Chapter 77

After Zhao Guihua had finished tutoring her two sons and scolding them a bit, she turned to the two youngest ones. She stressed over and over again, they absolutely must not tell anybody about their hunting ventures, not to mention the roasted fish, chicken, or lamb skewers. All was to be kept a secret. 0

If word spread, they would end up with nothing at all. 0

Absolutely nothing. 0

Not only would they starve, forced to feed on grass, but they'd get a sound beating too - smacked on their butts three times a day!0

This scared the living daylights out of the two little ones, both clamping their hands over their bums and solemnly swearing that they would be the most obedient children on earth, not gossipers by any means. 0

Zhao Guihua: "You're all talk now, but if you forgot as soon as you get home, don't blame me if I stop taking you out, and don't even dream about tasting meat! Do you understand? Will you remember this?" 0

Both children bobbed their heads very seriously, indicating that they had committed this to memory. They would dare not forget; otherwise, they'd have no more meat to eat, and to them, there was nothing more delicious in this world than meat. 0

Nothing was tastier than meat!0

Nothing!0

After threatening and scaring the two little ones, Zhao Guihua then came over to help. They poured the sheep's blood into a bucket, and Zhao Guihua couldn't help but be thankful for her wisdom. Without a doubt, she was the smartest person. 0

When she set out this morning, she thought to bring extra tools, since strength lies in numbers.0

She believed that many hands make light work, so she didn't skimp on the equipment, of course, learning from the previous mishap. They brought a good amount of things along, even two buckets, one large and one small.0

She reasoned that if they could only catch turtles, those could be stashed away in the small bucket. 0

See? A solid plan, indeed!0

However, they didn't catch a single turtle; however, the preparations weren't for naught. The sheep's blood fit perfectly in the bucket, and later, when she got home, she could make some blood tofu. It would taste rather good. Zhao Guihua was pleased as punch. Looking at Ming Mei, she couldn't help but remark, "You, lass, certainly have some luck. I've come out here with my eldest daughter-in-law so many times, never once did we get a haul like yours. You're quite something." 0

Ming Mei chuckled proudly, then earnestly confessed, "To tell the truth, yeah, only I could have found out. Others wouldn't have."0

She counted off on her fingers, "I can climb trees. It was only because I heard a slight movement and climbed up that I saw the wild pig. If it were someone else, they might just skip off or go closer. If they went closer, it would've been dangerous, if they left, they would've missed out. It was only because I climbed the tree that I saw everything clearly."0

She continued to tick off a second finger, "Secondly, I have an excellent sense of direction. If it were someone who's easily lost, even if they went searching, they might not find it. I never get lost and remembered the surrounding environment accurately, which is why we hardly took any detours."0

"Lastly, had we not walked that way, we wouldn’t have seen the mountain goat. So, I think, besides me, it would be extremely unlikely for anyone else to make such discoveries." 0

Zhao Guihua: "Makes sense."0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Oh my, enough with the chit-chat, you two. Let's get going, start cutting the meat and get it ready for grilling. I’m drooling already." 0

Zhuang Zhixi is anxious. If one isn't keen on eating, something must be blatantly wrong with their mind. 0

"Yes, yes, coming right up!" 0

Zhao Guihua grabbed a chunk of stone to be used as a cutting board and set out to slice the meat. The mountain was generous with its supply of twigs, and soon, meat was threaded onto them, making skewers. 0

Thankfully we bought a new kitchen knife last time, which has now come in handy for our mountain trips. Who would have thought, it has proven itself useful even before it gets to taste any food! What a 'sensible' knife. Zhao Guihua to Zhuang Zhixi: "Third son." 0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Yes, mother?" 0

Quickly, he goes about setting the fire up and begins roasting the skewers. Hutou and Xiao Yanzi are already at his side like a pair of puppies, drooling and waiting. Zhuang Zhixi: "Don't just stand there watching. Join in!" 0

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "Let me do it! They can't control the heat very well. Such nice meat, if they accidentally over grill it, I'll lose it." 0

This sheep, of average size and rather meaty, was roasted till fat dripped. It was only natural that the adults would find it hard to resist such lovely aroma. Zhuang Zhixi, swallowing his saliva, remarked: "This smells too delicious. Imagine, having a family where you can eat meat every day.” 0

Zhuang Zhiyuan smirked: "What luxury are you dreaming of? Not even the landlord’s family before the revolution got to enjoy such luxury." 0

Zhuang Zhixi: "And how would you know?” 0

After grilling a skewer of meat, he handed it to his mother: "Here, elderly lady, have a taste of your son’s cooking." 0

Zhao Guihua: "You guys eat first. I'll continue cutting." 0

Old Man Zhuang: "I can continue cutting, eat yours." 0

Ming Mei: "I can cut as well." 0

"No need." 0

Zhao Guihua: "I can do it myself. Do you guys even know how to cut it appropriately, balancing the fat and lean? You don’t, I can tell by your faces. Off you go, start eating, I won't shortchange myself." 0

"Alright, we'll eat first then." 0

Although Zhao Guihua was talking, she speeded up her actions. In no time, she joined in the circle. Everyone grabbed a skewer and got engaged, even Hutou and Xiao Yanzi. Liang Meifen kept an eye on their grilling; if overcooked, the meat would turn tough and lose its tenderness. 0

