klisemfg Chapter 225: Uncle and Nephew of the Wu Family Go to the Island
Chapter 225: Uncle and Nephew of the Wu Family Go to the Island
"I won't let you wrongly accuse my aunt. My family doesn't like your broken fishing nets."
The child hummed and looked at Grandma Xu with displeasure on her face.
Grandma Xu looked at Mrs. Wang again and was about to speak.
Mrs. Wang said first, "Please be kind and don't throw this dirty water on me. My husband is an honest man. How could we do such a thing?"
Grandma Xu gritted her teeth and frowned, and asked everyone one by one, but everyone swore that they didn't take it.
Xu Zhengci was so anxious that he kept stamping his feet, but he couldn't force Grandma Xu to leave in front of everyone, so he could only stand by and worry.
Xu Yiyi looked at his great uncle and coughed lightly. He walked forward, ready to mediate the matter and put an end to this farce as soon as possible.
But Grandma Xu still held her neck stiff, her eyes firm, and it was clear that she would not give up until the thief was found.
……
"It was me, actually!"
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Xu Guining like spotlights, and he stepped out from behind the crowd with slightly dragging steps.
With his head lowered and his hands nervously tugging at the corners of his clothes, he muttered:
"Mother...I was the one who lost the fishing net."
Although the sound was not loud, it was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing thousands of waves.
Seeing that Grandpa Xu was about to take action, Xu Guining stepped forward.
"What are you talking about, Old Four?"
Xu Ming took a step forward and was about to pull Xu Guining back.
Didn’t you see that there’s something wrong with Dad’s eyes?
"Is what you said true, Old Four?"
Xu Zhengci stared at him.
Grandma's face was originally flushed, and she was staring at the women with wide eyes, but now she seemed to be under a spell.
He turned his head instantly, and the anger in his eyes suddenly became more intense.
He stared at Xu Guining intently: "What did you say? You loser, why did you touch my fishing net for no reason?"
As she spoke, she raised her hand as if to hit Xu Guining.
But the hand hung in the air and did not fall down in the end, but it was shaking with anger.
Grandma Xu couldn't bear to hit him.
Grandpa Xu is different.
Without saying a word, he raised his leg and kicked Xu Guining's calf fiercely. With a dull "bang", the uncle staggered and fell directly to the ground.
Grandpa's eyes widened, almost popping out of his head, and he roared, "You prodigal son! You're just idle away all day, why did you come back?"
Grandpa Xu’s words made everyone gasp.
Although everyone knows that Grandpa Xu doesn't care about his son and daughter.
But I didn't expect him to say such a thing.
Xu Guining grew up being beaten. The old man is old now, and his beatings don't hurt as much as before.
He didn't feel anything anymore.
But I don’t want to be beaten all the time.
His eyes rolled around and suddenly he thought of something.
Suddenly, her eyes turned red with pain, but she didn't dare to make a sound. She just bit her lower lip and held back her tears.
He looked like he knew he had made a big mistake and was full of regret and grievance.
The body was trembling slightly.
Seeing this, Grandma Xu felt very distressed and hurriedly reached out to pull Xu Guining.
The younger son became bolder after being beaten and yelled at Grandpa Xu.
"You old fool, you hit the child without restraint. The child knew he was in the wrong, but you still hit him!"
Grandpa Xu sneered, rolled his eyes at her and turned away.
Ignore this farce.
The uncle turned around and glanced majestically at the onlookers.
He raised his voice and shouted, "Everyone, please go away. There's nothing exciting to see. Every household has work to do. Don't delay your work."
The sound echoed over the river, extremely intimidating.
The villagers looked at each other, still feeling a little unsatisfied.
But intimidated by the great uncle's authority, they put away their curiosity, whispered and gradually dispersed.
A few curious people did not forget to look back before leaving. They walked slowly and were pulled a few times by the people around them before they left quickly.
Soon, only Grandma Xu, Xu Zhengci and Xu Guining were left by the river.
As for Xu Mingzai, he had already run away with Grandpa Xu.
"Why would you touch the fishing nets at home? You're not going out to sea."
Grandma Xu couldn't help but mutter.
Even though it's just an old fishing net and not worth much, if you want to give it away, others will still consider whether to take it or not.
But Grandma Xu was very heartbroken.
Xu Guining lowered his head even lower, his neck almost shrinking into his collar.
He muttered quietly, "Yesterday I went to the beach, hoping to fish something out, but it got caught on a rock and tore into pieces. I, I threw it away in a fit of rage..."
When Grandma Xu heard this, her eyes widened like bells and she took a step forward.
