I'm a Cute Little Koi [4] - Free Novels Space

The cause was that the original owner of this body loved eating fish, and coincidentally, the village kids enjoyed catching fish in the water. Wanting to join them, Yin Minglu persuaded his grandmother to allow him to go, deliberately choosing a time when Yin Yue was busy working.

At the mention of going to the river, Yin Yue’s mind drifted away. Although she appeared to be diligently working on the surface, she was actually pricking up her ears, carefully listening. Since the child, Xiao Bao, was rescued, she often subtly probed if he remembered that day. She even kept a close eye on him, fearing that he might recall something and go to the old lady to spill the beans.

Although she had already prepared a so-called “alibi,” bribing several people in the village to coordinate their statements, claiming that she was not actually at the riverbank during the incident. If Xiao Bao dared to point fingers at her, she could turn the tables and say the child was confused and speaking nonsense.

Anyway, Xiao Bao is just an eight-year-old child, inherently playful. Adults only see him as mischievous and making things up. In the end, whether it’s black or white, isn’t it up to her to decide? Even if Grandma Luo seems half-convinced, for the sake of harmony between the siblings, she would choose to suppress these matters.

So she is not afraid at all.

Fortunately, Xiao Bao seems to have forgotten everything. No matter what you ask him, his little head shakes like a tambourine, his eyes innocent and sincere, not showing any signs of deceit.

Yin Yue finally breathed a sigh of relief, but it didn’t mean she was completely at ease. After all, a guilty conscience fears accusations. When she heard that Xiao Bao was going to the river again, she paused with the broom in her hand, her eyes flickering. Although she didn’t dare to repeat the same trick, she wanted to follow him this time.

Grandma Luo, also feeling uneasy, asked her second granddaughter to accompany them. So, a group of children went to the small river together, paying no attention to Yin Yue’s presence. As soon as they reached the river, they took off their shirts, plunged into the water, or stood with wet hair, holding nets and rummaging through the gaps between the stones, searching for “fish that slipped through the net.”

The rough appearance of these village boys disgusted Yin Yue, and she averted her eyes, focusing only on Yin Minglu. Even with the perspective of someone from a future era who had seen many beautiful people, Yin Yue couldn’t help but admit that her younger brother was exceptionally outstanding.

However, the antics of these children playing wildly in the mountains bored her, and she couldn’t muster any interest. In the end, she completely forgot about Grandma Luo’s

instructions to watch over her brother and went to the village head to flirt with Qin Mao.

In the village of Wenshui, the riverbank was shallow, and in this section, it was more than three meters wide. Yin Minglu rolled up his pants, took off his small sandals revealing his toes, and walked to a spot just below his ankles. After splashing a few scoops of water onto his legs and adapting to the chilly sensation, he joined the others in playful antics.

“Fish, fish, fish! Shrimp, shrimp, shrimp! Here he comes!”

“Xiao Bao, don’t bother coming here; there are no fish left!” said a dark-skinned teenager, holding a fishing net, walking towards Yin Minglu while shaking his head.

“Yeah, forget about the fish; they’re all so small, not even enough to get stuck in your teeth. Look, even the crabs are tiny. Here, take this small one, keep it as a pet,” added another robust teenager, stuffing a small green crab into Yin Minglu’s palm. The child raised it to inspect and found it to be palm-sized.

Disappointed, he ended up tossing it away.

He glanced around, discovering that there were indeed no fish swimming under the stones. His little face was filled with disappointment; he had been looking forward to an extra meal in the evening.

Others were still discussing, “What’s going on? There were plenty of fish here the day before yesterday. How come, after just two days of absence, not a single one can be seen? The water is so deep.”

“Could it be that your loud voices scared them away? We warned you not to be so loud,” someone questioned, “You scared the fish away. Now, our fishing rods and bait are all in vain.”

“That’s impossible! What a letdown, coming here for nothing. We were hoping to have fish soup tonight!”

“Xiao Bao, let’s go; there are no fish to see!”

The called child was still by the river, looking at his pair of white and tender feet submerged in the shallow water. He rubbed his left foot against the right one and vice versa, his little expression unusually reluctant, indicating his unwillingness to leave the small river. Until urged by someone, he reluctantly began lifting his legs, turning around, and said in a tender voice, “But I still want to eat fish.”

Small fish would do too; the dried small fish that Grandma Luo prepared were unparalleled in taste. He always felt that if he ate them more often, he might discover the secret to leading the whole family to prosperity.

