They had spent two days straight cleaning fish there, and the space outside their door was already covered with drying fish, both overhead and on the ground.
Overhead, strings of fish hung neatly in rows from ropes. On the ground, bamboo woven trays were propped sideways against the walls or set on stools. Even the space outside the neighbors' doors was almost completely hung with fish.
Baskets of toadfish covered with old rags were piled in a corner, waiting to be brought out and cleaned later.
When Ye Yaodong opened the door early that morning, a strong fishy smell greeted him, even stronger than the smell of the sea. After baking in the sun, the fish smelled particularly salty and savory.
The dogs at home were practically drooling too. Apart from the big dog, Big Blackie, who had been brought home when he was already grown and was tied up for fear he might bite someone, the other four or five little dogs ambled around, sniffing one bamboo woven tray on the ground after another.
They sniffed their way along in a neat, orderly line like officials on an inspection tour, a sight that brought a knowing smile to anyone's face.
These village dogs had been raised from puppies and were quite obedient. If they were forbidden to eat something, they would only stare and drool, sniffing it a few times along the way.
But halfway through their inspection, they spotted Ye Yaodong and rushed over, all of them clinging to his legs.
Ye Yaodong hurriedly grabbed the waistband of his trousers, afraid they would pull them down. He had no idea when they had picked up this habit, but whenever they saw him, they liked to hang on his legs, rubbing against him over and over or circling his