Chapter 61: Big Catch

Tang Tang shook his arm frantically, a large soft-shell turtle clamped firmly onto his finger, refusing to let go.

The boy’s face darkened as he gritted his teeth, reaching out with his other hand to try and pry it off.

“Xiao Tang!” Zhao Mengcheng was startled by the sudden situation. A soft-shell turtle’s bite was no joke, they had enough strength to snap a finger clean off.

He couldn’t let Tang Tang just pull at it. If he tried to rip it away, the finger would likely come off with it.

Zhao Mengcheng ignored the thick mud and jumped into the river. His Mental Power was a step faster, seizing the turtle and forcing the aggressive creature to finally release its grip and fall into the muck.

Tang Tang’s finger was a bloody mess, but the boy didn’t seem to care. He immediately stepped down hard on the turtle. “I caught it.”

Blood dripped into the mud, staining the surrounding area red. The child seemed to have lost all sense of pain, wordlessly and mindlessly pressing down on the large turtle with all his might.

Zhao Mengcheng was speechless at the sight. This child held quite a grudge. His finger was nearly bitten through, yet all he cared about was that turtle.

“Quick, let me see if your finger is alright,” Zhao Mengcheng said as he walked over.

Tang Tang sniffled and held out his hand.

Zhao Mengcheng looked down. The turtle hadn’t held back. There was a ring of bloody gashes around the pale, slender finger. Any deeper and he would have seen the bone.

“Doesn’t it hurt?” Zhao Mengcheng asked, his brow furrowed.

Of course it hurt. The fingers are connected to the heart, and the sharp, throbbing pain made the boy’s eyes redden and his nose tingle.

But Tang Tang endured it stubbornly, only saying, “It only hurts a little. Uncle, look, it’s a huge turtle.”

“This is a soft-shell turtle. I’ll stew it for you when we get home,” Zhao Mengcheng said, leaning over to pick up the culprit.

The offending turtle probably weighed seven or eight pounds and was as big as a washbasin. No wonder Tang Tang had been no match for it.

Zhao Mengcheng didn’t just toss the turtle onto the bank, he hauled the boy up as well. After a quick inspection, he breathed a sigh of relief. “The bone is fine, but we need to go home, wash it clean, and bandage it. Don’t let it touch water for the next few days.”

“Dad, what happened to Xiao Tang?” Zhao Xin ran over to ask.

“He got bitten by a soft-shell turtle. You all be careful while catching fish, don’t get hurt,” Zhao Mengcheng warned them.

Zhao Chun immediately replied, “I’m very experienced. I definitely won’t get hurt.”

Zhao Mengcheng carried the turtle in one hand and led Xiao Tang back with the other.

Once they reached home, he brought out fresh water to wash away the mud. With the grime gone, the wounds on Tang Tang’s hand looked even more pronounced.

“This will probably leave a scar,” Zhao Mengcheng muttered, frowning as he found some ointment to apply.

As he was applying the medicine, a tear splashed onto the back of his hand.

The sudden heat startled Zhao Mengcheng. He looked up to see that the boy, who hadn’t cried even when his finger was a bloody mess, was now weeping silently, tears streaming down his face.

Zhao Mengcheng reached out to wipe away the tears. “Does it hurt that much?”

Tang Tang shook his head vigorously. “Only a little bit.”

“Then why are you crying?” Zhao Mengcheng asked, puzzled.

Tang Tang felt a bit embarrassed after his outburst. He wiped his face haphazardly and said, “My nose just felt itchy. I didn’t want to cry, my eyes just aren’t listening to me.”

The childish explanation made Zhao Mengcheng sigh inwardly. He reached out and ruffled the boy’s hair. “You’re still a child, even younger than Xin’er. If you want to cry, you can cry.”

Tang Tang shook his head. “It’s not the same. Sister Xin’er is a girl, but I’m a boy. A man should stand tall and be indomitable.”

“Where did you learn such nonsense at such a young age?”

Zhao Mengcheng arched an eyebrow. “Both boys and girls can cry if they want to. I’m an adult, and I can cry if I’m sad or hurting. Does crying once mean I can’t be a man of character anymore?”

