CHAPTER 158: CHAPTER 158: DON’T SHOOT THE HAWK UNTIL YOU SEE THE RABBIT

A few days after handing in the public grain, the brigade organized people to head into the mountains.

Yi Chichi and the others were not free; they had to stock up on winter food, firewood, and help repair the team houses before the snow came.

Last year’s heavy snow caused a house collapse accident, fortunately, there were no casualties.

To prevent the same accident from happening this year, the party secretary had already notified early on for the young and strong in the team to check each house door to door.

Repair what needs to be repaired, fix what needs to be fixed.

The already sun-dried small-leaved camphor also came in handy.

Although Bai Chen and the others were educated youth, they were also educated youth in Kao Shan Village, so they participated in the house repairs.

This day, Yi Chichi and the others squatted in the yard making pickles and dried radish when Liu Dongmei ran in, panting heavily.

"The puddle water is flowing, there are fish inside, do you want to go pick them up?"

"Yes!"

They responded in unison and moved quickly.

Pickling radish could be done anytime, but fish wouldn’t wait.

Soon, a large troop set off with tools.

Half an hour later, they reached their destination.

What they called a puddle was actually a bunch of grass nests, these grass nests were right next to the Taohua River.

The day after handing in the public grain, there was a heavy rain, Taohua River swelled, and the water spread out, filling some of the grass nests.

For the next few days, as soon as the sun came out, the water in the grass nests became shallower.

It was almost like the water ran over.

"Chichi, over here."

Mu Da was resting, and she also joined the large troop to catch fish.

Seeing Yi Chichi rolling up her pants looking for grass nests, the already wet Mu Da shouted over.

"Hey!"

With Mu Da were Wen’s mother and Aunt Ma, all familiar faces.

So, after greeting Wang Nan and the others, she ran over with a basket and basin.

"This grass nest is a bit deep, be careful when you get down."

Seeing her coming down, Wen’s mother reminded her.

"Okay, Aunt, I’ll remember."

There were many grass nests on this grassland, one for each person was enough, no one had to fight over them.

The grass nest Mu Da and the others found was large, the depth was alright, about one meter, the water was very murky, but there were plenty of fish.

One basin down, brought up a pile of fish.

All were palm-sized fish, finger-sized and various kinds, crucian carp, melon seed fish, small carp, seven-star fish, silver carp, etc.

"So many fish."

At this moment, she finally understood the feeling of knocking down a roe deer, scooping fish with a ladle, and a pheasant flying into a pot.

Aunt Ma laughed, "This is nothing, wait until the winter fishing season, then there will be lots of fish, and they’re all big ones, unlike these little ones here."

Before she finished her words, there was a burst of joyful laughter, followed by Liu Dongmei’s excited voice, "Wow, I just caught a huge fish by luck."

"Let me see."

Yi Chichi got interested and turned her head to shout over.

"Is it big?"

Liu Dongmei laughed, holding up the fish in her hand, it was a big fathead, still struggling, its tail smacked with a loud snap, but couldn’t escape.

Everyone exclaimed in awe, their eyes filled with envy.

This one fish was worth several basins of theirs, and the key was its size, even if one couldn’t bear to eat it themselves, keeping it as smoked fish for important guests during the Spring Festival was quite prestigious.

"Quick, quick, catch the fish, maybe we’ll also catch one as big as Meizi’s."

Someone shouted, and the noisy crowd suddenly quieted down.

Then, everyone bent over striving to catch a big fish.

Aunt Ma wasn’t in a hurry, she still had the leisure to remind Liu Dongmei, "Hurry and tie it with grass rope, careful it might escape."

"Okay."

Liu Dongmei listened to the advice and quickly tied the big fathead with a grass rope.

Yi Chichi looked away, continued to fill the basin with fish, no matter the size, dumped them all into the basket, and would sort them slowly when they got back.

After scooping several basins, the basket was full, she lifted it to feel the weight, found it was about twenty pounds, then scooped a basin picking only the palm-sized ones, afterwards strung two strings with grass rope, got up and said, "Aunt, you all take your time fishing, I’ll take the fish back first."

This sounded no different from not fishing.

After all, it took quite a bit of time to go back and forth, and by the time she got back, the fish would likely have been fished out.

"Why don’t you fish more?"

Wen’s mother advised her to catch more, Mu Da and the others the same.

Yi Chichi laughed helplessly, "There’s no place to hold them."

"Who says, isn’t there still a basin?"

Mu Da pointed at the basin in her hand, "You can still fit two strings in your basin, more fish are always good, don’t you think?"

She knew this girl had money, and wasn’t short of money.

But in those days, money wasn’t enough, you also needed tickets.

Unfortunately, this girl didn’t have many tickets left in hand.

Yi Chichi looked at her basin, nodded, "Aunt is right, I’ll catch two more strings."

Speaking of two strings, it was indeed just two strings, she didn’t want the really small ones because they were hard to string, only the palm-sized ones.

Aunt Ma and the others didn’t mind, the little fish she didn’t want were all shared by Aunt Ma and the others.

"These little fish taste great when roasted, and are also good in mixed fish and sauerkraut stew."

"If I had brought a bucket, I wouldn’t part with them either."

These little fry never grew big, a thumb’s length was considered big, but fresh they certainly were.

She looked regretful, Mu Da laughed and said, "Go home and have Uncle Yaozi roast some more for you to snack on."

"Thank you, Mistress, you’re so kind!"

Yi Chichi thanked her cheerfully, Mu Da laughed uncontrollably and said to Aunt Ma and the others, "This girl never acts until she sees a rabbit, if I don’t give her something tasty, she calls me Aunt, if I do, she calls me Mistress."

"Kids are like this."

Wen’s mother glanced at Yi Chichi, smilingly said, "This girl sees you as one of her own, that’s why she’s not being formal with you, you see with us she doesn’t act so cheeky."

Mu Da remembered the handkerchiefs and small things she gave to them, feeling as sweet as honey in her heart.

"You wait, Mistress will go back with you, and help carry some."

"No way."

Yi Chichi didn’t dare to burden her, afraid Uncle Yaozi would nag her, in the past, before marrying his beloved, Uncle Yaozi was taciturn and mature, stable, and composed.

After marrying his lover and shedding the bachelor status, Uncle Yaozi somehow became more lively, chatty even.

Middle-aged love, so sweet it’s overwhelming.

She didn’t want to eat dog food, nor be nagged by Uncle Yaozi.

So, rejecting Mu Da, she lifted the fish basket from the water, ignoring the dripping water and strong fishy smell, slung the basket on her back, and with the basin in her hands, she walked off.

"Aunties, Mistress, take your time, I’m really leaving this time."

"Be careful on the way."

"Got it."

Passing by the grass nest Wang Nan and the others were at, she took a look, the harvest was pretty good.

"Chichi, are you heading back now?"

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Zhou Qiuyu stand up and look over.