Chapter 6

Lin Piao carried the bamboo basket out of the house.

The moment he stepped over the threshold, he saw Er Zhuzi sitting gloomily outside.

As soon as Er Zhuzi spotted Lin Piao, he immediately stood up.

His eyes lit up as he stared at the basket in Lin Piao’s hands.

“Saozi, what are you going to get us to eat this time?”

“I’m going to the river to catch a fish.”

“What’s so good about fish… It can’t compare to meat.”

Er Zhuzi couldn’t help complaining.

Their village being situated beside a river had its advantages and disadvantages.

Every year, a few unlucky people drowned, but as the saying went, those who lived by the water could make a living from it.

When they didn’t have money for pork, they could go catch a fish for a little extra protein, or dry some fish for later.

But fish had so many fine little bones, and when stewed, they often tasted fishy and bitter.

Unless they needed it specifically to nourish the body or fill their stomachs, chickens and ducks were much tastier.

“Fish isn’t delicious?”

Lin Piao thought about it.

Fish was harder to cook than meat.

The land around here could produce little more than scallions.

They didn’t even have ginger or garlic, much less cooking wine.

Most things were simply thrown into a pot and stewed.

Nobody was willing to spend too much effort on cooking something like this.

Ultimately, they were just too poor.

They didn’t have the spare time or resources to fuss over food.

“Want to come fishing with me?”

“I know how to make fish soup.”

“I guarantee it’ll turn out fragrant and sweet.”

“Really? I’m coming!”

Er Zhuzi had already wanted to go out and play anyway.

He ran home, grabbed an old bamboo basket, and rushed back out.

The two of them walked toward the river.

Along the road, idle men and women called out to him.

“Lin Piao, where are you going?”

“Going to catch fish for dinner.”

“Not slaughtering a chicken anymore?”

The aunties and older women all smiled knowingly.

Lin Piao didn’t mind.

“Nope. I’m going to let them grow a little longer and lay some eggs for my little brother-in-law.”

“I’m making fish soup tonight. You aunties should come over and try some.”

Several women immediately declined.

Some said they didn’t like fish.

Others said they’d already started cooking at home.

Lin Piao didn’t care whether they were telling the truth.

When they reached the river, he rolled up his trouser legs and stepped into the shallow water.

Looking slightly farther into the deeper section, he could already see black carp about the length of his palm.

The bamboo basket in Lin Piao’s hands was about as large as a winnowing basket.

Half of it sank beneath the water as he slowly approached.

Just as he was about to lift it, the black carp flicked its tail and shot away.

It swam far off in an instant.

Er Zhuzi was fishing beside him.

Keeping his eyes on the water, he quietly said:

“Saozi, I don’t want to learn how to write anymore.”

“Why?”

“Shen Hong just agreed to teach you, and you’re already changing your mind because you’re afraid it’ll be hard?”

“No!”

“Would writing a few characters really kill me?”

“It’s just that when Mom heard we needed paper and brushes, she was planning to empty our entire savings.”

“She says spending the money is worth it and that there’ll be benefits in the future.”

“But I can tell she’s hurting over every coin.”

“It’s good that you know to feel sorry for your mother.”

“I forgot to tell you earlier.”

“I thought about it and decided paper and brushes really aren’t worth the expense either.”

“I discussed it with Shen Hong.”

“We’re going to see if we can use bamboo slips for teaching.”

“That means carving characters onto strips of bamboo with a small knife.”

“But it’ll definitely be harder than writing with a brush.”

“You’ll have to shave the bamboo strips yourself too.”

“And you’ll have to weave the bamboo slips together yourself.”

“I have no problem with that!”

The moment Er Zhuzi heard this, he relaxed completely.

He practically floated with relief.

“Shaving things, chopping things, carving things—what’s so difficult about that?”

“I play around with things like that all the time.”

“Isn’t this easier than writing?”

“Shen Hong might not even be able to do it as well as me!”

As he spoke, Er Zhuzi became increasingly smug.

Then his hand suddenly twitched.

He quickly scooped up a fish.

After climbing onto shore, he twisted several blades of grass into a rope, threaded it through the fish’s gills, and hung it by the riverbank.

“Hey, that widow from the Shen family!”

Lin Piao was just admiring Er Zhuzi’s excellent fishing skills when he heard a man’s voice from the shore.

He sounded as though he was calling out to him.

Lin Piao turned around.

A young farmer was standing on the riverbank, staring directly at him.

Lin Piao followed his gaze downward.

