Chapter Summaries

Ye Yaodong hauled in his pot traps and brought home a worthwhile catch, then found A-Guang picking sand out of Ye Huimei’s scrapes after carrying her home. He drove A-Guang off and warned his sister to keep her distance from men.

• Ye Yaodong rowed out to collect his traps and caught orchid crabs, red paste crabs, a large sea bass, mud crabs, and smaller seafood.
• Ye Yaodong reset the traps, returned home, and learned from the children that A-Guang had brought seafood and carried Ye Huimei home after she fell.
• Ye Yaodong found A-Guang picking sand from Ye Huimei’s injuries and angrily took the needle from him.
• Ye Huimei explained that she had fallen on her way back and encountered A-Guang, whose father had returned from sea that morning.
• Ye Yaodong told A-Guang to leave, then gave Ye Huimei the needle and warned her not to let a man tend to her injuries.

Ye Yaodong warned Ye Huimei to be careful when choosing a husband, then visited A-Guang’s family and learned how Pei Guang got his name. Pei Guang decided to consult a fortune-teller about changing it, while his father said he might stay home and buy a boat to support the family.

• Ye Yaodong cautioned Ye Huimei against marrying one of his friends and remembered the unfaithful man she had married in his previous life.
• Ye Yaodong found the seafood A-Guang had brought and praised his friends as generous and loyal.
• At dinner, Pei Guang decided his name brought bad luck and asked his father to take him to a fortune-teller.
• Pei Guang’s father explained that he had named him after Guangbing his mother ate during pregnancy, leaving Ye Yaodong and the family laughing.
• Pei Guang’s father said he might stay home and move up his plan to buy a boat so he could support his family.

Ye Yaodong learned that A-Guang had changed his name to Pei Shun and bought a trawler, then helped his family settle the building costs and divide the household. The family accepted their new houses and fifty yuan each, while Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing discussed their savings and his past lack of support.

• A-Guang told Ye Yaodong that his name was now Pei Shun and that his father had bought Lin Yongshou's family’s trawler to fish nearby.
• Ye Yaodong kept A-Guang from going inside to see Ye Huimei and sent him home without a drink.
• Father Ye and Mother Ye arranged auspicious dates for raising the ridgepoles and moving into the completed houses.
• Mother Ye calculated the building and fishing expenses, then Father Ye gave each of his sons’ families fifty yuan as starting money.
• Lin Xiuqing told Ye Yaodong that they had a little over a thousand yuan saved and reminded him that she had supported their household from her own earnings.

The Ye family completed the beam-raising ceremony for their new houses and prepared to move in, while Ye Yaodong expanded his fish-trap catches and tried to make peace with A-Wei and Rat. He left A-Wei’s house after being rebuffed, then joined friends at A-Guang’s home, where they discussed fishing, moving day, and Ye Yaodong’s sister’s match.

• Ye Yaodong joked with the children about school, and the adults worked on the vegetable patch at the new house.
• Ye Yaodong and his brothers completed the beam-raising ceremony, and Mother Ye announced that the family would move on the twentieth of the lunar month.
• Ye Yaodong set out three strings of fish traps and regularly sold catches worth several yuan, then brought seafood to invite his friends for drinks.
• A-Wei rebuffed Ye Yaodong’s invitation and complained that he and Rat had been left out, so Ye Yaodong went to A-Guang’s house without them.
• Ye Yaodong and his friends chatted over food and drinks, discussed their fishing work, and told A-Guang that Ye Yaodong’s sister had met a prospective match.

As a typhoon approached, Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing gathered shellfish washed onto the beach and found several valuable Emperor Tritons. They wondered whether the snails contained rare pearls, while Ye Second Sister-in-Law revealed that she had found two as well.

• Lin Xiuqing stayed home while Ye Yaodong checked the new house roof and went to inspect the tide.
• Ye Yaodong gathered clams and sea snails, including a large Horned Helmet, as villagers watched and fetched buckets.
• Lin Xiuqing joined Ye Yaodong on the beach and filled her bucket with shellfish for them to sell.
• Ye Yaodong recognized a white sea snail as an Emperor Triton and told Lin Xiuqing it could contain valuable pearls.
• Ye Second Sister-in-Law showed them two Emperor Tritons she had found and asked whether they were worth anything.

