pjbooks Chapter 47: A Bountiful Harvest
Chapter 47: A Bountiful Harvest
After finalizing the fishing arrangements, Shan Yaowen returned home only to find that his older brother was not there; he had gone to deliver fish to his grandparents.
Since his elder brother is going, Shan Yaowen won't go.
Anyway, he can see his grandparents often, but he mainly doesn't want to see his uncle's family.
Since my father and uncle separated their households, the two families have been like strangers and have had no contact with each other.
His grandparents are still alive, and they see each other during holidays, but they don't keep in touch at other times. Even after his father was injured, such a big thing, his uncle's family didn't show up.
After my grandparents pass away, the two families will probably never see each other again.
As for the inside story, Shan Yaowen was not very clear. It is said that the seed was planted when his father was young, and there was a lot of unpleasantness when his father got married and divided the family property. If his grandparents hadn't been around, the two brothers would probably have fought.
The next morning.
Shan Yaowen had just gotten up when he saw Shi Zhang already waiting at the door.
"So early?" Shan Yaowen quickly ushered Shi Zhang into the house, where it would be warmer.
"My dad said it's rare for you to need to see me, so you should come early."
"Well, let's go shovel snow over at the ranch first."
Shan Yaowen also wanted to go fishing as soon as possible, but unfortunately there were many things to do in the middle of winter, including his family's farm and the ranch.
The eldest brother in the family would shovel snow before going to work, while Shan Yaowen was mainly in charge of the ranch.
If my mom were to do this, it would strain her back.
After shoveling the snow, Shan Yaowen and Shi Zhang went to Sandao Lake. He planned to catch another batch of fish at home today and then take them to town to sell.
In this freezing weather, the fish are all frozen solid; they can stay frozen for a whole day and night without any problem.
"Brother Wen, did you do this yesterday?"
Upon arriving at the location, Shi Zhang looked at the obviously re-frozen pits in the lake and the scattered black ash around them.
"Yes, let's clear the space first. I'll go get some firewood and start a fire."
Activities on the frozen lake are impossible without a fire, especially since they also have to deal with the lake water.
"What do we do?"
Shi Zhang is already eager to make a big splash.
It's just catching fish.
Just as Shan Yaowen and his companion began fishing, having just broken the ice again and cast their first net, they spotted several figures on the other side.
Among those people, there was one who looked somewhat familiar, someone he had met once before, but he couldn't remember where he had seen him before.
However, those people did not come to Shan Yaowen's side. Instead, they found a place far away and began to chisel ice.
"Brother Wen, are those people also planning to fish?" Shi Zhang frowned after seeing this.
"If they're not planning to use fishing rods, they'll probably have to break through the ice to catch the fish," Shan Yaowen shrugged.
He guessed that someone would imitate him after he started fishing, but he didn't expect that someone would come on the very second day.
And they brazenly fished by breaking ice right across from themselves.
However, since Sandao Lake belongs to the public, if he can fish there, others can too, and he has no right to interfere with others' fishing.
Thus, the two groups of people were separated by the lake, able to see each other, but they did not communicate at all, each tacitly doing their own work.
However, unlike Shan Yaowen, who was well-prepared.
The other side had obviously arrived in a hurry. Shan Yaowen had already set up a net, but they hadn't even broken the ice yet. They were working in a chaotic manner and hadn't even started a fire.
"Brother Wen, can you really catch fish with this?"
While waiting, Shi Zhang rubbed his hands together. Although he was sitting by the fire, his attention was focused on the ice hole that had just been carved out.
He didn't know Shan Yaowen's record yesterday, so it's normal for him to have such doubts.
This initial doubt turned into amazement and admiration after the first haul was completed.
Looking at the lively fish in the fishing net, Shi Zhang felt that his brain was not working properly. They were all the same age, so why were other people's brains so smart that they could catch fish like that?
"Amazing!" Shi Zhang couldn't think of any other words to praise him.
"What's the big deal?" Shan Yaowen waved his hand. "If you read more books, you would know these things too."
"Did the teacher teach us how to fish? Besides, what does this have to do with studying?"
"The book talks about oxygen and photosynthesis, right? That's the principle." Shan Yaowen couldn't explain the whole principle, but he knew it was related to this.
Anyway, it has nothing to do with the Pythagorean theorem.
Shi Zhang scratched his head, wondering why he couldn't understand Shan Yaowen's words at all.
