Chapter 2 The Big Tiger Next Door

  After lunch, Zhao sat in the courtyard to wash and sun the winter bedding. Looking at the already washed and bleached bedding, she touched the thin layer of cotton wadding and couldn't help but sigh.

  It's still early summer, and there's a while before it gets cold. By the time autumn arrives and the grain is harvested, taxes are paid, and the money from selling the grain is used to buy medicine for her father-in-law, she should have enough left over to make two more quilts. Thinking about her father-in-law's illness and her eldest child's longing eyes when seeing other children going to school, her heart aches as a mother. She thinks that it seems she needs to speed up the pace of making shoes.

  Just then Xi He rushed over and shouted: "Mother, mother, Eldest Aunt and Second Aunt are here, and they've brought a basket of eggs too."

  "Ah, sisters, what brings you here?" Zhao said with a smile as he welcomed them into the courtyard. Only after they entered did he notice that both of them were holding something in their hands. He looked displeased and said, "You're coming at such a busy time for us, it's enough that you've taken the trouble to come, why bring eggs too? Don't our kids eat at home? Be careful or they'll make a fuss when you get back."

  It was the two wives of the Chen family, He Shi and Xue Shi. These three sisters-in-law all came from the same village, they were not bad when they were girls, and they all married the three brothers of the Chen family and became sisters-in-law.

  It has become a beautiful story in this village, the three sisters-in-law didn't have the usual troubles of ordinary families, they played together from childhood to adulthood and later married into the same family, their relationship is very good.

  "Those two little rascals, they dared to! When I came, they were still shouting about coming to see their sister, but when their paternal grandmother arrived, they didn't come because they were too scared. And now they're not even willing to give these few eggs to their sister!"

  "After finishing speaking, she looked around and said 'Where's Xi Mei? Hurry up and call me to see how my dear is doing. How do you guys take care of the child? If it doesn't work out, let Xi Mei come home with me. Qian Qian still wants to play with her sister. Anyway, I only have one daughter at home, and those two stinky boys can't even play together with her.'"

  "Eldest sister, that won't do. My family's Rui Fu is still waiting for Xi Mei, you can't steal her from me! Juan Juan at home is also saying she has nothing to do, it's just right to bring Qian Qian and Xi Mei and the others to my house, they'll have more fun playing together."

  Alright, come here and still want to grab people, heard two old ladies' conversation, Lao Er Ruihao rushed back and closed the door, "Auntie, Second Auntie, you both go back. My sister won't go home with you, my sister is mine." As soon as the words fell, everyone in the yard burst out laughing.

  At this time, Xi Mei was also carried out by her elder sister. When she came out, He Shi and Xue Shi both went to touch her face and said with pity, "Oh, look at my little daughter, her face has thinned so much, how did your mother take care of you? Go with Eldest Paternal Aunt."

  Xue's family chimed in, "Come on, let Er Bao see, don't listen to your mother, Er Bao's house has many fun little things, all brought back by Rui Fu's uncle from the county town, we don't have these here. Let's go, and return home with Er Bao?"

  We're still young girls who don't care about being nearly twenty years old. With a loli face, she says coquettishly: "No no no, Big Brother and Second Brother are calling us over, I still need to stay home and help Mom and Dad with chores."

  "What about you? Still causing trouble, aren't you? Tell me, what have you been up to?" Xue Shi teased. "Ahh, Second Aunt, don't always expose my secrets! I'm still very capable, unlike Little San Jie, who broke a bowl while washing it."

  Who would have thought that just after finishing speaking, a gloomy voice came from behind, "Well, you didn't let Second Auntie expose your bottom, but instead you came to expose mine. You're dead, girl! Let me teach you a good lesson." Seeing Third Sister's unyielding small temper, I sincerely said, "Alright, Third Sister, I was wrong."

  Just as several sisters were making a fuss, Xue walked up to Zhao and asked, "Third sister, this time my family's hen hatched over ten chicks, take a look and see if you want to catch a few."

  Zhao's family was in a difficult situation. To be honest, she wanted to catch them, but it was always troublesome for the two sisters-in-law and she felt embarrassed. However, among the three families, her own family had many children, while her elder sister-in-law and younger sister-in-law had fewer children. Moreover, their maternal family's conditions were good, and both families lived a relatively comfortable life.

  The old man's medical expenses are shared equally among the three families, but those two families haven't taken good care of themselves. The young chicken can't compare to the egg, how can they bear to trouble others all the time? Madam Xue saw that Madam Zhao wasn't speaking and knew what she was worried about. "Hey, I know what you're thinking, is it that you feel like you've taken advantage of us two families? What's our relationship? Why are you still so distant? Look at your eldest and second child, they'll definitely make something of themselves in the future. When the time comes, let them take good care of their aunties. Besides, you have many children, do you want to exhaust yourself with another illness?"

  Zhao looked at his little daughter and finally compromised, nodding in agreement. Well, now that I remember this favor, I'll make sure to repay those two families properly when the child is a bit older.

  Xue said with a nod, "Alright, let's go first. You remember to catch the little chicken tomorrow."

