C6 The Way to Make Money!

How could this be possible?

Wang Caifeng couldn't believe it. She was intimately familiar with the plight of Tang Jin's household. The idea of them eating meat was ludicrous; they were lucky to have any food at all!

Skeptical, she moved closer to Tang Jin's house, sniffing the air. The scent was unmistakably coming from their home, and there were no other families nearby!

With mixed emotions, Wang Caifeng stared blankly towards Tang Jin's house, considering a closer look.

Then, her husband Tang Fugui's voice rang out from behind.

"What are you peering at outside someone's house for? Come on, it's time to eat!"

It was the first day of the New Year, and there was no work to be done in the fields. Tang Fugui had just returned from a card game.

With that call, Wang Caifeng abandoned her curiosity.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!"

She turned, stealing a few more glances at Tang Jin's house before heading back.

...

Back home, Tang Fugui lifted the pot lid to reveal two steaming sweet potatoes. The sweet potatoes smelled good, but after eating them daily since winter began, Tang Fugui was thoroughly tired of them and couldn't help complaining.

"Why are we still eating sweet potatoes on the first day of the New Year? Didn't I see you chopping meat earlier today? Where is it?"

He looked expectantly at Wang Caifeng, his mouth watering at the thought.

"Meat, meat, meat! You don't lift a finger all day, and you still expect to eat meat?"

"That meat is for my son, Tang Yong. If you're so eager for meat, go eat at your nephew's place!"

Wang Caifeng gave Tang Fugui an exasperated roll of her eyes.

"What? My nephew?"

Tang Fugui was momentarily confused.

His father had only two sons, and the only nephew he had was that good-for-nothing Tang Jin.

"Ridiculous!"

Tang Fugui refused to believe it.

"Everyone knows that Little Wang just idles his days away. His wife and daughter are nearly starving. How could they possibly afford meat?"

He bit into the sweet potato, his mind's eye picturing it as a juicy, fatty piece of pork belly.

"You're just craving meat because it's been so long since you've had any," he said, and Wang Caifeng couldn't help but agree.

Nowadays, meat was anything but cheap! Even with a son who served as the village secretary and had access to public provisions, they could only enjoy meat and fish every few months!

And Tang Jin's house was even poorer!

Had she really misheard?

Wang Caifeng skeptically picked up a sweet potato, took a bite, and although it was tasty, the lack of grease made it hard to swallow.

"Father, when Yongzi gets back tonight, tell him to pick up some meat while he's at the county meeting tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow is the second day of the New Year, and his sister is visiting her in-laws. We can't just feed our child sweet potatoes!"

"What would people think of me, the mother of the village secretary, if word got out?"

Wang Caifeng tilted her chin up with pride.

It wasn't so much about pride as it was her vanity.

Anyone who flattered her to her face would make her day, regardless of the intent.

But if someone offered her genuine advice, she'd take it as an insult and lash out in anger.

Tang Fugui, too, was craving meat badly. He quickly finished his sweet potato and nodded in agreement.

...

That evening, after dinner, Tang Jin's family cuddled in bed, playing games with Tang Tang.

Little Milk Bun was fearless, laughing gleefully as Tang Jin tossed her up and caught her again.

Xia Churan sat nearby, mending her threadbare cotton jacket, her heart warmed by the sight.

To say she had complete trust in Tang Jin would be impossible.

Once bitten, twice shy, and the wounds he'd inflicted over their marriage couldn't be healed overnight.

Yet, reflecting on Tang Jin's recent changes, a part of Xia Churan dared to hope.

If only he could stay this way!

After Tang Tang was lulled to sleep, Tang Jin bid Xia Churan goodnight and retreated to his own bed.

He lay under a tattered quilt, restless and unable to sleep. His mind was racing with thoughts of how to make money in the future. Selling firewood was no longer viable. Today, being the first day of the New Year, had symbolic significance, and he managed to make some sales. But moving forward, everyone would surely order their wood from the lumber yards, and his small, private supply wouldn't stand a chance in the market. What else could he possibly sell?

Torn, he closed his eyes, only to snap them open moments later with a revelation. Clams! It was winter, and the mountains and fields were barren of almost everything except for clams. The villagers didn't care for them; the shells were bulky, the meat scarce, and they had an earthy, musty smell. But in the fields, clams were plentiful and easy to catch. Moreover, winter was the perfect season for clam meat. The summer heat bred parasites, but winter was safe, and properly prepared, clam meat was highly nutritious.

With this thought, Tang Jin's excitement surged. He sprang up from the bed, grabbed a kerosene lamp, and headed for the door. Xia Churan, hearing the noise, came out from the inner room and saw Tang Jin looking like he was about to leave. She opened her mouth to ask him something but ultimately held back her words. She had grown accustomed to him going out at night to drink with friends and assumed this was no different.

Feeling a twinge of disappointment, Xia Churan sighed softly, turned, and was about to retreat to her room when Tang Jin called out to her.

"Churan, I'm going out to catch clams. I might not return until late into the night. Make sure to lock the door behind me; I've got my key with me."

Xia Churan paused, turning back to see him with a lamp in one hand and a large bucket in the other, his intentions clear. She slightly furrowed her brows, about to voice her concerns, but Tang Jin had already stepped out.

...

With a brisk pace, he made his way directly to the fields.

The moonlight tonight was like liquid silver, casting a shimmering glow over the fields.

With the moon providing ample light, Tang Jin extinguished the kerosene lamp, rolled up his trouser legs, and with bucket in hand, made his way into the field.

The icy water of winter bit into his bones, but Tang Jin was undeterred. Feeling around, his hand brushed against something round and solid.

Upon inspection, it turned out to be a clam—and a sizeable one at that!

He tossed it into the bucket and continued his search.

Soon, another large clam was nestled in his grasp!

Indeed, just as he suspected, these creatures were unwanted and nearly overrunning the fields.

With the bucket in tow, Tang Jin's search yielded one large clam after another.

In just over half an hour, the bucket was brimming with his finds.

He gave it a cursory shake—there had to be at least 70 to 80 pounds of clams in there!

Since he hadn't brought extra buckets, Tang Jin decided it was time to head back.

Barefoot and navigating the muddy terrain, he suddenly felt his foot strike something hard and sharp. A hot, wet sensation was followed by a piercing pain.

"Hiss!"

Tang Jin inhaled sharply and hastened his steps. Reaching the edge of the field, he relit the kerosene lamp and saw a sizable gash on his foot, bleeding profusely and mixing with the mud—likely from a shattered clamshell.

"It seems that venturing into the fields on the first day of the new year isn't such a good omen after all!"

Tang Jin chuckled to himself, rinsed the mud from his wound, and with the bucket in tow, made his way back to Tang Jin's house.