The remaining work is much easier: wash the grass roots and mash them in a stone mortar.
After working for a long time, Wang Yuan's back was so tired that he collected a bucket of crushed grass root liquid.
After a walk, take a rest and carry it to the Jing River.
Seeing a fish swimming at the bottom of the water, Wang Yuan threw some wheat flour and water into it.
There were more and more fish with bait, so Wang Yuan carefully poured the grass root liquid into the fish.
As the grass root liquid spread, one by one the swimming fish turned their bellies white and floated up from the bottom of the water.
One piece!
Two!
…
After a while, Wang Yuan caught eight big fish and fifteen small fish.
The big fish are all over five kilograms, and the small fish are over half a kilogram. The smallest ones will be released.
As the sun set, Wang Yuan returned home with a full load.
Passing by four thatched huts, a cowshed, and a small courtyard made of fences at the east end of the village.
"Uncle Shashan!"
Wang Yuan shouted.
Three little dolls wearing cotton-padded jackets and cotton trousers, with their buttocks exposed, ran out of the house and looked curiously and timidly at Wang Yuan, who was wearing a robe.
"Wang Yuan, your uncle just went out, is there something wrong?"
In the room, a woman with a withered face walked out, her cloudy eyes were wary.
"Aunt Hong, Uncle Shanshan helped me this afternoon and gave you some fish to eat!"
Wang Yuan took out two big fish and six small fish and left at the door.
"Ah, this is too much, too much, Wang Yuan, please take it back!"
Aunt Hong's alert eyes turned into shock.
In these days, there is little food and clothing, and the only food that can be given to relatives is a little groceries.
Who gives away more than ten kilograms of fish at once?
Even the richest clan leader in the village is reluctant to buy so much fish during the Chinese New Year.
Selling so much fish for almost several hundred coins is such a heavy gift.
She couldn't figure out why this prodigal son sent so many fish to her family!
"I still have!"
Wang Yuan left without looking back.
"Fish, fish!"
The three little kids started drooling around the eight fishes.
Aunt Hong struggled with her eyes. She wanted to kill the fish and cook it for her children, but she had no choice but to do so.
Not long after, Wang Hanshan and his two sons came back.
Aunt Hong said anxiously: "Master, Wang Yuan said you helped him and just sent so many fish. What on earth did you help him? He sent you so many fish!"
"I just helped him dig out grass roots for a while. Where did he get so many fish?"
Wang Hanshan looked at the eight fish with doubt on his face: "Are you right? It was really sent by Wang Yuan?"
With so many fish, even an experienced fisherman who has been fishing for many years would have to cast his net for several days.
How could Wang Yuan, who had no power to tie a chicken, catch so many fish?
"I'm not blind, so Wang Yuan can still admit his mistake."
Aunt Hong rolled her eyes and felt relieved.
If the master really helps Wang Yuan, the fish can be kept and the family can cook one to eat.
Use the rest to sell money to buy some cotton and make new cotton-padded jackets for the children during the Chinese New Year.
"No, we can't take it. No matter how he got the fish, he owes Master Liu so much money. He wants to sell the fish to pay off the debt, so we can't take it."
Wang Hanshan stuffed the fish into the barrel, carried it and walked out.
"The boss!"
Aunt Hong prayed: "Send the big fish back to Wang Yuan to sell for money, and keep the small fish for the children to eat. Look at how long they haven't eaten meat, and the small fish can't be sold for money."
Seeing the five swallowing children, Wang Hanshan left the six small fish behind and left with the two big fish.
"Uncle Shan, where did you catch two big fish? Each one must weigh five or six kilograms!"
Wang Sihai, who was strolling in the village, gathered around and couldn't help but swallow his saliva when looking at the two fish.
He hasn't had any meat or fish for more than half a year.
Wang Hanshan said: "These two fish belong to Wang Yuan, I will send them to him!"
"Wang Yuan's!"
Wang Sihai was in disbelief.
That nerd was digging grass roots to eat during the day, how did he get two big fish?
The body is too weak and the fish is too heavy!
Wang Yuan was walking around and before he got home, Wang Hanshan chased him and wanted to return the fish.
Wang Yuan refused: "Uncle, what are you doing? I told you to eat it, but why did you send it back again?"
"Wang Yuan, keep the little fish, and you can sell the big fish to pay off the debt."
