Reborn in 1984, fishing and hunting in Jiangnan

Chapter 9 March Yellow

In the evening, Zhang Cuihua stewed fish soup.

It smells delicious; the whole yard is filled with the fresh aroma of fish soup.

There was also braised carp, cucumber salad, and cornbread—a whole table full of food, so much so that there wasn't enough room for all the bowls.

Zhang Jianguo didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up the bowl and started eating, slurping it down as if he hadn't eaten for three days.

"Auntie, your fish soup is so delicious! It's much better than my mom's!"

My mom's cooking is always too salty, and she gets upset when I tell her.

Zhang Cuihua laughed: "Your mother's cooking is also delicious, don't talk nonsense. Every family has its own unique flavor."

"Really! My mom never adds enough salt, it's always too salty. Auntie, yours is just right, so delicious!"

Chen Laosan listened from the side, a slight smile playing on his lips, but he didn't say anything. He picked up a piece of meat from the fish's belly and put it in his mouth.

After finishing his meal, Zhang Jianguo helped clear the table, then went home with a satisfied burp.

He was still carrying a few flatbreads that Zhang Cuihua had packed for him.

Chen Zheng sat in the courtyard, looking at the stars in the sky.

There are so many stars in summer, so many of them, like a handful of white rice scattered on the ground, sparkling brightly.

The Milky Way stretched overhead, like a wide, expansive river.

The wind carried the fishy smell of the lake water, along with the fresh scent of corn leaves from the fields.

Chen Rong sat down next to him and continued whittling the piece of wood.

The fishing float has already been shaped; it's round with a groove in the middle to hold the fishing line.

He took sandpaper and sanded it very carefully, stroke by stroke.

"elder brother."

Chen Rong suddenly spoke up.

"Um?"

"I'll go with you to town tomorrow."

Chen Zheng glanced at him: "Okay. Get up early and leave before sunrise."

Chen Rong lowered his head and continued whittling the wood.

After a while, he asked again, "Is Mother really alright?"

Chen Zheng was silent for a moment, then said, "Something came up. So I have to go see him. The sooner the better, otherwise it will be troublesome."

Chen Rong paused for a moment, then continued slicing, but faster.

"Brother, do you think Mother might..." He didn't finish his sentence, his voice a little hoarse.

Chen Zheng reached out and patted his shoulder, his palm pressing on his thin shoulder blade:

"No, it won't happen. As long as you see a doctor early, everything will be fine. Trust me."

Chen Rong nodded, said nothing more, and lowered his head even further.

The two of them sat there, looking at the stars and listening to the lake breeze.

In the distance, the calls of wild ducks could be heard from the reeds.

quack!

One sound after another, gradually fading into the distance.

Whose radio is playing? It's a storytelling performance, Shan Tianfang's "Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties".

Just as they were talking about Qin Qiong selling his horse, the sound was carried away by the wind, and only a few words could be heard:

"...Even a hero can be brought down by a penny when he's down on his luck..."

Chen Zheng took a deep breath and smelled the scent of the lake water, as well as the lingering aroma of food from the kitchen.

He is determined to protect all of this for the rest of his life.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking and the roosters crowed for the first time, Chen Zheng got up.

He picked out a few of the larger fish from yesterday's catch, tied them with straw rope, and put them in a basket.

He went to the kitchen and got a few more flatbreads, wrapped them in a cloth, and put them in his bosom, keeping them warm against his heart.

Zhang Cuihua also got up and busied herself in the kitchen. The fire in the stove wasn't burning brightly yet, with only a few sparks.

"Zhengwa, are you really going?"

She asked, her tone tinged with reluctance, like a child who didn't want to go to the doctor.

"Mother, it's a promise."

"Why spend that money? I don't have anything serious to do."

"With that money, wouldn't it be better to buy your two younger brothers a pair of shoes? Chen Feng's shoes are so revealing his toes."

