Lu Yunfei continued,
“The wealthy people in town love eating these. Every year around this time, I catch some fish and sell them. The manager of Tianxiang Restaurant likes them the most. This year I’ve been busy with other things, so I haven’t gone yet. We might as well catch more this afternoon, take them into town tomorrow, and buy some rice and grain while we’re there.”
Han Xiuxiu’s face flushed slightly.
The “other things” Lu Yunfei had been busy with were, of course, getting married. And ever since their wedding, the household had been going through rice much faster than before. Now that Han Xiaoxiao was staying with them as well, their grain stores really were almost empty.
“All right,” Han Xiuxiu said. “Then we’ll catch plenty this afternoon.”
After lunch, they tidied up briefly and set off again.
This time they were well prepared.
Lu Yunfei fetched a dip net and a fish basket from the storage room, then packed a wooden bucket into his bamboo backpack.
Han Xiuxiu still carried her bamboo basket as before.
With Lu Yunfei leading the way, they reached the pool in less than half an hour.
The pool was surrounded by lush trees and thick undergrowth. Water-loving plants such as sweet flag grew along the banks. A waterfall poured down from above, spraying white foam like scattered snow before collecting naturally into the pool below.
Schools of fish drifted lazily in the shadows beneath several large rocks.
The fish living in these mountain streams were all cold-water species, generally not very large.
The pool itself wasn’t particularly big or deep—the water only reached a person’s waist.
Since the stream was still icy cold, Lu Yunfei first gathered some dry branches from the forest so they could build a fire afterward to warm themselves.
He took his dip net and swept it through the gaps between the rocks.
Because so few people ever came here, the fish in the pool were surprisingly large, many the size of an adult’s palm.
Some bore six black stripes along their bodies. They preferred feeding along the bottoms of streams and pools, usually swimming together in schools. The locals called them stream groupers. Their meat was delicate and exceptionally flavorful.
Besides the stream groupers, there were also Peach Blossom Fish, small stream fish, gobies, topmouth gudgeons, bitterlings, and all sorts of other small fish.
This time they caught quite a lot.
Villagers sometimes caught these fish for themselves, but few ever sold them.
Ordinary people preferred larger fish like silver carp and grass carp because they had more meat.
These little mountain fish attracted little interest.
Nor did the villagers have connections with the larger restaurants.
Lu Yunfei, however, regularly supplied wild game to restaurants and had established relationships over the years.
Every spring he sold several batches of these fish.
The earnings weren’t enormous…
But catching them cost nothing.
Han Xiuxiu and Han Xiaoxiao mainly helped from the side.
Since she had spare time, Han Xiuxiu also gathered an entire basket of wild water celery and aquatic fiddlehead ferns.
“These are especially tender right now. I wonder if the restaurant would buy them.”
Lu Yunfei nodded.
“These grow everywhere in the mountains, but they’re rare in town. They should still fetch a few coins.”
Han Xiuxiu immediately brightened.
“Then I’ll pick more! I’ll go into town with you tomorrow.”
Naturally, Lu Yunfei agreed.
With fresh motivation, both Han Xiuxiu and Han Xiaoxiao worked with renewed enthusiasm.
Watching them, Lu Yunfei smiled.
Since arriving in this world, Han Xiuxiu had never ventured beyond the village.
Even the original owner of this body had only visited the town once or twice.
Naturally, Han Xiuxiu was extremely curious.
Now that she had the chance, she was eager to see it for herself.
After standing in the freezing stream for so long, even someone as hardy as Lu Yunfei was beginning to feel the cold.
Seeing they had caught enough fish, he climbed ashore.
A small fire was already burning beside the rocks.
He sat beside it to warm himself while inspecting the day’s catch.
They had caught over twenty catties of fish that afternoon.
Lu Yunfei sorted through them, releasing the smaller ones back into the water.
The remaining fish still weighed around seventeen or eighteen catties.
That was more than enough.
Just as Lu Yunfei sat warming himself by the fire—
Black Panther suddenly erupted into frantic barking.
Han Xiuxiu cried out,
“There’s a snake!”
Lu Yunfei sprang to his feet, snatching up the fishing net beside him as he rushed toward her.
“Where?”
Black Panther stood facing a patch of grass beside Han Xiuxiu, barking furiously.
Following the dog’s gaze, Lu Yunfei spotted a snake hidden in the grass, its tongue flicking in and out.
The moment he recognized it, his expression changed.
“Get back!” he shouted. “It’s a Five-Pace Snake! It’s venomous!”
The Five-Pace Snake carried deadly venom.
Even Lu Yunfei immediately became cautious.
The weather had grown warmer.
Snakes and insects were becoming active again in the mountains, especially around streams where the grass grew thick.
Han Xiuxiu and Han Xiaoxiao were both terrified.
They hurried behind Lu Yunfei.
Han Xiaoxiao was so frightened she burst into tears.
Han Xiuxiu had survived situations far more dangerous during the apocalypse.
Though she’d been badly startled at first, she quickly forced herself to calm down.
Picking up a sturdy branch from the ground as a weapon, she stepped protectively in front of Han Xiaoxiao.
Black Panther repeatedly pawed at the ground.
Normally, snakes avoided large animals.
But this one refused to retreat.
Instead, it slowly raised its head higher, tongue flickering, glaring directly at the dog.
