Chapter Summaries

Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing collected 120 jin of dried fish from neighbors, but Ye Yaodong still needed more stock for a buyer. He set out with scales and a handcart to ask relatives and friends for dried fish, starting with Uncle Lin.

• Lin Xiuqing paid Ye Yaodong's sisters-in-law and the neighboring women for their dried fish, while they asked whether he would buy more later.
• Ye Yaodong refused to promise future purchases and said he would ask his relatives first, reassuring the neighbors that he would let them know if he needed more.
• Lin Xiuqing worried that Ye Yaodong's sisters-in-law might gather dried fish from many relatives and sell him more than he could use, but he said he could limit purchases of mixed fish if necessary.
• Ye Yaodong took the scales and handcart and planned to visit Uncle Lin, A-Guang, A-Zheng, Xiao Xiao, and his aunts and uncles to collect the remaining stock.
• Ye Yaodong asked Lin Xiuqing to have his parents help him after dinner because he still needed to collect just over 500 jin before nightfall.

Ye Yaodong offered to buy Uncle Lin’s family’s surplus dried fish after learning they could not sell it, and Aunt Lin agreed. When villagers heard he was buying, they rushed to fetch their own fish, but Ye Yaodong said he already had enough.

• Ye Yaodong found Aunt Lin struggling to sell the several hundred pounds of dried fish her family had prepared.
• Ye Yaodong offered to buy the fish at set prices, and Aunt Lin agreed to sell the whole lot.
• Ye Yaodong and Aunt Lin carried the sacks outside, weighed and checked the dried fish, and began sorting it.
• The neighbors gathered, heard Ye Yaodong was buying dried fish, and hurried home to bring their own stock.
• Ye Yaodong told the villagers he had enough fish from Aunt Lin and would contact them if he needed more later.

Ye Yaodong inspected Auntie Lin’s dried fish to buy a large, mostly uniform batch for a military customer, while neighbors tried to sell him their mixed fish. He and Father Ye finished sorting the goods and waited for Auntie Lin to return so they could weigh them, leaving the next morning’s delivery and fishing work to be arranged.

• Ye Yaodong refused the neighbors’ mixed dried fish, explaining that he needed fish of the same kind for the customer.
• Auntie Lin agreed to keep more of her catch for drying and left to tell Old Lin not to sell that day’s fish.
• Father Ye and Mother Ye arrived, and Mother Ye discussed whether other households should dry more fish for possible future orders.
• Mother Ye proudly told the neighbors about her Women’s Federation wages and benefits until Father Ye urged her to leave and contact Ye Yaodong’s friends.
• Ye Yaodong and Father Ye inspected and sorted the bags of mixed fish and toadfish, then waited for Auntie Lin to return before weighing them.

Ye Yaodong bought dried fish from Uncle Lin and arranged help for his fishing work before delivering another load to Group Leader Zhao. Group Leader Zhao ordered a thousand jin every five days until the New Year, leaving Ye Yaodong eager to scale up his supply.

• Ye Yaodong weighed 552 jin of toadfish and 89 jin of mixed fish from Aunt Lin and agreed to pay 178 yuan and 95 cents.
• Ye Yaodong bought the dried fish from Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin, then arranged for A-Guang to help his father and Brother A-Sheng haul in the nets.
• Ye Yaodong took the goods to the army base, where Group Leader Zhao bought a thousand jin and took the remaining dried mixed fish as well.
• Group Leader Zhao asked Ye Yaodong to deliver a thousand jin every five days until the New Year and said he would place an order in advance afterward.
• Ye Yaodong realized the army's order could amount to roughly nine thousand jin and calculated that supplying it could earn him around two thousand yuan.

Ye Yaodong sold the soldiers his dried fish and secured an order for 1,000 jin every five days until the New Year. He returned home to tell Lin Xiuqing and the Old Lady, then planned how to gather and store enough fish for future deliveries.

• Group Leader Zhao bought Ye Yaodong's entire cartload of dried fish for 440 yuan and ordered 1,000 jin every five days until the New Year.
• Ye Yaodong rode home with Uncle Zhou and excitedly told Lin Xiuqing and the Old Lady about the order.
• Ye Yaodong explained that they would need to buy fish from village families as well as dry their own catch to meet the order and build reserves.
• The Old Lady urged Ye Yaodong to ask A-Guang's father-in-law to save his family's catches for drying.
• Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing agreed to stockpile fish carefully and use their brothers' homes for storage if needed.

Ye Yaodong arranged to buy the village’s catch for drying and received fruit from his father-in-law. At the pier, Father Pei confronted Rat after Rat concealed a large swallow pomfret, which A-Cai then eagerly inspected.

