Zhou Xiaozheng was just returning to the kitchen with his wife and Cheng Hongli from the main house. At this moment, he saw Zhang Guoqing pacing with his foot over the entrance to the cellar, occasionally looking down, with a smile in his eyes. Zhang Guoqing saw him come in, "Dad, you went to HX County, right? How was it there? Is there really a sea, a fishery?" Before Zhou Xiaozheng could answer, Cheng Hongli said loudly, "Xiao Wu, how did you know your dad went to HX County? Why didn’t you tell us earlier? We could have gone there a long time ago." Zhang Guoqing said with a smile, "It’s not too late to know now. We can go once Uncle Dashan takes a break. Our county records mention it. I’ve been pondering where there might be a sea around us for a while. I hadn’t thought of how close the sea actually was, always hearing about different provinces, who would pay attention." Cheng Hongli nodded repeatedly, giving Zhou Xiaozheng a thumbs up, "Brother Zheng is really amazing, only three days here, and he found the place. Brother Zheng, so many live crabs, sea snails, and shrimp, cook them quickly for us to taste." Zhou Xiaozheng nodded, instructing his wife Lin Lishan, "I’ll go to the storeroom to get some small bamboo baskets, you first sort the fish in the sack, I’ll divide them. When Zhao Chuan Guang comes tomorrow, he can take them back. Don’t touch the live crabs yet, be careful of pinching your hand." Zhang Guoqing quickly stopped him, "Dad, you just sit here and give instructions, I’ll do it." He knew very well that after driving for five or six hours, his dad must be exhausted. After speaking, Zhang Guoqing went to the warehouse, saw the hanging dried fish, and felt speechless. His father-in-law had hidden all the big dried fish, intending to give away those in the kitchen. He chuckled softly, Jiao Jiao really takes after her father. It’s a natural bond between father and daughter! He remembered that every year Jiao Jiao received school benefits, and she always kept the biggest and best for herself and generously gave the rest away without blinking an eye. In the warehouse, there were bamboo baskets, winnowing trays, sieves, and other miscellaneous items left behind by Mr. Liu. Zhang Guoqing looked at the baskets, thinking to take a few small and medium ones, and also took the largest one to fill up. Zhou Xiaozheng started talking about his experiences in the fishing village, "I was lucky; when I asked for directions, I ran into Liu Sanyuan, the driver from the seafood company. He was very enthusiastic and took me to the fishery. We ate in the fishery cafeteria at noon, it was full of seafood. That place was short of food, everyone got only three steamed cornbreads, no meat dishes, just braised prawns, braised fish, plenty of vegetables, but no more cornbread. The drivers who went to the fishery for purchases could eat there for free. The person at the next table added food three times. These things aren’t rare in that locality. I bought fish from Liu Sanyuan at public prices. I bought the live crabs from a village outside, all cream crabs. Those miscellaneous sea snails were collected by village kids for a dollar. It’s quite nice; you could visit there when you have time." Zhang Guoqing came in, put down the big bamboo basket, and suggested, "Mom, you sit here, I’ll take care of it. I’m strong, I’ll dump everything from the sack into the bamboo basket and then sort them." Zhou Xiaozheng saw the big bamboo basket and suggested to her to stop for now, seeing her doing it piece by piece would take an age. "Shanshan, you and Hongli first boil the pot, let’s steam some live crabs for us to eat. Hongli, see what Dashan likes and steam that too. When Dashan gets off work, I’m sure he’ll come here." Seeing them both busy, with the large kitchen, Zhou Xiaozheng didn’t leave but directly came to Zhang Guoqing’s side. He set up the baskets of various sizes, placing three fish in, then four pairs of prawns and shrimp, and on top put a few pieces of dried fish, filling each bamboo basket to the brim. "Xiao Wu, take a break first. Later you still have to deliver things. I probably won’t be able to go to your grandma’s today. Tell her on my behalf, once I handle things here, I’ll visit her. Take the bigger bamboo basket in the front to your grandma’s, pack 20 pounds of rice from the cellar for her." Zhang Guoqing looked at the various sizes of baskets in the front and said with a laugh, "Dad, do you think we should add more live crabs and fish for grandma? After all, it’s our family, no need to give her the same as others. Whatever the elder branch eats is okay; as long as she’s happy. I’ll ask granny to come by and see Jiao Jiao when she’s free; since you’re usually home at night." After saying that, seeing the look of awkward anger on his dad’s face, he dismissed it. He directly repacked four large yellow fish, eight live crabs, eight pairs of prawns, and about five pounds of shrimp, and seeing the basket couldn’t contain more, he tied up eight pieces of large dried fish on top. He glanced over where his mother-in-law was and went to the cellar to pack 20 pounds of rice and a pile of vermicelli to bring back. Seeing his father-in-law glaring at him, he smiled at Zhou Xiaozheng, "Dad, I’ll head to grandma’s first. I won’t drive there. I’ll just ride my bike back." Zhou Xiaozheng, hearing what he said and seeing his mischievous smile, placed a hand on his head and pointed, "Ha, your cheeky thoughts are so bold. Just drive back, grab things for the family on the way. I don’t know if Jiao Jiao can eat crabs, it’s said they’re cold-natured. What a pity, I just had a nap and dreamed of my daughter eating cream crabs and grinning at me." Lin Lishan, watching from when Xiao Wu brought things up, laughed heartily hearing him, "Brother Zheng, it’s okay. With some yellow wine, if she eats less, it’s not a problem. I’ll save some crab meat to make buns for her to eat." Dıscover more novels at 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝗇𝖾𝗍 Zhou Xiaozheng shook his head, "No, Ping’an is still breastfeeding. Shanshan, put things down for now, Hongli can manage, you first make some buns. Not too many, just enough for Jiao Jiao to have one meal tonight, make them small, just a mouthful, delicate, with thin skin and lots of filling, our daughter will surely be delighted. Xiao Wu, go find some pork, to mix with the crab cream meat for the buns, save these for later when you have time to send off." Lin Lishan watched Zhang Guoqing hurriedly leave, calling out, "Xiao Wu, remember, it’s tastier with more fat." "Got it, Mom. Don’t worry, I know. You start preparing the dough, I’ll be back soon." Zhang Guoqing said, then went to the county’s restaurant to find the chef, as it wasn’t meal time yet, only he would have it. Zhou Xiaozheng took a big bamboo basket, comparing it to the large basket Zhang Guoqing was arranging for his mom, he also stuffed more into it, adding another ten live crabs since that big family could really consume it. He took another empty bamboo basket and threw in various sea creatures like sea snails and shrimp. These two baskets should be enough, as he planned to take Jiao Jiao back to the county in a few days, with all the snow, leaving two baskets of live crabs to freeze, for Jiao Jiao to enjoy after her confinement. Thinking about the remaining two baskets, he looked at them, Zhou Xiaozheng’s mouth twitched, seemingly even two baskets weren’t enough to divide. Fifty pounds of live crabs were just about forty; half of them had already gone to his mother and Xiao Wu’s family, plus those being steamed. Once his daughter ate a few buns, what would be left? Seems they’d have to make another trip when time allows. Zhang Guoqing quickly returned with minced meat, "Mom, here’s the minced meat. Do you think it’s enough?" "Haha, Brother Zheng, our Xiao Wu is so capable, he even got the meat minced in no time. This is nearly a pound, plenty, take a rest."