Chapter 27: Whoever Marries Her Will Be Blessed

Jiang Xia was busy sorting the fish and paid no mind to what everyone was saying.

Mother Zhou came to Jiang Xia's side and said with a smile, "Xiaoxia, stop sorting. Take a rest, I'll do it, I'll do it."

"I'm just picking out some shrimp to take home to eat." Jiang Xia was only selecting the fish and shrimp she intended to keep for themselves; after working hard all day, she had to reward herself properly.

"I've already cooked the meal, but since you're tired today, pick as much as you like. Pick whatever you want to eat, and I'll cook it when we get back."

Father Zhou was still boasting, while Zhou Chenglei also came over to help sort the fish.

The three of them picked out some more valuable items from the pile of miscellaneous fish on the boat, selling them for another ten yuan. The rest they took home to sun-dry for their regular meals.

Old Man Jin, at the procurement station, glanced at the bucket Zhou Chenglei had set aside.

Inside the bucket were two large yellow croakers, about a pound of tiger prawns, a few small red squids, a few flower crabs, and over a dozen croakers. There was also a basket full of small fish and shrimp.

He smiled and said, "Not selling these? Sell them all together, and I'll give you twelve yuan in total."

Zhou Chenglei replied, "Not selling."

Tian Caihua asked, "Not selling? You're taking that large yellow croaker and those tiger prawns home to eat?"

"Mm."

Jiang Xia had said she wanted one large yellow croaker to make pickled vegetable fish, so he had simply kept two. Large yellow croakers were nutritious, and since her body was weak, he wanted to use them to nourish her.

Looking at the two large yellow croakers in the bucket, Tian Caihua wondered to herself if one of them was meant for their family.

Seeing that Zhou Chenglei had kept two large yellow croakers, Mother Zhou also assumed he intended to give one to his eldest brother's family. Although she felt it would be better to sell them for cash, she said nothing.

On ordinary days, if they caught large yellow croakers, she would never be able to bear eating them; she would always sell them for money. Their daily meals usually consisted of inexpensive small fish, shrimp, and crabs. Unless there were guests or it was a holiday, they wouldn't dare eat a fish larger than a palm.

But since they had made a lot of money today, and because of the misunderstanding regarding Jiang Xia, it was only right to have a good meal.

After selling the remaining goods, the family happily carried a bucket of fish and a basket of small miscellaneous fish back home.

It wasn't until they reached the door of the old house that Zhou Chenglei asked Tian Caihua, "Sister-in-law, do you want to take a few croakers home to eat?"

Croakers? Not the large yellow croakers?

Tian Caihua's face fell. "No need, we have food at home."

It wasn't as if they had nothing to eat; did he think they were lacking a few worthless croakers? She walked away with a dark expression.

Jiang Xia was satisfied that Zhou Chenglei hadn't given the large yellow croakers to Tian Caihua.

Mother Zhou looked at the two large yellow croakers in the bucket, hesitating to speak. *Aren't they going to give one of the two fish to the eldest son's family? Isn't it a bit extravagant for just a few people to eat two large yellow croakers?*

She looked toward Jiang Xia.

Seeing Mother Zhou's thoughts, Father Zhou said, "Xiaoxia went out to sea for the first time today and worked hard with Chenglei all day; she must be tired. Hurry up and clean the fish so we can eat!"

Jiang Xia pretended not to understand Mother Zhou's meaning and simply said, "It's fine, I'm not tired. I'll cook the fish!"

Since no one brought it up, Mother Zhou dropped the subject. *Forget it, everyone has their own life now that the family has split; we each live our own way.*

Mother Zhou was not the type to make her daughter-in-law do housework after she had worked all day, so she said, "No need, go take a shower and rest. I'll do it."

She had already steamed the rice, steamed the dried fish, and washed the vegetables before leaving, intending to just stir-fry them upon her return. Now, she just needed to steam the two large yellow croakers and the shrimp.

Jiang Xia said, "It's fine, I'll make pickled vegetable fish. It's quite appetizing, I'll do it."

Mother Zhou didn't know how to make pickled vegetable fish, so she could only let Jiang Xia take the lead while she assisted.

