The autumn rain fell intermittently without cease, causing the stream to swell repeatedly. Within two or three days, the log bridge was mostly submerged, nearly overflowing the banks.

Confined indoors, Shu Wanxiu smoked two fish and painstakingly crafted two pairs of straw sandals.

The rain had begun in the afternoon and finally ceased at dawn.

The sun made a long-awaited appearance, yet the temperature was no longer as warm as before.

She went downhill to fetch water and observed that the water level had receded below the log bridge. However, after being soaked for several days, the wood appeared slippery, making it too treacherous to step on.

Though she had intended to cross the stream to ask Aunt Chen when they would return from her maternal home, she decided to wait until the sun had dried the wood a bit more.

After the rain cleared, water droplets clung to the branches and leaves in the forest. Venturing into the mountains at this time would surely drench one’s clothes, and catching a cold simply wasn’t worth it.

Shu Wanxiu moved the reed catkins, which had been gathered earlier but not yet dried, to the front of the house to spread them out in the sun. Immediately after, she picked perilla leaves nearby and set them out to dry as well.

She bustled about like a bee under the sunlight, with Shu Shouyi following closely at her heels. The warm sun soaked into his bones, and he stretched lazily, feeling utterly comfortable.

“Aunt, what else are we going to do?” he asked in a drowsy voice.

“Top dressing.”

After several days of rain, the vegetables in the garden had been battered by the wind and rain, but under the sunlight, they began to show signs of revival.

Shu Wanxiu felt it was time for top dressing, so she scattered the ashes accumulated from days of indoor fires and the water saved from rinsing rice across the vegetable patch.

At noon, after resting with Shu Shouyi for half a shichen, she noticed the ground in the mountains was still damp and the firewood was all wet, so she abandoned the idea of going into the hills.

She patted the still-sleepy Shu Shouyi. “Wake up, I’ll take you to catch fish in the stream.”

What do children love to play?

Playing house, riding bamboo horses, flying kites, jumping hundred-strand rope…

Catching fish and shrimp definitely holds a place among these joys, even ranking near the top.

Shu Wanxiu had only gone to the kitchen and main room to fetch tools, but Shu Shouyi was already urging her repeatedly.

“Aunt, hurry up!”

“Aunt, are we going or not?”

After answering once, then three times, Shu Wanxiu emerged fully equipped and, like a commander issuing orders, declared with vigor, “Let’s go!”

The little soldier at the front, upon receiving the order, excitedly dashed ahead.

As the saying goes, fish stay close to the shore on rainy days, meaning it’s easier to catch fish by the water’s edge during heavy rain.

Shu Wanxiu valued her life. Even though she knew this saying, without a rain cape or bamboo hat, she hadn’t dared to venture out during those rainy days.

Now that the wind had stilled and the rain had stopped, she wondered if the little fish would show themselves.

Half hoping for a catch and half intending to entertain Shu Shouyi, she hurried after him to the stream.

“Don’t get too close. Let me check the situation first.”

In recent days, heavy rains had washed down many small stones, dead branches, and withered leaves from upstream. The stream water wasn’t clear; after fetching it home, she would let it settle for half a shichen before using it.

Now, craning her neck from the bank, she couldn’t make out anything.

“Never mind, whether there’s anything there or not, we’ll know once we try.”

Shu Wanxiu had brought two items: a wooden basin for holding fish and a dark, old bamboo basket for netting them.

Steadying her footing, she bent over and gently lowered the basket into the water, skimming it close to the wild grass hanging over the bank.

While submerged, all was calm, but as soon as the basket broke the surface, the fish inside sensed the change and began thrashing violently.

“There are fish!” Shu Shouyi screamed excitedly.

Shu Wanxiu could see it clearly too.

Not only were there five or six colorful bitterlings, but also a finger-length stream barbel and several small shrimps!

Both of them became energized, one netting fish while the other guarded the basin, completely losing track of time.

Moving along as they went, when Shu Wanxiu straightened up again, the scenery around her had changed.

Her eyes were blank, uncertain of her location, but her ears quickly identified the position through sound.

“Clang, clang, clang.”

There was only one place where such rhythmic, powerful, and reassuring hammering could be heard.

Cold sweat belatedly trickled down from her temple, and Shu Wanxiu calmly wiped it away.

The wooden basin was already more than half full of fish and shrimp enough to give a bowl to each family in the village.

“Let’s go home,” Shu Wanxiu said.

She feared that if they caught any more, Shu Shouyi wouldn’t be able to carry the basin.

Back on the mountain, the two still had plenty to do.

Since they intended to give a bowl to each household, they decided to remove the bitter gall and entrails from the fish before delivering them.

This task was meticulous and time-consuming, but fortunately, Shu Wanxiu was young and quick with her hands, while Shu Shouyi, though young, was patient enough to sit still.

Working without a break, they managed to process the entire half-basin in just two hours.

For Shu Wanxiu, netting and processing the fish wasn’t tiring or troublesome at all. Instead, it was the social interaction of delivering the fish to each household that required mental preparation beforehand.

As expected, going door-to-door to deliver the fish proved more exhausting than catching them each aunt and mother-in-law politely refused before finally accepting, leaving Shu Wanxiu tired from all the pleasantries.

When it was Pang Lizhang’s turn, Aunt Chen welcomed her in with a smile and said right away, “That matter you asked me about is settled.”On her first day back at her family home, Chen Sanhe spent the morning inquiring about Shu Yanrong’s family’s character.” In the afternoon, heavy rain prevented her from going out, so she stayed overnight at her family home and began her efforts the next day.

Chen Sanhe’s method was straightforward: she simply took Shu Wanxiu’s paternal uncle’s wife, Xu Zhen, by the arm and went around the village visiting together.

When others asked why she, who hadn’t returned to her maternal home in so long, was so familiar with the Shu family who had fled famine, Chen Sanhe would start by praising Shu Wanxiu how capable, diligent, and sensible she was since settling in Five Tablet Village. After elevating Shu Wanxiu, she would circle back to the relationship between Shu Wanxiu and Shu Yanrong, describing how the aunt and niece had been cared for by the paternal uncle’s family along the way…

That was during a famine! To spare effort to care for an orphaned niece and grandniece while they themselves were uncertain of their own survival showed that Shu Yanrong’s family had truly good character.

With just this simple method, the situation for Shu Yanrong’s family turned around overnight.

I mentioned to the old village head in my maternal home about them having no house for the winter. The old man said that they originally planned to rally everyone to help build a house after spring next year, but since everyone is now willing to accept them, there’s no harm in starting earlier.”

Shu Wanxiu moistened her previously parched lips, first expressing her thanks, then recalling, “Wouldn’t that end up benefiting the Liu family?”

Her tone carried clear resentment.

It couldn’t be helped Shu Wanxiu was protective. Her paternal uncle’s family had been implicated for so long, and if Aunt Chen hadn’t stepped in to speak up for them, who knows when they would have cleared their name.

Chen Sanhe smiled, “Winter is approaching; who has that much time to only help others? Naturally, we help one family first, and the other can wait until after spring.”

After leaving Pang Lizhang’s house, Shu Wanxiu felt as refreshed as if she had taken an immortal elixir.

She was still smiling when she reached the last household the Xun Family’s doorstep.

Author’s Note:

———————-

Barring any surprises, there will be a fat update tomorrow [bursting into tears]