Chen Zheng didn't reply. He slung the basket over his arm, walked to the door, and turned back to say:

"Mom, are we going or not? The sun will be high in the sky if we go any later, and it will be hot on the road."

Zhang Cuihua sighed, took off her apron, wiped her hands, and went out the door.

Chen Rong was already waiting at the door, wearing a clean cloth shirt that Zhang Cuihua had found for him last night.

Her hair was neatly combed and wiped with a damp towel.

The three of them left the village and headed towards the town.

It's fifteen li (about 7.5 kilometers) from Lutang Village to the town. Not far, but not close either; it takes about half an hour to walk there.

The road was a dirt road, full of potholes. It had rained yesterday, and some places were still flooded.

Stepping on it, the mud was uneven, splashing onto my trouser legs.

Chen Zheng walked ahead, his steps steady.

Zhang Cuihua walked in the middle, and Chen Rong walked at the back.

There weren't many people on the road, just the three of them, all quiet and still.

Corn was planted in the fields on both sides, growing taller than a person, its leaves rustling in the wind.

Occasionally, a wild rabbit would dart out from the ground, pause in the middle of the road, and prick up its ears to listen.

Then it disappeared back into the ground in a flash, leaving only the grass swaying slightly.

"Zhengwa, do you think the doctors at the health center can cure him?" Zhang Cuihua asked.

"Yes. I've heard that Dr. Wang at the town's health center is quite good, especially for stomach ailments."

"It was he who cured Baldy Liu's stomach problem last time."

"How much would that cost?"

"Mom, don't worry about the money. Spend it if you need to."

Zhang Cuihua sighed: "I just feel bad about the money."

Your father fishes alone on the lake, but he doesn't earn much money.

Your two younger brothers still need to go to school. Chen Feng will be starting junior high next year, and the tuition will be over ten yuan...

"Mother." Chen Zheng stopped and turned around to look at her.

"Don't worry about money. I've got you covered. I can make money fishing and crabbing."

Zhang Cuihua looked at her son and paused for a moment.

When did this child become so responsible?

His tone of voice was exactly the same as his father's when he was young.

She remembered Chen Zheng when he was a child, thin and small, like a bean sprout, so fragile that he would fall over if the wind blew him down.

Everyone who saw it said that this child would be difficult to raise and would have to be pampered.

But now, he stands there, his gaze steady, like a young poplar tree that has taken root.

Zhang Cuihua felt a lump in her throat, quickly turned her head away, pretended to look at the crops by the roadside, and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

The three of them walked for about half an hour before arriving in town.

The town is small, with only one street.

On both sides of the street were supply and marketing cooperatives, health clinics, post offices, grain stations, and a few small shops selling needles and thread.

There weren't many people on the street, just a few here and there, all of them there to go to the market, carrying baskets and crates.

Chen Zheng went to the health center first.

The health center is located at the east end of the street, a two-story building with snow-white walls and a white sign with red lettering hanging at the entrance.

Baiyang Town Health Center, Qingshui County.

There are two sycamore trees at the entrance, with large leaves that provide a cool shade.

Upon entering, there was a small hall with several long benches, the paint of which had peeled off, revealing the wood underneath.

There were posters on the wall.

The picture shows a doctor in a white coat with the words "Pay attention to hygiene and prevent disease" written in red next to it, which is very eye-catching.

Behind the registration window sat a middle-aged woman wearing glasses, knitting a sweater, which was halfway finished.

"Make an appointment," Chen Zheng said.

The woman didn't even look up: "Five cents."

Chen Zheng took out fifty cents and handed it over.

The woman tore off a registration slip, handed it over, and didn't even lift her eyelids.

"Internal Medicine, turn left on the second floor."

I went up to the second floor and found the internal medicine clinic.

The door was open, and inside sat a male doctor in his fifties, wearing glasses and a white coat.

I'm reading the newspaper, the People's Daily, and I've turned to page three.

"Dr. Wang?" Chen Zheng asked.

