Chapter Summaries

Ye Yaodong returned from checking the workshop and sold the boats’ reduced catch before going home to bathe. The Old Lady told him Mazu approved his buying the larger boat, while she firmly stopped him from spending money on a television.

• Ye Yaodong reunited with Father Ye at shore, reassured him that the workshop’s drying goods had stayed dry, and sent Eldest Maternal Cousin and Brother A-Sheng home.
• Ye Yaodong and Father Ye sold their catch, which totaled less than seven hundred jin at a lower price, and Ye Yaodong complained about the drop while downplaying his profits.
• Ye Yaodong returned home, where Lin Xiuqing and the Old Lady welcomed him and prepared hot water and noodles.
• The Old Lady told Ye Yaodong that Mazu’s divination blocks had approved his purchase of the boat, and Ye Yaodong celebrated the news.
• Ye Yaodong offered to buy the Old Lady a television, but she refused and made him promise to focus on buying the boat first.
• Ye Yaodong tried to wash while Ye Xiaoxi kept escaping her Standing Cage, and the Old Lady took her outside as Lin Xiuqing prepared noodles.

Ye Yaodong fed Ye Xiaoxi and went to find A-Guang, who confirmed that the boat purchase had been settled and discussed the partners’ shares. Ye Yaodong agreed to bring the remaining deposit money the next day.

• Ye Yaodong fed Ye Xiaoxi the rest of his noodles and wondered where Ye Chengyang had gone.
• Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing discovered that one umbrella was missing, and Ye Yaodong suspected the boys had taken it out to play.
• Ye Yaodong went to A-Guang’s house and found him asleep with his daughter near his feet.
• A-Guang explained that he and Uncle Zheng had bought the boat for the original contract price and signed a new order with the shipyard.
• A-Guang said they had paid 5,000 yuan toward the 7,500-yuan deposit and agreed to pay the remaining 2,500 yuan the next day.
• Ye Yaodong discussed the partners’ shares and agreed that Second Brother would pay 50 yuan more when they paid the balance.

Ye Yaodong found Ye Chenghu and Ye Chengyang playing in the rain with the umbrella they had taken to school, and returned home furious about their antics. He urged Lin Xiuqing to punish them while he fed Ye Xiaoxi an apple.

• Ye Huimei gave Ye Yaodong an apple from the village offerings to share with his children.
• Ye Yaodong spotted Ye Chenghu and Ye Chengyang leading a crowd of children through the rain with an umbrella and angrily ordered them home.
• Ye Chenghu bragged that his rain ritual had worked, while the children played with the umbrella and Ye Yaodong walked ahead in anger.
• Ye Yaodong overheard his mother offering to get neighbors more umbrellas like the one he had bought.
• At home, Ye Yaodong gave Lin Xiuqing palm leaves and argued that the boys deserved a beating for taking the umbrella, playing after school, and summoning rain.
• Ye Yaodong went to feed Ye Xiaoxi an apple while Lin Xiuqing accepted the palm leaves.

Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing dealt with their sons’ umbrella prank while rain threatened the seafood drying at the small workshop. The weather cleared the next morning, and the family began drying the catch again as the fishing season reached its peak.

• Ye Xiaoxi ate an apple while Lin Xiuqing chased and beat Ye Chenghu and Ye Chengyang for sneaking out an umbrella and returning soaked.
• Mother Ye arrived, learned what the boys had done, wiped down the umbrellas, and shared the remaining apple with them.
• Ye Yaodong checked on the workshop guards and hoped the rain would stop so the catch could dry.
• The next day, Ye Yaodong’s boat brought in a good catch, but he sold it rather than keep more seafood that could not be dried.
• The sun came out the following morning, Lin Xiuqing had the nylon covers put away, and she scolded Ye Chenghu for sighing about the clear weather.

Lin Xiuqing and Mother Ye returned the borrowed nylon bags and handcart while Mother Ye loudly answered villagers’ gossip about the family’s success. At the workshop, Lin Xiuqing checked the drying seafood, while Ye Yaodong’s fishing work was interrupted by dolphins caught in his net; after he released them, more dolphins surfaced nearby.

• Ye Chengyang teased Ye Chenghu about school, then stayed home to play with his pets and friends.
• Mother Ye and Lin Xiuqing took the nylon bags back to the village committee, where Mother Ye boasted about the family’s earnings and rebuked gossiping neighbors.
• Mother Ye warned Lin Xiuqing not to trust neighbors’ compliments, and Lin Xiuqing accepted that the family could not keep its growing success secret.
• Lin Xiuqing inspected the workshop’s drying fish and squid and saw her brothers and sisters-in-law shooing away flies.
• Ye Yaodong and his cousin hauled up a mother dolphin and calf in their net and released them back into the sea.
• After Ye Yaodong cast his net again, several more dolphins surfaced nearby and called out.

