He had wanted to look around nearby for a few more snails. There were only two, hardly worth putting in a pot and wasting firewood on. Then he heard his son calling and had to jog over.
"Here, here, Dad! It ran sideways!"
Tall and long-legged, Ye Yaodong caught up in two strides and clamped the fleeing ghost-head crab in his fire tongs.
This ghost-head crab had to be the ugliest of all crabs. Its big eyes practically grew on its backside. Ugh!
"Ah, you caught it..."
"Dad, this crab is so ugly!"
"Yeah, it's a ghost-head crab. It's a little ugly, but as long as it tastes good."
"I don't want it. It's too ugly. I want mud crab!"
"You certainly know the good stuff," Ye Yaodong said irritably. "You even know to ask for mud crab. How about a fart? Want to eat that?"
"Pfft, pfft, pfft! Keep your farts for yourself!"
Ye Chengyang copied him, sticking out his bottom. "Pfft, pfft, pfft! For you!"
As soon as he finished farting, he ran off after his brother.
Ye Yaodong laughed and scolded them from behind. "Slow down! Don't run into the water. The tide's still going out up ahead. Don't get too close."
"We know!"
The two ran and stopped along the way, only calling for their father again once both their hands were full.
Their hands were only so big. Each could hold just two or three snails and clams.
"There are two fish over there too. We can't fit them in our hands."
"Mm."
He followed where the boys pointed, picked up the two dead rabbitfish, and tossed them into the bucket. There was also a blood clam the size of a pigeon egg beside them, which he collected as well.
That was the trouble with