Ye Yaodong searched the shore with Lin Xiuqing and Ye Second Sister-in-Law, finding several conch shells before arguing with two siblings over a mud crab. After giving the crab to the children of the man who had recently died, he discovered that his eldest brother had found a Western Star Grouper in the same area, leaving him to regret the time lost in the dispute.

• Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing found another conch shell, but they found no more and moved toward the rocks with Ye Second Sister-in-Law.
• A boy shoved Ye Yaodong while reaching for a mud crab, got pinched, and argued with Ye Yaodong over who had found it first.
• Lin Xiuqing identified the siblings as Uncle Lin's children, and Ye Yaodong returned the mud crab to them after learning the boy had shoved him first.
• Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing heard a crowd gathering and saw his eldest brother holding up a Western Star Grouper.
• Ye Yaodong congratulated his eldest brother, who explained that he had searched the spot after hearing Ye Yaodong had found valuable fish there.

Ye Yaodong found another Coconut Snail while fetching seawater, then returned home with Lin Xiuqing to open it and their other sea snails. The Coconut Snail held no Melo pearl, and Ye Yaodong later learned his eldest brother had sold the Western Star Grouper for eight yuan.

• Ye Yaodong spotted and collected a Coconut Snail while fetching seawater for Ye Yaopeng's live Western Star Grouper.
• Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing gathered Giant Clams and Giant Seawater Clams, then Ye Yaodong sold a Horned Helmet and Mud Crab to A-Cai for a total of five yuan.
• Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing opened the Coconut Snail at home, but Lin Xiuqing found no Melo pearl inside.
• Ye Yaodong learned that Ye Yaopeng had sold the Western Star Grouper for eight yuan, then invited his brothers and sister-in-law to open their Emperor Tritons together.

Ye Second Sister-in-Law found a conch pearl while slicing cooked sea snail meat, but accidentally scratched it with her knife and argued with Ye Second Brother over the mistake. The family then remembered there was another sea snail left to inspect, and everyone watched as she prepared to search it.

• Ye Yaodong explained that Emperor Triton Pearls were rare and that a conch pearl might be found in only one sea snail out of fifty thousand.
• Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing searched their cooked sea snails but found no pearls, while Ye Second Sister-in-Law cooked her own batch.
• Ye Second Sister-in-Law sliced the meat and discovered a milky-white conch pearl, but the knife had left a prominent scratch across it.
• Ye Second Sister-in-Law and Ye Second Brother blamed each other for the damaged pearl, while Mother Ye and Ye Eldest Sister-in-Law examined it and tried to console her.
• Lin Xiuqing reminded Ye Second Sister-in-Law that one sea snail remained, and the family eagerly awaited her search.

Ye Yaodong suspected that A-Guang was courting his younger sister, Ye Huimei, and warned them both to stay away from each other. A-Guang then asked Ye Yaodong to join him on a risky fishing trip before the typhoon arrived, and Ye Yaodong had yet to answer.

• After the family found a pearl in a sea snail, Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing discussed whether to open future snails in search of more pearls.
• Ye Yaodong spotted Ye Huimei returning with osmanthus blossoms and chased A-Guang after he fled from a nearby corner.
• Ye Yaodong questioned Ye Huimei about her meetings and hair flower, then lectured her about choosing a husband and protecting herself from men who might take advantage of her.
• A-Guang visited Ye Yaodong, denied pursuing Ye Huimei, and got elbowed when he joked about wanting to pick a fresh cabbage.
• A-Guang invited Ye Yaodong to take his family's boat out fishing during the approaching typhoon, suggesting they sneak away before the storm arrived.

Ye Yaodong and A-Guang set out before the approaching typhoon to check the sea, while Ye Yaodong collected his traps and moved them onto A-Guang’s larger boat. They left the Typhoon Shelter to look farther offshore, with Ye Yaodong planning to warn Secretary Chen about the danger to the village’s boats when he returned.

• Ye Yaodong agreed to go out early with A-Guang and reassured Lin Xiuqing that he would turn back if the waves became dangerous.
• Ye Yaodong left home before dawn, remembering that a past typhoon had destroyed boats and caused people to find human remains in fish; he decided to warn Secretary Chen later.
• Ye Yaodong hauled in more than a dozen traps, whose unusually large catches filled three buckets, then brought the catch and traps to the Typhoon Shelter.
• A-Guang arrived, and Ye Yaodong transferred everything onto A-Guang’s boat as they discussed the catch and judged the waves manageable.
• Ye Yaodong and A-Guang steered out of the Typhoon Shelter to inspect the sea farther offshore.

