Transmigrated as a Peasant Baby Who is Pampered by All

Chapter 18: Chapter 18: What a Big Fish

Jiang Hu was very handy. In just one day, he made a small bed, took it back to the room, and tried putting Xiaomi and Tiedan into it. The size was just right. It could be used for at least six or seven months for the siblings.

”Da Wa, I’m placing this small bed in front of the stove. Be careful not to set it on fire when you’re burning wood.”

”Don’t worry, Dad, I know.”

Da Wa was playing with Tiedan. Recently, Tiedan was awake more often. Although still quieter than Xiaomi, Da Wa was very excited.

It’s only a few days until the full month, but he hasn’t really played with Tiedan yet, and now he was in high spirits.

Jiang Hu set up the small bed and then called to Da Wa and Er Ni to go to the river with him. Da Wa quickly put down Tiedan and pulled Er Ni along, running to catch up.

Jiang Hu planned to go to town tomorrow. It would be best to catch more fish today. Big or small fish would do. The inns in town should buy them.

Inns had money, oil, and spices. Big fish would be braised and small fish would be made into soup. The fish would taste much better cooked.

Their family had a lot of fish recently. After the weather cleared up, they could catch birds, too. Besides sparrows, there would be other bigger birds, like magpies and crows.

”Today, we’ll go to a deeper part of the river. Big fish are in deeper waters. Da Wa, keep an eye on your sister and be careful not to fall into the river.”

He could swim, and so could Da Wa. The river wasn’t particularly fast, but if the child did fall in, it would be frightening.

”Don’t worry, Dad, I’m holding Er Ni’s hand, and we won’t get too close to the riverbank.” Da Wa wasn’t mischievous and knew how to take care of his younger siblings. He just wanted to watch his dad catch fish.

Da Wa dug some worms, wrapping them in a big leaf. Jiang Hu crushed them all in one go, then threw them into a bamboo basket and tied it with a rope before placing it into the river.

The spot he found today happened to be at a river bend. The water surface was calm, but the river was dark and deep. Standing at the riverbank and looking down was somewhat intimidating.

This kind of place usually had big fish, but it was far, and with the previous rain, he hadn’t dared to bring the children until now.

After setting the basket, he tied the rope to a tree on the riverbank and waved his big hand, then picked up Er Ni: ”Let’s go check the fields. We’ll come back later.”

They had just finished sowing seeds, and it rained shortly after. Until now, they hadn’t had a chance to check the fields.

”Okay!” Da Wa quickly followed.

Er Ni lay on Jiang Hu’s shoulder, looking at the riverbank, then at Jiang Hu, finally gazing at Jiang Hu with admiration: ”Dad, can we catch fish later?”

So amazing, Dad is great!

Before Jiang Hu could answer, Da Wa quickly nodded: ”Yeah, every time I see Dad catch fish like this, the fish eat the worms and then go into the bamboo basket.”

Because Jiang Hu’s stress had reduced recently, he became more cheerful, always with a smile on his face. Coupled with his kids’ admiration, he felt more refreshed.

”Your brother is right. Once Dad sells the big fish in town tomorrow, we’ll be able to buy more salt, and our meals will be tastier.”

”Thank you, Dad!”

Da Wa and Er Ni spoke in unison, and seeing the children’s smiles, Jiang Hu felt even more motivated.

They arrived in the field and discovered that the first plowed wasteland had grown a lot of wild grass. After putting Er Ni down, he explained to Da Wa and Er Ni what the crops, wild vegetables, and wild grasses were.

The old wild grass seeds would sprout when they met water. In the past one or two years, the fields had the most wild grass. If anyone was lazy, the wild grass would grow faster than the crops.

Early spring was still relatively cold, not the best time for sowing. Waiting another month or so would be more suitable.

But the family’s situation didn’t give them time to wait. Even if sowing now meant slower growth, at least seeing them grow gave hope, and when it got warmer, they would grow faster naturally.

”Dad, once these are harvested, will we not be hungry anymore?”

Da Wa carefully avoided the newly sprouted crops and pulled out the nearly patch-grown wild grass by the roots, setting aside any edible wild vegetables separately.

”Yes, and tomorrow when Dad goes to town, Da Wa, you’ll take care of your siblings and mom at home and dig more worms. Dad will go up the mountain in the afternoon to see if we can catch some wild chickens.”

He saw a few wild chickens fly back into the mountains earlier when he was chopping bamboo. It seemed animals forgot more easily than people and returned so quickly.

”Dad, do wild chickens eat worms too?” Er Ni worked slower but was very focused.

”I know, I know,” Da Wa answered eagerly: ”Er Ni, wild chickens are a type of bird, a big bird, and birds all eat worms.”

”Oh.” Er Ni nodded knowingly and then flashed a sweet smile: ”Big Brother, I’ll dig worms with you tomorrow, and Dad will catch wild chickens.”

Listening to the children’s innocent chatter and thinking about the family waiting for him at home, Jiang Hu felt increasingly hopeful about the future.

The father and his two children kept weeding in the fields and occasionally ran into others working. Everyone warmly greeted Jiang Hu, their faces filled with smiles and eyes full of spirit.

Apparently, the worms Da Wa and the children caught today had yielded good results for everyone.

It was almost evening, nearly a full hour had passed, and Jiang Hu hurriedly called the two youngsters to head down the mountain.

Er Ni walked slowly, so Jiang Hu carried her while running down the mountain. Da Wa, who had followed his dad to many places recently, was used to his dad’s speed, following closely.

The three first went to the riverbank. Jiang Hu put Er Ni down, told Da Wa to watch his sister, and then rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward.

Er Ni was the most anxious, gripping Da Wa’s arm tightly, tiptoeing and craning her neck but remembering Dad’s words not to get too close, firmly keeping her feet in place.

Da Wa was also quite nervous. After all, this determined whether they could catch big fish!

But seeing Er Ni’s expression, he instantly became more experienced: ”Er Ni, don’t worry, just watch closely. There will definitely be fish!”

As long as there were fish, it didn’t matter if they were big or small. Anyway, they still had plenty at home.

Jiang Hu already had the rope in hand and was actually quite expectant.

He took a deep breath: ”Da Wa, Er Ni, watch closely!”

Then he exerted force with both hands and lifted swiftly.

In just a few breaths, the bamboo basket was out of the water, the river water gushing out from it. Before Jiang Hu could see clearly, Da Wa already jumped up.

”I see it, I see it, Dad, such a big fish! Bigger than any we have at home!”

Er Ni was so excited she couldn’t speak, only nodding vigorously: ”Yes, such a big, big fish!”

Jiang Hu saw it now, too, quickly pulling up the bamboo basket and then running with it far from the riverbank, fearing the fish inside might jump back.

Then, only did he pick up a fish longer than his forearm from the basket, exclaiming: ”What a fat fish!”

”Dad, let’s hurry home and pack the fish!” Da Wa quickly reminded him.

Jiang Hu snapped back, put the fish back in the basket, picked it up, and headed out: ”Da Wa, take your sister and walk slowly. Dad will go first!”