Chapter 22: Fish Full of the Barrel, Eggs Overflowing!

y refugees on the road, making it quite lively.Those bandits, as if they knew them well, suddenly rushed out and began to kill, kidnap, loot silver, food and luggage, and then went into the mountains....These apples and pears are plump and round, they don't look like wild fruits that grow on the mountain at all.

Even bigger and fresher than the ones they saw for sale on the streets of Kyoto!

While she was overjoyed, a hint of anxiety crept into her heart.

"Lao Si, can we safely eat these fruits"

Let's get it back first and then talk about it.

Li Laosi was also flustered. There were no fruit trees or jujube trees around here, but with a turn of his body, these things appeared at his feet.

Seeing her parents' cautious and uneasy expressions, Jiayin knew they were worried about her leaving with her precious belongings. She quickly opened her mouth wide and babbled excitedly.

Tao Hongying went forward to feed her daughter, and saw that her daughter kept looking at the pile of fruit.

Recalling Grandma's oft-repeated words, which were that even if you don't believe, you must believe.

"Fourth brother, let's take everything back home. Perhaps our little Fu Niu is craving it; we're just benefiting from her good fortune."

The daughter-in-law just wouldn't say anything, and Old Li Si couldn't bear to push her.

He quickly started packing his bags, and casually took a bite of an apple. Sweetly, he immediately offered it to his daughter-in-law's mouth.

The couple shared a warm kiss and then ate an apple together. Jiayin was also full after having her milk and dog food.

A family of three quickly hurried home, luckily Li Lao Si was strong.

Otherwise, two bags of fruit, one bag of jujubes, plus so many chestnuts and hazelnuts, it's impossible to take them all back...

Once back home, everyone was amazed by these things.

Even Wu Cuifang became more diligent, rushing around helping to move things and sneaking bites along the way...

Jia Yin lay on the kang, listening to everyone's excited chatter and was also happy to dance with joy.

But thinking about all the more potatoes and corn in space, I felt a bit down.

That's what true hunger is like, unfortunately, these high-yield crops haven't appeared in this world yet.

Better safe than sorry, it's probably a few years before we can take it out...

On this day, Li Laotai held her granddaughter as she walked in the house.

With the sight of plump sweet potatoes and various mountain goods, as well as wild chickens and rabbits hanging from the rafters.

She gained confidence for surviving the winter, and her days became more energetic.

Back in the house, the old woman took two puffs from her pipe and then instructed her son.

"Lao Si ah, these few days don't go up the mountain."

“Huh” Lao Si Li didn't understand why his mother suddenly said that.

Li Laotai teased her young granddaughter who was playing with her fingers, and said in a low voice.

"We were so lucky to find this much food, all thanks to our good fortune. But we should be content and not be greedy."

Li Laosi nodded quickly, “Mother, I hear you. I’ll go to the river to fetch water in a while, and by the way, see if I can catch a couple of crucian carp to make soup for Hongying.”

Before Li Lao Tai could respond, Jia Yin immediately reached out to Li Lao Si for a hug.

Li Lao smiled helplessly, pulling her granddaughter's hand back.

"Alright, Grandma knows that Funiu wants to go too. But your father has work to do, so in a while your brother Xijian will carry you there."

Jia Yin contentedly let out a puff of bubbles. The small courtyard was now home to five ducks and five geese.

They may not lay eggs as diligently as hens, but little by little, over almost two months, they have accumulated close to a hundred eggs.

I always have to find a way to get it out, even if it's pickled into salted eggs.

Just thinking about runny yolks makes Jia Yin's mouth water.

Unfortunately, she forgot that even if it were pickled into salted eggs, she, a baby who hadn't even lived for a hundred days, couldn't eat them.

The village got its name because outside the village there is a large river, extending three or four miles. Along the riverbank, reeds grow in vast patches.

The villagers nearby were all willing to cut some thatch, repair the roof, or weave reed mats to lay on the kang.

Jiao Yin was still lying in the basket, carried by Li Lao Si.

