In Shamao Lane, where the Qiao family lives, most of the houses here are old buildings. Later, each family built it illegally. Today you build a kitchen, and tomorrow I build a small warehouse.
As a result, the alley became narrower and narrower, families lived closer together, and neighborhood relations became more complicated.
A family of three named Wu lives next door to the Qiao family. The two families are separated by a wall. If they say something in the yard, the other party can hear them.
The Wu family is also a poor person. The men died early in the line of duty, leaving only orphans and widowed mothers living a hard life.
The relationship between the Qiao family and the Wu family is pretty good, mainly because Wei Shuying is close to the Wu family's sister-in-law, and Wu's sister-in-law is kind-hearted. Sometimes she sees the poor children of the Qiao family and will help them out.
This time when Wei Shuying's accident happened, Aunt Wu was a big help. It was the hospital where she took the four Qiao children and saw their mother for the last time.
Wang Gang and Qiao Yicheng, each carrying a fish, knocked on Wu's door.
Aunt Wu felt strange when she saw two children coming to look for her?
"Aunt Wu, Erqiang caught a few fish this morning. Our family can't finish them all. I'll give you two to try." Qiao Yicheng handed over the fish.
Aunt Wu was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "10%, Aunt Wu accepts your wish, but it's not easy for your family, with such a father in the stall, alas, let's not talk about it anymore, you should take the fish back and eat it yourself!
"
Wang Gang forced the fish into Aunt Wu's hand and said, "Aunt Wu, you have watched us brothers and sisters grow up, so I will tell you some things directly."
Aunt Wu couldn't help but laugh when she saw Wang Gang pretending to be an adult.
"Er Qiang, what do you have to say to Aunt Wu?"
Wang Gang looked around and said, "Can we go in and talk?"
"Come in!" Aunt Wu smiled and welcomed Wang Gang and Qiao Yicheng into the house.
After closing the door, Wang Gang just explained his intention.
"Aunt Wu, you also know that we took Qiqi home, but we have to go to school during the day and can't take care of Qiqi. Could you please take care of the child?"
When Aunt Wu heard this, she started to murmur in her heart.
To be honest, the children of the Qiao family are indeed pitiful, and she will definitely help where she can, but she does not dare to take over the entire task of taking care of the children.
Putting aside the fact that taking care of a child is not something that happens in a day, if she fails to take good care of her and the child catches a cold or fever, she will not be responsible for it!
"Second Qiang, it's not that Aunt Wu doesn't want to help, it's just that I'm usually very busy, and there's no man in the family. The whole family's burden is on my shoulders, and I really don't have the energy to take care of the children!"
Wang Gang knew that Aunt Wu was a widow and had a son at home, who was a few years older than Qiao Yicheng. After his father died, he went into the factory to take over. He started working as an apprentice and could not make much money in a month.
"We won't let you take care of Qiqi in vain." Qiao Yicheng explained:
"Second Qiang is good at fishing and can catch a few fish in the river every day. We plan to give you one fish every day as a reward for taking care of Qiqi."
Wang Gang then said: "I just want you to help take care of her during the day, and we will pick up Qiqi when we come back from school in the afternoon."
Aunt Wu asked suspiciously: "Can the second best catch fish every day?"
Wang Gang nodded and said: "I go fishing on the river bank these days, and I catch four or five fish every day."
Aunt Wu believed Wang Gang's words. He had indeed exchanged fish for food with his neighbors in the past few days.
"I didn't expect the top two to have such ability. It's really amazing." Aunt Wu praised Wang Gang.
Wang Gang said: "Aunt Wu, actually we still have several fish at home, and we can't finish them all. The neighbors have replaced them all, and the fish will stink if we don't eat them."
Aunt Wu smiled and said, "What do you want to do?"
Wang Gang chuckled and said: "Aunt Wu, when you are free during the day, can you help us go to the market to exchange fish for some money? We are too young and are afraid of being cheated."
"You want me to sell fish?" Aunt Wu yelled strangely.
Qiao Yicheng said: "We won't let Aunt Wu work in vain. You can keep 40% of the exchange money and give us 60%."
Aunt Wu's expression changed and she said angrily: "Who do you two boys think I am!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Gang knew there was something going on.
In fact, there are many private vendors on the street now, and the street turns a blind eye. In these days, it is not difficult for anyone, as long as it is not excessive, no one actually cares.
Aunt Wu was the only woman who raised the children. She had also secretly done small business in the past, selling tickets and so on.
If Wang Gang hadn't been too young, he would have sold fish on the street by himself, and he could have saved the middlemen and made the difference.
"Can you really guarantee to catch fish every day?" Aunt Wu looked at Wang Gang and asked suspiciously.
"Really, really." Before Wang Gang could answer, Qiao Yicheng became excited first.
