One end of the fishing net was tied to a long pole. After it was inserted into the water, the long pole floated towards the middle of the lake with the water flow. Bahu knelt at the second ice hole he was breaking. When he saw the long pole drifting over, he swiftly reached into the water and pulled it out through the ice hole.
Seeing this, Mi Niang hurriedly wiped the water off his hands and wrapped him in a wolf fur cloak.
“It’s not cold; it’s warm under the water.” Although he said this, Bahu’s hands remained motionless. The two leaned close together and spoke quietly. Chaolu felt uneasy, glanced at them, shuffled his feet, and walked towards the shore. As he passed the reed thistles that Mi Niang had thrown onto the ice, he picked them up.
“When will we set the net?” Mi Niang looked down through the ice hole into the water, only seeing the fishing net moving, but unsure whether it was swaying with the water current or if the fish were caught.
Bahu looked up at the sky, “Around noon. After setting the net, we’ll catch one more batch, and then we’ll go back to avoid any changes in the weather.” He pulled his hands out from Mi Niang’s embrace, “If you feel it’s not enough, we can come again tomorrow. It’s the same.”
Mi Niang glanced at him, hesitated, and then nodded and shook her head, avoiding saying anything.
Bahu turned away, choosing to change the subject, “Have you ever eaten grilled fish? We’ll grill fish on the ice surface at noon.” As he spoke, he took out a paper package from his pocket, releasing the scent of peppercorns.
Grilled fish—Mi Niang had never tried it. She only remembered playing house as a child, smearing mud on small fish, throwing them into the fire, and watching them end up in the cat’s mouth. She watched as Bahu took out a knife from his pocket and cut open the fish’s belly, throwing the fish guts into the ice hole. At this moment, Chaolu also brought over a bundle of dry branches.
“Are you not scraping off the fish scales?” Mi Niang asked.
“No need to scrape. Once it’s grilled, just tear off the scales, and the fish meat won’t burn.” A fire ignited on the ice, and Chaolu skillfully tossed reed stalks onto it. The fire initially flared up, but after melting the ice surface, it went out, as expected.
Mi Niang looked around and saw Chaolu piling up more wood on the ash and starting another fire. This time, the ice surface didn’t melt, and the fire was sustained. It was only now that she understood that burning the grass and wood was to create insulation.
Some people took the fishing net back, while others arrived. There were also those, like Bahu, who started a fire on the ice to grill fish. The crisp air became filled with the aroma of both the cooking and the smoky fire, creating a delightful atmosphere. After a while, the scent of grilled fish mingled with the cold air once again.
The first grilled fish was for Mi Niang. Bahu used a knife to remove the scales from the grilled fish, sprinkled it with ground Sichuan pepper and salt on the slightly golden fish meat, and then passed it over the flame once again, causing the aroma of Sichuan pepper to burst forth.
“Taste it.” Bahu handed the fish to Mi Niang and proceeded to deal with the second one.
Mi Niang took a bite, finding the fish very tender, with a crispy skin on the surface that carried the flavor of the fire. It was adorned with fine particles of ground Sichuan pepper, and the tender fish meat wrapped around a spicy taste that smoothly slid down her throat without the need for much chewing. Her throat tingled with a spicy sensation.
“Is it delicious?” Bahu asked with a smile.
Mi Niang nodded. She liked it when the fish had a crispy skin. Taking matters into her own hands, she sprinkled some more Sichuan pepper and salt on the pockmarked fish meat she had nibbled on and handed it to the fire, imitating Bahu in flipping it back and forth.
“Have mine.” Bahu handed her the second fish he had just grilled, taking the leftover fish she had eaten.
“Sigh.” Chaolu sighed and pouted, seeing the two looking at him. Waving his hand, he said, “Don’t mind me, I’m a bit choked up.” As a single man, this trip was nothing short of suffering – freezing, and not to mention the feelings that arose, making him want to find a wife.
Bahu stared at him thoughtfully, threw away the fish bones, and continued to use the knife to remove the fish scales. He boldly replaced the fish meat in Mi Niang’s hands without hesitation, repeating this cycle until Mi Niang said she was full, and then he started taking care of himself.
“Pull up the net!” Bahu shouted loudly, and together with Chaolu, he pulled the fishing net onto the ice. As soon as the net appeared, the sound of fishtails splashing water could be heard. Mi Niang ran over with the leather bag, picking up any fish that were thrown out and throwing them into the bag.
The first net had seventy-eight fish, and the second net had sixty-seven. Each fish was about half an arm’s length, and the two leather bags couldn’t contain them all.
On the way back, they encountered Dao Lun Jìng again. This time, there was a man sitting beside him. Bahu and Mi Niang found them familiar. The two carts passed each other, and both sides nodded but didn’t speak.
