sinovels Chapter 1710 Ma Ling: My father-in-law is such a good man!
Chapter 1710 Ma Ling: My father-in-law is such a good man!
Chapter 1710 Ma Ling: My father-in-law is such a good man!
When the large water vessel was almost full, Zhao Jun and his men packed up and prepared to return.
Although it was only a little past two o'clock, the mountain stream was shady and chilly, and my thin cotton-padded jacket and trousers were soaked through.
We caught nearly twenty pounds of small fish, including loaches and minnows, in a large pond. Adding the fish we caught earlier with nets in the pond, it should be enough for today's meal.
As for tomorrow, there are still two fish traps over there.
They arrived home at 3:10 p.m., and Zhao Jun and the others carried their tools and fish catch into the Zhao family compound.
As soon as they entered the house, Wang Meilan, Jin Xiaomei, and others surrounded them.
Seeing the fish caught in the water and fed in the lorry, Wang Meilan was very satisfied and immediately called on the women to clean the fish.
Crucian carp, whitebait, and old manfish all need to be scaled and gutted. In particular, the head of the old manfish cannot be eaten and must be removed.
As for the loach and the minnow, although these two types of fish are small, they still need to be caught.
The loach has no scales, but the wheat ear has scales. This fish is so small that it's not much thicker than a chopstick, and you can't use a knife to scrape off the scales. So you just use your thumbnail to hold the tail and push upwards against the grain, and the scales on one side will all come off.
Fish don't bite during this season, so theoretically they shouldn't have anything inside their bellies. But small fish have gallbladders and intestines, which have a bitter taste, making them unpalatable.
So, you have to squeeze the fish. Squeezing the fish means pinching its upper abdomen and pushing it down, and then the internal organs will come out through the excretory opening.
There was nearly a large body of water, and two halves of fish to feed Luo, enough for Wang Meilan and her people to handle.
Ma Ling was originally going to join in, but Wang Meilan took out an enamel basin, scooped out three or four pounds of small fish, and then put two large handfuls of crucian carp seeds into the basin.
Seeing the crucian carp thrashing about, Wang Meilan took out a sorghum stalk cover to cover the mouth of the basin, and then said to Ma Ling, "My dear girl, take this fish to your dad and mom."
Just as Ma Ling was about to say a few polite words, Wang Meilan called out to Zhao Jun, "Son, you should go back too. You live so close by, so go visit your mother-in-law more often."
Zhao Jun agreed, and at that moment Zhao Youcai came out with a wine box. Zhao Jun looked at it and saw that it was the tiger bone wine that Chu Anmin had asked someone to bring.
"My dear daughter," Zhao Youcai said, walking directly up to Ma Ling and handing her the wine box, "Give this wine to my in-laws."
“Dad…” Ma Ling subconsciously took the bottle, and then saw Zhao Youcai pointing at the wine box and continuing to say to her, “This is tiger bone wine, for my in-laws to drink themselves. Don’t drink too much at once, if you drink the leftovers and in a couple of years when you get older, if your arms or legs feel uncomfortable or something, just apply some and it will help.”
After saying this, Zhao Youcai paused slightly, then tapped the wine box twice and said, "This is good stuff; you can't buy it even if you have money."
"Yes, Dad," Ma Ling replied, indicating that she understood. Zhao Jun wasn't home the day the wine was brought back, so Zhao Youcai opened a bottle, and each of the men drank a small glass. It's said that after drinking it, they didn't even cover themselves with blankets that night.
Zhao Youcai was willing to share this good stuff with Ma Dafu, which naturally made Ma Ling happy. But what she cared about most wasn't how good the wine was, but rather the story of Zhao Jun on the wine box.
As soon as Ma Ling finished speaking, she suddenly heard Zhao Youcai sigh, which startled her.
“My dear daughter, Dad was still kowtowing three times last year.” Zhao Youcai raised his hand to make three, and said to Ma Ling, “If you can make this wine, Dad will get two more bottles for your dad.”