The family, to their heart's content, taking their time at their picnic. 0

With ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‍a bite of the lamb, Ming Mei found it incredibly tasty. The lamb, only lightly salted, tasted extraordinary despite the absence of spices, juicy, tender and delicious. Lamb, unlike other meats, can have a peculiar smell but it didn't affect the taste at all. 0

Ming Mei: "Mmm, it's delicious." 0

It's too delicious indeed. 0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Which do you find tastier? Lamb or pork?" 0

Ming Mei: "Both are delicious. They're just as good as each other. Why the need for comparison? As long as there's meat, it's all good." 0

Hutou nodded vehemently, agreeing with his aunt’s opinion. He found the adults to be peculiar. To him, food was about it being delicious, rather than what was more so.0

Hutou, biting into his skewered mutton, his eyes gleaming with delight, while his little sister Xiao Yanzi, her face covered in oil, was eating even faster than the adults despite being the smallest. 0

Zhao Guihua cautioned, "Eat slowly, don't rush, or else you might upset your stomach. What's destined for you will be yours, no one is snatching it from you." 0

Xiao Yanzi replied, "Okay." 0

Zhao Guihua continued, "And we have grilled chicken coming, if you end up filling yourself, you won't be able to eat anything else." 0

Xiao Yanzi realized, "Right." 0

Although she found mutton skewers to be the tastiest food in the world, she felt the same way about grilled chicken. She couldn't decide which one was better, so she wanted to eat both. She peeked over and asked, "Is the chicken ready yet?" 0

Zhao Guihua replied, "Almost, you and your brother can share a chicken leg later." 0

Xiao Yanzi cheerfully replied, "Great!" 0

Zhao Guihua added, "Leave the chicken feet for me, I love them." 0

Zhuang Zhixi looked at his mother, suspicious, he asked, "There's hardly any meat on the chicken feet. Aren't you purposely saving the good bits for us?" 0

Zhao Guihua retorted, "...what an assumption you're making..." 0

She continued, "Do I look like a fool to you?" 0

Zhuang Zhixi, playfully grining, replied, "Don't all parents do that?" 0

Zhao Guihua stated, "Stop dreaming, I genuinely love eating this. I also love eating the belly of the fish, why didn't you say I was saving the best for you then? Stop overthinking, just eat your portion." 0

"Alright then." 0

"Our life these days seems as festive as the New Year," Zhuang Zhixi remarked. 0

Zhao Guihua replied, “Even the New Year doesn't promise this fare. Do you think mutton comes cheap? On an average New Year, we only buy two pounds of pork, which we stretch to last for a full lunar month. Today alone, we've eaten that same amount of mutton." 0

Actually, compared to others, like Zhou Qun's household where they only have a couple ounces of meat for a whole meal, their life could be considered quite well-off. And Jiang Lu who came from a well-off family and accepted that lifestyle, she seems resigned to it. But whether she can bear it or not, she is willingly laboring. It's truly remarkable. 0

Zhao Guihua gnawed on a chicken foot, neatly spitting out the bones. 0

Hutou watched her intently, to which Zhao Guihua responded, "What are you looking at? I even chew it cleaner than a dog would, nothing wasted." 0

Everyone fell silent. 0

Ming Mei scratched her head and said, "Mom, that was..." 0

There was something odd about the way she had put it. 0

Zhao Guihua sensed the strange atmosphere and bluffed, "Stop talking and eat your food. Why do you all have to chatter even when you are eating?" 0

Everyone complied with her and went back to their meals. 0

Six adults and two kids made quite a crowd. Despite having prepared much food, everyone had only eaten until they were 80% full. However, the thought of eating more meat seemed like a bit of a waste. 0

Zhuang Zhixi took the initiative to grill some fish. Since discovering the pond, their family isn't short of fish and they have them weekly. But stewed fish and grilled fish are different. Zhuang Zhixi said, "In recent days, the food at our home is really superb, I have sure put on weight."0

Actually, Zhuang Zhixi's change wasn't apparent. He is a tall man who used to be thin as a bamboo stick. Now he just gained a bit of weight but still appears skinny. However, the change in Hutou and Xiao Yanzi was noticeable. They've grown in half a year, which is clear as their last year's clothes don't fit anymore. 0

Zhao Guihua stated, “I don’t actually care about you guys but your father is getting old, he should eat well.” 0

Old Man Zhuang lit up with a brilliant smile. He always said his wife cared about him the most. 0

His lips curled into a pleased smile. 0

Hutou, green with envy, quipped, “Granny, am I not your dearest treasure?" 0

Zhao Guihua: "Yes! You and your sister are dearer than your father and your uncle." 0

Zhuang Zhiyuan and Zhuang Zhixi were disconcerted. Out of the blue, she was first guessing their character, then relegating them to such lower ranks. Surely, once you have grandchildren, you forget about your children. Life is hard indeed. Zhuang Zhixi ferociously ate the fish, feeling that he had to eat more so as to alleviate his melancholy. 0

He wasn't being gluttonous, per se. 0

Zhao Guihua: "You all need to behave. Granny wouldn't forget you when she has delicious food. However, if you become too talkative and naughty... hehe, all the good stuff won't be for you anymore." 0

