Chapter 11: Setting the Trap

At dawn, a faint pale light spread across the horizon, the sea breeze gently brushing by with a hint of saltiness.

Early in the morning, Erni had already arrived at Lin Yu’s doorstep, calling out anxiously, afraid he would leave without her. Seeing Erni, Wang Yufen felt pleased; she knew her son had a fondness for this girl and she liked her too. If her son could marry her, it would be a blessing from the ancestors.

So, as soon as she saw Erni, Wang Yufen quickly responded with a warm smile, urging her son to hurry out and reminding him to take good care of Erni.

Lin Yu carried several crab traps, each already baited, and stepped out of the yard. “Did your mother send you?”

“No, she didn’t!” Erni pouted. “But since she’s not home, I came by myself. Look what I brought—cornmeal pancakes. Here, have one.”

In those days, when white flour was a luxury, cornmeal was the staple for farmers. Cornmeal pancakes were especially beloved; when food was scarce, people would press one against the pan’s edge, so when the dish was ready, the pancake would be cooked too.

Erni knew Lin Yu’s family was struggling and probably couldn’t afford even cornmeal. So she brought two pancakes to satisfy his craving. To her surprise, Lin Yu smiled faintly and pulled a white flour steamed bun from his chest.

“I brought this for you too.”

Erni was stunned.

“White flour steamed bun! Where did you get it?” Her eyes widened in disbelief.

In their small fishing village, only during festivals could anyone afford white flour; otherwise, it was rarely seen. Families in dire straits couldn’t even have it then.

Lin Yu’s family had returned in poverty, barely able to eat. Yet now, they had white flour buns?

“Just eat it if I gave it to you. Why so many questions? It’s not stolen or anything.” Lin Yu chuckled, stuffing the bun into Erni’s arms, then snatched the cornmeal pancake from her hand and took a big bite.

Together, they ate the pancake and bun as they made their way to the shore.

The beach, bathed in the morning glow, stretched like an endless golden silk ribbon. The fine grains sparkled faintly, as if scattered with countless tiny diamonds.

Waves rolled gently onto the sand, each crest edged with a frothy white lace, softly caressing the shore before receding, leaving behind mirror-like shallows that reflected the orange-red hues blooming across the sky.

Such beauty could perhaps only be truly appreciated by those who lived by the sea.

“Lin Yu, aren’t you just setting crab traps? Why are you carrying a net on your shoulder?” Erni looked puzzled at the fishing net slung over his shoulder. The coastline they walked along wasn’t suited for fishing, and using a net to catch crabs seemed impractical.

“I’m hoping to try my luck at Golden Sand Beach later, see if I can catch some swimming crabs.” Lin Yu replied, and already they had reached the first spot he had chosen for the traps.

This was a rocky area known as Eagle Beak Reef, named for its sharp, protruding shape resembling an eagle’s beak.

Eagle Beak Reef was a deep gray-black, but under sunlight, it shimmered with a subtle metallic glow, as if clad in mysterious armor. One side of the reef jutted outward like a slightly open eagle’s beak, its sharp hooked form so vivid it seemed ready to dive and snatch prey from the sea.

When the tide surged, roaring waves struck the reef like wild beasts, white foam spraying high, instantly submerging its base. Yet the reef stood firm, unyielding to the relentless assault.

The crashing waves created a whirlpool of white splashes around it, like a flowing white veil draped across the stone. This was precisely the perfect spot Lin Yu had chosen to set his traps.

He glanced into the water, then busied himself.

First, he carefully inspected each crab trap, ensuring all entrances opened and closed smoothly and that the bait was properly placed. Then he slowly lowered a trap into the water, skillfully managing the rope. The waves were strong here, making it tricky to place the traps exactly where he wanted—he had to time it perfectly between one wave’s retreat and the next’s advance.

“Lin Yu, is this spot okay? The waves are so strong, it’s easy for the traps to get swept out to sea,” Erni said.

In her view, traps should be placed in calmer waters where crabs gather and it’s easier to set them. That’s how they caught crabs as children.