Ye Yaodong and A-Guang braved rough seas to trawl for fish before the typhoon, landing a valuable catch of three-stripe grunts. As the waves grew more dangerous, they abandoned their final haul and hurried back toward shore.

• Ye Yaodong and A-Guang set a net in waters A-Guang knew, joking about luck and A-Zheng's upcoming wedding as they worked.
• They hauled up a light net packed with valuable three-stripe grunts and sorted the catch.
• A-Guang steered the boat to set another net, and their second haul brought in many swimming crabs and assorted fish.
• When lightning flashed and a huge wave rose beside them, Ye Yaodong and A-Guang agreed to head back.
• Ye Yaodong checked the compass and increased the throttle, while increasingly violent waves battered the boat as they made for shore.

Ye Yaodong and A-Guang hauled in a 190-jin giant grouper while fishing ahead of the approaching typhoon. They brought their valuable catch to A-Cai’s buying shack, where the chapter ended with the crowd astonished at its weight.

• Ye Yaodong and A-Guang struggled to haul in their net and discovered a giant grouper alongside other fish and crabs.
• Ye Yaodong steered toward the dock while A-Guang sorted the catch, and the two discussed whether A-Zheng and Xiao Xiao would resent being left out.
• Ye Yaodong and A-Guang returned to shore with the giant grouper as villagers gathered to stare and speculate about their catch.
• A-Cai hurried to bring the giant grouper to his buying shack, and Ye Yaodong and A-Guang agreed to have it weighed.
• A-Cai weighed the giant grouper at 190 jin, delighting Ye Yaodong and A-Guang and astonishing the crowd.

Ye Yaodong and A-Guang sold a huge haul, including a Giant Grouper and Three-Stripe Grunt, to competing restaurant owners at Yujing Wharf. The sale earned them more than 800 yuan, and the restaurant owners invited them to bring future catches to them.

• A-Cai prepared to contact restaurant owners about the Giant Grouper, while Ye Yaodong and A-Guang revealed they also had Three-Stripe Grunt.
• Ye Yaodong discovered that someone had stolen fish from their boat and chased the thief, who fell and dropped the stolen Three-Stripe Grunt.
• A-Guang identified the thief as A-Wei's brother-in-law, but the man escaped; they recovered the fish and decided to take his clothes to his family later.
• A-Cai weighed the catch and arranged for restaurant owners to bid on the Giant Grouper and Three-Stripe Grunt.
• Hongfa's Wang Maoquan bought the 190-jin Giant Grouper for 550 yuan, and the restaurant owners split the Three-Stripe Grunt among themselves.
• Ye Yaodong and A-Guang described the dangerous conditions at sea, and the restaurant owners urged them to contact them about future catches.

Ye Yaodong returned from a profitable but dangerous trip to sea and was beaten by Father Ye for going out during a typhoon. He then urged Secretary Chen to move the village typhoon warnings to the dock and spread them through the village, before leaving to find A-Guang.

• Ye Yaodong and A-Guang split 743 yuan and 80 fen from their catch, each taking home more than 300 yuan.
• Father Ye learned Ye Yaodong had gone to sea despite the approaching typhoon, then struck him with a rolling pin when he returned.
• Ye Yaodong showed Lin Xiuqing his earnings, reassured her that the sea had not been too rough, and left again to warn the village about boats still at the dock.
• Ye Yaodong suggested Secretary Chen broadcast typhoon warnings at the dock and take the loudspeaker around the village, and Secretary Chen agreed.
• Ye Yaodong left the People's Commune and decided to go find A-Guang.

Ye Yaodong and A-Guang confronted A-Wei’s family over A-Wei’s brother-in-law stealing their three-stripe grunts, but the dispute escalated into a fight between A-Guang and A-Wei. Ye Yaodong left with the injured A-Guang, who worried that his bruised face would spoil his chances with a girl.

• A-Guang’s father lectured Ye Yaodong about risking their lives by going out to sea before a typhoon and urged them to be more careful.
• A-Guang returned furious after A-Wei’s family rejected his accusation that A-Wei’s brother-in-law had stolen fish and chased him away.
• A-Wei confronted A-Guang, and the two traded insults before starting a fight; Ye Yaodong was hit while trying to separate them.
• Ye Yaodong explained that the stolen fish were valuable three-stripe grunts and said witnesses could confirm what happened.
• Ye Yaodong helped the battered A-Guang leave, then teased him about his bruised face and his hopes of dating a girl.

