CHAPTER 160: CHAPTER 160 THERE’S HOPE (1)

"Does that stream have an owner?" Prince Luling asked, "It’s not good to take someone else’s belongings."

"Father, I’ve observed it. That stream is wild, with no owner. We can put fish baskets or fishing nets inside and collect fish and shrimp every morning. It won’t interfere with our other tasks. I’ve seen Mu Yuanxiu collecting fish and shrimp this way," Li Yuzhu said.

Prince Luling asked the Princely Heir, "Eldest, what do you think?"

The Princely Heir said, "This method is feasible. Just as Third Sister said, we can place fish baskets and nets to catch fish and shrimp while freeing up time for other things."

Both the Second Young Master and Li Xing’an agreed, meaning they could secure a steady income.

"But... where do we find these fish baskets?" the Princess Consort asked. She was curious about fish baskets and nets, as she hadn’t seen them before.

"Ask the neighbor, he should know," the Great Princess suggested.

Li Yuzhu said, "I’ve asked. He makes his own fish baskets, but it’s not ideal to keep asking him for them. We should buy some from the village. Each basket costs about thirty coins, which isn’t too expensive. The price of fishing nets varies. Large nets for the river cost about one or two silver each, while smaller nets for the stream are only a few dozen coins."

"Over thirty coins each? That’s not cheap," the Great Princess frowned.

Li Yuzhu said, "A single fish basket can last ten years if not forcibly damaged. Considering that, it’s not expensive at all."

Prince Luling said, "A basket costs over thirty coins yet lasts ten years, which is indeed not expensive. Eldest, ask around the village tomorrow to see who sells baskets."

"Okay, Father."

.

With something specific to do, the Second Young Master and Li Xing’an were more spirited.

After leaving Prince Luling’s main room, they each grabbed a shovel and went to the edge of the swamp.

Li Yuzhu had nothing better to do, so she followed to watch.

"Third Sister, look, there really are fish and shrimp," Li Xing’an pointed to a water pit.

The pit was only about two feet deep. Inside, two small silver fish the size of pinky fingers and a tiny white shrimp the size of a willow leaf swam leisurely.

Li Yuzhu reached into the water, and the two fish quickly hid in the weeds, while the dazed shrimp kept darting around.

"This little fool, I’ll catch it for Jingjing to play with," Li Yuzhu rolled up her sleeves and quickly reached out to grab it.

And she really caught the dazed shrimp.

Li Xing’an and the Second Young Master exclaimed in surprise, "Third Sister, you’re amazing."

"Shrimp are fools; they’re easy to catch," Li Yuzhu laughed.

She held it in her hand and ran back to the house.

Li Yuzhu found an old clay basin in the kitchen, filled it with clean water, and put the shrimp inside.

She carried it to the South Courtyard to show Li Jing.

With a lot of water and a small shrimp, it didn’t jump out but kept darting around in the water, making Li Jing very happy.

The little one squatted by the clay basin, not blinking his eyes.

"Aunt, it has two long thin hands," Li Jing pointed at the shrimp’s antennae, waving his arms to mimic their movement.

Li Yuzhu chuckled, "Those are not its hands; those are called antennae. Its hands are the pincers, see, just like this."

"Antennae? Like whiskers? Longer than Grandpa’s whiskers."

Li Yuzhu, "..." She twitched the corners of her mouth. If Prince Luling knew his grandson compared him to a shrimp, he’d probably laugh his head off.

"You play here; Aunt will go catch more shrimp," Li Yuzhu patted his head.

"I want to go too," Li Jing quickly grabbed Li Yuzhu’s hand, "I want to go too, Aunt."

Li Yuzhu patted her forehead, "Alright, but you mustn’t cause trouble."

"Uh-huh, Jingjing won’t cause trouble," Li Jing nodded obediently.

The aunt and nephew arrived at the edge of the swamp.

Li Xing’an and the Second Young Master had already started digging.

The water in the swamp varied in depth, with some spots over a man’s height and others just knee-deep.

In the wetland, some reeds and water weeds grew.

There were also wild lotuses.

However, the weather was still cool, and the wild lotuses had only sprouted small tips.

The water wasn’t continuous, instead dotting the area here and there.

Li Yuzhu suggested digging to connect the water pits, helping the fish and shrimp gather into a pond.

The two brothers, thinking of those few silver per month, were full of vigor.

Li Jing squatted by the bank, watching with great interest.

"Second Uncle, Third Uncle digs better than you," Li Jing suddenly said.

How could that be tolerated? The Second Young Master blew into his hands and worked even harder.

After a while, Li Jing said again, "Third Uncle, Second Uncle is digging faster than you."

Li Xing’an sneered, "Impossible? I am clearly faster!" With that, he sped up his shoveling.

After a bit, Li Jing shouted again, "Third Uncle surpassed you, Second Uncle."

The Second Young Master immediately began shoveling at lightning speed.

"Third Uncle, Second Uncle is doing a great job."

