With everyone busy, I turned to Fu Sheng with a teasing smile, "We have the most important job to do."
He raised his brows slightly, "And what might that be?"
"Fishing, of course." Saying that, I turned and walked towards the stream with my basket in hand as Fu Sheng quietly followed me.
While we walked past Uncle Fu and his side of the family, I could feel their glances.
Bai Mei shouted from a side, "If you two are thinking of catching any fish at the moment then you are both being delusional... You don't even have a fishing hook, how will you do it... Hahaha."
"Exactly, just go and sit down, don't waste your time or you might just drown." Fu Jia joined in as they both laughed like pigs.
I simply rolled my eyes and placed my hands on my waist, "Instead of minding your business and focusing on how you'll fill your stomach for tonight, you are both looking for trouble... Bai Ming, should I remind you of how your nosiness made you lose all your bundles... Hahaha."
"Y-you... you witch, how dare you say that to me... Just wait and see, I'll hit you." She tried to walk towards me but Fu Jia held her down. Still, she didn't stop; she walked towards me but just before she could lay her hands on me—
Bang!
Fu Sheng kicked her, which sent her falling into the stream.
"Ahhh... Ahhh... Help me, I-I-I can't swim. Help..." she cried out whining.
"Why are you pretending? The stream isn't deep, you can stand on it." I simply said, shaking my head, embarrassed for her sake.
She slowly stood up, realizing I was right, and she slowly walked out of the water.
Bai Ming's face flushed bright red. She stomped her foot like a child, water dripping from her clothes.
"You all just wait!" she snapped angrily. "When the head guard returns, I'll tell him everything!"
Fu Sheng clicked his tongue and stepped forward, shielding me with one arm.
"Go ahead," he said calmly. "But make sure you also tell him why you tried to attack her first."
Bai Ming's mouth opened and closed like a fish caught on dry land. She had no comeback. Fu Jia and Aunt Fu burst into laughter again.
I tilted my head and smiled sweetly.
"See? We don't even need a fishing hook to catch fish. Some fish just jump out on their own."
More laughter followed. Bai Ming turned and stormed away, water squishing with every step.
Fu Sheng looked down at me, one brow raised.
"Are you satisfied?"
I nodded proudly.
"Very."He sighed softly, though the corner of his mouth twitched like he was stopping a smile.
"Let's go," he said. "Before someone else decides to fall into the stream."
We continued walking to the shallow part of the river. The water sparkled under the moonlight, calm and clean. I placed my basket down and rolled up my sleeves.
Fu Sheng crouched beside me.
"So what's the plan?"
I grinned wide.
"We catch fish the old-fashioned way… with our hands."
Fu Sheng stared at me for three quiet seconds.
"...We're going to starve tonight, aren't we?"
I burst into laughter and splashed water at him.
"Just watch! I'll catch the biggest one!"
Just then, I stopped splashing and quickly checked the small pouch tied inside my bag.
I grinned when I found what I needed.
Fu Sheng noticed and frowned.
"What is that?" he asked, curious.
I didn't answer him yet. Instead, I pulled out a tiny wooden container, part of the things i had written in the letter which ha been brought to me.
I lifted my chin proudly and winked.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Fu Sheng leaned closer and narrowed his eyes, like he was trying to see through my soul but he kept quiet as usual, letting me do whatever i wanted to do.
I only laughed and walked closer to the water.
Slowly, with a mischievous smile, I sprinkled the bait into the stream, watching it scatter and sink.
The small pieces drifted, carried by the gentle current.
I dusted my hands dramatically and stood up straight.
Fu Sheng stared at me.
"And now what?"
I clasped my hands behind my back and lifted my face to the sun.
"Now," I said calmly, "we wait."
For a moment nothing happened.
The water remained still, only the ripples of our feet moving around.
Then plop.
A silver flash darted near my hand.
Fu Sheng blinked.
"Was that—?"
Before he finished, three more fish swam into the shallow spot, circling around us like they were confused or hypnotized.
Another splash.
Five… then seven… until a small school of fish gathered right in front of us, bumping into our legs.
Fu Sheng's facial expression was finally obvious for once
"What did you just do?!"
I smirked wide.
"I might have used the bait my parents brought, it worked like magic."
Fu Sheng stared at me like he still couldn't believe his eyes.
"Why are you looking at me? Start catching them! They'll swim away if you don't. Ahh—look, look! That one is near your feet!"
I pointed at it as he quickly reached toward the fish, but it slipped out of his hands, almost making him fall.
I immediately burst into laughter.
"If you think it's so funny, why don't you try catching one yourself?" he said with a frown, and I instantly stopped laughing.
"Me? Catch a fish? No, no, no, no… I'm only here to clear the path for you. I'll leave the rest to you," I said, already preparing to run away before he could make me do anything.
But I was too late.
He grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the stream.
"You sounded so bold earlier. What? Did a fish catch your tongue?" he asked.
Then he bent down quickly, caught a fish, and placed it right into my hands.
I leaped back screaming in shock.
The fish wriggled wildly in my hands, its scales cold and slimy against my palms.
I shrieked again and almost dropped it.
Fu Sheng only gave a small, quiet sigh.
"Hold it properly. You're acting like it's a snake."
"It feels like one!" I complained, dancing in place while the fish slapped against my fingers.
Fu Sheng moved behind me and guided my hands gently but firmly.
His touch was calm unlike my shaky grip.
"Keep your hands tight," he said.
His voice was low and as his hot breath touched my skin, i felt myself shiver slightly. "If you drop it, you're getting another one."
"Noooo, this is enough!" I cried, squeezing the fish with all my strength.
Finally, I managed to throw it into the basket.
It landed with a wet thump, flopping but contained.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"That was terrifying," I muttered.
Fu Sheng raised a brow.
"One fish and you're already dying?"
I glared at him.
"At least I caught one! You didn't put anything in the basket yet."
"You're right," he said. Then he rolled up his sleeves higher.
"Stand back. Watch carefully."
He reached into the water with a smooth movement.
This time, he didn't miss.
A second fish was tossed into the basket with ease.
I blinked.
"What kind of technique was that?"
"You're too noisy to learn it," he replied flatly.
I gasped and splashed water toward him.
He dodged lazily, like he saw it coming a mile away.
"Rude!" I shouted.
"Truth," he answered.
But even though his face looked cold and serious, I saw the faint curve at the corner of his lips—
he was enjoying this just as much as I was.