Mother Zhou had originally planned to clean the fish, but she hadn't expected Jiang Xia to know how to do it as well. Mother Zhou had been cleaning fish her whole life and her knife skills were superb, but she was still stunned to see Jiang Xia slicing the fish meat into thin, uniform pieces of equal size and thickness!

This daughter-in-law was hiding her talents!

It really was better to marry an educated wife! Educated, capable, and blessed! Whoever married her was truly lucky!

Father Zhou and Zhou Chenglei cleaned the basket of fish to make dried fish.

With Jiang Xia at the stove, Mother Zhou washing vegetables, and Zhou Zhou tending the fire, the three of them worked together to prepare a meal of pickled vegetable fish, garlic steamed prawns, a croaker stew, a plate of blanched small red squid, and a dish of green vegetables.

Looking at the large platter of pickled vegetable fish, Mother Zhou said, "There's so much food today that the few of us won't be able to finish it. Should I pack a plate for Wenguang and his brothers?"

Jiang Xia was washing a clean plate. "Next time, this time isn't enough. I'll pack a plate for Great-Grandmother. Yesterday she gave us three pounds of meat and a large watermelon."

Hearing this, Mother Zhou hurriedly said, "You certainly think ahead. We should indeed send some. I'll pack extra fish meat. Do you want me to deliver it?"

In the village, there was a custom of reciprocity. Since Great-Grandmother had sent three pounds of meat yesterday, it was perfect to send a plate of new dishes today for them to try.

"No need, I'll go. Mom, let's eat!"

Mother Zhou didn't insist, as it didn't matter who delivered it, and began setting the table.

As Jiang Xia walked out of the courtyard carrying the plate of pickled vegetable fish, she saw Zhou Junjie walking out with a rice bowl.

Zhou Junjie's eyes lit up when he saw Jiang Xia. He brushed the hair from his forehead and spoke with an air of self-importance, "Is this the food Sister-in-law made? It smells amazing! Can I have a taste?"

Only then did his gaze fall upon the pickled vegetable fish in Jiang Xia's hands.

He had been drawn out by the aroma of the food; it was the same last evening. The food coming from the neighboring courtyard was so fragrant that it had ruined his appetite for the plain food at home.

Zhou Junjie's gaze first landed on the pickled vegetable fish, then shifted to the pair of fair, delicate hands holding the plate, and finally settled on Jiang Xia's curves, unable to look away.

Jiang Xia loathed his gaze. Ignoring him, she turned and walked toward the courtyard on the left.

Since she had been out at sea today, Jiang Xia hadn't worn rayon clothes for fear they would become transparent if wet. Instead, she wore a sweat-absorbent, dirt-resistant sailor shirt and army green trousers.

The sailor shirt was knitted and had some stretch. The original owner of the body liked form-fitting clothes, so the shirt made her waist look exceptionally slender and accentuated her curves. The exposed part of her arms and neck were brilliantly white.

Zhou Junjie felt a heat in his lower abdomen. *This wife Zhou Chenglei married is damn hot! No wonder he's unwilling to divorce even after being cheated on. What a vixen! But if she can run off with other men, could she also...*

Suddenly, a splash of bloody fish water flew out, drenching him from head to toe in fish scales and entrails.

Choked by the fishy stench, Zhou Junjie nearly gagged. "Who the hell..."

He turned around, only to meet Zhou Chenglei's dark, brooding eyes. He jumped in fright. "Oh, it's just you, Chenglei! Why didn't you look where you were splashing water?"

Having said that, he hurriedly clutched his bowl of "fish soup" and scurried back to his own courtyard.

Jiang Xia was delivering food to Great-Grandmother. Her family was currently eating; she had set the plate down, said a few words, and stepped out, just in time to see the disheveled Zhou Junjie scurrying back into his house. Her mood instantly brightened.

*I'll find a time when no one is around to show him exactly why the flowers are so red.*

Mother Zhou's voice rang out from the courtyard: "A-Lei, why did you splash the fish water outside? It's made the entrance smell."

Zhou Chenglei replied, "It was an accident. I'll rinse it clean in a moment."

Jiang Xia walked back in and gave him a smiling glance. Zhou Chenglei met her gaze nonchalantly and said softly, "Time to eat."

Jiang Xia smiled. "Okay."