• Ye Yaodong asked neighboring families to keep their catch for him to buy, and Father Lin brought tangerines and pomelos to the family.
• Father Lin drank too much at lunch and stayed to sleep, then refused Ye Yaodong’s offer of fresh fish and hurried home.
• Ye Yaodong reached the pier and helped Father Pei and Rat carry in their catch, which Ye Yaodong planned to buy for drying.
• A-Cai complained that Ye Yaodong was taking away his business by buying dried fish, and Ye Yaodong promised to keep selling him fresh catch.
• Father Pei questioned Rat after discovering Rat had hidden a large swallow pomfret; Rat apologized and explained that his wife had found it by a rocky island.
• A-Cai saw the washbasin-sized swallow pomfret and eagerly lifted it to admire its weight.

Ye Yaodong watched Father Pei settle the catch and refused to let Rat's wife take more mixed fish for free. After driving the couple off with a sharp retort, he made peace with A-Cai and spent the lull trading jokes with him.

• Ye Yaodong praised the Large Swallow Pomfret as better than Large Dou Pomfret, and A-Cai weighed it at three jin and six liang.
• Father Pei insisted the catch be divided fairly and loaded the mixed fish he planned to take home, refusing Rat's wife's request for more free fish.
• Ye Yaodong suggested Rat's wife buy mixed fish from another boat, then mocked her when she complained that it would cost money.
• Rat's wife stormed off with Rat, while A-Cai laughed at Ye Yaodong's sharp tongue.
• Ye Yaodong took sunflower seeds from A-Cai's pocket and joked with him until A-Cai went to fetch a stool.

Ye Yaodong waited at the shore while Uncle Pei discovered that a hired worker had hidden a valuable swallow pomfret from the catch. After his family’s boat finally returned with a good haul and a giant squid, Ye Yaodong and his mother welcomed them and decided to keep some squid for rice dumplings.

• A-Cai explained why he and A-Gui had not been nominated as Ten-Thousand-Yuan Households, and Ye Yaodong stayed at the pier to help with incoming boats.
• Uncle Pei found a large swallow pomfret hidden among the mixed fish and suspected a worker had been stealing valuable catch; he warned the captain of his second boat to be honest.
• Ye Yaodong considered choosing reliable workers and possibly having his father receive the catch if he bought another boat.
• Ye Yaodong waited with Mother Ye until dark for their boat to return, then reassured her that delays at sea were hard to control.
• Father Ye said the boat had brought in a good catch despite damaged nets, and A-Guang showed them a diamondback squid weighing over ten jin.
• Ye Yaodong decided the family could keep the squid for rice dumplings instead of selling it.

Ye Yaodong unloaded and weighed his catch while preparing dried fish for an upcoming delivery, as villagers flocked to Lin Xiuqing to ask about selling their own fish. At sea the next day, Ye Yaodong spotted a Red Snapper, and Father Ye was bitten by it while removing it from the net.

• Ye Yaodong and his family unloaded the catch, and A-Cai calculated that the fish they were taking home weighed 1,111 jin.
• Ye Yaodong estimated that several sunny days would let the households dry enough fish for the delivery and earn him about two thousand yuan.
• Lin Xiuqing spent the morning turning away villagers and people from nearby villages who wanted to sell dried fish, then hid inside to escape the crowd.
• Ye Yaodong offered to ask Lin Xiuqing to crochet Ye Yaosheng a hat and reminded Father Ye to wear the mask he had given him against the cold.
• While hauling in the net, Ye Yaodong spotted a brightly colored Red Snapper, which Father Ye tried to remove before it bit his thumb.

After a productive fishing trip, Ye Yaodong told Father Ye he wanted to investigate ordering a larger boat with refrigeration equipment for deep-sea fishing. Father Ye earnestly urged him to wait and stick to safer, smaller-scale plans, but Ye Yaodong remained determined to look into it.

• Father Ye bit his thumb while handling a live fish, and Ye Yaosheng helped him bandage it before Ye Yaodong reminded him to wear gloves.
• Ye Yaodong and the others hauled in a catch of more than 1,300 jin, and Ye Yaodong calculated that the dried fish from the recent trips would total around 3,000 jin.
• Ye Yaodong told Father Ye that he wanted to visit a shipyard and ask about ordering a larger boat with better refrigeration and freezing equipment.
• Father Ye argued that Ye Yaodong should wait for a boat to rent out instead of risking money on a larger deep-sea fishing vessel.
• Ye Yaodong softened his tone and asked to look into the options first, while Father Ye continued warning him about the dangers and his limited experience.

