Chapter 7: Targeting the Flower-Covered Crab and the Swimming Crab

When Lin Yu returned to the village, it was already midday.

The sun hung directly overhead, its rays pouring down without restraint, like countless dazzling golden swords piercing straight into the earth.

Beneath such a scorching sun, Lin Yu pushed a cart laden with over forty pounds of rice and flour, having walked all the way back from Xiong Yue City. His face was drenched in sweat, and the collar of his shirt clung tightly to his chest and back, soaked through.

His frail physique contributed to his exhaustion. Years of malnutrition had kept him small and emaciated, with little strength. He knew he couldn’t continue like this; the body is the foundation of all endeavors, and he needed a robust constitution.

The key was to eat well—eat plenty, eat nutritiously—only then could his body grow strong and healthy.

Next on his list: earn money as quickly as possible.

For now, the immediate problem of food was solved, but what about the future? Winter was approaching, and the coastal waters were still abundant with seafood. He had to make the most of this time to prepare enough food and clothing to get through the cold months ahead.

Lin Yu pondered carefully. Clams, oysters, and razor clams were plentiful along the shore, and every time the tide rose or fell, villagers came to gather them. These were so common they fetched no good price. He needed something rarer, something valuable—like the tiger crab.

After much thought, he set his sights on the flower crab and the swimming crab.

Stone crabs were common along their coast, but they were small and meaty little, mostly eaten by locals for a treat. Few cared to pay for them. But flower crabs and swimming crabs were different.

Because they were scarce and difficult to catch, their price remained high. If he could manage to catch some, they would certainly bring in a good sum.

So Lin Yu decided that once home, he would immediately begin preparing crab traps to catch flower crabs and swimming crabs. Making crab traps was a delicate craft, but fortunately, in his previous life, during an Amazon fishing competition, he had spent time surviving in the wild. His companion, a wilderness expert, taught him many survival skills—among them, how to weave crab traps.

The best material for making crab traps was willow, which grew abundantly in the northeast. So Lin Yu did not go straight home but headed to his family’s field first.

Beside his family’s land was a large patch of willow. His father used to cut willow here to make fishing cages and baskets.

Arriving at the edge of the field, Lin Yu saw thriving rows of cabbage and radishes. Along the sides grew stalks of corn, already bearing ears with yellowing silks.

“That shameless lot,” Lin Yu muttered, rolling his eyes. “Growing their vegetables in our field as if it were theirs.” Since he was here, he decided to pull them out anyway; he had already told them to stop.

Without hesitation, Lin Yu parked his cart at the edge and stepped into the field, uprooting cabbages and radishes from one end to the other. He selected the largest, best cabbages and loaded them into his cart.

“I’ve grown your crops on our land long enough; taking a few cabbages is just interest on the debt,” he said to himself. After that, he set about gathering willow branches. Without a sickle, he broke them by hand. Fortunately, the willow branches were about the thickness of a pinky finger, making them easy to snap.

He bundled a large load of willow, tied it skillfully, and placed it in the cart, then began the slow walk home.

One could imagine the fury of his aunt’s family when they saw their field in ruins. But Lin Yu remained unperturbed. The land belonged to his family. Though his mother had remarried, the land hadn’t been rented or sold; they held absolute rights to it. The world could not escape the principle of justice. If his aunt’s family didn’t mind the shame, let them make a scene.

Back home, his younger sister Lin Yao ran out excitedly to greet him, her large eyes filled with hope. “Brother, did you bring the flour and rice? Can we have steamed white bread tonight?”

Lin Yu smiled as he wheeled the cart into the yard. “Yes, I bought it. Tonight we’ll have white steamed buns.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Yao leapt about joyfully and ran to Wang Yufen, who was sitting outside mending fishing nets. “Mom, brother brought the flour and rice! We’re having white steamed buns. Yao Yao is so hungry; can we make them now?”

“Really bought it?” Wang Yufen looked surprised, setting her work aside as she approached. “How much did you get? Where did you get the ration tickets?”

“In the supply cooperative courtyard, there’s a ticket scalper. I bought the tickets from him—twenty pounds of rice, twenty pounds of white flour, and some spices. But no oil or cloth; I didn’t have enough money. But don’t worry, Mom. I told the scalper to reserve tickets for oil and cloth for me. Once I earn more, I’ll buy some cloth and make new clothes for all of you.”

“That’s wonderful! New clothes to wear!” Lin Yao chirped like a little sparrow at the prospect.

“Well done, my son. I’ll steam the buns right away,” Wang Yufen’s eyes welled with tears.

At one time, she had regretted divorcing and returning with her two children. After all, there, though the children were beaten, at least they had food and wouldn’t starve.

But now, she saw hope.

Though life was still hard, seeing her son and daughter happy gave Wang Yufen a sense of peace. She felt that divorcing had been the right choice.

