Chapter 18: Stewed Fish with Pickled Vegetables

Chapter 18: Pickled Cabbage Fish Stew

Lin Yushu naturally tried to decline, but he couldn't resist Lin Shu's insistence. In the end, he found himself awkwardly clutching the large grass carp, utterly bewildered as he departed amidst Lin Shu's sweet, beaming smile.

"Papa, we're back! Look at the fish Xiao Pu and I caught!" Lin Shu's soft, lilting voice carried a hint of triumph, making anyone who heard it unconsciously curl their lips into a smile.

Lin Yushu didn't dare linger to listen to the joyful sounds from inside. Clutching the large grass carp, he hurried home.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Lin Dashan and He Guixiang were utterly astonished.

They caught *that* many fish?!

The bucket held more fish than water, and its sides still reeked of unrinsed smartweed. Due to the delay on the way back, three of the fish were already belly-up.

After her greeting, Lin Shu quickly grabbed another bucket, filled it with clean water, and transferred all the still-lively fish into it. The three belly-up fish—one large and two small—were perfect for adding a dish to their breakfast.

"Mama, fish stew cooks fast. These fish are already gone, so let's stew them right away. We can eat the flatbread with the stewed fish, and everyone will have a full meal!"

He Guixiang snapped out of her daze, letting out a joyful "Aiya!" She swiftly scooped up the barely breathing fish and took them outside to clean off the scales and guts.

"Mama, add some pickled cabbage to the stew—I love it that way!"

"Alright! Whatever you say," He Guixiang called back from a distance.

Lin Dashan couldn't help but ask Lin Shu how she'd managed it.

Lin Shu's eyes sparkled as she replied, "This is Xiao Pu's and my secret recipe. Even you, Papa, can't know. But from now on, if you want fish, just leave it to Xiao Pu and me."

Before returning, Lin Shu had already cautioned Lin Xiaopu not to reveal their method to anyone. While using smartweed to catch fish was environmentally friendly, it essentially involved using the plant's sap to stun them. If too many people knew and did the same, it would surely impact the aquatic ecosystem.

So, this clever, easy method of catching fish with smartweed would remain their occasional secret.

Lin Dashan didn't press further, merely chuckling. "My daughter is truly capable."

Lin Xiaopu also giggled. *Indeed, my sister is so amazing!*

"Then you have to keep your word, Papa, and let me dig a fish pond behind our house. Once it's ready, Xiao Pu and I will put all the fish we catch into it. Then, whenever you want fish, you can just scoop out the freshest ones!"

Lin Dashan chuckled warmly, "Dig, dig, dig! Whatever my daughter wants, she gets!"

Lin Shu blinked playfully and added, "Papa, you work so hard in the fields every day—I couldn't bear to trouble you. How about I borrow Big Brother A Ye for a few days? Just three days, and I promise it won't interfere with the farm work."

Lin Dashan was deeply touched by her words and readily agreed. The fields had just been weeded once, and any new weeds that sprouted could be handled by him alone. Before the family split, his workload had been far heavier.

He Guixiang prepared a simple pickled cabbage fish stew and served it alongside the previously made flatbread and thick porridge.

For breakfast, the family usually had thick porridge, pickled cabbage, and flatbread, or sometimes steamed rice with two side dishes. The men needed a full meal to have energy for work, while dinner was simpler—usually thick porridge with pickled cabbage, or flatbread with thin porridge if available.

He Guixiang felt a slight regret that she hadn't made steamed rice for this breakfast. Otherwise, they could have enjoyed the fish stew with rice, even finishing every last drop of the broth.

Lin Dashan, however, didn't mind. Even after drinking the thick porridge, he managed two more bowls of fish broth, leaving his belly round and full.

After eating, he couldn't sit still and soon headed back to the fields with a hoe, occasionally patting his full belly with great satisfaction.

Once Lin Dashan had left, Lin Shu feigned a sudden memory and said to He Guixiang, "Oh, my memory! I forgot to tell you and Papa. Xiao Pu and I couldn't carry that bucket of fish, but luckily we ran into cousin Yu Shu on the way. He helped carry it back. When he left, I thanked him and let him take a fish with him."

Lin Xiaopu secretly glanced at her. Her sister's account was rather vague; anyone listening might think cousin Yu Shu had offered to help on his own initiative.

He Guixiang was silent for a moment before nodding. "A Shu did well. Yu Shu helped, so it's right to thank him."

"Mama, how is our relationship with Third Uncle's family? Did I cause any trouble for Papa by asking cousin Yu Shu for help?"

He Guixiang smiled. "No, your papa and your third uncle put the past behind them long ago. It's just that both brothers are as stubborn as mules, and neither wants to be the first to back down. Your third aunt is good at handling people—just wait, she'll probably come over soon to personally thank you for that fish."

