Early in the morning, Zhao Guihua took Liang ifen out with her.
She carried a bamboo basket on her back containing a fishing net she had borrowed from Li the Cook's wife, Aunt Wang.
Yesterday, when she said she was going fishing, it wasn't just idle talk. As an experienced elderly woman, Zhao Guihua genuinely knew where to catch fish. There were actually quite a few fishing spots in their city, like where Li the Cook regularly went fishing at the Back Lake area.
However, such places weren't suitable for Zhao Guihua. Old Man Zhuang understood her well - she didn't actually know how to fish with a rod.
At those typical fishing spots, she would be completely lost. That's why Zhao Guihua never intended to go to such places. The place she had in mind was a rare gem for catching fish. Though, since her mories were a bit distant, it took so effort for Zhao Guihua to find it.
Liang ifen followed Zhao Guihua the whole way. They walked for most of the morning, and Liang ifen stole glances at her mother-in-law, not daring to speak. Her mother-in-law had "talked" to her earlier that morning, making her already troubled mood even worse.
She never imagined her mother-in-law could be so calculating, and when she thought about it, her household had indeed been taking advantage all along. As a result, Liang ifen didn't dare make a sound now, following behind Zhao Guihua like a servant girl.
Zhao Guihua couldn't be bothered to look at her dejected face and focused on finding the fish pond.
Though she was confident she knew where it was, they still wandered quite a bit before suddenly, "Ah!"
Zhao Guihua cried out, startling Liang ifen, who hurried forward asking, "Mom, what's wrong?"
Zhao Guihua pointed to a hidden pond not far away and exclaid excitedly, "Found it!"
She was instantly energized and rushed over, with Liang ifen hurrying to keep up. Both mother and daughter-in-law ran to the pond, and Liang ifen was amazed: "Mom, there really is a pond here!"
Zhao Guihua gave her a sideways glance and said, "Did you think I was making it up?"
"Of course not," Liang ifen wouldn't dare offend her mother-in-law.
Zhao Guihua imdiately started giving instructions: "You gather stones while I check how frozen it is and find a spot to break through."
Liang ifen perked up and got busy right away: "Okay!"
Zhao Guihua nodded with satisfaction. Although her eldest daughter-in-law had many flaws - being what modern people would call a "brother complex" - she did have her good points. She worked diligently and never cut corners.
Whatever task you gave her, she would complete it thoroughly without being lazy.
This area was on a small hill, slightly colder than in the city, and the entire pond was frozen over. Zhao Guihua and Liang ifen found a spot and frantically started breaking the ice. It took considerable effort, nearly exhausting them, but they finally managed to create a decent-sized hole.
As soon as they broke through, Zhao Guihua's sharp eyes spotted fish. Her face lit up with joy as she said, "Quick, bring the fishing net, let's set it!"
Liang ifen had never fished before. Though from a modest family, she was still a city girl who had finished high school. While not well-off, they weren't desperately poor either, so naturally, she didn't know these skills.
"Mom, how do we do this? Just throw it in and we'll catch them?"
Zhao Guihua gave her a look: "Are you dreaming? Thinking it's that easy? Go find a bamboo pole."
Zhao Guihua thought to herself that she was quite internet-savvy, having learned many life hacks on social dia. When Liang ifen returned with the pole, Zhao Guihua imdiately put it in the water and started stirring clockwise, saying, "If I get tired, you take over."
"Sure!"
Liang ifen never argued about work.
Zhao Guihua stirred the pole in the water, a task requiring significant effort. Despite the cold weather, she was starting to sweat and her arms were getting sore. Liang ifen quickly took over, though she couldn't last as long as Zhao Guihua had. She comnted, "Mom, why does it feel harder and harder to stir?"
Zhao Guihua replied: "Probably got fish, co on, let's pull up the net!"
They quickly started pulling, "One-two, one-two!"
Zhao Guihua: "Careful now, pull hard, quick, one-two! Heave!"
"Ah!"
As both won pulled with all their might, there was a cracking sound as the ice started breaking. Liang ifen's face turned pale with fear, but Zhao Guihua quickly gave one final pull, and the fishing net ca flying up.
"Ah ah ah, Mom, look, look there are fish, really there are fish!"
Zhao Guihua: "Stop talking, quick, move!"
They dragged the net, rushing quickly to the shore. Fortunately, though the ice had cracked, only a few pieces near the hole had fallen in, with just so cracks elsewhere, so it wasn't too dangerous.
Zhao Guihua plopped down on the ground, sighing: "Damn, getting sothing to eat really isn't easy."
Liang ifen also sat down, not caring about getting dirty, her eyes fixed on the fishing net in amazent.
Inside were more than ten fish, both large and small. The smallest ones were seven or eight inches long, while the biggest ones were over ten inches - no wonder it had been so hard to pull up. These fish were enormous, almost like fish spirits!
Liang ifen stared at the fish in a daze while Zhao Guihua couldn't hide her excitent. Still catching her breath, her eyes crinkled with joy, softening her usually stern features. Zhao Guihua said proudly, "I told you we could do it, didn't I?"
Liang ifen swallowed, her eyes still glued to the fish - they were truly huge.
