Transmigrated from a post-apocalyptic world to become a village bully and set up a stall in ancient

Chapter 310 Forgotten Shrimp

Seeing that Lin Xi was interested in the river shrimp, her second uncle quickly pushed the wooden basin towards her, saying, "Lin Xi, feel free to take these river shrimp if you like them, don't be shy with your uncle!"

Lin Xi, who had already shifted her gaze from the river shrimp, turned her eyes back to the small river shrimp.

Seeing her uncle's toothless smile, Lin Xi, despite her craving for shrimp, repeatedly declined.

After all, the villagers like my uncle, who are veterans, don't have many favorite foods.

A gentleman does not take what others cherish. Although he was not a gentleman, he was unwilling to compete with the elderly for food.

"Hey! Hurry up and empty the basin, I still need to catch crabs!"

The world is vast, but making money is the most important thing.

Second Uncle couldn't listen to Lin Xi's refusals at all. He picked up the basin and was about to pour the contents into the wooden bucket in Lin Xi's house.

"Ah...ah, this...this..."

Lin Xi frantically tried to stop it, but ended up pressing down hard on the wooden bucket that was about to dump the river shrimp.

After all, shrimp raised in a purely natural environment without any technology and with ruthless methods are excellent at jumping.

Several lively little river shrimp darted out of the wooden basin with the force of Uncle Er's tilting motion, landing "plop, plop" on the bluestone slab.

"Mengli..."

Lin Xi was unsure what to do and turned to Gao Mengli for help.

Gao Mengli saw Lin Xi winking at her with his eyes wide open and nodding at him.

This wasn't the first time the villagers had fed them; once it happened, it happened again and again.

She accepted the villagers' kindness without feeling any guilt whatsoever!

Seeing Gao Mengli nod, Lin Xi quickly turned around and thanked her second uncle with a cheerful smile.

Seeing that Lin Xi had accepted the gift, and that the crabs had been weighed, Uncle Er waved his hand and, carrying a wooden basin, led a group of older brothers and sisters to the river to catch more crabs.

While moving the crabs, Gao Mengli looked on with obvious disdain as Lin Xi held the basin of river shrimp, drooling over it as if it were worthless.

"Quickly wipe your drool, it's going to fall into the basin."

Lin Xi quickly made a slurping sound, trying to make amends: "Oh, I just miss prawns and crayfish!"

If you can't find it here, then river shrimp is the perfect substitute!

"Besides, Mengli, don't tell me you don't crave shrimp. These little river shrimp taste even better than prawns!"

Gao Mengli glanced at the river shrimp and swallowed nervously to cover her saliva.

Damn, she really is craving it.

Stir-fry the river shrimp until they are golden brown, and they will be crunchy when you put them in your mouth!

Gao Mengli stared at the lively shrimp in the basin, and unconsciously swallowed her saliva.

Who is Lin Xi?

That was Gao Mengli's childhood sweetheart, practically inseparable from her. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was like a tapeworm in Gao Mengli's stomach.

Seeing this, he immediately perked up, rolled up his sleeves, and said, "Alright! Mengli, I'll go make it for you right away!!"

Lin Xi skillfully heated the oil in a wok and poured all the cleaned and drained river shrimp into it.

"Thorn-"

Oil splattered everywhere, and the shrimp shells quickly turned red under the high temperature, curling into small arcs.

Sprinkle with minced garlic, dried chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, and as you stir-fry, the rich aroma will drift into your nostrils and reach your palate!

Smelling the aroma, Gao Mengli couldn't help but move closer to the stove, her eyes fixed on the pot.

Indeed, delicious food always makes people lose their minds!

In no time at all, the river shrimp were stir-fried.

The freshly cooked river shrimp shells, coated in glistening sauce, look incredibly appetizing.

Lin Xi quickly picked one up and handed it over. Gao Mengli blew on it to cool it down, then took a small bite. The crispy shell made a "crunch" sound between her teeth.

Following closely behind is the tender and bouncy shrimp meat, salty and savory with a hint of numbing spiciness, the freshness exploding on the tip of the tongue, mixed with the spiciness of chili straight to the head.

As Gao Mengli ate, her eyes narrowed slightly!

"How is it? Isn't it delicious?"

Lin Xi couldn't wait for Gao Mengli's reply and quickly popped one into her mouth. As soon as she bit into it, the crisp sound of the shrimp shell cracking and the numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorns exploded in her mouth, and the sweetness of the shrimp meat wrapped in the aroma of minced garlic rushed up her throat.

After the two finished eating a shrimp, they looked at each other without making any further moves. Each of them took a plate, filled it to the brim, and sat on the kitchen threshold to show off.

When Da Niu got home, he could smell the delicious aroma from afar. His face lit up with joy, and he quickly hurried home.

"Dad, Mom, what are you making? It smells so good!"

Upon hearing the sound, the two quickly snapped out of their shock at having been sucking their fingers.

Gao Mengli stood up from the threshold with a "whoosh," looked at the tools in her hand, quickly put the plate into Lin Xi's hands, and wiped her fingers and mouth with Lin Xi's clothes.