Her finger almost poked the tip of her uncle's nose. "You threw it away? How could you be such a spendthrift? Why don't you take it back and repair it? We've been using this net for years, how could you just throw it away so casually?"
Grandma Xu was really angry.
Turning around and seeing his son's aggrieved look, he couldn't say anything harsh.
"Don't do this again. Go back and have a good talk with your father. Tell him to calm down. Otherwise, you will be kicked out today..."
Grandma Xu was still frightened when she recalled how she had just yelled at Grandpa Xu.
Now that I realized what was happening, I was so scared that my liver ached.
Xu Guining had already raised his head and was looking at Xu Yiyi and his uncle in the distance.
His face was gloomy and he responded.
……
"Go on, what else did you want to say?"
Xu Yiyi held his great uncle's arm and headed home.
"Master, I made a big deal at the restaurant yesterday. Our island is going to be very rich!"
The two of them went into the house and sat down, and Xu Yiyi picked up the water scoop on the table.
He gulped down a few big gulps, calmed himself down, and then began to tell the story.
"A foreign businessman was dining in our restaurant a few days ago. His nephew had goiter, a lump on his neck. Old Wu cured him, and he was planning to leave today, but I stopped him..."
Then Xu Yiyi explained in detail how to persuade Wu Fengan to go to the island.
The uncle frowned, puzzled. "We can just pick up handfuls of kelp and seaweed at the beach for free. Can they really prevent the goiter you mentioned? And can they even be sold for money?"
Xu Yiyi saw his uncle's doubts, patted his chest and said confidently.
"Grandpa, don't underestimate them. Ancient medical texts have long recorded that kelp and seaweed have the ability to eliminate phlegm, soften hard masses, and disperse nodules. They are also effective for goiters, also known as goiter. Elder Wu can confirm this."
The uncle stroked his beard and said after thinking for a moment.
“Although this is recorded in ancient books, kelp and laver are everywhere on our coast, and no one usually pays special attention to them. Is it really so effective?
I’m afraid that if I sell it to someone else I won’t get the desired effect, and something bad will happen later…”
My uncle was a little cautious, so he would just sell it if it were just some dried seafood.
But kelp and seaweed are different, and are said to have this effect.
But it didn't help at all after I took it. Isn't this a lie?
Xu Yiyi explained patiently.
"Grandpa, it's because we often see it on the seashore that we don't find it strange.
But people in the inland, especially the merchants who came from the mountains, rarely see these sea vegetables, let alone eat them.
Nowadays, people in cities pay more attention to health preservation, so they naturally attach great importance to these sea vegetables that can cure and prevent diseases. "
At this moment, my uncle's grandmother and my aunt were helping Xu Yiyi dry fish at home. When they heard their conversation, they couldn't help but interrupt.
"I went to the county town's Sea God Temple to burn incense, and someone told me that monks in the past used seaweed to cure goiters. Kelp, laver, and seaweed are all marine algae, so their effects should be similar, right?"
Xu Yiyi nodded in agreement.
Aunt Asi was a little confused.
"Can these kelp and seaweed really be sold for money? We usually eat them ourselves, so even if we sell them, they won't fetch a high price, right?"
Xu Yiyi spoke patiently.
"Aunt, the eating habits of people in the interior of the country are different from ours. They like to eat novel things, and the things here are rarely seen in the interior of the country.
The kelp and seaweed growing in the sea are also novel foods in their eyes, and the merchant said that as long as our products are good, price is not an issue."
Xu Yiyi explained that selling kelp and seaweed was not her ultimate goal.
But we must first establish relationships with these customers before we can proceed to the next step.
After a moment's thought, the great uncle asked Xu Anyang to call all the elders of the clan over.
Several of the old people were very old and walked with a trembling manner.
One of them was carried by Xu Anyang.
When I heard this, I made a decision immediately.
One of the elders said.
"We might as well give it a try. If we can really sell it, that would be great. Even if we can't sell it, we won't lose anything. It's just a waste of effort."
After hearing this, my uncle thought it made sense.
He shouted loudly to Xu Anyang in the yard.
"Notify each household to send someone to the ancestral hall!"
Xu Anyang didn't dare to delay and dragged Sihai, who was chasing Snowball in the yard, out.
"Where are we going?"
Sihai dragged Xu Anyang out like a chicken.
The child was startled by this sudden action. In panic, he kept grabbing his pants with one hand and muttering to himself.
"Oh my, Brother Anyang, where are you taking me? My pants are about to fall off!"
Xu Anyang looked down and smiled evilly.
"Go and inform each family to send someone to the ancestral hall."
As he said that, he knocked on A's door first.
