Chapter Summaries

Ye Yaodong took the children to pick wild peaches after gathering bamboo shoots, then shared the fruit with his family. He returned to work on bundling branches after teasing Lin Xiuqing, who was still recovering after childbirth, and their newborn daughter.

• Ye Yaodong finished peeling bamboo shoots and took Lin Guangyuan and Ye Chenghu up the mountain to gather more.
• Ye Yaodong led a growing group of children to wild peach trees, where they picked over twenty jin of fruit.
• Ye Yaodong warned the children not to strip the trees bare, then herded them home with the peaches.
• Ye Yaodong found that his elder brothers had brought back bundles of branches and sacks of bamboo shoots, while Mother Ye divided and served the peaches.
• Ye Yaodong brought fruit to Lin Xiuqing, teased her about not being able to eat it, and discussed drying seafood before leaving to finish his work.

Ye Yaodong and his family set out squid egg-laying devices near Oarfish Island, then went trawling while they waited for squid to spawn. Their morning haul included badly cut leatherjacket fish and Spanish mackerel, and the chapter ended as Ye Yaodong brought the boat near a submerged reef to retrieve the final net.

• Ye Yaodong, his parents, and the children made branch-based squid egg-laying devices, and Father Ye and his sons set out toward their fishing grounds that night.
• Father Ye used glowing dinoflagellates to judge the squid season, and Ye Yaodong placed the devices about five meters below the surface near Oarfish Island.
• Ye Yaodong and Father Ye cast a hand net over dead fish and two sharks, then collected nearly two hundred jin of leatherjacket fish with propeller wounds.
• The pair hauled in a trawl net full of Spanish mackerel and a few leatherjacket fish, then lowered the net again.
• Ye Yaodong continued trawling around the area and steered toward a submerged reef to retrieve the final net.

Ye Yaodong hauled in the fishing pots and discovered squid spawning around the reef, along with a large patch of pen shells. After surfacing, he helped Father Ye catch another school of squid and planned to check the egg-laying branches for more.

• Ye Yaodong and Father Ye hauled in a net packed mostly with leatherjacket fish, then Ye Yaodong pulled up fishing pots full of sea cucumbers, small green lobsters, and squid.
• After eating noodles cooked by Father Ye, Ye Yaodong dove underwater and encountered a school of squid that clouded the water with ink as it swam past.
• Ye Yaodong freed the snagged fishing pots and spotted squid eggs attached to the coral reef, along with a large patch of pen shells in the seabed.
• Ye Yaodong collected a few pen shells and surfaced, then swam back to the boat while Father Ye hauled in a net full of squid.
• Ye Yaodong found roe in the squid and suggested checking the egg-laying branches for more.

Ye Yaodong and Father Ye used branches to attract spawning squid and caught a large haul with repeated casts of their hand net. They headed home after dark, hoping the weather would let them continue fishing the next day.

• Father Ye spotted a school of squid gathering near the branches, and he and Ye Yaodong caught more than thirty jin in their first net.
• A later cast brought up a branch covered in squid eggs, which Ye Yaodong collected before returning the branch to the water.
• Father Ye moved the boat to follow more squid while Ye Yaodong sorted the other catch, and the two filled several baskets with squid.
• After hauling in net after net, Ye Yaodong and Father Ye accumulated nearly ten baskets of squid and discussed bringing more baskets and asking their sisters-in-law to help collect seabirds.
• Father Ye stopped fishing when night fell, and Ye Yaodong steered the boat home as they hoped to go out again the next day.

Ye Yaodong and Father Ye returned from a highly profitable fishing trip as squid season began, and their family prepared to capitalize on the catch. The brothers planned to take their wives to gather stranded squid that night while the household processed fish and squid eggs.

• Father Ye found five pen shells Ye Yaodong had collected and agreed they would keep them to steam at home.
• Ye Yaodong and Father Ye returned to the pier with a large catch, where other fishermen realized squid season had started and planned to prepare branches to lure squid.
• Ye Yaopeng and Ye Yaohua brought in a plentiful catch of their own, including extra squid they had found stranded on an island.
• Father Ye suggested that Ye Yaopeng and Ye Yaohua take their wives to gather stranded squid that night, and they agreed to leave the children with Mother Ye.
• Mother Ye salted the squid eggs while she and her daughters-in-law processed and dried the leatherjacket fish.

Ye Yaodong and Father Ye gathered stranded squid through the night, then shared breakfast with Xiao Xiao and A-Zheng after they arrived to scout the island. They planned to keep working around the island, while Ye Yaodong discovered that Father Ye’s cooking was much better than he had expected.

