In the end, Zhao Xiaobao didn’t get to eat eel soup. The big eel couldn’t be eaten, and she didn’t want the small one.
If they were going to sell eels in town, they obviously couldn’t bring just one—it would look too shabby. As the saying goes, you only know how good something is by comparing it. You need a bit of variety to show its value.
After lunch, the boys in the family carried buckets back to the fields. Big or small, they caught whatever they could. Later, they would bring everything to town together—even the smaller ones could be added as extras.
For two full days, they dug through all the family’s fields. The ridges collapsed several times, making Wang Shi so angry that she chased the boys all over the village with a stick.
They didn’t dare delay any longer, afraid the eels might die and lose their value.
The next day, Old Man Zhao brought Zhao Dashan along, plus Zhao Xiaobao—who cried and insisted on going to town—Zhao Feng, who wanted to see the eel sold with his own eyes, and Zhu Shi, who was told by her mother-in-law to look after Xiaobao. The five of them left the village before dawn.
The morning air was cold, making their noses itch and causing sneezing. Zhao Xiaobao was wrapped tightly in a quilt, with only a small gap to breathe, sleeping soundly.
Zhao Dashan carried her on his back, walking steadily over slopes and ridges. Zhu Shi kept checking the basket and tucking in the quilt, worried she might catch a chill.
The mountains stretched endlessly, and the narrow paths twisted steeply. As dawn broke, their torches quietly went out, and the path became much clearer.
“Mom, I want some water,” Zhao Feng said. It was his first time going to town, and he was excited. He didn’t feel tired, just very thirsty—his mouth was so dry it felt sticky.
“Walk a bit more. There’s a stone platform ahead where we can rest,” Old Man Zhao said, carrying the bucket in front.
Zhu Shi took a bamboo water container from the basket and handed it to her son, wiping the sweat from his face. “Drink a little first.”
Zhao Feng opened it but didn’t drink. Instead, he handed it back. “Mom, you drink first.”
Zhu Shi smiled, took a couple of sips, and handed it back. “Go ahead. We brought enough water. No need to save it.”
Only then did Zhao Feng drink it all. He was truly thirsty.
After walking a bit longer, they reached a wide stone platform shaded by large trees—perfect for resting.
Zhao Feng ran ahead to help his father take down the basket. Though young, he was strong and steady, carrying the basket with his sleeping aunt without even stumbling.
“The third boy is strong. He’ll be just as capable as his father when he grows up,” Old Man Zhao said with a smile, sweat dripping down his face.
Zhao Feng chuckled, carefully setting the basket down and glancing at his sleeping aunt. Her face looked so round.
“Grandpa, Aunt is drooling.”
Zhu Shi handed the water container to her father-in-law and husband, then gave each of them a coarse grain pancake. Since they had to rush, there was no time for breakfast, so Wang Shi had packed a few for the road.
“Kids drool when they sleep. You did the same when you were little,” Zhu Shi said, wiping Xiaobao’s mouth with a cloth.
She then took out two more pancakes, giving one to her son and keeping one for herself. Sitting beside Zhao Dashan, she let out a long breath.
She was really tired. No wonder people in the village didn’t like going to town. The road was hard, and it felt endless.
After finishing the pancakes, the sun had risen. They didn’t rest long and continued on.
…
Zhao Xiaobao woke up from stomach pain. Her belly rumbled loudly. She instinctively covered her bottom and cried out, half-asleep, “Mom, I need to poop!”
Before she could react, someone hurriedly picked her up. Zhu Shi’s voice sounded in her ear, “Hold it, little sister! We’re outside. You can’t go in your pants—I didn’t bring extra clothes!”
Hearing they were outside, Xiaobao instantly woke up. She remembered—they were going to town to sell eels!
Rubbing her eyes, she saw unfamiliar surroundings. Her sister-in-law was running into the woods with her, while her father, brother, and nephew followed behind.
Not far away, on a flat road, people were carrying loads, leading children, heading toward the town gate. It was lively and crowded.
Wow—they had reached town!
Xiaobao’s face lit up, but quickly turned pale. “Sister-in-law… I can’t hold it anymore…”
Zhu Shi, anxious, rushed into a bush without caring if anyone saw. She quickly pulled down Xiaobao’s pants and squatted with her. Soon, a strong smell filled the air.
Even Old Man Zhao, standing far away, smelled it. He chuckled and joked to his son, “So even immortals poop—and it smells just as bad.”
Zhao Dashan thought, of course. When they first realized Xiaobao’s “origin,” the family had been nervous, unsure how to raise her, afraid of angering heavenly beings. At first, they barely fed her anything, even Wang Shi hesitated to nurse her, thinking her milk wasn’t worthy. But seeing the baby cry pitifully, she finally dared to feed her.
Over time, they got used to it and treated her like a precious child.
“This smell is strong—means we’ve raised her well,” Zhao Dashan said proudly.
In the countryside, waste was valuable—it could be used as fertilizer. Whether human or animal, it was precious. Even when he needed to go, he would run back home rather than waste it elsewhere.
He even felt a bit regretful that it wasn’t done at home.
While the father and son chatted, Zhu Shi suddenly called out from the woods, “Dashan, bring the small hoe!”
“What for? Is there a snake?” he asked.
“Stop asking and come!” she snapped.
He grabbed the hoe and a sickle from the basket—tools for safety on the mountain road—and went into the woods.
Seeing they were done, he looked confused. “What do you need the hoe for?”
Xiaobao buried her red face in her sister-in-law’s arms, not speaking.
Zhu Shi glared at him. Men were so careless. Even though it was in the woods, people might pass by. They needed to bury it properly so no one would step on it.
“Clean it up!” she said, pointing at the ground before leaving with Xiaobao.
Zhao Dashan finally understood and began digging to bury it.
He didn’t find it unlucky. Ever since Xiaobao was born, their crops had improved year by year. Something about her was truly special.
Even her poop must be powerful fertilizer.
Feeling pleased, he dug a bigger hole, thinking it would benefit the trees here.
“Clang.”
Suddenly, the hoe hit something hard.
Zhao Dashan froze. What was that sound?
He looked down at the hole, hesitated, then struck again. Another crisp sound—like breaking pottery.
He paused, then put down the hoe and brushed away the dirt with his hands. A vase-shaped object appeared, already cracked from his strikes.
“What is this?” he muttered, glancing around.
Through the bushes, he could see his family and, farther away, the busy road.
Then he noticed something strange. All the surrounding trees were pine—except one behind him: a crooked locust tree.
His heart started pounding.
“Dad! Come here quietly—don’t let anyone see!” he called.
Old Man Zhao grumbled but quickly checked around before bringing the others into the woods.
Soon, the whole family crouched around the object.
“It’s so pretty,” Xiaobao said, resting her chin on her hands.
“There’s something inside,” Zhu Shi said sharply.
Zhao Dashan nodded. The opening was sealed tightly, and it made a sound when moved.
“Break it open,” Old Man Zhao said.
Nervous, Zhao Dashan gently struck the already cracked vase. It shattered easily.
Holding her breath, Zhu Shi watched as he removed the broken pieces and pulled out a small item wrapped tightly in oil paper.
He felt its weight, then carefully unwrapped it, revealing a delicate handkerchief.
He glanced at his wife and handed it to her. “You open it.”
Zhu Shi took it, untied the knot, and revealed what was inside—
Two gold gourds, eight gold leaves, and more than ten gold nuggets.
Her hand trembled.