Reborn in 1984, fishing and hunting in Jiangnan

Chapter 10 Lowering the Cage

Chen Zheng repaired the cages one by one, then picked them up and weighed them in his hands; they were quite heavy.

"Crabs are most abundant in shallow waters, where the water is no more than knee-deep, and in mud burrows."

Crabs love to congregate under reeds and along the edges of aquatic plants.

As he spoke, he strung the cages together one by one with hemp rope, tying a slipknot.

"When crabs come out to forage at night, they crawl along the water plants. If you put a cage on their usual route, they'll dive in and won't be able to get out."

Chen Rong squatted down beside him, listening, clutching a piece of hemp rope in his hand, wrapping the end of the rope around his fingers again and again.

"When will they be put in the cage?"

"Wait until it's completely dark. Crabs are afraid of light, so the darker it gets, the more they dare to come out."

"When the moon is big, it's actually harder to catch; it's too bright, and it hides in its hole and won't come out."

As Chen Zheng spoke, he looked up at the sky.

The sun was already setting in the west, and the clouds on the horizon were a fiery red, spreading out in patches like fish scales.

The breeze blowing across the lake was a bit cool, and it felt very comfortable on my face.

"There's no moon tonight, which makes it a perfect time."

Chen Feng had slipped out of the house at some point and squatted down next to the two people.

He rested his chin on his hands, his eyes darting around.

"Brother, I want to go too."

"no."

Why?

"You're too young. Catching crabs requires going into the water, and the water gets cold at night; you can't handle it."

"I'm not afraid of the cold!" Chen Feng patted his chest loudly.

"I'm perfectly healthy! I even washed my hair with cold water yesterday, and nothing happened!"

Chen Zheng glanced at him but didn't say anything.

Chen Feng grew anxious and grabbed his sleeve, refusing to let go: "Brother, please take me with you! I promise I'll be obedient!"

If you say go east, I'll never go west! If you say catch crabs, I'll never slack off on fishing! I can even help you carry the cage!

"Bring the cage?"

Chen Zheng laughed, "You can't even lift the cage."

"A cage weighs several kilograms, and it gets even heavier after being soaked in water. Can you lift it with one hand?"

Chen Feng was unconvinced and reached out to pick up the cage next to him.

The cage is woven from bamboo, cylindrical in shape, with tassels at both ends. It's fine when dry.

But he didn't know that the cage had just been soaked in water by Chen Zheng, and the bamboo strips were heavy with water.

He lifted him up with one hand, shook him, his face turning red and his arm trembling.

"Brother... I can do it..."

Before the words had even finished,

"Bang!"

The cage fell to the ground.

Chen Feng was pulled so far that he almost fell to the ground, and he hurriedly grabbed the stone roller next to him to steady himself.

Chen Rong stood to the side, head down, shoulders shrug, trying to suppress a laugh.

Chen Feng got angry, his face turning bright red: "What are you laughing at! I just lost my balance! I'll definitely do it again!"

"Alright, alright." Chen Zheng picked up the cage and dusted it off.

"When you're two years older, your brother will take care of you. For now, you stay home and help Mom with the chores."

Chen Feng pouted and remained silent, but he seemed rooted to the spot and wouldn't move.

Chen Zheng ignored him and turned to Chen Rong, saying, "Rongzi, go dig up some earthworms, the red ones are fine, the thick ones are the best."

Crabs love to eat this.

Add some snails, crush them up, shells and all, and put them in. The strong flavor will attract crabs.

Chen Rong responded and got up to leave.

Chen Zheng checked the cage again to make sure that each barb was working properly before stacking them one by one and placing them at the base of the wall.

At this moment, Zhang Cuihua came out of the kitchen, holding a bowl of brown sugar water, and handed it to Chen Zheng.

"Zhengwa, have some water. You've been busy all afternoon."

Chen Zheng took it and took a sip.

