you said that, I won't be polite. But there's no need for one each. Xiao Pu and I will share one."
Lin Zhaodi immediately glanced at Zhou Ye and said pointedly, "Isn't Ah Ye here too? You and Xiao Pu are eating, how can you let him just watch? Take two and share it among the three of you."
As for how to divide it——
Lin Xiaopu immediately replied with a smile, "Okay, then I'll take one and share it with my mother."
Lin Shu: ...
A moment later, Lin Shu and Zhou Ye sat together by the small stove, each chewing on half a cucumber.
Lin Zhaodi and He Guixiang were picking and washing vegetables and starting to prepare all the breakfast dishes.
"Ashu, will you go to Third Aunt's house after breakfast?" Zhou Ye asked.
Lin Shu didn't respond, but asked him, "Do you want me to go, or do you not want me to go?"
Zhou Ye lowered his voice, "I don't want you to go, but I know you promised them, so you must go."
Lin Shu was quite satisfied with this answer. "Studying requires a balance between work and rest. Besides, cousin Yushu can almost read now and can study on his own. I told Aunt San to take a break for the next three days and go back after the market. Cousin Yushu has been learning too fast lately, so it's a good idea to let him slow down and build a solid foundation before continuing."
As she spoke, she glanced at Zhou Ye and asked slowly, "So you know, I'm not going anywhere these two days."
Zhou Ye still looked calm, but there was a hint of joy hidden in his eyes.
"Ah Shu, after breakfast, I'll take you and Xiao Pu to hunt wild ducks."
"Are you really going? What about the brine in the pot? How can you let my mother work over the stove all the time when she can't do anything?"
Zhou Ye glanced at Lin Zhaodi and said, "We can ask Aunt Lin to help watch the furnace and stoke the fire. Isn't the saltpeter we boiled used to make ice? Since it's used to make ice powder for a living, she will definitely pay attention to this matter."
Lin Zhaodi had sharp ears. Although she didn't hear what Zhou Ye and Lin Shu said at all, she still heard her name from their mouths.
"Ashu, you and Aye have something to talk to me about?"
Before Lin Shu could even open her mouth, Zhou Ye shamelessly asked, "Aunt Lin, I want to take Ah Shu out to hunt wild ducks. Could you please help keep an eye on the brine?"
"What brine?" After hearing what Zhou Ye said, Lin Zhaodi noticed that the pot used by Lin Shu was actually the old ceramic pot she had collected.
Zhou Ye explained, "The brine in the pot is used to make saltpeter. It takes most of the day to boil it. Once the water inside is completely boiled away and the brine in the pot becomes thick and a layer of crust forms on the surface, you can extinguish the fire."
Lin Zhaodi had already guessed, and after getting the confirmation, she immediately looked into the pot and said in surprise, "Is this the traditional method of making saltpeter that Ah Shu mentioned? Ah Shu, don't worry, the contents of this pot are related to our ice jelly business. Leave everything to me, and I will make sure to keep a good eye on the fire for you. When the water in the pot becomes thick and crusty like porridge, turn off the fire, right?"
Lin Shu said embarrassedly, "That's right, but I have to watch the stove all the time and add firewood from time to time. It's so hot, I'm afraid it will be hard for Aunt Lin."
He Guixiang answered, "No big deal. Your Aunt Lin and I will take turns watching the stove. After breakfast, you can go with Xiao Pu and A Ye."
Lin Zhaodi exclaimed happily, "Looking after the stove and adding firewood isn't hard work. Why would Sister He and I need to take turns doing it? I can do it alone. If I feel hot, I can just fan myself with a palm-leaf fan."
Lin Shu heard this and finally responded, "Okay, if Xiao Pu can really hunt a wild duck with his slingshot today, we'll cook it tomorrow morning so everyone can have a bite of the wild duck hunted by my Xiao Pu! Xiao Pu, can you do it?"
Lin Xiaopu's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he immediately responded loudly, "No problem! My slingshot is pretty accurate, maybe I can really bring back a wild duck. When I do, we'll perm and pluck it as soon as we get back, and then let Sister cook it tomorrow morning. Everyone who sees it will get a share!"
Lin Zhaodi couldn't help but be amused when she heard Lin Xiaopu's bold words.
There are indeed wild ducks that often stay in the river nearby, but these wild ducks are much more alert than domestic ducks, so it is not easy to hunt them.
If a little kid could hunt wild ducks with a bamboo slingshot, then all the big and strong men in the village could become hunters.
Lin Xiaopu took her boast seriously. While the adults were making breakfast, she took out her bamboo slingshot and practiced her aim in the yard.
Zhou Ye was not idle either. After being driven away from the small stove by Lin Shu, he picked up his bamboo work and continued to work on the bamboo rocking chair that he had half-finished.
