Chapter 27: Who Is Blessed by Whom
Chapter 27: Who Is Blessed by Whom
Jiang Xia was dividing the fish, paying no attention to the others' chatter.
Mrs. Zhou approached Jiang Xia with a smile. "Xia, stop for a bit. Take a rest, and let me handle it."
"I’m just picking out some shrimp to take home," Jiang Xia replied. She had worked hard all day and deserved a good reward.
"I’ve already cooked the other dishes. But since you’ve been so busy today, pick out more of what you like. I’ll cook it when I get home."
Mr. Zhou was still boasting, while Zhou Chenglei came over to help with the fish.
The three of them sorted through the pile of mixed fish on the boat, picking out the more valuable ones. They sold another ten yuan worth and took the rest home to dry for later use.
Mr. Jin from the acquisition station took a look at the bucket Zhou Chenglei had set aside.
Inside were two large yellow croakers, about a pound of tiger prawns, a few small red squids, a couple of flower crabs, and a dozen mud snappers.
There was also a basket of small fish and shrimp.
He smiled. "Aren’t you selling these? If you sell them all, I’ll give you twelve yuan."
Zhou Chenglei replied, "No, I’m not selling them."
Tian Caihua asked, "Not selling? Are you taking the large yellow croakers and tiger prawns home to eat?"
"Yes."
Jiang Xia mentioned keeping one large yellow croaker to make sour cabbage fish. Zhou Chenglei decided to keep both, as the fish were nutritious and she needed the nourishment for her weak body.
Tian Caihua looked at the two large yellow croakers in the bucket, wondering if one was meant for her family.
Mrs. Zhou, seeing Zhou Chenglei keep two large yellow croakers, assumed he intended to give one to his eldest son.
While she thought it would be better to sell them for money, she didn’t say anything.
On a normal day, they would never eat such valuable fish. They would sell them for money and only eat the less valuable small fish, shrimp, and crabs.
They wouldn’t eat a fish bigger than a palm unless they had guests or it was a holiday.
But today, they had made a good amount of money and had misunderstood Jiang Xia, so a good meal was in order.
After selling the remaining fish, the family happily carried a bucket of fish and a basket of small mixed fish back home.
As they approached the old house, Zhou Chenglei asked Tian Caihua, "Big Sister, do you want to take some mud snappers home?"
Mud snappers? Not the large yellow croakers?
Tian Caihua’s face fell. "No, I have vegetables at home."
Why would she need a few cheap mud snappers when she had plenty of food?
She walked away with a dark expression.
Jiang Xia was pleased that Zhou Chenglei hadn’t given the large yellow croakers to Tian Caihua.
Mrs. Zhou looked at the two large yellow croakers in the bucket, hesitating.
Shouldn’t they share one with the eldest son? Wasn’t it a bit extravagant for just the three of them to eat both fish?
She glanced at Jiang Xia.
Mr. Zhou, sensing his wife’s thoughts, said, "Xia went out to sea for the first time today and worked hard with Chenglei all day. She must be tired. Quickly, clean and cook the fish so we can eat!"
Jiang Xia pretended not to understand Mrs. Zhou’s meaning and said, "It’s fine, I’m not tired. I’ll cook the fish."
No one mentioned it, so Mrs. Zhou didn’t either.
Fine, the older generation had their own lives, and they were living separately.
Mrs. Zhou wasn’t the type to make her daughter-in-law do housework after a long day of work. "You go and freshen up. I’ll take care of it."
The rice was already cooked, the fish dried, and the vegetables washed before they left. They just needed to cook the two large yellow croakers and the shrimp.
Jiang Xia said, "It’s fine, I’ll make sour cabbage fish. It’s more appetizing. I’ll do it."
Mrs. Zhou didn’t know how to make sour cabbage fish, so she let Jiang Xia take the lead, helping as needed.
Mrs. Zhou had planned to clean the fish herself, but she was surprised to see Jiang Xia knew how to do it.
