Chapter 23: New Gear Acquired

The first rays of the morning sun filtered through the window cracks, waking Lin Yu from his slumber. His gaze fell inadvertently upon the neatly folded new clothes resting on the edge of the kang.

He was instantly wide awake, his eyes filled with pleasant surprise and anticipation.

Lin Yu rose gently, reached out to pick up the garments, and after inspecting them carefully, put them on with great joy. The clothes fit his frame perfectly, with just enough room to allow him to move freely; he could feel the care his mother had poured into tailoring them.

He paced the room a few times, moved by the realization that his mother must have stayed up late under the dim glow of an oil lamp to finish them.

Yet, after a moment, Lin Yu slowly took the new clothes off. He smoothed them out with care, refolded them into a square, and placed them back on the edge of the kang.

His mother, who had just entered the room, witnessed this scene. A look of confusion crossed her face as she asked softly, "Xiao Yu, the clothes are freshly made; why aren't you wearing them? Do you not like them, or is there something I didn't do well? If it’s my fault, just tell me, and I’ll fix it for you."

Lin Yu looked up and replied with a smile, "Mom, the clothes are wonderful, and I like them very much. But there is so much work to do today. If I wear new clothes while working, they’ll easily get dirty or damaged—that would be such a pity. Once we’re done with this busy stretch, I’ll wear them properly."

Hearing this, his mother felt both comforted and pained.

It was true; they were repairing the house today, which meant moving things back and forth. Dust was everywhere in their old adobe home, and one was bound to get covered in grime. Getting dirty was one thing—that could be washed—but if the fabric caught on something and tore, it would be a real loss.

"Alright, then we'll wait until the work is done," his mother said with a smile. "There’s still quite a bit of fabric left. I’m waiting to make a set of cotton-padded clothes for each of you, and if there’s any left after that, I’ll make you both some cotton shoes."

Lin Yu frowned.

From the very beginning, his mother had never mentioned making anything for herself. Judging by the material used yesterday, it was clear he hadn't bought enough fabric; by the time the cotton-padded clothes were done, there would likely be nothing left for the quilts.

"Mom, did we not buy enough fabric?" Lin Yu asked. Before Wang Yufen could answer, he added, "Mom, don't worry. Make one for yourself too—we can always buy more if we run out."

"You silly child, is money so easy to come by? I know you've earned a good amount lately, which has truly improved our living conditions, but that was mostly luck. Even if you have money, you have to save it. You’re growing up; shouldn't you be saving up to get married one day?"

"Don't worry about me. I don't lack clothes. Once the house is repaired and we get the kang burning nice and warm, I won't be cold this winter," Wang Yufen said with a smile.

Lin Yu knew this was just self-deception.

In the frigid winters of the Northeast, even if the kang was heated until it was scorching, the air in the room remained biting. Without heavy, cotton-padded clothing, it was impossible to block out the pervasive cold that crept in through every collar and cuff. How could anyone endure that?

"Mom, we still have money! You must make winter clothes. I’ll buy more fabric later, and you have to make something for yourself, or you won't make it through the winter. As for the money, don't you worry—leave it to your son. I’m quite capable," Lin Yu promised, patting his chest.

His words brought tears to Wang Yufen’s eyes.

After finishing their meal, Lin Yu grabbed his crab cages and hurried toward the shore to set them.

The sea was turbulent, with waves crashing against the shore and sending up tall sprays of white foam.

Just as Lin Yu reached his spot to deploy the cages, his grandmother, Yang Suzhen, arrived at their home carrying some tools.

At that moment, Wang Yufen was busy inside. Since they were repairing the house, there would be several people helping, and she had to provide a meal for them.

When Wang Yufen saw Yang Suzhen, her heart skipped a beat. The deep rift that had formed between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law over her remarriage felt like an unbridgeable chasm, and she couldn't help but suspect her mother-in-law had come to start a fight.

With a look of vigilance and unease, she asked, "Mom, why are you here?"

The old woman tossed the tools she brought onto the ground. Her expression remained stern, but her eyes held a complex glimmer as she said, "Don't jump to conclusions. I'm not here to stir up trouble. Since you’ve chosen to come back, you’re still part of the Lin family. Lin Yu and Yao Yao are my own grandchildren; I can't just stand by and watch them struggle."

Her gaze shifted to the implements as she continued, "These things belonged to Lin Yu’s father. I put them away when you left. Now that you're back, I’m returning them to you. They’ll be useful eventually."

Wang Yufen’s heart was flooded with a mix of emotions upon hearing her mother-in-law’s words.

