Chapter 33: The Whole Family Goes Sea-Foraging

The next day, as the sky began to turn a faint, pale gray, Lin Yu scrambled out of bed. He went to the west room and began rummaging through the collection of tools his grandmother had brought back. Before long, he had gathered an assortment of foraging gear: sharp little spades, fine-mesh landing nets, and simple, hand-crafted oyster knives.

Lin Yu carefully inspected each tool to ensure there was no damage, muttering his goals for the day as he worked. The previous evening, his family had agreed to go beachcombing together. The mountain guardian, a burly man, had rarely eaten seafood. He had simply told Lin Yu to bring him something, without specifying what. This made things much easier; after all, the coast was teeming with clams, oysters, razor clams, as well as stranded jellyfish and lush beds of kelp. While these might seem mundane to a fishing village like theirs, to the mountain dweller, they were rare delicacies.

Of course, they couldn't just bring those. Fish, crabs, and mantis shrimp were also desirable, as it would make for a more presentable gift. Lin Yu wasn't worried about this; he could set crab traps and see what he caught, and Brother Dachun had promised to bring back a fish or two from his boat trip today. As for mantis shrimp, that would require a bit of skill.

"Let's gather plenty today. We can pickle or dry what we bring back so it won't spoil by winter. We don't want to be left with nothing to eat," Wang Yufen said with a smile as she watched her son sort the tools.

In this northeastern fishing village, there was a tradition of storing seafood for the winter. It was usually done by salting, pickling, or air-drying. When the bitter winter arrived, the howling north wind would freeze the sea for miles, making it impossible for the fishermen to head out and difficult to find fresh catch. As the season progressed and the weather turned colder, drying the catch would become increasingly difficult. Soon, the coastline would become exceptionally busy as every household in the village hurried to prepare food for the winter while the weather remained mild. That was why, as soon as Wang Yufen heard Lin Yu wanted to prepare seafood for the mountain guardian, she insisted the whole family head out together.

Once everything was prepared, the family sat around their simple dining table, finished a quick breakfast, and set off for the beach with their tools in high spirits. Before they even reached the sea, the familiar, soul-stirring sound of the waves reached their ears.

The coast was as beautiful as ever. The azure sky resembled a vast sapphire, clear and bright, with a few wisps of white clouds drifting like cotton candy. In the distance, the horizon was endless, blending seamlessly with the blue sky so that it was impossible to tell where the sea ended and the sky began. Golden sunlight poured down, coating the water in a shimmering, dreamlike radiance that danced with the rolling waves. The sea breeze blew gently, carrying the distinct, salty scent of the ocean, ruffling their hair and dispelling any lingering gloom in their hearts.

Upon arriving at the beach, they saw many fellow villagers. Some greeted them warmly, and Wang Yufen responded to each with a smile. Lin Yu, meanwhile, carried the crab traps to find a good spot to deploy them. By the time he returned, his mother, Wang Yufen, and his younger sister, Lin Yao, had already filled half a basket with oysters.

Having lived by the sea for many years, Wang Yufen was highly experienced. They had bypassed the crowds and headed straight for a rocky area. Here, the rocks, sculpted by years of tidal erosion, varied in shape—some smooth and rounded, others sharp and angular. The crevices served as shelters for various sea creatures, and the rock faces were covered in clusters of oysters. They clung tightly to the rough stone, layer upon layer, like a silent forest of shells. The colors of the shells varied from dark blue-gray to pale white, all looking moist and glistening under the seawater.

Wang Yufen would select the larger, firmly attached oysters. With her left hand steadying her against the rock wall, she would find the seam between the shell and the stone. Gripping the oyster knife tightly in her right hand, she would insert the blade precisely into the gap. Holding her breath, her arm muscles tensed slightly, and with a gentle twist of her wrist, the knife acted like a key to a treasure chest, expertly prying the oyster loose. It would shift slightly, then with a soft "pop," it would detach from the rock. Wang Yufen was quick and agile, catching it with her left hand before it could fall into the sea.

"Mom, you're amazing!" Lin Yao clapped her hands in excitement.

