Chapter 7: Someone wants to learn how to catch fish from Zhang Zhun

  （0007）

  Yang Rui Feng returned with firewood and heard that Zhang Zhun had caught so many fish, he was also very happy and rarely praised Zhang Zhun: "Yu Lin, good job! Dad didn't misjudge you!"

  He's a taciturn person, rarely speaking, and it's even harder to get him to praise others. Today is an exception. He's indeed starving. Every day he eats wild vegetables, grass roots, no meat, his stomach has no oil or water, and he still needs to prepare hundreds of kilograms of firewood every day. From Lao Mountain to Yangjia Village, the distance is not close, carrying over 100 kilograms of firewood, back and forth twice a day, actually exhausting. Hearing that there's fish to eat, naturally his appetite was greatly stimulated.

  While the father and son were talking, Yang Yinghua and Huang had already started working busily by the well, some drawing water and others killing fish. Little Yang Lingshu and little brother Yang Dangsheng were also helping out on the side. Because there was only one well, the neighbors who had received fish were also killing fish by the well. A group of women gathered together, speaking in hushed tones about happy things, temporarily dispelling the sad atmosphere.

  Because the wages were owed for too long, last year's Spring Festival and Lantern Festival in Yangjiatun were all gloomy, without any joyful voices. The worst was yesterday's Lantern Festival, going out to celebrate in the morning, coming back with injuries all over in the afternoon, three people even died, women were crying in a mess, it was truly heartbreaking.

  Zhang Quan noticed that Yang Kaidi saw this scene, and the corners of his eyes were actually a little moist. To be honest, such scenes have not been seen for a long time. A few fish can be so happy, but the lives of the military households are still too bitter! However, Zhang Quan did not think that more tear-jerking things were yet to come. If he had personally experienced this world, he would absolutely not believe it.

  Those three military households that had lost their lives received two fish, and then they put one of them together with the body, wrapped it in a grass mat, and buried it hastily. Yang Kai De, who was responsible for burying them, said to the sky with tears streaming down his face: "Li Wu, Wu Xiao Qi, Zhang Ying, I'm sorry to you brothers. There's nothing to accompany you on your way, take this fish with you."

  The scene was filled with wailing and uncontrollable grief.

  Zhang Zhenshan couldn't bear it anymore, picked up his bamboo spear and went to the Red Stone Beach, caught a dozen or so fish and handed them over to Yang Kaidi.

  In the end, each soldier who was killed took five fish with him on his way out.

  It is said that this was Yangjiatun's "most grand" funeral in years.

  In the past, when a military dependent died, they were buried naked, and it was impossible for anything to be buried with them. Even their clothes had to be stripped off and left for their descendants to continue wearing, so as not to waste them.

  This is the true portrayal of Yangjia Junhu.

  This is the true portrayal of the poor common people in the Ming Dynasty.

  After returning from the funeral, Zhang Quan always felt that his throat was blocked by something, and all his emotions could not be expressed. In the end, he came to Hongshi Beach again, stood on the rock, shouted loudly at the waves, ran two laps along the beach, and then jumped into the icy sea water for a half-hour swim, which made him feel slightly better.

  Back in the slum, Zhang stood in the middle of the empty land, not knowing what he was thinking about. Everything before his eyes was really unbearable, and everything he saw and heard made him feel like his heart was being torn apart, bringing tears to his eyes. But at the same time, he vaguely felt a thrill of excitement. Because the rebellious thoughts hidden in his heart were stirring again.

  To achieve the goal of changing the course of history, directly rebelling is undoubtedly the most effective way. To rebel, there must be people, a foundation, and a base. This is Zhang Quan's experience summarized after reading many historical books. Without people, without a base, at most it can only become a fleeting bandit, absolutely cannot achieve great things.

  Aren't these people from Yangjiatun the best team?

  Fushan is a great base, isn't it?

  Yang Yinghua appeared beside him and whispered: "Yu Lin, what's wrong?"

  Zhang Quan reluctantly lifted his spirits and said in a low voice: "I'm fine, nothing's wrong with me."

