Chapter Summaries

Ye Yaodong returned from fishing with a profitable catch and shared the sales slip with Lin Xiuqing. They decided to have their unexpected baby and began thinking about how to keep the pregnancy safe.

• Ye Yaodong, Xiao Xiao, and A-Zheng sold their catch to A-Cai after returning to the dock, and Ye Yaodong negotiated over the price of his Large Croaker.
• Ye Yaodong brought home fish for dinner and gave Lin Xiuqing the sales slip showing he had earned more than fifty yuan.
• Ye Yaodong asked Lin Xiuqing whether her period had come, and she said she was probably pregnant.
• Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing agreed to have the baby and discussed keeping her safe as the pregnancy progressed.

Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing bought supplies for their new home, then joined his brothers and parents for the move-in rituals and a shared banquet. The next morning, Ye Yaodong woke in the new house and prepared to go haul in his nets while Lin Xiuqing cooked pumpkin porridge.

• Lin Xiuqing led Ye Yaodong through town to buy household goods while he carried the baskets and a large iron wok on his back.
• Fatty met Ye Yaodong on the way home and helped carry the baskets to the new house after teasing him about the wok.
• Ye Yaodong and his family prepared seafood for the banquet and carried out the local moving customs, including bringing rice and water into the new home and hanging red lanterns.
• Ye Yaodong, his two brothers, and Father Ye hosted a joint banquet, drank with the guests, and later rested while their wives cleaned up.
• Ye Yaodong woke the next morning in the new house, found Lin Xiuqing cooking pumpkin porridge, and planned to leave early to haul in the nets.

Ye Yaodong hauled his traps, learned that theft from fishing nets had become widespread, and scouted a small island for a future landing. He headed back to fish after identifying Scorpion Reef as a promising place to reach the island at low tide.

• Ye Yaodong left Lin Xiuqing at home and went out to haul his five strings of traps.
• Ye Yaodong found one string raided but brought home a decent catch of crabs and other seafood.
• Chen Yongfeng told Ye Yaodong that thieves had emptied three strings of his traps and that other villagers had suffered similar thefts.
• Ye Yaodong considered how difficult it was to catch the thieves, then decided to scout a nearby island.
• Ye Yaodong found Scorpion Reef, spotted a brief stretch of sand and abundant shellfish, and chose it as his landing spot for the first.

Ye Yaodong fished from his boat with shrimp and fish meat for bait, catching several worthwhile fish and octopuses. After landing a valuable Tiger Grouper, he offered Lin Laoliu a turn with his rod.

• Ye Yaodong switched to smaller shrimp after his large bait failed to get a bite, then caught a large Red Octopus and an unprofitable Foolish Fish.
• Ye Yaodong caught a large Stonefish and met Lin Laoliu, a fisherman from West Mountain Village who stopped to watch.
• Ye Yaodong continued fishing with small shrimp and caught Stonefish, Yellow Mountain Croakers, Red Octopuses, and another Foolish Fish.
• At Lin Laoliu's suggestion, Ye Yaodong baited his hook with fish meat and caught a Tiger Grouper weighing about two jin.
• Ye Yaodong saved the flopping grouper from falling back into the sea, then offered Lin Laoliu a turn with his fishing rod.

Ye Yaodong earned a strong return from fishing and traps on his first day living separately, then shared his catch and a meal with Lin Xiuqing and their children. He and Ye Yaohua finished milling the family’s paddy and brought the rice home to divide among the households.

• Lin Laoliu borrowed Ye Yaodong’s rod, caught a large eel, and gave it to Ye Yaodong before rowing home.
• Ye Yaodong caught more fish, sold his valuable haul at the buying station, and saved a few small catches to take home.
• Ye Yaodong returned home for lunch, where Lin Xiuqing and the children ate with him for their first meal as a separate household.
• Lin Xiuqing told Ye Yaodong that their mother had brought food and asked the brothers to mill four sacks of paddy and keep the bran.
• Ye Yaodong and Ye Yaohua took the paddy to East Bridge Village, milled all four sacks, and pushed the rice home to divide it.

After settling the banquet expenses and attending A-Zheng’s pre-wedding feast, Ye Yaodong noticed suspicious nighttime activity near the house connected to Lin Jishang’s relative and suspected Xu Laifu of stealing from fishing nets. At home, a talk about saving for the baby on the way left him feeling an urgent need to earn more money.