“Forget about it; there are no fish here. Let’s come another day.” The leading boy was about to suggest that there were no fish, and they should go up the mountain to collect bird eggs instead. However, just as he was about to lead the child away, a sudden wave of water rushed towards them from upstream, drenching them to the core, even soaking the clothes they had just put on.

What’s going on? The dark-skinned boy turned around in confusion, quickly realizing that the water upstream had suddenly surged, reaching their location. They were frightened and quickly ran away, not forgetting to drag along Yin Minglu.

As a result, after running a few steps, they quickly discovered that once the fierce rushing water had passed, the entire Wenshui River soon returned to calm. Then, many fish swiftly emerged from the water, one after another. The dark-green fish scales were wet, shining brightly in the sunlight, almost blinding everyone’s eyes. People felt like they were hallucinating.

Each fish was plump and robust, weighing two or three catties, or even four or five catties. These were clearly not the large and fat fish commonly found downstream in their usual fishing areas. Everyone was astonished, and it took a while for someone to react, urging, “What are you all standing there for? Quickly grab the fish with nets!”

“No, our nets are too small, they can’t hold them at all. Oh, why did I forget to bring a bucket when I went out!” The problem was, bringing a bucket wasn’t necessary; the fish they usually caught were palm-sized. What was the need for a bucket?

“Quick, go home and get one!” People were no longer stunned. They hurriedly ran back home, each asking their mothers. Regardless of what others believed or whether they mocked them for wishful thinking, they directly dragged people along to help before explaining.

Yin Minglu was also startled. His usually inactive brain quickly processed the situation. Without bothering to put on his sandals, he rushed back home. When he pushed open the door, he was almost out of breath but managed to blurt out, “Fish! Fish! Lots and lots of fish by the river! There’s one that’s so big!”

He gestured with his arms to indicate the size. Shen Qiuyi was at home. Hearing this, she supported her breathless son, nodding with a somewhat skeptical expression.

Coincidentally, Yin Yue also returned. Upon hearing these “nonsense” words, she mocked the little guy, “Xiao Bao, what are you talking about? Where would the Wenshui River have such big fish? Don’t talk nonsense!” Finally, she turned to Shen Qiuyi and said, “Aunt, I’m afraid Xiao Bao might have damaged his brain from the fall into the water and developed hysteria.” Otherwise, why would he run back home, talking about fish, fish, fish? Clearly, when she left, she saw several boys catching small fish, no bigger than her finger, the kind used for making dried fish. Moreover, near Wenshui Village, where could they find such large fish? Typically, slightly larger ones were all caught by the wild children, leaving nothing for them to take advantage of.

So, when Yin Minglu spoke, not only did Yin Yue not believe it, even Shen Qiuyi, the mother, was somewhat skeptical, thinking that Xiao Bao, this child, was really good at telling tall tales. If there were fish, there were fish, why make such a fuss and exaggerate things so much?

However, not wanting her son to be embarrassed, Shen Qiuyi made a symbolic gesture to fetch a small bucket, thinking of going to the river. But soon, her mother-in-law, Grandma Luo, also quickly ran back. Still panting, Shen Qiuyi opened her eyes in surprise. Before she could even greet her, Grandma Luo exclaimed, “Quick, listen to Xiao Bao! Get a bucket and go catch fish by the river! If you’re late, there won’t be any fish! Go quickly!”

What? Is there really fish??? Was Xiao Bao’s nonsense actually true??? Both Yin Yue and Shen Qiuyi were shocked.

Seeing Shen Qiuyi still standing there in a daze, Grandma Luo couldn’t help but get angry, “What are you still standing there for, daughter-in-law? Hurry, get a bucket and come with me to catch fish by the river!”

“Oh, oh.” Shen Qiuyi was startled and quickly grabbed a bucket, ready to rush out. However, she was stopped and scolded by Grandma Luo, “Change the bucket, change the bucket! That one is too small!” It couldn’t hold much fish at all. She regretted that her son wasn’t around. Instead, she was left with a slow-reacting blockhead and her second granddaughter, who seemed to be staring like a fool.

It infuriated her. In her generation, people who weren’t proactive couldn’t even get enough rice to eat!