Looking at the familiar tools, memories of the past surged like a tide. The past conflicts and resentment seemed to be washed away by the torrent of time. Although the relationship between them remained stiff, the hostile atmosphere had quietly dissipated.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but felt a lump in her throat, only managing to choke out, "Thank you, Mom."

The old woman nodded slightly, said nothing more, and turned toward the door. As she crossed the threshold, she paused for a moment, as if there was something else she wanted to say, but she merely sighed in the end.

Wang Yufen turned her attention to the fishing gear.

There was a tattered net—the ropes were worn but still strong, and the mesh had been carefully mended. There were several hooks of different sizes, their points glinting with a cold, metallic luster in the dim light. Beside them was a simple creel; the bamboo strips had been worn smooth by time, yet it remained sturdy and reliable, ready to hold a bountiful catch.

Among these tools, the most striking was the fish spear.

The shaft was made of solid, aged elm, about the length of a man and just the right thickness for a firm grip. The surface had been polished smooth by years of use, emitting a faint, oily sheen. At the tip was a spearhead forged from refined iron, each prong over half a foot long and incredibly sharp. The inner edges of the prongs featured small, razor-sharp barbs; once they pierced prey, they would lock firmly in place, leaving the fish to struggle in pain and despair.

This spear had been a gift from Lin Yu’s father. When they left to remarry, Lin Yu had insisted on taking it, but his grandmother had snatched it away.

Thinking back, it was a blessing it had been taken; if it had been brought to the Yang household, it certainly wouldn't have made it back.

Along with some boat and farm tools, Yang Suzhen had returned everything.

This was undoubtedly a sign that Yang Suzhen had re-accepted the three of them. Wang Yufen’s eyes welled with tears as she watched the old woman’s hunched back disappear from the courtyard. She felt a complicated mix of emotions.

She knew that the person who suffered the most was likely her mother-in-law. Her son had died unexpectedly in his prime, a tragedy of an elder burying the young, and not long after, his wife had taken the children to remarry. No one could easily accept that.

But Wang Yufen had no regrets.

Every decision she made was for the sake of ensuring her two children were fed and would not starve. That was true for her remarriage, and it was true for her divorce from Yang Shulin. Even if no one understood her and everyone pointed fingers at her, she was not afraid.

Wang Yufen tidied up the fishing gear.

Having these items back provided an extra layer of security for their family of three!

Just as she finished, Lin Yu returned home. Seeing his mother tidying the pile, he listened as she recounted Yang Suzhen’s visit, and she even cautioned him not to hold a grudge against his grandmother.

As for holding a grudge, Lin Yu had none at all—perhaps the original owner of his body might have, but not him.

He picked up the fish spear his mother handed him and examined it carefully, feeling a surge of excitement.

The spear was heavy, with a rope tied to the tail. It still carried the faint scent of fish; his father had used it to catch many fish, including large ones. At sea, once a big fish swam by, one only needed to throw this spear with force, and even the meter-long fish Lin Yu had caught earlier would be pierced through.

However, the thing was quite heavy, and Lin Yu’s current body was still too thin and lacked the strength to use it effectively, so he could only set it aside for now.

As a seasoned sea-fishing enthusiast, what delighted him most were the fishing rod and the hooks.

The main body of the rod was made of a tough piece of elm, its grain winding and crossing like etchings of time. Though made of wood, the unique processing technique used by the fishermen made it stand out, appearing exceptionally sturdy.

The line tied to the rod was a special type of hemp cord.

It was thick and wear-resistant—in this era, this was undoubtedly the best line available. Its surface was slightly rough, but it possessed excellent resilience, enough to withstand the tugging and struggling of fish in the sea. Time had left faint traces on the line, turning it a pale yellow, but that didn't affect its performance in the water at all.

The hooks at the end of the line were arranged in varying sizes. The large ones were like the talons of a bird of prey—thick, sharp, and slightly upturned, designed for larger fish. The smaller ones were much more delicate, thin but incredibly tough, shaped like fine, crescent moons. Because they had been soaked in seawater for so long and exposed to countless winds and suns, they were slightly rusted, but that didn't affect their utility.

"Mom, with these, I’ll definitely be able to catch more fish, and our lives will surely get better," Lin Yu said confidently.

The rod and line were his weapons. Although they were a far cry from the gear he used in professional fishing tournaments, they were more than enough for subsistence fishing to support his family.

Wang Yufen was happy too. "Perhaps your grandmother has had a change of heart, which is why she sent these back. We should be grateful to her; if she hadn't taken them all, they would have just gone to waste with the Yang family."