• Mother Ye settled the banquet accounts, and each household contributed ten yuan before taking home dried goods and a sack of rice.
• Ye Yaodong attended A-Zheng’s pre-wedding banquet, where the group discussed A-Wei and Rat missing the celebrations.
• Walking home, Ye Yaodong saw Xu Laifu carrying buckets near a lit house and suspected he was preparing to steal from fishing nets.
• Ye Yaodong returned home and gave dried jujubes to his children and Lin Xiuqing, then talked with her about food and household spending.
• Lin Xiuqing reminded Ye Yaodong that the baby’s birth would cost a lot, renewing his determination to earn more money.

Ye Yaodong joined A-Zheng’s wedding procession, which was delayed by Xu Laifu and another man demanding cigarettes, before the wedding feast and bridal chamber games. Afterward, Ye Yaodong told his friends he suspected A-Wei’s younger brother-in-law of stealing fishing nets, and they went to check whether Xu Laifu was home before planning to catch the thief.

• Ye Yaodong arrived at A-Zheng’s house on his wedding day and joined the procession to fetch the bride.
• Xu Laifu and his friend blocked the procession and demanded Chengfeng cigarettes before letting it pass.
• The procession fetched the bride, returned to the village, and held the wedding feast and bridal chamber games.
• Ye Yaodong let the bride light his cigarette without teasing her, while A-Zheng and his friends completed the wedding games.
• Ye Yaodong told Xiao Xiao, A-Guang, and Fatty that he had seen A-Wei’s younger brother-in-law sneaking around the previous night, and they suspected him of stealing nets.
• The four friends set out to check whether Xu Laifu was home and decide whether to wait for the suspected thief that night.

Ye Yaodong, Xiao Xiao, A-Guang, and Fatty followed Xu Laifu to the dock and waited for him to return from stealing fish from villagers’ nets. They caught and beat him, then decided to take him to Secretary Chen so the village could learn who had been stealing.

• Fatty spotted Xu Laifu carrying a bucket, and the four followed him to the dock.
• Xu Laifu took Xiao Xiao and A-Zheng’s boat out to sea, while the four waited for him to return.
• Xu Laifu came ashore with two buckets of catch, and the four caught him red-handed and beat him.
• Ye Yaodong questioned Xu Laifu, who admitted he had been stealing from nets every few days that month and had given the money to his mother.
• Ye Yaodong and A-Guang dragged Xu Laifu toward Secretary Chen while Fatty and Xiao Xiao carried the stolen catch.

Ye Yaodong and his friends caught Xu Laifu stealing catches from nets and brought him to Secretary Chen, who planned to warn the villagers and discipline him. After leaving some seafood for Secretary Chen, they divided the remaining catch and discussed going fishing together the next day.

• Ye Yaodong and his friends dragged Xu Laifu to Secretary Chen and explained that they had caught him stealing from nets at sea.
• Secretary Chen took Xu Laifu home and said he would speak with his parents and tell the villagers about the theft.
• Ye Yaodong and his friends set aside seafood for Secretary Chen and his wife, Wang Xiumei.
• The four friends divided the remaining catch at Fatty's house, and Ye Yaodong worried that some of it might have come from his own traps.
• Ye Yaodong, Fatty, and Xiao Xiao discussed checking their traps and fishing together the next day, while A-Guang prepared to go back to work at sea.

Ye Yaodong returned home after helping catch Xu Laifu, then talked with Lin Xiuqing about their next outing and their unborn child. The next morning, he cooked breakfast for his family before heading out to check his traps.

• Ye Yaodong, Xiao Xiao, A-Guang, and Fatty agreed to gather seafood on an isolated island, with Fatty volunteering to bring supplies and cook.
• Ye Yaodong noticed figures heading toward the wharf but went inside, where he told Lin Xiuqing that Xu Laifu had been caught stealing from traps and handed over to Secretary Chen.
• Ye Yaodong washed up and discussed with Lin Xiuqing how they hoped their next baby would be a daughter, then moved to the other end of the bed because she disliked the smell of his hair.
• Ye Yaodong woke early, cooked rice porridge and eggs, steamed dried fish, and cleaned the previous night's catch while Lin Xiuqing slept.
• Lin Xiuqing and the children joined Ye Yaodong for breakfast, after which he took his bucket out to collect the catch from his traps.

Ye Yaodong learned that Xu Laisan's youngest son had been caught stealing fish, then found out the boy's family had come to his home to demand medical costs and insult his family. His mother and aunts drove them away, and Ye Yaodong swallowed his anger and stayed home with Lin Xiuqing and the children.