After a while, clansmen came to the ancestral hall one after another, talking about it, and were curious about what big thing had happened.
My great uncle stood on the steps of the ancestral hall, cleared his throat and announced loudly.
"Everyone, be quiet. We've called you all here today because we have something good going on. One of our clan members, Yi Yi, made a deal in town yesterday. A merchant wants to buy our kelp and seaweed.
It's a great way to make money, so bring out the best seaweed you can find at home. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a fortune."
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd exploded.
"What? This thing can be sold for money?"
……
"It can only be sold for a few cents. Don't waste your time."
……
"That's right. We rarely see merchants from other places coming here to buy this kind of things. Is it reliable?"
The uncle stood upstairs with a silent expression on his face. The people below said a few words but soon fell silent again.
"How about this! Each family should bring some dried kelp and seaweed first. Once the merchant has taken a look and decides on it, we can discuss the follow-up matters. It won't be too much trouble."
As Xu Yiyi spoke, the people below nodded.
After a while, they scattered.
Xu Yiyi also took advantage of this opportunity to run up the river.
At this time, golden sunlight penetrated the thin clouds and poured onto the sea without reservation.
It was so bright that it was a little dazzling. The waves beat rhythmically on the beach, creating layers of white foam.
In the distance, the azure sea level and the clear sky blend perfectly at the horizon, making it difficult to tell which is the sea and which is the sky.
Only the shadows of a few scattered fishing boats could be seen, their sails fluttering gently in the breeze, like the bulging cheeks of the sea.
Not long after, a small black dot finally appeared on the sea surface. Gradually, the small black dot became larger, and a merchant ship with colorful flags came breaking through the waves.
The merchant ship slowly approached the shore. Wu Ruiming stuck his head out from the side of the ship, swept his eyes over the people on the shore, and finally fixed on Xu Yiyi.
"Boss Wu, please!"
Xu Yiyi took a step forward and bowed in a neither humble nor arrogant manner.
Then he took people to the ancestral hall.
Wu Fengan and Wu Ruiming looked at the surrounding environment curiously.
As my eyes slowly descended, the well-organized fishing villages came into view.
Most of the houses are built with local materials, sea stones and logs. Their simplicity reveals the ruggedness and solidity unique to fishermen. The mottled water stains on the walls are like stories written by time.
In front of and behind the houses, colorful fishing nets are drying, like gorgeous rainbows falling to the earth, swaying gently in the sea breeze, making rustling sounds.
Wu Ruiming noticed that the doors and windows of every household here were exactly the same as those of Wufu Restaurant.
The sea water here is also different from that in Ping'an Town.
It’s so blue that it seems like a fantasy, so beautiful that it seems unreal.
On the beach, shells are dotted with colorful stars, like treasures left by the sea.
The seabird circled and soared in the air, suddenly dived towards the sea, accurately picked up a small fish, then flapped its wings and flew high, disappearing into the sky.
Wu Ruiming trembled at the sight.
The reefs on the shore are riddled with holes by the sea water, but they still stand stubbornly, covered with wet moss, which gleams faintly in the sun.
Near the sea, fishermen's daughters carried bamboo baskets and bent down to collect seaweed. Their laughter and the sound of waves intertwined like a piece of music.
In the fishing village, wisps of smoke are rising from the staggered roofs and slowly blending into the sky.
I looked left and right, and my eyes could hardly see it all.
The group walked along the winding path, and unknown wild flowers bloomed wildly in the bushes beside the road.
Red, purple and yellow dot the green island, attracting colorful butterflies to dance.
Wu Ruiming suddenly leaned over to take a closer look. Crystal clear dewdrops hung on the petals, just like tears on the cheeks of a beauty. When he touched them gently, the dewdrops rolled down and wet a small piece of soil.
"It's so beautiful! It's like a painting."
The waves were crashing against the water, and Xu Yiyi couldn't hear it clearly.
He turned around and looked at Wu Ruiming with some confusion in his eyes.
"I mean, it's beautiful here, like a painting, unlike where we are, where there are nothing but mountains."
Wu Ruiming suddenly stopped and looked around, unable to hide the amazement and envy in his eyes.
I sighed sincerely.
Perhaps he had some knowledge, as he unconsciously showed off in front of Xu Yiyi.
"Look at this island! It's like a perfectly natural painting! Look at the clear mirror-like sky, the drifting white clouds, and the dreamlike blue sea. The two complement each other to create a beautiful scene that I have never seen or heard of anywhere else."
As he spoke, he raised his head slightly and looked at the rolling hills in the distance. The hills were lush and green, with colorful flowers, and then he continued to sigh.