Whoever Marries Her Will Be Blessed

Jiang Xia sorted the fish without paying any attention to what everyone was saying.

Mother Zhou came over to Jiang Xia with a beaming smile. "Xiao Xia, stop sorting them. Go get some rest. I'll do it, I'll sort them."

"I'm picking out some prawns to take home." Jiang Xia was only selecting the fish and prawns they would take home to eat. After working all day, she had to treat herself properly.

"I've already cooked the food, but you're tired today too. Pick out more—whatever you like. I'll cook again when we get home."

Father Zhou was still bragging, while Zhou Chenglei also came over to help sort the fish.

The three of them picked out a few more valuable catches from the heap of miscellaneous fish on the boat. They sold them for another ten yuan, then took the rest home to dry and keep for their usual meals.

Master Jin from the Purchasing Station glanced at the bucket of goods Zhou Chenglei had set aside.

Inside were two Yellow Croakers, about a pound of Tiger Prawns, several Small Red Squid, several Flower Crabs, and more than a dozen Mudskipper Fish.

There was also a Bamboo Basket of small fish and prawns.

He smiled. "You're not selling these? Sell them all together, and I'll give you twelve yuan for everything."

Zhou Chenglei said, "I'm not selling them."

Tian Caihua asked, "Not selling them? You're taking the Yellow Croakers and Tiger Prawns home to eat?"

"Yes."

Jiang Xia had said she wanted to keep one Yellow Croaker to make Sauerkraut Fish, so he had simply kept two. Yellow Croakers were nutritious, and since she was weak, he wanted to nourish her.

Tian Caihua looked at the two Yellow Croakers in the bucket and wondered, Could one of them be for their family? When Mother Zhou saw that Zhou Chenglei had kept two Yellow Croakers, she also assumed he planned to give one to his elder brother.

Although she felt it would be better to sell them for money, she said nothing.

Usually, if she caught a Yellow Croaker, she absolutely could not bear to eat it. She would sell it for money, while the family ate cheap small fish, prawns, and crabs.

Unless guests came over or it was a holiday, they could not bear to eat fish larger than a palm.

But today they had made a great deal of money, and had also wronged Jiang Xia. It was only right for them to have a good meal.

After selling the remaining catch, the family happily carried a bucket of fish and a Bamboo Basket of mixed small fish home.

They did not reach the old house until they were at the door, when Zhou Chenglei asked Tian Caihua, "Eldest Sister-in-Law, would you like to take a few Mudskipper Fish home to eat?"

Mudskipper Fish? Not Yellow Croakers? Tian Caihua's face fell. "No need. I have vegetables at home."

It was not as if she had nothing to eat. Did she really need a few worthless Mudskipper Fish from him?

She walked away with a dark expression.

Jiang Xia was very satisfied that Zhou Chenglei had not given the Yellow Croakers to Tian Caihua.

Mother Zhou looked at the two Yellow Croakers, each weighing about a pound, in the bucket and hesitated to speak.

He isn't even giving one fish to his elder son's family? There are only a few of them—wouldn't eating two Yellow Croakers be a little extravagant?

She looked at Jiang Xia.

Seeing what Mother Zhou was thinking, Father Zhou said, "Xiao Xia went out to sea for the first time today and worked all day with Chenglei. She must be tired. Hurry up and clean the fish and cook them. Let's eat!"

Jiang Xia pretended not to understand what Mother Zhou meant and simply said, "It's fine, I'm not tired. I'll cook the fish!"

Since none of them brought it up, Mother Zhou said nothing either.

Forget it. Once the children grow up, they have their own lives. They've already split up, so each family can live separately.

Mother Zhou was not the sort of mother-in-law who would make a daughter-in-law do housework after she had worked all day, so she said, "No need. Go wash up and rest. I can do it."

The rice had already been steamed, the dried fish had been steamed, and the vegetables had been washed before they left. She had planned to stir-fry them as soon as they returned and eat. Now she only needed to steam two Yellow Croakers and some prawns.

Jiang Xia said, "It's fine. I'll make Sauerkraut Fish. It's more appetizing. I'll do it."

Mother Zhou did not know how to make Sauerkraut Fish, so she let Jiang Xia do it and helped her from the side.

Mother Zhou had originally planned to clean the fish herself, but she had not expected Jiang Xia to know how to clean fish too.

