As they brought the boat closer to shore, they saw a vast cluster of boats around the pier, all neatly lined up. They had no idea when they had come ashore.
Ye Yaodong said in surprise, "They really called all the young and middle-aged men in the village back to fight? They're that united!"
"Yeah, there are fewer women onshore, too. Yesterday, the beach was covered in jellyfish, but they're all gone today. So many boats came back early."
"Let's get off and carry all the catch back first."
Apart from the jellyfish heads and skins, there were only a few buckets of jellyfish blood and brains. A few trips would take care of them quickly enough.
As soon as Ye Yaodong saw Father Ye approaching, he asked, "Have my eldest brother and second brother arrived? Did they call?"
"I was just going to tell you. Your mother called at eight this morning and said they set out at two or three last night. Who knows which way they went? They only just reached the town and docked. They called just now to say they didn't know where the village was. I just got back from taking their call in the village."
"Then I'll go to the town pier to pick them up in a bit..."
"I'll go. You take a break. I've been lying around at home all day with nothing to do. My bones are about to rust." Father Ye climbed aboard as he spoke, then remembered to give him a warning.
"The village's young and middle-aged men all headed to the next village with weapons this afternoon. They said some men from their village had been beaten at sea, then thrown overboard and stung by jellyfish. The whole village was in an uproar this afternoon. Word spread