• Ye Yaodong heard villagers say Xu Laisan's youngest son had been caught stealing from fishing nets, but Secretary Chen had stopped broadcasting the public reprimand after the boy's family begged him to stop.
• Ye Yaodong decided to carry a burlap sack in case he needed to deal with the thief, then returned home and learned the thief's family had come to his door to curse at them and demand medical expenses.
• Lin Xiuqing and Ye Yaopeng stopped Ye Yaodong from going to confront the family, explaining that Mother Ye and his aunts had already driven them away.
• Ye Yaodong calmed down for the children's sake and asked Lin Xiuqing to buy Pearl Powder in case they had been frightened.
• Ye Yaodong's older son said he had not been scared and excitedly praised Grandma for cursing out the women.

After Xu Laisan’s relatives went from house to house causing trouble, Ye Yaodong and Xiao Xiao met up with Fatty and decided to ambush Xu Laisan that night. They left Fatty’s with free pork offal, joking about visiting more often.

• Ye Yaodong told Lin Xiuqing that Xu Laisan’s relatives had come to make trouble, then went to tell Xiao Xiao.
• Ye Yaodong and Xiao Xiao found the women fleeing Fatty’s house after Fatty’s wife chased them away with a knife.
• The men discussed whether Xu Laisan’s relatives were making the rounds and agreed to ambush him that night.
• Fatty’s wife warned the men not to hurt Xu Laisan badly, and Fatty’s father-in-law arrived with leftover pork offal and bones.
• Ye Yaodong and Xiao Xiao took some offal home and joked about visiting Fatty more often.

Ye Yaodong and his friends waited outside Xu Laifu’s house, hoping to catch him, but their attempt to scare him sent him tumbling into an outhouse cesspit. They followed him home to watch the chaos, then Ye Yaodong returned to Lin Xiuqing and recounted the incident.

• Ye Yaodong brought home pig offal from Fatty, and Mother Ye cooked the pig's stomach with eggs for dinner.
• Ye Yaodong, Xiao Xiao, and Fatty waited near Xu Laifu’s house until Xu Laifu limped out toward the outhouse.
• Xiao Xiao pretended to be a ghost outside the outhouse, startling Xu Laifu into falling into the cesspit.
• Xu Laifu climbed out covered in filth and worms, and the three friends decided not to beat him because he was too disgusting.
• The three followed Xu Laifu home and watched Mother Xu discover the mess and order him to wash outside.
• Ye Yaodong told Lin Xiuqing what had happened, and she told him to wash up and go to bed.

Ye Yaodong took Ye Huimei and his friends to forage around a small island, where they found oysters and other seafood. While prying oysters, he discovered two round pearls in one shell, and the group began hoping to find more.

• Ye Yaodong heard villagers gossiping that Xu Laifu had fallen into a cesspit the previous night.
• Ye Yaodong agreed to take Ye Huimei shore foraging and met Fatty, Xiao Xiao, and A-Zheng at the Pier.
• Ye Yaodong led the group to Scorpion Reef, where Ye Huimei caught crabs and stonefish while the men found patches of oysters.
• Ye Yaodong pried open an oyster and found a milky-white pearl, then discovered a second pearl inside the same shell.
• Fatty, Xiao Xiao, and A-Zheng suggested opening more oysters and used Fatty's bowls to hold the flesh and any pearls they found.

Ye Yaodong and his companions gathered oysters on the exposed rocks, finding several pearls before Ye Yaodong slipped and cut his arm. He then spotted and caught a school of valuable stone bream in a tide pool, leaving his friends envious of his luck.

• Ye Huimei found a pearl while opening oysters, and Ye Yaodong explained that pearls were rare and kept his own two for a future pair of earrings for his wife.
• Fatty found a pearl too, while A-Zheng and Xiao Xiao continued searching without success.
• Ye Yaodong gathered shellfish in sacks, slipped on the rocks, and cut his arm; he warned Ye Huimei to stay off the slippery upper rocks.
• Ye Yaodong caught a tiger prawn and an octopus, then spotted a school of stone bream trapped in a shallow pool and called Ye Huimei for his hand net.
• Ye Yaodong scooped the stone bream into his bucket, and Fatty, A-Zheng, and Xiao Xiao reacted with envy and set off to search for their own catch.