Dr. Wang looked up, adjusted his glasses, and said, "Hmm, come in and sit down. Who needs to see a doctor?"

"My mother. She's had a stomachache for several years."

Doctor Wang looked at Zhang Cuihua: "Sit down. Tell me, how does it hurt?"

Zhang Cuihua sat down, a little nervous, her hands resting on her knees, rubbing them back and forth.

"My stomach just feels uncomfortable; sometimes it hurts, sometimes it doesn't."

It hurts like being pricked with needles when it hurts, but eating something makes it better.

"When does it hurt the most?"

"It hurts when I'm hungry, and it hurts when I'm full."

Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night in pain, and drinking some hot water helps, or applying a hot water bottle also helps.

Dr. Wang asked a few questions, then had her lie down and pressed her abdomen carefully, one spot at a time.

"Does it hurt here?"

"It doesn't hurt."

"And here?"

"It's a little... sore and swollen."

Dr. Wang stood up, his expression somewhat serious, and his brow furrowed slightly.

"How long has it been?"

Zhang Cuihua thought for a moment: "It's been three or four years. Sometimes it's better for a while, and sometimes it relapses."

Dr. Wang glanced at Chen Zheng, then at Zhang Cuihua, and said:

"I suggest you go to the county hospital for a check-up."

The equipment in town isn't enough to make a clear diagnosis. We need to take X-rays to check.

Zhang Cuihua's expression changed: "Dr. Wang, is there a problem?"

Dr. Wang waved his hand: "It's hard to say right now. It could be a stomach ulcer, or it could be something else."

We'll only know for sure after an examination. But we can't be careless after all this time.

Chen Zheng felt as if a stone was pressing down on his heart.

In his past life, his mother also suffered from stomach pain for several years, but she kept putting it off until it was diagnosed as being in its late stages.

The doctor said that if we had come two years earlier, we could have had the surgery.

I can't put it off any longer in this lifetime.

"Dr. Wang, what kind of tests are we going to do at the county hospital?"

"Gastroscopy. We need to see what's inside the stomach. A gastroscopy will make it clear."

"How much?"

"Including the registration fee, the medicine will cost around ten or twenty yuan."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cuihua jumped to her feet, almost tipping her chair over.

"Ten or twenty yuan? No way, that's too expensive. I'm not going. I'd rather buy something to eat with that money."

"Mother." Chen Zheng pressed down on her shoulder and pushed her back into the chair. "Go."

"Zhengwa, twenty yuan! Your dad can't earn that much even if he fishes for a month!"

Your two younger brothers still need to go to school.

"Mom, you don't need to worry about the money. I'll figure something out."

Zhang Cuihua looked at him, her eyes reddening, her lips trembling:

"Zhengwa, where did you get the money? You're a grown man, where did you get the money?"

"Mother, I have a plan. Do you trust me?"

Zhang Cuihua didn't speak, but lowered her head and wiped her tears with her sleeve.

Chen Zheng turned to Dr. Wang and asked, "Dr. Wang, do I have to wait in line to get a gastroscopy at the county hospital?"

"You'll have to wait in line. Go tomorrow, make an appointment, and find Director Li in the internal medicine department. Just tell him I sent you."

He can help arrange it; you won't have to wait too long.

"Okay. Thank you, Dr. Wang."

The three of them left the health center. Zhang Cuihua didn't say a word the whole way, walking with her head down and very slowly.

Chen Rong followed behind, not saying a word, but his fists were clenched tightly.

Chen Zheng walked ahead, his mind racing.

Ten or twenty yuan was not a small amount in 1984.

His father fished, and on good months he could earn forty or fifty yuan.

In bad times, you can't even earn a dozen dollars.

There are five people in my family to eat, and two younger brothers to go to school. We need money for everything.

Chen Feng will be starting junior high school next year. The tuition and textbook fees will add up to a little over ten yuan.

Twenty yuan isn't hard to come up with, but once it's out, the family will be strapped for cash.