"Dad, Mom, I could smell the fragrance from far away, it almost made me dizzy!"

Da Niu hurriedly put his backpack back in his room, then rushed into the kitchen like a whirlwind.

With a grin, he lifted the lid off the pot on the stove.

Big Bull: ...

I thought I was seeing things, because there were only two or three pieces of dried chili peppers left over from the shovel in the iron pot.

"Am I opening it incorrectly?"

Da Niu put the lid back on the pot, then grinned and lifted the lid off the pot again: "Let me see what's delicious!"

However, the moment the lid was lifted, only a faint wisp of steam escaped, and there wasn't even a trace of half a shrimp shell.

Da Niu stared wide-eyed, poked his head into the edge of the pot, his nose almost touching the bottom.

The smile on his face was almost impossible to maintain.

He turned to look at the stunned man staring at Lin Xi, and flashed a wide, toothy grin: "Dad!"

The word "father" made Lin Xi feel guilty.

He reached out to grab Gao Mengli beside him, but his hand fell to the empty air. He turned around and found no one there.

His Mengli actually ran away?! Nobody knows where she's hiding...

"hey-hey……"

"Oh dear, I've been busy all day, I'm exhausted. Da Niu, you're back just in time. You wash the dishes, I'm going to rest!"

Since we can't confront it directly, let's try to divert the expert's attention in a serious manner!

Lin Xi took three steps at a time and quickly placed the two plates with only chili peppers left on the stove.

Then he turned around, went out, went back inside, and closed the door—all in one smooth motion.

As soon as she entered the room, Lin Xi sat on the edge of the bed and burst out laughing: "Really, this is so awkward!"

Gao Mengli, inside the house, opened the window a crack and peeked at the location of the kitchen.

Just then, I saw his eldest son, with his eyes closed, muttering to himself, picking at the bottom of the plate that he and Lin Xi had put down with his chopsticks like a chicken pecking at food.

"Wow! I knew Mom and Dad would cook something delicious!"

It's river shrimp!

Da Niu's eyes gleamed as he stared at the golden shrimp on his chopsticks. He quickly put the shrimp in his mouth, but unfortunately, one was too few and too small.

I had just started to taste it when it was gone.

Seeing Da Niu relentlessly rummaging through it again and again, Gao Mengli felt a little guilty. What was going on?

Turning to look at Lin Xi, the two smiled at each other.

It's all because the river shrimp were so delicious that I forgot to save some for his eldest son.

"Mengli, how about we fence off another plot of land next to the crab pond and raise river shrimp there too?!"

Lin Xi couldn't stop thinking about the delicious taste in her mouth. If she wanted to achieve freedom in raising river shrimp, there was nothing faster than raising them herself.

Gao Mengli always responded to Lin Xi's suggestion: "We're on the same page!"

However, river shrimp have high requirements for water quality and must avoid direct sunlight.

"We'll need to fence off areas above the crab ponds for raising them, and we'll also need to arrange for villagers to install sunshades over the shrimp ponds."

"Okay, I'll go and discuss it with the village chief!"

Lin Xi answered and quickly got up and ran out of the house.

After all, he was afraid he would feel guilty looking into Da Niu's innocent and aggrieved eyes!

Out of sight, out of mind; slip away for good luck!

Da Niu carried out a wooden basin and sat down by the well, preparing to wash the dishes, when he saw his father, a man as swift as the wind, run out. Da Niu stood up, his face full of curiosity.

"Hey! Dad, where are you going?"

Gao Mengli came out of the house and explained, "He went to see the village chief about something!"

Upon hearing this, Da Niu nodded in understanding.

We've started harvesting crabs at home recently, so we've been quite busy.

So she obediently sat down, washing the dishes while looking up at Gao Mengli with a happy smile: "By the way, Mother, I won't be coming home after I go to school tomorrow."

Gao Mengli asked, her face full of confusion, "Why?"

Her son, Da Niu, is a day student because he has to practice martial arts; there's no reason for him not to come home.

Da Niu rubbed his foam-covered face and grinned, "Mom, I'm going to take the preliminary examination. My master said I should study hard with him day and night at the academy, and maybe I can pass on the first try!"

"Yes!"

Gao Mengli slapped her forehead. How could she have forgotten such an important thing!

"Alright, Da Niu, you can focus on your studies at school. If you need anything, just go to the restaurant in the county town and talk to your grandma."

"When your grandma gets home from work, tell your dad and me, and we'll go get it for you!"

"Oh, Mother, I don't lack anything. I have my own money, so I can take care of it myself."

that is……"

At this point, Da Niu looked embarrassed and somewhat sullen.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

Gao Mengli took the plate that Da Niu had washed clean, and for some reason, her eldest son's happiness level was negative.

"Mom, I'm living at the academy and I'm a little homesick..."

At this point, Da Niu became a little shy, after all, he is now eleven years old and a little man.

But he just missed his father, his mother, the food at home, and the crows.

