During famine years, I had a divination slip in hand, and my whole family ate chicken, duck, fish, a

The two walked deeper into the area while picking the pears, and the more they picked, the more pears they found.

The small bag quickly became too full, so Ye Qingqing unceremoniously took off the apron over her cotton-padded jacket and filled it with more.

"That's enough."

Only when her mouth was numb and her apron was full did she pat her bulging apron and say contentedly,

"If we pick any more, we won't be able to carry them all back! Let's call my older brother and sister-in-law over tomorrow; many hands make light work!"

The hot spring cave is the secret base indicated by the divination slip, and it must never be discovered by outsiders. However, since her elder brother and sister-in-law are of one mind, there will be absolutely no problem.

Ye Qingqing not only wanted to expand "production," but an even more ambitious idea was also rising in her mind.

But I'll tell my dad and the others when I get home.

"Um."

Ye Dazhuang nodded and put the last handful of fruit into her apron.

"Big Zhuang, give it a try."

Back at the hot spring, Ye Qingqing handed over the slippery soap, raising an eyebrow and smiling.

"You're all sweaty from catching fish and picking pears, you should wash up too. I'll guard the cave entrance for you this time."

"Need not……"

Ye Dazhuang hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took the soap, glancing at her indifferently before adding, "No need to guard it."

"Splash..."

The sound of rushing water came from the hot spring pool. Ye Qingqing sat with her back to a large rock, eating a wild pear idly.

Thinking of those strong eight-pack abs, she almost couldn't help but turn around and take a peek!

When he came out of the shower, his body, which was full of hormones, had an added faint scent of soap that smelled wonderful!

This is such a test of one's abilities...

On the way back, Ye Dazhuang carried a basket on his back and another one in his hand.

Ye Qingqing only carried the pears wrapped in an apron on her back, which made things much easier.

Although he was having some difficulty walking, his steps remained steady, and he even occasionally tugged at Ye Qingqing, who was struggling to walk on the snow.

That physique is really...

Ye Qingqing couldn't help but click her tongue inwardly.

When we returned to Kaoshantun, it was already getting dark, and the aroma of food wafted from the house.

"Dad, eldest brother and sister-in-law, Cuicui, we're back!"

Ye Qingqing slammed the door open, exhausted.

When Li Chunyan saw them return, she immediately went to greet them.

"You're finally back! The whole family was worried sick, thinking you two would have to spend the night on the mountain again!"

"Sister-in-law, look! What wonderful things did we make today?"

Ye Qingqing suddenly lifted the cloth covering the carrying pole, revealing white fish and purplish-red fruits. "Look!"

"Oh my goodness!"

Li Chunyan was startled, her eyes widening in disbelief, and she said in astonishment,

"Where did this fish come from? And this fruit...where did this fruit come from in the middle of winter?!"

"There's an underground river under the hot spring, and there are lots of these kinds of fish in it! Neither Da Zhuang nor I have ever seen them before, so we don't know what kind of fish they are, but I imagine they shouldn't taste bad."

Ye Qingqing patted the basket, "These are wild pears, I picked a lot... They're very sweet, sister-in-law, please have some."

"There are also wild pears?" Li Chunyan couldn't wait to pinch one and put it in her mouth, her eyes instantly lighting up.

"Sweet! So sweet! This is even sweeter than the wild berries we eat in the summer!"

Ye Youliang came out of the house and saw the basket full of fish, which startled him so much that his beard trembled.

"Good heavens, so many! This...this is all fish? In the dead of winter, did you two go to the Dragon Palace to catch them?"

Countless silver fish splashed and thrashed about in the basket, their silvery bodies shimmering, and they were all several sizes larger than usual.

When he went closer, his eyes, which had been squinting, suddenly widened when he saw the basket of fish. He squatted down and carefully moved aside a fish that was still jumping around. He examined the fish's head and scales, and then looked inside its belly.

"What's wrong, Dad?"

Ye Qingqing was completely confused by his exaggerated expression. "You recognize this fish? You can't eat it?"

"This...this is..."

Ye Youliang's voice trembled, "This is a silver-bearded carp!"

"Silver-bearded carp?"

Ye Qingqing leaned closer. "Never heard of it. Is it delicious? Is it expensive?"

Ye Youliang took a deep drag on his pipe, suppressing his excitement, and looked at Ye Qingqing.

"What do you mean by expensive or not? You don't know until you catch it. This fish is no ordinary fish!"

These creatures usually live in deep mountain streams and are extremely difficult to catch!

The meat is tender, with few bones, and it's so juicy and flavorful—in the dead of winter here, it's a delicacy only the rich and powerful could afford! Normally, a one-pound silver carp like this could sell for one or two taels of silver at the town's restaurants!

"So expensive?"

Li Chunyan gasped, her hands clenching her apron tightly. She stammered, "My God! This isn't a fish, it's just piles of silver swimming in the water!"

I knew it was valuable!

Ye Qingqing was overjoyed inside, but kept a straight face, and turned to say...

"Dad, look at these pears! They're so sweet!"

Ye Youliang's pupils dilated in shock. He took a plump, round, purplish-red fruit, smelled it, and then took a small bite.

After carefully considering it, the shock in his eyes became even more pronounced.

"Where did you get these from! Ground pears are so sweet and refreshing, they're great for cooling down the body. If you took these to town, wouldn't all the ladies and young women be fighting over them?"

"Of course! I wouldn't pick them if they weren't worth anything!"

Ye Qingqing raised an eyebrow smugly and said, "Dad, you really know your stuff. Why don't you come to town with us tomorrow?"

……

The Ye family got busy early the next morning.

Ye Dali drove his family's horse-drawn cart, which was loaded with wild vegetables he had dug up the day before, two baskets of silver carp, and ground pears.

Ye Qingqing, Ye Dazhuang, Li Chunyan, and her younger sister Ye Cuicui were all sitting in the car.

Little Huanhuan was held in Li Chunyan's arms, looking curiously at the car full of "babies," while holding a pear in her hand and taking a bite from time to time.

The pears are so sweet!

She hadn't eaten such sweet fruit in a long time.

Upon arriving in town, Ye Qingqing went directly to the street where Fushunlou was located.

She instructed Ye Dali to park the carriage, arrange the horses in formation, and gave orders.

"Big Zhuang, hang up those biggest silver-whiskered carp, make them more noticeable!"

Ye Dazhuang followed instructions and threaded a straw rope through the fish gills, hanging several plump silver carp, each over a foot long, on the bamboo pole of the carriage.

The silvery-white fish scales shimmered in the sunlight, instantly attracting the attention of passersby, who swarmed around, pointing and chattering.

"Huh? In the middle of winter, is this a fish? It looks like the legendary silver-bearded carp!"

"That's right! Look at those whiskers, those scales, it can't be wrong! I've heard that only royalty can afford this stuff, how could we possibly have it in a small place like here?"

"Come and see! There are these fruits too, purplish-red. How can there be such fresh fruits in winter? They even have leaves with them!"

Soon, Ye Qingqing's stall was surrounded by people.