The two children bounced around excitedly, then splashed through the water and ran outside. Ye Yaodong couldn't stop them. Calling after them, he hurried to catch up.
"Wow! Dad, there are so many clams in the sea! So many fish!"
Ye Yaodong saw them too. The seafood tumbled in with the breaking waves, riding the surf ashore. The churning yellow tide washed the fish and clams onto the beach, then carried them back into the sea. But plenty remained along the shore, caught among the rocks instead of returning with the tide.
He grabbed both children by the backs of their collars. "Take it easy, you two. Don't go any farther. Don't let the waves sweep you away."
Ye Chenghu twisted and struggled. "I'm not going any farther. I'm just picking up clams. Right there! There are loads of clams in those rocks, and little fish and crabs too. Let go, Dad..."
Ye Yaodong had already seen them. "Be careful. Yangyang, go home and get a bucket."
"No. Make my brother go."
Ye Chenghu clenched his fist and brandished it at him. "You go. If you don't, I'll beat you up."
Ye Chengyang looked at Ye Yaodong pitifully. "Dad..."
Ye Yaodong remained unmoved. He was the youngest. Who else was going to go?
"Go when you're told. Hurry up."
Ye Chengyang pouted miserably and reluctantly walked away, looking back every few steps. Only after walking some distance did he break into a jog toward home.
Then Ye Yaopeng and Ye Yaohua came over with their wives, wearing rain boots and carrying buckets, along with Ye Chengyang.
The rain had only just stopped, and only their three families were picking up small seafood along the beach. The children next door were all at school and hadn't been let out yet.
Before