https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-7-Full-Stomach-Then-Think-of-the-Future/13688140/
Chapter 6: Borrowing Grain
Back home, faced with the eager eyes of the little rascals, Lu Qing didn’t waste time. He immediately began handing out the fish.
From behind the courtyard, he picked two large banana leaves, cutting them into several pieces. Each child received a small portion—just enough to fill their hands, probably less than half a jin each.
Though the amount was small, the children were overjoyed. With their fish in hand, they dashed off toward their homes like they’d just found treasure.
Once Lu Qing finished distributing, a few villagers stepped forward.
“Lu Qing, how did you catch so many fish all at once? What’s your secret?”
“Just luck,” Lu Qing smiled. “Maybe it’s because the bait I used is particularly appealing to fish.”
“What kind of bait?”
“Just common earthworms—nothing fancy.”
He didn’t hold anything back, answering honestly. After all, even if he kept quiet, word would spread soon enough. Everyone had watched him fish, with a whole crowd of kids gathered behind him. Better to be open and honest—no need for people to think he was stingy.
“Earthworms? You actually use worms to fish?” a villager exclaimed, stunned.
“Of course. Fish actually love them.”
Lu Qing wasn’t surprised the villagers didn’t know this. From the fragmented memories left by the previous owner, he’d pieced together that he now lived in a world resembling ancient China—remote, feudal, and isolated. With poor transportation and limited communication, people were cautious about new things. What was common knowledge in one village could be unheard-of in another.
No one in this village had ever fished or caught fish, so it made sense they didn’t know worms were effective bait.
“Honestly, no wonder we never caught anything before—our bait was all wrong!” someone sighed.
“Lu Qing, this trick must’ve been taught by your father, right?”
Lu Qing hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I remember my father mentioning it once long ago. I just happened to remember it. Today, Xiao Yan kept crying from hunger, and we had nothing to eat at home. I thought I’d give it a try, and… it actually worked.”
The villager fell silent, then turned to look at Xiao Yan.
The little one was crouched by the bucket, staring at the fish. Feeling the gaze, he looked up and instantly flashed a bright, toothy grin.
The man’s heart ached. He glanced at Lu Qing’s thin frame, and pity welled up in his chest.
“What will you do next? You can’t just eat fish forever—your stomach won’t survive it.”
“I was just about to ask a few of the elders for help,” Lu Qing said earnestly. “You all know how things stand with my family—there’s not even a single grain of rice left. I’d like to borrow some food and oil and salt. When I find work, I’ll repay you double.”
“Don’t speak like that!” the man blurted out, emotion thick in his voice. “Are we the kind of people who take advantage of others in hardship? We’re all from the same village. Helping each other is only natural. One bag of rice? I’ll bring it right now!”
His words stirred the others.
“Right! Just a little rice—let me go get it!”
“My family bought too much salt last market week—happy to share!”
“Oil’s no problem—I still have plenty. I’ll dig some out for you!”
Each man patted his chest, their faces full of generosity.
Lu Qing beamed. “Thank you so much, Uncle!”
“Wait—let me go get the grain right away!” Mountain Uncle said, already turning toward the door. The others followed, rushing back to their homes.
Not long after, they returned, each carrying something.
“Here, half a sack of rice—eat it first, and if you need more, just ask Mountain Uncle!”
“Lu Qing, here’s half a jar of lard—should last you for a while!”
“Here’s a small bamboo tube of salt—use it for now.”
“And I’ve got some large flatbreads my aunt baked this morning—can keep for days. One bite will keep hunger at bay for hours. Is this enough?”
Lu Qing was overwhelmed with gratitude. He bowed repeatedly. “It’s more than enough! Thank you, Uncle!”
Then, from the bucket, he scooped out several large handfuls of fish and divided them into portions.
The fish in the bucket vanished in an instant.
“These are for you, Uncle—please take them back and enjoy a taste of fresh fish.”
The villagers waved their hands in protest. “No way! These fish are freshly caught by you—save them for yourself and Xiao Yan!”
“We can’t eat that much. It’s hot outside, and fish spoils quickly. We don’t even have chickens or ducks to keep them. If we keep them, they’ll go bad. Please—let us help you avoid waste.”
Without waiting for another word, Lu Qing pressed the bundles of fish—wrapped in banana leaves—into their hands.
“Well… alright then. We won’t refuse!”
Though they’d each given up some of their own meager surplus, the moment they received the fish, their hearts lightened. The gift eased the sting of loss.
After seeing the villagers off, Lu Qing exhaled.
He felt lucky. If the villagers weren’t so kind-hearted, he’d never have dared ask for help. Now, with this food, he and Xiao Yan wouldn’t have to worry about hunger for at least ten or fifteen days.
That breathing room gave him time to figure out how to survive in this world.
“Brother,” a small voice called.
Lu Qing turned. Xiao Yan was crouched on the ground, eyes locked on a flatbread one of the villagers had brought, drooling.
He knelt down and tore off a small piece, placing it gently in the child’s hand.
“Good Xiao Yan. Eat this for now. I’ll cook dinner right away.”
“Okay! I understand!” Xiao Yan nodded eagerly and happily bit into the bread.
With the little one settled, Lu Qing turned to the kitchen.
First, he rinsed the rice and started steaming it. Then, he took out nearly half a jin of small fish, gutted and cleaned them thoroughly.
When he was ready to fry them, he realized something.
There was no wok.
He frowned, then remembered—there had been an iron pot before. But the previous owner had sold it to buy food during a famine.
Now, all he had was a clay pot for steaming rice—no pan for cooking.
Sighing, he settled for plan B. He stepped outside, found a flat, thin stone slab, washed it clean, and placed it over the fire to heat.
When the stone grew scorching hot, he carefully scooped a small spoonful of solidified lard from a clay jar one of the villagers had brought.
The lard hit the stone with a sharp ssssssssss—melting instantly, releasing a rich, mouthwatering aroma.
(End of Chapter)
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