“Do you know him?” Mi Niang asked.
“I don’t know him. I only know that he has many brothers, about four or five. He and Big Beard were born to a stepmother, and the other three left the family early,” Bahu warned Mi Niang to avoid Dao Lun Jìng in the future. “They all share the same father, but his brothers might not be good people.”
“…By your description, you don’t sound like a good person either,” Mi Niang muttered.
Bahu didn’t deny it. His father was a scoundrel, Mandu Ratu was a thief who stole from his brothers, and Agula was a cunning and malicious person. He, himself, was also heartless, unsympathetic, and reclusive. But he refused to say it out loud and instead asked Mi Niang, “So, do you think I’m a good person?”
“You’re a low-life scumbag.”
Bahu laughed and accepted it.
As they approached home, the three dogs stood outside the door, wagging their tails and staring intently. Bahu whistled, and the three dogs eagerly rushed into the snowdrifts. Bala and Alse wolves were fine, but Da Huang, being short and with short legs, sank into the snow and couldn’t get up.
Bahu laughed heartily, looking like he had successfully carried out a cunning plan, inviting a good beating from Mi Niang. It was truly childish; after so long, he was still playfully teasing Da Huang.
“Tsk tsk, jealous of Bala and Alse wolves’s long legs?” Bahu lifted Da Huang from the snowy ground and placed him on the cart pole, pointing to the two dogs running alongside the cart. “You can’t change your situation, but you can choose a long-legged dog dad and have a litter of long-legged puppies.”
Talking about puppies, Mi Niang remembered Bahu’s second uncle. Once inside, she reminded Bahu that he should take some time to visit his uncles.
“Let’s talk about it in a couple of days. While the weather is good, let’s catch more fish,” Bahu glanced at Mi Niang and indeed saw the hesitation on her face.
“What do you want to say? Just spill it out; I can’t stand your hesitant expression.” In fact, Bahu had already guessed what it was about.
“I want to wait until we catch the fish, then take Mu Xiang and the others for another trip and send them some fish,” Mi Niang pleaded pitifully, looking at him. “You won’t think I’m doing it out of some ulterior motive, right?”
The man’s Adam’s apple rolled, and he reached out to cover Mi Niang’s eyes. “Don’t look at me with those eyes, or you’ll scold me again for being a scumbag.”
With her strange requests, she tried to act coquettish, and he made her straighten her tongue to speak. When she stopped being coquettish, he said he couldn’t stand her gaze.
Mi Niang closed her eyes, swatted away the man’s annoying hand, and asked in a rough tone, “So, are you going to agree or not?”
Caught red-handed, he received a slap but felt relieved. He nodded and said, “If someone else asked, the answer would definitely be no.”
“Good character.”
Three days later, Bahu intentionally prepared three carts. While Mi Niang went to call Mu Xiang and Pandì, he went to the sheep pen and asked, “I need to go to Wan’er again. Who wants to come?”
“I’m not going. I’ve already been there for four days. Boss, find someone else,” Chaolu wrinkled his face and refused.
Bahu snorted but didn’t insist, continuing, “This trip is to take Mi Niang and her six sisters to catch fish. Whoever has time and isn’t afraid of the cold, come join. I need three more.”
“Oh? Oh! I’ll go; I’m not afraid of the cold!” shouted a servant who was pouring soybean residue into the cow trough.
“I seem to have nothing to do today; I’ll go for another day,” Chaolu rounded his words with a flushed face.
“You won’t have anything to do. Chaolu, don’t force yourself; leave this freezing opportunity to the brothers. You’re still young.”
Chaolu laughed heartily, and Uncle Muren Daye also grinned, showing the gaps in his teeth. Young lads are indeed good.
Bahu, without changing his expression, looked around and decided that next summer, when going to the summer pasture, he would bring those who had become couples. If possible, it would be best to have husband and wife go together.
The weather seemed gloomy as if it was going to snow. The group went to Wan’er again, but this time, it wasn’t like the previous trip with jokes and fish grilling. They spent half a day casting two fishing nets and returned just before noon.
As soon as they arrived home, it began to snow. Bahu asked Chaolu to drive the cart to send people and fish to the relief house. He went to check if there were any cattle and sheep left outside that hadn’t returned.
Mi Niang was preparing to cook when she lifted the pot lid. Suddenly, the sound of hooves was heard outside. The three dogs from the doghouse all rushed out, barking aggressively toward the door while running.
“Da Huang, Da Huang…” Mi Niang abandoned the pot lid and ran outside. Da Huang was the leader, and as long as she stopped it, Bala and Alse Wolves would stop barking too.
