Chapter 116: Learn from This!
Chapter 116: Learn from This!
The family arrived at the dock. Zhou Chenglei got on the boat first, then turned back to Jiang Xia and extended his hand.
Jiang Xia's lips curled up slightly as she took his hand and boarded the boat.
Zhou Chenglei's eyes and brows were filled with joy. He held her hand tightly, helped her onto the boat, and supported her waist until she was steady before letting go.
Today, Zhou Chengxin was also joining them for the fishing trip, mainly to avoid staying at home and facing Tea Caihua.
At this moment, he followed Jiang Xia onto the boat, his head hanging low, looking listless.
After Zhou Fu untied the rope, he followed behind and poked Zhou Chengxin's spine with his finger.
Zhou Chengxin turned to look at his father.
Zhou Fu nodded in the direction of Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei and whispered, "Learn from them."
Zhou Chengxin was taken aback and turned to look. He saw Zhou Chenglei sit down next to Jiang Xia, take off the green military water bottle hanging from his shoulder, unscrew the cap, and take a small sip to check the temperature before handing it to Jiang Xia. "Drink some water before breakfast. It's just the right temperature."
Jiang Xia had many good habits, but she didn't pay much attention to health preservation.
For example, she wouldn't drink a glass of water on an empty stomach in the morning before eating.
For example, she preferred hot water, porridge, and soup, which wasn't good for her esophagus.
Zhou Chenglei would pour a cup of water at an appropriate temperature for her to drink before breakfast every day.
Jiang Xia took the water bottle with a gentle smile and sipped it slowly.
Zhou Chenglei then took out two boiled eggs and two ears of corn from the basket, peeled them, and placed them in a bowl to cool down. "Here are the eggs and corn. If you need more, you can peel them yourself. I'll go start the boat."
Jiang Xia looked at the water bottle. "I can't finish all of this."
"Leave some for later. Eat more; you're too thin."
He could hold her with one hand and kiss her for a long time.
Zhou Chenglei replied, knowing she was afraid of the sun. He adjusted her straw hat and pulled up her sleeves to cover her white, jade-like arms before going to start the boat.
Zhou Fu chuckled and patted his eldest son's shoulder. "Remember to observe and learn today. This is the path to wealth."
Zhou Chengxin thought Zhou Fu was telling him to observe how his fourth brother fished and judged where the fish were.
He couldn't possibly be learning how to be as clingy as his fourth brother, right?
That would be too embarrassing!
He felt full just from watching.
He nodded. "Okay."
Zhou Fu was satisfied.
He had already shared the secret to wealth with his eldest son, and the two brothers would surely do better in the future.
After the boat had sailed a distance, they would start dragging the net. Zhou Chengxin sat down.
Jiang Xia noticed his weary appearance but didn't ask why. Instead, she asked, "Big Brother, have you had breakfast? Mom prepared a lot, and I can't finish it all. Do you want an ear of corn? Dad and Ah Lei have already eaten."
Today, Zhou Mu had boiled eggs and corn. Knowing Jiang Xia wouldn't have time for breakfast, she had packed six boiled eggs and four ears of corn for her to eat on the boat.
Zhou Chenglei and Zhou Fu had already eaten breakfast, so she couldn't finish it all herself.
Zhou Chengxin hadn't eaten yet. He was about to refuse but, upon hearing that Zhou Fu and Zhou Chenglei had eaten, he smiled and said, "Sure."
Jiang Xia handed him all the corn and boiled eggs in the basket.
Zhou Chengxin didn't want so much. He took two ears of corn and two boiled eggs.
He asked Zhou Fu if he wanted any, but Zhou Fu declined, saying he wanted to save room for seafood noodles at noon.
Jiang Xia ate one and a half ears of corn and one boiled egg and felt full.
She took the rest to Zhou Chenglei.
Zhou Chenglei was steering the boat and glanced at her. "My hands are busy. Feed me."
Zhou Chengxin said, "Dad, you haven't eaten. You should go steer the boat."
Zhou Fu secretly pinched the tender flesh on his back. "Do I need you to tell me what to do? You talk too much! Eating won't shut your mouth!"
He told him to learn, but what did he learn?
He had no sense at all!
How dare he block his path to wealth!
Zhou Chengxin: "…"
He rubbed his burning back, not understanding where he went wrong.
Jiang Xia glanced at Zhou Fu and Zhou Chenglei, giving Zhou Chenglei a glare. "Hold it yourself."
Clearly, he could steer with one hand.
Zhou Chenglei looked at her, unfazed, and opened his mouth wide, waiting for her to feed him.
