Chapter 26: Awaiting the Tide

Looking at her daughter’s rosy face flushed with joy, Wang Yufen couldn’t help but smile, her heart brimming with happiness. Now that there was food and the house had been repaired, the two children would no longer suffer from hunger and cold.

All thanks to her son.

If it were up to her alone, she truly wouldn’t know what to do. Her gaze slowly shifted to Lin Yu, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

There was relief—the relief of seeing her son grow up and become responsible, a once tender sapling now gradually growing into a mighty tree that could shelter the family from storms; gratitude—grateful for her son’s resilience in the face of harsh life, bringing a glimmer of hope to their household through his efforts; guilt—the guilt of being a mother who could not provide a better start in life for her child and instead forced him to shoulder family burdens too early; and pride—pride in her son’s steadfastness and intelligence, finding a way out even in adversity.

Yet, above all, her heart was heavy with worry for her son. She feared the day Lin Yu might share the same fate as his father, lost to the sea forever.

The thought of Lin Yu sailing out to sea filled her with dread.

Wang Yufen took a deep breath and stepped forward, grasping Lin Yu’s hand. “Xiao Yu, I know you want to shoulder this family, to make sure your sister and I have enough to eat, but the sea is too dangerous. Your father was lost at sea. I cannot lose you too. Let’s not go out fishing anymore, alright? Even if it costs me my life, I will find a way to support you both.”

Lin Yu looked at his mother and spoke slowly, “Mom, I understand your worry, but look at our home. Though there are still some reserves, they won’t last long. This house is repaired, yes, but there will be many expenses ahead. If I don’t go fishing, how will we survive? I’ve grown up; I can’t let you bear this burden alone. Going out to sea is dangerous, but it’s the fastest way I can think of to improve our lives.”

Hearing his words, Wang Yufen’s lips trembled slightly, tears welling in her eyes.

She knew what her son said was true, but the worry in her heart would not dissipate. She parted her lips, wanting to say more, but her throat felt choked, and no words came out.

She felt powerless as a mother. If only she had the means, she would never let her son risk his life.

Seeing this, Lin Yu gently embraced his mother, just as she had comforted him when he was a child, softly patting her back. “Mom, trust me. I won’t act recklessly.”

After a long moment, Wang Yufen slowly raised her head and looked into her son’s determined eyes. She knew she could no longer change his decision. With a helpless sigh, she nodded and said softly, “Then you must promise me to be very careful and come back immediately if you encounter danger.”

Lin Yu nodded.

He was going to sea, but that day was still far off.

First, he had to earn enough to repair the fishing boat.

But making money wasn’t so easy now.

The next day, Lin Yu went to collect the crab traps. The number of flower crabs caught was scant, a stark and cruel contrast to the first bountiful haul. Five traps yielded only twelve flower crabs in total, not enough to justify a trip to the city.

This stirred a strong sense of unease and anxiety in Lin Yu. He knew that relying solely on catching flower crabs would no longer sustain them; he had to find other ways to earn money. Going out to sea to fish seemed inevitable.

But before that, he had to earn enough to repair the boat.

Carrying the nearly empty crab traps, Lin Yu slouched home. His mother quickly opened them and noticed his unsettled mood. She comforted him, “It’s okay if you didn’t catch anything this time. Even going out to sea doesn’t guarantee a catch every time.”

Lin Yu nodded.

He understood this well. His furrowed brow was not because of the poor crab catch but because he was pondering how to catch fish next.

Suddenly, a spark lit his face, and he smiled. “Mom, what about the equipment Grandma sent over?”

Wang Yufei, puzzled, pointed toward the west room. “It’s all in there!”

Upon hearing this, Lin Yu quickly entered the west room and casually pulled out a fishing spear, examining it intently. Hearing the commotion, Lin Yao ran over, curious, and asked, “Brother, are you going to spear fish?”

Lin Yu patted Lin Yao’s curious little head. “Yes, I plan to use this spear to catch some big fish.”

“Xiao Yu, you want to go out to sea? No, the boat isn’t repaired yet! Even though we didn’t catch crabs this time, it’s okay. We still have plenty of rice and flour at home; we don’t need to rush.” Hearing Lin Yu’s words, Wang Yufen anxiously said.

The fishing spear was used at sea: when a big fish swam close to the boat, an experienced fisherman could spear it cleanly.