Ye Yaodong and the others harvested valuable seafood on Scorpion Reef, including Stone Bream and Sea Chicken Feet, while the rising tide threatened to cut their work short. After Ye Yaodong warned everyone to pack up, he helped them get their catch and supplies onto the boat.

• Ye Yaodong and A-Zheng found groups of Stone Bream, while Ye Huimei collected Giant Trumpet Snails and Ye Yaodong gathered Sea Chicken Feet.
• Ye Yaodong spotted Sea Chicken Feet mixed into Fatty's catch and explained their value, prompting Fatty to abandon cooking and go harvest more.
• Ye Yaodong told Ye Huimei about the valuable Sea Chicken Feet, and she continued gathering seafood alongside him.
• Ye Huimei found another group of Stone Bream, and Ye Yaodong carried her nearly full sack to the boat before returning to search.
• As the tide rose, Ye Yaodong filled his sacks, shouted for everyone to pack up, and helped the others carry their catch and supplies to the boat.

Ye Yaodong and his companions returned from a dangerous isolated island with a large haul, including valuable stone bream and sea chicken feet. They covered the best catch to keep the villagers from discovering it, then sorted their goods and prepared for Ye Yaodong to sell the valuable items in town.

• Ye Yaodong and his companions compared their scrapes and bruises and agreed the island's steep rocks had made gathering seafood dangerous.
• Ye Yaodong told the others to separate the sea chicken feet for Hongsheng and suggested they sell their catch there together.
• A-Zheng, Fatty, Xiao Xiao, and Ye Yaodong covered their buckets and stone bream to hide the valuable catch from curious villagers.
• Ye Yaodong fetched a handcart, loaded the catch, and pushed it through the village while the men rebuffed a busybody's questions.
• Ye Yaodong dropped Ye Huimei and his friends at their homes, then returned to his own house, where Lin Xiuqing treated his wounds and helped sort the catch.

Ye Yaodong and his friends sold their seafood to Hongsheng Hotel ahead of the owner’s birthday celebration, earning a large payout, and Fatty was hired to help in the kitchen. As the four men tried to leave, someone ran after them, calling out that he had something good for them.

• Ye Yaodong gathered his sea chicken feet, stone bream, and mud crabs, then joined Fatty, A-Zheng, and Xiao Xiao on the trip into town.
• The four caught a tractor to Hongsheng Hotel after learning it was being decorated for the owner’s fiftieth birthday.
• Ye Yaodong offered their seafood to Wang Maoquan, and Hong Wenle agreed to buy the stone bream and mud crabs as well as the sea chicken feet.
• Hong Wenle arranged for Fatty to work as an extra kitchen helper during the busy birthday celebration.
• The four divided their earnings, then tried to run when someone called them back, but the caller said he had something good for them.

Ye Yaodong and his three companions accepted a job as boat hands for a nighttime sea-fishing trip, then rode home to put away their money and tell their families. After reassuring Lin Xiuqing and promising his children treats, Ye Yaodong left to return to the hotel and prepare for the trip.

• Wang Maoquan offered Ye Yaodong and his companions five yuan each to accompany wealthy young men on a nighttime sea-fishing trip, and the four agreed.
• Ye Yaodong and the others borrowed bicycles from Wang Maoquan and rode home to secure their money and notify their families.
• Ye Yaodong promised his disappointed children Fried Dough Cake and malt candy when he returned.
• Ye Yaodong gave Lin Xiuqing six hundred and ninety yuan to put away and asked her to deliver his youngest sister's share of the seafood earnings.
• Lin Xiuqing worried about the nighttime trip, but Ye Yaodong reassured her, kissed her, and left for the hotel.

Ye Yaodong and his friends traveled to a wharf to join Hong Wenle’s group aboard a yacht for a sea-fishing trip. After boarding, they kept their distance from the wealthy young men, and the yacht set off.

• Ye Yaodong picked up Xiao Xiao, met Fatty and A-Zheng, and bought snacks before they went to the hotel to meet Manager Wang.
• Manager Wang sent the four men to Hairun Small Wharf to wait for the yacht and fishing rods.
• Ye Yaodong and his friends admired the yacht and discussed its cost while they waited in the cold.
• Manager Wang warned them not to bother the young men, irritating Ye Yaodong and his friends before he led them aboard.
• Hong Wenle welcomed the four men and joined his friends, while Ye Yaodong and the others stood aside and explored the yacht with their eyes.
• The young men gave the word to depart, and the yacht began moving as Ye Yaodong and his friends watched eagerly.