Qian Jiu'er's face darkened, and she hurriedly said, "Mingjing, don't say such hurtful things. Mingliang and I are truly in love, but my parents won't agree to our relationship without a house."
Mingliang, without thinking, blurted out, "If I'm going to marry into your family, then I'm going. Jiu'er, I'm willing."
Upon hearing this, Ming Dahai trembled with anger.
"Jiu'er, how much is the bride price? Our Ming family doesn't ask for much when marrying off a son, just 20,000, and nothing else."
Qian Jiu'er held back for a long time, almost crying with anger, "Mingjing, how could you do this? Who agreed to him marrying into the family?"
Qian Jiu'er was unwilling to accept losing money instead of making any.
“Aren’t you truly in love? My brother has already agreed, and he doesn’t even have a house. So it’s settled. We’ll pick a date for the two families to discuss the wedding.”
Mingyue covered her mouth and chuckled.
"Also, I did catch a big fish yesterday, but it's for my parents to nourish their bodies. You can ask me for it again after you have a son."
The heavy rain gradually stopped, and the three of them left the eaves and headed home.
Qian Jiu'er was stunned with anger. "Mingliang, your sister doesn't like me at all. I won't be happy if I marry her. Let's break up! You don't need to come anymore."
"Jiu'er!" Mingliang slammed his fist against the wall, watching the three figures leave and go inside to coax Qian Jiu'er.
Ming Dahai kept his lips tightly pressed together and didn't say a word the whole way.
"You're back. How much did you sell it for?" Sun Yunmei put down the fishing net she was weaving and stood up to ask.
Ming Dahai pulled a wad of cash from his pocket and stuffed it into Sun Yunmei's hand before sitting down on the stool, fuming.
"Wow, so much!" Sun Yunmei had never seen so much money before, and it felt heavy in her hands.
"Mom, after deducting the 20,000 yuan debt and Grandma's support fee, there's only a little over 700 yuan left," Mingjing muttered under her breath, yawning.
Sun Yunmei jumped up excitedly, "What? So many? My good daughter, you're really capable."
She turned to look at Ming Dahai and poked him with her finger, "Why aren't you happy yet?"
Mingyue excitedly interjected, "My eldest brother is going to marry into the Qian family and become their son!"
"What?!" Sun Yunmei's mood plummeted, and she slumped onto the bench. "That brat, his brain must have been soaked in seawater!"
"Mom, this is the best thing. Our family will receive the bride price. I will support the family from now on, and I will treat you like a son and take care of you."
Mingjing yawned lazily.
"Alright, go to sleep now," Sun Yunmei said, putting the money in her pocket, feeling uneasy.
She was worried because her daughter, though wonderful, could not carry on the family line.
"Okay." Mingjing carried the large yellow croaker into the house, locked the door, and lay down on the bed to start thinking.
The family has over 700 yuan now, which would be considered middle class in the 1990s, but it's not enough for her.
But all my good luck was used up in the sea. I had no luck today, and even if I went to the beach, I wouldn't find anything. I'll have to be more careful next time.
When she wakes up, we'll make yellow croaker to exchange for points. It's such an expensive item; we should be able to exchange it for a lot of good equipment.
As she pondered this, Mingjing closed her eyes and slept until five in the afternoon.
She was awakened by the noise at the door. She rubbed her eyes and looked out the window. Several women were cracking sunflower seeds and prying at her front door.
"Dahai, Old Zhao offered you 40, and you still sold it?"
Ming Dahai was chopping firewood in the yard when he smiled and said, "Sold it for a few thousand yuan."
Several women clicked their tongues. "You got ripped off. A yellow croaker that big should cost at least 80 yuan. Old Zhao is a rip-off. Why don't you go find him?"
"Never mind," Ming Dahai said, silently chopping wood.
Mingjing pushed open the door, her hair tied in a high ponytail, and carried the yellow croaker to the well, preparing to make steamed yellow croaker and yellow croaker with soy sauce and vinegar.
"Wow! Such a big yellow croaker, you ate it all yourself? You're really willing to spend it."
The woman cracked sunflower seeds, her tone incredibly sarcastic, and left the shells at the Ming family's front door.
Mingjing sneered as she washed the fish, "Of course! I caught it myself, can't I eat it? Auntie, why don't you go to the sea and see? Maybe you can catch one too."
The woman next to her chuckled, "Come on, she's not capable of that. If you didn't know better, you'd think she was going to catch fish, but if you didn't, you'd think she was going to bait the fish, hehehe!"