Wang Hanshan poured the fish into the bamboo basket.
"Uncle, how much can these two fish be sold for? It's not enough to pay off the debt."
Wang Yuan took out the fish again: "If you feel bad about it, call the big tiger tomorrow, and the two tigers will help me for a day. I guarantee that you will have meat to eat every day."
"Eat meat every day?"
Wang Hanshan was startled.
It's not like a government official, who can eat meat every day, just eat enough beans, wheat and rice.
But seeing how many fish Wang Yuan caught today, Wang Hanshan was a little bit looking forward to it.
…
"Where has my husband gone? Why haven't you come back yet? Could it be that he ran away to avoid debts?"
At the entrance of the small courtyard, Li Shihan stood on tiptoe and looked out, feeling uneasy.
When I was in a state of confusion, a figure came into view and slowly walked to the door!
Li Shihan rushed over, saw the bucket full of fish, and stretched out her hand in surprise: "Husband, where did you get so many fish?"
"Medicine!"
Wang Yuan turned to avoid it: "It's too heavy. You are weak, I can just lift it!"
Li Shihan trembled:
need?
Who do you want it from?
Why do people give their husband so many fish?
Wang Yuan said again: "I will cook fish for you tonight!"
Li Shihan forced a smile on her face: "Husband, cook a small fish for you to eat, and I'll just drink some fish soup. Bring the other fish to the county town and sell them for money!"
Wang Yuan picked out two two-pound small fish and said, "I have a way to pay off the debt. Eat more fish at night. I see your little face has become sunken."
Li Shihan was uneasy!
The husband started to talk sweetly again, these fish must have come from the wrong place!
Wang Yuan was killing fish and breaking fish. Li Shihan wanted to help and asked him to rush aside.
After a while, the two fish were cleaned, and Wang Yuan carried the fish into the kitchen.
Said to be a kitchen, half of the thatched hut was filled with firewood, and the other half was built with iron pots and earthen stoves.
There are two earthenware hangings in a wooden cabinet: a jar of white lard, a jar of yellowed large grain salt, five earthenware bowls, and four porcelain plates.
There is a large water tank next to it, with a ladle and a chopping board on top.
The simplicity made Wang Yuan stunned!
"Husband, I am far away from the kitchen. You are a scholar. I will do the cooking!"
Li Shihan came in with an oil lamp, and the dim kitchen became a little brighter.
"I'm not a gentleman, I just want to eat meat now, hurry up and light the fire!"
Li Shihan heated up the pot, and Wang Yuan scooped out two tablespoons of lard and put it in.
"Husband, you put too much oil in it. If you keep doing this, you will run out of oil soon!"
Li Shihan felt distressed. These two spoonfuls of lard can last for half a month.
"You must have a lot of oil when frying fish, otherwise what will happen if it gets burnt?"
Wang Yuan put in two fish, and the lard fried fish sizzled, and the tempting fish aroma wafted out.
Gulu!
Li Shihan swallowed hard.
The smell of fish wafts into the courtyard.
"Fish, fish fried in lard, Wang Yuan's family is eating fish, it's better than what they eat during the Chinese New Year!"
"It smells so good, there must be a lot of lard!"
"How can he still dare to eat fish and put so much oil in his mouth when he has so much debt? What a waste of money!"
Some villagers passed by and couldn't move away from the smell of fish in the air.
Snapped!
Holding the earthenware bowl, I wanted to rush out to see Wang Yuan eating grass roots or Wang Sihai eating fish. Suddenly I realized that the rice and beans in the bowl were no longer fragrant, and my saliva dripped on the rim of the bowl.
"Gululu!"
After cooking for a quarter of an hour, Wang Yuan took out the salt shaker and scooped out a spoonful of coarse salt to taste.
This is unrefined granular salt, it is slightly yellow in color and contains impurities.
The price is not expensive, about fifty cents per catty, but many people still cannot afford it.
Take the two fish out of the pot and put them on a plate, sprinkle with wild vegetable foam, pour fish soup, and put them on the table.
A plate was pushed in front of Li Shihan, and Wang Yuan said: "Eat quickly, it will cool down!"
Gulu!
The fish smell was so fragrant that Li Shihan salivated quickly, but instead of taking down her chopsticks, she burst into tears: "Husband, tell me honestly, where did this fish come from?"