"Erqiang can catch five or six fish every day, each weighing four or five kilograms, which adds up to about twenty kilograms. Nowadays, crucian carp is 40 cents a kilogram in the market, and twenty kilograms can be sold for eight yuan."
Don't underestimate these eight yuan. Now an ordinary worker's monthly salary is only more than thirty yuan. It depends on the efficiency of the factory.
Eight yuan a day is 240 yuan a month. Even if Aunt Wu gets 40%, she still earns more than the workers.
There's another thing Wang Gang didn't say. It's not that he can only catch five fish a day, but that he releases all the small fish he catches every day and only takes the big fish.
In other words, he actually earns more than eight yuan a day.
Wang Gang and Qiao Yicheng stayed at Aunt Wu's house for an hour, and finally agreed to help Aunt Wu sell fish.
However, Aunt Wu only wanted 20% as payment and would help take care of Qiqi during the day.
After Wang Gang and Qiao Yicheng discussed it, they decided that in addition to the 20% profit, they would give Aunt Wu an extra fish every day. Whether she sells it or eats it herself, it's up to them.
After the negotiation was completed, Wang Gang immediately handed over the remaining five fish at home to Aunt Wu and asked her to try selling them on the street.
Aunt Wu came back in the evening and gave Qiao fourteen yuan.
"The five fish you gave me have all been sold, and this is your share." Aunt Wu said, "It's a pity that the five fish are dead and have been left for a while, otherwise the price could be higher."
Wang Gang said: "I will pay attention when fishing tomorrow and try to give live fish as much as possible."
Aunt Wu smiled and said: "You can let Qiqi go to my place tomorrow morning! But I promised you in advance that if you don't take good care of her, don't blame me."
Today I made eighty cents for nothing and two fish. Aunt Wu was in a very good mood.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Thank you Aunt Wu, you really helped us a lot."
"Okay! In fact, I also took advantage of you." Aunt Wu said a few words, and then left Qiao's house.
After Aunt Wu left, Qiao Yicheng handed the four yuan to Wang Gang.
"Second Qiang, you caught the fish, and you keep the money."
Wang Gang shook his head, pushed the money back, and said, "Brother, take the money and buy some delicious food for your sisters to see how thin they become.
In the future, if your family can have more money, don’t be too economical."
Qiao Yicheng did not refuse. He put the money away and said, "Okay, let me keep the money for now. We will also save some money and return it to my aunt."
Wang Gang solemnly said: "You must hide the money well and don't let the old man see it, otherwise it will be lost."
Qiao Yicheng remembered that when he was in the hospital, Qiao Zuwang took away five yuan and still hasn't paid it back.
"Yes, Sanli and Simei should also be stricter with their mouths. If dad finds out, he will secretly buy pig head meat and eat it alone without our share."
Sanli and Simei covered their mouths at the same time and said that even if they were beaten to death by their father, they would not talk about money.
"Aunt Wu also needs to warn her. If she spills the beans, it will be troublesome." Wang Gang stood up and said.
"You are still the second best, you are thoughtful." Qiao Yicheng unknowingly discovered that his eight-year-old brother had become the backbone of the family.
Without his fishing skills, their family might not have enough to eat.
Starting from the next day, Wang Gang and Qiao Yicheng sent Qiqi to Aunt Wu before going to school in the morning.
After getting the money, they also found a nursery for Qiao Sanli and Qiao Simei, with Aunt Wu's help of course.
After school every day, Wang Gang and Qiao Yi divided their labors and cooperated. Qiao Yicheng was responsible for picking up his sister from the nursery and then buying vegetables and cooking.
Wang Gang went to Aunt Wu's house to pick up his younger brother, and then took fishing gear to the river bank to fish.
At about six o'clock in the evening, Qiao Yicheng had finished cooking and took his sister to see Wang Gang, taking the fish he caught home to Aunt Wu.
After a week of this, the Qiao family had an income of six or seven yuan every day, and their days were getting better and better.
Qiao Zuwang thought that the children at home were almost unable to open the pot, so he secretly ran back.
Finally, when he came back, he saw four children having dinner. There were fish, meat and vegetables on the table, which was more abundant than during the Chinese New Year.
"Where did you get the money to buy meat?" Qiao Zuwang asked in surprise.
"My second brother bought the meat and vegetables from the neighbors in exchange for the fish." Qiao Sanli said happily as she picked up her rice bowl.
Qiao Zuwang slapped his head. He never expected that his second son was so good at fishing and could catch fish every day. Without him at home, the children's life would be better.
"Leave the meat for me to drink." Qiao Zuwang became angry and reached out to grab the plate of stir-fried meat on the table.
Wang Gang snorted coldly, and with lightning speed, he tapped Qiao Zuwang's belly with his chopsticks.
The next moment, Qiao Zuwang straightened up, covering his butt with his right hand, and his stomach growled.
"Again!?"
Qiao Zuwang's expression changed, he picked up his pants and ran to the public toilet.