Still, her son catching fish had only solved their immediate crisis. What about the future?

It wouldn’t always be so lucky. If fishing could sustain the family on the coast, who in the village would risk going out to sea to fish?

But for now, she had no time to think further—she just hoped they could soon eat something warm.

White steamed buns were a rarity in their small fishing village; ordinary families rarely saw them except on holidays.

Since the father died, the children hadn’t tasted them, and Lin Yao would bite her fingers, drooling at the sight of the pale flour.

That thought made Wang Yufen’s heart ache even more.

She hurried to work but soon realized there was no water at home. She picked up a yoke to fetch water, but Lin Yu quickly took it from her.

“Mom, I’ll go. It’s perfect—I can soak these willow branches for the crab traps while I’m at it.”

“Can you carry it?” Wang Yufen worried.

“I won’t carry it. Brother Dachun’s cart is still here; I’ll just use that to push it,” Lin Yu said, smiling.

Hearing this, Wang Yufen agreed. “Alright then, come back soon. Your sister can’t wait.”

Freshwater was precious in the village. Although they had two wells, the water tasted brackish because of the proximity to the sea.

Villagers usually walked further inland to the river for sweeter water, unless it was urgent.

Most importantly, Lin Yu needed freshwater to soak the willow branches; only then would they become flexible and resistant to rot.

By the riverbank, he filled two buckets, then submerged the tied willow bundles in the water, weighting them down with stones to keep them fully soaked.

Typically, soaking took three to five days before the willow was ready for basket weaving. Thicker branches needed longer. During this time, one had to check periodically, bending the branches gently—if they bent easily without breaking, the soaking was sufficient.

Once done, Lin Yu pushed the water buckets home.

His mother had already used the remaining water to knead the dough, setting it under the sun to rise before returning to her seat to mend the torn fishing net. Lin Yao’s full attention was fixed on the dough, eagerly awaiting the moment it would rise, so they could steam white buns.

Wang Yufen looked at her son returning with water and asked suspiciously, “Xiao Yu, where did those cabbages come from? Be honest—did you pull them from your aunt’s field?”

Lin Yu didn’t hide anything. “Whose field? That’s our land. What’s wrong with taking a few cabbages from our own field? She’s the one who’s been clinging to our land without returning it.”

“Not only did I take a few for eating, I uprooted all the cabbages and radishes and left them in the field. Their family had better clean it up quickly—or I’ll push it right into our yard.”

“You uprooted everything?” Wang Yufen was shocked, then worried. “Xiao Yu, haven’t you gone too far? What if your uncle and aunt come after us?”

“If they want a fight, let them come,” Lin Yu’s temper flared. “They think we’re weak because we’re a widow and orphans. But if we don’t show some strength, they’ll only get worse.”

Hearing this, Wang Yufen’s anxiety deepened. She grabbed his wrist. “I’m not scared of them making a scene. I’m worried about you getting hurt. If a fight breaks out, can you really beat your uncle?”

Lin Yu smiled faintly. “Mom, don’t worry. They wouldn’t dare. Last time you got hit by grandma, their family was already talked about behind their backs; their faces lost all dignity. If they try to lay hands on me, they’ll drown in spit.”

“To deal with bullies, you have to be more ruthless than they are. Trust me on this, or you’ll never get our land back.”

After hearing this, Wang Yufen fell silent.

The land had to be reclaimed; otherwise, how would they live?

She had no better solution. Maybe her son’s way would work, but she couldn’t help but worry about him being bullied. Yet, in that moment, her gaze hardened—if anyone dared harm her son, she’d fight with all her might.

Around three in the afternoon, after several impatient prompts from Lin Yao, the dough had risen high enough and Wang Yufen began steaming the buns. Lin Yu searched his memory for where flower crabs and swimming crabs might be found along the coast.

After long thought and no clear answer, he went inside to ask his mother.

Having lived in the village for over a decade and having gone fishing with his father, she knew more.

After inquiring, Wang Yufen gave him two locations.

“Flower crabs live among rock crevices and shallow mudflats, like where you catch tiger crabs. But they’re hard to catch—you have to move rocks to find them. Small rocks are often flipped over by villagers and the crabs caught quickly. Large rocks can’t be moved, so you have to use crab traps. Your father tried several times but never had a full catch, so forget about that.”

“But you might consider swimming crabs. A few years ago, your father and I caught a large swarm in the shallow sea at Golden Sand Beach. We got a big haul then, but since, we’ve gone a few times and never found another.”

Hearing this, Lin Yu suddenly understood.

Swimming crabs migrate seasonally, gathering in different sea areas at different times. Their range is broad, not fixed to one spot. No wonder his parents never found them again.

Still, it was a clue, a direction to pursue.