The mother and her five children returned home barefoot with muddy legs, leaving Liu Ji dumbfounded.
"Did you all take a bath in the mud?" he asked in shock.
The sky had cleared up, and the mud hanging on their calves had dried, giving off a stench that the mother and her children didn't notice. They excitedly put down the big wooden tub for bathing, one scooped water while another lifted a basket to pour into the tub.
Fat little fish plopped into the tub, which was a bit shallow, almost causing them to jump out. Sanlang and Si Niang got anxious and dived in to press the fish down, splashing water all over their faces, giggling foolishly.
Seeing the tub full of fish, Liu Ji was delighted, "Where did you catch the fish?"
Their family found it bothersome and hadn't bought any fish fry to raise in the field.
Qin Yao scooped water to wash the mud off her feet, and by the way, cleaned the mud-coated straw shoes of the four children.