Mother Zhou had cleaned fish all her life, and her knife skills were superb. But when she saw Jiang Xia slice the Fish Meat into thin pieces, each one the same size and thickness, she was still stunned. This daughter-in-law is hiding her talents! It really is better to marry an educated daughter-in-law! She's educated, capable, and blessed!

Whoever marries her will be blessed!

Father Zhou and Zhou Chenglei cleaned the fish in the Bamboo Basket and laid them out to dry.

Jiang Xia wielded the wok, Mother Zhou washed the vegetables, and Zhou Zhou tended the fire. Together, the three of them made Sauerkraut Fish, Garlic Steamed Butterfly Prawns, Mudskipper Fish Stew, a plate of Plain Boiled Small Red Squid, and another plate of greens.

Mother Zhou looked at the huge plate of Sauerkraut Fish. "There are so many dishes today. The few of us can't finish them all. Should I pack a plate for Wen Guang and his brothers?"

Jiang Xia was washing a clean plate. "Next time. There isn't enough this time. I'll pack a plate for Great-Grandmother. Yesterday she gave us three pounds of meat and a huge watermelon."

As soon as Mother Zhou heard that, she hurriedly said, "You've thought it through. We should send some over. Pack more Fish Meat. Do you want me to take it?"

The village valued the exchange of favors. Great-Grandmother had sent over three pounds of meat yesterday, so sending a plate of new dishes for them to sample today was just right.

"No need. I'll go. Mom, start the meal!"

Mother Zhou did not insist. It made no difference who delivered it, so she began carrying the dishes out.

Jiang Xia carried a plate of Sauerkraut Fish through the Courtyard Gate and saw Zhou Junjie coming out with a bowl of rice.

Zhou Junjie's eyes lit up when he saw Jiang Xia. He shook the hair over his forehead and spoke in what he considered a suave, handsome manner. "Is this food made by Sister-in-Law? It smells amazing! Can I have a taste?"

Only then did his gaze fall onto the Sauerkraut Fish in Jiang Xia's hands.

He had been drawn out by the aroma of the food. The same thing had happened yesterday evening. The food from the neighboring courtyard had smelled so good that he had lost his appetite for his family's plain fare.

Zhou Junjie's gaze first landed on the Sauerkraut Fish, then shifted to the small, jade-white hands holding it, and finally settled on Jiang Xia's full chest, unable to move away.

Jiang Xia hated his gaze. She ignored him and turned to walk toward the courtyard on the left.

Jiang Xia had not worn Dacron clothes while going out to sea today, afraid they would become see-through when wet. Instead, she had worn a Sailor Shirt that absorbed sweat and resisted dirt, along with a pair of army-green trousers.

The Sailor Shirt was knitted and slightly stretchy. The original owner liked to wear fitted clothes, and the shirt made Jiang Xia's waist look especially slender, with her curves thrust out in front and raised behind. The exposed portions of her arms and neck were so white they seemed to glow.

Zhou Junjie felt heat stir in his lower abdomen as he stared. Damn, Zhou Chenglei's wife is really something!

No wonder he couldn't bear to divorce her even after she had been unfaithful.

What a Fox Spirit!

But since she could run off with another man, could she also run off with me...?

Suddenly, a plateful of bloody water from cleaning fish splashed out. With a great whoosh, it drenched him from head to toe, covering him in fish scales and entrails.

The stench of fish nearly made Zhou Junjie vomit. "Who the hell—"

He turned his head and met Zhou Chenglei's gloomy eyes, which startled him into a jolt. "Oh, it's you, Chenglei! Why did you splash the water without looking where you were throwing it?"

After saying that, he hurriedly carried his bowl of "fish soup" back into his own courtyard.

Jiang Xia delivered the food to Great-Grandmother. Their family had been eating when she arrived, so after setting it down and exchanging a few words, she came back out. She happened to see Zhou Junjie, covered in filth, scurrying back into the house, and her mood instantly brightened.

I'll find an empty moment another day and let him see why the flowers are so red.

Mother Zhou's voice rang out from the courtyard. "A'Lei, why did you splash the fish-cleaning water outside? You've made the doorway stink."

Zhou Chenglei said, "It was just at hand. I'll rinse it clean in a moment."

Jiang Xia walked in and glanced at him with a smile. Zhou Chenglei met her gaze as if nothing had happened and said softly, "Time to eat."

Jiang Xia smiled. "All right."