As for Jia Xi and Jia An, they have already gone out to play by the water.

The river was clear, wide and deep. Even standing on the bank not far away, the water reached past Li Laosi's knees.

Li Lao Si put a bucket full of water on the bank, and then took another bucket to continue scooping water.

"Look! Jiahxi shouted in surprise, "Fourth Uncle! You've caught a big fish again Several of them!"

Li Laosì was puzzled. He turned back and saw that Jiaxi had already pulled a large fish out of the tub, her whole body and face covered in water.

He quickly turned back and saw four large carp trapped in the tub, flapping and struggling to jump out.

He was stunned, but quickly recovered, mumbling a response.

Then, going back for another bucket, he heard a sound coming from it as well.

This time it's two crucian carp and one grass carp, each weighing four or five catties!

That's strange!

Li Laosi's heart pounded. He remembered the previous few times when this had happened, and he dared not make a sound.

The little girl in the basket was gazing at her fingers, a smile lighting up her face.

He could bear it no longer, so he picked up his daughter and kissed her little face twice.

"Daddy's little treasure, you are amazing!"

Jia Yin was tickled by her father's stubble, shaking her little head and giggling as she dodged.

"Hey hey!" She pointed to the reeds in the distance and scratched at them with her little hand.

Li Laosì, seeing this, quickly pushed his nephews aside and carefully approached.

As expected, parting the reeds revealed a large clutch of wild duck eggs.

There were twenty or so of them, just lying there carelessly at his feet.

He quickly searched the surrounding area again and soon found the second nest.

Two piles of duck eggs add up to over sixty.

He trembled as he reached for it, but his daughter wouldn't stop crying. He thought about it and searched again.

This time, he actually got over twenty large eggs!

If one might say the duck eggs could be from a wild duck, how then do we explain these goose eggs No one in the village raises geese...

He couldn't figure it out, so he just let it go.

Take the little girl out of the basket and put all the duck eggs and goose eggs in.

"Jiarren, come here, run a quick errand for me at home!"

Jiarren got half his pants leg wet, instructed his younger brothers a few words, and then came to help.

Seeing the baskets full of duck eggs and goose eggs, he was so surprised that his eyes widened.

But he was also clever. He grabbed some reeds and covered the basket tightly, then went straight home.

Old Li was right there with Zhao Yuru, washing and mending all the family's coats and pants. Seeing these eggs, she was so delighted that she even forgot about the cotton stuffing.

She kept calling out Tao Hongying, urging her to wash the jars and pickle them immediately.

In the winter, this is a great accompaniment to congee!

Especially goose eggs, one egg is enough for the whole family.

Li Lao Si then brought Jia Yin back, carrying two buckets of fish and walking with the triumphant gait of a victor.

Fortunately, the villagers were all busy with the autumn harvest. Otherwise, seeing him like this, they would have swarmed to the riverbank to fish again.

Li Laotai hugged her granddaughter, kissed her again and again, then took charge herself and marinated the fish, drying it for storage.

Of course, you should keep a whole fish. In the evening, add a cabbage and a block of tofu, and it will be enough for the whole family to have a satisfying meal.

When they finally returned, it was only Jiaxi and Jiā'an, and they had only managed to catch a few small crucian carp and loaches. They were somewhat disappointed.

Here, he ran to look at the big fish in the bucket, and when he turned back, the small fish and the loaches were gone.

Of course, "thief" is 佳音.

The fish in the small courtyard's pond can't just go out but not in, otherwise, after they eat everything, there won't be any left.

After searching for a long time, Jiaxi and Ji'an finally gave up.

Because the fish were too small, even the chickens found them insufficient to eat. They all had their minds set on the large fish they would be stewing for dinner that night...

The whole family was busy, Jia Yin listened to the hustle and bustle and slowly fell asleep.

This day, she tried her best to take things out, it was also very tiring, exceeding the burden of a little baby... worried day and night, with anxiety outweighing joy.Since he knew his own affairs best, he was not a talented person, and his two sons were even more mediocre.Perhaps wealth and honor are the beginni...