  "Alright, I know. You all go ahead and busy yourselves. Rui Xuan, go see off your aunts." After they left, Zhao smiled to herself. With such obedient children and good family members, what's there to fear about being poor? She didn't believe that when the kids grew up a bit more, they would still be able to endure a lifetime of poverty.

  Just as she was lost in thought, the wicker gate creaked open and a sturdy little boy with big eyes and thick eyebrows walked in. He was about the same age as Ruihao. When he saw that he had been discovered, he revealed a silly smile. "Auntie, Brother Hao, is Brother Xuan here? I want to go play by the river, but my mom won't let me go alone. Can you please ask Brother Xuan and Brother Hao to come with me?"

  Rui Xuan and Rui Hao heard the exciting news and nodded their heads eagerly, after all they were still kids. Madam Zhao originally didn't want to let them go, but seeing their expectant eyes, she couldn't bear to refuse in her heart.

  "Alright, going is fine but must pay attention to safety. Not allowed to go to deep water areas." Hearing his mother agree, Ruihao nodded directly, "Good, guarantee listening to mom's words, oh oh, going to catch fish!"

  Sister Xi heard the commotion and rushed out. "Mother, I'm going too! I'm going too!" She had been cooped up at home for several days and hadn't gone out yet, so she didn't know what was outside. Besides, after being stuck at home for so long, she also wanted to go out and get some fresh air.

  "No, you've just recovered from your illness and can't go out in the wind." Zhao's mother flatly refused. "Mother, Mother, you're the best mother in the world, the very best! Just let me go, I promise I won't run around, isn't that enough?" Zhao's mother looked down at her little daughter who was tugging on her hem, big round eyes, long eyelashes blinking nonstop, and a small mouth muttering away.

  For some reason, Mrs. Zhao's heart suddenly softened. Half a day later, she said with difficulty: "Okay, okay, go ahead, stop blinking your eyes, I don't know who you learned from. Call your second sister to go with you, and take your third sister along. Otherwise, when she sees that none of you are there, who knows what kind of trouble will happen?" Haha, success! Xi Mei silently made a "yes" gesture in her heart.

  After a few people finished gathering, the large group went to the riverbank in a mighty manner. Rui Xuan and Rui Hao carried buckets, while San Jie and Er Jie each held one of their hands. Along the way, San Jie kept chattering nonstop.

  After walking for nearly half a time, they finally arrived at the riverbank. Rui Xuan instructed Hu Zi and Rui Hao to stand in the middle of the river, while he himself took a simple tool to their side. The tool was a broken earthenware jar-like thing, about 30 centimeters high.

  The tiger cub held a high-end sieve, and the tools were placed underwater, waiting for 'you to enter the pot'. The three of them bent down and quietly looked at the water surface, no one dared to make a sound. Three sisters on the shore watched the three people. It's too tense, thinking about it is also good, haven't seen meat for a long time. This time catching fish must be eaten well to supplement, is it braised or steamed? Or boiled fish? Ah, can't think about it anymore, saliva is coming down.

  Just as Xi Mei was in a daze, she heard Er Ge shouting, "Ha! Er Jie and San Mei, Xi Mei, come quick and take a look, I've caught a carp!" Xi Mei hastily went to take the fish from him.

  Sister Xi looked at the fish head, yeah, not bad. Although it's not particularly big, it's already pretty good. Heaven knows what these fish in the river have been eating, they're so tender and delicate, it took half an hour to catch just one fish.

  Looking at the three people still catching fish, Xi Mei no longer wanted to stand by the river. What's the point of just standing there? So she applied for some free activity, but the two sisters strictly enforced Zhao's orders and didn't allow Xi Mei to take a single step out of line.

  Just then, Xi Mei's eyes darted to the side and saw a corner exposed in the muddy sand of the river. "Sister, look quickly, what is that? Is it a shell? I want it, I want it."

  The little hand pointed to the river and shouted in a spoiled tone. Xi Mei couldn't help but comfort her, saying, "Okay, I'll catch it for you. There are so many of these things in the river, and they can't be eaten anyway. What's the point of catching them? You're always making me do things." Although she said this, her hands didn't slow down as she tied up the hem of her clothes and went into the river to find it for her.

  Leave Jiemei in that silly fun, what is this shell? Obviously it's a river clam! The clam meat with chili stir-fry is so fragrant, thinking of this little girl makes me unable to calm down. Her small hands kept directing, "Second sister, there's this, ah, and that too, second sister hurry up!"

  "If you shout again, I'll leave you here by yourself and let the police take you away. See if you can still boss me around then!" Alright, I've made him angry now.

  Estimated to have been scolded, this will obediently use a small fat hand to cover its mouth, leaving a pair of big eyes rolling around, hey, this soft and fearful little thing.

  I guess nobody knew this thing was edible at that time, so my second sister secretly took a small bucket. "Okay, okay, soon there won't be any place to put the fish." Xi Mei said with a jump.

  The sun slowly sets in the west, its golden afterglow shining on the earth. Looking at the bucket of fish, it seems like they've caught enough. Several people accompanied each other, happily and excitedly trudging through the sunset to head home.

  Chapter 2 The Big Tiger Next Door

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