As we arrived home, I saw Uncle Jiang cleaning a big rabbit.
"Bellona, I already set aside a peasant for tomorrow. Shall we have braised rabbit meat for dinner?"
"Okay Uncle Jiang, just prepare the ingredients and called me" After saying that, I slump my whole body in the bamboo bed. Oh, how I miss the soft sofa in the modern world! I'll make sure that after getting my first pot of gold I'll make a cotton sofa.
Big Brother Allardy asked me with a curious expression, "So, Bellona, what's our plan for tomorrow? Since the pig offal is not available, what are we going to sell?"
I grinned mischievously, a spark of excitement in my eyes. "Well, Big Brother, I have a new idea. Tomorrow, we're going to sell some delicious fish dishes!"
He raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Fish dishes? That sounds interesting. But where are we going to get the fish?"
Without hesitation, I replied, "We're heading straight to the river in the eastern part of the village to catch some!" Our village, Stone Creek Village, has a small shallow river from the mountain. It also serves as a boundary that separates us from the Song Village.
Seeley gently interrupted our excitement. "Um, guys? I hate to break it to you, but we don't actually have any fishing rods at home."
I furrowed my brow, momentarily taken aback. "Oh, right. I completely forgot about that. But no worries, I have an idea! We can improvise with what we have."
Curiosity sparked in their eyes as they waited for me to explain further.
"I can weave a small basket using some sturdy branches and twine," I continued, a confident smile spreading across my face.
"We'll use it as a fishing trap. Instead of casting a line, we'll lay the basket down in the water and pin some bait to it. When the fish come near, we'll lift the basket and catch them inside."
Cree's eyes lit up with excitement. "You are really amazing Elder Sister! I'll go get some rabbit meat from Uncle Jiang. We can dip it in sugar to make it extra enticing for the fish."
I nodded approvingly. "Great idea, Cree! The fish won't be able to resist that sweet aroma."
With renewed enthusiasm, we divided our tasks. Seeley and I gathered branches and twine while Cree hurried off to Uncle Jiang's house to collect the rabbit meat. In no time, we were ready to put our improvised fishing trap to the test.
As the sun began to set, we carefully placed our handmade basket in the water, making sure it was secure. We then attached the sweetened rabbit meat as bait, carefully positioning it to attract the fish.
"Now we wait," I whispered, a sense of anticipation filling the air.
We sat in silence, our eyes fixed on the basket, waiting for any sign of movement. Suddenly, a slight tug on the twine alerted us to the presence of a curious fish. With excitement in our hearts, we slowly lifted the basket out of the water, revealing a small but lively fish inside.
It is a small mudfish. It might not have been the biggest fish, but it was a promising start.
"Great job, everyone!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my joy. "Our improvised fishing method is working!"
Hours had passed and we had caught 2 bucket worth of fish. As Big Brother and Seeley counted all the fish, a thin child approached us. Cree's eyes widened with recognition, and he exclaimed, "Daniu! Look, it's Daniu!"
Daniu shyly approached us, his eyes fixed on the bucket of fish. "Hey, Cree, what are you guys doing?" he asked in a soft voice.
Cree grinned and proudly replied, "We're fishing, Daniu! We caught so many fish!"
Daniu's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "That's amazing! No one had ever caught that many fish before."
"Now you realize how awesome I am!" Cree boastfully patted his chest.
"Ahm, Cree can I borrow the net after you guys are done?" Daniu shyly asks. His hand continuously fidgeted towards the hem of his rough clothes.
I observed Daniu for a moment, his small frame and uncertain gaze. Concerned for his safety, I stepped forward and said, "Daniu, it's not safe for you to fish alone. Here, take these two big fish instead."
I carefully tied the fish together and handed them to Daniu. He looked both surprised and grateful, his eyes gleaming with appreciation. "I-I ca—" He slightly paused. I kept on looking at him. What a great child! I nudge the tied fish toward him.
"Thank you so much Elder Sister Bellona! I will give this back, I promise"
I smiled warmly at him. "No problem, Daniu. It's important to have someone with you especially if you are fishing. You can have these fish first and the next time we fish I make Cree call you so that you could fish with us!"
Daniu's shyness melted away as he beamed at us. "Thank you again! If you ever need someone to run errands or help with anything, I'd be glad to do it for you."
Cree chimed in excitedly, "Yeah, Daniu can be our errand boy!"
We all shared a laugh at Cree's enthusiasm. "Well, Daniu, we'll keep that in mind," I replied with a playful smile. "But for now, enjoy those fish and be careful out here."
Daniu nodded earnestly, clutching the fish tightly. "I will, thank you. You guys are really kind."
With that, Daniu bid us farewell and hurriedly made his way back, a sense of gratitude trailing behind him.
As Cree shared the story of Daniu's family situation, my heart sank with empathy. I looked at Cree, understanding the depth of his compassion for his friend. "It must be really tough for Daniu," I remarked. He was just 5 years old, in modern times he was still a baby. Tough times really give birth to tough people.
Cree nodded solemnly. "Yeah, it is. His father passed away, and his mother is sick. He's the oldest, taking care of his younger brother all by himself. It's a lot of responsibility for someone so young."
I sighed, feeling a deep sense of empathy for Daniu's struggles. "It's not easy being an orphan, carrying the weight of the family on your shoulders. But it's amazing how he manages to stay strong and keep going."
Cree nodded in agreement. "That's why I became friends with him. We can relate to each other's experiences, being orphans ourselves. We support and understand each other."
I let out a playful sigh as Cree's words struck a chord within me. I gently reached out and lightly smacked his head, saying, "Hey now, Cree, we're not orphans. Mom and Dad have just been away for a while, that's all."
Cree's eyes widened with realization, and he quickly wrapped his arms around me, showering my cheeks with kisses. "You're right, Elder Sister. I'm sorry for forgetting. We have each other, and I have Uncle Jiang and Big Brother and You! And oh, even though Second Brother always steals you away I know that he dotes on me too."
I chuckled and ruffled Cree's hair affectionately. "That's right, little brother. We're a strong family, and we'll take care of each other. Mom and Dad will be back soon, I promise."