Both the little ones nodded gravely, saying in unison, "Granny, we are obedient; we absolutely won't say anything foolish." 0

Don't assume kids are naive. They can be quite clever, especially during material shortages, even the simplest children become tactful concerning food. Hutou and Xiao Yanzi sincerely took it to heart. 0

The two glanced at each other with serious expressions. 0

Zhao Guihua nodded, seeming quite satisfied. She was worried that kids wouldn't understand something but her grandchildren, to some extent, were sensible. Her own offspring, in all ways, were the best. 0

Ming Mei, munching on a grilled fish, asked, "Mom, what if we can't finish the mutton? How do we preserve it?" 0

This comment made Zhao Guihua slightly worried. They had a lot of meat, they made their pork into salted meat, should they do the same with the mutton? Frankly, they could, but the taste would be slightly off. However, in these times, having any meat was splendid, who wasn't about to worry if it was salted or not? 0

As long as it was meat, it was more than perfect. 0

After pondering a moment, she promptly said, "We'll turn it into salted meat and store it for later consumption." 0

"Alright." 0

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Zhao Guihua continued, "This time the harvest was good, but not every time can be like this, we should eat sparingly." 0

Everyone nodded in agreement. Truth be told, they were living very well this year. Previously, they never had these kinds of good times. Hutou had even flopped on the ground contentedly, rubbing his little belly. 0

"Mom, do the people in the mountains eat meat every day? " Liang Meifen asked. 0

Zhao Guihua glanced at her, and rebuked, "What a sweet dream you're having! That's impossible. There weren't this many game animals in the mountains a few years ago. Even if there are now, do you think everyone can catch them?" She felt that most people couldn't. 0

That would take a class leader.0

As Zhao Guihua chatted, she was far from idle. She processed the fish they had caught, gutted them and sprinkled salt on them, ready to dry under the sun. It is often the case that work goes smoothly when one has a plan. For this trip to the mountain, she even brought salt, anticipating that they might catch some fish.0

And indeed, the salt was put to use.0

Age does bring wisdom!0

"Mum," Zhuang Zhixi suddenly spoke up, "I've heard that some people use fish guts as bait. I wonder if it works well. We could give it a try."0

Zhao Guihua replied, "I'm saving these fish livers and intestines to cook with tofu when we get home. You can take the remaining small parts to try."0

"Alright," agreed Zhuang Zhixi.0

Zhuang Zhiyuan said, "Give it to me, I'll go try. I've never fished before."0

Although the midday heat was intense, he was still interested in fishing. Liang Meifen, upon seeing this, offered, "I'll join you."0

The couple went to the pond while Zhuang Zhixi said, "Let's rest a while. We walked quite a bit this morning, we’ll wander a little more in the afternoon."0

Zhao Guihua didn't object, simply reminding, "Don't stray too far, or we won't be back to town before it gets dark."0

Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei nodded in understanding. Zhuang Zhixi leaned against a tree, gathering a bunch of wild cherries as he admired the tranquility, musing, "This is a truly idyllic life. Like that of an immortal."0

"Third Brother!" Zhuang Zhiyuan called out.0

"What is it?" Zhuang Zhixi responded.0

“I think I spotted some eels. You know how to make that trap, the one to catch eels. Can you make one?” Zhuang Zhiyuan asked.0

When they were younger, despite not being particularly fond of bringing their 'tag-along' brother, Zhuang Zhixi, they recognized his knack for good ideas. They would make little traps to put in the water and eels were the easiest to catch. Once caught, they could hardly escape.0

And in return, they were rewarded with a delicious fish.0

Seeing an eel now, he immediately called for his brother.0

He could make the small fish trap too, but it had been such a long time, he hardly remembered how.0

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "Let me find some willow branches to get a feel for it. I don't quite recall either. But, how come there are eels in this pond…"0

He was quite puzzled, as were the others.0

Regardless, the group decided to make an attempt at catching them. The sudden appearance of such creatures was a mystery they didn't bother to unravel.0

Seeing her son at work, Zhao Guihua teased, "Are you making a small basket because you don't know how to make a large one? Or are you just trying to avoid work?"0

Zhuang Zhixi exclaimed in surprise, "No, Mum! You mustn't say that. I'm hurt! How could that be? You'll see, making these smaller ones is actually simple. They are not sturdy, and cannot bear weight. The kind you're talking about, the large baskets that carry a lot of stuff, those require technique, which I don’t have."0

“Oh.” Zhao Guihua responded.0

"I am truly wronged," sighed Zhuang Zhixi.0

The children laughed at the exchange, to which Zhuang Zhixi responded, "And you're all having fun at my expense?"0

The children quickly shook their heads, innocence written on their faces.0

Zhao Guihua said: "Third child's wife, take a break. Soon, we'll walk around together."0

Ming Mei responded: "Sure."0

She was indifferent, but Zhuang Zhixi snorted, clearly indicating his unwillingness to separate from his wife. He felt his mother was being unfair, trying to steal his wife from him in public.0

Liang Meifen, who was at a distance, hurriedly said: "I'll join you."0

This girl Ming Mei knew how to flatter. Liang Meifen felt a pinch of envy as their mother-in-law already favored Ming Mei slightly; she couldn’t afford to let Ming Mei get more benefits. She was still brooding over the twenty bucks. But she dared not let the mother-in-law walk off with Ming Mei alone; she has to stick with them.0