Mingjing couldn't help but laugh along, and the woman laughed even harder. Mingjing stopped laughing, but the woman was still giggling.
"What kind of character is that!" the woman glanced at her, scattered a handful of sunflower seed shells, and turned to leave.
Mingjing cleaned the yellow croaker and went into the kitchen.
"Sister, what delicious food are you making?" Mingyue asked as she walked over.
"A big meal! Help me light the fire, and I'll take you to town to buy clothes tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Mingyue's eyes lit up.
"Buy clothes? Really, sis?"
“Yeah, money is meant to be spent. Look at your tattered clothes, I’ll buy you the most fashionable dress.” Mingjing glanced at Mingyue.
"Sister, you're so kind." Mingyue's eyes darkened, and she didn't say the rest of the sentence.
I hope things will always be this good.
Mingjing smiled and said, "Don't worry, our family will be fine from now on."
"Mm," Mingyue nodded with a smile, sat down and continued tending the fire.
Mingjing picked up a large yellow croaker, about the length of an arm, and made four cuts on its body with a knife. He then turned it over and made four more cuts, before sprinkling it with scallions, ginger, and salt.
The heavy fish platter was placed into the iron pot, and the lid was put on.
"Sister, you're so beautiful," Mingyue said enviously, cupping her face in her hands and tilting her head.
The dim firelight made their faces appear rosy.
Mingjing bent down, patted her head, and gently rubbed it. "Tomorrow, the moon will be beautiful too."
Looking at the birthmark on Mingyue's face, Mingjing thought that when he had money, he would take her to have surgery, because it was ultimately unsightly for a girl to have a birthmark on her face.
"Okay!" Mingyue nodded and continued tending the fire.
There was only one pot on the stove. In order to steam rice, Mingjing found firewood and a small pot and set up a stove in the yard.
The rice is a healthy wheat-yellow color, with plump grains. Washing and cooking the rice is a quick and easy process.
Forty minutes later, the yellow croaker was ready, its aroma filling the air.
"Sister, it smells so good!" Mingyue swallowed hard, her eyes widening.
Mingjing took a dry cloth and placed the yellow croaker on the table. "Wait, it's not over yet."
She cleaned the pot, poured two ounces of rapeseed oil into the bottom, heated it, and poured a spoonful over the yellow croaker.
Sizzle!
The aroma of fish fills the air!
"Xiaoyue, go call Mom and Dad for dinner!"
"Mom and Dad, dinner's ready!" Mingyue ran into the main room to call out to the couple.
The moon had just raised its head when the numbers before it changed again: [Basic Points: 3000]
Three thousand? Not enough!
Mingyue looked down and saw another large yellow croaker in the basin. Her eyes lit up. "Mom and Dad, you eat first!"
She quickly prepared the large yellow croaker, cut it into seven pieces, and continued steaming it.
"Mingjing, one is enough," Sun Yunmei said, sitting down.
A single large yellow croaker costs several hundred yuan, and she felt bad even eating one, let alone two.
"Mom, let's send some to the neighbors. We're all neighbors, we can't let them be envious of our profits. Let everyone have a taste."
With firewood burning at the bottom of the pot, Mingjing sat down and picked up her rice bowl.
"Mingjing is right. Everyone has some complaints about us today. We're all fellow villagers, so let's not make things awkward."
Ming Dahai sighed inwardly at how much Mingjing had grown up.
With fame comes trouble. Her daughter will have many opportunities to shine in the future, and there will be times when she needs help from others. It is her daughter who is very thoughtful.
"Sister, this fish is so tender and delicious," Mingyue said with a satisfied expression, having never eaten yellow croaker before.
"Mingjing, this fish smells so good, no wonder it's so expensive," Sun Yunmei said, unable to stop eating it.
Yellow croaker has tender flesh, few bones, and a mild fishy smell, making it a top-quality tonic. The Ming family members were so focused on eating that they barely exchanged a few words.
After Mingjing finished eating, the yellow croaker in the pot was steamed. She removed the firewood and stuffed it into the ashes, then took out the yellow croaker and poured hot oil over it.
The yellow croaker was cut into sections and placed into small bowls. Mingjing carried a basket and said, "Mom and Dad, I'm going to deliver the fish."
"Wait a minute!" Sun Yunmei came into the house, took out forty yuan and stuffed it into Mingjing's hand. "Go and return your second uncle's money. Don't let him come here. He's a nuisance!"
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