I Can See Through All Things' Information Chapter 6 Borrowing Grain
Previously on I Can See Through All Things' Information...
Upon returning home, Lu Qing wasted no time. Faced with the anticipation in the eyes of the local rascals, he immediately began distributing his catch.
He harvested two large banana leaves from the rear of the courtyard, slicing them into smaller sections to serve as wrappers.
Each child received a portion of fish, roughly weighing about half a pound.
The quantity was modest, yet the children were absolutely delighted.
Clutching their fish as if they had discovered rare treasures, they scattered toward their homes with joyful shouts.
Once the children were gone, several adult villagers approached Lu Qing, having watched the distribution.
"Lu Qing, how did you manage to catch these? What's the secret to landing so many at once?"
"It was merely a stroke of luck," Lu Qing replied with a modest smile. "It might be that the bait I prepared is particularly enticing to them."
"And what kind of bait would that be?"
"Just simple earthworms dug from the soil."
Lu Qing saw no reason to hide the truth. He knew that even if he remained silent, the word would spread quickly among the villagers.
A crowd of inquisitive children had already witnessed his fishing trip, after all.
Being transparent was far better than risking a reputation for being stingy or secretive.
"Earthworms? You can actually use those to catch fish?" The villagers looked on in surprise.
"Indeed, the fish seem to find them quite irresistible."
In such a feudal era, travel was restricted and information moved slowly.
The populace was naturally conservative, often hesitant to experiment with the unknown.
Common knowledge in one region could easily be a profound mystery in another.
Since no one in this village specialized in fishing, it was only natural they were unaware of the effectiveness of earthworms.
"I never imagined fish had a taste for earthworms. No wonder our previous attempts were so unsuccessful; we were simply using the wrong bait," one villager remarked.
"Lu Qing, was this a method your father taught you?"
After a brief pause, Lu Qing nodded. "My father mentioned it once in passing, and it recently came back to me. Little Yan kept complaining of hunger and our pantry was bare, so I decided to test the theory. I truly didn't expect such a successful harvest."
The villager went silent for a moment before shifting his gaze toward Little Yan.
The young girl, who had been squatting by the bucket observing the fish, noticed the man's stare. She looked up and offered him a bright, innocent beam.
The villager’s heart melted instantly, replaced by a deep sense of pity for the frail Lu Qing and his sister.
"So, what is your plan now? You cannot survive on a diet of fish alone. Your stomach won't be able to handle it."
"I was actually hoping to speak with the uncles about that," Lu Qing said with a serious expression. "You all know the state of my household—we are completely out of rice. I was hoping to borrow some grain and basic supplies. Once I find work in a few days, I promise to pay everyone back double."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Do you think your uncles are the type to abandon you in your time of need? We are neighbors; it is our duty to help. It’s just some grain. Uncle Shan will fetch some for you right now!"
Stirred by emotion, the villager spoke with a booming voice.
With such a bold declaration made, the other villagers felt moved to contribute as well.
"He's right, it's only a bit of grain—I'll go grab some for you immediately!"
"I have a surplus of salt from my last trip to the market; I can certainly spare a portion."
"We have plenty of oil at home. I'll bring some over in a moment!"
The villagers patted their chests, making generous promises one after another.
Overwhelmed with relief, Lu Qing exclaimed, "Thank you so much, uncles!"
"Just wait here, Lu Qing. I'll be right back with the grain."
Uncle Shan hurried off, followed by several others heading back to their own homes.
It wasn't long before they reconvened in Lu Qing’s small courtyard.
"Take this half-bag of rice. Use it for you and Little Yan. If it runs low, don't hesitate to ask Uncle Shan for more!"
"Here is half a jar of lard, Lu Qing. This should serve you well for a while."
"I've brought half a bamboo tube of salt for your kitchen."
"My wife made these flatbreads this morning. They are quite filling and will last a few days. Is this enough to get by?"
Looking at the pile of supplies, Lu Qing felt a profound sense of gratitude swell within him.
He bowed deeply multiple times. "It is more than enough. Thank you, thank you all!"
To show his thanks, he reached into the barrel and began scooping out handfuls of the smaller fish, dividing them among the men.
In an instant, the once-full wooden barrel was nearly empty.
"Please, uncles, take these fish home and enjoy a meal with your families."
Uncle Shan and the others tried to decline. "We can't take these! You worked hard to catch them. Keep them for yourselves."
"I can't possibly finish all of these alone. With this heat, they’ll spoil quickly. Since we don't have any livestock to feed the leftovers to, they would only go to waste. Please, consider it a favor to me so they aren't thrown away."
Ignoring further protests, Lu Qing pressed the leaf-wrapped fish into their hands.
"Well... alright then. We won't refuse your kindness."
Though the villagers had initially felt a slight sting at giving away their own food stores, receiving the fresh fish in return immediately lifted their spirits.
Once the men had departed, Lu Qing let out a long breath of relief.
He felt incredibly lucky.
Fortunately, the local villagers were honest and kind-hearted people. Had they been different, he wouldn't have dared to be so bold in asking for help.
With these supplies, he and Little Yan were safe from hunger for at least the next ten days.
This precious window of time would allow him to properly figure out how to navigate and survive in this new world.
"Brother, that pancake smells amazing!"
Lu Qing’s train of thought was broken by Little Yan’s voice.
He looked down to see the little girl crouched on the floor, staring longingly at the flatbread provided by the neighbors.
He walked over, broke off a small piece, and handed it to her.
"Be patient, Little Yan. Eat this for now. I'm going to start steaming some rice."
"Okay! Little Yan will be good!"
She nodded obediently, taking the bread and nibbling on it with a happy expression.
After settling his sister, Lu Qing busied himself in the kitchen.
He rinsed the rice for steaming and then prepared about half a pound of the small fish by cleaning and gutting them.
However, when it came time to cook the fish, he hit a snag.
There was no proper cooking pot in the kitchen.
Searching his memories, he realized why.
The home had once possessed an iron pot, but the previous owner of the body had sold it off to buy a meager amount of food.
Now, the only cookware left was a clay pot meant for rice; there was nothing for sautéing or frying.
With a sigh, Lu Qing improvised. He went outside and found a flat, thin stone slab. After scrubbing it clean, he balanced it over the fire to heat it up.
Once the stone was radiating heat, he took a small spoonful of the white lard from the jar provided by the villagers.
The fat sizzled the moment it touched the stone, melting into a shimmering liquid and filling the air with a rich, savory aroma.