Chapter 27: Catching fish. Encountering wild boar.
It has been cloudy and rainy for dozens of days, and today we finally saw the sun.
Qiu Xuan hasn't gone down the mountain these days. Whenever she has free time, she goes into the kitchen to study food. This food must not only be delicious but also reasonably priced, and profitable like steamed buns.
Otherwise, if they don't make any money from all their hard work, what's the point?
Qiu Xuan stood by the table, spreading meat sauce on the pancake, and finally picked up a chopstick of stir-fried leeks and shredded radish.
This is her new creation, which is actually spring rolls. However, unlike the ones usually sold in town, she changed the fillings, made it more cooked, and added sauce.
Qiu Xuan rolled up the spring pancake and handed it to Huai Xue, who was waiting obediently beside her. "Try it. How does it taste?"
The little girl had already smelled the fragrance. She took it and took a careful bite.
The spring rolls were thin, and the fillings were easily accessible with one bite. Even though they were filled with vegetables, they were filled with meat sauce. The little girl nodded and praised, "Auntie, this is delicious too, even better than the ones with dry buns."
A few days ago, Qiu Xuan also made dry steamed buns with vegetables, but it was too expensive. The flour used for one dry steamed bun can make three or four spring rolls.
Qiu Xuan sells food to make more money, and she won't do anything that is not cost-effective.
Seeing that the little girl agreed to eat this way, her heart finally settled down.
"Okay, then we'll sell this tomorrow."
In the yard, the grandmother put a basket of vegetables and a few eggs on the table.
These things were given by Aunt Feng, saying that she was thanking them for taking care of them during that time.
The grandmother had been her sister for many years and had no intention of harvesting anything, but Aunt Feng said it was just some homegrown vegetables. The grandmother thought that vegetables were plentiful in every household at this time of year, so she decided to harvest them.
But when they were distributing the food, they discovered that Aunt Feng had put ten eggs under the basket.
Eggs are good things, and Aunt Feng's granddaughter is in good health right now. How could she accept this? Unfortunately, she was too slow to react, and by the time she chased her out the door, Aunt Feng had already disappeared.
Seeing Zong Xiao looking at the bamboo basket with a puzzled expression, Zong's mother explained, "This is a kind gift from Aunt Feng. Keep it. Ask her to come home and visit when she's free."
"Are you going into the mountains?" The clan mother turned her head and happened to see the harpoon and bamboo basket standing in the corner of the wall.
Zong Xiao is indeed going into the mountains today. It is already autumn, and the weather will only get colder in the coming days. The family must prepare food for the winter.
Zong Xiao: "Well, let's go catch some fish today. We're running low on fish for frying at home, so I'm thinking of getting some more."
Zong Anji walked in from outside carrying pig grass on his back. He happened to hear this and excitedly stepped forward, "Brother, let me go with you today. I haven't fished in a long time."
The clan mother glared at him and said, "Why are you causing trouble for your brother? I'm going to the mountains to pick bamboo shoots today too. You should go with me."
Zong Anji wasn't stupid. Digging bamboo shoots wasn't as fun as catching fish. He waved his hand and refused, "I want to go fishing."
"I'm going too." The kitchen door was not soundproof. When Huai Xue heard that they were going to catch fish, she ran out without finishing her spring rolls.
The little girl was quite clever. She turned her head to look at Qiu Xuan and said expectantly, "Aunt, didn't you say last time that if you go fishing again you must take me with you?"
Qiu Xuan was completely confused. How could this girl have such a good memory at such a young age? Such a long time had passed and she was still thinking about catching fish.
Zong Xiao saw that the weather was good and the sun was shining brightly, so he agreed. "Okay, but you can't go in the water. It's fine to play on the side."
"Mom, look, my second brother has taken the little girl Huaixue with him." Zong Anji gestured to himself and then pointed at Huaixue, "I'm much more capable than her. With me, we can catch at least one more fish."
The grandmother really had no idea what to do with her youngest son. How could he, a grown-up, still compare himself with children?
Besides, the clan mother didn't really want him to go. She just wanted Qiu Xuan and Zong Xiao to spend more time alone together. Why would he go with the couple into the mountains together? It would just be an eyesore.
But he is still a fool, and these two idiots can't understand unless the grandmother explains clearly.
But now Huaixue is going too, so it doesn't matter if he's one more person. If necessary, let him look after the child.
The clan mother was helpless: "Then you go, I won't follow you, remember to come back early."
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There were few people in the deep mountains, and they had left early, so they didn't meet anyone along the way.
Unexpectedly, when I got to the stream, I saw three or five children wading barefoot in the stream and catching fish.
Zong Xiao had never seen them before, and it was obvious at first glance that these children were not from his village.
But Qiu Yun knew them. She would recognize them even if they turned into ashes.
That day when the original owner fell into the water, it was these people who stood on the shore and threw stones into the water. How could she forget it?
"Which village are you guys from? Where is the adult?" Zong Xiao stepped forward and asked.
