Fishing and Hunting 82, Starting with Three Sisters Who Overprotect Their Brothers

Donghetun, Zhang Family Courtyard.

"Don't move, it'll hurt like hell!"

Xu Xiulian was hunched over twisting hemp rope in the yard, while several river crabs were baring their teeth and claws in a wooden bucket under the eaves.

She caught a glimpse of her grandson Zhao Qiang's little hand tentatively reaching towards the bucket, and she scolded him sternly. Several red marks on his fingers, which were gripping the hemp rope, were particularly noticeable.

"Big crabs are different; they really pinch and hurt."

Xu Xiulian rubbed her fingers together and massaged them vigorously, but the red mark remained stubbornly in place.

"Why……"

In the past, she would never have wanted to do such chores during the day.

She was always busy inside and outside, and would only make enough hemp rope before going to bed at night. But now that her son is successful, the family has run out of hemp rope, and they don't let her work on it at night, saying it will hurt her eyes.

At this age, why care about that?

Xu Xiulian thought about it, a look of confusion flashing across her face.

Did I get distracted?

I can't remember when it started, but I'm busy from the moment I open my eyes until I close them every day, and I don't have time to think about anything else.

"Grandma."

A sobbing voice came from behind.

Zhao Qiang stumbled over, a river crab dangling from his finger.

Serves you right for being so impulsive.

Xu Xiulian scolded him with exasperation, but her hands deftly pried open the crab claws and breathed on her grandson's swollen fingers.

"Blow on it, blow on it and it won't hurt anymore..."

"Mom, we're back! What happened?"

Zhang Fengxia stepped into the courtyard carrying her things, and frowned when she saw her son crying.

"I got pinched by a crab," Xu Xiulian replied irritably, glancing at the figure following behind her, she subconsciously hid her hands behind her back.

But the next second, she felt a surge of anger.

"Mother, find something to test the scale."

Zhang Wenshan strolled in, flicked his wrist, and the brand-new scale in his hand rattled loudly.

The steelyard beam was shiny, thicker at the front and thinner at the back, about two feet long, with a thin iron cap at the top. An iron pin passed through the hoop and was firmly connected to the scale hook.

Two rows of twinkling stars on the pole correspond to the two sets of lifting ropes at the front and back.

The weight of the scales hung heavily, and the hooks, curved like a crescent moon, gleamed with a cold metallic light.

"Did the shrimp and crabs really sell?"

Even though she had expected it, Hsu Hsiu-lien still couldn't help but be surprised.

Not long after, how come something that used to be too much trouble to eat can now be sold for money?

After dividing up the land, how come the world has become so incomprehensible?

"Hmm, river crabs are 2.6 yuan, and shrimp are 1.1 yuan." Zhang Wenshan said, taking a few steps to the bucket, scooping up the shrimp and crabs and throwing them into the fish basket, eagerly testing the scale.

However, the basket filled with goods didn't behave well when hung on the scale.

It sways from side to side, making it difficult to find balance.

"Give it to me." Xu Xiulian couldn't stand it any longer and snatched the scale away.

With a flick of her wrist, the scales swayed steadily, and she grabbed the rear rope near the hook.

"This rope is accurate, ten pounds at most. The other rope can lift twenty pounds, but it's not accurate."

She deftly hung the basket on the hook, made sure it was secure, and with one hand, she slid the weight along the rope until the scale rod was precisely suspended in a horizontal position.

"Look at these stars over there, look, they weigh three pounds and two ounces!"

"It really is a technical job."

Zhang Wenshan watched in amazement. He was used to electronic scales, but it was his first time using this thing, and he was really not used to it.

"Of course." Xu Xiulian looked smug and began teaching again.

"Mom, what happened to your hand?" Zhang Wenshan, with his sharp eyes, immediately noticed something amiss. "You're not wearing gloves?"

"What's the point of that? My calluses are thick enough, it won't bother me." Xu Xiulian rubbed her nose, glancing at the shrimp and crabs in the bucket. "Can these still be sold?"

"Not for sale, eat it!" Zhang Wenshan sighed helplessly. "Pick out the smaller ones to feed the chickens."

