Struggling to Survive

Under the moonlight, the group of four returned to the village.

"Chunhua, we'll head back now. You should get some good rest too!"

At the intersection, the middle-aged man glanced at the large fish Chen Xuan was holding, then looked away and instructed the middle-aged woman.

"Thank you, Second Brother. It was a lot of trouble this time. I'll have Er Gou send some fish over to you later."

The middle-aged woman nodded and spoke gratefully to the middle-aged man.

"No need for the fish. We don't know when San Shan will be back, and this fish can last us a bit longer. This year is a disaster, and there's not much we can do to help."

The middle-aged man shook his head, sighed, and then walked with Chen Er Zhuang down another small path.

"Let's go, Er Gou. We need to hurry back. We still need to send fish to your Second Uncle's family later, can't be too late."

The middle-aged woman spoke softly and then stepped forward.

"Oh, oh!"

Chen Xuan quickly agreed and jogged to catch up.

About a quarter of an hour later, the two finally reached their home.

Under the moonlight, Chen Xuan could clearly see the house that had existed in his memory.

Built with yellow earth and topped with withered straw, it had a sense of decay at first glance.

As the two approached, a childish voice came from inside the room.

"Mommy, is that Mommy back?"

Then a two or three-year-old child stumbled out.

Seeing the middle-aged woman and Chen Xuan, the child's eyes lit up, and he quickly rushed over.

The middle-aged woman quickly took the child into her arms.

"Mommy, Shitou is hungry!"

Held by his mother, the child seemed to feel inexplicably secure and spoke softly.

"Good boy, Shitou. We'll have food right away. Your brother caught a big fish."

Hearing her younger son's voice, the middle-aged woman felt a pang of heartache and comforted him softly.

"Fish!"

"There's fish!"

"Guoguo, caught a fish!"

"Shitou wants to eat fish, Guoguo, Shitou wants to eat fish!!"

Hearing his mother's words, the child's eyes brightened, and he instantly looked at Chen Xuan behind him. When he saw the large fish on Chen Xuan, his dark face showed excitement.

Looking at this scene and then at the house that was practically bare, Chen Xuan couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

However, he quickly steadied himself, stepped forward, and stroked his younger brother's little head.

"Eat fish, we're eating fish!"

"Good Shitou!"

A gentle voice spoke.

The small body was about to start processing it.

"Let Mother do it. You still have to take fish to Er Zhuang's house later!"

Zhang Chunhua felt a little heartache, and her figure took the big fish from her second son's hand.

Chen Xuan hesitated slightly but didn't struggle.

This fish weighed over ten catties. Even though it was dead, it wasn't something he could handle. More importantly, his body was severely depleted at the moment, and due to prolonged hunger, he probably didn't even have the strength to kill the fish.

Chen Xuan let go.

Zhang Chunhua took the big fish into the kitchen.

She started butchering it.

A moment later.

She brought out a piece of fish meat cut with a grass rope. Looking at the weight, it was about four to five catties. Even if it wasn't half, it was at least a third.

"Er Gou, do you still have strength?"

Zhang Chunhua looked at her second son and asked gently.

"Mother, I do."

Although Chen Xuan was a bit tired, he still nodded.

It was already very late. If he waited until after eating to send it over, Chen Er Zhuang's family would probably already be asleep.

As for tomorrow, there was no preservation technology in this era, and no salt, so it would probably smell bad by tomorrow.

"Okay, then go quickly and come back quickly."

"The food should be ready by then."

Zhang Chunhua nodded and handed the fish to Chen Xuan.

"Okay, Mother!"

Chen Xuan nodded, took the grass rope, and then walked out of the room, heading towards Chen Er Zhuang's house according to his memory.

His steps were becoming heavier now.

Fortunately, Chen Er Zhuang's house wasn't far from his, and in about a quarter of an hour, Chen Xuan arrived at Chen Er Zhuang's house.

Compared to his own home, Chen Er Zhuang's house wasn't much better. It was still two somewhat dilapidated mud-yellow thatched huts.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

"Who is it!"

The door was knocked, and a middle-aged woman's voice came from inside the room.

"Second Aunt, it's me!"

Chen Xuan spoke with difficulty.

"Er Gou?"

The middle-aged woman was a little surprised, but she quickly opened the door.

"Second Aunt, this is the fish I caught today. My mother asked me to bring some over for you."

Looking at the haggard woman who appeared, Chen Xuan spoke, then handed over the fish he was holding.

"This!"

The middle-aged woman was a little stunned and subconsciously reached out, but stopped halfway.

"Er Gou, your family is having a hard time now. You should keep it for yourselves!"

Although there was a hint of reluctance in her eyes, she still spoke.

"It's okay, Second Aunt. We have enough at home. It's also thanks to Second Uncle who came to find me today. Besides, if we don't eat it all today, it will spoil tomorrow."

Chen Xuan said with a smile, while forcefully pushing the fish into her hand.

"This, this!"

The middle-aged woman subconsciously took it.

"Second Aunt, my mother is waiting for me to eat, so I'll head back now."

Seeing that the middle-aged woman had taken the fish, Chen Xuan quickly said something and ran back the way he came.

"This child!"

Looking at the departing Chen Xuan, the middle-aged woman sighed.

Then, carrying the fish, she closed the main door.

"Who was it!"

At this moment, Chen Er Shan walked out of the room.

"It was Er Gou. Chunhua said they couldn't finish the fish and sent us some."

The middle-aged woman said softly.

"How could you accept this? Quickly send it back!"

"They don't have anything to eat in the first place!"

Hearing his wife's words, Chen Er Shan's face changed, and he quickly spoke.

"He's already gone. Don't we still have some millet? Let's send some over to them tomorrow."

The middle-aged woman gave a wry smile and said softly.

"Alright then!"

Chen Er Shan hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Chen Xuan had already rushed back home.

However, a short run immediately made his chest feel like it was about to explode again. Even covering less than a few dozen meters, he had to stop and gasp for air.

"Damn it, this world!"

He couldn't help but curse under his breath. It wasn't until a moment later, when his breathing gradually calmed, that Chen Xuan returned home.

At this moment, a fragrant aroma was already wafting from the house.

Even without any seasoning, the smell of fish instantly made his mouth water.

"You're back. Hurry and eat. Eat your fill so you can sleep well!"

Seeing her son return, Zhang Chunhua forced a smile, trying to appear energetic.

"Okay!"

Chen Xuan nodded lightly.

Then, the family sat down at the table.

Although Zhang Chunhua said the fish would spoil by tomorrow, it was clear they had only cooked a little over a pound.

Divided among three people, including Chen Xuan, who was a growing boy, it was quickly devoured.

Chen Xuan even felt his stomach was still empty.

"Mother, Shitou isn't full yet!"

His younger brother, Xiao Shitou, softly spoke to Zhang Chunhua.

"Be good, Shitou. Eating too much will keep you awake. I'll eat again when I wake up tomorrow, okay?"

Zhang Chunhua gently comforted her youngest son.

"Okay, Shitou will listen to Mother."

Xiao Shitou nodded heavily.

Watching this scene, Chen Xuan couldn't help but feel like crying. A child like this should have been carefree in his previous life, but in this damned world, he couldn't even eat his fill.