Chapter 28: A Custom-Made Well Cover
Chapter 28: A Custom-Made Well Cover
The poached fish was tender, refreshing, and appetizing. The garlic butter shrimp was rich with a strong garlic aroma, sweet and succulent. The shrimp were split open, so there was no need to peel them; you could just bite and spit out the shells. The baby squid was crisp and bouncy, and even the mudskipper's flesh was softer than usual.
In the end, the whole family was stuffed!
Zhou Chenglei and his father even mixed the poached fish broth with their rice.
It was so delicious that they couldn't bear to throw away even the broth.
Zhou Zhou had never felt so satisfied after a meal. In the past, she couldn't compete with her brothers, and she had never had a day where she could eat so much shrimp and fish.
Her little belly was round and full, and she couldn't help but pat it. When she met her aunt's smiling gaze, she quickly withdrew her hand, her face turning bright red.
Jiang Xia smiled.
Zhou's mother's cooking was average, focusing on just getting the food cooked, regardless of whether the fish was overcooked.
However, fresh seafood was naturally sweet and tender. Even if it was just steamed or boiled, it wouldn't taste bad, but not bad didn't mean it was particularly good.
Jiang Xia's cooking was incredibly delicious! So delicious that even when you were full, you couldn't stop eating, wanting to keep going until you were stuffed.
Zhou's mother also admired her youngest daughter-in-law's culinary skills.
After dinner, Zhou's mother said with a smile, "Xia, you've been out at sea all day and then cooked for us. You must be tired. I'll wash the dishes, and you go take a bath and rest."
Zhou Chenglei added, "You can go sit in the yard or take a walk. I'll help you carry water later."
Taking a bath right after eating wasn't good, but in the past, with so many people in the house, it was necessary. Now, there was no need for her to rush.
Jiang Xia, who didn't like washing dishes, took Zhou Zhou out to the yard for a walk. She was also quite full.
After Zhou's mother finished cleaning the dishes and the kitchen, Jiang Xia went to wash her hair and shower. She then dried her hair in the yard.
Zhou Chenglei brought back some old wooden boards and iron bars with a wheelbarrow from somewhere.
Jiang Xia watched as he placed the wooden boards over the well, using a pencil to trace the shape of the well opening.
Zhou Zhou, squatting nearby, asked curiously, "Uncle, what are you doing?"
"Making a well cover," Zhou Chenglei replied to his niece.
Zhou's mother, who was washing clothes by the well, said, "Why make a well cover? Zhou Zhou is old enough to know not to get too close to the well."
Zhou Zhou nodded, "That's right, Uncle. I won't go near the well; I know it's dangerous."
Jiang Xia couldn't help but think: Is Zhou Chenglei making this well cover to prevent her from falling in?
"I plan to install a hand pump," he said.
Zhou's mother asked, "Why install a pump? It's unnecessary! The well here is shallow, and we can easily draw water with a bucket. It's quick and easy."
Zhou Chenglei replied, "The pump will make it easier for Zhou Zhou and Jiang Xia to draw water."
"Oh, that makes sense. Go ahead and install it!" Zhou's mother understood it was for Jiang Xia and didn't say anything more. After finishing the laundry, she called Zhou Zhou back inside to sleep.
Jiang Xia watched Zhou Chenglei work with enthusiasm in the yard.
After tracing the well opening, he took out a saw and cut the excess wood, then nailed the boards together into a circle. He added another ring of boards around the edge to create a large circular frame.
Next, he placed some iron bars in a crisscross pattern inside the frame, securing them with wire.
He then mixed the leftover sand and cement from the house construction into concrete, poured it into the frame, and used a small iron shovel to spread it evenly, making sure the iron bars were not exposed.
In a couple of days, once the concrete dried and hardened, a simple concrete well cover would be ready.
Jiang Xia looked around the yard. Aside from the well area, the rest was just dirt. When it didn't rain, the dust was thick, and when it did rain, the ground turned into a muddy mess.
She suggested, "Tomorrow is the day the eldest brother goes out to sea, so we won't need to go. How about we go to the river and collect some pebbles to pave a path in the yard?"
Jiang Xia also mentioned that such a large yard was being wasted and suggested planting some fruit trees and flowers.