And nearly short-circuited.

His trouser legs were rolled up.

One section of his pale, slender calf stood in the clear water.

The skin looked even more delicate and tender against the water.

“Catching fish?”

“Want me to come help you?”

For fuck’s sake.

The moment Lin Piao heard the excitement in the man’s voice, his temper flared.

“Get lost!”

“Get as far away from me as you can!”

The sturdy man plucked a blade of grass and held it between his lips.

“You’re a widow. Where’d you get such a temper?”

“You should cool yourself down a little.”

Lin Piao immediately caught the suggestive meaning behind his words.

His temper shot through the roof.

“Get lost!”

“If you don’t, I’ll shove you into the river.”

“Let’s see whether you’ll be catching fish or the fish will be eating you!”

The man lost interest and walked away.

Er Zhuzi had already rolled up his sleeves.

He was simply waiting for Lin Piao to give the word so he could charge over.

“What a shameless bastard!”

He had actually dared to flirt with his Saozi!

“People who haven’t studied are just like that.”

“Once you learn to read, find yourself a good wife early and don’t become someone like him.”

“Exactly!”

Er Zhuzi had already been subtly influenced by Lin Piao.

He was beginning to believe that learning to read was the beginning of every good change in life.

As they walked home carrying a long string of fish, he couldn’t help asking:

“Saozi, when is Shen Hong going to teach me to read?”

“By the time we get home and finish cooking, it’ll almost be dark.”

“Go home and hurry up with the bamboo slips.”

“If you finish them quickly, I’ll have Shen Hong start your lessons tomorrow morning.”

“Got it!”

Before they even reached their house, Second Aunt was already waiting outside.

When she saw them returning, she quickly came over.

“I was wondering where you two had disappeared to.”

“So you went fishing!”

Then she looked at Lin Piao.

“Piao’er, Er Zhuzi told me about the paper and brushes.”

“Give me some time.”

“I’ll save up the money and buy them.”

Er Zhuzi hurriedly explained the bamboo-slip plan to her.

The moment Second Aunt heard it, the tension left her body.

Mother and son happily carried the fish into the kitchen to prepare them.

Lin Piao quickly stopped them.

“Second Aunt, we can’t cook the fish directly.”

“Er Zhuzi, gut the fish first.”

“Wash it thoroughly and soak it in water.”

“I still have some wine left from the wedding feast.”

“I’ll go get a cupful.”

Second Aunt immediately grabbed his arm.

“Piao’er, why are you drinking alcohol with fish?”

“Whatever you’re worried about, drinking won’t help.”

“If you get drunk and people hear about it, the villagers will tear your reputation apart.”

Having a sip or two wasn’t a huge deal.

She knew Lin Piao had been having a difficult time and might want a drink.

But they absolutely couldn’t let him develop a reputation for drinking.

It would sound terrible if word got around.

“Second Aunt, I’m not drinking it.”

“I’m using the wine to marinate the fish.”

“That way, the fish will taste better.”

“Oh.”

“So that’s a thing?”

“I’ve never heard of that before.”

Only then did Second Aunt let go of him.

Lin Piao returned home and found the small wine jar left over from the wedding feast.

He scooped some out.

He wasn’t a professional chef, but he had a general idea of what needed to be done.

Just as he finished pouring the wine into a cup and turned around, Shen Hong’s voice came from behind him.

“Saozi, don’t drink alcohol.”

Lin Piao turned around and explained again.

“I’m not drinking it.”

“I’m making rich fish soup for you.”

Shen Hong looked at Lin Piao’s gentle expression.

Even his manner was warm.

The way he softly emphasized the words “fish soup” carried an indescribable sense of warmth.

He wanted to say Thank you for your hard work, Saozi, but for some reason, the words wouldn’t come out.

After a moment, he could only lower his eyes and say seriously:

“I’ll study hard.”

The fragrance of wine drifted between them.

Lin Piao gently patted his shoulder.

“Go outside and get some sunlight.”

“Once you’re feeling better, walk around more.”

“No matter how important studying is, it can never be more important than your health.”

Lin Piao was genuinely afraid the boy would study himself into becoming a bookworm.

Not passing the examinations wasn’t a huge problem.

But if he became a complete dullard, he’d be much harder to take care of.

Lin Piao carried the wine into Second Aunt’s house.

The fish had already been gutted and washed of its blood.

It was soaking in cool well water.

“Saozi, how is this?”

“Did I do it right?”

“That’s right.”

“Let it soak and draw out the blood.”

