jdhmnovel Chapter 12 Collecting Duck Eggs
Chapter 12 Collecting Duck Eggs
Upon hearing this, Sister-in-law Gu paused for a moment. If she was talking about the basket, she had seen it when she went out.
She hadn't asked since her third sister-in-law hadn't mentioned it, but now that her fourth brother had brought it up, she looked at Lin Chang'er.
But then she was staring in a certain direction. After a while, she pointed to a patch of low bushes on the beach and said, "Sister-in-law, I want to go over there and take a look."
Without hesitation, Sister-in-law Gu nodded. Before leaving, her mother-in-law privately instructed her that from now on, she should listen to her third brother-in-law at home.
Lin Chang'er was somewhat surprised, but then she remembered the Gu family's attitude towards the original owner of this body, so she didn't think much of it.
But it didn't mention that she saw traces of sea ducks active there during the day.
The main reason was that she remembered that sea ducks and sea duck eggs were local specialties, and the climate and geographical location of Linshui Village did not match them.
But she's already traveled through time, so what's impossible for her?
What if? Since we're already here, it won't hurt to take a look.
This was exactly what Gu Silang wanted, and he walked at the front with great enthusiasm, carrying the lantern.
The three of them quickly arrived at the bushes. Sister-in-law Gu didn't know what they were there for, and asked in a low voice, "Third sister-in-law, are we going in?"
Lin Chang'er hummed in agreement.
"Alright!" Before Sister-in-law Gu could reply, Gu Silang eagerly bent down and crawled into the bushes, followed by Lin Chang'er, with Sister-in-law Gu bringing up the rear.
After taking only a few steps, Lin Chang'er heard a "crack" sound. Gu Silang, who was walking in front, stopped and turned around, saying with a slightly flustered expression, "Third Sister-in-law, I think I stepped on something!"
He dared not move. Lin Chang'er took the windproof lamp from his hand and shone it at his feet. She saw the fragments of green shell and the liquid that looked like egg yolk spilling out at his feet.
Lin Chang'er then knew in her heart, "They are sea duck eggs."
Gu Silang was still in a daze when she calmed herself down, reached into the small mud puddle at his feet, and when she raised her hand, there was an oval-shaped object, slightly larger than an egg, in her palm.
Although it was still covered in mud, you could vaguely see the bluish-green shell.
"Duck eggs! They really are duck eggs!" Gu Silang couldn't contain his excitement and cheered. "Third Sister-in-law, is this where we came to collect duck eggs?"
Sister-in-law Gu also looked at Lin Chang'er with surprise. She was full of questions, but she suppressed them when she remembered her mother's instructions.
Lin Chang'er nodded and made a shushing gesture. "It's getting late. Let's hurry up and look around so we can get back as soon as possible."
Gu Silang readily agreed, now the basket could come in handy. He was just a little heartbroken about the duck egg he had crushed, since chicken eggs cost three coins each, while duck eggs cost at least four.
The kick he just gave didn't crush a duck egg, but four coins.
The three of them carried only one lamp and did not separate, searching together in the bushes.
About half an hour later, the three of them emerged from the bushes.
Gu Silang was still not satisfied, but his basket was already full. He also had two slightly cracked sea duck eggs in his hand. His third sister-in-law said that his eldest sister-in-law would fry the duck eggs for them tomorrow.
Gu Silang was secretly delighted, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Lin Chang'er. His third sister-in-law was truly amazing!
Lin Chang'er always carried the basket on her back. Lin Chang'er herself was physically fit, but the original owner of this body had hardly ever done any heavy work.
Carrying a basket of salted duck eggs on my back, I inevitably feel tired.
Sister-in-law Gu was so engrossed in the excitement of discovering the sea duck eggs that she hadn't noticed that Lin Chang'er was covered in a fine sweat.
My heart tightened suddenly. My mother had sent her along to take care of my third brother's wife, so how could I let her suffer?
Sister-in-law Gu hurriedly stepped forward, "Third sister-in-law, you've been carrying her for so long, let me carry her for a bit."