This standoff was becoming more awkward. Jiang Xia glared at him again but still held the half-eaten ear of corn to his mouth.
Zhou Chenglei smiled and took a bite of the corn, chewing slowly, his eyebrows almost flying with delight, "Today's sunrise is beautiful."
Fearing she might be shy, he decided to divert her attention.
Jiang Xia turned to look towards the eastern horizon, where the sun had already risen.
But today, the sky was a vibrant blue, and the sea mirrored its hue. Occasionally, a few seabirds would fly across the surface, creating a truly captivating scene.
As Jiang Xia turned back, she noticed another fishing boat following behind them.
"Do you know whose boat that is?" she asked.
Zhou Chenglei took a glance, "It belongs to our neighbor, the uncle of Zhou Guohua."
Jiang Xia remained silent, then offered the corn to his mouth.
Zhou Chenglei leaned down and took a bite, "This corn is sweet. You should eat some too."
Jiang Xia shook her head.
Zhou Chenglei didn't insist, "You can have the egg white, and I'll take the yolk."
Jiang Xia smiled and proceeded to eat the egg white, her favorite part.
Zhou Chenglei glanced at her, a hint of a smile on his lips.
He had already noticed that she didn't particularly enjoy egg yolks.
Even if she didn't like it, she would still eat it.
For the foods she disliked, she would chew a couple of times before swallowing it whole, while for her favorites, she savored each bite.
But with him around, there was no need for her to force herself.
She could simply give him the parts she didn't like.
The couple admired the sunrise over the sea, sharing their food, their faces lit with gentle smiles, completely forgetting about the two large bulbs behind them.
Zhou Fu watched them with delight.
Ah, witnessing their loving gestures was a treat!
Zhou Chengxin had long turned his gaze away, finding the corn overly sweet and almost unbearable to eat.
How did his father manage to remain unaffected when they went out to sea together? He felt like an unnecessary presence on the boat!
The couple took half an hour to finish half a corn and an egg. Finally, Jiang Xia fed the egg yolk to Zhou Chenglei. She picked up the water bottle, twisted open the cap, took a sip, and then passed it to him.
Zhou Chenglei took the bottle, drank a few gulps, then took the cap from her hand and screwed it back on. He turned to Zhou Chengxin and said, "Brother, you take the helm, and I'll go fishing with Jiang Xia."
Zhou Fu instantly became alert and stood up, "I'll take the helm!"
He then gave Zhou Chengxin's butt a playful kick, "You go fishing too, and learn from us!"
Zhou Chengxin: "..."
Fine, he'd learn, but why did his father always resort to physical gestures?
Could fishing even produce flowers? His younger brother's fishing skills were also taught by him.
Zhou Chengxin rubbed his butt and stood up to join them.
Zhou Chenglei continued to assist Jiang Xia, baiting the hook and handing her the fishing rod.
Jiang Xia took the rod and casually cast it out.
She had become quite proficient at casting, able to throw it a good distance.
Zhou Chengxin smiled and praised her, "Not bad! You're casting quite far now."
Jiang Xia smiled, "I practiced many times to get here."
Zhou Chengxin believed her; after all, practice made perfect, and repetition led to mastery.
He picked up another fishing rod and squatted down to bait the hook. Before he could even finish, he heard Jiang Xia exclaim, "Zhou Chenglei, I think something's on the line!"
Zhou Chengxin: "..."
So soon? Zhou Chenglei, still wary of the previous incident, stood by Jiang Xia's side, instantly grasping the fishing rod.
Zhou Chengxin quickly stood up to watch.
Zhou Chenglei carefully reeled in the line.
As the line shortened, Zhou Chengxin spotted a large fish struggling in the seawater, its eyes wide with exertion.
A tiger grouper? And it looked quite substantial! Based on his experience, it was definitely over ten jin.
Starting the day with a tiger grouper king, no wonder his father always praised Jiang Xia's luck at sea!
Zhou Fu, unable to see the fish, asked excitedly, "What kind of fish is it?"
Zhou Chengxin grinned, "A tiger grouper, over ten jin!"
Zhou Fu laughed, knowing that today's fortune was indeed exceptional!
Zhou Chenglei called out, "Brother, get a net bag."
Zhou Chengxin saw the fish struggling vigorously and hurriedly grabbed the net bag from the deck. He said to Jiang Xia, "Xia, move aside, and let Ah Lei and I handle the fish."
Zhou Chenglei: "..."
Zhou Fu: "..."
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(End of Chapter)
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