Even if it meant love bombing, Ming Mei shouldn't be the only one doing it.0

Surprisingly, Ming Mei had no idea about Liang Meifen's thoughts. She looked at Zhuang Zhixi’s actions and abruptly said, “You know, not only can this be useful in water, but it can also be used outside. Prepare some for me; I want to see if I can catch some wild fowl or rabbits.”0

Zhuang Zhixi responded thoughtfully, “You have a point. Let me give it a try.”0

He boasted, “I came up with this by myself. Impressive, right?”0

Ming Mei stared at Zhuang Zhixi in astonishment, “Did you come up with this by yourself?”0

He nodded, “Yes, when I was a teenager, I was frequently famished, and I spent whole days pondering how to get some good food. After a lot of thinking, I found many ways to forage. Like figuring out which grassroots sparrows most prefer to eat, that was my discovery.”0

Hutou immediately sat up and said: "Uncle, we need to collect some grass seeds. Continue catching sparrows."0

He remembered that their stash was depleted.0

Zhuang Zhixi, nodded: "Ok, I will tell you when I find them, then you can collect them."0

"Good." responded the boy in a crisp voice.0

After dealing with the children, Zhuang Zhixi saw his wife giving him a thumbs up, which made him chuckle. His mood, already lifted, was now soaring.0

They did not take a long break, and soon everyone was busy again. They had come a long way up the hill; although it was a pleasure trip, it would be a waste not taking back something with value.0

Zhuang Zhixi helped them set up two traps, and Ming Mei and Liang Meifen each placed theirs nearby.0

In a baffled whisper, Liang Meifen asked, “Is it really effective to use fish guts?”0

She was confused; after all, aren’t rabbits and such herbivores? They would not eat such things. Although she was skeptical, Liang Meifen still followed the instructions promptly. The group quickly divided the tasks. The three men were fishing by the pond. Old Man Zhuang was in charge of the fishing rod while the two Zhuang brothers used the net. The kid, Hutou, found some grass plants to gather seeds for his future sparrow-hunting endeavors.0

As for the three women, they confidently left with their kitchen knives. This time, they took a different direction, intending to cover more ground for a better harvest. Their luck in the afternoon didn’t fail them, it was just as good as it had been in the morning.0

Though they didn't come across any large prey like goats, they did manage to catch three rabbits and two wild pheasants. The abundance of game in the mountains was no false claim. On top of that, the trio also came upon a small grass snake.0

Ideally, Ming Mei would want to maintain a distance from such creatures. She loathed these slithering animals, finding them utterly terrifying. However, this small grass snake proved to be quite bold, wrapping itself around Liang Meifen's leg unexpectedly.0

Immersed in the delight of their ample catch, Liang Meifen was greatly pleased. Though Ming Mei was doing the majority of the hunting, Liang Meifen did lend a helping hand.0

They were all family after all, and it felt good to celebrate their collective success. Just as she was reveling in their triumph, she suddenly felt a cold, damp sensation encircling her ankle. Taking a look, she almost screamed in terror.0

Crying out, she exclaimed: "Mother! Help!"0

She too was terrified of snakes!0

Even though she knew they were edible, she was utterly petrified.0

Moreover, while it was just a small grass snake, it was over a meter long and as thick as a woman's wrist - enough to strike fear in anyone. Even though it was a common grass snake and not an unusual species, it was still horrific enough to scare the life out of one.0

Nearly crying out of fear, she hollered.0

Ming Mei exclaimed: "Oh my heavens~"0

However, Zhao Guihua proved to be braver. She confidently picked up the snake and flicked it against a tree. The small grass snake got ready to strike when Ming Mei, without hesitation, threw her cleaver.0

Well, no matter how skilful, one has to fear a sharp knife.0

Wouldn't the same apply to this ferocious snake?0

Thus, the small grass snake hastily met its end.0

The terrified Liang Meifen quickly embraced Ming Mei, saying, "My god, little sister, I was scared to death. If it bit me once, I would have died, right?"0

Ming Mei responded, "I have no idea."0

She too felt uncomfortable around it, her skin prickling with unease.0

Zhao Guihua added, "It's just a small grass snake, non-venomous. But killing it was the right thing to do. If it attacked, not dealing with it could still result in some pain.”0

"Agreed," came the reply.0

Liang Meifen still felt quite uneasy.0

Ming Mei tried to lighten the mood, telling her, "Let go. You're making me suffocate."0

Liang Meifen couldn't let go; the fear was overwhelming. She felt a bit safer standing next to Ming Mei.0

Zhao Guihua said, "Alright, stop trembling. Let's collect it. Though it's not big, it isn't really small either and has quite a bit of meat on it. It tastes pretty good."0

Both Liang Meifen and Ming Mei gave a speechless look, unable to handle the situation.0

They would rather starve than eat it.0

Not even if it was the last food left on earth.0

They will just not eat it.0

Zhao Guihua looked at the two, unable to comprehend their cowardice. Especially Ming Mei – you killed it quickly and efficiently, like the slice of a blade. Not just it, but it seemed like you could swiftly deal with its entire lineage in a single stroke, merciless and quick!0