Lin Piao pointed at several parts of the fish.

“Now rub it again.”

“Get rid of that membrane and the slime.”

“Wash it again?”

Er Zhuzi couldn’t believe it.

It was already so clean.

He couldn’t understand what else there was to wash.

Second Aunt smacked his hand away.

“If Saozi says to wash it, then wash it.”

“Your Saozi likes things done properly.”

“This is delicate work.”

“Are you going to die from rubbing it a little?”

Second Aunt was also secretly puzzled.

She’d heard that Lin Piao’s maternal family was even poorer than Xiao Shen’s.

So how did he know so much about preparing food?

“Piao’er, where did you learn all this?”

“Nobody in our village is this particular about food.”

“I’ve always loved eating.”

“I liked experimenting with things since I was little.”

“Piao’er is really clever.”

“If you were in the county, wouldn’t you have become a great chef?”

Second Aunt clicked her tongue in amazement.

Such a young Ge’er had figured out so many things on his own.

How clever must he be?

His little brother-in-law really was lucky to have him.

“Haha, not at all.”

“I still have a long way to go.”

Working a job was impossible. Stealing electric scooters was impossible too.

Lin Piao washed the fish thoroughly, then marinated a large basin of it with some salt and wine.

“Next, we’ll fry it in a little oil…”

“Didn’t you say we were stewing it?”

“Why use oil?”

“Shouldn’t we save that?”

“We don’t need much.”

“Just a thin layer.”

“Fry both sides until they’re crisp, golden, and slightly charred.”

“Then pour in water.”

“After that, just let it cook.”

“Today we’ll treat it as Er Zhuzi’s apprenticeship feast.”

Second Aunt was speechless.

What did other people spend when they took a teacher?

And what was her family spending?

Half the fish had even been caught by Lin Piao himself.

Her household was only providing a little oil and a piece of firewood.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt that Lin Piao was genuinely sincere.

He didn’t say empty words.

He really did care about her.

“All right.”

“Go home and rest.”

“I’ll come call you when it’s ready.”

Lin Piao had arranged the evening meal.

When he returned to his own courtyard, he saw Er Zhuzi sitting there too.

He was vigorously shaving and splitting bamboo strips for the bamboo slips.

Shen Hong had moved a small stool outside and was sitting in the afternoon sunlight.

The gentle warmth fell across his face, casting his eyelashes into the shape of tiny fans.

He held a small household woodcutting knife.

He was trimming the edges of the bamboo slips, smoothing out the rough strips Er Zhuzi had split.

After working for a while, Er Zhuzi couldn’t hold himself back.

“Teach me a few characters first.”

“Let me see what you’re capable of.”

“Otherwise, how am I supposed to know how impressive you are?”

Shen Hong wasn’t angry at all.

He simply nodded slightly.

Holding the bamboo slip in his hand, he drew several strokes in the dirt beside his feet.

Er Zhuzi craned his neck forward.

“What character is that?”

“Zhu.”

Lin Piao also leaned over to look.

He discovered that he could actually recognize the writing system used here.

The strokes and combinations were slightly different from what he knew, but they were still recognizable.

He felt considerably happier.

Looks like I’m not completely illiterate in ancient times after all.

Shen Hong calmly explained:

“It’s made from 木 and 主.”

“When wood becomes useful timber, it becomes a supporting pillar.”

“The large piece of wood that supports the beams of a house is called 柱.”

“My mother said she gave me a cheap name so I’d be easy to raise.”

“I never knew there was so much meaning behind it.”

Er Zhuzi immediately felt that he had gained a great deal from this lesson.

He could feel knowledge washing over him.

Lin Piao chimed in.

“See? Your mother put a lot of thought into it.”

“You have to keep improving.”

“Of course!”

Er Zhuzi suddenly became full of energy.

He split three bamboo strips in one go.

When Shen Hong reached out to pick them up, Er Zhuzi stopped him.

“Don’t help me.”

“I’ll finish all of them tonight.”

Lin Piao saw that the child had been sufficiently motivated.

He was just about to return to his room when he turned around.

Shen Hong was looking at him.

But only for a moment.

He quickly lowered his head again and continued trimming the edges of the bamboo slips.

“Hong’er, if you’re hungry, tell me.”

“There are still some pastries inside.”

“You can go get some yourself if you want.”

Lin Piao thought about the few lumps of flour hidden in the cabinet that were so hard one bite could probably leave you choking for three days.

He almost felt embarrassed calling them pastries.

They were awful.