The brown sugar water was sweet and had a hint of ginger flavor, probably because it contained ginger slices to dispel cold.

That's just how his mother is; she doesn't say it, but she thinks of everything for you.

"Mom, I've told Dad about going to the county hospital tomorrow. He agreed."

Zhang Cuihua sighed, "Zhengwa, maybe we shouldn't go. It's such a waste of money..."

"daughter."

Chen Zheng interrupted her, his tone not harsh but firm.

"Listen to me. This can't be delayed. Your recovery is more important than anything else."

If you collapse, this family will fall apart.

Zhang Cuihua was stunned, staring into her son's eyes.

Her nose stung with tears, she turned her head away, and wiped her eyes with her sleeve: "Fine, I'll listen to you. Go, Mother."

Chen Rong returned as dusk fell.

He was holding an earthenware pot, which was half-filled with earthworms and crushed snails.

Earthworms were burrowing around in the soil; they were reddish-brown, and some were as thick as chopsticks.

The snails were smashed into small pieces, with the shells and meat mixed together. They had a strong fishy smell that could be detected from a distance.

"Brother, is that enough?"

"That's enough." Chen Zheng glanced at the contents of the earthenware pot, nodded, and said, "Let's go down into the cage."

The two went out the door and walked towards the lake.

Chen Feng followed behind, tiptoeing like a thief.

Chen Zheng took a few steps, then suddenly stopped and looked back at him.

Chen Feng quickly stopped, pretending to look at the wildflowers by the roadside, while whistling a tune that was completely off-key.

"Come on, let's follow you," Chen Zheng said.

Chen Feng was stunned for a moment.

"Aww!"

After shouting, he jumped up and caught up with her in two quick steps.

His eyes lit up like lamps: "Brother, you're so great!"

"Don't be too happy yet. When we get to the lake, you have to listen to me. You're not allowed to go into the water or run around."

"Just stay on the shore and shine a flashlight for me."

"Okay, okay! I'll listen to whatever you say!"

Chen Feng nodded his head like a chicken pecking at rice, wishing he could write a guarantee on the spot.

The three of them arrived at the lakeside, by which time it was already completely dark.

The moon hasn't risen yet.

The stars were densely packed and reflected on the lake's surface, rippling with the waves like scattered silver.

The reeds in the distance were dark and rustling in the wind, with the occasional call of a night bird that carried far.

Chen Zheng took off his shoes, rolled up his trouser legs, and picked up the cages one by one.

The lake water was cool and refreshing, reaching above my ankles, and the mud on the soles of my feet was soft and sticky.

"Rongzi, separate the earthworms and snails."

Put a handful of earthworms and a few snail shells in each cage.

Earthworms should be spread out, not piled together, otherwise crabs will come attracted by the smell.

Chen Rong squatted on the bank and stuffed the bait from the earthenware pot into the cage.

He did his job carefully, placing each cage evenly, no more and no less.

Chen Feng squatted down next to him, holding up a flashlight. The beam of light swayed back and forth, making the water surface look white.

"Brother, do crabs really crawl inside?" Chen Feng asked.

Yes. Crabs, though they look clever because they walk sideways, are actually quite silly.

It smells the aroma and burrows inside, but once inside, it can't find its way out.

The cage has barbs at both ends; it's easy to get in but difficult to get out, like a maze.

As Chen Zheng spoke, he lowered the cages into the water one by one.

The cage sank to the bottom of the water, stirring up a small patch of mud, which was quickly cleared up again.

He stomped on it with his foot and pressed it down with a stone to secure the cage in the mud, preventing it from being washed away by the water.

"The cages shouldn't be placed too close together; they should be spaced two or three zhang apart."

Too many crabs crowding together in one place is actually not good.

They need to be dispersed so they have a place to go.

After being put into the cage, Chen Zheng went ashore and rubbed his feet on the reeds to remove the mud.

"Alright, go back to sleep. We'll come collect it first thing tomorrow morning."