After Ye Yaodong came home with a bruised cheek from breaking up a fight, he rested while Lin Xiuqing let him sleep through dinner. He later caught A-Guang secretly visiting Ye Huimei and discovered he had brought her gold earrings, which she refused to accept because she had not agreed to date him.

• Father Ye saw Ye Yaodong's bruised cheek and scolded him until he explained that he had been hit while breaking up a fight.
• Lin Xiuqing treated Ye Yaodong's bruise with camellia oil, and he fell asleep before dinner; she chose not to wake him.
• Ye Yaodong heard familiar voices behind the house and caught A-Guang talking privately with Ye Huimei.
• A-Guang gave Ye Huimei a small box and hurried away, while Ye Yaodong teased him about his battered appearance.
• Ye Huimei opened the box and found gold stud earrings, then asked Ye Yaodong to return them because she had not agreed to date A-Guang.
• Ye Yaodong encouraged Ye Huimei to take her time deciding and promised to protect her if A-Guang pestered her.

Ye Yaodong considered A-Guang a suitable match for his younger sister but decided he would not make it easy for him. After returning A-Guang’s gift, Ye Yaodong visited his newly finished house and planned more work for the garden and yard.

• Ye Yaodong decided A-Guang was a decent potential brother-in-law but resolved to put hurdles in his way.
• Ye Yaodong found his sons playing outside, brought them home, and ate the seafood-filled sweet potato starch noodles Lin Xiuqing had cooked.
• Ye Yaodong returned the jewelry box to A-Guang, who asked whether Ye Yaodong or his sister had refused it.
• Ye Yaodong inspected the finished new house and its garden, planning to plant more winter vegetables, build a fence, and hatch chicks.

After a typhoon battered the village, Ye Yaodong learned that two fishermen had survived a dangerous night at sea and prepared to set his traps once the weather cleared. He also planned a more generous Mid-Autumn visit to Lin Xiuqing’s parents, while villagers began combing the beach for storm-tossed seafood and other finds.

• Ye Yaodong heard the village loudspeaker broadcast typhoon safety precautions, then endured the stormy night with Lin Xiuqing as rain leaked into their home and the power went out.
• Father Ye checked the village after the storm and reported that the new house was safe, some boats had been wrecked, and two men had not returned.
• Dazhuang and Chen Shan came back safely after spending the night on their boats in the Typhoon Shelter, and Ye Yaodong learned they had gone out to move their boats during the storm.
• Ye Yaodong planned to set his pot traps and agreed with Lin Xiuqing to bring mooncakes, a pig’s trotter, and seafood to her parents for Mid-Autumn.
• Ye Yaodong retrieved the family boats with Father Ye, then saw villagers beachcombing as he headed home to fetch his traps.

Ye Yaodong met A-Zheng and Xiao Xiao while setting his Pot Trap Nets, agreed to treat them to drinks, and joined them to cast their net. His catches impressed them, and he took home a haul of pufferfish and shrimp before heading back to make more traps.

• A-Zheng and Xiao Xiao confronted Ye Yaodong for going to sea with A-Guang without them, and Ye agreed to treat them to drinks.
• Ye set his forty-two Pot Trap Nets, then watched A-Zheng and Xiao Xiao haul in seafood with their cast net.
• Ye joined their boat and cast a net that caught crabs, fish, shrimp, and pufferfish, which he kept to prepare and dry himself.
• Ye's next cast brought in a large haul of white shrimp, impressing A-Zheng and Xiao Xiao.
• Ye made one final cast, then left to work on more Pot Trap Nets before his upcoming move.

After a typhoon, Ye Yaodong heard that four fishermen had died after heading out to sea too soon, and his family warned him not to take such risks again. That evening, he joined his friends in ambushing and beating A-Wei's brother-in-law.

• Ye Yaodong learned at the dock that a husband and wife had drowned when their boat capsized, and that another boat carrying a father and son had not returned.
• Ye Yaodong's father scolded him for going to sea during the typhoon, and Ye Yaodong promised not to risk it again.
• Ye Yaodong and his friends discussed the deaths while drinking, then decided to take revenge on A-Wei's brother-in-law for stealing fish and hurting A-Guang.
• Ye Yaodong pulled a sack over A-Wei's brother-in-law, and he and the others beat him before fleeing when they heard someone approaching.