ebookland Chapter 11 Aunt Zhou Wants to Exchange Fish
Chapter 11 Aunt Zhou Wants to Exchange Fish
Hearing the noise, Lin Chang'er put down the equipment she was holding.
When Gu's mother welcomed the person in, she realized that it was Aunt Zhou, the wife of the village head.
The young woman appeared to be in her thirties, dressed in coarse linen clothes, clean and neat. She carried a basket on her arm, covered with a dark blue floral cotton cloth, so it was impossible to tell what was inside.
Mother Gu led the people into the main room and sat them down. Sister-in-law Gu then went to pour water.
But then Aunt Zhou said, "Eldest daughter-in-law, don't bother anymore. I'll leave after I finish speaking."
Mother Gu smiled and said, "We can talk without interrupting our water."
Aunt Zhou didn't say anything more, but turned to Mother Gu and said, "Auntie, I didn't come here today without a reason. I wanted to discuss something with you."
Gu's mother paused, her gaze unconsciously shifting to Lin Chang'er.
Lin Chang'er understood and replied, "Auntie, please tell me what it is." Helping is fine, but please do what you can.
When Aunt Zhou saw that it was Lin Chang'er who was speaking, she was first taken aback, but then she remembered what Zhou Hai had said after returning from the Gu family during the day, so she was not so surprised.
She said, "It's my younger sister from my maternal family. She just gave birth the other day, but she hasn't been able to produce any milk. My little nephew is crying loudly from hunger, and I heard that fish soup helps with digestion, so..."
Lin Chang'er understood.
She's not a saint, but as a woman herself, she always has a stronger bias towards women and babies.
In addition, Zhou Lizheng is a decent person, and this Aunt Zhou doesn't seem like the kind of person who would cheat or be dishonest.
It's perfectly normal for neighbors to help each other out, and besides, she'll inevitably need Zhou Lizheng's help in her future life in Linshui Village.
It's not a loss to do someone a favor.
However, she lowered her eyelashes and said, "There are still two fish left, but..." The ones she brought back today were silver carp.
Before she could finish speaking, Aunt Zhou lifted the basket. "I understand, everyone's having a hard time. How about I exchange these potato seeds for them?"
Fearing that Lin Chang'er might feel cheated, Aunt Zhou added, "Just change it. Everyone says our potato seeds are good, and the yield is much higher than others."
Lin Chang'er then realized that the basket was full of potato seeds.
For those who toil in the fields, potatoes are worthless, but fish at least counts as meat.
But potato seeds are different; it's like the difference between providing temporary material assistance and teaching you a skill to make a living.
The Zhou family was honest, but bartering was a transaction, and Lin Chang'er wasn't that simplistic.
She waved her hand, "Auntie, you misunderstood. That's not what I meant. For postpartum women, crucian carp is more effective than silver carp."
I saw a few palm-sized crucian carp by the river during the day, and I was planning to try setting a trap for them tonight.
If you're lucky enough to catch crucian carp, I'll have Silang deliver them to you tomorrow morning. If you can't catch any, I'll send you silver carp instead.
Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhou blushed and asked, "Isn't this too much trouble?"
There's no such thing as a coincidence. She should know in her heart that they were just making excuses to make her feel bad about going to see them.
Lin Chang'er smiled and said, "My second sister-in-law is pregnant, and the little ones are growing too."
Farmers, lacking good nourishing foods, rely on the land and water for sustenance, and can only obtain local produce for a meager meal.
Aunt Zhou then smiled again, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then got up to take her leave.
Before leaving, Lin Chang'er returned a basket of potato seeds to her.
Aunt Zhou quickly declined, "Sanlang's wife, this is absolutely not allowed."
Lin Chang'er forcefully slung the basket over her arm, "The night road is not easy to walk on, Auntie, go back early, don't keep Uncle Village Head waiting."
Aunt Zhou smiled sheepishly, "In the end, I got the better deal."
Lin Chang'er waved her hand, "If that's how you are, Auntie, then I won't send you any fish."
