He stayed at the Old House for quite a while, waiting until his father, mother, and younger sister had all returned before telling his mother that the basket of fish and shrimp was for her chickens.
Mother Ye grumbled, "What a waste. You knew there'd been an earthquake, yet you didn't think to bring the fishing pots back? How much would a whole basket like this have been worth? I only earn a yuan or two sorting dried shrimp all day..."
Ye Yaodong wondered whether his mother would hit him if he told her that last time had been the same, and he had tossed them to the seabirds as he sorted.
It was a matter of habit, too. Everyone threw poor-quality fish and shrimp caught at sea back into the water. The seabirds took whatever they could, and anything they missed sank back into the sea. Who would go to the trouble of bringing them back separately?
"Give them to whoever wants them for their chickens or ducks. Stop nagging. I'm leaving."
"Any neighbor who wants some can come and get them. Looks like I'll have to raise a few more chickens next year..."
Ye Yaodong put the basket covered with a rag on the handcart. Even after he had gone some distance, he could still hear his mother calling to the neighbors.
At home, Lin Xiuqing was already tending the fire and cooking. He had barely carried the basket of coral inside when both boys ran up. One hugged his thigh and tried to climb up, while the other stood on tiptoe to reach his basket.
"Dad, what treats did you buy? Let me see... let me see..."
"Fried dough cakes... cakes... canned food... maltose..." Ye Chengyang tugged at his trousers, gazing up with his whole face alight.