mtl008 Chapter 245 Catching Fish, Shrimp, and Toads
Chapter 245 Catching Fish, Shrimp, and Toads
"Little Tiger is really amazing. But I'm always worried about you guys going hunting in the mountains. I know you're skilled, but June weather is unpredictable, like a child's face. I suggest you take a break for a while."
Li Xiaoyun washed her face, sat down at the dining table, praised Xiaohu with a smile, and said with some concern.
"You're right, hunting in the summer isn't really suitable. The meat spoils easily, and there are many snakes and insects in the mountains."
Li Xiangyang smiled and ladled a bowl of soup for his wife.
"So what are you planning to do during this time?"
Unexpectedly, her husband accepted the suggestion so easily, Li Xiaoyun asked curiously.
"Summer isn't ideal for hunting, but catching fish, shrimp, and toads is still quite enjoyable. Especially since we have a type of toad here called the forest frog, which was listed as one of the 'Four Great Mountain Delicacies' during the Ming Dynasty. I'm thinking of digging a pond near the old house, raising some aquatic products, and then harvesting them whenever we want."
"Your idea is good, but what about the production team..."
As Li Xiaoyun was speaking, a rumble of thunder came from outside, and large raindrops pattered against the roof.
Li Xiaoyun got up to close the window, and looking at the sudden downpour, she couldn't help but shiver.
"It's good that you didn't go deep into the mountains today," she said softly.
Li Xiangyang walked to her side, looking at the courtyard in the pouring rain, and felt equally fortunate.
"Yes, thank goodness we didn't go into the mountains, or we would have suffered terribly. There's no need to worry about the production team. Carpenters and blacksmiths can exchange a certain amount of their wages for work points, so raising a toad to exchange for work points is certainly an option for me."
"The key issue is that forest frogs are easy to catch now, but in a few years, they'll probably need to be regulated. These things are good; they nourish the blood and improve complexion."
"Once the pond is dug, I'll catch a lot of them, raise them until autumn, dry them, and extract the oil. Not only will we make money, but you can also have a cup of snow frog oil and rock sugar water every few days, and I guarantee you'll become the most beautiful young wife in the surrounding villages."
"Get lost!" Li Xiaoyun playfully shoved him, but her eyes held amusement. "It's not like I'm not pretty right now."
"Then we'll have to dig a pond to raise them, which will take a lot of work, right?" Li Xiaoyun asked thoughtfully.
Li Xiangyang laughed: "It certainly takes some effort. But think about it, when autumn comes, the snow frog oil we harvest will be worth real money. City dwellers are all about health these days, so the price of this stuff will only keep going up."
A bolt of lightning streaked across the night sky, illuminating their faces.
“Now that you’ve already thought it through—how to dig the pond and how to build it—why don’t you start planning now?” Li Xiaoyun said, getting up to rummage through the cabinet and quickly pulling out a piece of paper. “Let’s draw up the plans carefully before the rain stops.”
Li Xiangyang took the paper and pen and spread them out on the table.
The rain continued to fall outside, and it had become completely dark.
Little Tiger and Black Cat had quietly returned to the main room and lay quietly at the feet of the two people.
As night fell completely and the torrential rain gradually turned into a drizzle, Li Xiangyang and Li Xiaoyun had already drawn up a very detailed plan for the entire aquaculture pond.
The pond's structure is not complicated. It is oval in shape and has three depths, with the deepest point being about 2.5 meters, the middle one meter and the edge seventy centimeters. This depth design allows forest frogs to find suitable temperatures in different seasons.
After designing the water inlet and outlet, both of them were very satisfied.
The sound of rain outside the window gradually subsided. Little Tiger and Black Cat curled up in the corner, occasionally glancing up at their two owners before continuing to doze off.
The next morning, when the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window, Li Xiangyang woke up to find that Li Xiaoyun had already gone to school.
A steaming hot breakfast was laid out on the table.
After breakfast, Li Xiangyang began to make arrangements for digging the pond.
It's currently the off-season for farming, so finding someone to help dig a pond is naturally very easy.
The news that Li Xiangyang had hired someone to dig a pond to raise frogs quickly spread throughout the entire village.
Everyone thought Li Xiangyang had lost his mind, but considering his usual kind nature, quite a few people still came to help.
Li Xiangyang was also generous, providing lunch and plenty of meat to satisfy everyone's cravings.
"Regardless of what Xiangyang wants to raise, he must have his reasons. Just for this meal, it's worth the work."
"That's right, that's right." Everyone nodded in agreement.
At noon, under the bright sunshine, everyone sat in the old courtyard for a short rest and lunch, chatting and laughing.
When Li Xiaoyun returned from school, the pond had already begun to take shape.
"Wife, do you think this will do?" Li Xiangyang put down the shovel and asked, pointing to the deep pit that had already been dug.
His clothes were soaked with sweat, and his face and hands were covered in mud, but his eyes were filled with undisguised excitement.
Li Xiaoyun examined it carefully and nodded in satisfaction: "It's done according to the blueprints, very good. However..." She lowered her voice and whispered in Li Xiangyang's ear, "I heard the villagers are talking about this, they all think your approach is unreliable, aren't you worried?"
"Who cares what they say?" Li Xiangyang shook his head with a smile, gently putting his arm around his wife's shoulder. "By autumn, they'll be envious. I reckon there will be even more people wanting to do it next year."
"With so many people helping out, should I ask for a day off? Shall we start preparing dinner now?"
Being embraced by Li Xiangyang in public, Li Xiaoyun's pretty face instantly turned red, and she asked shyly.
"No need, just go about your business. It's the middle of summer, nobody's short of vegetables, and nobody's going to want to eat it anyway. We have plenty of meat at home; I'll just stew it when it's almost ready. Are you hungry? Hurry up and eat."
As Li Xiangyang spoke, he brought over the food that had been specially reserved for him.
Li Xiaoyun nodded and quietly began to eat her meal.
Li Xiangyang sat opposite her, occasionally putting food on her plate.
Although the two had been married for some time, such intimate gestures still made Li Xiaoyun feel shy. She lowered her head and focused on eating, but her ears turned bright red.
"I'm finished eating." After finishing the last bite, Li Xiaoyun stood up and tidied up the dishes. "Since you don't need me, I'll go back to school now."
"Go ahead, be careful on the road," Li Xiangyang replied with a smile.
At this moment, Li Daqiang walked over carrying a bucket of water.
He rested for a moment, then looked at Li Xiangyang and asked, "Xiangyang, can raising toads really make money?"
"Brother Daqiang, what I want is a forest frog. You can go to the city and ask around to see how much it's worth," Li Xiangyang explained with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Li Daqiang's eyes lit up, but quickly dimmed again.
He naturally believed that Li Xiangyang could make money, but he was still living with his parents.
No one would agree to digging a pond in the yard unless it was proven to be profitable.
After digging a pond, not only will there be more mosquitoes, but it may also attract other small animals, such as snakes and frogs.
"I really envy you and your sister-in-law for being in charge of your own home, doing whatever you want. If I dared to dig a pond at home, my dad would beat me to death..."
"Xiangyang, now that this is settled, you'll have to teach me how to do it. Xiaofang and I have agreed to get married after the autumn harvest, and then we'll move out and live separately."
"Brother Daqiang is getting married? Congratulations!" Li Xiangyang exclaimed in surprise. "As long as you talk to Sister-in-law Xiaofang and she has no objections, I'll teach you everything step by step."
"Alright, I won't stand on ceremony with you."
As the two were talking, everyone finished their meal and got back to work, bustling about enthusiastically.