Chapter Fifteen: Overestimating Tiger’s Resolve

With Fifth and Sixth Uncle gone to the neighboring courtyard, no adults remained here, leaving a group of half-grown boys, their bellies full and their spirits wild enough to truly tear the roof apart. Before Seventh Brother could fetch a ladder, Eighth and Eleventh scrambled up the pillars to the beam, bending at the waist as they stood aloft, their bodies bursting through the already tattered thatch roof.

The two big fools immediately started ripping it apart, sending clouds of dust and straw swirling through the once neat little courtyard, plunging it into chaos. “Easy there!” Wu Qi, who prized cleanliness, had not even removed his robe before Eleventh Brother showered him in dust.

Eleventh let out a strange cry, “Well, look at my eyesight! Didn’t even see our Tenth Young Master standing down there.”

Despite his words, his hands showed no courtesy, tossing a bunch of thatch straight at Wu Qi. Wu Qi, having just taken off his robe, found his undershirt covered in straw and dust. Frustrated, he discarded his undershirt as well, and bare-chested, joined the fray.

“Eleventh Brother, watch how I deal with you!”

Wu Ning watched their antics, speechless. “Fool around all you want, but be careful!”

By now, the courtyard was so thick with dust that no one could be seen. Wu Ning, resigning himself, stripped off his own cloth robe and undershirt, and like Wu Qi, climbed up bare-chested.

Just as he climbed up, he saw through the fence that Tiger was tugging Qiao along, both running towards them, muttering as they ran:

“We’re doomed, we woke up late! We woke up late!”

Eleventh Brother, seeing Tiger’s jiggling bulk, called out, “Not late at all, we just started!”

Wu Ning sneered coldly, “You really overestimate Wu Sanhu’s sense of duty.”

“Huh?” Eleventh Brother was confused. “Isn’t he here to help?”

“Just watch.”

Tiger dashed into the courtyard, almost blinded by the dust, finally reaching the house. “Did you guys eat yet?”

“Damn!” Eleventh Brother cursed, tossing a clump of thatch at him.

“You’re really letting us down! We finished ages ago—who’d wait for you?”

“Huh?” Tiger’s face fell, as if he’d missed ten thousand meals.

Luckily, there was hope for him yet. He didn’t turn and leave. “Then, then what can I do?”

Seventh Brother squatted on the roof, teasing, “Why don’t you come up?”

Tiger shook his head immediately. “Forget it, this roof’s too flimsy.”

Still thinking about missing breakfast, he stubbornly asked Wu Ning, “Isn’t there even a bit left?”

Wu Ning, defeated by this chubby fool, replied grumpily, “Saved some for you in the pot!”

“Knew Ninth Brother would take care of me!” Tiger ran straight for the kitchen.

Eleventh Brother sighed admiringly, “Hey, eat less so there’s more for Qiao!”

“Don’t worry, I hardly eat anything!”

“Take a bowl outside—eat while you keep an eye on things.”

“Got it! Watch Tiger earn another string of coins for Ninth Brother!”

——————————

In these times, building an earth house didn’t cost much, especially since the most expensive beams and pillars were gifted by Ancestor Lord’s family.

So, as Wu Ning worked alongside the others, he mentally calculated the costs again. Labor was all family, so free; the bricks for the walls were made and sun-dried by themselves, also free; the main beams were free; Sixth Uncle said he had materials for doors and windows and could make a set in two days, free as well...

The only expenses were food for everyone, lime for the walls, and incense for blessings. In the end, he might not even spend his whole string of coins, especially since Fourth Uncle had donated another string.

In truth, Fourth Uncle was much more experienced than Wu Ning. That extra string of coins wasn't meant for construction, but for furnishing the house.

Such fine furniture couldn’t be made by Sixth Uncle, a mountain carpenter; it had to be bought in town.

Of course, Wu Ning was clueless about Fourth Uncle’s intentions and hadn’t even considered furniture.

But with money to spare, he wondered if he could build a corridor in the courtyard to lend his little inn a touch of elegance.

After a day’s work, by dusk, Wu Ning and his companions looked as though they’d just emerged from the earth itself.

Wu Ning fretted over how to cook when they were all so filthy, but Fifth Aunt arrived just then.

With daylight fading, everyone left the roof and headed straight for the village river. They found a quiet spot, stripped bare, and lined up to plunge into the water.

After a day’s labor, covered in mud, the chill river washed them clean—nothing could feel better.

Wu Ning scrubbed at the grime, calling to Eleventh Brother, “Catch two big fish, and I’ll steam them for you.”

“Alright!”

Eleventh Brother was the best swimmer among them, and dove into the water with a splash.

In such village rivers, you couldn’t cast nets; families caught fish either by angling or by hand in the river.

There was, of course, a third way.

Like now, Eleventh Brother and the others dived down and brought up two small fish, surfacing with a resigned look. “No luck today, didn’t see any big ones.”

“That’s your poor eyesight!” Wu Li glared, rallying everyone, “Come on, time for the foolproof method!”

What was the foolproof method?

A fish trap dam!

To drain the pond to catch fish—that’s what it meant.

With Wu Li’s call, everyone sprang into action, finding a shallow, slow-flowing bend in the river. Seventh Brother, Wu Qi, and Wu Li took the upper side; Wu Ning, Eleventh Brother, his younger brother, and Tiger took the lower.

They scooped up river mud to build a dam, and soon, a stretch of river several yards wide was blocked on all sides but the one facing the river.

The brothers filled the downstream side, standing shoulder to shoulder across the river, churning up mud and sand to drive the fish into the bend.

The fish coming downstream, blocked by the muddy water, naturally turned into the bend.

Then they blocked the last opening, and all that remained was to bail out the water inside the dam.

The trick was infallible. Once inside, from the smallest fry to the biggest fish, none could escape.

They hadn’t used this method before—short on manpower, and though draining the pond was an ancient practice, not everyone knew how. Wu Ning had thought of it only after arriving at the valley.

He wasn’t concerned with “foolproof” or not—he just wanted to satisfy his craving.

It took nearly half an hour to bail out the water, and Wu Li even went home to fetch a big basket.

When the water was gone, leaving fish wriggling in the mud, Wu Ning called out, “Pick out the big ones!”

“Got it!”

A group of bare-bottomed boys gleefully waded in, gathering the fruits of their labor.

The basket was filled to the brim with big fish—not only enough for days, but everyone could take two home to treat their families.

Who wouldn’t want to do such a thing?

“Ninth Brother!” Eleventh Brother grinned ear to ear.

“How about you tell my dad not to send me to the kiln anymore—just let me build houses for you instead?”

“......”

Though just a joke, Wu Ning felt pleased and replied, “Alright, once the house is finished, you and Eighth Brother can help me dig a cellar.”

“If there’s money to be made, you’ll get a share.”