To the snake community, you would be a female devil.0

Now why are you shivering like a little petrified sheep?0

She found the unbearably baffling.0

She had never seen anyone so efficient to act, yet so afraid.0

However, Zhao Guihua didn't force anyone not to be afraid. Regardless of whether it was Ming Mei or Liang Meifen, even though the living conditions at home were not ideal, Liang Meifen was still a city-grown girl. For them, they had fewer encounters with such a thing.0

That's not to say they didn’t exist in the city, but they were indeed less common.0

Zhao Guihua quickly packed up the snake saying, “I will carry it on my back, alright?” 0

Her two useless daughters-in-law nodded approvingly.0

Zhao Guihua said, “Let's take another walk and then head back.”0

"Okay."0

Their gains were quite good. In addition to an unpleasant sight, it was pretty good overall. But after their walk, they did not see any more small animals. Zhao Guihua commented, “This is already quite good. Generally, spotting a rabbit on a mountain trip is considered lucky, let alone so many. It’s more than what you would expect.”0

"Mum, do you think our trap could catch any animals?" 0

Ming Mei asked eagerly, full of anticipation.0

“Who knows? I guess it should be more or less okay? I ... Oh my goodness!” 0

Before Zhao Guihua could finish her sentence, she was left speechless. She looked at the basket and exclaimed, “There really are!”0

There were not only one but two in the basket, two little rabbits hiding pitifully, and the latch had already dropped trapping them.0

“Let’s go, let's check the other one.”0

Liang Meifen ran over rapidly, soon overwhelmed with joy, “There's one here too!”0

Zhao Guihua exclaimed, “We’ve struck it rich!”0

She was beaming, feeling that the day’s harvest was really bountiful. If every day were to bring such a harvest, they wouldn’t have to worry about not be able to eat well. For them, knowing the importance of good food came out of their difficult pasts.0

The necessity had ingrained it into their bones.0

The trio had a great haul of six rabbits, two wild chickens, and a small grass snake — a catch any old hunter would be proud of. They felt very fortunate. Zhao Guihua chuckled proudly, saying, “Our mountain trip is like a festival!”0

“Isn't it?” 0

The three happily returned to find Hutou and Xiao Yanzi sitting on the ground, eating roasted meat. 0

Upon seeing his grandmother return, Hutou panicked a bit, not knowing what to do. 0

The authority at home was clearly established.0

Quickly, Old Man Zhuang explained, “Guihua, the kids were hungry, so I let them eat a bit. Anyway, the weather has warmed up, so it won’t last long even if we marinate the meat.”0

Zhao Guihua nodded in agreement, “Alright.”0

Hutou and Xiao Yanzi breathed a sigh of relief.0

Grandpa is formidable!0

Zhao Guihua decided, “We’ve eaten our fill on the hill, and after busying ourselves all afternoon, we're genuinely tired. The journey back home will still take a considerable amount of time, so it was good to eat a bit more to maintain energy. Besides, by eating here, we can carry fewer things down the hill, and that’s less to carry."0

Hutou peeked at the wild chicken and promptly cried, "Dad, Dad, look, there's another wild chicken. We caught one again."0

Zhuang Zhiyuan pretended not to hear.0

Despite Zhao Guihua and her team's decent harvest, the three men did well too. They fished and netted simultaneously, obtaining more than thirty fish. Moreover, none of them were small, and combined with their morning collection, the haul was even more substantial. Some crawling fishes had slipped into the basket as well. Zhao Guihua was overjoyed, saying, "If every day could be this good, it’d be splendid."0

She took stock of the resources, around two baskets full of fish. There was another basket of meat, with meat from pig's heads, trotters, and half-basket's worth of rabbit and pheasant. These were all tangible treasures. Beyond this, they had a basket of dried mushrooms and wood-ear fungi, plus a basket of wild cherries.0

"That’s a lot," they commented. 0

"Let’s roast the two chickens," Zhao Guihua asserted determinedly.0

Though she suggested this, the others were unwilling to give up their share. Everyone was a carnivore, but having enjoyed a midday feast, they felt another meat meal would be overly indulgent. 0

Old Man Zhuang added, “My dear, maybe we should make it last.”0

Zhao Guihua exclaimed, “You are all…”0

"Yeah, Mum, let's take it home to eat."0

Seeing everyone's persistence, Zhao Guihua agreed, “Alright then, put the heads and the rest in this basket, that way we can leave one behind.”0

Her decision was firm. “Once we descend the mountain and the big group takes the bus home, all you men will carry the baskets onto the bus, and as for the two kids... Eldest Daughter-in-Law, you take the bus too. Take responsibility for the kids. The three men will handle these things. I and the third Daughter-in-Law will ride our bikes home.”0

"That arrangement seems pretty suitable."0

Zhao Guihua instructed, emphasizing, "No matter how important these things are, nothing is more important than the children. Liang Meifen, don't worry about anything else. Just handle the children, understand?" 0

Liang Meifen promptly nodded.0

Not lingering on the mountain, they descended swiftly.0

Zhao Guihua marveled, "The saying 'the more, the merrier' certainly holds true. When I came alone or with only my eldest Daughter-in-Law, we never had such bountiful harvests. But now with more people, it feels like we've got a lot more."0