"What's Third Aunt like? Did she ever bully you before the family split? If she made things hard for you, I won't give her a friendly face."

He Guixiang quickly replied, "Nothing like that happened. You mustn't be rude to your third aunt."

Before the family split, they had all lived together for many years, and minor conflicts were inevitable. He Guixiang, being gentle-natured, had often been taken advantage of by her sisters-in-law, but it was always over trivial matters.

The eldest sister-in-law was lazy and cunning, loved taking advantage of others, and often spoke harshly. The third sister-in-law also took advantage when she could, but she knew how to handle situations—whenever she gained something at He Guixiang's expense, she would find a way to make it up later. For example, if the eldest sister-in-law said something unpleasant, the third sister-in-law would retort on He Guixiang's behalf. If the eldest sister-in-law went too far, she would even report it to the mother-in-law.

He Guixiang appreciated her kindness, so she often helped the third sister-in-law with tasks the latter disliked, even if it meant more work for herself. Feeling embarrassed, the third sister-in-law would sometimes make little toys to coax A Yao and Xiao Pu. She was skilled at needlework, and A Yao had initially learned from her.

Recalling the past, He Guixiang sighed. "After the unpleasantness during the family split, your third aunt didn't speak to me for a long time. Your third uncle is simple-minded, just like your papa. The reason he insisted on asking for an additional acre of land back then was probably your third aunt's doing behind the scenes. But I don't blame her. Your third aunt has always been resentful—she wants to save money to send cousin Yu Shu to school in town. But studying costs money, and since they couldn't save enough, she had to focus on the land."

Lin Shu knew education was expensive but had no clear idea how much. Curious, she asked, "Why does it have to be in town? Aren't there any village schools in the nearby villages?"

"There are, of course there are. Our Tianshui Village belongs to Jingxi Town, which has twelve villages under it. Among all these villages, only Daoxiang Village has a school. It was opened by an Old Student Scholar dedicated to teaching children the basics. It's been there for many years—the village head's son and grandson both studied there. Your cousin Yu Shu also attended for half a year when he was young and showed quite a talent for learning. But unfortunately, your eldest aunt kicked up a fuss."

After hearing this and thinking it over, Lin Shu found it easy to understand.

The southwest region had never been known for its academic culture and couldn't compare to larger towns and counties focused on imperial exams. Besides, Jingxi Town, where Tianshui Village was located, was particularly mountainous and poor. Most people struggled just to feed themselves—how could they have extra money for education or exams? There were probably very few scholars in the entire Jingxi Town. In other places, a mere licentiate wouldn't qualify to open a school, but the Old Student Scholar in Daoxiang Village was the only hope for miles around.

Remembering that the eldest aunt had three sons, Lin Shu asked, "Didn't the eldest aunt's sons go to school?"

He Guixiang explained, "When she had her first two sons, the family was struggling—it was hard enough to put food on the table, so they didn't send them to school. Later, your grandmother used her savings to buy a few more acres of land, and things got slightly better. Lin Duoliang, the eldest aunt's third son, did go to school with Yu Shu, but he couldn't sit still and was no good at studying. Since her own children were no good, she made sure cousin Yu Shu couldn't go either."

"Around that time, Xiao Pu was often sick and needed medicine, which cost money. Your grandmother told Yu Shu to come back, saying they'd send him again when things were better. But he never returned. Now Yu Shu is older, and the Old Student Scholar used the excuse that he didn't accept students over ten years old, but the truth is, your eldest aunt once made a scene at the school, angering the Old Student Scholar, who refused to take cousin Yu Shu back. If he wants to continue studying, he has to go to a school in town, which costs even more. Because of this, your third aunt has held a grudge against me all these years."

When A Yao was around, she always comforted He Guixiang, saying that even if Xiao Pu had been healthy, their grandmother would have called Yu Shu back anyway. But He Guixiang still couldn't let go of her guilt toward her third sister-in-law.

After listening, Lin Shu thought for a moment, then smiled. "Mama, I thought it was something serious. Is that all? If cousin Yu Shu wants to continue his basic education, he can just come to me. I was a Marquis's daughter in the capital—not only can I teach the basics, but I'm also proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

Lin Shu said this without any hesitation. Before the apocalypse, she had just been admitted to a top university, and in the following five years, she had read widely. Her knowledge was quite solid, and with the original host's memories, it was only a matter of time before she fully absorbed those skills.

He Guixiang was stunned.

As a rural woman who couldn't read, it took her a moment to process this. But after her daughter's reminder, she realized—even though A Shu was a girl, how could a former Marquis's daughter be compared to an ordinary village girl?

She never imagined her A Shu was so remarkable—proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and now even qualified to be Yu Shu's teacher!