Tang Tang was stunned.

He was still too young, only vaguely remembering the instructions of his late father. His father had told him not to cry, not to scream in pain, and that only by enduring what others could not could he move forward and eventually avenge his father’s death.

Since he was small, his parents had told him he was a man and couldn’t cry. No one had ever told him it was okay.

Zhao Mengcheng didn’t know what the child was thinking. He only remembered the scene from earlier.

Even with such a large turtle biting his finger, Tang Tang’s first thought had been to step on it so it couldn’t escape, rather than worrying about his own bleeding wound.

To be so ruthless toward himself at such an age… should he expect anything less from the protagonist of a novel and a future emperor?

Zhao Mengcheng found a clean white cloth and wrapped the finger until it looked like a small steamed bun. “Remember not to touch water for a few days, otherwise the wound will fester and you’ll lose the finger.”

Tang Tang nodded emphatically.

Zhao Mengcheng found him quite adorable in this state.

After half a year of recuperation at home, Tang Tang was no longer the skin and bones he had once been. He had some meat on his bones now, though the scar on his face was deep and remained a prominent mark.

The purple scab had faded, but the scar was still clearly visible. It wasn’t frightening, but it marred the boy’s features, making everyone who saw him sigh with regret.

Zhao Mengcheng had specifically gone to the city to buy ointment for him to apply daily, hoping the scar would eventually disappear completely.

Tang Tang didn’t care much himself, but he noticed Zhao Mengcheng’s smiling gaze.

The boy felt a bit self-conscious. “Uncle Zhao?”

Zhao Mengcheng laughed. “Come on, let’s go get your revenge. We’re eating this big turtle tonight.”

Hearing this, Tang Tang immediately followed him, looking up to ask, “Uncle, is soft-shell turtle delicious? What’s the best way to eat it?”

“It’s delicious and very nourishing. Since you lost a lot of blood, you should eat more tonight to replenish yourself.”

Zhao Mengcheng threw the turtle into a basin to wash it. The creature was fierce, trying to bite back several times.

Tang Tang crouched nearby to watch. Seeing this, he picked up a ladle and gave the turtle a hard smack, leaving it dazed and spinning.

Zhao Mengcheng raised an eyebrow in praise. “You’ve got good moves, kid. You’re cut out for big things.”

After all, the grit it took to get bitten like that without crying, and the determination to keep the turtle pinned down, made him stronger than most children.

Tang Tang only knew he was being praised and smiled happily, though he still warned, “It’s very mean. Uncle, you have to be careful too.”

He touched his finger, which was wrapped like a bun. It hadn’t hurt that much at first, but after his uncle washed it, applied medicine, and bandaged it, it had started to throb with a dull ache.

The child didn’t know yet that this kind of pain was called being cared for.

While Zhao Mengcheng was butchering the turtle, Zhao Chun and the other two returned with a massive haul. As soon as they entered the gate, they started shouting, “Dad, look at all the good stuff we caught! We even got a big grass carp!”

Zhao Mao, who usually loved being clean, was covered in mud. “Dad, look, it’s this long.”

“We’re the only ones who caught fish. No one else got any,” Zhao Chun said loudly.

Zhao Mengcheng poked his head out and was surprised. “Whoa, there are actually fish this big in the river.”

Zhao Xin’s face was also covered in mud as she said proudly, “I’m the one who found it.”

“And I’m the one who caught it,” Zhao Chun added immediately.

Zhao Mao walked over to Zhao Mengcheng and whispered, “The White Snake gave it to us.”

Zhao Mengcheng understood. No wonder they could catch such a large fish; they had a snake helping them in secret.

“Put the clams in water to spit out the sand¹, we’ll eat them tomorrow. I’ll clean the grass carp now to add to our dinner. All of you, go wash yourselves clean,” Zhao Mengcheng instructed.

Zhao Chun wasn’t afraid of the cold and started rinsing himself off with well water right there in the yard. Zhao Xin was more particular and ran inside to wash.

Zhao Mao walked over slowly, but suddenly a scoop of water hit him square in the face, chilling him to the bone.

“You’re asking for it!” Zhao Mao wiped his face and glared at his older brother.