"We can enjoy good food for a few days.”0

"Of course."0

The family panted and wheezed their way down the mountain. Even Little Tiger and Little Sparrow no longer had the opportunity to hitch a ride but had to walk. Although tired, the kids were tough and didn't whine, instead showing resilience.0

Ming Mei teased the kids, “You must be exhausted today. Do you want to come again next time?”0

The children decided firmly, “Yes.”0

Hutou added, “We should come for spring outings in the future. We could eat a lot of meat.”0

To them, going out during the spring was not what mattered; the meat did.0

Ming Mei laughed and remarked, “The mountain's far away, and it's a long walk. You're not afraid of getting tired?”0

"Not at all!" 0

"I'm not scared either!" Xiao Yanzi thumped her chest.0

Ming Mei let out a chuckle, and everyone split up at the station. The others all got on the bus, which was more crowded than last time, and the indifferent glances of numerous passengers were drawn towards them, especially their baskets.0

An old lady asked, “Where did you guys come from? Why are you carrying so much stuff?”0

It was covered, but the fishy smell was faintly detectable.0

Luckily, the fishy smell masked the underlying scent of blood, keeping it subtle.0

Before Old Man Zhuang could reply, Zhuang Zhixi chimed in with a jovial tone, saying, “Ma’am, we’ve been out to the country to trade for some fish.”0

Coming off as the hearty type, he continued, “See, I’m about to get married. We always need to prepare well in the city, but there's a scarcity of stuff here.” He gave an exaggerated sigh, saying, “We had no choice but to find some rural relatives and exchange fish with them. Plus some bulk grains. Otherwise, with one more mouth to feed, our regular stock wouldn't be enough.”0

“That’s true! You're getting married, young man. How wonderful! Congratulations on the great news,” commented the lady.0

Zhuang Zhixi gave a "bashful" smile, saying, “In fact, my family does fancy some meat, but meat's hard to come by. We had to exchange for fish. Although fish isn't as good as meat, it's still a dish, right?”0

“Absolutely, absolutely.”0

Engaged in their chat, Old Man Zhuang let out a sigh of relief.0

But his son's storytelling went off on quite a tangent.0

Wonder where his wife and the others had bicycled to by now?0

Zhao Guihua and Ming Mei were quite swift on their bikes, helped by having nothing to tote. Of course, they couldn't match the speed of the bus. However, the evening breeze started to blow, creating a tranquil environment. Zhao Guihua was humming a tune, saying, “Pick a rabbit for your grandfather once you get home, Mei.”0

Ming Mei replied, “Ah, sure.”0

She’s that kind of person, direct without the usual polite back-and-forth of social niceties. Zhao Guihua continued, “Pick a larger one. You two are always dining at your grandfather's expense. Over time, that’s not very proper.”0

Ming Mei responded, “That's no big deal.”0

She laughed and said, “That's my grandfather. Even though he has a new partner now, it's not like we can't still interact right? Besides, my grandfather doesn't care.”0

Indeed, Ming Mei and Zhuang Zhixi frequently enjoyed meals with Lan Sihai playing the gracious host. Before his wedding, it was no different. And even after...0

While he has only been married for a few days...0

Ming Mei has still managed to mooch off him for a meal.0

These days, young people tend to simplify their weddings, even more so for the fifth marriage. Thus, Lan Sihai didn’t make a big fuss, he just took his daughter, granddaughter, and grandson-in-law out for a meal as a formal get-together.0

Ming Mei’s mother, Lan Ling, and Luo Xiaohe have no real connection to one another. Although, living in the same court, Ming Mei does happen to rub shoulders with them.0

As for Luo Xiaohe, she doesn’t talk much. With her job keeping her occupied, she generally keeps out of the courtyard's gossip, residing somewhat in the outskirts. She’s not like Ming Mei, who dashes faster than a rabbit at the mere hint of excitement.0

Ming Mei: "Our family, from top to bottom, every one of us has a carefree attitude. You can rest assured about that. Although I don't know if my grandfather's new companion is like that, but I don't live with her, so it doesn't really matter."0

Zhao Guihua: "......"0

She looked at Ming Mei, feeling astounded by how easy-going this family was.0

The two of them were riding their bicycles home. They didn't know how long they had been riding before they finally reached the city. The sky was getting dark, thick clouds were gathering, and it felt oppressive, as if it was going to rain. Zhao Guihua: "We need to hurry, it looks like rain."0

Ming Mei looked up and said, "It does seem so."0

As Ming Mei was riding the bicycle, she suddenly said, "Mom, look over there, is that Aunt Zhou?"0

Following Ming Mei's line of sight, Zhao Guihua said, "Hey, it indeed is. What brought her here?"0

Aunt Zhou, all by herself, was acting rather suspicious. One might even say that the more one plans to do wrong, the more one should act openly. Sneaking around makes one more noticeable. Aunt Zhou was doing precisely that, walking into an alleyway while continuously glancing left and right, as if she was scared that others might not identify her as a malicious person.0

However, it was evident that Aunt Zhou's vision was not the best. Even though she was being careful, she failed to notice Zhao Guihua and Ming Mei and quickly disappeared into an alley. Ming Mei and Zhao Guihua exchanged glances, asking, "Should we follow?"0

Zhao Guihua thought for a moment and said, "Let's follow her. However, we need to be careful not to get caught."0

