Chapter 135 - 119: Cause for Universal Celebration
Chapter 135: Chapter 119: Cause for Universal Celebration
"Look." Mrs. Zhao gave her a glance.
"Wow! Daddy’s so amazing! You caught another fishy!" Zhou Momo clapped her little hands, looking at Comrade Zhou with a face full of adoration.
"Good girl. Next time, I’ll catch a big fishy for you." Comrade Zhou smiled so wide his eyes disappeared. ’What could be sweeter than his own daughter’s praise?’
"That method you mentioned this morning really works. I tossed in the rapeseed cake and a lot of fish showed up after a while. I just had trouble hooking them, and two got away. I’ll try again next time I have a chance," Comrade Zhou said quietly to Zhou Yan.
"That’s great. If the rapeseed cake works, I won’t waste rice and wine making you fermented rice bait," Zhou Yan said with a smile.
Comrade Zhou said, "Rice and wine are too expensive. I helped Liu Wu’s family butcher a cow, so he sold me the rapeseed cake for three cents a pound, and one pound will last a long time."
Zhou Yan took the fishing rod from Comrade Zhou. It was indeed finely crafted. The handle had even been sanded down, making it very comfortable to hold.
’It’s just the line setup... something seems a bit off.’
"Dad, you should wrap some of an old toothpaste tube around here for a sinker. Your hook isn’t even reaching the bottom. How are you supposed to catch big crucian carp like that?" Zhou Yan said with a laugh.
"Huh?" Zhou Miao scratched his head. "There are techniques like that?"
"Let me fix it for you." Zhou Yan found an empty toothpaste tube. Back then, they were still made of aluminum. He cut off a long strip with scissors and wrapped it around the line about ten centimeters above the hook.
"Toss it in the water and let the float settle with three marks in the water and three above. That way, you’ll be fishing on the bottom. You’ll definitely catch a big one next time," Zhou Yan told him.
"Got it! I’ll give it a try next time." Comrade Zhou nodded, then looked at him and said, "I’ve never seen you fish before. How do you know all this stuff?"
"I read it in a book. I only know the theory. You’ll have to be the one to test it out in practice," Zhou Yan said, offering a casual excuse.
"If it’s written in a book, it must be a Grandmaster’s experience." Comrade Zhou was completely convinced. He carefully stored the fishing rod under the stairs, then went to wash the fish basket and hang it by the door to dry.
In that era, fishing was generally seen as an idle pastime.
Mrs. Zhao was definitely an enlightened wife. Outsiders might think she was difficult, but at home, she was always a good wife and a good mother.
Of course, this had a lot to do with Comrade Zhou’s considerateness.
Every time he finished fishing, he would wash his equipment spotlessly, ensuring the house never smelled strange because of his hobby.
He never left the clothes he got dirty from fishing for Mrs. Zhao to wash. He always washed and dried them himself.
Zhou Yan was the same way. Even though they lived together, he always washed his own dirty clothes right after his daily runs and chores.
’It was a family tradition of sorts, I guess.’
They had an early lunch, and then the customers began to arrive in small groups.
"Mrs. Zhao, a party of five for Wang Min."
"Boss, a party of four for Liu Dezhu."
...
They were all reservations. They just gave their names, so there was no need to order again. Someone would just check off the order slip, send it to the kitchen, and Zhou Yan would start cooking.
Just then, five bicycles arrived at the entrance. The one in the lead was Zhao Dong. He was carefully helping a white-haired old lady off the back of his bike, saying softly, "Mom, be careful."
On the bicycle next to him sat a middle-aged man in a suit. He was burly, with a potbelly, and he frowned as he sized up the restaurant’s sign. "Zhao Dong, why’d you pick a small place like this? It’s your mother’s birthday today. Even if we’re not throwing a big celebration, we should still pick a nicer restaurant. Why don’t we go to the state-owned one? Your sister and I already said we’re paying today."
This was Zhao Dong’s brother-in-law, Huang He, the owner of Feiyan Restaurant.
"That’s right, this place is a bit small. It’s not as impressive as a state-owned restaurant." A middle-aged woman in a cheongsam got off the back of Huang He’s bike. She had permed, curly hair, light makeup, and a leather jacket draped over her shoulders, giving her a rather wealthy appearance.
Zhao Shulan looked at the somewhat shabby restaurant and couldn’t help but shake her head.