  Yang Yinghua looked at him with some concern, wanting to speak but hesitating.

  Zhang Zhun forced a faint smile and said: "I'm really fine, really."

  Yang Yinghua looked at him deeply, then turned and left.

  Zhang Zuoyong rubbed his palms vigorously, then interlocked his fingers and bent all the joints with a series of loud cracks, as if only by tormenting himself in this way could he relieve the depression and suffocation in his heart. Rebellion - he was getting impatient.

  Alright, Zhang Zhun admitted that he was indeed a bit too eager to succeed. However, the grievances he suffered in his past life were just too great, so great that they made him lose his rationality a little. Now, as long as he could grasp any straw that could change his fate, he would hold on to it tightly and not let go.

  Hao Zi didn't know where he went, and it took him a long time to come back. When he came back, there were actually five young men following behind him. He brought the five of them in front of Zhang Zhun and said with an unnatural expression: "Brother, Hu Tou and the others also want to learn how to catch fish from you!"

  Zhang Zhun glanced at the five young men, who looked decent, with heights of over 1.7 meters, but their faces were pale and their eyes had a yellowish tint. No wonder, they generally lacked nutrition! A single fish could make the neighbors so happy, it was clear how difficult their daily lives were.

  "Yu Lin, I am Yang Zhiyuan, also known as Tiger Head..."

  Because Hàozi had called ahead, saying that Zhāng Juàn had forgotten many things from before. The five people each reported their own names, which were Yáng Qiānqiáng, Yáng Jùnjié, Yáng Zǐxuān, Yáng Hóngwén and Yáng Zhìyuǎn, all of which were given by guests at home, so they sounded cultured but were awkward to pronounce. Normally they didn't use their real names, instead using nicknames.

  Hǔ Tóu is Yang Zhiyuan's nickname, and he is one of the more rugged ones among the five. That day's brawl, he also participated in it, his left shoulder was hit by a stick, and there are still large bruises now. His father was also injured, hit on the back with a stick, and can't straighten up completely yet. However, he didn't lose out either, and beat up one of the opponent's family members to the ground as well.

  Yang Zixuan is nicknamed Xiuzai, who knows a few words and understands arithmetic, is the weakest. Yang Qiang is nicknamed Shuǐ Huò, don't know why he has this nickname. Yang Junjie is nicknamed Xīxī, actually quite handsome, don't know how to get involved with Xīxī. Yang Hongwen is actually quite elegant, nicknamed Dà Jiàng, not sure if it's sarcasm or praise.

  They were four of them, also participating in the disturbance that day, and there were injuries at home. In terms of relationship, their family elders and Yang Kaidi were the most familiar, and they were the main force behind the disturbance. They all came from Huguang migration, and they all had the surname Yang. In this foreign land, it was unlikely that the relationship would not be close.

  "Go!"

  "Each of you prepare a bamboo spear, six feet long, one inch wide, with one end sharp and the other end blunt. Meet me at Red Stone Beach tomorrow morning."

  Zhang said with a smile.

  Brothers of the same front line, can't find them!

  He was originally a combat instructor at the martial arts school, specializing in teaching students fighting skills. The more people who learn together, the more energetic the instruction becomes. From the perspective of rebellion, these people are the most primitive foundation! As long as you slightly guide and instigate them, they will all become ferocious man-eating tigers!

  "Thank you, Yulin!"

  Yang Zhiyuan and five others went with high hopes.

  Hao Zi and five others walked far away before lowering their voices and saying: "Yu Lin ge, are you really willing to pass on this skill to them?"

  Zhang Zu said strangely: "Why don't you want to?"

  He said with some concern: "In that case, you may catch fewer fish."

  Zhang Zhun understood and smiled: "You, you really have a petty farmer's mentality."

  But it's not that the wastrel is to blame, we Chinese are all used to holding back when passing on skills, so as not to starve the master after teaching the apprentice. If Zhang Juan tried to make a living or even get rich by catching fish, then the wastrel's advice isn't entirely unreasonable.