Seeing that she was serious, Aunt Zhou then picked up her basket and left.
She returned home by moonlight, where Zhou Hai was still waiting in the main room. Upon seeing her return, he hurriedly stepped forward to take the basket.
He paused, then quickly lifted the cotton cloth and saw a basket full of potato seeds, showing how they had gone there and how they had been brought back.
He sighed and said, "These days it's not easy to have a taste of meat, so it's understandable that they're unwilling to switch."
"They were already very thoughtful to think of our family tonight, so you can't hold a grudge about this."
He muttered to himself, "If I had known, I would have left the fish for my sister-in-law tonight."
Aunt Zhou was taken aback. "What are you saying, husband?"
Zhou Hai shoved the basket in front of her with an expression that said, "You didn't get any fish, did you?"
Seeing this, Aunt Zhou burst into laughter, "You've misunderstood!"
After saying that, she immediately relayed Lin Chang'er's words to Zhou Hai without missing a single one.
Zhou Hai nodded repeatedly, and said with a strange sense of pride, "I told you during the day that Sanlang's wife is formidable. Whether the Gu family can stand up or not may depend on her, but you didn't believe me."
Now you're speechless, aren't you?
Aunt Zhou also said with a smile, "In the past, everyone said that Sanlang's wife was very delicate."
They can't be criticized or scolded; they're just like the princesses and empresses in those folk tales, who can only be fawned over!
I never imagined she would be such a straightforward and enthusiastic person!
Zhou Hai shook his head. "Rumors shouldn't be taken at face value."
Aunt Zhou nodded and continued, "But it's strange, everyone says the fish in our river are spirits, and you can't catch them at all."
But I remember that Gu Sanlang used to be able to catch fish quite often, didn't he?
Zhou Hai hummed in agreement, then pondered for a moment, "The Gu family still has some luck on them."
Aunt Zhou smiled and said, "They rely on their own abilities."
Zhou Hai agreed, "You're absolutely right."
Aunt Zhou chuckled, then, as if remembering something, instructed, "From now on, please try your best to help with the Gu family's affairs."
Zhou Hai put his arm around his wife's shoulder and said, "I will keep your teachings in mind."
"You're so glib!" Aunt Zhou nudged her husband lightly with her elbow, and the couple chatted and laughed as they went into the bedroom.
At the same time, Lin Chang'er had already brought Gu Silang and the other person to the riverbank.
Before putting it in the cage, she took out half a cornbread from her bosom, broke it into pieces, and put it into the cage.
Gu Silang smacked his lips, suddenly feeling hungry. "Third Sister-in-law, what are you doing?"
"Put the bait in!" Lin Chang'er said without looking up. "If you don't give them a little treat, how will they go into the trap?"
Gu Silang suddenly realized, but this was their food supply!
My third sister-in-law set aside half of it as bait; I wonder if she'll go hungry in the middle of the night.
Will my third sister-in-law feel that she is being mistreated at home? Will she leave because of this?
If I had known, he should have eaten less at night, then I wouldn't have had to use his sister-in-law's cornbread as bait.
Lin Chang'er had no idea that Gu Silang was already engrossed in a whole drama.
After placing the bait, put the fish trap in the water.
Gu Silang dared not just stand by and watch, so he quickly followed, "Third Sister-in-law, let me help you."
Lin Chang'er would certainly not refuse help from someone.
After she finished setting down the water cage and straightened up, Sister-in-law Gu reached out her hand to her, "Sister-in-law, the water is cold at night, come up quickly."
With the help of Sister-in-law Gu, Lin Chang'er got ashore, and Gu Silang, like a mischievous monkey, also climbed up on his own.
He was in high spirits when he asked again, "Third Sister-in-law, shall we go back now?"
Sister-in-law Gu smiled and said, "You don't necessarily intend to stay here, do you?"
Gu Silang scratched his head, glancing at the basket Lin Chang'er had brought, and muttered, "But Third Sister-in-law's basket is still empty!"
You can't exactly carry this thing around like that, can you? It's so heavy and cumbersome...