The sauerkraut fish was tender and smooth, refreshing and appetizing; the Garlic Butterflied Shrimp carried a rich garlic fragrance and was sweet and delicious. Since the shells had been split open, there was no need to peel them carefully—she could bite right in and simply spit out the shells. The Small Red Squid was refreshing and springy, and even the Mudskipper Fish's meat was more tender than usual.
In the end, the whole family ate until they were stuffed!
Zhou Chenglei and Father Zhou even mixed the sauerkraut fish's broth into bowls of rice.
It was so delicious that they couldn't bear to pour out even the broth.
Zhou Zhou had never eaten so satisfyingly before, either. In the past, she could never beat her Older Brothers to the food. When had she ever had a meal with so much shrimp and Fish Meat?
Her little belly was round and bulging. She couldn't resist patting it, only to meet Little Aunt's smiling eyes. Startled, she hastily pulled her hand back, her little face flushing red.
Jiang Xia smiled.
Mother Zhou's cooking skills were average. Her main principle was simply to cook things through, regardless of whether the Fish Meat ended up overcooked.
But fresh seafood was naturally sweet and savory. It wouldn't taste too bad steamed or boiled casually, but not tasting bad didn't mean it tasted good.
The dishes Jiang Xia made were truly delicious! Super delicious! They made people unable to stop even after they were full, wanting to keep eating until they couldn't stuff down another bite.
Mother Zhou admired her younger daughter-in-law's cooking skills, too.
After Jiang Xia finished eating, Mother Zhou smiled and said, "Xiao Xia, you went out to sea for a whole day and came back to cook, so you must be tired. I'll wash the bowls. Go bathe and rest."
Zhou Chenglei said, "Go sit or take a walk in the courtyard first. I'll help you carry the water in a while."
It wasn't good to bathe right after eating one's fill. Before, there had been no choice. With so many people in the family, she had needed to hurry. Now, she didn't need to rush her bath.
Jiang Xia didn't like washing dishes either, so she took Zhou Zhou outside for a walk around the courtyard. She had eaten too much as well.
After Mother Zhou finished clearing away the bowls and tidying the kitchen, Jiang Xia went to wash her hair and take a cool shower. When she was done, she stood in the courtyard and dried her hair.
Zhou Chenglei somehow used the Iron Bucket Cart to haul back several old wooden boards and some iron rods.
Jiang Xia watched as he placed the boards one by one over the well opening, then used a pencil to trace the shape of the opening.
Zhou Zhou squatted to one side and asked curiously, "Little Uncle, what are you doing?"
"Making a well cover," Zhou Chenglei answered his little niece.
Mother Zhou was washing Father Zhou and Zhou Zhou's changed clothes in the courtyard well. Hearing this, she said, "Why make a well cover? Zhou Zhou's grown up now. She knew not to go near the well opening two years ago."
Zhou Zhou nodded. "That's right. Little Uncle, I won't go near the well. I know it's dangerous."
Jiang Xia couldn't help thinking, Could Zhou Chenglei be making this well cover to keep me from falling into the well?
"I'm planning to install a Water Pump."
Mother Zhou said, "Why install a Water Pump? That's unnecessary! This side is lower than the New House, and the well is shallow. You can draw the water up directly with a bucket. It's both easy and quick."
Zhou Chenglei said, "With a Water Pump, it will be easier for Zhou Zhou and Jiang Xia to draw water."
"Oh, that's true. Then install it!" Mother Zhou knew at once that it was for Jiang Xia, so she said nothing more. After washing the clothes, she called Zhou Zhou back inside to sleep.
Jiang Xia watched Zhou Chenglei work with great interest in the courtyard.
After Zhou Chenglei drew the shape of the well opening, he took out a saw and cut away the excess wood. Then he nailed the wooden boards together into a circle, nailed a ring of boards around its edge, and made a large round mold.
Then Jiang Xia saw him take out some iron rods and lay them crosswise inside the round mold, tying them securely with iron wire.
Next, he used the sand and cement left over from repairing the house, mixed them into concrete, and poured it into the round mold. With a small iron trowel, he spread it flat so that none of the iron rods remained exposed.
After two days, once the concrete had dried and hardened, a simple cement well cover would be finished.
Jiang Xia looked around the courtyard. Apart from a courtyard drain near the well opening, the rest of the yard was bare earth. When it didn't rain, dust filled the air; when it did, every step sank into mud.
She said, "Eldest Brother is going out to sea tomorrow, but we don't have to go. How about we go to the river and gather some Pebbles, then pave a little path through the courtyard?"
