Eating Loaches
He didn't pick it up; instead, he just laughed heartily on the ground.
Mǎn Bǎo rubbed her forehead with her dirty little hands, quickly climbed over, and pulled the wooden barrel over, allowing Bái Shànbǎo to catch the loach in it.
The two children struggled to get the loach into the barrel, but they were also very dirty, dirtier than the people standing in the river catching loaches.
But they didn't feel it at all. They sat on the edge of the barrel and laughed foolishly at the loaches inside.
Mǎn Bǎo drooled, "I want to eat."
Bái Shànbǎo had never eaten it before; last time he only caught it and didn't eat it. Seeing her drooling, he couldn't help but ask, "Is it very delicious?"
Mǎn Bǎo nodded vigorously, "Very delicious, very delicious."
Bái Shànbǎo also looked at them and drooled.
Dàtóu quickly caught one too. With his experience, he grabbed it and threw it at the uncle closest to him.
Zhōu Wǔláng quickly caught the object with his hands and aimed it at the wooden barrel in front of Mǎn Bǎo and Bái Shànbǎo. Some items were thrown in, some were thrown out. Mǎn Bǎo and Bái Shànbǎo laughed and grabbed the items that landed inside the barrel.
When the adults in the village called for dinner, everyone realized it was getting late and climbed out of the river.
Zhōu Sìláng looked at the mud on his hands and feet, and then called everyone to wash by the river.
Mǎn Bǎo looked at the mud on her hands and also wanted to go, but Zhōu Sìláng didn't dare to let her touch the river water. He directly grabbed the back of her collar and said, "Go, go, go, Dàtóu, take them home and use warm water." Adults can use cold water.
Dàtóu ran up and grabbed the wooden barrel, and said to Mǎn Bǎo, "Little girl, let's go home first, with Bái Shànbǎo."
Mǎn Bǎo looked at the river, then at the loaches in the wooden barrel, and decided to follow the loaches.
A group of children returned home. Xiǎo Qiánshì was on the verge of anger. She picked up a broom and took two steps forward. However, when she saw Bái Shànbǎo standing next to Mǎn Bǎo, smiling, her hand paused. The broom in her hand changed direction and fell to the ground.
Dàtóu, Dàyā, and the others breathed a sigh of relief and became lively, carrying the wooden barrel forward to show off. "Mother, we caught a lot of loaches."
Qiánshì looked at the items in the wooden barrel with disgust, waved her hand impatiently, and said, "Go, let your father handle it." Dàyā, quickly go to the stove and get hot water to wash your face and hands. "It's so cold by the river." "Who took you there?"
Fēngshì and Héshì also emerged when they heard the sound. Seeing their children covered in mud, they were angry and couldn't help but mutter, "In the middle of winter, how much firewood will it take?" Tomorrow, you will go up the mountain to pick firewood.
"And then, 'You only have two sets of clothes, the previous ones haven't dried yet...'"
In short, it was very worrying.
Dàtóu and Dàyā were a little more sensible, and they quietly did their work with their heads down.
But Èrtóu, Èryā, Mǎn Bǎo, and the other little ones completely couldn't understand the worries of the adults. At that moment, they were joyfully assembled, laughing and observing the loaches.
When the hot water was ready, they happily washed their hands and feet together. Knowing that their clothes needed to be changed, Mǎn Bǎo mischievously splashed some water, letting the warm water splash on her face, which was especially fun.
Bái Shànbǎo played at the Zhōu family's house for a long time, until Dàjí, who had been standing silently on the side, reminded him that it was time to go back for dinner.
Mǎn Bǎo brought a wooden basin and filled it with many loaches for him, instructing him, "Let them spit out the mud overnight, then eat them tomorrow."
Bái Shànbǎo nodded in understanding.
Mǎn Bǎo exclaimed, "Róng Yí's cooking is delicious!" "You should try it tomorrow and see for yourself." "If it's good, remember the recipe, and I'll ask my sister-in-law to make it for me later."
Bái Shànbǎo invited her, "Come to my house tomorrow to eat." After we finish the food at my house, I'll come to your house to eat.
Mǎn Bǎo thought for a moment, agreed, and then handed the wooden basin to him.
Of course, Dàjí was the one carrying the wooden basin.
Zhèngshì saw her son covered in mud and was almost speechless. When she noticed the loaches in the wooden basin, she took two steps back in shock and averted her eyes. "Shànbǎo, why did you bring a snake back?"
"This is not a snake, this is a loach," Bái Shànbǎo explained to his grandmother. "This is what we caught together." Mǎn Bǎo says it's very delicious.
Liúshì had never eaten this before and was also shocked, but she adapted well. She just nodded, looked at his dirty clothes, and asked Dàjí, "Did you go to the river?"
Dàjí quickly said, "I was just by the river, didn't touch the cold water, just rolled on the ground when catching the loaches."
Liúshì nodded and waved, "Take this thing to the kitchen." Someone, please go and assist the young master with taking a bath.
After giving orders, Liúshì frowned and looked at Bái Shànbǎo, "Hurry up and wash and change your clothes; dinner will be ready soon."
Liúshì never discouraged the children from being mischievous. In her opinion, children, especially boys, should be active to maintain good health. If they were afraid and restricted, they would get sick in the long run.
So, she only forbade the children from taking risks in the water and let them play as they pleased.
Bái Shànbǎo never considered himself mischievous. When Dàjí took the wooden basin away, he happily followed the servants to bathe and change his clothes.
The kitchen manager at the Bái family was called Róng Yí. She had an elderly lady and a young maid working under her. The three of them were responsible for managing the kitchen and overseeing the meals and beverages for the entire family.
She knew a lot of things: desserts, dishes from various regions, and, of course, how to handle loaches.
Not only did she know how to handle them, but she also made three different dishes with the loaches: loach and tofu soup, steamed loach, and stir-fried loach.
Mǎn Bǎo had never eaten anything other than steamed loach.
Zhèngshì was afraid to eat, so naturally, she didn't eat. Liúshì tasted it, thought it was good, and ate it with the two children.
Mǎn Bǎo only took a small portion of rice and enjoyed the three loach dishes, saying, "Loaches are delicious, and this white and tender one is especially tasty."
Liúshì picked up a piece of tofu for her and asked with a smile, "This is tofu." Have you never eaten it before?
"No," Mǎn Bǎo shook her head and asked, "How is tofu made?"
"It's made from soybeans." This was made by the Bái family themselves. Liúshì knew that certain cooking methods were common in some places, while in others, they might not have been familiar with them. So she carefully explained the method of making tofu to her and said with a smile, "When you go back, you can ask your sister-in-law to try making it."
Mǎn Bǎo nodded vigorously.
Seeing her enjoying the food, and her usually picky grandson eating more and enjoying it more than usual, Liúshì smiled and said, "I'll have Róng Yí pack two pieces for you to take back, Mǎn Bǎo." Grandma really likes you. Will you come to eat at my house often in the future?
"I can't." "I have to go back to eat with my mother; otherwise, she won't enjoy her meal without me." Otherwise, Grandma, you can come to my house for dinner," Mǎn Bǎo said. "My mother won't enjoy her meal without me." Otherwise, Grandma, you can come to my house for dinner.
Liúshì laughed heartily and nodded, "Okay, next time when I have some free time, I'll come to your house and try your food."