Zhou Chenglei replied, "Tomorrow morning, I'll go to the market to buy a pump, and in the afternoon, we can go collect pebbles."
The courtyard was mostly empty because it was often used for drying fish, and Zhou Mother was too lazy to plant anything there, though Zhou Chenglei hadn't told her this.
"Going to the market?" Jiang Xia asked, immediately adding, "I'll go with you."
Zhou Chenglei gave her a once-over. She had refused to go to the market the day after their wedding, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"There are many stalls selling fish, chickens, ducks, and geese at the market. It can get quite smelly," he warned her. Rural markets were often chaotic and dirty, and he was concerned she might not be able to handle it.
"I don't mind."
Zhou Chenglei didn't say anything more. "It's getting late. You should get some sleep. We have to get up at six if we're going to the market tomorrow."
Zhou Father, Zhou Mother, and Zhou Zhou had already washed up and gone to bed.
Jiang Xia returned to the room as well.
Zhou Chenglei washed his hands and came in, pulling out a large stack of bills and handing them to Jiang Xia.
Jiang Xia looked at him in surprise.
"This is your share from today's fishing trip. A thousand yuan."
Was this really happening? After all, she had just tagged along on the boat.
Jiang Xia: "I didn't do much, but I still get this much money?"
Zhou Chenglei: "If it weren't for you hearing the gurgling sound and spotting the sea bream, we wouldn't have made so much today. This is what you deserve. Remember to put it away safely."
Zhou Chenglei placed the money in a drawer of the vanity table, and he also put his share in an iron box inside the wardrobe, in front of Jiang Xia.
He then grabbed a change of clothes and went to take a shower, leaving the light on in case she was afraid.
Jiang Xia counted the stack of bills, which totaled exactly a thousand yuan. She didn't hesitate to put the money away safely.
Jiang Xia had made a decision and planned to talk to Zhou Chenglei about it after he finished his shower.
She put the money away, washed her hands, and returned to bed.
She had intended to wait for Zhou Chenglei to come back and discuss things, but she was too tired. She had woken up early today and fell asleep as soon as she lay down, completely forgetting about the snake.
When Zhou Chenglei returned from his shower, Jiang Xia was already asleep, her face peaceful and radiant.
Seeing a fine layer of sweat on her forehead, he took a clean cloth, went back to bed, and gently wiped the sweat away. He then applied some medicine to her hand, turned off the light, and lay down, gently fanning himself with a large palm fan until he gradually drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Zhou Chenglei woke up at five. Jiang Xia's limbs were draped over him again.
He placed his pillow under her head, then carefully got out of bed to go jogging.
On days when they didn't go out to sea, he always insisted on running for an hour.
When Zhou Chenglei returned from his run, it was already six, and Jiang Xia was still asleep.
The living room was empty, with only a dining table. Zhou Chenglei decided to go to the market and buy some bamboo beds and stools.
Vendors at the market usually only brought one bamboo bed, as they were too large and difficult to transport. If he went too late, there might be none left.
He had to wake Jiang Xia up.
Jiang Xia woke up at the first call and quickly got up to wash up.
Zhou Mother had already prepared breakfast: sweet potato porridge with pickled vegetables and two boiled eggs.
Zhou Mother gave one egg to Zhou Zhou and another to Jiang Xia.
On days when they didn't go out to sea, Zhou Father and Zhou Chenglei didn't get any eggs! The family didn't have many eggs, and they were usually reserved for Zhou Father and Zhou Chenglei to take on their fishing trips. Zhou Mother, remembering her misunderstanding of Jiang Xia the previous day, had cooked an extra egg.
After breakfast, the couple went to the village office to borrow a tractor.
Then they drove the tractor to town for the market.
It was the same road they had taken before, and they encountered the same woman in a white dress at the same intersection.
However, this time, Wen Wan wasn't tending to sheep. Instead, she was pushing a cart with a large wooden board on top, and on the board lay a freshly slaughtered sheep.
Wen Wan raised her hand to stop Zhou Chenglei's tractor.
Wishing all the big and little friends a happy Children's Day!
Today (June 1st), the release was moved up to midnight, and updates will resume at 9 AM on June 2nd.
(End of Chapter)
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