Grandma Luo and Shen Qiuyi took the biggest bucket in the house, and Yin Minglu also grabbed a smaller one and ran out. Seeing this, Yin Yue, from disbelief to subconsciousness, followed suit. She thought it couldn’t be possible, right? How could there be fish? She just said her cousin seemed like a little fool with hysteria, driven crazy by his cravings. In the blink of an eye, it turned out to be true, completely overturning her understanding.

On the way, Shen Qiuyi was still in a daze, wondering how there could be such large fish this season. However, she soon noticed numerous people carrying buckets or running towards their homes. These people were excitedly shouting, “There are fish by the river!” Many farmers in the fields immediately dropped their hoes and rushed towards the river. The entire village was lively as if celebrating a festival, startling even the cows and sheep on the roadside, causing them to break the fence.

She thought, “…” Now, even if she didn’t believe it before, she had to believe it now.

Returning with their buckets full, even in Yin Minglu’s small bucket that was just for show, there were two or three lively small fish. He was quite satisfied with himself, clapping his hands lightly and laughing so much that his eyes almost disappeared, extremely joyful.

Grandma Luo supported her waist, lamenting loudly. Today, she had run back and forth at least two or three times, going a bit crazy. At her age, with her old arms and legs, it was quite an ordeal.

Yin Yujiao returned from school and, upon hearing about the excitement of the day, regretted not contributing. She was used to doing housework and had great strength, capable of carrying several buckets at once. Unfortunately, she missed this wave of excitement.

Taking matters into her own hands, she rolled up her sleeves and went into the kitchen, volunteering to take care of tonight’s meal.

So, as expected, dinner that evening turned into a feast of fish: vinegar-glazed fish, steamed ginger-flavored fish, fish stewed with pickled vegetables, deep-fried small crucian carp… and a pot of fragrant fish soup. A whiff of it could be sensed throughout the entire village, permeated by the aroma of river fish.

The couple who came back from the fields didn’t expect to have such a good meal tonight. They couldn’t stop smiling, eagerly using their chopsticks. Grandma Luo, while eating, praised Yin Minglu, “Xiao Bao did well. His mind is sharp. As soon as he discovered something delicious, he rushed home to share the news, allowing everyone in our family to enjoy meat. He’s truly a fortunate child.” She even mentioned that she had a craving for fish, and suddenly, the upstream reservoir released water for a few minutes, bringing some fish downstream and benefiting the entire village.

“Unlike some people who have good food placed right in front of them but don’t know how to seize the opportunity, what future can such people have?”

The last sentence carried a hint, and everyone followed Grandma Luo’s words, looking at Yin Yue, who was present but “contributed nothing.” The gaze of the crowd made the young girl blush, and she straightened her back, trying to save face by saying, “It’s not like I didn’t go out today because I accidentally sprained my foot, and I couldn’t use my strength. Otherwise, I would have joined in catching fish with you.” Everyone knew that if Yin Yue had also helped catch fish, their family would have caught even more. However, she attributed her decision not to go fish to “spraining her foot,” making it seem like a reasonable excuse.

Grandma Luo didn’t believe her nonsense. With raised eyebrows, Yin Yue looked like a female version of Li Kui¹. Seeing Yin Yue still trying to shamelessly pick the fish belly from the sour fish dish—a soft, white part considered the most delicious and precious in the entire fish—Grandma Luo was infuriated. A person who contributed nothing dared to eat such a delicacy?

She immediately knocked away those shameless hands with her chopsticks, sneering, “I believed your nonsense. You said your foot was sprained. Let me ask you, when I told you to grab a bucket and catch fish, why did you agree and then run in the direction of the ‘village head’? I don’t think your foot is sprained; you went to help the Qin family catch fish, didn’t you?”

At these words, everyone looked at Yin Yue in shock, including the second couple. The expressions on their faces were a mix of shock and disappointment. Their daughter hadn’t even married into the family yet, but she was already siding with her in-laws, neglecting her natal family’s orders. Would she still be obedient after marriage?

Experience makes one wise; the discerning eye sees through everything.

Yin Yue, whose lie had been exposed, bit her chopsticks and stammered, “I was just thinking with Auntie and all of you here, it should be enough people. The Qin family is at the village head, quite far away, and the news might not reach them. I was just kindly going to inform them. I meant no harm; you’ve misunderstood me.”

Sure enough.

Grandma Luo, infuriated, picked up a rattan cane and gave her granddaughter a few strokes on the arm. In reality, due to her age, her eyesight wasn’t good, and she was busy dealing with the sudden situation. She couldn’t possibly pay attention to whether someone was following her. Naturally, she didn’t notice Yin Yue’s scheming and manipulations.

