Chapter 155
Seeing this, Gu Jinchen had no choice but to take her cloak and follow behind, walking together with Li Qiao who was also left behind.
"You didn't join in this year?" In previous years, Li Qiao would always participate in such lively events without fail.
After all, whenever the village had work to do, young people like Li Qiao were indispensable.
Before Gu Jinchen went out of the village, Li Qiao was always one of those who helped without exception every time.
Gu Jinchen felt awkward standing there with him without any topic, so he asked casually.
Unexpectedly, when Li Qiao heard this, his face became smug. He raised his chin and pointed at a few women in front.
"I have a wife and child to take care of now. They don't need me, let them do it."
"???"
What was with that boastful attitude? As if he was the only one.
Thinking of this, Gu Jinchen smiled: "Oh, what a coincidence, I have one too."
Hearing this, Li Qiao turned and glanced at him, then both of them sneered and walked a few steps away from each other.
...Just as Wang Sister-In-Law and others said, the riverside was indeed very lively today, with almost half the village gathered there to join in the fun.
Older Baby and his group of little rascals had already run over early.
They chose a spot downstream, which was very close to the village's rice fields.
On the riverbank, there was a water outlet specifically used to channel water into the rice fields.
At the moment, a bamboo basket was placed at the water outlet.
When the people in the river pulled the net towards this side, some fish and shrimp would swim through the water outlet, and this basket could catch them.
However, during high tide, some agile fish and shrimp might still escape from the sides.
At the moment, those little rascals were surrounding the water outlet, helping to catch the fish and shrimp that escaped from the sides of the basket.
"I caught one, the biggest one!"
"Mine is bigger than yours!"
"What? Mine is the biggest!"
One of the little brats said as he held up his catch, but the water flow suddenly gushed again, and before he could steady himself, he ended up sitting on the ground.
Seeing this, the other kids laughed.
"Hahaha, Lai Wang, you better stand steadily before talking."
Even from a distance, one could hear the noisy commotion of those little rascals, each boasting about the small fish they caught, having so much fun.
"They're all big, all big. Move aside, let me change the basket. The water's cold, you've played enough, hurry up and go."
Wang Big Brother was in charge of the water outlet. Hearing the kids' chatter, he turned and frowned as he spoke.
Upon hearing his words, the group of kids moved aside, and Wang Big Brother took the opportunity to work with another man to change the baskets.
They emptied the fish and shrimp from the basket into a bucket prepared nearby.
Any that fell to the side were quickly caught by the agile kids.
Hearing the commotion from these kids, Luo Ge and the others couldn't help but take a look.
As they approached and saw the appearance of these little rascals, Luo Ge's face stiffened, and he was about to speak.
A woman standing not far from Luo Ge and the others saw one of the little rascals and called out.
"Hey, you little brat Lai Wang, still playing! When we get back, you'll be in for it if you catch a cold."
With that, she took a few steps and picked up one of the little rascals.
Gu Jinchen also stepped in and picked up another little one.
After putting them down, he turned around and brought over the iron basket that Wang Big Brother was holding.
On this side of the water outlet was actually a small sandy ditch, where the river water flowed through before being channeled into the rice fields of each household.
The water wasn't deep, only reaching the little rascals' calves.
But after all that ruckus, the kids' clothes were quite wet, not to mention they had been splashing water at each other playfully.
Though it's understandable given their childish hearts.
But on such a cold day, seeing these little brats like this, the adults couldn't help but worry.
Older Baby and Second Baby, who were picked up, saw the stern look on Gu Jinchen's face and fidgeted with their little frozen red feet, shrinking their necks in discomfort.
"So you do know you're in the wrong," Gu Jinchen said disapprovingly.
He had thought this batch of kids was obedient, but now that he saw this, they were just so-so.
Such troublemakers.
The other kids who were also brought up looked at each other and then at their own elders, shrinking their necks in the same way.
Luo Ge turned around, picked up the shoes of the two kids from a pile, and handed them over.
"Put these on and go home for a hot bath and change of clothes."
"Yes."
"Okay."
Hearing Luo Ge's words, the two little ones obediently put on their shoes and meekly followed behind Luo Ge and the others.
Their timid demeanor was almost comical.
Behind them, Wang Sister-In-Law flicked Tie Dan's head disapprovingly.
"Tie Dan, you've gotten too bold, haven't you? You were supposed to go bird egg hunting but instead took the others to play in the cold water?"
"Just...playing for a bit." Tie Dan also felt a bit guilty, his tone meek.
Originally, they did plan to go bird egg hunting, but they just happened to see the commotion by the riverside.
Seeing so many fish and shrimp, so lively, they couldn't help but be tempted.
Since Tie Dan's own father was there too, he led the group of little buddies to play for a bit, but before they knew it, they got carried away.
By the time they realized it, the group of little buddies had become like drowned chicks.
Older Baby and Second Baby were still playing and ended up sitting in the water a few times.
Looking down at his own wet pants, ... he was soaked too.
Suddenly remembering something, he looked up at his own mother.
"Mother, I just fell in the water earlier, I didn't pee my pants."
His expression seemed to fear that his mother would misunderstand and ruin his reputation for life.
"Hah." Hearing this, Wang Sister-In-Law couldn't help but give a wry laugh, her face saying, "Your mother is not stupid or blind."