Ye Yaodong persuaded Father Ye to consider a larger boat for short trips farther offshore, and they agreed to inspect a shipyard before deciding. At home, Ye Yaodong teased Ye Chenghu with a mandarin until the boy damaged his homework and tried to placate him before he could call Mother Ye.

• Ye Yaodong explained to Father Ye why a larger boat could let them fish in deeper coastal waters for a few days at a time, and Father Ye agreed to look into shipbuilding with him.
• Ye Yaodong and Father Ye returned home with their catch, and Lin Xiuqing told Ye Yaodong to move the fish to the back yard for cleaning and drying.
• Ye Chengyang offered Ye Yaodong a mandarin while Ye Chenghu worked on his homework, and Ye Yaodong teased Ye Chenghu by eating one in front of him before giving another to Ye Chengyang.
• Ye Chenghu accidentally tore a hole in his exercise book and broke his pencil, then quickly offered to fetch Ye Yaodong a mandarin to keep him from calling Mother Ye.

Ye Yaodong proposed that Lin Xiuqing’s father manage their planned city shop, believing his experience hawking fruit would suit the work. Lin Xiuqing thought the idea might work but doubted her father would agree, and Ye Yaodong planned to ask him in person.

• Ye Chenghu brought Ye Yaodong a Bitter Tangerine, and Ye Yaodong learned that his father-in-law had brought the fruit while selling mandarins around town.
• Ye Yaodong suggested that Lin Xiuqing’s father manage their city shop, and he argued that the older man could learn to handle customers despite his limited Mandarin and travel experience.
• Lin Xiuqing worried that her father would feel uncomfortable in the city and might refuse, while Ye Yaodong said he would discuss the job with him in a few days.
• Mother Ye arrived with her sisters to clean fish, and Lin Xiuqing gave the two aunts Bitter Tangerines to take home.
• Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing agreed to set aside dried fish for her father because he had refused payment for the fruit.

A cold front kept Ye Yaodong from going out to sea, so he and Father Ye set off with A-Guang to inspect the shipyard. Their journey ended with Ye Yaodong and A-Guang bickering as they rode through the wind.

• Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing searched the bed at night and found baby Ye Xiaoxi hanging partly over the footboard.
• The next morning, Ye Yaodong learned the frost and strong wind had kept the boats in, and he decided to visit the shipyard with Father Ye.
• Father Ye reluctantly left his half-finished radish harvest and joined Ye Yaodong, who then detoured to borrow A-Guang's bicycle.
• A-Guang joined the trip after hearing they were going to the shipyard, turning their party of two into three.
• Ye Yaodong and A-Guang argued over who was heavier and who had insulted Father Ye, then continued pedaling while Father Ye rode alongside them.

Ye Yaodong, Father Ye, and A-Guang visited the county’s shipyard to learn about ordering a large fishing boat. After hearing that deliveries were booked about a year and a half ahead, Ye Yaodong discussed boat designs and equipment with Factory Director Wu as the director began showing them the boats under construction.

• Father Ye, Ye Yaodong, and A-Guang arrived at the shipyard and looked over its half-finished boats and busy workers.
• An old gatekeeper fetched Factory Director Wu after Ye Yaodong explained why they had come.
• Factory Director Wu told them that deliveries were scheduled roughly a year and a half ahead because orders had increased and boatbuilding took time.
• Ye Yaodong asked about the cost and specifications of a boat over twenty meters long, and Factory Director Wu explained the choices in hull design, machinery, and fishing equipment.
• Factory Director Wu offered to show them the boats under construction and explain their equipment and construction.

Ye Yaodong toured a shipyard and considered buying a larger fishing boat, but Father Ye and A-Guang urged him to choose a cheaper option and pay off his shop first. After leaving, Ye Yaodong teased A-Guang, then crashed his bicycle into a ditch and was left muddy as A-Guang and Father Ye rode on.

• Factory Director Wu showed Ye Yaodong, Father Ye, and A-Guang the shipyard and its boats.
• A-Guang suggested pooling money with relatives to buy a two-deck boat, but Father Ye argued that Ye Yaodong could not afford it and should buy a boat to rent out instead.
• Ye Yaodong decided to consider the purchase at home with A Qing after paying off the shop, and he gave Father Ye and A-Guang rice dumplings.
• Ye Yaodong kicked A-Guang while they were peeing, then pedaled away as A-Guang chased him with Father Ye on the bicycle.
• Ye Yaodong looked back to taunt A-Guang, lost control of his bicycle, and fell beside a ditch with one foot in the filthy water.
• A-Guang laughed at Ye Yaodong and rode off with Father Ye, while Ye Yaodong cleaned his foot and picked up his bicycle.