Ye Yaodong and his eldest maternal cousin watched a large pod of dolphins gather near the island, then realized their underwater calls had stunned squid and brought them to the surface. They began scooping up the drifting squid, expecting a huge catch.

• Ye Yaodong and his eldest maternal cousin spotted more and more dolphins gathering and calling around the island.
• Ye Yaodong told his cousin to keep fishing while they watched for signs that the dolphins might drive fish toward them.
• Ye Yaodong saw vast patches of white objects floating up and identified them as squid with his cousin.
• Ye Yaodong realized the dolphins' underwater sound waves had stunned the squid, causing them to float to the surface.
• Ye Yaodong and his eldest maternal cousin switched to hand scoop nets and began filling baskets with the squid drifting toward them.

Ye Yaodong and Eldest Maternal Cousin scooped up a huge mass of squid driven to the surface by dolphins, despite their aching arms and lack of baskets. After the dolphins left and the catch dwindled, Ye Yaodong’s curses inspired his cousin to swear along and claim he felt stronger, leaving Ye Yaodong bemused as they kept working.

• Ye Yaodong and Eldest Maternal Cousin filled baskets with squid and assorted fish while lamenting that they could not catch the vast quantities drifting past.
• Lin Guangyuan spotted a huge mass of squid floating toward the Island and eagerly began gathering them for money.
• Ye Yaodong noticed the dolphins had stopped calling, then watched them roll together and disappear over the horizon.
• Ye Yaodong and Eldest Maternal Cousin ran out of baskets and continued scooping squid onto the deck despite their exhaustion.
• Ye Yaodong swore to vent his frustration, and Eldest Maternal Cousin copied him, claiming the curses restored his energy.

Ye Yaodong and Eldest Maternal Cousin chased the scattered squid until they were exhausted, then collected Lin Guangyuan and his island catch. Back at the dock, Ye Yaodong’s boat was so full that he told A-Cai he had beaten the day’s catch record.

• Ye Yaodong and Eldest Maternal Cousin scooped up the last concentrated squid, then pursued scattered squid with cast nets before resting alongside Father Ye and their friends’ boats.
• Ye Yaodong and the others decided to head home, while A-Zheng and Xiao Xiao returned ahead to avoid crowding the dock.
• Ye Yaodong reached the island, where Lin Guangyuan reported filling two sacks with squid and collecting razor clams, crabs, tiger prawns, and fish.
• Ye Yaodong and Lin Guangyuan loaded the catch and left the island, seeing other boats and crews still gathering squid along the coast.
• A-Cai reported that Xiao Xiao and A-Zheng had caught over sixteen hundred jin of squid, but Ye Yaodong pointed to his full baskets and sacks and said he had caught more.

Ye Yaodong sold the enormous squid catch from his two boats after the rain left him with too little room to dry it, while villagers speculated about his reasons. His brothers returned with much smaller catches and praised his remarkable sea luck, leaving the family to settle their earnings later.

• A-Cai offered to take Ye Yaodong's two boatloads because his drying space was full, so Ye Yaodong left them at the pier and took his brothers' catches home.
• The workers sorted and weighed Ye Yaodong's catch as villagers marveled that two boats had brought in more than four thousand jin and guessed he was afraid to dry squid after the rain.
• A-Zheng defended Ye Yaodong against the villagers' gossip, and Ye Yaodong decided not to tell A-Cai or others that he might buy dried squid later.
• Ye Yaodong sold his catch and learned that his own boat had caught 1,910 jin of squid while his father's boat had caught 1,800 jin, with both hauling in additional miscellaneous fish.
• Ye Yaopeng and Ye Yaohua returned with catches of only eight or nine hundred jin each, asked Ye Yaodong how he had caught so much, and credited his sea luck.
• Ye Yaodong told his brothers that A Qing could pay them later, and they agreed to settle their shares near the end of the season.

Ye Yaopeng reconsidered buying a share in the large boat, but Ye Yaodong refused to reopen the settled deal. As the squid season waned, Ye Yaodong bought up dried squid and arranged with A-Cai to supply him with fish, leaving them with a more efficient way to keep drying goods.

• Ye Yaopeng asked whether he could join the boat investment, but Ye Yaodong said the shares were settled and suggested he save for a boat of his own.
• Ye Yaodong continued delivering dried squid to Boss Zhou while his family kept the drying grounds busy as catches and squid prices declined.
• Villagers who had secretly dried squid asked Mother Ye whether the family would buy it, and Ye Yaodong said they could take it at cost if they came back.
• Ye Yaodong planned to buy more squid while prices were low and asked A-Cai to sell him the goods he collected.
• A-Cai offered to dry squid for Ye Yaodong and arrange fish deliveries for a five-percent commission, and Ye Yaodong agreed to the arrangement.