"Brother, shouldn't we keep an eye on it? What if someone steals it?" Chen Feng asked worriedly.

Chen Zheng laughed: "Whoever takes something from the lake owns it."

But once we're out of the cage, no one will move if they see us.

This is the rule, like a trap set by the mountain people; everyone knows it.

The three of them walked back in the dark.

The village road was quiet.

Someone's dog barked a couple of times, but was silenced by its owner.

On the distant lake, a fishing boat, whose lights were still on, cast a dim yellow glow as it swayed on the water.

Chen Feng walked in the middle, holding onto Chen Zheng's clothes with one hand.

He held a flashlight in his other hand, the beam of light drawing circles on the ground.

"Brother, how many crabs do you think we can catch?"

"It's hard to say. If you're lucky, you might get ten or twenty pounds. If you're unlucky, you might only get a few."

"What if you can't catch any at all?"

"If you can't catch it, come back tomorrow. The crab can't escape."

Chen Feng thought for a moment, then asked, "Brother, what are you planning to do with the money from selling the crabs?"

"To get medical treatment for my mother."

Chen Feng fell silent.

After walking a few steps, he suddenly said, "Brother, I don't want the new shoes anymore. You should use them to get Mom treated."

Chen Zheng paused for a moment, then turned to look at Chen Feng.

The flashlight beam shone on his face, and the expression on his small face was very serious, not like he was joking.

"Who told you you were going to buy shoes?"

"I know it myself. Mom told Dad yesterday that my shoes are showing my toes and I should buy a new pair."

Dad said money was tight, so we should wait a little longer. I heard him say that.

As Chen Feng spoke, he looked down at his feet.

Those shoes were liberation shoes, with green canvas uppers. The toes were worn out, exposing the big toe, and the toenail was dusty and gray.

"I don't want it anymore. Getting my mother medical treatment is the most important thing."

Chen Zheng reached out and patted him on the head, not hard, but with a hint of concern:

"I'll figure out the shoes. Mother's illness also needs to be treated. We can't neglect either of them."

Chen Feng looked up, his eyes sparkling: "Really?"

"Really. When have I ever lied to you?"

Chen Feng grinned, revealing a set of small white teeth, and his steps became lighter, hopping and skipping.

The beam of the flashlight drew circles in the sky, seemingly disrupting the stars.

When she got home, Zhang Cuihua had already made the bed.

She sat in the main room, mending socks by the light of a kerosene lamp.

The sewing basket rested on her lap, containing scraps of cloth, thimbles, and balls of thread.

"You're back? Go wash your feet and go to bed early. Rongzi, you have to come with me to collect the cages tomorrow, so get up early."

Chen Rong responded and went to the kitchen to fetch a basin of water. The three of them took turns washing their feet.

Chen Feng's feet were covered in mud, and after wading in the water a couple of times, the water became murky.

"Your feet look like pig's trotters," Chen Zheng laughed at him.

Chen Feng retorted, "Yours is pig's trotter! Mine is much better!"

Zhang Cuihua watched from the side and couldn't help but laugh.

When she smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes gathered together.

But her eyes are still bright and beautiful, just like when she was young.

Chen Zheng lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

My mind raced through tomorrow's plans, going through them one by one, afraid of missing anything.

A sliver of starlight shone through the window paper, illuminating the roof beams.

The red chili peppers and garlic on the roof beams swayed in the wind, rustling softly.

On the opposite bed, Chen Feng was already asleep.

The blanket was kicked down to her feet again, a pillowcase covered her stomach, her mouth was slightly open, and her breathing was even.

Chen Rong lay on his side, facing the wall, motionless, and it was unclear whether he was asleep or not.

Chen Zheng turned over and closed his eyes.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he heard his father and mother talking outside.

It was intermittent, and I couldn't hear what was being said.

All I heard was his mother chuckle once, and then there was silence.

He smiled slightly and slowly fell asleep.