  The question is, how would Haizi know Zhang Zhun's true thoughts? He thought that having fish to eat every day was already a very happy thing. However, for Zhang Zhun, would he be satisfied with days of just eating fish? Satisfied with only dead fish accompanying him in his tomb?

  "Eat fish every day..."

  Zhang Zhun really couldn't imagine what kind of day it was.

  Why can others have meat and fish, but I can only eat fish?

  Why can others wear silk and satin, while I can only wear tattered cotton?

  What right does one have to withhold their own salary and then violently beat themselves?

  If you don't give me an explanation for anything, I'll give you one!

  Xian Xian said so and did so.

  Zhang Zhun is also ready to do so!

  "It smells so good!"

  When night falls, the whole Yangjiatun is filled with the aroma of braised fish.

  "Time to eat!"

  Little girl Yang Lingxue called out happily.

  Yang Rui Feng helped his father Yang Kai De up, tidied up the kang and put a small table on it, preparing to eat. In a poor household like theirs, there was no such thing as a dining table; meals were always eaten on the kang. After finishing their meal, they would remove the table, tidy up, and go back to sleep.

  Zhang Zhun and Haozi also sat down. The whole family of eight people, with four on each side. Yang Kaidi was the head of the household, sitting in the innermost seat. Below him were Yang Rui Feng, Zhang Zhun, and Haozi. Yang Gan Sheng, his mother Huang Shi, sister Yang Ying Wan, and younger sister Yang Ling Xue sat on the other side. Zhang Zhun's position happened to be directly across from Yang Ying Wan, whether it was intentional or not is unknown.

  The first dish is fish head and mushroom soup.

  The soldiers caught a big fish, the most important thing is to cook a fish head soup. For the soldiers who have been lacking in nutrition for a long time, fish head soup is very nourishing. Of course, it would be better if they could get some tofu. Unfortunately, Yang's family didn't have soybeans and didn't have money to buy soybeans, so tofu was out of the question.

  Finally, Yang Ying added some mushrooms she had picked in the morning and a bit of herbs, mixed them together and cooked them. Although the flavor was not as good as the fish head tofu soup, the nutrition was better. For the three injured people, it was also a good match.

  Two big fish heads, and the soup was still quite a lot, with at least two bowls per person, so everyone could drink to their heart's content. It's probably been a long time since they've had such a rich fish head soup, except for Zhang Quan, everyone else drank with relish. Haozi was the most exaggerated, pouring himself two bowls in a row, still not satisfied, and then came a third bowl. Looking at his expression, he seemed to be ready to burst from eating too much.

  Yang Kaidi drank a bowl of soup comfortably, put down the bowl and said with emotion: "Yulin, this meal is thanks to you!"

  The people of the Yang family all held their bowls and looked at Zhang Zhun.

  Yang Yingwan's eyes were even more focused.

  Uncle Zhang smiled and said: "Don't say that, Uncle. If it weren't for you taking me in, I might... Anyway, from now on, whenever our family wants to eat fish, just come find me!"

  He paused for a moment, then raised his bowl and said in a deep voice: "I, Zhang Zhun, want to thank each and every one of you! If it weren't for your care and concern, there wouldn't be the me of today! So, I will definitely work hard to repay your kindness! I believe that our future days will get better and better!"

  When Zhang Zhun said this, his tone was unusually sincere, and the corners of his eyes even had a hint of tears. A man should not shed tears easily. But at this moment, Zhang Zhun didn't care about his own tears. Because he felt as if he had returned to the past, back to his old father's side. The emotions that had been pent up for so long finally got a little release. Having loved ones and not having them are two completely different worlds!

  Huang's eyes were moist with emotion.

  The Yang family originally had five children, plus Zhang Zhun, making six. Zhang Zhun's appetite was also bigger than that of ordinary children, and she and Yang Kaidi had to raise all six children together, which was really not easy! The military families were originally poor, and their salaries and rations were often withheld, but how many people knew about the hardships in between?