As the squid season ended, Ye Yaodong settled the workshop’s accounts and returned home to find Ye Xiaoxi feeding waxberries to the animals. He went to talk with Lin Guangyuan about his earnings and learned the boy wanted to spend them on a football.

• Ye Yaodong stopped A-Cai from collecting more squid, arranged to settle their accounts, and delivered a final shipment to the military with waxberries as a gift.
• Ye Yaodong returned home and found Ye Xiaoxi forcing waxberries on the dogs and a chick while the Old Lady tried to stop her.
• Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing reviewed the wages and accounts they still needed to settle with A-Cai, their relatives, and the workers.
• Ye Yaodong went to find Lin Guangyuan at the beach and asked when he would return home.
• Lin Guangyuan asked Ye Yaodong to buy him a football with some of the money he had earned, explaining that a radio broadcast about China's football team inspired him.

Ye Yaodong gave Lin Guangyuan pocket money and promised to buy him a soccer ball, then learned from Lin Xiuqing that the squid season had brought in far more profit than he expected. They decided to limit further purchases so less of their money would be tied up in dried-squid stock.

• Ye Yaodong promised to buy Lin Guangyuan a soccer ball on his next trip to the City and gave him two yuan in pocket money before the relatives left.
• Lin Guangyuan brought home fish, sea snails, and octopuses he had found in earthenware jars, and Lin Xiuqing secretly paid Eldest Sister-in-law Lin for his catch.
• Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing counted their earnings and found that dried-squid sales had already brought 11,230 yuan in net profit, with substantial stock still unsold.
• Lin Xiuqing added that dried-fish sales, money from Ye Yaodong's trip to the City, stock at the City shop, and salted squid eggs would bring in more income.
• Ye Yaodong proposed having A-Cai buy more squid to dry, but Lin Xiuqing warned that continued purchases would tie up too much cash in inventory.
• Ye Yaodong agreed they should buy only the squid available at their own pier and avoid seeking extra stock elsewhere.

Ye Yaodong decided to stop stockpiling squid and settled accounts with A-Cai before dividing the season’s earnings with his brothers. He agreed with Ye Yaohua and Ye Yaopeng to continue sharing the boats’ proceeds equally, then stepped in when Ye Chenghai demanded his unpaid wages.

• Ye Yaodong told Lin Xiuqing he would sell his existing dried goods gradually and ask A-Cai to send him whatever squid he bought from then on.
• Lin Xiuqing worried about how Ye Yaodong would share the boats with his brothers, but he left to pay A-Cai and collect the outstanding accounts.
• Ye Yaodong helped receive the boats’ small catch, then divided the money and workers’ wages with Ye Yaohua and Ye Yaopeng.
• Ye Yaohua and Ye Yaopeng agreed to continue partnering with Ye Yaodong on the same equal split, including during the upcoming jellyfish season.
• Ye Chenghai complained that Ye Yaopeng had kept his wages, and Ye Yaodong stopped Ye Yaopeng from hitting him and led him away to buy a snack.

Ye Yaodong comforted Ye Chenghai after the boy felt cheated out of pocket money, promising to buy him a football like the one A Yuan wanted. After Ye Chenghai enlisted his great-grandmother to confront his father, Ye Yaodong went home and discussed the workshop wall with Lin Xiuqing.

• Ye Yaodong explained why A Yuan had been able to save money while Ye Chenghai had not, then promised to buy both boys footballs as a reward for their work.
• Ye Chenghai cheered up, regretted refusing the dime his father had offered, and hurried off to ask his great-grandmother for help getting it back.
• Ye Chenghai's great-grandmother scolded Ye Yaopeng for withholding pocket money and accused him of beating the boy, while Ye Yaodong went inside.
• Lin Xiuqing told Ye Yaodong she had arranged for workers to guard the workshop and discussed building an adobe wall around it.
• Ye Xiaoxi pulled one of Ye Yaodong's chest hairs, and he joked that she had ruined his lucky six before Lin Xiuqing helped him dress the child for bed.

Ye Yaodong's father was too exhausted to go fishing, so Ye Yaodong took his mother out instead and they discussed fishing methods and his new boat. Their catch was poor, and they planned to buy chicken and duck for the family while returning early.