After saying this, Zhao Youcai glanced at Zhao Jun.
Zhao Jun pursed his lips but didn't say anything, while Ma Ling laughed and said, "Okay, Dad. Just give him this bottle, and you can keep the rest for yourself."
Seeing that Ma Ling wasn't responding, Zhao Youcai was speechless. Wang Meilan saw right through his little scheme. At this moment, Wang Meilan nudged Zhao Youcai aside with her shoulder, came to Ma Ling, and said, "Old girl, you two go back and visit your family."
"Okay!" Ma Ling replied cheerfully. After handing her things to Zhao Jun, she turned and hurried to her room to put on her coat.
In the outer room, Zhao Youcai glanced at Wang Meilan with his small eyes, and then stopped and glanced at Zhao Jun as he turned around.
Zhao Jun and Wang Meilan ignored him. Zhao Jun, carrying a small basin and a wine box, went out of the house first and walked slowly outside.
Before they could even leave the compound, Ma Ling quickly caught up with them.
The young couple happily returned to the wife's parents' home. Ma Ling was in a very good mood, chatting and laughing with Zhao Jun along the way.
The journey took less than five minutes, and they soon arrived at the Ma family's courtyard. The young couple had returned from the west. Just then, seeing someone coming from the east, Zhao Jun, holding a small basin, gestured with his chin and said to Ma Ling, "Wife, look who that is."
Ma Ling smirked and whispered, "This is Yang Erzheng's doing!"
Then they saw Ma Yang coming from the opposite direction, wearing his hat askew, his clothes open, carrying a satchel in one hand and swinging a pine stick in the other, hitting his neighbor's woodpile as he walked.
Unwittingly, Ma Yang spotted Zhao Jun and Ma Ling. He tossed the stick onto the woodpile and ran over quickly, carrying his satchel.
"Sister! Brother-in-law!" Ma Yang ran over, greeted the two of them, and then his attention fell on the small basin that Zhao Jun was holding.
An enamel plate was placed over the small basin. Ma Yang didn't know what was inside, but his first thought was that it was delicious and that it was covered to prevent the heat from escaping.
"Brother-in-law, what's this delicious food?" Ma Yang asked. Zhao Jun laughed, and Ma Ling, while straightening Ma Yang's collar, said, "All you ever think about is food. That's the fish your brother-in-law and his family caught today..."
"Fishing?" Ma Yang looked up, his eyes wide, and asked Zhao Jun, "Brother-in-law, why didn't you take me fishing?"
"What do you mean, 'take you'? Don't you go to school?" Before Zhao Jun could answer, Ma Ling spoke up for him and even slapped Ma Yang.
"Sis, what's this?" Ma Ling didn't hit it hard, and it just landed on the cotton-padded jacket like dust. Ma Yang didn't care, but looked at the wine box that Ma Ling was holding.
Just as Ma Ling was about to speak, the door to the Ma family's house was pushed open from the inside, and a small black dog darted out. At the same time, Wang Cuihua shouted to the outside, "Jun, come inside quickly!"
At this moment, in the mother-in-law's eyes, there was only her son-in-law.
"Mom!" Zhao Jun responded and quickly walked into the yard.
"Woof! Woof!" The little black dog ran to Zhao Jun, paused briefly, and then ran off to Ma Ling.
Zhao Jun bought this little black dog from Wang Changyou's house in Changling. He bought five of them and distributed them to everyone.
Before Ma Ling got married, she would play with this little dog at home every day. Just as the two of them were getting along well, Ma Ling got married, but that didn't stop the little black dog from being close to her.
Ma Ling squatted down, picked up the little black dog, and the three of them and the dog went into the house. Wang Cuihua had already prepared the sweet soup for Zhao Jun.
"Jun, come inside quickly." Wang Cuihua called to Zhao Jun, "Mom just heated the kang (heated brick bed), it's so warm."
Before Zhao Jun and Ma Ling got married, Wang Cuihua was polite, warm, and courteous to Zhao Jun. But now that Zhao Jun is her son-in-law, Wang Cuihua is genuinely good to him.
