After returning home, facing the eager eyes of the Xiao Pihai, Lu Qing didn't waste any time and immediately started distributing the fish.
He picked two banana leaves from behind the small courtyard and cut them into several pieces.
He gave each Xiao Pihai a handful of fish, not much, probably less than half a catty per person.
Though the fish were not many, the Xiao Pihai were incredibly excited.
After getting the fish, each of them ran home gleefully, as if they had obtained some treasure.
When Lu Qing finished distributing the fish, a villager came forward.
“Lu Qing, how did you catch these fish? How could you catch so many at once?”
“Just luck,” Lu Qing said with a smile, “Maybe it’s because the bait I used was more appealing to fish.”
“What kind of bait did you use then?”
“It’s just the very common earthworm found in the fields.”
Lu Qing didn't hide anything and told the truth.
Anyway, even if he didn't say it, the villagers would know soon enough.
After all, when he was fishing, there was a group of Xiao Pihai watching him.
Since that was the case, it was better to speak openly, lest others call him stingy.
“Earthworms? This thing can actually be used to catch fish?” The villager was surprised.
“Of course, and fish really like them.”
Lu Qing was not surprised that the villagers didn't know earthworms could be used for fishing.
From the original owner's memory, he roughly deduced that he was currently in a world similar to ancient China.
In such an old and feudal era, transportation was inconvenient, and information was also restricted.
People held a cautious and conservative attitude towards new things and would not easily try them.
It was very possible that common knowledge in one place would become a rarity in another.
No one in the village was skilled at fishing or catching fish, so it was normal for people not to know that fish liked to eat earthworms.
“I didn't expect fish to like eating earthworms. No wonder everyone had no luck fishing before. It turns out the bait was wrong,” a villager lamented.
“Lu Qing, did your father tell you this method?”
Lu Qing hesitated for a moment, then nodded: “I heard my father mention it once before, and I happened to remember it. Today, Xiao Yan kept saying she was hungry, and there was nothing to eat at home, so I thought of this method and decided to try it. I didn't expect to actually catch fish.”
The villager paused upon hearing this, then looked at Xiao Yan.
The little one was squatting by the bucket, looking at the fish. Feeling the villager's gaze, she looked up and immediately gave him a big smile.
The villager's heart instantly ached. He looked at the frail Lu Qing again, and pity swelled within him.
“What will you two do next? You can’t just eat fish, how can your stomachs handle it?”
“I was just about to discuss it with a few uncles,” Lu Qing said earnestly, “Uncles, you also know my family’s current situation. We have not a single grain of rice, so I would like to borrow some grain, oil, and salt from you. When I find work in a few days, I will definitely repay you twofold.”
“What are you talking about? Are we uncles the kind of people who take advantage of others’ misfortunes? We are all from the same village, and mutual support is what we should do. It’s just a little grain, Uncle Shan will bring it to you right away!”
The villager, moved, immediately said loudly.
Since he said so, the other villagers naturally couldn't show no support.
“That’s right, just a little grain, I’ll go get it for you right now!”
“My family bought too much salt at the market early last month, so I can spare some for you.”
“It’s just oil, my family still has a lot left, I’ll go get it for you later!”
Several villagers patted their chests, looking generous.
Lu Qing was overjoyed: “Then thank you, uncles!”
“Lu Qing, wait a moment, I’ll go home and get you the grain.”
Uncle Shan was the first to walk out, and the other villagers also went home one after another.
Not long after, they all returned to Lu Qing's courtyard.
“Here, you and Xiao Yan eat this half-bag of rice first. If you finish it, ask Uncle Shan for more!”
“Lu Qing, this half-urn of lard should be enough for you to eat for a while, right?”
“Here’s a small bamboo tube of salt, use it first.”
“I have a few large flatbreads that your aunt just baked this morning. They can be stored for a long time, and eating one can stave off hunger for a long time. Is that enough?”
Looking at the items brought by the villagers, Lu Qing was filled with endless gratitude.
He bowed repeatedly: “Enough, enough, thank you, uncles!”
Then he scooped out several large handfuls of small fish from the bucket, dividing them into several portions.
With this, more than half of the fish in the wooden bucket were gone instantly.
“Please take these fish, uncles, and have a taste.”
Uncle Shan and the others waved their hands repeatedly, “How can we do that? These fish were all caught by your hard work. Keep them for you and Xiao Yan to eat.”
“Xiao Yan and I can’t eat so much. The weather is hot now, and fish don't keep long. We don't raise chickens or ducks at home, so the fish will spoil easily if kept. Uncles, please consider it as helping me out, so it doesn’t go to waste.”
Without further ado, Lu Qing stuffed several packages of fish wrapped in leaves into the hands of the villagers.
“Then… alright, we won't be polite.”
The villagers had just given out a lot of their leftover grain from home and were originally a little pained, but after getting the fish, they instantly felt much better.
After seeing off the uncles, Lu Qing breathed a sigh of relief.
He was somewhat fortunate.
Fortunately, the people in the village were relatively simple and honest, otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to rashly ask to borrow grain.
Now, with this grain, he and Xiao Yan wouldn't have to worry too much about food for ten days to half a month.
With this buffer period, he could also properly explore ways to survive in this world.
“Brother, this flatbread smells so good!”
Lu Qing was deep in thought when he suddenly heard Xiao Yan’s words.
He looked down and saw the little one squatting on the ground, drooling at the flatbread one of the villagers had brought earlier.
He walked over, tore off a small piece of the flatbread, and placed it in Xiao Yan’s hand.
“Good Xiao Yan, eat this piece of flatbread first. Brother is going to cook now.”
“Mm, Xiao Yan understands!”
Xiao Yan nodded obediently, took the piece of flatbread, and happily started gnawing on it.
After comforting the little one, Lu Qing also began to get busy in the kitchen.
First, he rinsed the rice and steamed it, then he scooped out about half a catty of small fish, gutted them, and cleaned them.
When the fish were cleaned and he was about to fry them, Lu Qing discovered a problem.
There was no pot in the kitchen for cooking.
Lu Qing thought back and then remembered.
Originally, there was an iron pot at home, but some time ago, the original owner had sold it to buy grain.
So, now there was only a clay pot for steaming rice, but no pot for cooking dishes.
Sighing, Lu Qing could only settle for the next best thing. He found a relatively flat, thin stone slab outside the courtyard, cleaned it, and placed it over the fire to slowly roast.
Once the stone slab was scalding hot, Lu Qing carefully scooped out a small spoonful of solidified lard from a clay pot brought by one of the villagers.
When the lard touched the stone slab, it sizzled, and the fat quickly melted, immediately releasing a fragrant, oily aroma.