We'll have to tighten our belts for several months.

I need to find a way to make some money.

Chen Zheng thought for a moment and realized that it was probably early June in the lunar calendar, when the crabs in Baiyang Lake should be plump.

June Yellow is a famous delicacy in the Jiangnan region.

At this time of year, although the crabs are not very big, they are full of crab roe, very fresh, and your mouth will be full of oil with every bite.

If you take it to town to sell, you can get a good price.

Last year, someone caught crabs in the lake and took them to town to sell. They sold them for one yuan a pound, and everyone was scrambling to buy them.

Yes, catching crabs.

Having made up his mind, Chen Zheng quickened his pace.

"Mom, let's go back. We still need to go to the county hospital tomorrow."

Zhang Cuihua nodded, and the three of them walked back.

When Chen Zheng walked onto the street, he saw a group of people gathered around the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative, chattering away.

He leaned over and took a look. It was a notice, written in black and white, pasted on the wall.

"Qingshui County Aquatic Products Company Purchase Notice: Large quantities of fresh fish, crabs, and river shrimp are being purchased."

Competitive pricing, please contact us for further details.

Chen Zheng's eyes lit up.

The seafood company buys the seafood, so the price is definitely more reliable than if you sell it yourself, and you don't have to haggle with the vendors.

He squeezed in to check the prices.

Carp is 80 cents a pound, crucian carp is 60 cents, bream is 70 cents, and crab is 80 cents a pound.

Eight cents a pound!

This is the perfect time to catch crabs.

Crabs hide in mud burrows at the bottom of the lake and come out to hunt for food at night; you can catch them one by one.

Chen Zheng had a good idea of ​​what was going on, and he counted on his fingers.

Catching a dozen or so kilograms in one night would only earn you about ten yuan.

They'll be out after three or four days of arrest, and they'll be back with thirty or forty yuan.

That's enough for his mother to get checked out.

Back home, Chen Laosan was squatting in the yard mending a fishing net, with the net spread on his knees, stitching it stitch by stitch.

Seeing them return, he looked up and asked, "How did it go?"

Zhang Cuihua didn't say anything and went into the kitchen.

"Bang!"

The door closed.

Chen Zheng squatted down and told his father what had happened.

After listening, Chen Laosan remained silent for a while, his fingers gripping the net needle, motionless.

After a while, he said, "Twenty yuan... okay, I'll borrow it. I'll borrow from Baldy Liu; he's got plenty of money."

"Father, there's no need to borrow. I have a way."

Chen Laosan looked at him: "What's the plan?"

"Catching crabs."

June yellow, now is the perfect time.

Take it to the seafood company to sell, it'll be 80 cents a pound.

You can catch a dozen or so kilograms in one night and make twenty yuan.

A few days of arrest will suffice.

Chen Laosan paused for a moment, then nodded and inserted the net needle into the fishing net:

"Okay. Good that you know what you're doing. We have crab traps at home, they're piled up in the storage room, go look for them."

Then he added, "Zhengwa, you should worry more about your mother's affairs. I'm not good with words, I can't talk to her."

She gets angry with me if I say just a few words.

"Father, don't worry."

That evening, Chen Zheng began preparing his tools for catching crabs.

There are rules for catching crabs.

You can't use a net, because it will entangle the crabs so tightly that they can't be untangled.

You have to use a cage; once the crabs crawl inside, it's like entering a maze.

Chen Zheng rummaged through the storage room and found several old cages that his father used to use.

It's made of bamboo, cylindrical in shape, with barbs at both ends; once a crab crawls inside, it can't get out.

The cage was quite old, with several broken sections, broken bamboo strips, and many holes.

Chen Zheng patched it up with bamboo strips, weaving them one by one.

They roasted it over a fire to make the bamboo more resilient and less prone to breaking.

Chen Rong helped out from the side, handing over bamboo strips, tying ropes, and assisting with the work.

"Brother, where do we catch crabs?"