Zhao Ger went. He returned home and mixed a bowl of seasoning, then joined in the fun. He had originally planned to go to town today to tidy up the shop and then buy some supplies. Since the shop was already rented, they needed to start the business quickly. Leaving it empty for a day was just wasting money.
But Fang Zichen had been gone for several days. Not to mention Guaizai, he himself missed him terribly.
The trap was set, and everyone hid in a patch of tall grass nearby, peering through the blades toward the field.
The scene was tense and focused, much like guerrillas ambushing Japanese soldiers during the War of Resistance.
A flock of sparrows chirped as they flew over and landed in the field. Seeing the rice under the basket, they didn't go in immediately. They hopped around outside, chirping some more. After seeing that there seemed to be no danger, one sparrow walked in and pecked at a grain of rice.
Then a second one.
Then a third.
Then a fourth.
The trap was working.
The children turned to look at Fang Zichen, their eyes full of admiration.
Guaizai lay on his stomach beside Fang Zichen, clenched his little fists, his eyes shining.
Father... is too amazing.
ZZZZZZZZ 3
Guaizai knew that other children's fathers weren't like this. Liu Dali and the others said their fathers didn't tell stories, didn't play with them, didn't buy them lots and lots of candy, didn't let them ride on their backs, and if they were bullied outside, their fathers wouldn't help them get revenge.
Before, he only had a daddy and no father. When he saw Ma Lao'er carrying Ma Xiaoshun, he used to secretly feel envious. But now, he didn't need to envy anyone else anymore.
He had a father now.
Moreover, his father was the best, loved him the most, called him his little treasure. His father was the number one best in the whole world.
He shifted slightly, pressing himself tightly against Fang Zichen. Fang Zichen, without thinking much of it, freed one arm and pulled him into an embrace.
Guaizai felt a surge of pride under the admiring gazes of his friends, his chest swelling with joy as if he were floating on air.
More and more sparrows went inside, and Zhao Ger's heart pounded with excitement.
Just as the basket was almost full to the point of being unstable, Fang Zichen pulled the string. The stick fell, and the basket dropped down.
The sparrows that hadn't entered the circle scattered in fright, flying everywhere.
The basket was full of sparrows, over twenty of them.
Fang Zichen repeated the method and caught two more batches before stopping.
Zhao Ger ran home again and carried over a pot. He built a simple stove with stones, set the pot on it, lit a fire, and heated water to scald the feathers off.
But there were really too many sparrows. They had plenty of people (eight children), but Fang Zichen knew how to eat but not how to prepare them. He spent a long time plucking just one sparrow. Having no other choice, Zhao Ger sent Liuliu back to call for Zhou Ger.
The whole group was bustling with activity.
Once plucked, the sparrows were pitifully small, like scrawny chicks, a sight almost too pathetic to look upon.
Skewered on bamboo sticks, the children were very enthusiastic, running around everywhere to gather firewood.
Fang Zichen supervised from the side, while Zhao Ger and Zhou Ger were responsible for the roasting. The seasoning was simple and crude, just some vegetable oil and salt. Yet sometimes, the finest ingredients need only the simplest preparation. When the sparrows were ready, they sizzled with rendered fat, their skins a perfect golden-brown and wonderfully crisp, filling the air with an irresistible aroma.
Fang Zichen wasn't very interested in this kind of meat, but for children who usually only got to eat meat once every one or two months, it was so delicious they felt like they could swallow their own tongues.
The sparrow bones were roasted until brittle. Some children couldn't bear to spit them out and would chew them up and swallow them.
Zhao Ger noticed that Fang Zichen seemed to treat little gers especially favorably. With the first batch of roasted sparrows, he first gave one to Guaizai, then to Liuliu, then to those two little gers, and only after that to the other children.
When he spoke to those two little gers, his tone was also much gentler.
Most men in the village held a deep-seated preference for sons over daughters and gers, viewing boys as the ones who would carry on the family line and provide support in old age, while considering girls and gers as temporary members who would eventually marry into other families.
It was especially serious in Shili Village. In earlier years, it was said that over there, people often drowned baby girls or gers in the river right after birth. Xiaohe Village was somewhat better, there were some who valued gers, but no matter how much they valued them, it wasn't to the extent Fang Zichen did.
"What are you thinking about?" Fang Zichen had somehow come to stand behind him.
Zhao Ger shook his head. "Nothing."
A roasted sparrow skewer was brought to his lips. Zhao Ger said, "My hands are busy right now, I can't use them."
Fang Zichen wiped the sweat from his brow and said, "I'll feed you. Look how tired you are. Are you thirsty? Should I take over?"
Zhao Ger's heart felt warm. In the end, he didn't let him. It was too hot by the fire, he couldn't bear to have Fang Zichen there.
Zhou Ger coughed. The two of them weren't doing anything overly intimate, but he just felt something was off—it seemed like they were communicating with their eyes.
The display of affection was so sweet it became almost unbearable to watch.
Zhao Ger glanced at him, pursed his lips, and pushed Fang Zichen, who was sticking close to him, away. "Go check on the children."
Fang Zichen was unwilling. "What's there to check on?"
The few children, each with a sparrow skewer, were sitting in a circle, eating happily. They didn't need watching.
They had roasted outside for a whole day, and played for a whole day too. Even with full stomachs, the children were reluctant to head home. They lingered with Guaizai, their laughter ringing out as they playfully teased the puppy.
The little puppy was adorable, and the children really liked it. Plus, they had never seen one before, so it was a novelty.
Guaizai was also very good to his playmates. Previously, he had even taken the goat to the drying field and let his little friends sit in a circle on it.
Even though he was tired from roasting sparrows all day, Zhao Ger, for some reason, felt much more relaxed watching his son sitting among the group of children, laughing so heartily his eyes disappeared into slits.
He knew that the reason he could escape the Ma family, could live like a human being, could have enough to eat and wear with his son, could be so carefree and be cherished and protected by someone... was all because of...
He looked at Fang Zichen, and his eyes suddenly felt sore.
____
The next day, Fang Zichen asked Zhao Ger if he wanted to go with him to the Yang residence. Zhao Ger thought about it and decided not to. They had already spent the entire previous day at leisure, so Zhao Ger felt it was time to focus on practical matters.
In the end, only Fang Zichen and Guaizai set out for the Yang residence. Before they left, Zhao Ger urged Fang Zichen to return home early. Fang Zichen agreed, but after leaving for Yang residence this time, Fang Zichen went missing.
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