People living along the southeastern coast had to endure typhoons every year from July through September.
It was only afternoon, but dark clouds already roiled across the sky, blotting out the sun like a black curtain draped overhead. Everything before them was dim.
Listening to the wind howl, with every sign of growing fiercer, Ye Yaodong and his wife hurried to bring everything that needed moving indoors. They carried all the chicken and duck cages inside too, to avoid unnecessary losses.
They even took down the black shade net hanging over the doorway and put it away for the time being, lest the wind carry it off.
They also herded their two children indoors so they could no longer run wild outside, and told the other children to hurry home.
On the sea not far away, waves occasionally reared up twice a person's height, crashed onto the shore with a tremendous roar, then receded.
"Whoa! Those waves are so high!"
The children stood at their respective doorways, watching in amazement.
When they had lived at the Old House, they had never run down to the shore during a typhoon, and had never known waves could rise so high. No wonder the adults had forbidden them from going near the beach these past two days.
Ye Yaodong also gazed toward the distant beach and called to them across a wall, "This is nothing! The waves will be even bigger tonight."
"Then we'll get up tonight to watch!"
"And get yourselves a good thrashing while you're at it. It's a typhoon, after all. Your parents have nothing else to do."
"Huh?"
Just then, Ye Second Sister-in-Law's voice came from next door. "What are you all standing in the doorway for? Get in here and bathe! Wash early, or if the power goes