Chapter 106: Borrowing Money

Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Borrowing Money

"We’ve been. Even your older cousins have gone," Zhang Minzhen said with a smile, answering Gu Nuan Nuan first. "It’s just like your grandma said—it’s not actually that fun, or we would have taken you a long time ago. It’s a long walk, and I’m afraid you wouldn’t be able to make it all the way." She then shot a reproachful look at Zhang Dazhuang. "Dad, why would you tell Nuannuan about a place that’s so far away and not even fun? Playing somewhere closer on the mountain is just as good. The path over there is uneven, and one section is especially difficult. What if Nuannuan gives up halfway?"

"Don’t be so quick to call her fragile," Zhang Dazhuang retorted. "What’s so bad about it? Anywhere with water is fun. Are there any pools like that around here? You all just don’t know how to appreciate it. It might be a bit far, and there’s a short stretch of path that’s a little rough, but it’s not like it’s impassable or dangerous. You push through it, and when you finally get there, you can take off your shoes and soak your feet in the water... ah, that feeling... The best part is that it’s not too deep. Even kids can play in it without anyone having to worry."

Getting ganged up on by his wife and daughter left Zhang Dazhuang feeling indignant. ’What a great place,’ he thought. ’Why are they all making it sound like I’m trying to trick a child?’ He scowled at them. "The fish and shrimp may be small, but they still taste great, don’t they? Have you ever gotten that kind of fresh flavor from a big fish? Besides, it’s about the fun of it! If you really want to eat fish, you can just buy one ready-made and cook it. Is that even comparable?"

"Grandpa, I’ll go with you! I’m not afraid of a long walk. I love little fish and shrimp!" The more Gu Nuan Nuan listened, the more enchanted she became, and she eagerly made her position clear. She was afraid that if she didn’t speak up soon, her grandmother and mother would talk her grandfather out of it.

"Attagirl! Then it’s settled. If your mom doesn’t want to go, it’ll just be the two of us. We’ll set out early, bring a ceramic pot, some oil and salt, and see if we can catch a wild chicken. If we do, we’ll have chicken and mushroom stew for lunch right there on the mountain!" Zhang Dazhuang was overjoyed to hear Gu Nuan Nuan’s support.

"Chicken and mushroom stew? As if wild chickens are so easy to catch!" Wen Xiu scoffed. "You said the same thing last time, and everyone fell for it. We didn’t see a single feather. The kids were all pouting, and when we got back, I had to butcher one of our own chickens just to smooth things over. Don’t go getting this child’s hopes up. You’ll just whet her appetite and have nothing to give her, and then you’ll have to watch her cry."

Wen Xiu pursed her lips, obviously still holding a grudge about her husband’s grand promises. "Nuannuan, honey, don’t let your grandpa fool you again. I’m telling you, at most you’ll get to eat a few small fish and shrimp. To actually fill your belly, you’ll have to rely on the rice and sweet potatoes he brings to make sweet potato porridge."

Zhang Dazhuang could only glare, helpless because his wife was telling the truth. Finally, his eyes widened as he retorted, "...Even if it’s just sweet potato porridge, it tastes much better when you cook it with the water from that spring!"

Zhang Wei Qiang, Zhang Minzhen, and Gu Nuan Nuan all stifled their laughter.

"It’s okay, Grandma. Even without chicken and mushroom stew, I still want to go see it." After a moment of laughter, Gu Nuan Nuan saw that her grandfather was getting worked up by her grandmother’s teasing and quickly spoke up again, this time very seriously. "Grandpa, it’s a deal, then. This Sunday, we’re going to the mountain together."

"Alright! If they won’t go, we will. Even without a wild chicken, there are plenty of other fun things and tasty treats deeper in the mountains. It’s nothing like what you find at the foot of the mountain." Zhang Dazhuang was very pleased that Gu Nuan Nuan was standing so firmly on his side. He resolved to make sure she had the best time eating and playing when they got there.

"You stubborn old coot! There are wild boars in those mountains! What if you run into one?" Wen Xiu smacked Zhang Dazhuang’s arm.

"Don’t worry. The wild boars are probably much deeper in the mountains. Think about it. I’ve been up there so many times. Besides that one time I saw a few wild watermelons trampled by boars, when have I ever actually run into one?" Zhang Dazhuang said dismissively.

"I’ll go too on Sunday," Zhang Minzhen finally chimed in. ’If my daughter wants to go that badly, I should go with her.’ She thought about how considerate Nuannuan had been, not wanting her to spend money on a trip to the city. Most kids love playing in the water, anyway. ’How can I stand in the way of her wanting to experience the fun of catching fish and shrimp?’

"That’s great, Mom! We should bring a glass jar to carry back the fish we catch. And do we have one of those little nets for catching fish and shrimp at home?" Seeing that Zhang Minzhen had changed her mind, Gu Nuan Nuan was so excited she practically jumped for joy. On the way home, she sat on the front rack of her eldest uncle’s bicycle, enthusiastically discussing the equipment they would need with her mother, who rode alongside them with Grandpa on the back of her bike.

’Too bad they don’t have lightweight plastic bottles yet,’ she thought. ’It would be so fun to bring one and keep the fish we catch as pets. And what about a fishing net? It doesn’t seem like they have any of those small scoop nets either...’

"What do you need a glass jar for? We’ll just cook and eat whatever fish and shrimp we catch right on the spot. It won’t be much, and it’s a hassle to bring them back anyway. But even if the fish don’t have much meat, just wait until you try the soup—it’s delicious. And a small scoop net is easy. When we get home, Grandpa will weave you a little one out of cattail reeds that you can hold and use yourself."

Seeing how happy and excited Gu Nuan Nuan was, Wen Xiu, who was riding on the back of her son’s bicycle, didn’t say another word against the trip. Zhang Dazhuang, for his part, was practically buzzing with excitement.

On the way, the group began reminiscing about the last time Zhang Dazhuang had tricked the whole family into going to that "pathetic little pond." Although Zhang Wei Qiang had never been to the spot his father described, he’d heard his own two kids talk about it with disdain. Perhaps it was just the cheerful atmosphere this time, but as he listened, he started to feel tempted. If he weren’t still busy with chores at his in-laws’ house, he would have wanted to tag along and see it for himself.

The mood was infectious. Eventually, even Wen Xiu, who had been the most opposed to the trip, couldn’t help but chime in with some amusing little stories from their last "foiled expedition."

Thanks to Zhang Minzhen’s new bicycle, even though the group got home later than usual, they all made it through the door just before dark.

When they arrived home, dinner was ready, but everyone had waited for them to eat. All eyes lit up at the sight of the bicycle Zhang Minzhen had ridden home. The other children, along with Gu Nuan Nuan’s second uncle and aunt and third uncle and aunt, all crowded around to get a look, some even taking it for a quick spin to satisfy their curiosity. Only Lin Qin, Gu Nuan Nuan’s eldest aunt, gave it a couple of glances before getting busy setting the prepared dishes on the table.

At the dinner table, Gu Nuan Nuan’s second aunt, Fang Juxian, put on a fawning expression and said to Zhang Minzhen, "Minzhen, you must have brought a lot of money back from the Gu Family this time, huh? You know, your second brother wastes so much time walking to and from town. If you have some extra cash, could you lend us a bit? It doesn’t have to be much—fifty or a hundred yuan would be enough. We could use it to buy a bicycle for him, too."