• Ye Yaodong and Father Ye collected squid on the beach, while Ye Yaodong also scooped up anchovies, mackerel, and a red octopus.
• As dawn broke, seabirds crowded the beach and stole squid, so the pair carried their catch back to their boat and rested.
• Xiao Xiao and A-Zheng arrived after trawling, and Ye Yaodong told them they could put branches on the island’s west side while his were on the east.
• Xiao Xiao and A-Zheng joined Ye Yaodong and Father Ye for noodles, and they discussed their catches and plans to repay Ye Yaodong.
• Ye Yaodong tasted Father Ye’s noodles and wondered why his father had pretended to be a poor cook before.

Ye Yaodong and his father hauled in a large squid catch before heavy rain kept the village fleet ashore for three days, giving Ye Yaodong time to care for his newborn daughter. When the skies cleared, he prepared to fish again and offered to take Lin Guangyuan’s grandparents out to gather squid.

• Ye Yaodong and Father Ye spent the afternoon casting nets for squid, then returned after one final cast each with a boat full of squid and some other catch.
• Ye Yaopeng and Ye Yaohua reported a strong haul of their own, and the family sold more than the previous day despite a small drop in squid prices.
• Heavy rain began that night and kept the fishermen from going out for three days, while Ye Yaodong stayed home holding his baby daughter, Ye Xiaoxi.
• Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing agreed not to hold a one-month celebration or keep the cash gifts, and planned to return them.
• After the rain stopped, Ye Yaodong went up the mountain with Father Ye to cut branches for fishing, then offered to take Lin Guangyuan and his grandparents to gather squid.

Ye Yaodong persuaded Father Lin and Lin Mother to stay and take Lin Guangyuan squid-picking, then sold a repaired machine he had salvaged from the sea. He put the money away and persuaded Lin Xiuqing to buy a phonograph for the Old Lady.

• Ye Yaodong convinced Father Lin and Lin Mother that they could gather and sell squid, and they agreed to stay and go out to sea with him.
• The village repairman returned Ye Yaodong’s repaired machine, and Ye Yaodong negotiated to sell it to him for 165 yuan after the repair fee.
• Ye Eldest Sister-in-Law suggested the machine might have come from a sunken Luzhou Island boat, but Father Ye and Ye Yaodong avoided confirming it.
• Ye Yaodong told Lin Xiuqing about the sale and persuaded her to use some of the money to buy the Old Lady a phonograph.

Ye Yaodong took Lin Guangyuan and his in-laws to gather squid at a small island, where they met up with A-Zheng and Xiao Xiao. When another boat arrived and circled the island, Ye Yaodong brought his group over to confront the newcomers.

• Ye Yaodong took Lin Guangyuan to the pier with Father Ye and set out by boat with Father Lin and Lin Mother, who soon became seasick.
• At the island, Lin Guangyuan, Father Lin, and Lin Mother eagerly gathered squid while Ye Yaodong put out branches and Father Ye scooped up squid.
• A-Zheng and Xiao Xiao arrived, and Ye Yaodong had Lin Guangyuan collect oysters and shellfish for breakfast.
• A-Zheng spotted another fishing boat circling the island, so Ye Yaodong called Father Ye over and moved his boats toward it.
• Lin Guangyuan excitedly asked if they were going to fight, while Ye Yaodong said he preferred peace and approached the boat cautiously.

Ye Yaodong and his companions drove a father and his two sons away from the waters they had claimed for catching cuttlefish, but the men returned and provoked Ye Yaodong after turning the tables on him at sea. Ye Yaodong gathered his father-in-law and Lin Guangyuan to confront them, while another boat approached in the distance.

• Ye Yaodong and his companions surrounded a boat carrying a father and two young men and ordered them to leave the island’s fishing grounds.
• The father and sons sailed away, and Ye Yaodong’s group went ashore for breakfast before heading out to trawl.
• After returning, Ye Yaodong found the same boat secretly fishing nearby, but its crew fled and then turned to pursue him when they saw only Ye Yaodong and Father Ye aboard.
• Ye Yaodong escaped the pursuit, but the other boat stopped to fish and taunted him, so he went to the island to gather more people.
• Lin Guangyuan eagerly grabbed a stick, and Ye Yaodong led the group toward the boat as another vessel appeared in the distance.

Ye Yaodong and his companions chased down the men stealing their squid catch and beat them after the thieves rammed their boat. They took the stolen squid and gear, while Lin Guangyuan proudly helped and expected his promised reward.

