novelraw Chapter 325: Catching Loaches
Chapter 325: Catching Loaches
Seeing everyone had followed, Shen Qinglan curled her lips; this was within her expectations.After distributing the bolts of fabric, remnants, and patterns to everyone, Shen Qinglan added, "I’ll be returning to town later. I’ll have someone deliver the remaining fabric scraps over. If you think you can make more, you can pick them up from my aunt."
She laid out the pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, and said to everyone, "Those who have received their materials can report their names to me so I can register them for future wage distribution."
Upon hearing about wage distribution, everyone eagerly stepped forward, rushing to state their names.
After Shen Qinglan had finished registering, she ticked each name and then gave a gentle smile to everyone, "All done!"
Once everyone had left, Shen Qinglan put away the paper and handed it to Aunt Jiang, saying, "Aunt, keep this safe. When they come to pick up materials, you can tick next to their names."
"Huh?" Aunt Jiang was puzzled and said with some difficulty, "But Aunt can’t read."
Shen Qinglan paused slightly, then rubbed her forehead.
She was really too busy to consider this problem.
"Give it to me," Aunt Jiang smiled and said, "I can just ask your uncle by then. Although he didn’t study formally like your big cousin, he does recognize some characters."
Shen Qinglan smiled slightly, "Then I’ll trouble you and uncle."
She intended to test the waters with this business venture, and if successful, she could let her uncle’s family manage it.
"Is everyone hungry?" Aunt Jiang asked, "Why not have lunch before heading back? Your uncle got two wild chickens and is processing them by the river. He should be back soon."
Shen Qinglan still wanted to walk around a bit, so she nodded in agreement.
"Aunt will go back to prepare the meal, and you can stroll around," Aunt Jiang said.
Aunt Jiang then turned to Little Li, who was resting beside a bamboo bed after his stroll, and said, "Little Li, take a seat now and don’t forget to come over for lunch later!"
"Okay!" Little Li nodded eagerly.
After parting with Aunt Jiang at the door, Shen Qinglan headed directly towards the Yingyang River.
The grass by the roadside still glimmered with dew, and as the breeze passed, the scent of fresh earth and fragrant herbs floated in the air.
In the near distance, a few children were digging for something in a small river, with two or three wooden buckets placed nearby.
"Caught it!"
A little boy, about six or seven years old with mud on his face, exclaimed joyfully, holding a loach in his hand, his face beaming with happiness.
"Quick, put it in the bucket before it slips back into the mud, or you’ll cry again," an older boy reminded him.
How wonderful!
A faint smile appeared in Shen Qinglan’s eyes. Her childhood was spent in an orphanage, and it was quite lonely.
By the time she arrived in this world, she had already surpassed the age of playing in the mud.
No wonder Shen Qingzhu loved climbing mountains and wading in rivers; this carefree life really was delightful.
"Qinglan, what are you looking at?"
Shen He’s voice came from a distance.
She turned her head to see Shen He walking towards her, two processed wild chickens in hand.
Shen Qinglan smiled and greeted him, "Uncle!"
"Ey~" Shen He lifted the wild chickens in his hand and smiled, "Come on, let’s get back and I’ll cook you some wild chicken!"
"Okay!" Shen Qinglan glanced back towards the river, seeing the children still intent on digging for loaches.
Shen He glanced in that direction and then chuckled, "Folks in town love those, but they’re a bit tricky to catch. Your second brother once saw others catching them and joined in, but he ended up catching a mud snake instead, scared him so much he never dared try again."
Imagining the scene, Shen Qinglan couldn’t help but chuckle softly as well.