Wu Dahai walked over, handed the basket to Chen Kai and Xiao Tian, and said happily, "These are bean sprouts. Is this the first time you've seen them? This vegetable is delicious. You should eat more of them later."
Chen Kai said with a smile, "Brother-in-law likes bean sprouts? Then we'll treat you to them every day from now on. We also have tofu skin, dried tofu, and bean curd sticks, all of which are especially delicious."
Although Wu Dahai didn't understand the meaning of Chen Kai's second half of the sentence, he understood the first half. So he said, "Little brother, be good. Your brother-in-law isn't greedy and doesn't need to eat it every day. Besides, bean sprouts are very expensive, costing ten coins a pound. Don't waste money. If you want to eat bean sprouts, just tell your brother-in-law, and I'll trade them some cold drinks."
After Wu Dahai finished speaking, he took the basket of bean sprouts and went into the kitchen.
Just then, Daya ran back and said, "Uncle, Xiaotian, the village chief and the others have caught some fish. They're huge, and they're at the village chief's house now. Let's go see them."
“I’m going too!” said Chen’s wife.
Daya picked up Xiaotian and said, "Okay, Mom, you hold Uncle. Let's hurry over, or we won't be able to squeeze in."
When they arrived at the village chief's house, the courtyard was already packed with people.
Chen Kai asked in confusion, "Why are there so many people? Haven't they seen this kind of fish before? Why are they still here to join in the fun?"
Da Ya said, "Of course we have to come over, otherwise what will we do if we don't get any of the fish!"
Chen Kai was speechless. If that's the case, then his parents must be here too.
Chen Kai was just thinking about how to get across when his eldest daughter-in-law yelled, "Get out of the way! Get out of the way! You'll be sorry if you bump into my child!"
Zhou was also shouting and cursing in the crowd.
The crowd tactfully made way for them.
Zhou jogged over from the crowd, took Chen Kai, and said with a smile, "Good son, come on, let me take you to see the big fish."
Chen Kai and his group squeezed to the front of the crowd and saw what a huge fish it was!
How could an arapaima that's over five meters long not be big?
The Arapaima, also known as the giant arapaima, can reach 2-6 meters in length and weigh up to 100 kilograms when fully grown. It has a large, elongated, slightly laterally compressed body. It has a large mouth and no barbels. It lacks a lower jawbone, but has strong, well-developed teeth on its tongue. Its scales are large, hard, and inlaid. The body is grayish-green, darker on the back and lighter on the belly, with a reddish tail fin and posterior portion.
Live arapaima are beautifully colored and can be kept as ornamental fish. They are one of the largest freshwater fish in the world.
The arapaima is bulky and slow-moving. It mainly feeds on small fish, but occasionally also preys on snakes, turtles, frogs, insects, and even small crocodiles.
Due to the hot weather, the slow-flowing river water has reduced oxygen levels, forcing the arapaima to frequently surface to gulp air for respiration. During the dry season, it can also survive by burrowing into the mud and sand.
The arapaima possesses immense strength and uses its tail as a weapon, easily knocking down an adult male and shattering his bones, causing extensive internal injuries.
Old Man Chen walked over and said with a smile, "This fish has already been killed. Would you like to touch it?"
Chen Kai said with a smile, "Such a big fish, it'll last us a long time."
Chen Nong said, "We don't eat these fish. The village chief just said he's going to sell them for money."
Er Ya said happily, "Our family should also get a share of the money from selling the fish."
The village's grandson angrily said, "We won't give it to your family!"
The village chief's wife looked at Zhou and said, "Your family didn't contribute to catching these fish, so you won't get a share. Go back home and stop making a scene here."
This group of people had just been discussing how to divide the money from selling fish, and they had quite a few disagreements.
The Chen family did indeed shamelessly come to take advantage of the situation, but it was their family members who were the loudest.
Zhou shouted, "How can you say our family didn't contribute? We even helped carry the fish just now!"
The village chief's second daughter-in-law said angrily, "Bullshit! You just touched the fish's tail and you call that helping to carry the fish? If you really wanted to carry it, you would have carried it back to your own home by now."
The village chief shouted, "Alright, stop arguing! The money from selling these fish will be used for village public expenses. That's settled, and no one is allowed to argue about it."
The village chief's wife said anxiously, "But..."
The village chief interrupted, "Alright, everyone disperse, that's all!"
The village chief's wife was very unwilling. If the money were distributed directly, her family would definitely get the most. Her husband had gone there in person, and her sons had also gone to help with the fishing. They had put in a lot of effort, so it was not unreasonable for her family to take the most money. Why should it be used for public expenses?
Zhou was not willing to give up; she still wanted to gain some advantage.
Er Ya and her friends really wanted to eat this big fish, so they followed their grandma and made a scene at the village chief's house.
The Chen family, young and old, started arguing again.
After arriving home, Chen Kai asked his sister-in-law to soak some soybeans so he could sprout them.
Although Chen's eldest sister-in-law didn't trust her younger brother, she took a small basin of soybeans and soaked them since they were just a few beans and not worth much money.
Chen Kai rolled his eyes helplessly. They'd find out once the bean sprouts emerged.
Sprouting beans is actually quite simple. Soak dried soybeans in water overnight. You can use plenty of water, as they will sprout easily once they have absorbed enough water. Once they have doubled in size after soaking, they are ready.
Take a wooden basin with some small holes, and prepare a clean burlap cloth to line the basin. Drain the soaked soybeans, pour them onto the burlap cloth, and spread them evenly.
Wrap the soybeans tightly in a cloth, then pour some water onto the cloth, making sure the cloth is thoroughly wet. Cover the cloth with another piece of cloth, then pour more water over it, keeping the cloth moist.
Then find a bag and cover the wooden basin; soybeans can only sprout in the dark.
Place the wooden basin in a dark, cool, and well-ventilated place. Open the bag every morning and evening and pour some water on the linen to keep it moist.
You can decide when to eat them based on your own taste. If you like bean sprouts without roots, you can take them out after 3 days; if you like bean sprouts with some roots, take them out after 4 days; if you like bean sprouts with the whole root, take them out after 5 days.
After the beans were soaked, Chen Kai asked his sister-in-law to prepare a wooden basin and burlap, and then he placed them in a cool, shady place.
Over the next few days, Chen Kai watered the beans regularly. When the bean sprouts appeared, the rest of the Chen family were surprised that sprouting beans was so easy.
After tasting the bean sprouts, Old Man Chen declared that they would add bean sprouts to their business from now on.
Next, Old Man Chen started harvesting soybeans in the village.
Others sell bean sprouts at such high prices, but if they sell them at a lower price to the restaurants they cooperate with, they can definitely make a lot of money.
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