Da Niu clutched the hem of his clothes, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, his ears so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

He hadn't even flinched when he was covered in bruises from practicing martial arts, but now he sounded like a rabbit whose secret had been exposed, his voice trembling: "My classmates all laugh at me... saying I'm a baby who never grows up, always coming home looking for my dad and mom..."

He kicked at the pebbles at his feet, secretly glancing up to observe Gao Mengli's reaction: "But I just... I just can't help thinking about the food you and Dad cooked, the crab pond and cured meat shed at home, and the cornbread made from elm seeds from the back hill..."

Gao Mengli: ……

Well, his son is a bit of a sissy!

But you can't blame him. After all, Lin Xi's cooking is something she's been eating for decades and still craves, let alone Da Niu, who has never tasted anything good before.

"I thought it was something serious! Don't worry, your dad and I will visit you at the academy often, and we'll bring you lots of delicious food!"

"Hehehe...Mom, isn't this too much trouble! I don't really care whether I eat it or not, I just miss you all!"

When Gao Mengli saw Da Niu's bright eyes, she reached out and gently pinched the tip of Da Niu's nose, and said with a smile, "Your little mouth is sweeter than honey."

"hey-hey……"

This scene of maternal love and filial piety was witnessed by Lin Xi, who was returning from the doorway.

He didn't come to destroy them, he came to join them!

"What are you saying, so happy!"

Upon hearing the sound, Da Niu jumped up and ran over: "Dad, you're back!"

Lin Xi quickly caught the big ox that lunged at him. His big ox had grown even taller this year!

"Father, starting tomorrow, I will not be returning home. I will stay at the academy to prepare for the imperial examination!"

"Okay... What? Not going home? Staying at the academy?"

Lin Xi hadn't even had a chance to kiss Da Niu when she was caught off guard by this bombshell news.

It's true what they say, once a son grows up, he's no longer under his father's control. He finally came to terms with being a father, but now his son is going to stay at the school and not come back.

Lin Xi's hand tightened slightly, and a moment of stunned silence flashed in her eyes.

He bent down to look Da Niu in the eye, his gaze sweeping over those bright, sparkling eyes, his voice softening unconsciously: "That's fine too, Da Niu. You haven't been studying for very long, don't put too much pressure on yourself."

After all, his eldest son only started school at the age of ten, seven years later than others.

If you count the days, it's been less than a year since I started studying.

Although we lost at the starting line, with Dou Weiyi, Yu Mengmeng, and Jiang's cousin helping Da Niu, who knows, Tong Sheng might be able to put up a fight!

"Uh-huh!"

Da Niu nodded obediently.

midnight.

Feeling guilty, I sat up in a fright from my dream.

Lin Xi suddenly sat up in bed, quickly and quietly got dressed and went out.

After Lin Xi left, Gao Mengli opened her eyes and sat up in bed.

Turning her head to look at the dim candlelight outside the window, she quickly got dressed and sat up in bed.

In the kitchen, Lin Xi, by candlelight, found the winnowing basket and the wooden bucket, then picked up a lantern and prepared to go out.

Suddenly, he saw the bedroom door open, and his Mengli was looking at him with a half-smile.

"where to?"

Lin Xi glanced at Da Niu's dark room, then nodded and answered softly, "Mengli, I want to make some snacks for Da Niu to eat at the academy."

Gao Mengli walked over and took the winnowing basket and wooden bucket from Lin Xi's hands. "Let's go, light the way ahead. With your skinny arms and legs, it would be a miracle if you could catch any river shrimp!"

Lin Xi chuckled softly, the glow of the lantern swaying on the bluestone path, casting their shadows that sometimes overlapped and sometimes lengthened.

He walked ahead, carrying the lantern, but his eyes kept glancing back, afraid that Gao Mengli might trip over the pebbles in the shadows.

The night breeze swept across the river, creating a soft, rustling sound.

"Beware of the reed marshes."

Lin Xi raised her hand to brush aside the drooping reeds, and in the warm light of the lantern, Gao Mengli's figure, bent over and groping in the shallows, was gilded.

Mengli from his family is so capable!

Gao Mengli moved swiftly, pinching the lively river shrimp with her fingertips and sending it into the wooden bucket, oblivious to the splashing water wetting her sleeves.

Lin Xi wasn't idle either; he took a winnowing basket and started frantically searching the roots of the reeds!

Although my hands are not in a hurry and my eyes are not fast.

However, its advantage lies in its large size, which allows it to catch a few small river shrimp.

"I used to complain that you were always making a fuss in the kitchen late at night and cooking midnight snacks for Da Niu."

When Gao Mengli straightened up, a thin layer of sweat had already seeped from her temples: "Now I feel that making snacks for Da Niu has become an addiction."

She shook the bucket of swimming river shrimp, and the moonlight shattered into silvery scales on the water's surface.

"It will be dawn in an hour and a half. When that time comes, Xixi, make a bucket of spicy river shrimp for Da Niu. Fry them until they are quite dry and store them in an oilcloth bag."

"At that time, Da Niu can still eat for a while."

As Lin Xi scooped shrimp from the winnowing basket, she nodded in agreement: "Yes, Mengli, we're on the same page!"