"Brother Wen, it has to be you. You didn't even finish elementary school, yet you can say such philosophical things."
Shan Yaowen: ...
Gan!
They forgot they were illiterate.
This doesn't quite fit my public image.
As they talked and chatted, the two continued to cast and release the net, and more and more fish appeared on the ice.
The group opposite them gradually got back on track from their initial chaotic state and started fishing. Although they didn't catch as many fish as Shan Yaowen's group, they still managed to catch something.
After finishing their work in the morning, they left home around ten o'clock. Now the sun was beginning to set, and Shan Yaowen and his companion started packing up.
After all, they had only eaten a little something in the morning, and both of them were panting heavily.
At this time, almost every household ate two meals a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
"Bake two flatbreads to replenish your energy." Shan Yaowen took out some dry food from the sled and gave one portion to Shi Zhang.
"No need, we've already collected everything. We can just go back and eat." Shi Zhang wiped the water from his forehead; a fish had just jumped out and splashed him with water.
"eat."
Without a word, Shan Yaowen shoved a piece of food into Shi Zhang's hand. "You'll be coming to town with me to sell fish later. Besides, how long until lunchtime? You need to fill your stomach before you start working with me."
After finishing their pancakes, the two tidied up quickly and left.
Before leaving, he glanced at the people working across from him, but they showed no sign of leaving.
That's true. It's rare to find a way to make money, so how can we not make a little more?
After returning home with the fish they had caught the day before, the two of them rushed to the town.
We brought along the fifty or so pounds of fish we left behind yesterday, plus the more than one hundred pounds we caught today.
The state-run restaurant and Deng Jianguo's place are split in half.
Fresh fish is a rare treat in winter, and with the tightening of resource controls, any restaurant could have eaten the whole thing if Shan Yaowen hadn't divided it into two portions beforehand.
"Brother Shan, you've really impressed me. You're quite skilled at hunting and fishing." Deng Jianguo smiled and handed over a stack of change.
He really didn't expect that after only a week, Shan Yaowen hadn't sent any prey, but instead brought over a truckload of fish.
It really surprised him.
"Sigh, it's just so-so." Shan Yaowen counted the items in front of him after receiving them.
The fish he brought were originally sold by type, with silver carp, grass carp, common carp, and crucian carp all priced differently.
Prices range from one cent to two cents.
However, Boss Deng was very easy to talk to and directly gave a uniform price of 15 cents per pound.
"Thirteen yuan and sixty cents, no problem, thank you very much, Boss Deng." Shan Yaowen put the money away and shook hands with Deng Jianguo with a smile.
"No problem at all." Deng Jianguo extended his hand to shake Shan Yaowen's. "Any good stuff lately?"
"The snow is so heavy that I don't even dare to put down my trap. I usually just pick up frozen pheasants and rabbits in the woods."
"Haha~"
After talking for a while, Shan Yaowen took Shi Zhang back.
Even as they reached the village entrance, Shi Zhang was still sighing.
"Brother Wen, you're really something! When it comes to making money, I haven't seen anyone in our village who's better than you."
Shi Zhang now admires Shan Yaowen. He accompanied Shan Yaowen to sell fish today, and he knows the income: a total of twenty-four yuan.
If he were to do manual labor, it would probably take him ten days to half a month to earn that much money.
"Here's yours." Shan Yaowen casually picked up three yuan and handed it to Shi Zhang.
"No, you promised, just give me two fish."
"Then two pieces it is. You can pick up the fish from my house later." Shan Yaowen handed it directly to Shi Zhang.
Shi Zhang wanted to return it, but Shan Yaowen simply raised his whip and lashed it, and the sled moved forward.
"To be continued tomorrow."
After leaving a voice behind, Shan Yaowen left.
However, as soon as he arrived at his doorstep, his mother pulled him over and looked him up and down.
"What's wrong, Mom?"
Shan Yaowen felt uneasy under their gaze.
"The villagers just said that someone was fishing in Sandao Lake and fell into the lake."
Shan Yaowen: ...
Who is it?
"I don't know, all I know is that you went."
"Didn't I say I was going to sell fish in town when I got back?"
"You've never been honest. What if you say you're selling fish but actually went to Sandao Lake to catch fish?"
Shan Yaowen was convinced by his mother's stereotype; it hadn't changed even after all this time.
Once the mother realized that the person who fell into the lake wasn't her son, she was relieved. As for other people's children, she couldn't care less.