She thought her son was restless because of the poor crab catch and wanted to go sea fishing immediately.

Seeing his mother so worried, Lin Yu smiled and said, “Mom, don’t worry. I’m not going out to sea. The boat isn’t fixed yet—if I went out now, I’d be courting death. I’m not stupid!”

Hearing this, Wang Yufen breathed a sigh of relief and curiously asked, “Then where are you going to spear fish?”

Lin Yu gave a mysterious smile. “Waiting for the tide.”

With those words, he grabbed the spear, a dip net, and crab traps and left the house, leaving his mother and sister puzzled. Soon, Lin Yu arrived at the seaside again, watching the changing water with eyes full of anticipation.

He was waiting for the tide.

When the tide rises, many fish swim toward the shallow waters near the shore to find food. These shallows are rich in algae, small crustaceans, and other food sources.

For example, after the tide rises, fish like bass and grouper often shelter in crevices near submerged reefs, attracted by the new food brought in by the tide. Lin Yu could hide among the reefs and wait for the fish to approach, then surprise them with his spear.

Lin Yu waited silently but did not know the exact time of today’s tide, which made him uneasy.

Tide times vary daily, and in this era, there were no tide tables to consult; everything had to be judged by experience. Seasoned fishermen observed the sun and moon’s positions to estimate tide times.

For instance, they knew that in the days following a full moon, the tide time would gradually delay by about 48 to 50 minutes each day.

“Hey, isn’t that Xiao Yu? Holding a spear and net, waiting here for what?” a voice called out. Turning around, Lin Yu saw Aunt Xiuqin from the village.

She was carrying a wooden bucket and an iron shovel, occasionally digging in the sand, evidently looking for sea worms. Seeing Lin Yu sitting alone, she grew curious.

Lin Yu smiled and greeted, “Hello, Aunt Xiuqin. I’m waiting for the high tide!”

“Waiting for the high tide? For what?”

“To fish!” Lin Yu answered frankly.

Hearing that, Li Xiuqin laughed. “You really act on a whim, huh? You think you can catch fish during high tide? Don’t get swept away by the sea. Better go home.”

Lin Yu smiled faintly, unmoved, and asked, “Aunt Xiuqin, do you know what time the tide will come today?”

Li Xiuqin’s family were also old fishermen and naturally had some understanding of tide times. She glanced at the sun and said, “Yesterday’s high tide was at 12:30. Today shouldn’t be much different. You really want to fish during high tide? It’s not a game. If the sea takes you, your mother will be heartbroken. Go home now!”

“Besides, the water’s so high during high tide, how will you catch any fish?” she added.

High tide brings many dangers—waves, rip currents, and more. Even experienced fishermen rarely dared to fish during high tide. Lin Yu was just a child, lacking strength; if the sea swept him away, he would have no chance.

But Lin Yu wasn’t listening.

After failing to dissuade him, Li Xiuqin left reluctantly.

Lin Yu knew the risks, but with danger came opportunity. Nothing in life came without effort. If he wanted a better life, he had to work for it.

As Li Xiuqin predicted, when the sun reached its zenith, the tide arrived on time.

At first, the distant horizon shimmered with a faint silver line, wavering and elusive.

Gradually, the silver line thickened and rose, accompanied by a low rumble like the opening movement of a thousand horses charging.

The tide seemed to receive some mysterious command and surged forward. White waves, like enraged white stallions, raised their manes and charged relentlessly toward the shore.

They surged in clusters, piling up in a mighty force, turning the once calm sea into chaos. Each wave struck the reefs with tremendous power, spraying water high into the air, the thunderous roar shaking the entire coastline.

As time passed, the seawater rapidly spread, swallowing the beach inch by inch. Bare reefs slowly submerged, leaving only small peaks struggling above the surface. The entire coastline retreated under this overwhelming force, the sea displaying its infinite majesty and power, inspiring awe in all who witnessed it.

As the tide’s roar gradually subsided, the once furious waves, like an angry dragon, softened as if soothed by invisible hands, their sharpness retreating.

The wild white waves no longer leapt and raged recklessly; their height diminished, their force shifting from violent crashes to gentle undulations.

Seeing the sea grow calm, Lin Yu prepared himself, spear and net in hand, and slowly stepped into the water.