Black Panther sensed the danger too.
Its furious barking became louder and more threatening.
Lu Yunfei searched for an opening.
Unfortunately, he’d just climbed out of the stream.
His legs were bare.
If those venomous fangs even grazed his skin…
He would be poisoned.
The light around the pool suddenly seemed to dim, making the place feel even more sinister.
Lu Yunfei could hear the snake’s steady hissing.
Black Panther continued testing it.
The snake slowly drew back.
For a moment, both sides remained locked in a tense standoff.
Just when Lu Yunfei thought it was about to slither away—
It suddenly lunged straight toward him.
It moved with terrifying speed.
Lu Yunfei hadn’t expected it to ignore Black Panther and attack him instead.
Instinctively, he swung the dip net.
The net deflected the strike.
Even someone as experienced with danger as Lu Yunfei couldn’t help drawing in a sharp breath.
Han Xiuxiu possessed the ability to command animals.
But snakes…
They were the creatures she hated controlling the most.
Their cold, slippery bodies made her uncomfortable on both a physical and psychological level.
Yet there was no choice.
She steadied herself, focused her mind, and reached out with her mental power.
Soon, both Black Panther and Lu Yunfei noticed something strange.
After launching that first attack, the snake suddenly seemed to lose its fighting spirit.
It slowly began retreating.
Even its movements became noticeably sluggish.
To a hunter like Lu Yunfei, such an opportunity was heaven-sent.
He seized it instantly.
Throwing the net over the snake, he trapped it.
Then he grabbed the branch from Han Xiuxiu’s hand and pinned the snake firmly just behind its head.
“Bring the fish basket,” he ordered calmly once it was securely restrained.
“We’ll put it inside.”
“The gallbladder of a Five-Pace Snake is valuable.”
“It can sell for quite a bit of silver.”
With the danger gone…
Lu Yunfei’s hunter instincts immediately took over.
Although Han Xiaoxiao was still trembling with fear, she hurried to fetch the fish basket.
The basket had been tightly woven and came with a lid.
It was perfect for holding a snake.
Lu Yunfei had caught snakes before.
His movements were calm and practiced.
He carefully placed the snake inside, secured the lid, then untied his belt and wrapped it tightly around the basket to make absolutely certain it couldn’t escape.
Only then did Han Xiuxiu finally collapse onto the ground.
Cold sweat drenched her entire body.
Her back was so stiff she could barely move.
After finishing everything, Lu Yunfei saw how pale his wife had become.
He hurried over and took her hand.
Her palm was icy cold and slick with sweat.
Gently patting her back, he comforted her.
“It’s all right.”
“It’s over now.”
“It’s all right.”
Han Xiuxiu’s mind was still filled with the memory of the snake’s cold, slippery body.
Only when Lu Yunfei held her hand did she finally feel a little warmth returning.
Weakly, she leaned against his shoulder.
Closing her eyes, she breathed heavily as her chest rose and fell.
Lu Yunfei himself had been frightened.
But seeing his wife like this made him forget his own fear.
Not even caring that Han Xiaoxiao was standing nearby, he pulled Han Xiuxiu into his arms.
“Don’t be afraid.”
“I’m here.”
It took quite some time before Han Xiuxiu finally recovered.
Only then did she realize she was leaning in Lu Yunfei’s embrace.
Her face instantly turned crimson.
“I… I’m fine now,” she stammered.
“I’m all right.”
Only then did Lu Yunfei release her.
Helping her to her feet, he said,
“It’s getting late.”
“Let’s head home.”
After such a fright, none of them had any desire to remain there.
They packed up quickly and started back.
Knowing how shaken the two sisters still were, Lu Yunfei insisted on carrying everything himself.
His back was loaded, and both hands were full.
Han Xiuxiu snatched the basket from him.
“I’ll carry this one.”
Still worried, Lu Yunfei reminded her,
“If it gets too heavy, tell me.”
“We can take turns.”
The walk home was unusually quiet.
Trying to lighten the mood, Lu Yunfei searched for something to say.
“Tomorrow we’ll buy some snake repellent in town.”
“Now that the weather’s warming up, there’ll be more of them.”
Han Xiuxiu merely gave a soft “Mm.”
Only after speaking did Lu Yunfei realize his mistake.
His wife had just been terrified by a venomous snake…
And here he was talking about snakes again.
Mentally scolding himself for bringing up exactly the wrong subject, he hurriedly changed topics.
“Tomorrow morning we’ll eat in town.”
“There’s a place that makes excellent braised pork noodles.”
“I’ll treat both of you.”
Han Xiaoxiao’s eyes immediately lit up.
“Braised pork noodles?!”
“The pork slices are this thick.” Lu Yunfei held up a finger to demonstrate.
“They’re braised until they’re incredibly tender and full of flavor.”
“They’re delicious.”
Just talking about them made him hungry.
It had been a long time since he’d visited town.
“We’ll go eat them tomorrow.”
Han Xiaoxiao immediately became excited.
“Sis! We’re going to eat braised pork noodles tomorrow!”
At last, Han Xiuxiu smiled again.
“All right.”
“Let’s go have braised pork noodles.”
They had enjoyed an abundant harvest today.
Once they sold everything tomorrow, the family could finally treat themselves to a good meal and make life just a little better.