Ye Yaodong persuaded Lin Xiuqing to support ordering a larger boat, arguing that the deposit and delayed delivery would give them time to save. The Old Lady also approved as long as Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing agreed, leaving the boat purchase to be settled after he returned to the shipyard.

• Ye Yaodong returned home with Father Ye and A-Guang, then told Father Ye not to join their next outing.
• Ye Yaodong explained the shipyard’s boats and prices to Lin Xiuqing, who worried about spending so much while their family was already doing well.
• Ye Yaodong laid out their savings, expected dried-fish earnings, and the thirty-percent deposit, persuading Lin Xiuqing that they could afford a new boat.
• Lin Xiuqing agreed to the purchase and asked that they keep their current boat; Ye Yaodong said they could decide later whether Father Ye would operate it or rent it out.
• Ye Yaodong told Lin Xiuqing that Father Ye had promised to compensate him for the boat passed to his older brothers, but said he was not counting on it.
• The Old Lady brought Ye Yaodong warm slippers and noodles, offered to lend him money, and said he and Lin Xiuqing should make the final decision together.

Ye Yaodong paid Zhou Da for the first batch of dried fish and rode with A-Guang to discuss buying a large boat. A-Guang recounted how Rat and his wife had fallen out with him over hidden fish and their fishing partnership, leaving the dispute unresolved.

• Ye Yaodong inspected the Zhou family's dried fish, rejected pieces that were not dry enough, and paid them for the rest.
• Ye Yaodong told A-Guang that he planned to buy a boat over twenty meters long and that Lin Xiuqing supported his decision.
• A-Guang explained that Rat had secretly hidden some fish, so A-Guang took back his boat and ended their partnership.
• Rat's wife demanded half the proceeds from the dried fish and threatened to bring her brothers to A-Guang's home.
• Rat had not come to settle the accounts, and A-Guang expected the argument to continue.

Ye Yaodong and A-Guang visited Factory Director Wu to discuss a custom-built trawler, and Ye Yaodong specified its design and equipment. They learned it would cost about 11,000 yuan and take until the end of the year after next to deliver, then tried to negotiate a lower price and an earlier place in the queue.

• Ye Yaodong advised A-Guang to settle what he owed his former boat partners and avoid further trouble.
• Ye Yaodong and A-Guang traveled to the factory, where Ye Yaodong described the specifications he wanted for his trawler.
• Factory Director Wu estimated that the boat, including its fishing equipment and two engines, would cost about 11,000 yuan.
• Factory Director Wu said delivery would likely be scheduled for the end of the year after next because of the boat's size.
• A-Guang and Ye Yaodong praised Factory Director Wu and appealed to him for a better price and earlier delivery.

Ye Yaodong negotiated for a boat, then returned home to weigh villagers’ dried fish. As the Wang family arrived demanding half the Pei family’s earnings, Mother Ye rallied the neighbors against them, leaving the dispute unresolved.

• Ye Yaodong and A-Guang flattered Factory Director Wu while bargaining over a boat, and Wu promised to calculate a discounted price the next day.
• Ye Yaodong and A-Guang rode home, where Ye Yaodong found villagers waiting to have their dried fish weighed.
• Ye Yaodong and his family weighed and sorted the villagers’ fish, then told them he would deliver their payments after dinner.
• Rat’s wife arrived with a group of Wang family men demanding half the Pei family’s dried-fish earnings.
• Ye Yaodong challenged the Wang family’s claim, and Mother Ye loudly accused them of extortion and called on the neighbors to stay.

Ye Yaodong and the Pei Family argued with Rat’s relatives over how to divide the dried-fish proceeds, while A-Guang and A-Zheng defended the agreed settlement. The dispute ended with A-Guang confronting Rat about their original agreement, and Rat insisting he had never wanted the situation to turn out this way.

• Rat’s relatives demanded half of the dried fish’s selling price, while Ye Yaodong and Father Pei argued that Rat should receive half of the pier’s buying price after hiding valuable fish.
• Ye Yaodong and the villagers criticized Rat for breaking the partnership’s rules, and Rat fell silent as his father-in-law continued demanding payment.
• A-Guang arrived with A-Zheng and said that he and his family would decide how to calculate the catch’s proceeds.
• Rat’s wife spat on Ye Yaodong’s floor, and he demanded fifty cents or that she clean it.
• A-Zheng dragged Rat out of the crowd, and A-Guang asked whether he remembered their original agreement; Rat said he had never wanted the dispute.