After all, this is a deep mountain area, and it would be easy for something to happen to these eleven or twelve-year-old children without an adult to look after them.
"What's your business?" The leader put his hands on his hips and looked at him defensively. "We were here first, so you can trade places."
Things in the deep mountains are ownerless and anyone can pick them. Naturally, this stream is also ownerless and anyone can catch the fish in it.
"How can you talk like that, kid? This isn't yours. Why can't we catch fish?" Zong Anji laughed angrily. These little kids, who hadn't even grown all their hair yet, actually dared to say such things.
"We have been here for a long time, so of course this land belongs to us. You should go somewhere else." Another boy kicked the water with his feet, as if he was trying to drive them away.
Zong Xiao stepped forward and advised, "This is dangerous. It's better for you to go back early without an adult to watch over you."
"None of your business. Mind your own business."
Qiu Xuan frowned, feeling somewhat unhappy. She stepped forward, grasped Zong Xiao's wrist, shook her head, and whispered, "These kids are unreasonable. Why should we bother with them? Let's go upstream. There must be fish there too."
"I'll listen to you." Zong Xiao had tried to persuade them, and there was nothing he could do if these kids didn't listen.
Besides, their own affairs are more important right now.
As soon as Qiu Xuan and the others left, the last child came forward and said, "Just now, that person."
"What's wrong with that guy? Are you afraid of him?"
"No...the woman just now seemed to be Hu Zi's sister." Sandan swallowed, afraid that he was seeing things.
The man chuckled after hearing this. "So what if it was true? If it weren't for us, would she have been rescued that day?"
Sandan thought, it was because of his persuasion that these people did not help at that time.
But he didn't dare say these words out loud.
Qiu Xuan and her companions walked further up the stream, and she was a little absent-minded along the way.
Those kids were no pushovers. They almost took her life that day. It was impossible for her to completely forget about it, and it was even more impossible for her to harm them.
Qiu Xuan thought about it for a long time, and finally gave up. There is no point in worrying about some things. Well, the wicked will be punished by God.
"Wow, there really is a fish, it's so big." Huaixue saw one at a glance. She didn't dare to go into the water, so she stood on the shore and pointed at Zong Anji to catch it.
Zong Anji didn't even have time to take off his shoes and socks. He pounced on the fish when he saw it, but he couldn't even touch it.
Qiu Xuan smiled helplessly, "Go get the harpoon, you can't just grab it with your hands."
Zong Anji thought it made sense. He picked up the harpoon and tried again, but he couldn't hit the fish every time. The fish was clearly there, but he just couldn't pierce it.
"You..." Qiu Xuan touched her head. She really didn't know how to talk about him. They were brothers, so why was there such a big difference in hunting skills?
"You spear the fish from below." Zong Xiao pulled the fish off his spear and threw it to the shore, while pointing at Zong Anji who had no catch.
Zong Anji was obedient and did what Zong Xiao said. Unexpectedly, after trying a few times, he actually caught a fish.
He excitedly picked up the harpoon and shouted to the two people on the shore, "Look, I caught it."
"My uncle is so awesome!"
After receiving the praise, Zong Anji worked even harder to spear the harpoon.
Several hours passed by, and as it was getting dark, Zong Xiao finally put away his harpoon.
They had a good harvest today. Although there weren't many fish, each one was very big.
Qiu Xuan asked Huai Xue to count. They counted twice and found that they had caught fourteen big fish and three small fish as big as a palm.
"I'll make fish soup for you tonight." Qiu Xuan picked up the small fish basket and shook it in front of Zong Xiao.
"Hey, thank you so much, sister-in-law." Zong Anji lowered his trouser legs, touched Zong Xiao with his shoulder, and praised: "Second brother, you see my trip was not in vain, I caught three fish."
Zong Xiao: ...Yeah
Three fish that couldn't be any smaller...
A few people packed up their things and were about to go down the mountain when they suddenly heard shouting coming from the bottom of the mountain.
"Help."
The sound came from far away and got closer. Unexpectedly, the person who came was one of the children who had just chased people in the stream below.
Sandan was panting heavily. He looked behind him in fear as he ran. Seeing Zong Xiao and the others, he felt like he had grabbed a lifeline. He begged, "Save us! There are wild boars down there."
"Wild boars?" Zong Xiao took off the backpack, helped Sandan up, and asked him, "How big were the wild boars? How many were there? Did they hurt anyone?"
Sandan was terrified. He was shaking all over and couldn't even gesture clearly. "It was huge. There was only one. Someone got hit and was bleeding. We all ran away separately."
Zong Xiao's face darkened, and he said to Zong Anji, "Hide them in the tree. I'll go down and take a look. Don't follow me. I'll come look for you later."
"Second brother."
"Zong Xiao." The two of them were worried and shouted at the same time.
Zong Xiao walked forward and shook Qiu Xuan's hand lightly, "Don't be afraid, wait for me to come back."
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