Wang Yufen smiled lovingly. "It's nothing special. You just need to find the right spot and pry it out. The key is in selecting the oysters—you want the big ones that are firmly attached; those are the plumpest."

She placed the shucked oysters into a small basket, a faint smile on her lips. These beachcombing techniques were passed down through generations in the village, and she believed her daughter would one day be an expert as well. Without missing a beat, she moved to the next oyster, repeating the fluid and precise movements—prying, exerting force, and catching—all in one smooth motion. Before long, the basket was filled with plump oysters that shimmered with an enticing luster under the sun.

"Mom, look at Brother! He seems to be digging for clams," Lin Yao said, pointing to Lin Yu on the nearby beach.

"Let's go take a look!"

Wang Yufen had assumed Lin Yu wouldn't know how to dig for clams and intended to teach him, but she was surprised upon arriving. Lin Yu had rolled up his pant legs and, holding a small spade, knelt skillfully by a crevice in the rocks. With his eyes fixed on the gap, he inserted the spade gently, pried it slightly, and a few plump clams were unearthed along with the mud and sand. Lin Yu was quick to grab them and drop them into his bucket, a satisfied smile on his face. He didn't forget to turn to Wang Yufen and ask, "Mom, how's my digging?"

"Not bad, you look like a veteran fisherman," Wang Yufen praised.

It was the truth. There were many nuances to digging for clams. First, you had to find the right location. Clams preferred tidal flats where mud and sand mixed and the currents were relatively gentle. Areas near rocks where fine silt slowly accumulated were usually gathering spots. After the tide went out, they could often be found near small, shallow pools on the beach, as they preferred an environment that was both moist and breathable.

The tools used were also crucial. The best tool was a small spade with a narrow, flat head and a sturdy handle, making it easy to insert into the mud and sand. When digging, one had to insert the spade vertically to a depth of about ten centimeters—just enough to reach the clam clusters. Too shallow, and you would only get the surface ones; too deep, and you risked disturbing the sand layer and scaring the clams away. The technique was also important: after inserting the spade, one had to pry upward with precise force, as if giving the sleeping clams a gentle "wake-up call" so they would be brought up with the loosened sand. Once lifted, you didn't pull the spade out immediately; instead, you gave it a slight shake to let the sand fall away, filtering out the clams.

Watching Lin Yu’s movements, it was clear he was highly skilled and experienced.

"Did your father teach you this?" Wang Yufen asked, curious, as she had never taught him herself.

Lin Yu nodded, smiling without a word. Wang Yufen had no idea that it wasn't his father who taught him, but the world-famous outdoor survival expert Bear Grylls, coupled with his own background of frequently participating in sea fishing tournaments and vacationing at the coast. These tasks were second nature to him.

"Ever since you were little, your father always said you were smart, claiming you could learn anything instantly. I didn't believe him, but it seems he was right," Wang Yufen said. "It’s just a pity your father passed so early. If he had taught you all his fishing techniques, you would surely have become the best fisherman in our village." She couldn't help but feel a touch of sadness.

"Mom, even without Dad's teaching, I will definitely become the best fisherman! Let's get back to work; look at how many people are arriving. If we’re slow, we won't even get the dregs," Lin Yu said with a laugh.

The coastline was indeed becoming crowded with people from their village and neighboring ones. With so many mouths to feed, there wouldn't be enough to go around at this rate. Seeing the growing crowd, Wang Yufen grew anxious and immediately went back to work.

Wang Yufen and Lin Yu focused on digging for clams, razor clams, sea worms, and mantis shrimp, while Lin Yao wasn't idle either. Although she was too young to catch seafood as skillfully as her brother and mother, the beach was littered with kelp, sea greens, and even the occasional scallop or octopus washed up by the waves. Every time she found something, she would run over happily as if she had discovered a treasure, squatting down to pick it up with her small hands and placing it in her basket, all while humming a nonsensical little tune. She looked so earnest and happy, and she would occasionally run over to show off her findings to Lin Yu and Wang Yufen.

The family worked energetically on the beach until the tide began to rise again, at which point they finally returned to the shore.