• Ye Yaodong encouraged Lin Guangyuan to join the confrontation despite Father Lin and Father Ye objecting.
• Ye Yaodong pursued the rival boat after its crew tried to flee with baskets and a net full of squid.
• The thieves rammed Ye Yaodong's boat, but Xiao Xiao and A-Zheng arrived and helped hem them in.
• Ye Yaodong, Lin Guangyuan, Xiao Xiao, and A-Zheng boarded the rival boat and beat its three-man crew until they could no longer resist.
• Lin Guangyuan boasted about earning fifty cents and a chicken drumstick, while Ye Yaodong and A-Zheng traded jokes.
• The group took the squid, net, and other movable gear from the rival boat, and Ye Yaodong worried that the collision had damaged his boat.

After Ye Yaodong and his companions took the goods from the disabled boat, they returned to gathering squid around the island and worked until sunset. They picked up their family and Lin Guangyuan, who had collected shellfish and seabird eggs, then headed home.

• Ye Yaodong stopped Lin Guangyuan from kicking the defeated men and warned him to avoid fighting and learn a trade.
• Ye Yaodong and his companions divided the squid and agreed to split the proceeds from the diesel engine after selling it.
• Ye Yaodong dropped Father Lin and Lin Guangyuan on the island, then returned to sea with Father Ye to catch more squid.
• Ye Yaodong and Father Ye hauled in their final net at sunset and saw another boat towing the distant boat away.
• Ye Yaodong found that Lin Mother had filled two sacks with shellfish, while Lin Guangyuan returned with a bucketful of seabird eggs.
• Ye Yaodong shouldered a sack of shellfish and led everyone back home after a long day.

Ye Yaodong and his family returned from a successful fishing trip with a large catch, seabird eggs, and shellfish. At home, they shared the eggs with the children and discussed raising chickens and ducks.

• Ye Yaodong and his parents-in-law sold their catch and returned home after a tiring day at sea.
• Mother Ye welcomed them and learned that Lin Guangyuan had collected a bucket of seabird eggs.
• The children crowded around the eggs and asked Ye Yaodong to take them seabird nest hunting.
• Mother Ye said fifteen chicks had hatched and planned to divide them among the families.
• Ye Yaodong asked about getting ducklings, and Lin Mother offered to bring him some when her duck eggs hatched.
• Mother Ye boiled seabird eggs for the children and scolded them for neglecting their homework.

Lin Guangyuan returned with seabird eggs and birds he had shot, while Ye Yaodong taught him why seagulls were useful to fishermen and warned him not to shoot them. As worsening winds forced the boats back early, the family shared the eggs, and Ye Yaodong prepared to keep fishing despite the rough weather.

• Lin Guangyuan brought home sacks of seabird eggs and several birds he had shot with a slingshot, and Ye Yaodong identified them and told him not to shoot seagulls.
• Ye Yaodong explained that seagulls could signal reefs, guide lost boats toward harbors, and forecast changes in the weather.
• Lin Guangyuan asked Ye Yaodong to take him fishing again, and Ye Yaodong agreed while jokingly asking him to pay with seabird eggs.
• Ye Yaodong, Father Lin, Lin Mother, and the others ended their work early when the wind rose and the waves became dangerous, then returned to shore with their catch.
• Mother Ye boiled the seabird eggs, and the children eagerly grabbed and ate them while Lin Mother praised her larger haul of shellfish.
• Ye Yaodong saw that the night sky was clear and planned to go out fishing as usual, while Lin Guangyuan arranged to bring Ye Chengjiang along the next day.

Ye Yaodong and his companions returned to White Sand Village with their catch, only to learn that the father and sons whose boat they had confronted at sea had come seeking revenge. The villagers heard both sides argue over the seized engine and nets, and one of the outsiders admitted they had poached squid near the island.

• Ye Yaodong and Father Ye sold their squid catch, and Ye Yaodong urged Father Lin and Lin Mother to stay for more of the squid run, but they decided to return home to tend their fields.
• Lin Jianjun rushed to the pier and told Ye Yaodong that more than twenty men had come to White Sand Village demanding their engine back, so Ye Yaodong and his companions hurried to the village with shoulder poles.
• Ye Yaodong and his companions joined the villagers facing the outsiders, and Ye Yaodong explained that the men had poached squid near their marked island and rammed his boat.
• A-Qiu accused Ye Yaodong's group of attacking them and stealing their engine, but villagers backed Ye Yaodong and pointed to the collision damage on his boat.
• The outsiders proposed paying for repairs in exchange for the engine, but Ye Yaodong rejected the offer and argued that their lost fishing time had cost them far more.
• One of A-Qiu's companions blurted out that Ye Yaodong had taken all the squid they had poached, confirming the villagers' suspicions.

