Elizabeth was truly skilled.
Scarlett gave her verbal instructions, and with just some straw at hand, Elizabeth was able to weave something that looked quite decent.
Seeing Scarlett take action, William didn’t bother her further. After breakfast, he went out to drain the fields. Some of the rice paddies still held water, and before harvesting, the fields needed to be drained and left to dry for a couple of days.
Draining the fields sometimes came with bonuses—like catching loaches, eels, or even palm-sized crucian carp. These wild foods, celebrated in later years, were treated rather casually at this time. Crucian carp were small and full of bones, making them a hassle to eat. Loaches and eels required heavy oil to taste good, and using precious oil to cook them seemed wasteful.
Boiling them casually wouldn’t taste great either—the earthy smell was a significant issue.
Scarlett sighed. Such high-protein, low-fat meats were underappreciated by the diners of the 1980s.
Initially, she thought they could be a lucrative venture, her eyes gleaming with opportunity. But William quickly poured cold water on her idea. Loaches, he explained, fetched a poor price. Even dried loaches sold for just a few cents per pound—less than the price of an egg.
“This stuff is dirty and stinks. Better stick to your egg business!” William said, tossing a crucian carp into a wooden bucket.
“Uncle, don’t waste the crucian carp! Make more crucian carp soup for Michael. It’ll help him grow taller and stay healthy!”
William was taken aback. “Where did you hear that?”
Scarlett thought to herself, isn’t this just common sense?
Oh well, in 1983, there was no such thing as common sense. So, she lied with a straight face: “I read it in a book.”
Please don’t ask which book, she thought, because she couldn’t answer that.
Afraid William would press further, Scarlett grabbed her little cousin and ran off.
The villagers helping William heaved a sigh of relief.
Scarlett was simply too beautiful. Even as she casually squatted by the field, most men didn’t dare look at her too long. After all, William used to have a bad reputation. Who in Wellwater Village would dare make a move on his niece? Only a fool would be that reckless.
William wiped the sweat from his neck and glared at the others.
“Let me tell you all—anyone with the audacity to target my niece will regret it. I’ll deal with them myself!”
One of the villagers protested, “ William, she’s like a niece to me. I wouldn’t dare think that way…”
William tossed the bucket at him. “You sure do talk a lot. Hurry up and catch more fish! Didn’t you hear Scarlett say it’s good for kids?”
—
Scarlett wandered around Wellwater Village with her little cousin, Michael.
Wellwater Village had abundant water resources, and the reed marshes from Larkspur Village stretched into this area. The white-flowered reeds of Greenfield County had been famous since ancient times, and the reed resources here were plentiful. Scarlett, however, had no plans to delve into reed-based handicrafts. The timing wasn’t right, and the market for such products in Greenfield County was already saturated.
But the reed marshes weren’t just good for weaving materials—they were also home to wild ducks and waterfowl.
To Scarlett, these were fluttering dollar signs. As for ecological conservation? That could wait until her basic needs were met. Compared to those who resorted to theft and robbery to make a living, her methods of earning money were already quite clean.
Michael strutted proudly ahead, treating Scarlett as his prize possession. After all, no one else’s sister was as beautiful as his Scarlett.
As the busy farming season approached, not even the blazing sun could suppress the hormones of the young men in Wellwater Village.
“Michael, is your cousin here?”
“Michael, want to catch fish with me?”
“Michael…”
While they called out to Michael, their glances were clearly directed at Scarlett. This roundabout flirting only made these young men blush even more. Scarlett couldn’t help but marvel at how innocent most young people were in the 1980s.
She, however, had no interest in these innocent young men.
With an empty stomach, who had the energy to appreciate handsome faces?
Scarlett had been to Wellwater Village before, and her name was well-known among the younger crowd. Yet, Scarlett had always been aloof, unwilling to engage with those trying to court her. Now, she intended to maintain the original owner’s attitude. She wasn’t interested in the young men here but rather in the kids who played with Michael.
Children over ten were typically helping with household chores, and by thirteen or fourteen, they were considered nearly full-fledged laborers. Scarlett’s target audience was kids under ten—they were playful, durable, and easy to please.
After wandering for a while, Scarlett finally found her targets. A few kids older than Michael ran up, laughing.
“Michael, my mom said your cousin hit her head and turned dumb!”
Scarlett felt a wave of exasperation.
Compared to the young men entranced by her looks, these cheeky kids were far less friendly.
Calling her out like this right from the start!
Michael wouldn’t stand for it. “My cousin Scarlett isn’t dumb! You’re lying!”
Scarlett smirked and handed two coins to her loyal little cousin. “Go buy something from the shop to eat. I’ll wait for you under the tree—I’m tired.”
The cheeky kids were immediately envious.
If Michael’s cousin gave him money for snacks, how could she be dumb?
Children’s innocence and simplicity were no match for Scarlett’s cunning. When Michael returned with candy, the other kids were visibly drooling.
Scarlett seized the opportunity. “Do you guys want some candy?”
They all nodded eagerly.
“Then bring me something in exchange. Michael is my cousin, but you’re not—and you even called me dumb.”
The leader of the group swallowed hard. “What do we need to bring, Scarlett?”
This one was quick to adapt, already addressing her as “Scarlett” as Michael did.