The next day, before the birds outside even started chirping, Chen Zheng woke up.

She tiptoed out of bed, put on her clothes, and opened the door.

The courtyard was cool and damp with dew, and the stones were slippery underfoot.

Chen Rong had already gotten up and was squatting in the yard waiting for him, holding two buckets, one large and one small.

The larger ones are used to hold crabs, and the smaller ones are used to hold bait.

"Walk."

The two of them made their way to the lake in the dark.

Halfway there, Chen Feng caught up from behind, panting heavily.

The shoes weren't tied properly; the shoelaces were dragging on the ground.

"I knew you guys were going to sneak away!" he said, hands on his hips, puffing out his cheeks. "Brother, you said you'd take me!"

Chen Zheng glanced at him and continued walking forward.

After tying his shoelaces, Chen Feng quickly followed, muttering, "He didn't keep his word..."

When we arrived at the lake, the sky was just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn, a hazy gray.

A thin mist, like gauze, covered the lake.

Chen Zheng rolled up his trousers and went into the water.

The water was colder than last night, which made him shiver, but he quickly got used to it.

When I picked up the first cage, it was heavy, and there was movement inside.

"Rustle, rustle!"

Chen Feng shouted from the shore, "I've got it!"

Chen Zheng carried the cage ashore and dumped it into the fenced-off area.

Whoosh!

Crabs poured out of the cage, seven or eight of them, all quite large, with green shells, white bellies, and golden claws.

It crawls sideways on the sand, baring its teeth and claws.

"Wow!" Chen Feng squatted down and reached out to grab it.

"Don't move!" Chen Zheng grabbed his arm. "Crabs pinch people, it hurts when you get pinched. Look."

He held out his hand, revealing a scar on his index finger from when he was a child, a white mark left from being pinched by a crab.

"How do we catch them?" Chen Feng withdrew his hand, staring longingly at the crabs.

There are different ways to catch crabs.

Chen Zheng squatted down and demonstrated for him.

"You have to grab it from behind, pinching both sides of the shell, then its pincers won't be able to reach you."

Don't grab it from the front; it'll snap its pincers in one go and you'll lose your finger.

He reached out and pinched the shell of a large crab. The crab's two large pincers were as wide as his palm when they opened.

Click!

She was cutting through the air, but she just couldn't reach his hand.

Chen Feng stared in disbelief: "Brother, you're amazing!"

"Here, you give it a try."

Chen Feng hesitated for a moment, then reached out his hand, then withdrew it, then reached out again, his fingers trembling.

"Don't be afraid. If you hold it, it won't pinch. The more afraid you are, the more it will pinch you, just like a dog."

Chen Feng took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and grabbed the crab's shell.

I tried to cut the crab's large claws a few times, but missed, so I slowly put them away.

"I caught it! I caught it!" Chen Feng shouted excitedly, jumping up and down so much that he almost dropped the crab.

"Alright, alright, put it in the bucket." Chen Zheng smiled and handed over the bucket.

Chen Feng carefully put the crab in the bucket. The crab crawled around the bottom of the bucket twice and then calmed down.

Bubbles were coming out of its mouth.

Gudu Gudu!

Next, the cages were brought in one by one, some with seven or eight animals, others with three or four.

All together, it filled the bottom of the bucket, weighing at least ten kilograms.

Chen Zheng sorted the crabs by size, keeping the larger ones separately for sale.

The small ones are put back into the lake, that's the rule. We can't take the ones that are too small; we have to let them grow a little longer.

"Brother, why do you want to put the little one back?" Chen Feng asked, puzzled.

"Save the seed. If you catch all the little ones, there won't be any crabs left next year."

You can't take everything from the lake at once; you have to leave some for it so it can always have some.

As Chen Zheng spoke, he threw the last small crab back into the lake. The crab swirled on the surface of the water and then sank.

Chen Feng nodded as if he understood, and kept those words in mind.