Li Xing’an, "..."

Second Young Master, "..."

The little brat was doing it on purpose?

Due to Li Jing’s "cheering and support," by dusk, the two of them had dug over ten zhang long.

At home, the Second Princess vigorously continued her baking of pastries.

By evening, Mu Yuanxiu came over with three fish baskets, "I found some spare baskets, you can use them first."

He handed the baskets to Li Xing’an.

Li Xing’an felt a bit embarrassed, "We can buy them ourselves..."

"I’m going hunting, no time to catch fish and shrimp, these baskets would just sit around otherwise, better to give them to you," Mu Yuanxiu insisted on giving them to Li Xing’an.

Li Xing’an thought for a moment, "Alright then. I’ll accept them, after all, I’m helping you with business."

Mu Yuanxiu smiled faintly, "That’s right, Third Brother Li is helping me with business."

When Princess Consort Luling heard about Mu Yuanxiu giving away fish baskets, she was quite surprised, "Why is he so eager to help our family?"

Prince Luling, playing with shrimp together with Li Jing, glanced at her, "Shouldn’t you change your opinion about that young lad? He’s just an orphan, happy to finally have neighbors, nothing malicious about it."

Princess Consort Luling frowned a little, "I never said I disliked him, I just said... after all, he’s a stranger, it’s always prudent to be cautious."

"Worrying for nothing!" Prince Luling dismissed her concerns.

This statement made Princess Consort Luling unhappy.

She complained, "You think everyone’s a good person, got schemed against till you lost your position and got demoted to commoner, can’t you remember a bit?"

Prince Luling responded, "What does that have to do with this? Yuanxiu is still a child."

"Still a stranger..."

"We were strangers before we got married, now we know each other well, don’t we?" Prince Luling retorted, blowing at his mustache.

Princess Consort Luling’s face darkened, "How can you compare these things?"

"Pretty much the same."

Princess Consort Luling didn’t want to talk to him anymore.

.

Although Mu Yuanxiu brought over three fish baskets, Li Yuzhu still felt it wasn’t enough.

She decided to find someone in the village who makes baskets and buy a few more.

During breakfast the next morning, Li Yuzhu shared her idea with her brothers.

Li Xing’an immediately said, "I’ll go with Third Sister."

The Second Young Master also said, "I’ll go too."

The two brothers glared at each other, simultaneously stretched out their hands, "Rock-paper-scissors!"

Prince Luling interjected, "Stop arguing, let the eldest go, he’s more articulate than you two."

The Princely Heir nodded, "Yes, Father."

Looking at his children, Prince Luling said, "In the future, listen to the eldest when it comes to family matters, don’t argue."

The Second Young Master and Li Xing’an glanced at each other, "Understood, Father."

Li Yuzhu also agreed to let the Princely Heir go with her.

The Princely Heir is too honest; how will he manage the family in the future?

The Second Young Master is shrewd like a sly fox, and the third brother Li Xing’an is forceful like a bandit; she wasn’t worried about their survival.

Only the Princely Heir, whether to be a farmer or a future official, being too honest would be taken advantage of.

Did Prince Luling want the Princely Heir to shoulder more family responsibilities because of this?

Li Yuzhu pondered in her heart.

The weeds in the wasteland outside the residence were mostly cut by Short Legs Zhao who Mu Yuanxiu caught.

The Princely Heir arranged for the Second Young Master and Li Xing’an to spread and dry the weeds.

These fine weeds, once dried, make good kindling.

After clearing the wasteland, they would borrow an ox and a plow to turn and dry the soil, sprinkle ash from plants, and it would become fertile land fit for planting crops.

The seeds Li Yuzhu sowed had all sprouted, the bean sprouts and pumpkin shoots grew the fastest, already sprouting the fourth leaves.

Anyway, they wouldn’t plant pumpkins on a large scale.

Li Yuzhu transplanted about ten pumpkin sprouts into the soil along the courtyard wall.

A row of seedlings was planted along the wall.

After breakfast, the Great Princess called Xue Family to dig medicinal herbs.

Li Yuzhu and the Princely Heir, pushing a cart, headed towards Taohua Village.

Just as they reached the village entrance, Li Yuzhu saw Liu Da Niu approaching.

Seeing Li Yuzhu, she immediately waved and called out, "Miss Li, I was just looking for you."

Coincidentally, Li Yuzhu also planned to ask her about Hu Shuangcheng’s reaction after taking the medicine yesterday.

According to the traditional medicine pills, with a large amount of sheep aphrodisiac added, it should have worked.

However, Li Yuzhu feigned ignorance and blinked, asking her, "What’s up, Da Niu?"

When they got closer, Liu Da Niu nodded at the Princely Heir, then pulled Li Yuzhu aside, "I need to tell you something alone."

Li Yuzhu chuckled inwardly, seems promising.

She then said to the Princely Heir, "Brother, go ahead, I’ll chat with Da Niu for a bit."