The refugees ahead all changed course and left, but Tao Wanniang led the Ling family to meet the challenge head-on.
When they reached the edge of the field, Tao Wanniang saw a dark mass approaching from the horizon, unsure whether it had just finished eating or was looking for food.
"Quickly, get me the bed sheets and anything else you can put in your pockets. We need to catch locusts!"
"Mom, locusts are terrible pests that eat crops. Why are you catching them?"
Ling Dahu couldn't help but feel puzzled, and he exchanged a worried glance with his wife, Wang Hongyu.
"What are you still hesitating for? Don't you want to listen to your mother anymore?"
Tao Wan's mother roared, "If you dawdle any longer, the locusts will fly away!"
"Ling Dapeng, come here. Whoever catches the most locusts will get an extra jug of water!"
"Then...can we do it too?"
Upon hearing this, Aunt Liang immediately said weakly, "That water is so delicious!"
"Alright, alright, whoever catches locusts for me, I'll not only give them water, I'll give them meat to eat!"
The Ling family members hurriedly took out tattered clothes and bed sheets that could catch locusts. Under pressure from Tao Wanniang, even though they were reluctant to eat locusts, they still had to do it!
Soon, several bulging bags of locusts were captured; the locusts passed through in the blink of an eye.
Tao Wanniang was glad she acted quickly. Looking at the locusts, she casually spent five coins on the trading system to buy oil, salt, and chili powder, which she then divided into several small porcelain bottles.
"Da Hu and Da Peng start a fire. Wang Hongyu and Zhou Xiaoyun, gather firewood and get me some thin tree trunks."
"Little sister, what can Qiao'er and I do to help you?"
Aunt Liang immediately said that they had also gathered some locusts, which were fluttering around in the cloth bag.
"Then let's string some skewers together!"
Tao Wanniang casually remarked, glancing at the little girl before asking, "Is this Qiao'er her nickname?"
"Yes, our Qiao'er's full name is Linglong, which was given to her by the village teacher." Aunt Liang patted the child's head, speaking with a touch of reminiscence.
My own grandchildren are either Gouwa, Ergou, or Huani. Even though they were raised with humble names, they still need to be given proper names!
Tao Wan's mother kept this in mind: once they settled in their new place, she would name the children.
Dead branches were everywhere, and soon, strings of locusts appeared before people.
Tao Wanniang took turns sprinkling the cumin from several porcelain bottles, and then had the Ling brothers bring out the cumin they had collected earlier.
When roasted over a fire, it sizzles and smokes; a sprinkle of cumin, and instantly, a unique aroma wafts out.
Tao Wanniang took the first bite; it was crunchy and the meat was delicious.
"Delicious, not bad, anyone want some?"
Ling Dahu swallowed hard and glanced at his wife, Wang Hongyu.
"Hongyu, do you think Mother... has gone mad? These are locusts!"
"You're so capable! If your mother can eat this, why can't you? Go and eat!"
Wang Hongyu swallowed hard. It smelled so good! Where did her mother-in-law get the oil and salt? Could those porcelain vases have been given to her by her father-in-law downstairs?
"Second Dog's Dad, you should try some too. If you can eat it, I'll eat it too!"
Zhou Xiaoyun also urged her husband to give it a try.
Tao Wanniang chuckled, "Come on, Aunt Liang, and Qiao'er, do you dare to eat?"
"Thank you, little sister. Qiao'er, quickly thank Aunt Tao."
Aunt Liang immediately exclaimed with delight, "Who cares if locusts are edible? This aroma is better than that old tree bark and roots!"
"Thank you, Aunt Tao."
The little girl was very sensible. After being hungry for several days, she wasn't picky at all; she was just glad to have something to eat.
Tao Wan's mother gave each of them a string of skewers. Her son and daughter-in-law didn't know their value. The aroma was so strong that a lot of people would come over soon.
"Crunch, crunch!"
Aunt Liang and Xiao Qiao'er ate with great relish, almost wolfing it down.
"Grandma, I want it!" Gouwa stepped forward with his short legs and tugged at Tao Wan's mother's sleeve.
"My dear grandson, here you go. How could anything Grandma makes not taste good?"
Ling Dahu and Ling Dapeng couldn't sit still any longer and immediately stepped forward to ask for food.
"Roast them! If you don't help, how can these locusts cook on their own? Or do you expect me, their mother, to feed them to you hand-in-hand?"
Tao Wan's mother said irritably, "Serves you right for not eating enthusiastically!"
The aroma of roasted locusts did indeed travel far, and some of the refugees who had changed their routes earlier but couldn't catch a whiff of it. Of course, some continued on their way, while others turned back because they couldn't walk any further, and naturally followed the aroma to find Tao Wanniang and her companions.
"Hey folks, what are you eating...? It smells amazing!"
A kind-looking man led the two elderly people forward and politely asked.
"Roasted locusts, huh? Didn't you all run away when you saw locusts coming? What, you smelled them?"
Tao Wanniang looked the newcomers up and down. This family of three looked even more destitute than her own family, and probably didn't have anything of value.
"Auntie, my parents are old and have been without water and food for several days. Could you please have some mercy and give them something to eat?"
The man was truly down on his luck, and he adopted a very humble posture.
Being called "auntie" was really unpleasant for Tao Wanniang, and her lips drooped, giving her a listless look.
"What's your name? Which village are you from?"
"My name is Zhao Shiqiu. This is my father and mother. Our village is Zhaojiagou. We've been gone for five days. Alas, there's no water in the village, and there isn't any outside either!"
Tao Wanniang looked the man over and then looked at her son and daughter-in-law.
"What do you say?"
Zhao Dahu, whose mouth was covered in oil from eating, was taken aback. "Mom, you can decide for us, we'll listen to you."
The others echoed this sentiment.
"Well then, you are truly pitiful. We still have some water, and as you can see, the food is locusts. We can share some with you, but do you have anything to exchange for it?"
As Tao Wanniang spoke, she looked at Zhao Shiqiu and spoke each word clearly.
"Don't say I'm being unfair. I don't want your most precious things, like pots and pans, old clothes, etc. You've seen it yourself. My three little kids don't even have anything to cover their bottoms. Do you understand what I mean?"
The trading system can only trade items registered under the host's name, and she wasn't that lucky to find bargains everywhere.
So, give them food and water, collect some scraps, and maybe you can turn waste into treasure!
After Tao Wanniang finished speaking, Zhao Shiqiu and his family of three were stunned, as were the Ling brothers' wives.
This mother's actions are somewhat like taking advantage of someone's misfortune!
"Um... we don't have anything else, but do you need a kitchen knife? We don't have anything else to cook with."
Zhao Shiqiu said that his face, which was tanned red and black, showed no sign of embarrassment.
"A kitchen knife will do. Um, do you have a kettle? I'll pour you some water. The locusts are roasted over here, help yourselves."
Tao Wan's mother wasn't pretentious at all; a kitchen knife was fine with her.
Aunt Liang looked at Tao Wanniang's disgusted expression, but couldn't help but smile.
This young lady may seem harsh, but she has a warm heart! They've really met some good people!
Tao Wan's mother burped and handed over the water. As for the kitchen knife, the system wouldn't accept it, but her own knife had chipped at the edge when she slew wolves last time, so she could just get a new one.
Watching Zhao Shiqiu tremblingly accept the water, take a sip himself, and then hand it to his parents, and the same with the roasted locusts—he always tasted them first before giving them to his parents—Tao Wanniang felt a pang of guilt. He truly was a filial son.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com