"What?" Xu Xiulian's eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

"Chickens need calcium and protein to lay eggs, and river shrimp, miscellaneous fish, and snails all contain these. Chop them up and mix them into the chicken feed, and that's perfect. I saw it at the livestock station in town."

"Really?" Hsu Hsiu-lien turned to her eldest daughter with suspicion.

"I've never been to the town's livestock station," Zhang Fengxia quickly waved her hand.

"Don't worry, it can't be wrong." Zhang Wenshan said, then turned around and went into the warehouse to start rummaging through it.

Seeing this, Xu Xiulian couldn't help but wonder, "What are you doing now? Aren't you going to make cages anymore?"

"My brother said he'll deliver the shrimp and crabs again tomorrow, but we'll hold off for now and take our time making the cages," Zhang Fengxia explained in a low voice. "He said he wants to go up the mountain to dry some goods."

"I'll do whatever comes to mind..." Xu Xiulian swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, turning them into a soft sigh.

The worst thing happened.

My son was interested for a while, then lost interest and went back to his old ways.

"Mother, my little brother said it's hot these days, and shrimp and crabs are hard to catch, and they're likely to die if caught," Zhang Fengxia explained softly.

She also felt it was a bit of a pity to suddenly quit.

But thinking about what happened these past two days, I decided to support my younger brother.

"That's still better than trying your luck up the mountain!" Xu Xiulian said, frowning. "Right now, there's a shortage of food on the mountain; where are we going to find any mountain produce?"

She spoke as she walked toward the warehouse.

Fine, as long as it's not gambling, let them do whatever they want!

Zhang Wenshan could sense the changes in his mother's and elder sister's emotions and knew why, but he did not explain.

You can't exactly say you know where there are hidden treasures.

Just pick them.

By the time the drying area was tidied up, it was already noon.

"Mom, I'll make lunch." Zhang Wenshan rolled up his sleeves.

Seeing that Xu Xiulian was still trying to stop him, he preemptively said, "Shrimp and crabs are just thrown away anyway if you don't eat them."

……

Soon, the stove was lit and water was added to the large pot.

Seeing the bubbles rolling in the water, Zhang Wenshan was about to put the shrimp and crabs in.

"It's not fully open yet?" Xu Xiulian couldn't help but ask.

"No need to wait until it's fully open, or the meat will get tough," Zhang Wenshan explained, and started cooking without hesitation.

He first put the river crabs in and kept them simmering over medium heat. After estimating that they would be cooked for about eight minutes, he took them all out and then put the river shrimp in.

This time it was caught even faster, in less than a minute.

"Will it work?"

Not only my mother, but my eldest sister was also a little hesitant, as this approach was very different from what they knew.

"Just try it." Zhang Wenshan picked up a river shrimp, cleaned it in a few quick movements, took out the tender meat, and put it into his little nephew's mouth.

"Uncle, it's delicious."

Zhao Qiang raised his hands high, smacking his lips, voting with his actions.

"This is nothing. Boiled shrimp needs to be served with dipping sauce."

Zhang Wenshan smiled slightly and took out a small bowl.

First, pour in half a bowl of white rice vinegar and a pinch of salt. Then, chop the white part of the scallion and add a little lard. Mix well.

"Oh dear, you waste so much ingredients just to make something." Xu Xiulian said with her usual concern, "It's one thing to cook, but to be so particular about the dipping sauce is another."

"Ugh!"

He hadn't finished speaking.

Xu Xiulian's eyes lit up immediately when her son forcibly fed her a river shrimp dipped in sauce.

"You know what, it doesn't taste earthy anymore!"

"Really? Let me try it!"

Before long, Zhang Jianshe and Zhao Hongwei returned home and joined in the shrimp and crab feast.

After finishing the meal.

Zhang Jianshe hesitated for a moment before speaking, "When I came back, I saw Zhou's second son and Wang Kai strolling around our neighborhood."

"Um?"

Zhang Wenshan was taken aback, and then he remembered who his father was talking about.

Er Gou and Lao Wang.

Li Dong's lackey was also the original owner's former card-playing partner.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Hopefully they'll be sensible.