Zhao Chun chuckled. “Who told you to be so slow? It’s not like you’re a shy young lady.”

Zhao Mao rolled his eyes at him and quickly finished washing. A moment later, he picked up a whole bucket of water and dumped it over Zhao Chun.

To his surprise, Zhao Chun wasn’t bothered at all. Instead, he spread his arms wide. “Good job, little brother! Bring another bucket, saves me the trouble of scooping it myself.”

Zhao Mao realized he could never win against his brother when it came to being thick-skinned.

He turned to go help in the kitchen, but Zhao Chun wouldn’t let him go, grabbing him and shouting, “Don’t go, little brother! Pour more water for me.”

Zhao Xin came out after cleaning up. Seeing her two brothers fooling around, she said huffily, “Big Brother, Second Brother, you’re so childish. You’re getting water all over the yard.”

After scolding them, she ran over to Tang Tang. “Xiao Tang, is your finger okay? Does it still hurt?”

Tang Tang smiled, finding the scene very amusing. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

He held up his finger to show her. “Uncle washed it and put medicine on it. Look, I can still move it.”

Zhao Xin let out a sigh of relief like a little adult and lectured him, “It’s good that you’re okay, but how could you be so reckless? If the turtle gets away, let it go. A turtle isn’t as important as your finger.”

She reached out and pressed down one of her own fingers. “If you lose a finger, you’ll only have nine left. You won’t even be able to eat properly.”

Tang Tang followed her logic and imagined himself with only nine fingers. He couldn’t help but shiver, feeling a wave of lingering fear.

Zhao Xin continued, “Dad said nothing is more important than our bodies. You have to remember that from now on.”

“Sister Xin’er, I’ll remember. I won’t do it again,” Tang Tang promised with a nod.

The two brothers, Zhao Chun and Zhao Mao, finally finished their ruckus and headed over when they heard the others’ voices.

“Xiao Tang, I would have done the same thing if I were you,” Zhao Chun said, offering his blatant support. “Since you were bitten anyway, it would be a total loss if that big turtle had gotten away.”

Zhao Xin hopped up and down in frustration. “Big Brother, don’t make things worse!”

“How am I making things worse? It’s just the truth,” Zhao Chun insisted. “If the turtle had escaped, it would have been like losing the bait and the fish. Ah Mao, you be the judge.”

Zhao Mao rolled his eyes at the three of them. “If you have that much free time, come inside and help. Don’t just stand around waiting to eat.”

This successfully ended their squabble, and they all filed into the kitchen to help.

Zhao Mengcheng had already chopped the soft-shell turtle into pieces. It had actually taken quite a bit of effort, as the large turtle was incredibly tough. He had almost chipped the edge of his knife on it.

As usual, he prepared half of it red-braised and the other half stewed in a soup.

After blanching the meat in cold water and draining it, he stir-fried it over high heat. Zhao Mengcheng added a bit of yellow wine. This wine wasn’t cheap, and he had specifically bought it to use as cooking wine.

Adding green onions, ginger, and garlic wasn’t enough. Zhao Mengcheng also dug out his precious stash of bay leaves and star anise. He had gathered them from the mountains last autumn and had been using them very sparingly.

The kitchen was soon filled with a rich aroma, making the children’s mouths water.

Zhao Chun praised loudly, “My Dad’s cooking is number one in the world!”

“Well, I certainly can’t let those words go to waste then,” Zhao Mengcheng said with a laugh.

In another pot, the turtle soup was simmering. Before long, the broth turned a milky white, looking very nourishing.

He sliced the grass carp they had brought back, removed the bones, and stewed it directly with pickled vegetables, making a somewhat rustic version of pickled vegetable fish.

The house was filled with the scent of meat. Zhao Xin took a deep breath. “Dad, I’m so hungry.”

“Then let’s eat.”

Seeing that the turtle soup was about ready, Zhao Mengcheng decided to serve everything.

Once the red-braised turtle, the pickled vegetable fish, and the nourishing turtle soup were on the table, Zhao Mengcheng froze. He had forgotten to make the rice.

Zhao Mengcheng slapped his forehead. “I was so focused on the stew that I forgot to cook the rice.”

