Chapter 10

The trench in the north of the city remains dry for over three hundred days of the year. Only during the flood season does the main channel overflow, sending some water this way. If one is lucky, traces of crucian carp can be found in the trench; they are difficult to catch, but the prospect still draws many people to try their luck.

Jiang Shuangshuang was one of them.

The next day, just as the sky began to brighten, she stepped out of the house, followed as usual by her little tagalong. Whether it was because they had eaten their fill of white flour steamed buns yesterday, she felt full of energy and not the slightest bit sleepy.

The boy was full of excitement, peppering her with questions. "Big Sister, will we be able to catch any fish? Big Sister, what’s in that oil-paper parcel you’re carrying? Is it our lunch? Big Sister..."

"Keep babbling and I’ll throw you in to feed the fish."

Jiang Xiaozhou wasn’t afraid; on the contrary, he was raring to go—he desperately wanted to get into the water. But he dared not say so in front of his second sister, knowing he would likely get a few kicks, so he chose to follow along quietly.

The north city trench was quite far, a full hour’s walk. By the time the siblings arrived, a crowd had already gathered to try their luck.

"Big Sister, look, they’ve all gone into the water!" Jiang Xiaozhou watched the others—some even younger than him—and felt a desperate urge to rush in. "Just let me... Ah! Don't kick, don't kick!"

Having endured the walk, he still ended up receiving a few kicks.

Jiang Shuangshuang pointed to the side. "If you’re that desperate, go over there, but if I catch you heading into the deep water, don't bother coming back up."

Accidents in the water were rare, but she simply couldn't be bothered to worry about it. Thus, she nipped the possibility in the bud to save herself the trouble.

Jiang Xiaozhou looked where she pointed, and his excitement vanished. He wanted to swim, not soak his feet; the water there was so shallow he might as well have stayed home. Realizing it was a lost cause, he stayed obediently by his sister’s side, though his mouth grew restless again. "Second Sister, if you aren't going into the water, how are you going to catch any fish?"

"Wait," Jiang Shuangshuang replied, finding a stone stool to sit on, waiting quietly for her fishing partners.

Several minutes passed, and not a single person in the trench had caught a fish. It wasn't that there were no fish to be seen, but without any tools, it was incredibly hard to catch them by hand; some would dart away before anyone could even touch them.

"They're too slippery."

"It gets harder to catch them every year. I haven't even seen a shadow."

"If we could just get them to gather in one place, we could surround them."

Jiang Shuangshuang let out a soft laugh.

"Big Sister, what are you laughing at?" Jiang Xiaozhou asked, confused.

"They’re here." Jiang Shuangshuang lifted her chin, signaling to the group approaching from the front: a boy about Jiang Xiaozhou’s age, followed by three middle-aged men who looked remarkably like him. It was clearly a family.

"Sister Shuangshuang!" Grasshopper ran over, panting. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting. We found our basket was broken when we left, so we had to borrow two more before coming over."

"It's fine, I haven't been waiting long." Jiang Shuangshuang stood up and greeted the men.

Jiang Xiaozhou watched them, not recognizing anyone except the boy, whom he had met while scavenging for coal cinders by the railroad tracks with his sister.

"Hello, Comrade Jiang Xiaozhou," Grasshopper said with a grin. His skin was tanned so dark that his teeth looked exceptionally white. Jiang Xiaozhou returned the greeting and couldn't help but probe, "Are you guys going to catch fish with my second sister?"

"Yeah." Grasshopper nodded vigorously. "We agreed on this last month, just waiting for the water to rise."

He and Sister Shuangshuang had met a few months ago. Back then, the area by the railroad was chaotic, and they often ran into thugs who would steal their baskets. Once, when he was lucky enough to find two palm-sized pieces of coal, he ran into that same group. After being kicked around, it was Sister Shuangshuang who charged in and chased them off. Because of her, those thugs no longer dared to come near the tracks, and they no longer had to worry about being beaten or robbed. Later, while chatting, the subject of the trench came up, and when she learned his family went there every year, she suggested they team up.

"Sister Shuangshuang, did you bring the bait?" Grasshopper asked impatiently. "Is it really as good as you said? Can it attract all the crucian carp in the trench?"

"We'll see." Jiang Shuangshuang took out a parcel of prepared bait. She turned to the elders. "Grasshopper should have told you? I provide the bait, you guys use the baskets to catch them, and we split the catch fifty-fifty."

"He told us, he told us," one of the middle-aged men said with an honest smile. "Even a fifty-fifty split means we're taking advantage of you; bait like this must cost a lot."

"It's fine, you're doing the labor." Jiang Shuangshuang handed over the oil-paper parcel and explained how to use it. "Before the fish arrive, tell everyone in the water to stay as still as possible. Once a lot of fish gather, don't try to catch them by hand; just scoop them up directly with the baskets."