Lin Chang'er didn't try to be strong and passed the basket to Sister-in-law Gu, saying, "I'll take over later."
Although she knew that Sister-in-law Gu was used to physical labor, she couldn't take advantage of her for that reason.
Sister-in-law Gu smiled and agreed, but in her heart she was thinking, "My third sister-in-law used to be such a pampered person. Now that Sanlang is gone, she has stood up for the family."
She couldn't possibly do such strenuous work.
Not long after the three returned, they encountered Gu Dalang and Gu Erlang, who came to pick them up by moonlight.
The two were both surprised and delighted to see a basket of salted duck eggs.
But after her third sister-in-law went out that evening, her mother found them and told them that from now on, no matter what her third sister-in-law did, they only needed to help her and not ask any questions.
Therefore, the two brothers exchanged a knowing glance, and Gu Erlang took the basket from his sister-in-law.
Gu Dalang also brought the newly woven fish trap for the evening. "Third sister-in-law, will we still be able to use this fish trap tonight?"
Lin Chang'er nodded, "Yes."
Gu Silang blurted out instinctively, "But we've run out of bait!"
Lin Chang'er smiled and reached out her hand to him, "Duck eggs can also be used as bait."
Thinking that he wouldn't be able to eat fried duck eggs tomorrow, Gu Silang pouted.
But all the duck eggs in this basket were collected by Third Sister-in-law and the others. In the end, she steeled her heart and handed over both duck eggs together.
Lin Chang'er didn't miss the change in his micro-expression, and rubbed his head, "One is enough. After the fish is served, your third sister-in-law will make you some fried small fish."
Gu Silang swallowed hard, then his face lit up with a smile. "Thank you, Third Sister-in-law."
The moon was already high in the sky when the fire was lit. I thought that Gu's mother and second sister-in-law had already taken the children to bed.
When they got home, they saw a tiny light, no bigger than a soybean, shining in the main room. If they went a little further in, they could see the little goldfish sitting at the door looking around, with Gu's mother holding Gu Xiaolu and Gu's second sister-in-law holding Gu Xiaoman.
The little goldfish was the first to see them and rushed over, exclaiming, "Mom, you're back!"
Lin Chang'er responded and patted his shoulder, "Why haven't you gone to sleep yet?"
The little goldfish's eyes sparkled, "Wait for Mom."
Lin Chang'er smiled and rubbed his head. In the night, the young boy's cheeks flushed red.
Hearing the commotion, Gu's mother and second sister-in-law also came out carrying their children.
When Gu Xiaolu saw Lin Chang'er, she quickly slid off her mother's arms and onto the ground, running over while half-opening her eyes and calling out "Mother".
Gu Xiaoman was the funniest. She was almost asleep when she heard the noise, and she suddenly woke up, opened her eyes wide, and happily called out, "Auntie!" Her father didn't even remember her.
Lin Chang'er's heart was inexplicably filled with something, and she teased Gu Xiaolu and the little goldfish, "If you only call me aunt, Daddy, Uncle, Fourth Uncle, and Aunt will be angry."
Taking the opportunity, Sister-in-law Gu chimed in, "You heartless little thing."
Gu Xiaoman giggled and snuggled into her second sister-in-law's arms.
The people in the room teased him for a while.
Gu Dalang had already found a bamboo basket, and Gu Erlang also put a basket of sea duck eggs into the main room and fetched some cool boiled water.
On the way back, Lin Chang'er said that she should clean the sea duck eggs after returning.
The two brothers didn't ask why; they just remembered to get to work.
The room was dimly lit, and Gu's mother couldn't see what was in the basket on her back.
Gu Silang took the initiative to explain: "Mother, my third sister-in-law led me and my eldest sister-in-law to collect a basket of sea duck eggs. We'll have duck eggs to eat tomorrow."
Madam Gu was taken aback, and subconsciously looked at Lin Chang'er. Remembering her previous instructions, she could only smile knowingly.
Lin Chang'er didn't say much, but smiled and looked around. "I roughly remembered that we should have collected about 80 or 90 duck eggs tonight."
I plan to go to town tomorrow to see if I can sell some..."