Jumped into the River Again

"Ah ptoo~"

"Achoo~"

"Brother Zhi, you really weren't trying to jump into the river?"

Beside a bonfire, Fang Ergou sat bare-chested, edging closer to the warm flames.

His dark face was filled with worry.

"I was fishing!"

"I really was fishing!"

Fang Yue spread his hands helplessly.

He had just worn out that big fish and was about to reel in his rod and haul it ashore.

Just as the fish was pulled from the water,

a familiar shout rang out, and Fang Ergou ended up here warming himself by the fire.

Naturally, this cousin of his had once again thought he was about to jump into the river and rushed to stop him.

He charged in too fast and ended up falling into the river again.

Of course, the big fish came off the hook because of it.

Fang Yue had originally found it a pity. That fish had weighed at least ten or so jin.

After fishing for so long, it had gotten away just like that. What a waste.

Still, saving someone had to come first.

He just hadn't expected that after pulling Fang Ergou from the water, he would discover the man clutching that big fish in his arms.

So now, the fish had been cut up, with part of it simmering in the pot before them.

The flames leaped, and the fragrant scent of fish soup filled the air.

"Less talking. Drink some fish soup."

Beside him, Fang Hu looked at his foolish son with a face full of black lines, utterly helpless. This son of his was simply too single-minded.

His son was naturally honest and simple—so simple that it was almost excessive.

Such a disposition, what people called the heart of a pure child, was greatly beneficial on the path of martial arts.

But in everyday life, it truly made people worry.

In fact, it was precisely because of his son's temperament that Fang Hu had willingly remained in Daliushu Village all these years.

"Dad, I know, I know."

Fang Ergou took a huge gulp of fish soup, then looked at Fang Yue. "Brother Zhi, the fish soup you made is so good. It tastes much better than my dad's cooking."

Seeing Fang Ergou like this, clearly not taking his words to heart at all and focusing entirely on eating and drinking, Fang Hu felt even more helpless. He could only let out a long sigh.

"You should learn more from Brother Zhi in the future. If you had even one-tenth of Brother Zhi's steadiness, I'd be able to rest easy. If you don't change and remain like this, sooner or later you'll suffer a great loss."

"Uncle Fang Hu, Er Gou was only trying to help me. Besides, his heart is simple and pure. Kind people are blessed in their own way, so you needn't worry too much."

Fang Yue took up the thread. "Besides, with Uncle Fang Hu around, Er Gou definitely won't be taken advantage of."

Hearing Fang Yue's words, Fang Hu shook his head bitterly and said no more.

Still, a faint thought arose in his heart.

About half an hour later,

Fang Ergou's clothes had dried, and he had drunk quite a bit of fish soup, driving the chill from his body.

Fang Ergou had also followed Fang Hu hunting all year round. He never lacked meat, and his body was sturdy.

Otherwise, if it had been someone else,

even in the height of summer, falling into the river like that could easily lead to catching a chill.

And in these times, if someone from an ordinary family caught a chill, it was no different from suffering a disaster.

"Brother Zhi, thank you for the fish today."

Fang Hu pulled Fang Ergou over and sincerely thanked Fang Yue.

Then he looked at Fang Ergou. "Give Brother Zhi the pheasant you caught."

"You really shouldn't, you really shouldn't."

Fang Yue naturally refused again and again, but how could he outstubborn Fang Ergou? The other man insisted on stuffing the pheasant into his arms.

Seeing this, Fang Yue felt rather embarrassed.

Still, he gave Fang Ergou two of the fish he had caught.

Fang Hu, who had already walked a few steps away, saw this and smiled faintly.

"Sis, look what this is."

When he returned home, Fang Yue immediately took out the pheasant in his hand and presented it to Fang Lan as though offering a treasure.

"Ah, a pheasant?"

"Zhi Di, where did this come from?"

Fang Lan stopped what she was doing and cried out in surprise, her eyes sparkling brightly.

Over the past few days, her little brother had brought home one or two fish every day, greatly improving their family's life.

With some meat in their diet, the whole family looked much better.

But fish was still short on fat.

The pheasant before her, however, was no small bird. It looked to weigh a full three or four jin.

Its feathers shone with oil; it surely had plenty of fat on it.

Such a pheasant clearly had not been domestically raised. It had to be wild, from the mountains.

At that thought, Fang Lan's expression changed. She thought her little brother had been bold enough to go into the mountains.

Immediately, she put one hand on her hip and grabbed Fang Yue's ear with the other.

"Zhi Di, don't tell me you went into the mountains! How could you go into the mountains? You've got some nerve!"

"There are fierce beasts roaming the mountains. What if something happened to you?"

Her authority as an elder sister was on full display at that moment. She nagged him sternly and harshly, yet every word was filled with a sister's concern for her brother.

"Sis, let go! Sis, let go!"

"Listen to my sophistry—no, listen to me. Uncle Fang Hu gave me this pheasant. I didn't go into the mountains."

Fang Yue sucked in a sharp breath. He had never expected his sister to launch a sneak attack.

He hurriedly tilted his head up to ease the pain and explained where the pheasant had come from.

"Uncle Fang Hu gave it to you?"

Fang Lan did not quite believe him, but she still let go.

Uncle Fang Hu lived not far from their home. A single question would settle the matter, and then she would know whether her little brother was telling the truth.

"It's true, absolutely true, truer than true." Fang Yue hurriedly promised again and again.

"Hmph, I'll believe you this once. All right, if something like this happens again, make sure you explain it sooner. And whatever you do, don't go into the mountains. The mountains are too dangerous."

Fang Lan gave him a few more worried reminders before putting the pheasant into the cage in the yard.

The pheasant was still alive, so there was no hurry to eat it.

Maybe if they kept it for a few days, it might lay a few eggs.

"Something came up at the Liu Family today, so Mother won't be back at noon."

Fang Lan added this, then prepared to take out the fish and cook. When she lifted the basket's cover, she discovered a huge fish inside, some of its flesh already butchered away.

Even after quite a bit had been cut off, the remaining fish still looked to weigh nearly ten jin.

"This is the big fish you caught? Weren't you afraid it would drag you into the water?"

"Don't ever be this reckless again."

Fang Lan was both amazed and worried.

Clearly, she also knew how much strength such a large fish could have in the water.

After glaring at her younger brother, Fang Lan went to cook.

Watching this, Fang Yue could not help touching his nose.

All right, this sister of his could be pretty fierce sometimes.

He had been fooled by her gentle and quiet behavior these past few days.

Still, this was good.

Half an hour later.

Fang Lan came out of the kitchen. "Zhi Di, come help. Take some of this remaining fish to Third Uncle and Seventh Uncle."

"Mm, and take some next door to Widow Yu as well."