Could their family even eat all these fish? If not, could she perhaps send so to her parents' ho? Her gaze drifted back to the pond, blinking a few tis, wondering if she could secretly tell her family about this place...
Zhao Guihua, who had been feeling pleased with herself, turned and caught her daughter-in-law's calculating look. She startled and imdiately scolded: "This is MY spot that I found. If you dare tell your family about it, you can pack up and go back to them forever. Divorce - that's definitely what'll happen."
Liang ifen was startled by these words and quickly said, "Mom, I wasn't..."
"Bah, I don't care what you were or weren't thinking. If I ever find out you did such a thing, you can go back to your family forever and be your brother's servant for life. See how nice I'm being! I'll be the evil mother-in-law if that's what it takes!" Zhao Guihua's words were harsh, but different people needed different approaches.
She understood her eldest daughter-in-law Liang ifen's personality too well. If you spoke to her kindly and tried to reason with her, genuinely considering her interests, she would take it for granted and even feel wronged at the slightest thing, thinking you were easy to push around.
Even in her previous life, Zhao Guihua had already done so much for the eldest son's family, yet in Liang ifen's mind, she was still absolutely wicked.
Later, she simply beca fierce, never showing a kind face, speaking only to scold. Surprisingly, Liang ifen then started seeing her mother-in-law as straightforward and frank.
Zhao Guihua found this utterly absurd.
So she didn't hold back at all and went straight to being stern. Sure enough, her harsh words made Liang ifen close her mouth submissively, looking wronged but apparently taking the ssage to heart.
Zhao Guihua thought to herself: "..." How ridiculous! This person just couldn't handle kindness.
After catching her breath, she said, "Let's rest a bit and then head back."
Liang ifen hesitantly asked in a small voice, "We could catch more, couldn't we? Should we get so more?"
Zhao Guihua didn't want to leave either, but she worried that taking too much might draw attention, especially since they had quite a distance to walk ho. Besides, the ice had cracked earlier, which was concerning.
"Let's save it for next ti. Next ti we'll bring so n from the family. This ti I mainly wanted to find this place again. Next ti we'll bring rope to tie around ourselves, it'll be safer. I don't trust this ice too much."
Though she wanted fish, she valued her life more.
"Besides, there are only two kids at ho, and they haven't had lunch yet."
Zhao Guihua made the decision, standing up to arrange the fish in her basket, her face beaming with satisfaction, feeling truly content.
She cautioned: "We need to be careful on our way back, don't let anyone notice."
Hearing this, Liang ifen nodded in complete agreent, saying, "Mom, I understand."
Having lived in the sa compound for many years, everyone knew each other well, and she was quite familiar with everyone's personality. If people found out about this wonderful spot they had discovered, there wouldn't be a single fish left in no ti.
Thinking about this, both of them shuddered.
Zhao Guihua made a quick decision: "We can't wait, this place is too good to pass up. Let's go back first. I'll visit the old man at noon, and you go to the eldest's place. Have the n take the afternoon off, and we'll co back again."
After a mont's thought, she added, "I'll go borrow Ming i's bicycle. We shouldn't take the bus in the afternoon. Let's ride bikes instead. It'll be less conspicuous."
"Agreed!"
The mother and daughter-in-law, having made their plan, quickly headed back. After descending the hillside, they still had quite a walk before reaching the bus stop. They walked briskly, full of pride and excitent: such good fortune didn't co often!
While Zhao Guihua was having her successful morning, Ming i had been busy all morning as well. With the New Year just half a month away, there were particularly many travelers. She had been shouting all morning until her voice was nearly gone, and she'd finished an entire bottle of water. At noon, Ming i took advantage of the shift change to grab a quick al when she heard soone at the gate calling, "Xiao Ming, Xiao Ming, soone's here to see you."
Ming i stood up: "Coming!"
She was a pretty young woman, known in the community simply as Xiao Ming.
That's what happens when your surna causes confusion.
Ming i hurried to the entrance, her footsteps clicking along the way. She saw her mother-in-law, a small elderly lady, pacing back and forth at the bus station entrance. Ming i quickly ran up, playfully patted Zhao Guihua's shoulder, and linked arms with her, saying with a smile, "Mom, what brings you here? Co in and have a seat."
The old guard at the gate peered over his newspaper, stealing glances repeatedly.
Zhao Guihua pulled Ming i aside and said, "Let borrow your bicycle, there's sothing good happening."
Ming i replied, "What do you an 'borrow'? We're family, just use it!"
Though she was concerned, she believed there must be "sothing good" coming.
Aliali: 67358283d72ede93494505dbSeeing Ming i's slightly furrowed brow despite trying to appear generous, Zhao Guihua chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I won't let it get scratched or damaged. You'll understand when you get ho tonight. Oh, and make sure to go straight ho after work, keep an eye on the house. We'll all be back a bit late."
With that explanation, how could Ming i not understand?
Her eyes imdiately lit up, and she nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, leave it to , no problem!"
Zhao Guihua: "...Don't go wandering around."
Ming i nodded.
Zhao Guihua: "...Don't let the two kids cause trouble."
Ming i nodded again.
Zhao Guihua: "Just prepare sothing simple for dinner..."
Ming i put her hands on her hips: "Mom, don't you trust ? Really, I've got this!"
Zhao Guihua: "...Alright then."
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