The rice cakes at home were also long gone, otherwise they could have eaten those.

The four children swallowed hard. Zhao Chun jumped off his stool. “I’ll go do it. Dad, just wait a bit.”

Zhao Mengcheng pulled him back. “If we cook rice now, the food will be cold by the time it’s done. Let’s just make dough knots².”

“What are dough knots?” Zhao Mao asked curiously, having never eaten them before.

Zhao Mengcheng brought out the last of the flour. He had gone to great lengths to buy this flour and had been cherishing it.

Making dough knots was simple. He cracked two eggs into the flour, mixed it all together, and then scooped bits of the mixture directly into the boiling pot. They were ready to eat as soon as they were cooked through.

Zhao Mengcheng was practiced at this. In a short while, little white fish-like shapes appeared in the pot.

The children’s eyes widened. Zhao Mao asked curiously, “Dad, how do you know how to do everything?”

Zhao Mengcheng gave a vague answer and told the children to bring over the bowls and chopsticks. He served everyone a large bowl of dough knot soup.

Dough knots paired with turtle was a novel combination, but the taste was quite good. This was especially true when they added a spoonful of the red-braised turtle sauce, which gave the dough knots a savory, fresh flavor.

Zhao Xin loved it particularly much. As she ate, she chirped, “These little fish are delicious, the turtle is delicious, the grass carp is delicious, and the dough fish are delicious too!”

Zhao Mengcheng also felt it was a nice treat for once. It was just that the weather was too hot, and he was covered in sweat after finishing the hot meal.

“Xiao Tang, eat more to nourish yourself,” Zhao Mengcheng said, scooping a large portion of turtle meat for the boy.

Tang Tang took a big bite. When he first started eating at the Zhao house, he had been polite and reserved, but after being around them for so long, he had been influenced and now ate more and more.

He used to eat about as much as Zhao Xin, but now he ate as much as Zhao Chun. Yet he remained small in stature, making one wonder where all that food actually went.

Despite the heat, it didn’t dampen the family’s appetite. The table full of food was still polished clean.

After the meal, Zhao Mengcheng remembered something and walked to the backyard. When he returned, he was carrying two sweet melons.

“Are the melons from our garden ready to eat?” Zhao Chun asked eagerly.

At the sight of the melons, the four children who had just claimed to be stuffed were suddenly not full anymore. They all stood up to look.

They had been too rushed last year to plant any fruits or vegetables, but this year Zhao Mengcheng had planted every fruit he could find. The fruit trees hadn’t made it for the first harvest, but the melons had.

“They look ready. Let’s soak them in well water for a bit; they’ll taste sweeter that way.” Zhao Mengcheng washed the melons, put them in a bamboo basket, and lowered them into the well.

The children all leaned over the edge of the well, as if looking at them would make the time pass faster.

Zhao Mengcheng didn’t stop them, though he felt a pang of regret that he hadn’t been able to find any watermelon seeds. Logically, there should be watermelons at this time, but he hadn’t seen anyone growing them around Shanghe Town.

Maybe he should go out for a walk and look for some watermelon seeds?

After agonizing through half an hour, the children kept asking repeatedly, “Dad, can we eat them now? I think they’re completely chilled by now.”

Zhao Mengcheng had no choice but to pull the melons up.

The vegetable garden was doing well, and these sweet melons were larger than those grown by others. Each one weighed about four or five pounds, comparable to a small watermelon.

The melons the Zhao family grew had white skin. When cut open, the flesh was white and tender, with a streak of golden-yellow pulp in the center.

Zhao Mengcheng took a piece and had a bite, nodding in approval. “They aren’t perfectly chilled yet, but they’re very sweet.”

Without needing an invitation, the children each grabbed a slice of melon and started munching. Zhao Chun ate the fastest, crunching away like a little pig, not even letting the rind go.

After finishing, he licked his lips. “So sweet and delicious! I think all the fruits and vegetables we grow are sweet. When the fruit trees in the backyard start bearing fruit, they’ll definitely be delicious too.”

Zhao Mao rarely agreed with him, but he nodded this time. “It’s definitely because we put so much effort into taking care of them, fertilizing and weeding when we should. This is what they mean by hard work paying off.”