Lin Yu smiled. “You’re right, but all the calm spots have been fished out by the villagers. Although the waves here are bigger, swimming crabs like to come around Eagle Beak Reef. If we fix the traps securely, we’ll definitely have a good catch.”

Erni seemed convinced.

Just then, a wave crashed loudly against the reef, then quickly withdrew.

Lin Yu seized the moment, pushing the trap down beneath the reef. The current caught it, veering it slightly sideways from its straight descent. He released more rope, letting the trap drift with the current before it settled on the seabed.

Then he pulled the rope to adjust the trap’s position.

There was one more thing to keep in mind here: concealment. No one stayed all day at the trap sites; people came and went along the shore, and children often picked up shells and snails. If the traps were discovered by accident, no one would hesitate to take them.

To hide the trap, Lin Yu tied a special gray stone to the rope. Its color blended perfectly with the reef’s stones. Then he tucked the rope into a discreet crevice in the reef and cleverly covered it with seaweed.

Having finished, Lin Yu looked once more at the water hiding the trap beneath Eagle Beak Reef, silently hoping for a bountiful catch. Then he and Erni set off for the next spot.

“Lin Yu, you’re amazing—so thoughtful and careful. You’ve really changed,” Erni praised as she watched him diligently set traps.

Before, although Lin Yu’s father was the village’s best fisherman, Lin Yu himself was a novice. He couldn’t even find clams hidden in sand properly, let alone handle the details of setting crab traps.

Back then, he always said he wanted to study, have a bright future, and leave the small fishing village behind.

Now, Lin Yu seemed more mature. His serious work ethic was truly captivating.

Unaware of Erni’s thoughts, Lin Yu smiled as he continued, “People grow up. I have to learn skills to make sure Mom and my sister have enough to eat and wear. Besides, I need to earn money to marry you.”

“Oh, Lin Yu, you’re such a tease!” Erni blushed deeply, turning away shyly, but inside she was thrilled.

Soon, all five crab traps were set, and Lin Yu led Erni toward Golden Sand Beach.

Golden Sand Beach was quite far from their village—at least an hour’s walk along the coast. The beach was named for the golden glitter of its sands under the sun.

Compared to their village, Golden Sand Beach had almost no rocks, just fine, soft sand. It was abundant with clams, razor clams, and large, plump shrimp crabs. People often dug for clams or fished for razor clams there, but no one had ever caught swimming crabs there before.

If not for his mother’s words, Lin Yu would not have believed it. But since she wouldn’t deceive him, he came with an open mind—if they found some, great; if not, it would be a nice outing with Erni.

The scenery was stunning; sunlight poured down, the sand sparkling like scattered gold dust.

They chatted and laughed along the way, but once they entered Golden Sand Beach, Lin Yu’s demeanor changed completely.

The water here was much calmer, perfect for leisure and vacation. Walking through it, the soft sand felt like the gentlest velvet beneath their feet. Lin Yu carefully observed, hoping to find traces of swimming crabs on the sand.

But obviously, he was overthinking.

Swimming crabs preferred shallow seabeds and seaweed beds; they rarely crawled onto the beach. The tide was out, and Lin Yu glanced toward the sea.

“Lin Yu, you’re not thinking of swimming out there, are you? It’s too dangerous. Swimming crabs are usually at least ten meters deep. If you go that far, you might not be able to come back,” Erni said anxiously.

Even the village’s veteran fishermen dared not do such a thing.

Especially with the sea’s unpredictability—though it was calm now, a sudden wind could raise huge waves, and even the best swimmer could be swept away.

So Erni was firmly against Lin Yu risking it.

Lin Yu shook his head calmly. “I’m not going far. Mom said she and Dad first found swimming crabs just beyond the outer shore here. It’s low tide now, so it shouldn’t be far. I’ll swim out about ten meters, set the net, and come back to retrieve it when the tide goes out tomorrow.”

“If you’re worried, I brought a rope. One end tied to my waist, the other you hold. If things go wrong, you can pull me back,” Erni offered thoughtfully.

“That’s fine. Just be careful,” she added.

The three pages end here.