Chapter 28: Encounter with the Wolf Pack

The sky was as dark as ink, and Lin Yu’s silhouette slowly approached his home in the twilight.

Along the village path, the flickering light of kerosene lamps spilled through the cracks in doors and windows, dim and jaundiced. Although the village had electricity, few could afford to use it; the vast majority of households were still accustomed to kerosene lamps.

There was no other reason than to save money.

Upon returning home, Lin Yu saw his younger sister, Lin Yao, standing at the courtyard gate from a distance. She would occasionally stand on tiptoe, stretching her neck to peer in the direction of his return.

Seeing him with the fish cage on his back and a spear in his hand, she rushed to meet him, her voice trembling with excitement. "Brother, did you catch any fish?"

"I did, and quite a few, too." Lin Yu’s lips curled upward as he replied with a mix of exhaustion and unconcealable pride. He gently set down the cage to show her the catch.

"Wow, so many big fish! Brother, you’re amazing!"

Her cheers were clear and bright, echoing through the small courtyard. She immediately turned and dashed inside, shouting excitedly, "Mom! Mom! Brother is back, and he caught so many big fish!"

Inside, their mother, Wang Yufen, was busy at the stove, where the food in the pot emitted a faint aroma and wisps of smoke drifted slowly from the chimney. Hearing the commotion, she wiped her hands and walked out.

Seeing her son enter with the cage—the tails of large fish protruding from the top—Wang Yufen hurried over to inspect them. "Oh my, you really caught some? And they’re so big! Did you spear all of these?"

"Every one of them!"

Lin Yu unshouldered the cage and explained, "After the tide came in, big fish came to the shallows to feed. I took the opportunity to spear these."

Wang Yufen was stunned.

Even experienced fishermen could rarely pull off such a feat. Not to mention the dangers of the sea after the tide, the skill required to spear fish like this was something even the village elders might not master.

She couldn't quite believe that Lin Yu had speared them all himself, but the wounds on the fish left her no choice but to accept it.

Seeing his mother’s astonished expression, Lin Yu smiled slightly and boasted, "Mom, look, I told you I was born to fish. You didn't believe me, but now you do, right?"

Wang Yufen paused for a moment before smiling with relief. "Alright, Mom knows now. If you want to fish to support the family, then so be it. I won't stop you anymore. But you must promise me you’ll stay safe."

"I will, Mom," Lin Yu promised with a smile.

With his mother’s understanding, Lin Yu felt he could finally set his sights on the future.

...

Before the sky had fully brightened, with only a hint of dawn breaking in the east, Lin Yu rose early.

After a quick wash, he headed straight to the home of the village chief, Luo Quan, and knocked lightly to borrow the familiar donkey cart.

***

Back in his courtyard, Lin Yu efficiently loaded the fish and crabs he had caught the previous day onto the cart. Because they were speared, their scales were ruffled and their bodies bore various wounds, making their appearance less than ideal, but Lin Yu already had a plan.

He skillfully drove the donkey cart back to the city of Yingkou.

Lin Yu navigated to the familiar spot where he had sold fish before and brought the cart to a steady stop. He took a deep breath, cleared his throat, and began to call out, "Fresh fish! Just speared from the sea, selling cheap!"

In this era of relative scarcity, people’s desire for food was always intense.

Although the fish didn't look perfect—perhaps lacking appeal for restaurants that prioritized presentation—the average person didn't care. As long as the fish was fresh and cheaper than the usual price, everyone knew a good deal when they saw one.

These fish, while large, were not as long as the giant mackerel he had caught previously, making them perfect for a typical household. Lin Yu was confident they would be popular.

"Step right up, take a look! Fresh fish, just speared, selling cheap!"

"Sister, are you a fairy? You’re so beautiful! Why not buy a fish to take home?"

Women never tired of being called "sister," nor did they dislike being told they were beautiful.

The woman he addressed blossomed with a radiant smile, her cheeks flushing like a blooming flower. She stopped her hurried pace, walked over to the stall, and bent down to examine the fish, praising him, "You certainly have a sweet tongue, child."

