Fish and Yu

"So, my aptitude had only increased a little, yet it was actually this useful!"

Fang Yue strung the grass carp from the small puddle onto a braided grass rope, then wrapped them in lotus leaves.

Ever since his aptitude had increased by one point, Fang Yue had discovered that while his fishing skill had not immediately improved—

As he fished, his body naturally began to undergo corresponding changes, and all sorts of insights arose in his mind.

They corrected his movements and streamlined the unnecessary motions that appeared while fishing.

As a result, his fishing skill had visibly begun to improve.

And all of this was the effect brought about by that one point of increased aptitude!

The results were immediate and remarkable!

"Looks like fishing is the right path. There shouldn't be any shortage of meat at home from now on."

After thinking it over, Fang Yue could not help but smile.

In this day and age, nothing made people feel happier or more at peace than filling their stomachs.

By noon, the sunlight had begun to blaze.

With Old Water Buffalo in one hand and five grass carp in the other, he hurried home.

They would eat two fish for lunch and two for dinner.

One braised in soy sauce, one made into soup, one roasted, and one steamed.

He had caught plenty this time, so they could eat them in a few different ways.

If they ate fish every day from now on, they should be able to make up for their nutritional needs.

With that on his mind, Fang Yue soon entered the village, and his own courtyard was already visible in the distance.

Since he had caught several fish this time, Fang Yue had not actually taken his usual route.

Instead, he had made a slight detour around the edge of the village.

Otherwise, if he ran into relatives from the clan in the village, they would inevitably see the fish in his hands.

Then whether to give them any or not would become a problem.

When you caught too many fish—

There were troubles that came with catching too many fish as well.

Of course, it was the sweet pain of happiness.

After taking a few more steps, he heard a little girl crying out ahead.

"Mother, I'm hungry. Anu is so hungry."

"Anu, drink some water. Lie down and don't move. Once you fall asleep, you'll feel better."

Hearing this, Fang Yue looked toward a courtyard not far ahead, one even more dilapidated than his own.

Several clusters of fencing enclosed two huts made entirely of thatch.

Is this Widow Yu's home?

Through the gaps in the fence, Fang Yue saw Widow Yu beneath the eaves, dressed in a gray cloth skirt and holding a girl of five or six.

The Yu Family were outsiders in the village, having settled in Big Willow Tree Village ten years ago.

It was said that their ancestors had produced scholars and even high-ranking officials, but for some unknown reason, the family had later fallen into decline and been sentenced by the Imperial Court to exile in Daliushu Village.

With their household in decline and being outsiders besides—

They had originally been a family of three. Perhaps they had never done farm work before, but their life had been exceedingly difficult. A few years ago, the man of the Yu Family had died of illness.

Leaving behind only a widow and orphaned daughter.

Widow Yu was clearly different from the village women. Her skin was far fairer, her buttocks as round and plump as a cow's rump, while her chest was like two great carp, bouncing lively with every movement.

Fang Yue was full of vigorous young blood, unlike the previous owner of this body, who had yet to awaken to such matters.

A mere few glances made his blood surge.

Good heavens, that figure... no wonder people in the village said she had cursed her husband to death!

No wonder when the Yu Family's man had died, he had been skin and bones.

Though Fang Yue prided himself on having "seen much of the world," this was the first time he had seen such a cheat-level, rule-breaking figure in real life.

What was more, this was ancient times. Widow Yu was not some product of technology—she was pure, original, all-natural.

To grow so exaggeratedly endowed was truly astonishing.

Having someone like that at home would really mean having one's bones sucked dry for marrow. Given today's living conditions, they could not even eat meat more than a few times, so there was no way to replenish what was consumed.

Forget someone weak and sickly—even an ordinary person would be drained dry.

Ever since Widow Yu's husband had died, rumors had spread through the village that she brought ruin to her husbands. Some even said she was a jinx, and anyone who got involved with her would surely suffer terrible misfortune.

Fang Yue had always scorned such storybook rumors, but after seeing the real person today, he could not help feeling that perhaps it really was so.

What a seductress!

"Mother, I'm still hungry. Anu feels so awful!"

The little girl's voice trembled, weak and breathless, threaded with sobs.

"Good girl, just bear with it. Once you fall asleep, you'll feel better." Widow Yu's voice had taken on a sobbing tone as well.

Her voice was soft and delicate, filled with sorrow. It made anyone who heard it unable to keep from feeling anxious.

Yet Fang Yue raised his foot to leave. It was not his family's business, so he had better not meddle.

If anyone saw him, there were plenty of village women who loved to wag their tongues.

Who knew what they would make of it then?

If his reputation were ruined because of this, he would not be able to find a wife in the future.

However, Fang Yue did not want to get entangled in trouble.

Yet trouble came looking for him anyway.

"Brother Yue." Widow Yu saw Fang Yue, and she saw the grass carp beneath the lotus leaves in his hand as well.

The graceful widow immediately rose to her feet and walked to the fence in just a few steps. Her faint smile was full of longing as she looked at the boy before her, no more than fourteen or fifteen years old.

"It's been a while since I've seen you. I heard you were sick some time ago, but it seems you've fully recovered now. Did you... go catch fish?"

Widow Yu lifted an arm and brushed several loose strands of hair from her brow. Her exposed arm was so fair and tender it dazzled the eye.

No one knew how Widow Yu took care of herself. She clearly farmed two mu of poor land as well, yet her skin remained so soft and moist.

"Yes. I got lucky today and caught a few fish," Fang Yue said.

Widow Yu's breathing immediately grew hurried. With that movement, the distance between them seemed to shrink by several inches.

"Five fish, and all of them so large too. Brother Yue, you truly are capable!" Widow Yu praised him sincerely.

Yet the burning eagerness in her eyes could not be concealed.

She did not beat around the bush any longer, but directly lowered her voice and pleaded:

"Brother Yue, could you... could you lend me one fish? I'll return it to you in a couple of days. Would that be all right?"

After saying this, Widow Yu did not dare look at Fang Yue. She merely lowered her head, wringing her hands and shifting uneasily on her feet.

"There hasn't been any food at home for three days. My daughter is truly starving. Brother Yue, please, show us mercy. I'll kneel before you..."

"Madam Yu, you..."

Fang Yue looked at the millstone swaying along with her trembling body and could not help sighing in admiration.

Still, these days no household had much to spare.

His own family could only eat two meals a day, and he and his sister effectively only ate half a meal each—not nearly enough to fill their stomachs.

Besides, Widow Yu was clearly someone who brought trouble.

It was better not to get involved with her lightly.

Thus, he could only harden his heart and refuse. "Madam Yu, are you... looking to buy fish?"

At his words, the hope in Widow Yu's eyes immediately went out. Her whole body nearly gave way, and she almost fell.

"Mother, I'm hungry."