He had been busy building a house for Uncle Zhao San these past two days, and during his lunch break he was making bamboo pots for Lin Shu, so the work on the bamboo rocking chair was delayed. But he had a plan in mind, and he was able to get started quickly.
By the time Lin Zhaodi and He Guixiang finished their breakfast, Zhou Ye had already finished making the chair seat, which required the most meticulous work.
He used his spare time to do it, and within three days, he could make it for Ah Shu.
Lin Zhaodi went over there to call people. When all the men, big and small, arrived, the group of people swept the food away like whirlwind, eating with their mouths full of delicious food.
Although the breakfast still has the same dishes, with Ah Shu around, each dish can be made in a different way, making it so delicious that you will never get tired of it.
After dinner, Li Chunmiao came on time to help with the washing and rinsing. These days, she came every time after breakfast, not eating that meal, just to help.
"Ashu, where are you going?" Li Chunmiao was thinking about asking Lin Shu to teach her son, so she couldn't help but pay more attention to Lin Shu. She thought Lin Shu would go to Lin Laosan's house after dinner as usual, but she turned out to be walking with Aye Xiaozi and Lin Xiaopu. It seemed that she was going out?
"Aunt Li, A Ye took Xiao Pu and me to hunt wild ducks." Lin Shu replied.
Li Chunmiao said "oh" but didn't feel comfortable asking more questions. She just said something festive, "Then I hope you can hunt more wild ducks!"
Lin Xiaopu said happily, "I like what Aunt Li said. Brother Aye, let's work harder and try to hunt more wild ducks like Aunt Li said. Sister also likes to eat duck meat, so we have to hunt wild ducks for her."
Lin Shu: "What do you mean I like to eat it, but you don't? Lin Xiaopu, you are recruiting troops under my banner."
Lin Xiaopu: "Sister, we are recruiting soldiers and horses. Who are the soldiers and who are the horses?"
Lin Shu laughed, "All the soldiers are Aye."
After the three of them walked away chatting and laughing, Li Chunmiao retracted his neck and continued to help Lin Zhaodi wash the dishes.
"Zhao Di, when did you start your ice jelly business?" Li Chunmiao asked.
Lin Zhaodi had a good relationship with her and did not hide the fact that she and Lin Shu were going to make a living by selling ice jelly. When Li Chunmiao found out, she was very envious.
However, it was just envy, she was more happy for Lin Zhaodi. Lin Zhaodi had a hard life, and now that she could make a living from her ice jelly business, was she still worried about not having money at home?
Although Li Chunmiao had the final say on financial matters at home, she had taken the initiative to borrow a hundred yuan from Lin Zhaodi two days ago, which still made the head of the household complain a little. When she lent the money to He Guixiang, the head of the household didn't stop her because Lin Laoer was kind and the family had a capable daughter, Lin Yao, who knew that the money would be repaid.
But what do Zhao Laosan and Lin Zhaodi have? Nothing!
Although the Zhao family is hardworking and down-to-earth, they have no children, and if the couple cannot pay back the money, it will be difficult for them to do so.
These are the thoughts of the head of the family. Although Li Chunmiao thinks what he said makes sense, he is still unhappy.
Now, when Zhaodi earned money and paid her back, she threw the money in front of the head of the family and told him to open his eyes and take a good look, and not to bully people because they are poor. Look, he soon had another fortune!
When Lin Zhaodi heard her ask about the ice jelly business, her eyebrows danced and she replied, "We still need to prepare some things. It depends mainly on Ah Shu."
"By the way, Zhaodi, I'm going to the market in town tomorrow. I thought you were busy building your house and might not have time to go to the market. Do you have anything you want to add? I'll bring it back for you!"
Lin Zhaodi declined politely, "There are too many things to add to the family. I can't make it this time. Next time I go to the market with Zhao San, I won't bother you."
"Why are you being so polite to me? The less you can have, the better. Things are cheaper at the market, especially at the end of the month. How about I bring you some pots and pans? I'll put the things in my yard first, and I'll bring them to you when you and Zhao San move in."
Lin Zhaodi thought for a moment and said, "There's no rush to add the pots and pans. Sister Chunmiao, can you help me order a kitchen knife from the blacksmith shop? I'll definitely have to have the kitchen knife made there in the future, so please help me order it first. I'll give you the advance payment for the kitchen knife later."
"Zhao Di, that's too polite. I'll help you with the payment first. When you come back, you can give me whatever you want."
"Okay, then I won't be polite to you."
What Ah Shu said last time made a lot of sense. You can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. She has to prepare everything before talking about other things.
But she had too many things to add. She had to prepare two wooden barrels, one for home use and one specifically for ice. She also had to buy a wooden basin for ice powder. She also had to get a few bowls for the toppings, and especially more ceramic bowls. And then there was the table and stools...