Hearing the compliment, Lin Yu wore a guileless grin. He deftly picked up the scale, selected a relatively large fish, and placed it carefully on the balance. "Fairy Sister, this one is excellent. Buy it and have a taste."

Having been called "Fairy Sister" repeatedly, the woman couldn't stop smiling. "How much for this fish?"

Lin Yu scratched his head, looking a bit shy. "Fairy Sister, I speared these myself. They don't look perfect, but it doesn't affect the taste at all. Since you’re so beautiful, I’ll let you have it for 40 cents a pound."

"Deal. I’ll take one, and I want those crabs too," the woman said without hesitation, clearly delighted by his words.

"Coming right up! Thank you, Fairy Sister. Let me weigh that for you."

In no time, Lin Yu weighed the fish, and the woman paid without protest, continuing to praise him for being observant, sensible, and a natural businessman.

Passersby, hearing that Lin Yu’s fish were only 40 cents a pound, crowded around.

Just as Lin Yu had expected, the people saw that the fish were big and meaty; their appearance didn't bother them, and the price was a bargain, so they swarmed to buy.

In just over ten minutes, all six or seven fish were sold out. Many who missed out complained, asking why he hadn't brought more.

Lin Yu could only offer a wry smile.

He wished he had, but he had only caught so many—what could he do? He apologized with a smile, explaining that he had speared them that very day and couldn't store them if he wanted to keep them fresh. He promised to bring more next time before packing up his stall.

Since he finished early, Lin Yu stopped by the supply and marketing cooperative.

He was already on good terms with the ticket scalpers there; as soon as he approached, they knew what he wanted. After a brief chat, he bought some ration coupons, entered the store, bought two bolts of cloth and some cotton, and headed straight home.

***

This trip had brought in twenty-four yuan and sixty cents.

Although the fish varied, he had sold most for 40 to 50 cents a pound.

In truth, he had little choice.

Without a strong breeze, fish prices had returned to normal, and there were other stalls selling fish at the market that day. Because his fish were speared and looked rough, he had to keep the prices low to ensure they sold.

In this era, there was no preservation technology; if fish didn't sell in a day, they wouldn't be fresh by the next.

Since they had sold out quickly and it was still early, he figured if he pushed the donkey hard enough, he might make it home before dark. He whipped the donkey to pick up the pace.

The cart bumped along the dirt road, kicking up a cloud of dust.

However, despite his best efforts, night fell before he reached home. Everything was swallowed by darkness, with only the outline of the cart visible under the faint moonlight.

Lin Yu gripped the reins tightly, straining his eyes to make out the blurred road ahead.

The stars twinkled in the night sky, but they did little to light his way home.

The occasional cry of a night owl made the silence feel even more ominous. The donkey’s pace slowed, as if it, too, were spooked by the dark. Lin Yu murmured to soothe the animal while carefully urging it forward.

The trees along the road rustled in the night wind. Lin Yu’s nerves were pulled taut; he remained hyper-vigilant, fearing that a ferocious beast might spring out from the brush at any moment.

In these times, there were wolves and black bears in the mountains. A run-in with them would be dire.

Yet, his greatest fear came to pass.

Suddenly, the donkey stopped, braying in great agitation, refusing to move no matter how much Lin Yu urged it. At the same time, several pairs of ghostly green eyes flickered in the roadside grass. Lin Yu’s heart sank.

Wolves!

The wolves were lithe, their fur casting a cold, grey sheen under the dim moonlight. Their ears were pricked, and as they snarled, saliva dripped from their bared teeth. Panic-stricken, Lin Yu reached back and grabbed the fish spear from the cart.

He had brought it just in case, but he never expected to actually need it. He gripped the shaft tightly, his muscles trembling with tension, his eyes filled with alarm.

By now, the wolves had circled in a fan formation, their movements light yet filled with menace as they emitted low, guttural growls.