Lin Manzhang

Biodata

Background & History

Lin Manzhang was among the Lin Family Village fishermen whom Lu Ao met after returning to Chongxin Village. Alongside Lin Gongshang and Lin Dawu, he warned Lu Ao that the local reefs and currents were hazardous for a lone diver, then exchanged contact details so Lu Ao could seek advice if needed 13 14.

When Lu Ao returned with seven enormous Giant Red Snappers, Lin Manzhang helped organize their transfer into oxygenated tanks and accompanied him to Long Township Wharf, where he introduced him to a trusted fish buyer and guided his first fish sale 16 17. He later mobilized fellow fishermen, tanks, oxygenating equipment, and food after Lu Ao caught a Giant Grouper estimated at seventy to eighty jin, while cautioning him against taking such risks alone 21 22.

As Lu Ao built a fishing livelihood, Lin Manzhang became a consistent source of practical advice. He taught him how to identify Mud Crab burrows, explained the importance of reefs, tides, wind direction, water clarity, and net depth, and helped him pursue the Certificate of Competency required to operate fishing boats legally 32 62 82 160.

Lin continued fishing with Lu Ao and Lin Qiyan, supervising Qiyan’s early diving attempts, warning Lu Ao about currents, and coordinating the placement and retrieval of nets 103 159 327. During a Red Tide outbreak, he pulled in his nets and released the trapped seafood after authorities prohibited local fishing and sales 193.

Before moving with Ye Zhiying to the county town, Lin sold his boat to Lu Ao. Although he initially offered a reduced price due to financial need, Lu Ao insisted on paying its 8,000-yuan market value; Lin reciprocated by including the boat’s nets, fish keepers, and other fishing equipment 410 411.

Personality

Lin Manzhang is practical, hardworking, and safety-conscious. He regularly tempers Lu Ao’s confidence with warnings about unfamiliar waters, strong currents, large fish, boat costs, and professional licensing requirements 14 21 62 103.

He is also generous and community-minded. He readily lends his boat, shares catches and local knowledge, organizes help when fellow fishermen need it, and supports Lu Ao’s plans without expecting payment 18 81 394. His fishing advice is direct and grounded in experience, but he does not withhold knowledge from less experienced companions 32 160.

Skills & Expertise

Fishing and Net Setting

Lin Manzhang is an experienced coastal fisherman familiar with the local waters around Chongxin Village and nearby islands.

• Selects fishing grounds near reefs, oyster beds, and seaweed beds where fish feed and rest 160.
• Judges fishing conditions through wind direction, tide movement, water clarity, and currents 160.
• Explains how tides carry food and how fishermen should position nets along the flow 160.
• Uses and coordinates floating nets, buoys, fish holds, and net-hauling equipment 159 327.
• Knows that nets must be retrieved at an appropriate time to avoid reduced catches, injured fish, or losses to crabs and octopuses 327.

Diving and Maritime Safety

• Warns divers about rocky reefs, unfamiliar waters, and currents that can carry an unwary swimmer far offshore 14 103.
• Keeps inexperienced divers such as Lin Qiyan near shore while allowing them to practice gradually 103.
• Advises Lu Ao on the costs, dangers, legal requirements, and maintenance demands of owning an offshore-capable fishing boat 62 78.

Seafood Handling and Sales

• Helped preserve Lu Ao’s live Giant Red Snappers and Giant Grouper using tanks and oxygenation equipment 16 21.
• Introduced Lu Ao to fish buyer Niu Deyu at Long Township Wharf for his first sale 17.
• Knows how to handle crabs for market, including tying them to prevent fighting and damage in the fish hold 327.

Mud Crab Gathering

• Identifies active Mud Crab burrows by their entrances and surrounding claw marks 32.
• Teaches proper angled hoe use to avoid striking rocks or injuring oneself while excavating burrows 32.

Equipment

• Fishing boat — Formerly owned a small fishing boat used for offshore net fishing; sold it to Lu Ao for 8,000 yuan before moving to the county town 159 411.
• Fishing nets and fish keepers — Included with the sale of his boat to Lu Ao 411.
• Floating-net gear — Uses nets marked with identifiable buoys for setting and retrieving catches 160.

Relationships

• Lu Ao — Friend, fishing companion, and mentee. Lin first warned him against diving alone, later helped transport and sell his catches, taught him local fishing methods, and eventually sold him his boat at its market value 14 16 160 411.
• Ye Zhiying — Wife. She frequently helps care for Lu Ao by preparing food, including an enormous meal when he was exhausted after catching the Giant Grouper 21 394.
• Lin Gongshang — Fellow fisherman and close companion. They often fish with Lu Ao, support one another during emergencies, and coordinate village activities 16 40 195.
• Lin Qiyan — Fishing companion and videographer. Lin supervises Qiyan’s diving practice and works with him on filmed net-fishing trips 103 327.
• Lin Dawu — Fellow clansman and local contact. Dawu called Lin Manzhang to assist with transporting Lu Ao’s first major catch 16.
• Song Zhou — Lu Ao’s partner and a familiar presence in Lin’s social circle; Lin welcomed his addition to the fishing group chat and later accepted the couple as part of village gatherings 58 86 402.

Trivia

• Lin Manzhang’s regular use of “Zhang Ge” led Lu Ao and others to address him by that honorific.
• He and Ye Zhiying moved to the county town after the government arranged him a new job; their children had already transferred to schools there 410 411.