Ye Yaodong and the villagers fought the outsiders who had come to demand their fishing machine, beating them until they gave up and backed down. After the fight, Ye Yaodong warned Lin Guangyuan to stay out of trouble, while the village remained wary of further clashes at sea.

• A-Qiu threatened to bring boats to rob the villagers, and A-Zheng broke his finger, setting off a fight.
• The outsiders struck a villager with a stick, and Ye Yaodong and the villagers surged into a one-sided beating as more men joined in.
• Ye Yaodong and the others dragged out A-Qiu and his father and brother, while Lin Guangyuan joined the fight unnoticed.
• Secretary Chen stopped the villagers before the beating became more serious, and the outsiders admitted they no longer wanted the machine.
• Ye Yaodong told Lin Guangyuan to avoid other people's fights, and Father Lin grabbed the boy by the collar to deal with him at home.

After Ye Yaodong refused a low offer from the mechanic, he sold the seized diesel engine to Licheng for 210 yuan in a bidding contest with Zhang Dazhu. Ye Yaodong and his family prepared to deliver and install it, pleased to have made money without a middleman.

• Father Ye and the others returned home after the village fight, and Mother Ye urged Ye Yaodong to sell the seized machine.
• Ye Yaodong rejected the mechanic's offers of 160 and 180 yuan for the engine.
• Zhang Dazhu offered 190 yuan, but Ye Yaodong insisted on 200 and persuaded him to consider buying it.
• Licheng arrived to buy the engine, prompting Zhang Dazhu and Licheng to compete by raising their offers.
• Licheng won the engine with a bid of 210 yuan, and Ye Yaodong promised to deliver and install it with help from both fathers.

After selling the machine for 210 yuan, Ye Yaodong divided the proceeds among the people who helped, including his father, father-in-law, and nephew. He put his own share away with Lin Xiuqing and prepared to rest before possibly heading out to sea again.

• Ye Chenghai revealed that he had earned coins by winning and reselling marbles, then hurried off to summon A-Zheng and Xiao Xiao.
• Ye Yaodong told everyone how two buyers had bid against each other, allowing him to sell the machine for 210 yuan.
• Ye Yaodong and the others agreed to give 40 yuan each to five adults and 10 yuan to Lin Guangyuan for his help.
• Ye Yaodong handed out the shares, giving Lin Guangyuan's money to Father Lin to hold.
• Mother Ye took Father Ye's share, and Ye Yaodong asked her to stew some of the pelican he had saved for his in-laws.
• Ye Yaodong put his own money in a drawer after telling Lin Xiuqing that the shares had been divided.

Ye Yaodong bought the Old Lady a phonograph, and his family reacted to the expensive gift while she happily accepted it as a belated birthday present. After resting, Ye Yaodong went fishing again, and the day passed without trouble.

• Lin Xiuqing asked Ye Yaodong whether the phonograph he had ordered for the Old Lady had arrived, and he told her to keep its cost quiet.
• Mother Ye scolded Ye Yaodong for spending ninety yuan on the phonograph and reminded him of the other costly things he had bought.
• The Old Lady thanked Ye Yaodong and happily accepted the phonograph as a belated eightieth birthday gift.
• Father Ye learned that Lin Jishang had delivered the phonograph and joined the Old Lady in welcoming the purchase.
• Ye Yaodong rested, then went fishing that night after checking that the weather was safe; the day passed without mishap.

Ye Yaodong’s family gathered around the Red Lantern radio he had bought, and Mother Ye showed them how to use it. The family listened to opera and storytelling until the broadcast ended, leaving them eager to hear more.

• Ye Yaodong noticed the new radio, while the children warned him not to touch it carelessly.
• Mother Ye explained that the radio could run on electricity or batteries and tuned it to a broadcast.
• Father Ye and Ye Chenghe excitedly recognized The Tale of Yue Fei, and Ye Xiuxiu complained that Mother Ye kept switching programs on and off.
• The family members returned and learned that Ye Yaodong had bought the radio, prompting them to praise him and ask about its price.
• Ye Chengjiang sprayed rice across the dishes, and the family laughed as the broadcast announced that The Tale of Yue Fei had ended for the day.