She added, "Stay close behind me. I'm familiar with this area."0

Why did she say that?0

In the past, this area was not far from where she used to hide from criminal activities. Going further ahead, there was the factory she used to work. However, she hadn't met Aunt Lian recently and didn't know the current situation there.0

Whether it was the criminal activities or matters concerning the factory, she was unaware of the developments.0

However, she had become rather familiar with this area. Zhao Guihua began pedaling faster, and Ming Mei swiftly followed. Normally, Zhao Guihua was not that curious, her current interest was solely due to Ming Mei's presence.0

It has to be said, it did provide some sense of safety.0

She said, "Cover your face a bit."0

Ming Mei: "Alright."0

The mother-daughter duo turned into the alley, only to find that there were quite a few houses further down.0

They looked around a bit, and Ming Mei said, "Over there."0

Aunt Zhou's clothes were relatively fancy, distinguishing her in this neighborhood. They followed her and saw Aunt Zhou enter a courtyard. Ming Mei blinked and said, "She went in, do we still follow her?"0

Zhao Guihua wondered, "What is Aunt Zhou doing here? She doesn't have any relatives here."0

Aunt Zhou was not a local. She had come to the city when she was young to get married. Her family demanded a high dowry, essentially selling her. From then on, she had minimal contact with her family. She had hardly any relatives in the city. It was Zhou's family who were locals. However, when Zhou Qun's father died, Zhou's family came to claim his job. 0

It severed the relations between the two families for good.0

At that time, Zhou Qun was too young to take over the duties immediately, and the Zhou family wanted to hand the job over to Zhou Qun's uncle. Although this cannot be considered an act of driving someone to ruin, it was more or less the same. Aunt Zhou, a woman on her own bearing children without any income, prospectively seemed to be leading a tough life. Women with the slightest hint of weakness were often manipulated by their husbands’ families, and if Aunt Zhou had lost her job at that point, she and Zhou Qun would have nowhere to go. 0

Back then, Aunt Zhou was desperate, trying to change the course of the incident. The Su family was facing the same situation. Hailing from the countryside, they also eagerly sought the job. Aunt Su and Aunt Zhou covertly united against their intimidating in-laws. 0

One played the victim while the other protested, successfully repelling the greedy relatives who wanted to profit from the situation. 0

Later, the widows turned against each other because they were often compared. However, at that time, they had formed an alliance. It was their contention that prevented the factory from appointing a male relative as a successor. If things were to go that way, the two widows and their children would be abandoned to their fate. 0

That year, the fiasco created quite a stir. 0

The steadfast allies of the widows, like Zhao Guihua, always had a clear distinction of right and wrong, despite occasional conflicts. This is why Zhao Guihua knew both the Su and Zhou families were virtually without any relatives. 0

Zhao Guihua said, "We cannot enter the yard either, let's drop it." 0

Ming Mei asked, "Should I climb the wall?" 0

Zhao Guihua replied, "... No need for that." 0

She said, "Let's just leave... huh?" 0

Zhao Guihua stopped abruptly, saying, "Why is she here?" 0

A familiar figure entered the courtyard. Zhao Guihua and Ming Mei were hiding in the shadowy corner of the wall and hadn't been noticed. However, the expression on Zhao Guihua's face darkened upon seeing the old woman. 0

The reason being? 0

 

She recognized this person. Not long ago, she was almost swindled by this person. 0

 

While Zhao Guihua couldn't spot the men who were with the woman then, she did recognize two elder women. Despite it being dark, she could still make out their faces distinctly, unlike herself who wore a mask throughout. Those women had distinctive features. 0

 

The person who entered the yard was one of the old women. 0

 

Upon seeing her, Zhao Guihua was alarmed. 0

 

This small yard didn't seem like it could accommodate many households. Did Aunt Zhou know this person? Even though she was unsure what was going on, Zhao Guihua took matters seriously, asked Ming Mei, "Can you climb the wall and get in?" 0

 

Ming Mei nodded, "Yes." 0

 

Zhao Guihua continued, "How's your climbing skill? Please, don’t get caught or try to prove bravado." 0

 

Ming Mei responded, "Don't worry." 0

 

She might not be confident in other things, but she was confident in her abilities. 0

 

Zhao Guihua concluded, "Fine, park your vehicle here and take a look at what's going on. But if there are any complications, leave immediately."0

Ming Mei saw that the old lady's attitude had changed. Although she didn't know what happened, she still nodded seriously and quietly moved over. She swiftly climbed the wall, just as the sky was getting dark, an ideal time for her to hide. Ming Mei did not impulsively jump into the courtyard, for there were a few men eating and drinking in the courtyard. The woman who just entered was sitting with them, she clung to the eaves silently and listened. 0

 

With Aunt Zhou not around, Ming Mei raised an eyebrow, intending to ponder about what to do, when she saw Aunt Zhou's silhouette. She seemed to be in another room. Ming Mei quietly approached, lifted a tile and peered inside like a gentleman on a beam. 0

 

Indeed, Aunt Zhou was in the room, her face full of excitement. She said, "Old sister, I am troubled by my family’s situation, hence I am seeking your help. You absolutely must help me find a solution." 0

 

With her was the Long-faced Aunt, who slightly squinted her eyes, exuding a somewhat profound demeanor. She said, "Relax, the person you consulted earlier seems to lack skill. It is not a female ghost causing the disturbance, rather it is actually your daughter-in-law who cannot give birth." 0