She had to go to town and pick out all these things by herself, so she didn't want to bother others. Besides, she preferred to buy them herself, so that she could get the things she wanted.
The two have been friends for many years and have endless things to talk about while working. Realizing that she seemed to have inadvertently neglected He Saozi, Lin Zhaodi hurriedly said a few words to He Guixiang.
He Guixiang: ...
In fact, she didn't feel that she was being ignored. It was uncomfortable to have nothing to talk about, and she preferred to listen to others.
"By the way, Sister He, I heard Ah Shu mention that your whole family will go to the market tomorrow? Don't worry, I will clean up the stove for you after I use it." Lin Zhaodi said.
He Guixiang replied, "You need help here, so I won't go."
Lin Zhaodi: "That won't work. If you agree to it in advance, you can't go back on your word, otherwise Ah Shu will dislike me."
He Guixiang didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Ashu can't do that."
"You guys go to the market tomorrow. I can handle it by myself."
Li Chunmiao, who was standing nearby, heard this and said cheerfully, "Well, it's nothing, Sister He, don't worry. I won't go to the market tomorrow. I'm here to help Zhaodi! There's nothing we need to buy at home. I'm just going to the market to watch the fun. Zhaodi wants to order a kitchen knife from the blacksmith shop. Sister He, you can help her order it."
Rather than asking He Guixiang to stay and help, Lin Zhaodi would rather trouble Li Chunmiao, so she agreed to her words.
He Guixiang originally wanted to accompany Ah Shu to the market, but when she saw that the two of them had made up their minds after just a few words, she agreed.
Although Li Chunmiao has her own little thoughts, she is really straightforward. Just like at this moment, He Guixiang feels comfortable because of her straightforwardness.
After cleaning up the pots and pans in the yard, the three of them sat down and chatted casually while busying themselves with the work at hand.
He Guixiang continued to cut and sew clothes, Li Chunmiao did the unfinished housework, and Lin Zhaodi sat by the small stove, boiling the brine and adding a handful of firewood from time to time.
As for talking, there is a lot to talk about. Li Chunmiao is a talkative person, so with her around, there is no shortage of things to talk about.
On Lin Shu's side, the three of them were walking downstream along the river.
Among the three, only Lin Xiaopu brought a bamboo slingshot, while Zhou Ye and Lin Shu came empty-handed, and they actually looked like they were relying entirely on Lin Xiaopu.
Lin Xiaopu walked in front, with his head held high and chest puffed out, walking with the posture of a 180-pound fat man.
It was inevitable that they would meet familiar villagers on the way. When the villagers asked them, they found out that the three of them were going to hunt wild ducks, and they couldn't help but feel surprised.
Aye usually goes to the mountains to hunt rabbits and pheasants. This is the first time I've seen him hunting ducks by the river. He seems quite leisurely. The men in every household are busy working in the fields at this time.
Then, the villager who asked the question shook his head and smiled.
How can things be compared now with the past? Didn’t you see that Aye is accompanied by the beautiful daughter of Lin’s family?
This girl was so beautiful that they were always stunned every time they saw her. No wonder people kept muttering that Aye was completely bewitched by this girl. What young man wouldn't be confused by her? It must be that everyone knew this girl was taken, otherwise all the unmarried young men in the village would definitely come to her and pay their respects.
"Aye, how long do we have to walk along the river?" Lin Shu asked.
"Ashu, are you tired?" Zhou Ye tilted his head to look at her.
The excited Lin Xiaopu walked in front, while Zhou Ye deliberately slowed down his pace and followed Lin Shu behind, walking side by side with her.
"No, I'm not that delicate. Didn't we walk around the mountains with you for so long yesterday? Didn't I feel tired? I just wanted to ask where we were going to look for wild ducks."
Zhou Ye then explained, "Wild ducks love to eat algae. The section of the river that flows through our Tianshui Village is upstream, where the current is fast and algae don't grow easily. We're looking for the downstream section. Where the river is wide and the water is still, there's more algae."
Lin Shu: "Then don't we have to go to another village?"
Although other villages also have many mountains and streams, making water easily accessible, when it comes to water, such as for washing clothes and linen, they usually use water from the river. And the largest river nearby is the one in front of us. If we continue downstream along the river, wouldn't we reach another village?
Zhou Ye said, "The villages aren't adjacent to each other. Let's go to the river between the two villages. I know a place with lush grass and water, and wild ducks often play in the river."
Lin Shu looked at him and asked with a smile, "Aye, you know so much about this. Could it be that you have secretly hunted wild ducks to eat without telling anyone?"
Zhou Ye's eyes flickered slightly.
Lin Shu caught it and looked surprised, "Really?"
Zhou Ye quickly denied, "No."
He had never hunted wild ducks by the river, but when he went to the mountains, he would often hunt some game for a good meal.
The pheasants and rabbits he brought back were his leftovers.
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