Chapter 178: 178. Two disciples [Request for monthly votes]_1 Chapter 178: 178. Two disciples [Request for monthly votes]_1 It was rare to see such a plentiful catch all at once, and Seventh Uncle was still earnestly explaining to Qiaoqiao.
At this moment, he pulled out an eel that was struggling nonstop from the trap on the ground.
The eel’s body was covered in mucus, generally slippery and difficult to grasp with one hand.
But now, Seventh Uncle pinched tightly with his thumb and index and middle fingers, no matter how the eel curled and exerted force beneath, it couldn’t wriggle free at all.
He looked at Qiaoqiao.
“I’ve eaten this before,” Qiaoqiao said with a grin, touching the eel’s cold, slimy body, “Dad says it’s not a water snake, it doesn’t bite people, it’s an eel.”
Seventh Uncle nodded in approval, “That’s right, but if really cornered, it also bites, it’s just that the toxin isn’t very strong, just wash it with water and alcohol and it’ll be fine.”
There was more than one eel in the trap, and Seventh Uncle soon pulled out another and tossed it into the bucket:
“Try catching one with your hands.”
Qiaoqiao was extremely delighted and immediately reached into the bucket. However, as soon as he grabbed it by the head, the eel twisted slipperily and slid right out from between his fingers.
After much struggle and using both hands, he still couldn’t catch the eel as easily and securely as Seventh Uncle did.
Qiaoqiao stared blankly at his own hands, feeling very aggrieved:
But Seventh Uncle laughed and encouraged him, “All fish are slippery, you have to be willing to get your hands dirty. See its head? Aim lower down its body, get a firm grip and don’t let go no matter how it twists, keep your hold steady and strong…”
The two aunties helping out were busy with the food preparation, and when they saw Seventh Uncle teaching Qiaoqiao so seriously, they instinctively breathed more quietly.
It was only when they brought the pot to the stove did they start discussing:
“Look at that kid’s uncle, he really has a way of teaching, coaxing and playing, Qiaoqiao is so happy.”
In their view, learning cooking meant either practicing knife skills with chop, chop, chop, or stirring pots back and forth. What’s the point of catching eels here?
When they first came in, they even overturned a basin full of loaches! Catching loaches and eels, enough to keep a child entertained for an entire morning.
The other aunty laughed, “It’s also because Qiaoqiao is brave, how come they’re not afraid at all? When I see the eel wriggling like a snake, it gives me the creeps.”
“That’s nothing!” The aunty across from her laughed, “When children are small, they’re fearless. I was so into raising silkworms when I was little, but now if you make me look at those white, fat silkworms, I’d still feel a bit squeamish.”
That was indeed true.
The two talked and laughed, and the topic drifted off to somewhere else entirely.
Meanwhile, by the edge of the pond, Seventh Uncle went about dealing with the catch from the two full traps on his own, while Qiaoqiao was becoming increasingly determined with the bucket of eels and loaches.
At this moment, his left and right hands were going at it as if practicing the Iron Sand Palm, continuously reaching down to catch, switching to the left hand when the right grew tired, and vice versa.
Seventh Grandma passed him his big mug of tea and couldn’t help but show a gentle smile,
“The child is quite serious.”
“Indeed.” Seventh Uncle was satisfied.
Ever since Qiaoqiao’s first visit to his house, he saw that although the child might be a bit slow, once asked to do something, he would get to it and keep at it with great focus, which was truly remarkable.
And for this reason, spending time together these days, Seventh Uncle really had taken to heart to teach him earnestly.
It might seem as if catching eels and loaches was hardly interesting, but what was actually being trained was speed, accuracy, and stability. Once a chef’s hands are steady, it means his heart is steady, and whatever he does, he could throw himself into it, achieving twice the result with half the effort.
Speaking of fate, twenty years ago, when he was young and strong and wanted to take on an apprentice, parents would bring their children to his house, and they would kowtow with a thud, giving him their blessing.
The other party cried their eyes out, only saying that there were too many children in the family and they were simply seeking food to eat and a skill to make a living with.
Even so, he didn’t relent, but instead arranged for the other party to work back and forth, seriously evaluating them for a full year before agreeing.
In those days, households weren’t living easily yet; they could practice on fat chickens and ducks every day without feeling any distress over it.
Seventh Uncle truly passed down all his skills.
He even handed over his own connections in the big banquet business. During the years the apprentice was with him, apart from the first three years of practicing basic skills with little income, he never had to worry about food and clothing.
Lately, the apprentice stopped studying culinary arts, instead earning a pretty penny for most of the month. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had the chance to wander around in coastal cities, and then run off when he came back.
As a master, Seventh Uncle believed he was more than qualified. Even though he was hoping to rely on his apprentice in his old age, he had no intention of mistreating him; back then they hadn’t relocated yet, but he also had his own small courtyard.
Who could have imagined, the carefully chosen successor just packed up their things and took off, and the actual parents even brought a whole bunch of siblings to berate him for oppressing the child.
Now old, he had once again taken a shine to the silly Qiaoqiao.
If previously he was teaching with a sense of duty, as time passed in their interactions, Seventh Uncle’s thoughts became increasingly focused on the boy.
Not for any old-age care, but purely because he liked the child.
Recalling the past, both Seventh Uncle and Seventh Grandma didn’t know what to say anymore. It was also because of that incident that they both fell seriously ill and since then resided in the city.
Now, looking at the silly Qiaoqiao before him, Seventh Uncle laughed once more:
“Qiaoqiao, I ask you, dare you kill a chicken?”
Qiaoqiao looked up blankly, “I’ve never killed one, I don’t know if I dare.”
“What about killing Big White?”
Qiaoqiao shook his head, “Big White can’t be killed; Big White is a good brother, Big White helps me watch over the mountain.”
“What if you absolutely had to kill?”
“Still no!” Qiaoqiao became serious, his eyes wide and round: “You can’t.”
Why is this child so stubborn?
He had originally intended to start a small teaching conversation, but now his own stubbornness was rising:
“Look, this goose isn’t raised by your family, and you didn’t spend any money on it, so why can’t you kill it? What if your grandparents agree?”
Qiaoqiao was at a loss, he didn’t know what to say, but still emphasized: “No! Just no!”
“I’ll take it and run, hide it deep in the mountains.”
“What if your parents and sister killed it while you were not home?”
Qiaoqiao furrowed his brows, his eyes reddening, as if tears would fall at any moment.
Seventh Grandma stood by the side and glared fiercely at that old fool, but then Qiaoqiao said:
“Dad, Mom, and Sister said Qiaoqiao is a good boy and they absolutely wouldn’t make Qiaoqiao sad.”
But Seventh Uncle didn’t want to stop there, and kept digging:
“What if? If they killed it, what would you do?”
Qiaoqiao was silent, tears swirling in his eyes: “Then Qiaoqiao won’t eat, Qiaoqiao will starve himself to death, to keep Big White company!”
Seventh Uncle had a complicated expression, but eventually muttered, “Silly boy, when your stomach is really hungry, you won’t think .”
But Qiaoqiao stubbornly looked up, “When I’m really hungry, I’ll think about it then. If I do nothing now, Big White will be even sadder.”