Mrs. Zhou had cleaned fish all her life and was an expert with the knife. But seeing Jiang Xia slice the fish into thin, evenly sized pieces, she was amazed!
This daughter-in-law was full of hidden talents!
It was better to marry a well-educated daughter-in-law!
Well-educated, capable, and blessed!
Whoever marries her will be blessed!
Mr. Zhou and Zhou Chenglei cleaned the basket of fish and prepared them for drying.
Jiang Xia took charge of the cooking, Zhou Mother washed the vegetables, and Zhou Zhou tended the fire. Together, they prepared a sour cabbage fish, steamed garlic prawns, a clay pot fish, a plate of blanched small red squids, and a side of greens.
Zhou Mother looked at the large platter of sour cabbage fish and said, "We won't be able to finish all this with just the three of us. Why don't I take a plate over to Wen Guang and his brothers?"
Jiang Xia, who was washing a clean plate, replied, "Next time, we don't have enough this time. I'll take a plate to Great-Grandma. She sent us a three-pound piece of meat and a big watermelon yesterday."
Zhou Mother quickly agreed, "You're right. We should send some. Put more fish on the plate. Do you want me to take it over?"
In the village, it was important to reciprocate. Since Great-Grandma had sent them a three-pound piece of meat yesterday, it was only fitting to send her a plate of their new dish today.
"No, I'll go. Mom, let's start eating!"
Zhou Mother didn't insist and started setting the table. Jiang Xia carried the platter of sour cabbage fish out of the courtyard, and just as she stepped out, she saw Zhou Junjie coming out with his bowl in hand.
Zhou Junjie's eyes lit up when he saw Jiang Xia. He flicked his hair back, feeling rather dashing, and said, "Did you make this, Sister-in-law? It smells amazing! Can I have a taste?"
Only then did he notice the sour cabbage fish in her hands.
The aroma of the food had drawn him out. The same thing had happened yesterday evening, when the delicious smell from the neighboring courtyard made him lose his appetite for the simple meal at home.
Zhou Junjie's gaze first fell on the sour cabbage fish, then on the delicate, fair hands holding it, and finally on Jiang Xia's ample chest, unable to look away.
Jiang Xia hated the way he was looking at her and ignored him, turning to walk to the left courtyard.
Today, she hadn't worn her usual polyester clothes, fearing they would become see-through if they got wet. Instead, she wore a more absorbent and durable striped shirt and a pair of olive-green pants.
The striped shirt was knitted with a bit of stretch. The original owner of the body preferred tight-fitting clothes, and this shirt accentuated her slender waist and curvaceous figure, with her arms and neck glowing white.
Zhou Junjie felt a heat in his lower abdomen. Zhou Chenglei had really picked a hot one!
No wonder he was hesitant to divorce her even after being cuckolded.
What a vixen!
But if she could run off with another man, maybe she could do the same with him...
Suddenly, a splash of bloody fish water hit him, drenching him from head to toe with fish scales and guts.
Zhou Junjie nearly vomited from the fishy smell. "Who the hell—"
He turned to see Zhou Chenglei's dark, menacing eyes, and he flinched. "Oh, it's Chenglei! You didn't look where you were splashing water!"
With that, he quickly retreated to his own courtyard with his bowl of "fish soup."
Jiang Xia took the food to Great-Grandma, who was already eating. After a few words, she came back out and saw Zhou Junjie, now a mess, scurrying back inside. Her mood instantly improved.
She'd find a time when no one was around to show him why flowers are so red.
Zhou Mother's voice called from the courtyard, "A-Lei, why did you splash the fish water outside? You've made the entrance stink."
Zhou Chenglei replied, "It was just a reflex. I'll clean it up later."
Jiang Xia walked in with a smile and glanced at him. Zhou Chenglei met her gaze as if nothing had happened and said softly, "Let's eat."
Jiang Xia smiled. "Sure."
(End of Chapter)
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