Chapter 26: Tidal Foraging

In recent years, many families’ living standards had improved.

Not every household was willing to go tidal foraging anymore.

Especially under such a blazing sun—wasn’t sitting at home weaving fishing nets for money much nicer?

Besides, foraging by the sea couldn’t really earn money. At most, it earned you something to eat.

As Ye Yaodong walked home, he only saw a few scattered people along the road carrying tools and buckets.

Just as he reached the bend in the road, he saw all the women from his family leading the children in a huge procession.

“Going to the docks or the beach by the road entrance?”

Lin Xiuqing stopped while holding their younger son and answered him,

“Mother said we’re still going to the docks. Your friends came looking for you to go tidal foraging. They’re waiting at the front door.”

“Got it. You go ahead first. I’ll catch up in a bit.”

Ye Yaodong jogged home.

His friends were lounging with crossed legs in the shade at his doorway.

Seeing him running over from afar, they immediately started teasing him.

“Well well, our Brother Dong’s become hardworking now? Out clearing weeds in this heat?”

Panting beneath the shade, he waved his hand to fan himself.

“My own new house is being built. Shouldn’t I contribute some effort?”

A’Zheng said loyally,

“When construction starts, let us know if you need help. We’ll come lend a hand.”

“You won’t even do your own family’s chores, but you’ll come work for me? Your mother won’t beat you with a mallet?”

“Nah. My mother would only praise me for being diligent! Besides, we’re brothers. If my family had something going on, you’d help too.”

Ye Yaodong rolled his eyes and muttered inwardly:

Spoiling a son only ruins him.

Completely forgetting he himself was one of those “ruined sons.”

“Fine. I’ll call you guys if I need help. Did you all bring tools? Wait for me while I grab a hook and bucket. I’ll also take a hat. It’s way too hot.”

“Hurry up. If you’re late, everything good will already be picked clean.”

“Coming!”

He ran inside, failed to find where the hook had been put, and simply grabbed a fire poker instead before hurrying back out.

Grandma called after him while holding a bamboo tube.

“Dongzi, bring some tea!”

He turned back and accepted the bamboo tube she handed him.

“Thanks, Grandma. Go back inside. Sit indoors or by the doorway where it’s cool. Don’t go into the backyard. If the ground’s wet, be careful not to slip.”

“Ai, alright, alright~”

“I’m off then!”

The five of them each carried buckets and tools as they excitedly headed toward the docks.

Xiaoxiao suddenly said with some emotion,

“Feels like we haven’t gone tidal foraging in two years.”

A’Zheng corrected him,

“More than that, probably? Ever since all of you got married one after another, we barely came anymore.”

“It’s fine. Today we’re reliving old memories. Move faster.”

At this moment, Ye Yaodong was filled with endless hope for this second chance at life.

The whole man radiated energy and positivity.

Seeing how enthusiastic he was, everyone unconsciously sped up too.

By the time they reached the docks, the beach below was already crowded with people of all ages.

And his family had by far the biggest group.

The adults kept yelling distractedly at the children, warning them not to run out beyond the retreating tide and only play on the sand.

The moment Ye Yaodong’s two sons saw him arrive, they shouted loudly,

“Dad! Dad! Mom, Dad came too!”

Lin Xiuqing glanced up at the late-arriving someone.

At least he hadn’t lied to her beside the pillow last night.

“I know. Stay beside me and don’t run around.”

Eldest Sister-in-law couldn’t help saying,

“Yaodong’s actually been hardworking these past two days.”

“Who knows how long that’ll last? Maybe he just hasn’t gone tidal foraging in ages and finds it novel for now.”

Second Sister-in-law curled her lips.

She absolutely refused to believe Ye Yaodong had suddenly changed for the better.

After all, a leopard couldn’t change its spots.

“At least he seems more reliable now. Not like before when nobody could ever find him.”

“If he doesn’t become more diligent and responsible, who’s going to support him after the family splits?”

As Ye Yaodong walked closer, he heard his two sisters-in-law gossiping and couldn’t help frowning.

Women really did talk too much.

“Dad, where are you going? Mom said we’re not allowed to go below the tide line.”

“I’m going to catch fish and crabs. You stay here and dig clams. Don’t follow me.”

The children stopped in place unwillingly and could only stare longingly as he headed farther down.

They wanted to go too.

If there were no adults around, they’d already be swimming in the sea.

What a pity.

“Let’s split up. We’ll see who catches the most later.”

“Deal!”

Searching for fish, shrimp, and crabs depended heavily on luck and couldn’t compare to Mother Ye and the others digging clams efficiently.

That was why very few people bothered spending time doing it.

Only these idle troublemakers had the leisure for it.

Meanwhile, Ye Yaodong had tasted the sweetness of catching two mud crabs yesterday.

Without hesitation, he headed straight toward the rocky areas.

Using the fire poker in his hand, he pried up a large stone.

Just as expected, a pleasant surprise appeared beneath it—

A large kuruma prawn!

“Oh ho! I found a kuruma prawn! Looks like I’m taking first blood!”

He quickly clamped the still-flopping prawn and proudly held it up for everyone to see.

The others all turned around.

“Nice luck! First thing after arriving and you already got a kuruma prawn!”

Kuruma prawns were large and beautiful, with distinctive alternating dark and light stripes along their bodies and patterns on their tails.

Once cooked, they displayed obvious white segmented markings.

Their meat was crisp and springy, making them extremely popular.

Ye Yaodong himself loved eating them too.

Finding such a good catch right away gave him a wonderful start and put him in an excellent mood.

“Now I’m jealous. I’m definitely catching a few too.”

Xiaoxiao was suddenly full of motivation.

He casually kicked aside a nearby rock.

“Huh? A mudskipper? Didn’t expect to get something just from a random kick.”

“Oh, all of you already found something. We can’t fall behind. Let’s go, let’s go—split up!”

Originally, everyone had only come along because they had nothing better to do.

Now their interest was thoroughly stirred.

After the tide receded, small fish and shrimp often got trapped among rocks instead of following the seawater back into the ocean.

They remained active in the shallow depressions and muddy flats around the reefs until the next high tide returned them to the sea.

Everyone here was experienced.

Whenever they searched, they focused on low areas with rocks and pools of water.

Ye Yaodong felt like his luck today was unusually good.

After only taking two steps to the side, he spotted two rock crabs hiding beneath another large stone.

“Caught two more. Shame they’re not mud crabs, but better than nothing.”

Rock crabs had brown shells mottled with red patches and bright reddish claws.

Their appearance blended perfectly with rocks.

Their shells were thick, and they preferred living in muddy, rocky seabeds near low tide zones or among dense seagrass, usually hiding beneath stones.

Using the fire poker, he directly flipped the two rock crabs into his bucket before moving onward again.

In the 1980s, their village beach had not yet been developed and still remained in its natural state.

The waters were overflowing with marine life.

After low tide, simply wandering along the beach usually guaranteed some kind of harvest.

As for how much you found, that depended on the tides—

And luck.

(End of Chapter)