People on horseback were about to land. Seeing the three dogs rushing out with a ferocious appearance, they quickly mounted their horses and started galloping before the dogs could catch up. When Mi Niang ran out, all she saw was a figure. She slapped Da Huang’s buttocks, saying, “Wait, I’ll tie you up later.” As for Bala and Alse wolves, despite their large size, they lacked initiative. Once Da Huang barked, the other two followed it blindly.
Da Huang’s arrogant behavior was cultivated by these two bootlickers.
Mi Niang stood at the door and waited for a while. The horses that had run far returned, looking like snowmen with icicles hanging from their felt-covered faces. She couldn’t recognize who it was and had to ask, “Are you here to see Bahu?”
“I’m BaGen, the sister-in-law. Is Bahu at home?”
“Oh, BaGen, you’re well-covered. I didn’t recognize you for a moment. Come in quickly; it’s warm inside. Bahu went to check on the cattle and sheep but should be back soon.” Mi Niang led him inside and fetched a dog leash to tie up Da Huang in the doghouse.
Bahu hearing the dogs barking, rushed back home. Followed by Uncle Muren Daye, who was ready to return home to cook, he arrived at the door and heard a man’s voice. He wondered, “Mi Niang, do we have a guest at home?”
“Cousin, it’s me.” In front of Mi Niang, BaGen didn’t say anything. When he saw Bahu, he immediately put on a mournful face and said, “Cousin, can you accommodate me for a while? I had a quarrel with my old man at home, and he kicked me out.”
So you came to roll into my place? Bahu glanced at him, not confirming or denying, “My cousin and I were planning to visit our eldest and second uncles these days and bring some New Year gifts. Does Second Uncle know you’re here at my place? How am I supposed to explain it to him?”
BaGen stammered a couple of words and said in a dejected tone, “Then let me stay for a couple of days first.”
“Sure, I have plenty of empty rooms at home, but there’s no heated brick bed. Just make do for a couple of days.” Bahu never considered settling down when he built the house. He didn’t have any relatives visiting during the severe winter months, so he only built one heated brick bed.
In the middle of the night, Bahu was awakened by the rustling noise from the next room. The dogs in the courtyard didn’t bark, so he didn’t need to guess who it was. Bahu didn’t pay any attention and waited until the noise in the kitchen subsided. Then, he hugged Mi Niang and went back to sleep.
The next morning, while preparing breakfast in the kitchen, Bahu indeed found BaGen sleeping on the floor. Bahu squatted down and patted his face, “Why did you sleep here?”
“The room was too cold, and I couldn’t sleep.” BaGen quickly put on his clothes carried the blanket and fell back into the room before his cousin woke up.
Bahu didn’t expose him, generously providing him with good food and drinks without mentioning a visit to his uncles’ homes. After three days, BaGen couldn’t bear it any longer and took the initiative to ask, “Cousin, when are you going to my home?”
“Hmm? You don’t visit my house often, so I thought of spending a few more days with you. How about going to my place tomorrow?”
No way, he was about to freeze to death. He couldn’t sleep at night because of the cold, and during the day, he was confined at home, watching the couple flirt with each other. It was miserable.
“My father is probably looking for me. I should go back early. Is it okay to go to my house tomorrow?” BaGen asked.
“Why not stay a few more days? This is your first time staying at my place. Let my wife and I take good care of you,” Bahu pretended to persuade, secretly wanting to get rid of this unwelcome guest in the kitchen.
“No, thanks.” BaGen waved his hand. Then, after some thought, he said, “There will be plenty of opportunities in the future.”
Bahu didn’t take his words seriously. After sending him home, he observed coldly as BaGen was beaten by his father. Then, Mi Niang pushed him to mediate.
“I knew he went to your house. I was too lazy to look for him.” Bahu’s second uncle panted heavily, “Did he cause you any trouble?”
“No, BaGen has been staying with us and chatting for the past few days.”
“Isn’t that wrong? Didn’t he go find that girl called Mu Xiang?” Bahu’s second uncle suspected, “Don’t cover for him. He’s fighting with me just for that girl.”
“That’s not true. He hasn’t mentioned it to me. If you hadn’t said it, I wouldn’t even know why you two were arguing.” Bahu guessed the reason, so he tried every means to keep BaGen at home. Why go after a girl? It was disgusting.
Hearing this, Bahu’s second uncle sighed. His son seemed to have drunk some kind of love potion. He had been causing trouble at home for half a year just for a girl he barely spoke to, and he even scolded him for being old-fashioned.
“He said he wanted to rent cattle and sheep from you, insisting on splitting up and starting a new life, imitating you,” Bahu’s second uncle said indignantly, asking Bahu for his opinion.
What did he think? Bahu touched his nose; he wasn’t qualified to comment on BaGen. After all, BaGen was much stronger than him. He was hesitant to confess his feelings to a girl he liked.