"Mom, this is the fish we prepared today." Zhao Jun placed the small basin containing the fish on the stove and said to Wang Cuihua, "Fry it or stew it for dinner."
"Did you go fishing today? Aren't you cold?" Wang Cuihua didn't stand on ceremony with her son-in-law, but only reminded Zhao Jun, "This is the time when it's easiest to get sick, so be careful not to catch a cold."
"Okay, Mom, I know." Zhao Jun said to Wang Cuihua with a smile. The mother and son went into the house first. Just as Zhao Jun was about to get on the kang (a heated brick bed), he heard Ma Yang call out to him, "Brother-in-law."
"Huh?" Zhao Jun was taken aback. He turned around and saw Ma Yang winking at him repeatedly.
"What are you doing?" Wang Cuihua wasn't blind, and she asked Ma Yang directly, "What's with you whispering to your brother-in-law? What's wrong? Do you have something to say?"
"No, no," Ma Yang laughed. "I haven't seen my brother-in-law for several days, let's chat for a bit."
As soon as Ma Yang appeared, Zhao Jun, Ma Ling, and Wang Cuihua all looked at him with strange eyes. But the young man seemed oblivious to everything and even winked at Zhao Jun.
"Why don't you two just chat in this room?" Wang Cuihua said, but Ma Yang had already grabbed Zhao Jun's arm and said, "Let my brother-in-law come to my room."
After saying this, Ma Yang asked Wang Cuihua, "Didn't I also heat up my kang (heated brick bed)?"
"Burn it." Wang Cuihua glanced at Ma Yang and gave him a curt reply.
"Mom, why don't you chat with Ling'er?" Zhao Jun said to Wang Cuihua, before being pulled away by Ma Yang.
"What are you up to now, little brother?" As soon as Zhao Jun left, Wang Cuihua complained to Ma Ling, "You never study properly, and beating you doesn't work."
As she spoke, Wang Cuihua saw Ma Ling put down the puppy and then took a box from under her arm and placed it on the kang table.
"What's this?" Wang Cuihua asked. Ma Ling replied, "It's wine my father-in-law gave to my dad."
"Oh dear!" Wang Cuihua frowned upon hearing this and whispered to Ma Ling, "Girl, you can't leave it here, take it back."
As she spoke, Wang Cuihua pointed to the outer room and continued, "The fish and meat, which are caught from the mountain or fished from the river and don't cost any money, we can have some. As for the things that cost money, we'll save them for your father-in-law. If he doesn't want them, we can take them back with us."
"Mom, this doesn't cost money." Ma Ling excitedly showed the wine box to Wang Cuihua, saying, "Look at what's written on top..."
"Oh my!" Wang Cuihua's eyes lit up immediately upon seeing him. "Yong'an Forest Farm... Zhao Jun? Isn't that my son-in-law?"
"Yes, indeed." Ma Ling smiled, "This is tiger bone wine that Zhao Jun made last year after he killed that big clawed tiger and sent it to the Forestry Bureau. The pharmaceutical factory took it and made a case of it for Zhao Jun. My father-in-law asked me to get a bottle for my dad. This wine is really good..."
As Ma Ling was explaining the remarkable effects of tiger bone wine to Wang Cuihua, Zhao Jun was sitting on the kang (heated brick bed) in the west room, watching Ma Yang busy himself.
The child even knew how to entertain guests. He took out two small pieces of candy from his desk drawer and handed them to Zhao Jun, saying, "Brother-in-law, have some candy."
Zhao Jun smiled as he looked at the little rascal. His family was the only one in the entire Yong'an forest area with a little rascal; even the convenience stores didn't sell them.
The source of the candy Ma Yang gave to Zhao Jun was perfectly legitimate. It was two handfuls of candy Zhao Jun had slipped into his pocket when he left home on the day he and Ma Ling returned to her family home. After arriving at the Ma family, he gave one handful to Ma Ling's eldest nephew and the other to Ma Yang.
