Divorced woman with child travels through time

Liu Xuetian blankly reached out and accepted the silver, unsure how to object. After a moment, he realized what he had done and stuffed the forty coins back to Chen Xuanyu beside him, saying, "Wife, don't take this money. Consider these two baskets a gift from me." Without waiting for her reply, he pushed the cart away, walking incredibly fast. When he reached the carriage, he quickly loaded the baskets onto it, waved to them, and disappeared around the corner.

"Sigh!!" Chen Wenfang couldn't even speak, momentarily unsure if she'd been tricked. Chen Wenfang couldn't help but chuckle. This kid, "Chen~Xuan~Yu~!" Chen Xuanyu said, extending his hand. Chen Xuanyu pursed his lips and handed Chen Wenfang the forty coins in his hand.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, and the pedestrians on the road all went home. Chen Wenfang felt much better after the trip, and she led the children to get into the carriage. Wang Erniu drove the carriage steadily back home.

Back home, Chen Wenfang made two more pots of steamed buns for dinner. She told the children to get up a little later tomorrow, since it was going to snow heavily and it would be freezing cold. She then repeatedly explained that she would sleep in tomorrow and no one was allowed to wake her.

The next day, the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, the heavy snow arrived as expected. When Chen Wenfang woke up, the first thing she saw was a very bright white light. After lying in bed for a while, Chen Wenfang got up, dressed, and opened the window. Sure enough, thick white snow covered the earth. Looking from afar, the white snow stretched as far as the eye could see, extending to the other side of the mountains. Chen Wenfang had not seen such heavy snow for a very long time. She remembered that the last time there was such heavy snow was when she was a child in her previous life.

Chen Wenfang was lost in thought, completely absorbed in what she was watching. After a long while, she was startled awake by the sounds outside the door—the laughter of children. Chen Wenfang opened the door and went out.

It turned out that Wang Erniu had returned with his fishing net. He had already reheated the steamed buns from yesterday and given them breakfast. Chen Wenfang was touched but also a little helpless. She said, "What are you doing? Are you all wet? Hurry up and go back inside! Have you all gone? I'll heat up the kang (heated brick bed) first. Go change your clothes and take off your wet ones, or you'll easily get sick." Chen Wenfang pulled the children over to check on them one by one.

Wang Erniu chuckled and said, "It's alright, I went alone. There are too many children, and it's not convenient to take them. The snow is also quite thick, and it would be troublesome if they accidentally fell into the water or something. I broke the ice and netted some fish, including grass carp, which you like. Come on, let me show you." Wang Erniu rubbed his hands together to warm them up, and then happily took her hand and led her into the yard.

Chen Wenfang didn't move. Instead, she reached out and pulled him over, turned him around, and carefully felt his cotton-padded coat. "Let me see!"

Sure enough, his sleeves were wet. "You said they weren't wet? Go change your coat first before we go."

Wang Erniu obediently let her push him around, feeling sweeter than if he had eaten honey. "Okay, okay, I'll go change first, you wait for me."

"Okay," Chen Wenfang replied with a smile. Wang Erniu changed his clothes and came out. Chen Wenfang followed him into the yard, where there was a large wooden basin with about a dozen fresh fish swimming around. They were swimming around very lively. Chen Wenfang looked at them and saw that there were silver carp, grass carp, crucian carp, and so on.

Two of the largest grass carp were particularly eye-catching. Chen Wenfang was a little touched. This man was a man of his word, which was already very commendable. So she smiled and said, "Brother Erniu, thank you!"

Seeing her smile, Wang Erniu said happily, "We're all family, why are you saying that?"

"Come on, let's clean the fish and fry it." Chen Wenfang said cheerfully. "Okay!" Wang Erniu lifted the wooden basin and carried it outside the yard. He skillfully gutted the fish. Chen Wenfang smiled and said, "Brother, you go ahead and clean up. I'm going to wash up."

Wang Erniu didn't even look up, laughing, "Go ahead and get busy, I'll be back when I'm done." A few children nearby chimed in, "Go ahead, we'll keep an eye on things." Those little devils...

Chen Wenfang went to the kitchen, poured some warm water out of the pot, washed herself, added some more water, and put firewood and rice on the stove. When the water was hot, Wang Erniu also brought over the fish he had prepared. Chen Wenfang handed him a basin of hot water and said, "Quickly soak your hands, they're cold. Come on!" She then started to cook them.

Wang Erniu smiled as Chen Wenfang placed his hands in the warm water. A warm sensation slowly spread from his hands throughout his body. Wang Erniu squinted his eyes, and Chen Wenfang smiled with satisfaction. Except for the two large strips of grass, Wang Erniu had dealt with everything.

After soaking his hands, Wang Erniu cut the fish into small pieces as Chen Wenfang instructed. Chen Wenfang put half a pot of oil in a pan and heated it to about 70% of its maximum temperature. She marinated the small fish pieces for a while, then coated them with cornstarch mixed with seasonings and fried them in the pan. She planned to first deep-fry the fish pieces until they were half-cooked, then take them out and deep-fry them a second time until they were golden brown and crispy. This way, even the bones would be crispy, and each bite would be full of fresh and delicious flavor. Since she had nothing else to do, Chen Wenfang decided to fry the whole basin of fish. It would be cold in winter and wouldn't spoil easily, so it would be a good snack or even a delicious appetizer with drinks.

Several children had already come over the moment Chen Wenfang put the fish into the pot. They gathered around the stove, sniffing the air, waiting for the fish to come out of the pot. Naturally, Chen Xuanyu took the lead. They didn't know if the fish was cooked or not. After Chen Wenfang fried the fish for a while and took it out after it turned yellow, Chen Xuanyu shouted that he wanted to eat it.

Chen Wenfang laughed, "It's not ready to eat yet, it's not cooked, there are bones." Chen Xuanyu was an obedient child, so they could only wait obediently. After Chen Wenfang fried the fish until it was golden brown and slightly charred, she took it out and put it in a bamboo basket. After a while, the fish pieces were still not too cold, so Chen Xuanyu reached out and took one, put it in his mouth, and exclaimed, "Ouch, it's so hot! Hey, it's so delicious!"

Chen Wenfang said, "Why are you in such a hurry, child?" Wang Erniu and Chu Yi, who were standing next to her, looked at Chen Xuanyu with doting eyes and didn't say anything. Chen Wenfang took out a winnowing basket and distributed it to everyone, saying, "Come on, everyone, have some." She took one for herself, and it tasted pretty good. The batter wasn't too thick, and when she took a bite, the oil and the freshness of the fish were perfectly balanced, making it exceptionally delicious. She wanted to eat more after she finished.

Chen Wenfang handed the winnowing basket to Chu Yi, saying, "Chu Yi, take them outside to eat at the table. Be careful of the bones, and tell me if it's not crispy enough." Chu Yi ate as he led the children outside. Luo Xiaohei jumped up and down excitedly, its bottom almost twisting into a pretzel, running around behind the children, hoping to be fed. Chen Xuanyu tossed a small piece of dried fish into the air, and Luo Xiaohei jumped up and caught it.

The children seemed to have discovered a new continent, and they all shouted, "Luo Xiaohei, look at me, come on, catch me!"

"Luo Xiaohei, here you go!"

You throw in a piece, I catch it; Luo Xiaohei is busy and happy. Chen Wenfang thinks to herself, "Luckily, we kept the fish head; we can fry it longer for it to eat later."