Chapter 14

Zhou Jinian rolled his neck to loosen up. Hearing movement in the basket on the floor, he asked in surprise, "What's under the medicinal herbs? Did you catch snakes again?"

Xie Ning immediately forgot all about Zhou Jinian's hand and dragged the basket over, whispering again, "I went to catch fish."

Xie Ning lifted the herbs to reveal the coarse hemp rope, fish, and shrimp underneath. He leaned close to Zhou Jinian, shielding his mouth with one hand, brimming with happiness but speaking very quietly.

"You've been pressing your eye sockets a lot lately, so I caught fish to cook you some fish eyes."

The breath Ninglang exhaled as he spoke was soft, just like him. Zhou Jinian lowered his head, his gaze fixed firmly on him...

At first, he had wanted to repay Ninglang for saving his life in their previous lifetime, so he had never found fault with him and had indulged him without limit. Yet he had never expected such thoughtfulness in return. Only after marrying him had he learned how pure and kind this person was. Lovable. Worth loving.

Xie Ning grew a little shy under his gaze. Uncomfortable, he tried to say something to ease it. "The fish in Pool Cave are so easy to catch. They're so silly and slow."

Zhou Jinian's gaze was drawn to those full lips before him, as though they had been rouged. This was the husband he had already married...

"I also found out why Pool Cave has water..." When the man before him gently pinched his chin, Xie Ning quickly fell silent, his eyes widening as he looked at Zhou Jinian in confusion.

Then Zhou Jinian tilted his chin up. Before Zhou Jinian's face drew close, he asked in puzzlement, "Jinian, are you hungry?"

"Mm." Zhou Jinian answered very quickly. He was indeed hungry, so hungry that his lower body ached.

"I'll go cook you some fish." With that, Xie Ning shook his head free of the hand on his chin and went out.

Zhou Jinian took a deep breath. Xie Ning's lips were full, looking even plumper when he spoke. He averted his eyes, not daring to stare at him again.

Xie Ning went into the courtyard and felt the akebia fruit he had picked earlier. Its skin had split, though the flesh inside was not yet exposed, but that already meant it was ready to eat.

"Have an akebia fruit first. I'll go steam you some fish." Xie Ning lifted the bamboo basket, tipped the fish into a wooden bucket of water, then picked one up and carried it to the kitchen.

Xie Ning killed and scaled the fish, washed it clean, then cut ginger into strips and stuffed them into its belly. Once the water boiled, he put in the plate of fish and added firewood to steam it over high heat.

When the fire dwindled, he stopped adding wood and began chopping scallions. Once the fire had nearly died out, he scattered on the scallions, drizzled on sauce, and carried it to the little courtyard.

There were few seasonings, but the fish retained its natural freshness, tenderness, and fragrance.

Xie Ning had openly steamed the fish as an extra dish without hiding it from anyone, so Grandmother Zhou confiscated all four remaining fish in the bucket, leaving him only some shrimp.

Xie Ning pouted, fuming, but then thought that he could simply take a few more pieces once they were cooked. Their family had shared an entire steamed fish that afternoon, after all, and he cheered up again.

Zhou Jinian began writing calmly while laying his plans inwardly. He was only waiting for the day his dad could get out of bed before planning the household division.

Xie Ning wiped his hands clean in the little courtyard, then quietly went to push open his dad's door. Lin Jin lay in bed staring into space. Hearing him, he lifted his head with effort. "Come in. What's the matter?"

Xie Ning gently closed the door and sat beside his dad's bed. "I want to steam dried eggplant and go to town with Jinian to sell it."

"That's a good thing. Go ahead. It's just that this back of mine is no use. It'll mean hard work for you, Ninglang." Lin Jin patted his son-in-law's hand.

"Mm, but I'll need lots of eggplants. How should I ask Grandmother?" Xie Ning rubbed the bedsheet with one finger.

"After supper tonight, ask your fourth aunt to come over." Lin Guihua had previously discussed going to Praying for Grace Temple to sell snacks during the Mid-Autumn Festival with him.

Remembering the fish they had eaten at noon, he added worriedly, "You got into trouble before because you fell into the water. Why did you go into the water to catch fish again? Don't go anymore."

He pointed at the cabinet. "Go get some money. From now on, if you want meat, go buy some from the hunter's family. When Jinian goes to town sometime, he can buy fish for you."

Xie Ning stared blankly at the drawers, his dad's words warming his heart.

Still, he said, "It won't happen again. After I fell into the water that time, I knew how to swim. Never mind the big fish-even those little shrimp were caught with my own hands! I'll go cook shrimp for you, Dad."

Lin Jin smiled. "Good boy. Go on."

Xie Ning answered and went out, running over to crouch before the bucket. Some of the shrimp inside were still alive. It suddenly occurred to him that he could catch fish and shrimp to sell in town!

The ink-dipped tip of the brush lightly skimmed the inkstone to remove the excess ink, then suddenly trembled. Zhou Jinian set down his brush. He had pushed too hard over the past two days, and he could no longer control his hand. He needed a rest.

"Jinian..."

There was that breathy voice like a little puppy again. Holding his wrist, Zhou Jinian turned sideways and raised an eyebrow at Xie Ning, signaling that he was listening.

As soon as Xie Ning came up to him, he took Zhou Jinian's right wrist and massaged it with his own cool, soft hands.

"Are you free tomorrow?"

Ninglang sounded coaxing. After spending so many days together, Zhou Jinian already understood Xie Ning's temperament well. "Tell me."

Making a show of mystery, Xie Ning glanced at the tightly closed door behind him before bending down to bring his head close to Zhou Jinian's ear. In that soft, breathy voice, he said, "Let's go catch fish in Pool Cave and take them to town to sell."

Zhou Jinian's ear twitched involuntarily. His gaze shifted slightly sideways, landing once more on his young husband's full lips...

Author's note: They will divide the household! As soon as Dad's back gets better and he can get out of bed! After they divide the household and move to town, the main plot will begin. Once I've sorted it out, I'll post two updates a day. Since this is set in ancient times, I have to look things up as I write, so I'm writing slowly. Sob...

Thank you to the little angels who cast Overlord Tickets or watered me with nutrient solution between 2020-09-18 20:51:35 and 2020-09-19 20:32:02~

Thank you to the little angel who threw landmines: Quiet Night Like a Hook, 2;

Thank you to the little angels who watered me with nutrient solution: Quiet Night Like a Hook, 45 bottles; Nana, 5 bottles; Mo|*Yaxuan, 1 bottle;

Thank you all so much for your support. I'll keep working hard!

Chapter 14

If they caught fish to sell in town, they could make quite a bit of money. In these times, any kind of meat was precious.

There was a small river winding around Great Well Village, but whatever fish it held were all taken by the village households. Still, no one made a living selling fish. Each person caught only one little fish or so-how could that be enough to sell?