"Big fish is delicious! And you can exchange it for that...that..."
Baili Wanwan bit her finger and pondered for a while before remembering what her grandfather had said.
"You can exchange it for money! Use it to buy more delicious food!"
Seeing the innocent little child holding a fish that was even longer than himself, with a smile on his rosy cheeks, Zhang Xiu felt a mix of emotions.
"Okay, but you're not allowed to go back into the water."
She dared not let the little child take any more risks. She repeatedly told him not to go into the water again, placed the grouper in the water, and cast the net to catch the fish.
I don't know if it's just my imagination, but today's harvest is exceptionally plentiful.
Baili Wanwan also calmed down and swung her little legs while watching Zhang Xiu catch fish.
Auntie is amazing! She can catch so many fish!
After changing Wanwan's clothes at home, Zhang Xiu took the curious Baili Wanwan and rode in an oxcart to the county market.
The market was bustling with activity, and Baili Wanwan was overwhelmed by the sight of the thronging crowd.
"Fresh fish! Come and see!"
Hearing Zhang Xiu's hawking cries, Baili Wanwan mimicked him in her childish voice, "Fresh fish! Delicious!"
Zhang Xiu couldn't help but chuckle, feeling a mix of emotions.
Perhaps adopting this little child is a good thing, and their family can afford to raise him/her.
Baili Wanwan had delicate features and smiled as she imitated the adults calling out their wares.
Even in the county town, merchants had never seen such a beautiful and lovely little girl.
In addition, Zhang Xiu's fish were indeed fresh, and many passersby who were attracted by them bought some to take home.
The ordinary fish quickly sold out, leaving only the plump grouper.
As the crowd dispersed, a well-dressed middle-aged man approached, pointed at the grouper, and said directly, "Auntie, would you sell me this fish for five taels?"
Five taels! Zhang Xiu was shocked. She had only sold all the fish on her boat for two taels of silver!
"Ha, Zhang the Old Dog, you're trying to fool this country woman again!"
The burly fat man next to him shoved him aside: "Don't listen to him, our Fuhua Restaurant will pay eight taels!"
The middle-aged man who had been pushed aside was furious and quickly raised the price as well: "Our Yuelai Restaurant will offer ten taels!"
Over such a large fish, two restaurant purchasing agents who were already at odds started arguing endlessly.
A gentle breeze blew by, carrying with it an enticing aroma.
Baili Wanwan, who was watching the excitement with great interest, was immediately drawn to the aroma and turned her attention to the food stalls next to her.
Fresh small fish are gutted and cleaned, then coated in prepared batter and deep-fried until golden brown and crispy, looking exceptionally tempting.
Baili Wanwan was drooling when she heard the fat man shout, "Then let this little kid decide who to sell it to!"
Baili Wanwan was startled when she was patted on the head, and turned her head blankly to look ahead.
The two grown men, their faces full of fawning smiles, rubbed their hands together as they looked at the little child who stood there dumbfounded.
Wanwan doesn't know how!
She looked at Zhang Xiu with pleading eyes, her round eyes filled with helplessness.
"Wanwan, Wanwan doesn't know either..."
She tugged at Zhang Xiu's gaze, her big eyes brimming with tears, "Auntie is so amazing, she can even catch big fish, please help Wanwan!"
The childish yet earnest praise made Zhang Xiu feel a little flattered. He glanced at the two people staring expectantly and said directly, "I've heard that Yuelai and Fuhua restaurants each have their own strengths, and their fish dishes are especially unique. Just tell me which part you want, and I'll cut it for you, right?"
The fish is not big enough to be cooked whole; even if you buy it whole, they will still cut it up.
The two buyers looked at each other, then eagerly announced their preferred items.
The last big fish was cleanly cut up by Zhang Xiu's superb knife skills, and the two buyers shook hands and made peace, returning home with their catch.
Zhang Xiu counted the twenty taels of silver in his pocket, feeling delighted.
Baili Wanwan was biting her finger and looking at the fried fish stall when a bag of golden and crispy fried fish appeared in front of her.
"Eat."
Zhang Xiu handed her the small fish wrapped in oil paper, saying, "We're really grateful to Wanwan today. I'll take you to buy some clothes later."
Baili Wanwan didn't care about clothes. She hurriedly put a small fish into her mouth. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, salty and fragrant. She could even chew the bones and swallow them. It was extremely delicious.
She squinted her eyes contentedly, and Zhang Xiu found the baby even more adorable.
She squatted down to pack up her stall when she felt something warm being placed to her lips.
"Auntie, you should eat too!"
Zhang Xiu was stunned for a moment, then swallowed the fried fish in one gulp.
No wonder people say daughters are like warm cotton-padded jackets; when have her two rascal boys ever been so considerate!
Completely charmed by Baili Wanwan's actions, Zhang Xiu dragged her to buy some exquisite ready-made clothes. Although she had already bargained until she was hoarse to get the lowest price, Zhang Xiu still felt a pang of heartache.
Baili Wanwan seemed to sense Zhang Xiu's reluctance and tugged at her hem considerately, saying, "Auntie, that's enough, don't give me so much."
Looking at the little baby's sweet face, Zhang Xiu gritted her teeth and picked out a few more pairs of shoes a size larger to pay for.
"You're still growing, and you won't be able to wear these clothes in a few days. Buying more will help the shopkeeper save us some money!"
Baili Wanwan blinked, as if she were about to roar.
By the time the two embarked on their journey home, it was already getting dark.
Baili Wanwan excitedly skipped and jumped around, looking left and right, holding Zhang Xiu's hand, but suddenly felt a strange "qi" that made her uncomfortable.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
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