Chapter 28: Making a Manhole Cover Specifically for Her

Chapter 28: Making a Well Cover Just for Her

The pickled cabbage fish was tender, refreshing, and appetizing; the garlic butter split-shell shrimp carried a rich garlic aroma, sweet and delicious—because the shells were already split, there was no need to peel them; one could just bite directly into the meat and spit out the shells. The small red squid was crisp and bouncy, and even the meat of the croaker was more tender and smooth than usual.

In the end, the whole family ate until they were stuffed!

Zhou Chenglei and his father even used the leftover broth from the pickled cabbage fish to mix with a bowl of rice.

It was so delicious that they couldn't bear to throw even a drop of the soup away.

Zhou Zhou had never felt so satisfied eating. In the past, she could never compete with her brothers; when had she ever had such a large amount of shrimp and fish in a single meal?

Her little belly was round and full. She couldn't help but pat it, only to meet her aunt's smiling eyes. Startled, she pulled her hand back, her small face turning bright red.

Jiang Xia smiled.

Mother Zhou's cooking was mediocre, focusing mainly on just making sure things were cooked, regardless of whether the fish meat turned out overcooked.

However, fresh seafood is naturally sweet; a simple steam or boil is hard to mess up, but "not bad" doesn't mean "delicious."

The food Jiang Xia made was delicious! Super delicious! It was the kind of food that made people unable to stop eating even when they were full, as if they wanted to keep eating until they physically couldn't take any more.

Mother Zhou also admired her young daughter-in-law's culinary skills.

After the meal, Mother Zhou smiled and said, "Xia, you've been at sea all day and then cooked again; you must be tired. I'll wash the dishes. Go take a bath and rest."

Zhou Chenglei added, "Go sit in the courtyard or take a walk first. I'll help you carry the water in a bit."

It wasn't good to bathe immediately after a heavy meal. Previously, it had been necessary because of the large family, but now she didn't need to rush.

Jiang Xia didn't like washing dishes either, so she pulled Zhou Zhou out to take a stroll in the courtyard; she was also stuffed.

Once Mother Zhou had tidied up the dishes and the kitchen, Jiang Xia went to wash her hair and shower, then sat in the courtyard to blow-dry her hair.

Zhou Chenglei had pulled several old wooden boards and some iron rods back in a wheelbarrow from somewhere.

Jiang Xia watched as he placed the wooden boards one by one over the mouth of the well, using a pencil to trace the shape of the opening.

Squatting to one side, Zhou Zhou asked curiously, "Uncle, what are you doing?"

"Making a well cover," Zhou Chenglei replied to his little niece.

Mother Zhou was currently washing Father Zhou and Zhou Zhou's changed clothes in the courtyard by the well. Hearing this, she said, "Why bother with a well cover? Zhou Zhou is grown up; she's known for two years now that she can't go near the well."

Zhou Zhou nodded and said, "That's right, Uncle. I won't go near the well. I know it's dangerous."

Jiang Xia couldn't help but think: *Is Zhou Chenglei making this well cover to prevent me from falling in?*

"I plan to install a water pump."

Mother Zhou: "Why install a pump? It's unnecessary! The terrain here isn't as high as the new houses, and the well is shallow. You can just use a bucket to draw water up; it's easier and faster."

Zhou Chenglei: "Installing a pump will make it more convenient for Zhou Zhou and Jiang Xia to get water."

"Oh, that's true. Then install it!" As soon as Mother Zhou heard it was for Jiang Xia, she stopped arguing. After finishing the laundry, she called Zhou Zhou back inside to sleep.

Jiang Xia watched Zhou Chenglei working with great interest in the courtyard.

After drawing the shape of the well opening, Zhou Chenglei took out a saw to cut away the excess wood. He then nailed the boards together one by one to form a circle, and nailed another layer of boards around the edge to create a large circular tray.

Next, Jiang Xia saw him take out some iron rods, laying them in a crosswise pattern inside the circular tray and securing them with iron wire.

Then, using the leftover sand and cement from house repairs, he mixed them into concrete, poured it into the circular tray, and used a small iron shovel to level it so the iron rods wouldn't be exposed.

In a couple of days, once the concrete dried and hardened, a simple cement well cover would be finished.

Jiang Xia glanced around the courtyard. Aside from the small courtyard area near the well, the rest of the yard was dirt. When it wasn't raining, it was dusty; when it rained, stepping on it turned into mud.