 

Aunt Zhou exclaimed, "Ah, I knew my daughter-in-law couldn't do it. My in-laws even said it was my son's fault. They are truly ungrateful. How I wish they would just drop dead. They are shameless dogs. They even dared to persuade their daughter to divorce, it's outrageous. Please, is there any way to knock them down a peg or two?" 0

 

Long-faced Aunt: "There is a way, but this…" 0

 

"No matter how much it costs, I am willing to pay the price." 0

 

The Long-faced Aunt smiled and said, "If you are willing to spend money, I can perform a ritual to deflate them a bit, but you should understand, such things can take a toll on one's health, it requires at least thirty…". 0

 

"Ah!" Aunt Zhou never thought that it would cost so much. She bit her lip and said, "This…this is too much." 0

 

The Long-faced Aunt was emotionless: "Your in-law, has a strong fortune. If I am to perform the ritual, it will consume a lot of my energy, and it is indeed quite detrimental to my health. In fact, I am reluctant to do it. If you think it's too much money, it's actually fine without it. It doesn't matter, I…" 0

 

"I'll pay for it!!!" Aunt Zhou gritted her teeth: "I am in!" 0

 

She had been greatly humiliated today. She was so enraged thinking of her in-law's arrogance, treating them like trash and kicking them out without any respect. If she could bring misfortune to them, she would be delighted. 0

 

She said: "I am in!" 0

 

The Long-faced Auntie nodded slightly and said, "If you don't want to…." 0

 

"No, no, no, I really want to." She was eager to take out the money. 0

 

"Alright, since you insist, I will give you face, considering our longstanding acquaintance. Tell me everything about this family, without omission, then go home and wait for the result. I will start the ritual tonight, within seven days, this person will certainly stumble." 0

 

Aunt Zhou: "Okay!" 0

 

She coldly laughed: "I don't believe they can continue to be arrogant." 0

 

Long-faced Aunt: "So what about your daughter-in-law…"0

"Good for nothing! I've been dreaming of having a grandson. My daughter-in-law, such a useless one," Aunt Zhou grumbles through her clenched teeth, "It is truly infuriating."0n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Alright, listen to my method. If you desire to have a child, especially a son, you can't neglect toddler's urine. Additionally, there's the blood of a large rooster and..." Several more suggestions were subtly given. "You must prepare all these and have your daughter-in-law drink a large sip every night. After forty-nine consecutive days, the child will arrive."0

"Great!" Aunt Zhou becomes excited. "If I'm graced with a child, I will come to show my deep gratitude towards you."0

"I'm not asking for your gratitude. My only wish is for everyone to achieve their heart's desire. That's the whole point of my efforts."0

Ming Mei, witnessing Aunt Zhou take out another thirty, was left astounded that sixty was handed over within the blink of an eye. Aunt Zhou is spending quite lavishly! In an instant, she's spent the equivalent of the average worker's two-month salary. 0

Speechless, Ming Mei shakes her head. Aunt Zhou is a notoriously stingy person, known to only buy minimum portions even for meat. Yet she's willing to spend so extravagantly on this? It was perplexing for Ming Mei. 0

Moreover, this is clearly a deception!0

Could Jiang Lu really not get poisoned if she drinks that mixture?0

However, looking at Aunt Zhou's bright and confident eyes, it was apparent that she fully believes in this.0

Ming Mei silently lights a candle for Jiang Lu in her heart, expressing solidarity.0

What about Jiang Lu's father? What a fate he has, to end up with such an atrocious in-law who's willing to pay money to put a curse on him. That substance is superstitious nonsense and shouldn't be taken seriously, but the intent is still extremely malicious. 0

Ming Mei: "......"0

This is outrageous!0

Deeply shocked.0

While she is observing the scene, she felt an overwhelming sense of bewilderment.0

However, Aunt Zhou remains completely convinced, joyously handing over the money, and finally leaves satisfied. As Aunt Zhou steps out, Ming Mei readies herself to leave as well. But just as she was about to move, a man enters the room. Fearing he would hear her move, she freezes.0

The tall man, extravagant in his movements, walks into the room and flops onto a chair. "What's the job this time? That old woman seems to have money to burn."0

The woman inside, her face as elongated as a melon, smiles smugly, "That fool is easy to trick. As always, we have everything from her regular routes to family background. Familiarize yourself with the hotspots, see when the person she mentioned is alone. As soon as that happens, your guys just go and give him a good beating. Ah, judging by the old fool's tone, her son-in-law must be well-off too. Don't settle just for the thrashing, rob him if the opportunity presents itself. Get anything that's worth something. Let's have it both ways."0

"Well, that's quite profitable," he agrees vaguely. "Are you sure the intel is accurate?"0

The old woman with the long melon-shaped face beamed triumphantly and said, "It was provided by her in-law. How could it possibly be fake? I love this kind of blockhead. Once this deal is sealed, her side will definitely get the news. When her in-law suffers mishaps, she will undoubtedly trust me all the more."0

"Do you think she might suspect that we orchestrated the robbery? This seems pretty obvious."0

"There's no way, that dimwit."0

Both of them burst into hearty laughter.0

Ming Mei: "......"0

What on earth!!!0