Zhao Xin could only manage to say how delicious it was, her mouth moving non-stop like a little squirrel.

In comparison, Tang Tang was a bit more refined, but since he had integrated into the Zhao family circle, his refinement was limited. He looked polite, but his eating speed was not slow at all.

Two large sweet melons were finished without a single slice left over.

Zhao Chun didn’t even let the pulp go, sucking it all clean until not a drop of sweet juice remained.

After finishing, he saved the seeds, saying, “Let’s dry these and save them. We can roast them to eat.”

“Big Brother, you’ve already licked them,” Zhao Xin pointed out.

Zhao Chun countered, “They’ll be clean once they’re washed. If you’re so picky, then don’t eat them when the time comes.”

Zhao Xin thought about it and decided she couldn’t give up the deliciousness of the seeds. She only said, “Then make sure you wash them extra clean.”

Every time Zhao Mengcheng watched them bicker, he felt these children had a talent for comedy. They were quite amusing.

Since the melons were so good, Zhao Mengcheng simply took the children to the vegetable garden. He tapped on the melons to find the ripe ones and picked them all. To his surprise, there were seven or eight.

There were still many hanging on the vines, which would ripen gradually and last them until the beginning of autumn.

Zhao Mengcheng lowered four of them back into the well. “We’ll leave these for tomorrow. They’ll be even colder and tastier then.”

He sent the children to deliver the rest. One went to the Wang family, one to the Old Village Chief’s house, and even He Shuiqing’s family received one.

When Zhao Chun and the others returned, they were carrying baskets. The melons were gone, but the baskets were filled to the brim with vegetables, including eggplants and cucumbers, enough to last them for two days.

The Old Village Chief was happy to receive the melon and said with a smile, “Mengcheng is a thoughtful man. He never forgets to send us a share of whatever good things he has.”

“Isn’t that the truth? Brother Mengcheng is just a decent person, completely different from that eldest Liu brother.”

At the mention of the eldest Liu brother, Liu Bingkun’s face was full of disdain.

Because of their own foolishness, that family had run out of grain and gone hungry, and then tried to pin the blame on Zhao Mengcheng.

Zhao Mengcheng refused to give in, so that family had been spreading rumors about him in the village. Fortunately, the villagers knew what kind of people they were, so no one paid them any mind.

Liu Bingkun took out a knife and sliced the melon. He handed pieces to the Old Village Chief and his mother first, then to his wife, and finally took one for himself.

After one bite, the Old Village Chief was surprised. “This melon is truly sweet.”

“It really is. It seems much sweeter than the ones we grow,” the new daughter-in-law couldn’t help but add.

As they crunched through the melon, the Village Chief’s wife sighed. “Mengcheng is good in every way. Even the melons he grows are better than others. It’s just a pity he refuses to take a wife. Otherwise, my niece from my mother’s side…”

“Mom, just give it a rest. I wouldn’t even look twice at that plain-looking cousin of mine, so do you think Brother Mengcheng would?” Liu Bingkun interrupted her.

The Village Chief’s wife was offended and snapped, “What’s wrong with your cousin? She has eyes and a nose just like anyone else.”

“If she didn’t have eyes and a nose, would she even be human?” Liu Bingkun muttered.

Seeing that they were about to start an argument, the Old Village Chief quickly spoke up. “That’s enough. Mengcheng said he’s not interested, so just drop it. If you have that much energy, go worry about your own grandson.”

That finally put an end to her nagging.

While the Village Chief’s wife was fussing over Zhao Mengcheng, Auntie Wang was worrying herself sick over her two sons.

Even eating the sweet melon didn’t stop her from talking. She kept saying, “Your brother just knows how to lie to me. Last year he said the marriage was a sure thing, but it’s been half a year and there’s not a ghost of a sign. I was a fool to believe him.”

Wang Ming tried to dodge, but his mother caught him anyway.

“And you! What kind of girl are you looking for? Is it that even a heavenly immortal wouldn’t be good enough for you? Let me tell you, Wang Ming, right now you’re the one doing the picking. Once you get older and people start looking down on you, you’ll be the one left waiting to be picked.” Auntie Wang’s temper flared as she spoke.