She said, "Tomorrow is Big Brother's day at sea, and we don't have to go out. How about we go to the river to pick up some pebbles and pave a small path in the courtyard?"

Jiang Xia also suggested that such a large courtyard was a waste of space if left empty; why not plant some fruit trees and flowers?

Zhou Chenglei replied, "I'll go to the town market tomorrow morning to buy a water pump. I'll go pick up the stones in the afternoon after I get back."

The reason nothing was planted in the courtyard was that they needed space to sun-dry fish; Mother Zhou was too lazy to plant anything, though Zhou Chenglei hadn't told her that.

"The market?" Upon hearing this, Jiang Xia immediately said, "I'll go to the market with you."

Zhou Chenglei sized her up. It was only her second day after marrying in; he had asked her if she wanted to go to the market then, and she had refused with a look of disdain.

"There are many stalls selling fish, chicken, geese, and ducks at the market. It will be smelly."

Rural markets were messy and dirty; he felt compelled to warn her, fearing she wouldn't be able to stand it.

"I'm not afraid."

Zhou Chenglei said no more. "It's getting late, go to sleep! To make the market, we have to wake up at six tomorrow."

Father Zhou, Mother Zhou, and Zhou Zhou had all bathed and gone to bed.

Jiang Xia returned to her room.

After washing his hands, Zhou Chenglei walked in and pulled out a thick stack of ten-yuan notes for Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia looked at him in surprise.

"From today's trip at sea, I'm giving you a thousand yuan."

Could such a good thing actually happen? After all, she had only tagged along on the boat.

Jiang Xia: "I didn't really do any work, yet I get such a large share?"

Zhou Chenglei: "If you hadn't heard the gurgling and seen the Garfish, we wouldn't have earned this much today. This is what you deserve. Remember to keep it safe."

Zhou Chenglei placed the money in the drawer of the dressing table, and he also placed his own share into an iron box in the wardrobe right in front of her.

Then, he grabbed a set of clothes to take a shower. He didn't turn off the light, fearing she might be afraid being alone.

Jiang Xia counted the stack of money; it was exactly one thousand yuan. She didn't stand on ceremony and tucked it away securely.

Jiang Xia made a decision in her heart, intending to tell him once he returned from his shower.

After putting the money away, she went out to wash her hands before returning to bed to lie down.

She had intended to wait for him to return to talk, but she was simply too exhausted. Having woken up early today, she fell asleep the moment she hit the bed, completely unaware of the snake.

When Zhou Chenglei returned from his shower, Jiang Xia was already asleep, her sleeping face peaceful and radiantly beautiful.

Seeing a fine layer of sweat on her forehead, Zhou Chenglei took a clean cloth, returned to the bed, and wiped her brow. He applied medicine to her hand, then turned off the light and lay down. He closed his eyes and gently waved a large palm leaf fan until he gradually felt sleepy himself.

The next day, Zhou Chenglei woke up at five, but Jiang Xia's limbs were draped over him.

He took his own pillow to prop her up, then carefully got out of bed to go for a run.

On days when he didn't go to sea, he insisted on running for an hour every day.

By the time Zhou Chenglei returned from his run, it was six o'clock, and Jiang Xia had not yet woken up.

The main hall of the house was empty, containing only a dining table. Zhou Chenglei wanted to go to the market to buy some bamboo beds and bamboo stools.

Vendors at the market usually only brought one bamboo bed because they were too bulky to transport easily; if he arrived too late, they might be gone.

He had no choice but to wake Jiang Xia.

As soon as he called her, she woke up and hurriedly got up to wash.

Mother Zhou had already prepared breakfast: sweet potato porridge with pickles and two boiled eggs.

Mother Zhou gave one to Zhou Zhou and another to Jiang Xia.

On days when they didn't go to sea, Father Zhou and Zhou Chenglei didn't even get to eat eggs!

There weren't many eggs in the house. Aside from occasionally giving one to the grandson or Zhou Zhou, they usually couldn't bear to eat them, saving them for Father Zhou and his son to take on the boat. Thinking about how she had misunderstood Jiang Xia yesterday, Mother Zhou had boiled an extra one.

After the couple finished breakfast, Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia went to the village committee to borrow a tractor.

Then, the two of them drove the tractor to the town market.

It was the same road as last time. At the same intersection, they encountered the female protagonist in her white dress.

However, this time, Wen Wan was not herding sheep; instead, she was pushing a wheelbarrow with a large wooden board mounted on it, upon which lay a slaughtered sheep.

Wen Wan reached out to stop Zhou Chenglei's tractor.