Chapter 89 - 89

Chapter 89 Breaking the Ice to Catch FishAfter a fun-filled day, Xiaozhu and the others made a promise to break the ice on the river and catch fish the next day, so they each took a frozen fish home.They were specifically instructed not to knock on the door in the courtyard early in the morning, so as not to disturb others.We agreed to meet at the intersection.As a result, the next day, around eight o'clock in the morning, Yun Ting ate a simple bowl of wontons, then slipped out the door with two steamed buns in her pocket.As soon as I stepped out of the courtyard, I saw Little Pillar and Little Tiger standing on tiptoe, their noses red from the cold, clutching half a thick wooden stick in their hands, their breath billowing out like a little train."Why are you two up so early? It's so cold!""Little Sister Yun, you've finally arrived!" Little Tiger stamped his feet and rubbed his hands. "Yesterday I saw that the ice over the river bend was really thick, there must be a bunch of fish huddled underneath!"Yun Ting stuffed a warm steamed bun into each of their hands."Here, eat quickly."" Sister Yun, no need, we've already eaten." Xiao Zhuzi tried to pull his hand back.These white steamed buns are so precious! How could you accept one from Sister Yun?But as soon as he finished speaking, his stomach started rumbling loudly.His face flushed with embarrassment, and he quickly covered his stomach.Seeing his comical little face, Yun Ting burst into laughter, "Haha... Little Pillar, you're so cute."The two little children couldn't withstand Yun Ting's pressure and obediently ate the white steamed buns."Let's have something to eat first, and then we'll stew a pot of fresh fish for lunch."The three walked towards the river through the thin snow, the north wind stinging their faces. The ice on the river was indeed frozen solid. Little Pillar swung his wooden stick down, and with a "clang," only a white mark was left. He was so anxious that he kept grimacing. Little Tiger also tried his best, swinging his arm until it ached, before finally smashing a hole the size of a fist. Dark, icy water rushed up."When will we ever catch any fish?" Xiao Zhuzi squatted down dejectedly."Move aside, let me see your sister's."Yun Ting took the wooden stick from them, took a deep breath, and smashed it down hard, "Bang..."A hole the size of a washbasin appeared."Wow... Sister Yun is so amazing."Yun Ting raised her chin arrogantly, but without making a sound, she placed her hand on the ice, her fingertips tinged with a barely perceptible green. She activated Wood Element Ability, causing the aquatic plants hidden in the silt beneath the ice to stir quietly—their fine roots, like flexible nets, swam with the current towards where the fish gathered, and then gently wrapped around their fins, guiding them toward the ice hole."Watch this." She winked at the two children, picked up the bamboo basket Little Tigerhanded her, and stuck it into the hole.A moment later, a flash of silver light appeared, and a palm-sized crucian carp jumped into the basket with a "plop".Just as Xiao Zhuzi was about to exclaim in surprise, one after another, two more... green grass carp, silver whitebait, and even a black fish weighing about a pound emerged from the hole, as if being pushed by something, and obediently fell into the basket."My goodness!" Little Tiger stared wide-eyed, dropping the wooden stick in his hand with a clatter onto the ice. " Sister Yun, what... what kind of magic is this?"Yun Ting smiled and put away the Supernatural Ability. The water plants returned to their original state underwater. "There's no magic involved. It's just that the ice hole was chosen in a good location, right in front of the fish passage." As she spoke, she quickly picked up the fish and put them into the basket. In less than half an hour, the bamboo basket was overflowing, and the fish scales shimmered wetly in the morning light."Little Sister Yun, from now on you will be the person I admire most." Xiao Zhuzi said, his eyes shining as he looked at her.Yun Ting was both amused and exasperated. "So, who was your most admired person before?""My grandfather… he used to be a soldier and fought in wars. Later, he returned to the village and became the Brigade Leader. He managed all the big and small things in the village very well. He was really amazing."Yun Ting also agreed with him."Then you should continue to idolize your grandpa! I can't compare to him."" Sister Yun is also very good; my grandpa can't catch fish."Little Zhu carried the heavy basket, his eyes shining like two stars: "Little Sister Yun, you're amazing! When we get back, Grandma will definitely praise me!"Little Tiger asked cautiously, " Sister Yun, I want to save that blackfish for my dad. He sprained his ankle the other day and needs to recover. Is that alright?"Yun Ting patted his little shoulder, "Of course you can!"Yun Ting watched the two children's excited expressions, exhaled a puff of white breath, and laughed. A cold wind blew across the frozen river, carrying a crisp, watery scent. "It's terribly cold, we should head back."A number of people gradually arrived on the river. At first, they didn't pay much attention to the three of them, assuming they were just there for fun. But when they saw the baskets they were carrying filled with fish, they were all surprised."Little Educated Youth Yun, where did you get this?""Hehe~ I was lucky, I just broke a hole in the ice and maybe I just happened to come across the fish passage."As soon as they left, everyone rushed to the ice hole they had smashed, but after searching for a long time they found nothing, so they could only try smashing other places.Yun Ting took the two dolls back to her courtyard and invited them to have lunch together.Yun Ting selected two of the fattest sea bass, scaled and gutted them, patted them dry with a clean paper, made several deep cuts on the fish, stuffed them with shredded ginger and scallion segments, and marinated them with a little sorghum wine since there was no cooking wine.After the water boils, steam the food in a pot. In less than 15 minutes, the whole house will be filled with a fresh aroma. Take it out, pour off the broth, remove the scallions and ginger, top with bright green scallion shreds and red pepper shreds, pour a spoonful of boiling hot oil, and with a "sizzle", the aroma will explode instantly. Drizzle two spoonfuls of soy sauce on top, and serve the dish on the plate."Eat up, sea bass has few bones, just be careful."Yun Ting put a large piece of fish belly on each of the two children's plates. The meat there is the most tender, with only a few large bones along the main bone that can be easily picked off.Xiao Zhu couldn't wait to stuff it into his mouth. The fish was so tender it seemed to melt on his tongue, and he smacked his lips in delight: "Sister Yun, this fish is even more delicious than the one at the State-run Restaurant in town!"His parents had taken him to State-run Restaurant, so he had eaten the fish there, but he thought it wasn't as good as the fish cooked by his little sister, Yun.Little Tiger held the bowl, scooped up fish and mixed it with rice, and mumbled, "This is the first time I've ever eaten such delicious fish..."Little Tiger had never eaten at the State-run Restaurant, so he couldn't respond to what Little Pillar was saying and could only sigh."It's so nice not having to nitpick..."Watching them eat with gusto, Yun Ting also picked up a piece with her chopsticks. The fish was tender and springy, and perfectly fresh. Perhaps it was wild and unpolluted, making the fish even fresher.The sunlight slanted in through the window, falling on the three people eating. The residual heat from the steamer, mixed with the aroma of the food, kept the winter chill out and warmed their hearts.The three of them ate the two fish clean, leaving only the bones.Little Pillar and Little Tiger ate until their bellies were round and full, and they were extremely satisfied.The two little ones know how to be grateful, and they decided in their hearts that they should help Sister Yun with chores more often in the future.So, without Yun Ting's instructions, the two of them cleaned up the kang table and washed the bowls before carrying the fish they had divided up home.