Despite the detailed instructions, whether it would actually work remained to be seen. Grasshopper’s second uncle was an excellent swimmer who came here every year, but he usually only managed one or two fish on a good day, and often none at all. As for using bait, it was something he had never even considered. Aside from the difficulty of making it, the primary ingredient was grain—who could bear to waste grain like that? If they didn't catch anything, they would be heartbroken. Hearing his nephew say someone was willing to partner with them—offering bait in exchange for half the catch—they were more than happy to agree, even feeling like they were getting the better end of the deal.

Grasshopper led them toward the water. "Let's catch them first, then we'll talk."

The others agreed. Bait was a good thing, but if it wasn't mixed well or if luck wasn't on their side, it was all just talk. The men waded into the water, swam to a secluded area, and followed Jiang Shuangshuang’s instructions, forming a semi-circle before releasing the bait. The handful of bait fell into the water, and bits of its composition were visible.

"Is that wheat bran?"

"And that white stuff, is that white flour?"

"It can't be white flour. Who would waste white flour on bait?"

"Even if it isn't white flour, it's still expensive. I hope we catch a lot... Second Brother, do you smell liquor?"

Grasshopper’s second uncle swallowed hard and nodded silently. He had smelled it the moment the oil-paper was opened. *Good heavens, they even mixed in liquor?* He suppressed his craving and muttered, "Fifty-fifty is too much. We can't take that much later."

Their guesses about the ingredients were fairly accurate, though it wasn't as expensive as they imagined—just tedious to prepare. Jiang Shuangshuang’s self-made bait was simple but recognized in her past life as a top-tier formula. The main ingredient was wheat bran, which had to be toasted until fragrant before being mixed with steamed bean dregs. Once cooled, she added minced garlic and a pinch of cornmeal. The secret was the two drops of liquor added while mixing—not too much, or it would lose its effectiveness. Just two drops were perfect; anyone who wasn't a connoisseur would barely notice it.

"Big Sister, so that’s why you were fussing in the kitchen for so long," Jiang Xiaozhou said from atop a stone, peering out. "When did you learn to make bait?"

"Do you think I'm like you, capable of nothing?"

Jiang Xiaozhou grumbled, trying to think of a skill he excelled in to retort, but he couldn't find one. He changed the subject dryly. "Grandpa says that Grandpa Liu in the next alley makes bait that people line up for, but he refuses to tell anyone how he does it. Big Sister, is your bait better than his?"

Jiang Shuangshuang tilted her head. It was hard to compare, but anyone who could make people line up for their bait clearly had their own expertise.

Suddenly, the men in the water sprang into action. They scooped upward with their baskets, ensuring the fish couldn't escape.

"We got them!"

"Oh my, why are there so many fish over there?"

"It's the bait! That bait is too potent; there are even a few that didn't make it into the basket!"

The four of them each had a basket, but because they were inexperienced and shocked by the sheer number of fish, they struggled with their angles and strength, letting a few escape.

"You take the baskets, I'll try catching them by hand!" Grasshopper’s second uncle handed his basket to his brother and dove into the water. Catching fish by hand was difficult, but Grasshopper was quick-witted; he dumped his catch into his third uncle’s basket and dove in, working with his second uncle to herd two more crucian carp into the nets.

"Comrade, is that homemade bait? The effect is incredible!" someone nearby called out. They had been too far away to see clearly, but it was obvious every basket had fish—even with just one per basket, that was four already, not counting the two they had just grabbed by hand. The man hurried over. "Can I swap for some? I have cloth coupons or grain coupons, just give me a handful."

Others nearby echoed the sentiment, all eager to trade.

"This isn't ours to give," Grasshopper said, shaking his head and pulling his uncles toward the shore.

As soon as they landed, Jiang Xiaozhou rushed over, but before he could ask about the haul, Grasshopper grabbed his arm and led him into the nearby woods.

"What's going on?" Jiang Xiaozhou was bewildered, but seeing his second sister heading into the woods as well, he realized, "Are we keeping it a secret?"

Grasshopper nodded, his eyes shining. "We caught so many!" He had learned from a young age that valuable things shouldn't be flaunted; even two pieces of coal could attract thugs.

"This bait is amazing," Grasshopper shared eagerly. "Not long after we put it in, one fish came, and then my third uncle told us to wait. After about five or six minutes, a whole bunch came!"

Because the fish were gathered together, even with their clumsy initial attempts, the haul was significant. "We were just a bit rusty and let a few get away," Grasshopper promised. "Now that we have experience, my uncles and I will practice our technique. Next time, we won't let a single one escape."

"That's right, we didn't control our strength well this time," the uncles agreed, feeling slightly embarrassed that they hadn't caught everything the bait had attracted.

"It's fine, just practice more." Jiang Shuangshuang didn't mind. "How many?"

"We just counted, seven crucian carp," Grasshopper’s uncle beamed. "The biggest one looks like it's four or five pounds, and the smallest is over two."

"That big?!" Jiang Xiaozhou drooled. A four or five-pound fish! He never imagined he’d have a day where he could eat his fill of fish.