“Shouldn’t my elder brother get married first?” Wang Ming asked innocently. “Then it’ll be my turn.”

“So if your brother stays a bachelor for the rest of his life, you won’t marry either? It’s like the two of you want the Wang family line to end with you.”

Auntie Wang turned her glare toward Uncle Wang. “This is the ‘good’ son you’ve spoiled. You don’t even know how to discipline him.”

Uncle Wang looked quite innocent as he ate his melon. “What can I do? I can’t exactly tie him up and drag him into a bridal chamber.”

Auntie Wang gave him a fierce glare before suddenly asking, “Ming, you listen to Mengcheng in everything. Why don’t you just marry his sister-in-law?”

Wang Ming nearly choked on his melon. He waved his hands frantically. “Mom, don’t start making trouble.”

Auntie Wang had only mentioned it in passing, but the more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea. “Yunniang was beautiful, gentle, and virtuous. It’s just a shame she passed away so young. Her younger sister is bound to be just as good.”

Because she had been on good terms with Liu Yunniang, Auntie Wang knew a fair bit about the Liu family. She was starting to take the idea seriously. “By my count, her sister should be eighteen by now. When I saw her during the New Year, she was still dressed like an unmarried girl³. She probably hasn’t been betrothed yet.”

Seeing her get serious, Wang Ming quickly said, “Mom, I have my own plans for marriage. Please don’t go playing matchmaker⁴ where you shouldn’t.”

With that, he tossed aside his melon rind and bolted before Auntie Wang could stop him.

She could only scold Uncle Wang instead. “Look at what you’ve raised! Now that he’s earned a bit of money, he won’t even listen to his own mother anymore.”

Uncle Wang felt wronged, thinking to himself that the boy had come out of her belly, too.

While Auntie Wang had only mentioned it in passing, Widow He took the idea to heart.

As she ate the melon sent over by the Zhao family, Widow He kept glancing at her son. “Shuiqing, about what I told you last time… is it a yes or no? Give me a straight answer.”

He Shuiqing’s face turned bright red as he ate. He kept his head down and remained silent.

Widow He sighed. “Our family’s savings are a bit meager, but things are much better now. We can afford a bride price. If you’re interested, I’ll find a matchmaker to go and propose the match.”

He Shuiqing paused. “Mom, if… if it doesn’t work out, it might be awkward with Brother Zhao.”

“What’s there to be awkward about? He’s an unmarried man and she’s an unmarried woman. Proposing a marriage is perfectly normal. Even if it doesn’t work out, it’s not like you’ll become enemies.”

Widow He had overheard Auntie Wang mention that Liu Yunniang’s younger sister was still unmarried, and the idea had taken root in her mind.

The He family’s situation was difficult. They were stuck in the middle. Better families looked down on a widow and her son, yet Widow He refused to let her son marry just anyone, fearing he might end up with a troublemaker who would ruin the household.

While they waited, Liu Bingkun’s wife’s belly had grown quite large, yet they still hadn’t settled on a match.

Widow He was anxious. When she heard about Liu Muniang, she was immediately interested.

Liu Muniang’s family was poor and had few male relatives to offer support in the future, but the advantage was that she was Zhao Mengcheng’s sister-in-law. Because of that connection, Widow He held the Liu family in high regard.

After a long silence, He Shuiqing stammered, “Would she even be willing?”

Hearing this, Widow He knew the battle was half won. She immediately beamed. “We won’t know unless we ask. Don’t you worry, I’ll take care of this.”

Other people’s marriages and family affairs usually had nothing to do with Zhao Mengcheng.

The weather grew hotter by the day. Because Qingshan Village had been quick with the seedlings and planted early this year, the rice was already nearing harvest season.

Over the past few days, Zhao Mengcheng went to the fields every day to check on the progress.

At dawn one morning, he was just about to head out when he saw someone sitting by his door. Looking closer, he realized it was Liu Muniang.

Liu Muniang’s eyes were red and swollen from crying. As soon as she saw him, the tears began to fall again. “Brother-in-law, please, you have to help me.”

Translator’s Notes