Zhao Jun did not refuse Ma Yang's kindness. He unwrapped the candy, put it in his mouth, and then smiled at Ma Yang, "So, what do you want me to do for you this time?"
Upon hearing Zhao Jun's words, Ma Yang looked astonished and asked, "Brother-in-law, how did you know I needed your help?"
Zhao Jun, with a candy in his mouth, remained silent for two seconds. His brother-in-law was truly a simple-minded person.
"Little brother," Zhao Jun asked helplessly, "just tell me, what's wrong? If your brother-in-law can do it for you, he definitely will."
As soon as Zhao Jun finished speaking, Ma Yang took money out of his pocket. The boy pulled out a handful of small bills and cents, the largest of which was two cents.
Just then, a 80 Great Wall wheat ear coin rolled to the ground and landed under the table where Ma Yang was doing his homework. Ma Yang jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed), ignoring the dirt on the ground, and crawled to the table to pick up the coin.
"Oh dear!" Zhao Jun was speechless. The difference between Ma Yang and Li Ruhai, who were the same age, was too great. Li Ruhai was capable of handling affairs and negotiating business outside. Back in the Little Red Cedar Forest Farm, Li Ruhai bought cigarettes and treated people to meals. He was just as capable as an adult in handling affairs.
Then look at my brother-in-law, he has hardly any money in his pocket and he's so simple-minded.
"Brother-in-law, when are you going to town? Could you bring me a diary?" Ma Yang returned to the kang (a heated brick bed), handed the money in his hand to Zhao Jun's legs, and then gestured with his hands, saying, "This size, the kind with plastic cover and a beautiful girl drawn on it."
Hearing Ma Yang's words, Zhao Jun's lips twitched. He remembered the diary that Ma Yang had treasured in his previous life but never gave away.
Seeing that Zhao Jun didn't speak, Ma Yang said, "Brother-in-law, I asked around, and it's two yuan a copy. Here's two yuan, check it out."
"So expensive?" Zhao Jun was startled; he hadn't expected the diary to be so pricey.
"Yeah!" At this moment, Ma Yang said, "They said it features celebrities, and there are also pictures inside."
"Little brother," Zhao Jun thought for a while, and finally asked Ma Yang, "did you give away that hair clip you bought last year?"
Upon hearing Zhao Jun's words, Ma Yang's face instantly darkened.
Then Zhao Jun asked, "What if you buy this book for your classmate, but she doesn't want it?"
Logically, Zhao Jun shouldn't have said these things. But then he thought about how, in his past life, Ma Yang bought this diary, and it was fine as a gift, but he never managed to give it away. Years later, this diary caused a fight between Ma Yang and his wife. Ma Yang won, and in a fit of anger, his wife went back to her parents' home, and even when Ma Yang went to fetch her, she wouldn't come back.
In the end, Ma Yang had no choice but to write a letter of repentance and a guarantee to his wife, and only then did she come back to live with him.
Thinking about all this, Zhao Jun felt ashamed before Ma Yang. But at this moment, Ma Yang sighed, picked up the money in front of Zhao Jun, solemnly handed it to Zhao Jun, and said, "Brother-in-law, please buy it for me, but don't tell my sister afterwards."
"Why does it sound like my younger brother mentioned me?" Ma Ling, who was cleaning fish with Wang Cuihua in the outer room, suddenly said.
"Don't worry about him, he's never serious." After saying this, Wang Cuihua whispered to Ma Ling, "Girl, how are things at Old Zhao's? Are they treating you well?"
“Okay!” Ma Ling nodded emphatically and said, “They’ve been so good to me!”
Looking into her daughter's clear, bright eyes, Wang Cuihua paused for a moment, then asked softly, "Are your father-in-law and mother-in-law both good to you?"
“Okay, either way is fine,” Ma Ling said. “Especially my father-in-law, he’s a really good man.”
Wang Cuihua: "Ah..."
(End of this chapter)