• Ye Yaodong joked with Lin Xiuqing before she went out to help with the family's work.
• When Ye Yaodong found his father unable to get up, Mother Ye agreed to take his place on the fishing trip, and Ye Yaodong asked Lin Xiuqing to check on him.
• Ye Yaodong shared a boat with Mother Ye while Brother A-Sheng and Eldest Maternal Cousin took the other boat.
• Mother Ye suggested purse seining, but Ye Yaodong explained that their boats lacked the necessary equipment and that his new boat would also be a trawler.
• Ye Yaodong and Mother Ye brought in a meager catch, discussed buying chicken and duck for the family, and considered heading home early.

Ye Yaodong persuaded Mother Ye to make fish sauce in bulk and organized a month-long supply of small fish from local fishing households. He also planned the family workshop and considered using Mazu’s relocation feast as a reason to visit town officials and pursue a television.

• Ye Yaodong proposed making fish sauce in bulk, and Mother Ye agreed to collect anchovies and mixed fish from local households.
• Mother Ye arranged for several fishing families to supply small fish for a month, while the family approved the plan.
• Lin Xiuqing prepared chicken and duck after hearing that Ye Yaodong wanted to buy them, delighting the boys and making the neighboring children jealous.
• Ye Yaodong calculated that the family had close to twenty thousand yuan and considered the cost of building a workshop.
• The Old Lady reminded Ye Yaodong about Mazu’s relocation and Brother A-Fan’s planned return, while Ye Yaodong decided to use the relocation feast invitations to visit town officials and seek a television.

Ye Yaodong brought chicken and duck soup to his family, then played down his earnings from dried squid when villagers questioned him. That night, sudden rain forced him and his family and neighbors to rush to bring in the drying fish.

• Ye Yaodong delivered soup to his brothers and parents, where Mother Ye praised his filial care for Father Ye.
• Ye Yaodong told curious villagers that his earnings were tied up in unsold dried squid, easing their envy and concern about his profits.
• Ye Yaodong asked Mother Ye about the plans for Mazu’s procession and learned that it would last three days with only a small meal for village helpers.
• A neighbor woke Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing after rain began around half past midnight, and they hurried to salvage the dried fish.
• Ye Yaodong woke his brothers and their wives, and the eight adults used handcarts and nylon bags to bring the fish in from the small workshop before turning to the batches outside their homes.

After rain forced Ye Yaodong and his family to bring in their dried fish, he and Lin Xiuqing spent the night protecting their stock and catching up on rest. With the weather still uncertain, Ye Yaodong prepared dried squid as gifts for the Border Defense Station to build goodwill.

• Ye Yaodong and his family brought the dried fish indoors during light rain, then left the wet seafood spread out to air overnight.
• Ye Yaodong told his relatives and Brother A-Sheng that they could skip going out to sea and rest, while he and Lin Xiuqing stayed up to handle their stock.
• Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing went to bed after talking about the risks of drying fish, and Ye Yaodong privately decided he might use the day off to look for a television.
• The next morning, Lin Xiuqing kept the dried fish under cover, and Ye Yaodong spread nylon sheeting over the courtyard mesh before hanging the fish outside to air.
• Ye Yaodong asked Lin Xiuqing to bundle dried squid into gifts for the Border Defense Station, explaining that he wanted its staff to know him and thank them for their help.

Ye Yaodong took dried squid to town and returned with a television he had bought cheaply at the Border Defense Station. He faced Lin Xiuqing and Old Lady’s anger for secretly taking money from the drawer, while insisting the television was a bargain and could be resold for a profit.

• Ye Yaodong pushed a handcart loaded with dried squid toward town while villagers speculated that he was selling it to recover money.
• Ye Yaodong returned with a television, surprised the villagers, and claimed other families could afford one too.
• Ye Yaodong explained to Lin Xiuqing that the television had cost three hundred yuan instead of four hundred and fifty, and argued they could resell it for a profit.
• Lin Xiuqing discovered Ye Yaodong had taken five hundred yuan from the drawer and smacked him, while Old Lady scolded him and Ye Xiaoxi urged them on.
• Ye Yaodong defended the purchase by saying it was a bargain and would help him build connections at the Border Defense Station.

Ye Yaodong and his companions found the shops they had drawn at the new Aquatic Products Market and completed their registrations. On the ride home, they discussed renting the shops, while Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing considered asking her father to manage one.

• Ye Yaodong drew Shop 6 at the Second Entrance after previously drawing Shop 12 at the First Entrance, while his companions drew shops near the Second and Third Entrances.
• Ye Yaodong and the others toured the market, found their shops, and registered them before leaving in the afternoon.
• The group discussed putting up rental notices and asked Ye Yaodong to post them in the City on a future trip.
• Ye Yaodong suggested asking Lin Xiuqing's father to watch a shop, and Lin agreed to raise the idea when they visited her parents.
• Lin Xiuqing planned to bring New Year gifts to her parents after the Bombay Duck had dried.