Jiang Xia also said that leaving such a large courtyard empty was a waste. Why not plant some fruit trees and flowers? Zhou Chenglei replied, "Tomorrow morning I'll go to town for the market and buy a Water Pump. I'll gather the Pebbles after I come back in the afternoon."
The reason the courtyard had nothing planted in it was that they often needed to sun-dry fish. Mother Zhou was too lazy to plant anything, but Zhou Chenglei didn't tell her that.
The market? The moment Jiang Xia heard that, she said, "I'll go to the market with you."
Zhou Chenglei looked her over. On the second day after she had married into the family, he had asked whether she wanted to go to the market, and she had refused with a look of distaste.
"There are many stalls at the market selling fish, chickens, geese, and ducks. It will smell."
The rural market was disorderly and dirty, so he had no choice but to warn her. He was afraid she wouldn't be able to stand it.
"I'm not afraid."
Zhou Chenglei said no more. "It's getting late. Go to sleep! If we're going to the market, you have to get up at six tomorrow."
Father Zhou, Mother Zhou, and Zhou Zhou had all bathed and returned to their rooms to sleep.
Jiang Xia returned to the room.
After washing his hands, Zhou Chenglei came in as well. He took out a large stack of Da Tuanjie and handed it to Jiang Xia.
Jiang Xia looked at him in surprise.
"Your share of today's earnings from going out to sea. One thousand yuan."
There was actually such a good thing? After all, she had only hitched a ride out to sea.
Jiang Xia said, "I didn't do much at all. I still get that much?"
Zhou Chenglei said, "If you hadn't heard the gurgling sound and spotted the Red Seabream, we wouldn't have earned this much today. This is what you deserve. Remember to put it away."
Zhou Chenglei placed the money in the cabinet of the Dressing Table. He also put his share into an iron box in the wardrobe right in front of Jiang Xia.
Then he casually found a change of clothes and went to bathe. He didn't turn off the light, afraid she would be frightened alone.
Jiang Xia counted the stack of money. It was exactly one thousand yuan, and she put it away without being coy.
Jiang Xia made a decision in her heart. She planned to tell Zhou Chenglei when he returned from his shower.
After putting away the money, she went outside to wash her hands, then returned to lie on the bed.
She had intended to wait for Zhou Chenglei to come back and discuss it with him, but she was too tired. She had gotten up early that day, and the moment she lay down, she fell asleep, completely forgetting about the snake.
When Zhou Chenglei returned from his bath, Jiang Xia was already asleep. Her sleeping face was peaceful and beautiful enough to glow.
Seeing a fine sheen of sweat on her forehead, Zhou Chenglei took a clean towel and returned to the bed. He wiped away her sweat and applied medicine to her hand. Then he turned off the light, lay down, and gently waved the Large Palm Leaf Fan with his eyes closed until drowsiness gradually overcame him.
The next day, Zhou Chenglei woke at five. Jiang Xia's hands and feet were draped over him again.
He brought over his own pillow for her to rest on, then carefully got up and went outside for a run.
On days when he didn't go out to sea, he ran for an hour every day without fail.
By the time Zhou Chenglei returned from his run, it was already six, and Jiang Xia still hadn't woken.
The main room was empty except for a dining table. Zhou Chenglei wanted to buy some bamboo beds and bamboo stools at the market.
The people selling bamboo beds at the market generally brought only one. They were too bulky and difficult to transport, and if he arrived late, they might already be gone.
He had no choice but to wake Jiang Xia.
Jiang Xia woke as soon as he called her, then hurriedly got up to wash and get ready.
Mother Zhou had already prepared breakfast: Sweet Potato Porridge with pickles, along with two Boiled Eggs.
Mother Zhou gave one to Zhou Zhou and one to Jiang Xia.
On days when they didn't go out to sea, Father Zhou and Zhou Chenglei didn't get Boiled Eggs! There weren't many eggs in the household. Aside from occasionally giving one to a grandson or Zhou Zhou, they normally couldn't bear to eat them, saving them for Father Zhou and his sons to take aboard when they went out to sea. Remembering that she had misunderstood Jiang Xia the day before, Mother Zhou had boiled one extra.
After the couple finished breakfast, Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia went to the village committee to borrow a tractor.
Then they drove the tractor to town for the market.
It was the same road as last time, and at the same crossroads they encountered the heroine in a white dress.
This time, however, Wen Wan wasn't herding sheep. She was pushing an Iron Bucket Cart with a large wooden board mounted on it. A slaughtered sheep lay on top of the board.
Wen Wan reached out and stopped Zhou Chenglei's tractor.
Happy Children's Day to all the adults and children!
Today, on Children's Day, the update was moved forward to midnight. On June 2, updates will return to the usual 9 a.m. schedule.
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