However, although she couldn’t see it, someone else could. The women who went down to the river with her saw Yin Yue’s busy figure for the Qin family during the breaks from fishing. They couldn’t help but gossip, “What’s going on with Yue’er? Why is she standing on the side of the Qin family? Have they confirmed their relationship?”

“What’s the matter with this girl? Instead of helping her own family, she always helps outsiders. It can’t be at the instigation of Hongmei, right? I heard Hongmei clearly opposes this relationship between the young couple. She even said there’s no way this marriage will happen.”

Another woman chuckled, “I think Hongmei would definitely object, but this girl is quite proactive.” Being proactive also means eagerly offering oneself.

As the news spread, she naturally found out. Thinking about the mocking faces of those gossipmongers, Grandma Luo felt so embarrassed that her face turned red. When she returned home, she wanted to scold her granddaughter to death, especially when she heard that Yin Minglu had mentioned that Yin Yue had promised to take care of him but had left halfway without doing so. This infuriated her even more, and she didn’t hesitate to use the cane.

Yin Yue felt wronged by the beating. She thought she hadn’t done anything wrong. After all, she would marry into the Qin family sooner or later. What’s wrong with helping the Qin family in advance? Both families were destined to become one, so why not get along peacefully and share resources early on? In the future, the Qin family would be the wealthiest in the village. You would regret not currying favor with them sooner!

Grandma Luo couldn’t be bothered to waste words with her. She forcefully placed the chopsticks on the table with a sharp “snap” and said with a sidelong glance, “Starting from today, the rules are set. Those who are lazy at home or assist outsiders while neglecting their own duties won’t be allowed to join the meal. Even if they are allowed, they cannot eat meat.” This was to prevent some people from becoming shamelessly thick-skinned.

Though the tone was harsh, everyone had to abide by it. After all, the old lady had always been the authority in the house. Shen Qiuyi, feeling that she wasn’t in favor with her mother-in-law, shrunk her shoulders, trying to minimize her presence. She even wondered if her mother-in-law was taking the opportunity to reprimand her.

But Yin Yue immediately understood that this rule was specifically directed at her. On the surface, it seemed like setting a rule, but in reality, it was a public scolding for her alleged sneakiness and cunning, an attempt to pull down her dignity in front of the whole family and ruthlessly throw it on the ground.

Normally, she wouldn’t dare to defy Grandma Luo, but she did have a temper. Refusing to eat meat, she tossed her chopsticks and defiantly said, “Fine, I won’t eat meat. This fish is so fishy; the smell hasn’t been cleaned at all. And this steamed dish is tasteless, like it’s not even cooked. Do you think I enjoy eating this? I wouldn’t want it even if you gave it to me.”

Given the short time and the limited seasonings in a rural setting, the hastily prepared whole fish feast couldn’t compare to the delicacies of later years. Yin Yue, who had tasted the exquisite dishes from high-end restaurants in the future, couldn’t possibly appreciate these roughly made half-finished products from two decades ago. Wasn’t it like saying, “Even if you give it to her twenty years later, she won’t eat it”?

As Yin Yue spoke, she thought she was expressing her disdain perfectly, displaying her arrogance to the fullest.

However, to her surprise, everyone at the table, except the little one burying their head to pick at the fish, looked at her with eyes that suggested she was the foolish one.

This second granddaughter, second niece, and sister—is your brain malfunctioning? Fish, such a delicious thing, they might not even get to eat it four or five times a year, and they don’t like it. They even say they wouldn’t want it if it’s given to them, when clearly they are happily enjoying it.

Well, since there are people who don’t like fish, let’s not invite them in the future. Forcing oneself to eat something they don’t like must be uncomfortable. Everyone thinks so.

Due to the bountiful catch of fish, there was enough for the large Yin family to eat for a week. So, for a whole week, the Yin family feasted on fish. Yin Yue couldn’t join them at the table, only able to watch everyone find ways to enjoy the fish. Her eyes turned red with envy. Unfortunately, the impulsive words she uttered couldn’t be taken back, and she regretted it immediately.

The author has something to say:
Seeing the cute ones say I often mix up the names, it reminds me that this might be a replay of the history of Luo Cuihua and Luo Cuimiao [facepalm].
Thanks to the little angels for voting for me or irrigating with nutrient solution.

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