"Sister Shuangshuang, these fish..."

"Split them as we agreed." Jiang Shuangshuang didn't want to nitpick; she knew that without her providing the bait, she wouldn't have any fish at all. Getting three and a half fish for a bit of bait was a win. "An odd number is hard to split, so don't give me the half; just give me the biggest one."

"Sure, sure." Grasshopper’s uncle picked out the largest one, plus two others, but Jiang Shuangshuang shook her head. "Grasshopper said you have ways to trade for things?"

Before the uncles could speak, Grasshopper blurted out, "Yes! Third Aunt sweeps the streets in the alley and knows lots of people. Someone will definitely want to trade for your fish."

It was called trading, but it usually involved money and coupons under the table, unless there was a specific item needed.

"Can you help me trade these two fish for some cotton cloth?" Jiang Shuangshuang asked. "Something comfortable. If not, trade for cloth or cotton coupons."

"Done. I'll ask when I get back," Grasshopper’s third uncle agreed. They were basically getting four fish for free, so why wouldn't they help? With the bait in hand, they could partner with anyone who knew how to swim, but without it, they would be wasting their time. They understood the favor they were receiving.

"Then shall we come back tonight?" Jiang Shuangshuang suggested. "I wasn't sure if the bait would work, so I only made a little. I'll make more and we'll come back when there are fewer people, so it's less conspicuous."

"Sounds good!"

"We'll ask around and let you know tonight."

Once the siblings left, Grasshopper’s second uncle said to his brother, "When we trade those fish, don't trade them for two; trade them for three. She’s kind-hearted, but we can't be greedy."

"Agreed," the third uncle nodded. "That Comrade Jiang has a truly good heart."

"I told you Sister Shuangshuang was the best," Grasshopper said proudly. "If not for her, I don't know how many times I would've been beaten up."

"I've told you before, if you're bullied, come home and tell your second uncle," the uncle frowned. "I'd like to see who dares to bully our family!"

The third uncle patted his head. "Next time, bring your third uncle, too. I'll beat them until they're missing teeth."

Grasshopper beamed. His father might be useless, but he had uncles who cared about him—three of them!

...

On the way home, Jiang Xiaozhou was so excited he could barely walk straight. "Big Sister, I want to come tonight too, you have to bring me."

"Of course you have to come," Jiang Shuangshuang said, walking empty-handed. "If you don't, who’s going to carry the fish for me?"

"I will, I will! I can carry as much as you want!" Jiang Xiaozhou was more than happy to do the grunt work.

"Big Sister, you're so smart. You just sit on the bank and wait for fish, unlike everyone else who has to dive in," Jiang Xiaozhou said sincerely. At first, he thought the fifty-fifty split was a loss, but watching his second sister calmly sunning herself on the bank while doing nothing, he realized she was the real winner.

Jiang Shuangshuang glanced at him. "You’re acting very strange."

Jiang Xiaozhou tried to curry favor. "Big Sister, are you buying the fabric to make clothes?"

Jiang Shuangshuang made an "un-huh" sound.

"Is there any for me?"

Jiang Shuangshuang gave him a look, and Jiang Xiaozhou quickly promised, "From now on, all the chores are mine—cleaning, laundry, cooking. If you need anything, just say the word, and I'll do it without a second thought."

"Deal."

Jiang Xiaozhou’s eyes widened. She had agreed so easily? "It's a promise! Whoever goes back on it is a puppy."

"Fine, whoever goes back on it is a puppy."

Jiang Xiaozhou felt like something was off, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

Jiang Shuangshuang curled her lips. *A free housekeeper.* Ever since the family split yesterday, she had control over her mother's wages—over forty yuan a month. She certainly wouldn't be stingy about buying new clothes for the children. Her mother would have bought them anyway, but this way, she could ensure the quality. More importantly, she wanted to buy fabric and cotton for winter—she planned to replace all the old quilts in the house. Thick bedding was essential; a winter without it was simply too miserable.

By the time they got home, it wasn't quite time for the others to finish their shifts. Jiang Shuangshuang prepared a full box of bait and had Jiang Xiaozhou clean the stove. By the time he was done, it was almost dinnertime, and she directed him to clean the fish.

Crucian carp had to be braised, and they had to be pan-fried in oil first to be truly fragrant. Jiang Shuangshuang took the easy path, coaching Jiang Xiaozhou step-by-step. When he picked up the oil jar, he looked terrified. "Pour... pour that much? Mom will yell at us if she comes back..."

"Just pour it," Jiang Shuangshuang said firmly.

Jiang Xiaozhou hesitated, but since it was his second sister’s order, if their mother yelled, she wouldn't be yelling at him, right? Gritting his teeth, he poured a generous amount.

As the oil heated up and the fish hit the pan, the aroma was intoxicating. Jiang Xiaozhou stopped worrying; he figured he was about to eat the most delicious meal of his life.