Chapter 436 - Chapter 436: Giving Fish
Chapter 436: Giving Fish
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Seeing Li Yu walk towards the bamboo forest, Tang Yong said to Madam Su, “Send the carp and black carp in the bucket to Madam Landlord.”
Madam Su looked at Tang Yong reluctantly. “Master, the children were busy early in the morning and only caught these fish. I want to sell them in town for a hundred copper coins. It can also subsidize the family!”
Tang Yong rolled his eyes at her. “What do you know? Why don’t you think about how much money this 30% grain can be sold for? With 30% more grain at home, the children will be able to eat their fill and save some to guard against the desolate years. Hurry up and go.”
Madam Su thought about it and agreed. She nodded happily. “I’ll listen to you. I’ll send it to Madam Madam Landlord.”
Madam Su washed her hands in the ditch and carried the fish to the Zhou family.
Just as Li Yu reached the door of her house, Madam Su chased after her with a bucket. She smiled brightly at Li Yu and said, “Madam, these are the carp and black carp my two sons found in the river. My husband asked me to send them over for you to try.”
Li Yu smiled. “Thank you. Come in and sit for a while. I’ll return the bucket to you.”
Madam Su shook her head cautiously. “Madam Landlord, I won’t go in. I’ll take the bucket and leave.”
When Xing Hua saw Li Yu return, she hurriedly ran over and took the bucket. Li Yu instructed softly, “Take a bag of brown sugar and candied plums and go to the kitchen to get a fatter piece of meat. Put it in the bucket and bring it back for her.”
“Yes, Madam.” Xing Hua carried the wooden bucket to the kitchen. Granny Chen saw two of black fish in the bucket and said with a smile, “These fish are good and nourishing.”
Xing Hua washed the wooden bucket and got a piece of fat meat from Auntie Zhang. Then, she went to get a packet of sugar and a packet of candied plums. When she reached the entrance, she returned the bucket to Madam Su.
Madam Su took the wooden bucket and saw the things in it. She was busy picking them up and returning them to Xing Hua. “Madam Dong, there are only a few fish. The children went to the river to catch them. You’re too polite.”
Li Yu smiled and said, “Sister-in-law Su, you gave me fish to eat, so it’s only right for me to return the favor. Besides, I’ll leave the melons and vegetables in the courtyard to you and your husband. It’s just a small token. Don’t stand on ceremony. Come and talk to me when you’re free.”
Madam Su nodded and bowed to Li Yu seriously. “Madam, thank you for giving us 30% less tenant rent.
“You don’t know, but the Fan family’s rent was originally 10% higher than those of the other families. Who would have thought that the steward who came during the autumn harvest last year would increase our rent by another 10% the moment he arrived? He didn’t give us any salary on such a cold day and even asked everyone to dig for lotus roots in the pond.”
“As soon as he arrived, we had to pay 70% of the rent. After paying the rent, we only had a little food left. From the second half of last year until now, our family had been eating brown rice with chaff and some dry vegetables. We had to drink soup to coax our stomachs before we could survive the winter and seed this spring.”
“I was originally worried about how to get through this year. Madam, you and the boss are good people. You gave us 30% less rent the moment you arrived.
We’ll have a full meal this autumn.”
Li Yu didn’t expect the steward sent by Chu Fu to add 10% to the rent and lotus roots as soon as he arrived last year. It seemed that there was still a lotus pond in the manor. Not all the stewards of the royal family were like Chu Sihai, who was dedicated to the royal family. There were still people who went against their conscience and bullied the commoners!
“Sister-in-law Su, if your family doesn’t have enough food until the autumn harvest, you can come to my house to borrow it. Just return it to me after the autumn harvest.”
We’ll buy some brown rice and add some wild vegetables and beans to fill our stomachs.”
As Madam Su spoke, she picked up the wooden bucket and smiled awkwardly. “Madam, thank you. Look at how long-winded I am. I won’t delay your return.”
Li Yu nodded and watched her stride away before turning around and walking back.
After entering the courtyard, Mr. Wen pinched the space between his eyebrows and came out of the house. Seeing Xing Hua following behind Li Yu with Li Yu’s straw hat, he smiled and said, “What’s wrong with Xing Hua today? Did your Madam scold her?”
Li Yu turned around and looked at her. Xing Hua’s eyes turned red. “Old Master, my Madam doesn’t scold people! I heard Sister-in-law Su talk about their lives and recalled the days at home.”
Mr. Wen smiled and said, “So you’re homesick! Where is Xinghua’s family from?”
“That’s right! You’ve never heard you mention your family before!” Li Yu also smiled.
Xing Hua wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and smiled bitterly. “Old Master, Madam, my family is in Xingfu Town in Yunzhou. After Father fell sick and passed away, our family’s life was very difficult. Sometimes, we would only eat one meal a day and be only half full. Two years later, my mother passed away and our family still owes a lot of money.
“Eldest Uncle and Grandfather sold me and my sister. I was lucky. Madam bought me home, but I don’t know where my sister was sold to. I wonder if the family she went to treated her as well as Madam and Old Master treats me?”
Mr. Wen sighed and comforted her, “Xinghua, don’t worry. Things will turn out for the better one day. Your sister will be the same. She might be worried about you too! In a few days, let’s go to the Daoist temple and pray to the Three Pure Ones. We’ll get them to bless your sister and let her go to a good family.” “Thank you, Old Master.” Xing Hua bowed.
Li Yu smiled and asked, “Sir, have you been to Hengshan Town? Is there a
Daoist temple nearby?”
Mr. Wen recalled happily, ‘Yes, there’s a restaurant in Hengshan Town that makes very good fishballs, buns, and roasted chicken. The Three Pure Monastery is less than two hours away to the left of Hengshan Town by foot. At the top of Hengshan Mountain, the Abbey Dean is an old friend of mine and Xiaoxi’s grandfather has a good relationship with him.
“I wonder if that old Daoist priest is still around? However, Xiaoyu, if you want to go, you can only go after the child is full term.”
“Sigh! If I walk a few more steps now, you’ll all be worried. Even if I don’t go, you can go too! When do you want to go? Let Xing Hua and Little Stutterer accompany you! When Yang’er comes to the manor, we’ll eat fish.”
Mr. Wen also wanted to go out for a walk. He clapped his hands and smiled. “Alright! There’s no time like the present. Tomorrow morning, we’ll set off for the Three Pure Monastery.”
Xing Hua looked at Li Yu with yearning. ‘Madam, I want to go too!”
Li Yu smiled and waved her hand. “Go! Xinghua, go too. Bring Little Stutterer along. I’ll go back to my room to sleep for an hour. Call me in an hour.” “Yes, Madam.” Xing Hua happily ran to look for Little Stutterer.
Mr. Wen went to the back garden and walked towards the kitchen. He happened to see Granny Chen killing the black fish.
Mr. Wen smiled and said, “This black fish is really good. How do you want to eat it?”
Granny Chen bowed and said, “Old Master, I want to stew some for Little
Loach. This thing is good for those who are injured.”
Mr. Wen smiled and said, “Yes! Granny is right. Little Loach doesn’t have any old illnesses. Eating black fish soup is good for his injuries.
“If someone with an old illness eats it, some of them will have a relapse in four to six hours. Before stewing it, you have to ask if that person has an old illness. ”
Granny Chen did not expect the Old Master of the Zhou family to know this.
She bowed respectfully and said, “Thank you for your guidance, Old Master.”
Mr. Wen didn’t like to talk to people so politely. Seeing that Granny Chen was so polite, he didn’t want to say anything else. He waved his hand and turned to leave..