Returning with a Full Load

Chen Haichao thought about it and realized that seemed right. Master Liu didn't even want dried mixed fish. There were so many fish that his family couldn't eat them all, and taking them to the purchasing station or setting up a stall would be openly poaching from the collective.

The seabirds had already driven a huge mass of small sea creatures onto the beach for them. Leaving the fish to fill the birds' bellies was no problem.

Besides, there were quite a few mantis shrimp among the waves of seafood pouring in, seemingly no fewer than the little shrimp. Perhaps he could dry them and put them to use.

Master Liu had refused the dried mixed fish because there were too many different kinds. A larger quantity of a single kind probably wouldn't be a problem.

Dried mantis shrimp were delicious too and kept well. Stir-fried with celery, they smelled amazing. They were all meat and didn't need peeling, making them especially convenient to eat. People inland couldn't get fresh seafood like that.

These days, nobody wanted mantis shrimp either. People thought they were too much trouble to eat, and even pigs wouldn't eat them because their shells cut their mouths.

They also died easily once out of the water, so they couldn't be transported alive. Once dead, their flesh turned mushy, and bacteria grew easily, giving anyone who ate them a bad stomach. They couldn't compare with fish and shrimp that could be frozen to keep them fresh. Even the purchasing station wouldn't take them.

When the production brigade netted them, they dumped them straight back into the sea. They seemed to be overabundant too; a glance at the beach showed a huge area covered with them.

If he hauled them home and cooked them straight away, though, they would be fine. They had all only just died and were fresh. If he cooked them promptly and dried them, they would make another delicacy.

Chen Haichao had already made his plans. The next time Master Liu came, he would bring along the dried mantis shrimp too. They had plenty of meat and had to be worth more than dried shrimp!

He could almost see money rolling in again, and he scooped with even greater enthusiasm.

Father Chen had only brought two burlap sacks. He had figured that with just the two of them, father and son, they wouldn't be able to gather much. He hadn't expected the seabirds to help, and before long the sacks weren't enough. He couldn't bear to run home just like that, so he had no choice but to load everything stranded on the beach onto the handcart.

After Chen Haichao had filled all four sacks, he ran out of room too. He called for his father to push the handcart into the water.

Time was short. The tide was receding bit by bit, and the flock of seabirds seemed unable to drive any more in. Some had already flown onto the beach to eat fish. He had to make the most of the little time left and scoop up more.

Father Chen followed him into the water to help. In any case, the catch stranded on shore wasn't going anywhere. The seabirds could eat as much as they liked.

Watching the fish, shrimp, and crabs churn constantly at the surface, he couldn't close his mouth, grinning all the while.

"Abao, these seabirds are incredible. They drove so much in-hundreds of jin onto the beach, and there's still so much in the sea."

"These seabirds are expert fishers to begin with. A single bird can dive more than ten meters deep, and a flock can work together to drive schools of fish ashore."

"It would be great if we could raise them."

"Dream on. We'd be lucky to raise even one."

"Oh, right, the one Xiao Qi is raising is called Xiao Ba, isn't it? If it stays with us, it can help catch fish later."

"The bird's parents have been watching from the shore. They might carry it straight back to the nest later and not let Xiao Qi raise it."

"Heh heh, then he'll cry his eyes out."

Chen Xiaoqi was still happily gathering fish and shrimp on the beach. Every so often, he stroked Xiao Ba and fed it fish he thought tasted good.

But he didn't forget to toss a fish or two at the feet of the big bird keeping watch nearby. He really didn't dare go close, though. Afraid of being pecked, he only dared toss the fish from a distance.

Only when the seabirds all flew onto the beach to rest and eat did the seafood at the surface grow sparse as the waves receded. It no longer gathered together, either.

A scoop of the hand net brought up less than a third of what it had before, but father and son were satisfied.

Chen Haichao tossed the net onto the handcart. "Dad, that's about enough. Let's rest and stop scooping. We won't get much more if we keep going, and it's slow work."

"Mm, then let's go ashore and stop scooping. It's New Year's Eve. We should do less work."

What nonsense!

The handcart was piled full, and he was still talking about doing less work? Once they pushed it home, there would be more to do: sorting everything, then cooking and drying it. They would probably be busy until the New Year's Eve dinner.

Father Chen pushed the handcart ashore, his face full of delight, then immediately loaded the catch Chen Xiaoqi had gathered into piles onto it as well.

Chen Haichao helped pick it up. Startled, the seabirds flew in all directions, fish still clutched in their beaks.

"Chen Xiaoqi, carry your bird's nest home first. See if the big bird will let you take its chick home."

Chen Xiaoqi looked at the big bird eyeing him fiercely beside the nest and felt a little scared. "Will it peck me again?"

"Did it peck you when you carried the nest onto the beach just now?"

"No..."

"There you go, then. Try again."

Chen Xiaoqi approached slowly, then quickly backed away once he had picked up the nest.

The big bird watched his every move. Just then, Xiao Ba poked its head out of the nest again and chirped. The big bird flew over and rubbed its chick all over with its pointed beak.

Holding the nest, he was scared half to death, his hands trembling. Yet he stubbornly refused to let go, afraid he would drop the chick.

Only after the big bird flew away did he feel as though he had survived a calamity. His face lit up. "Brother, the big bird flew away. It doesn't want Xiao Ba anymore."

"Then hurry and carry it home. Dad and I will go back once we've picked up everything on the beach."

"I want to stay with you."

Father Chen said, "Go home first and tell your mom to get ready. Have her clear the pot and start boiling water. These shrimp need to be cooked soon. They can't be left dead too long, or the meat will turn mushy. They have to be cooked while they're fresh."

"All right, then."

Chen Xiaoqi picked up the nest and trotted home first.

Father and son followed not long afterward. A little over ten minutes later, they too pushed the handcart home, returning with a full load: four burlap sacks piled on top and the cart itself brimming with seafood.

They had taken the straw that had lined the bottom of the handcart and laid it over the seafood, concealing it somewhat and making it less conspicuous.

It was only a little past ten. Most of the women were at home preparing lunch, while the men had already helped slaughter the chickens and ducks and started playing cards in the sun outside their doors.

As father and son pushed the handcart home, only a few people saw them. They greeted them, asked a couple of questions, and praised them for being hardworking.

Father Chen chuckled and gave a few perfunctory replies, then urged Chen Haichao to hurry and push the handcart home.

Even without the urging, he knew they shouldn't linger outside.

When they reached their door, only a group of children were outside playing house, and the elders were basking in the sun. Cooking smoke curled up from every home. He breathed a sigh of relief; with no adults around, he wouldn't have to deal with them.

But why was there a cormorant on the roof? Had it followed them all the way home?

Grandma had been sweeping the ground with a broom. When she saw him, she immediately put it aside and came over.

"Abao, what have you and your father brought back in the cart this time?"

"Oh my, why have you brought back so many fish and shrimp again? Can you even finish them? Making work for yourselves! It's New Year's, and instead of getting some proper rest, you keep running to the seaside."

"How long will it take to deal with all this? You can't even eat it all. Running around for nothing. You dried a whole sackful just a couple of days ago, and now you've brought back so much more..."

Father Chen glared at her irritably. "Keep your voice down. What are you hollering for? We just thought it would be a shame to leave all this stranded on the beach, so we brought it back. Whatever we can't finish, we can dry and store."

"Dry it and store it for the mice, you mean. The mice in your house will have plenty to eat now."

Chen Haichao had been craning his neck to watch the cormorant. He looked away and smiled as he coaxed his grandma.

"Grandma, you're quick and nimble. Come help me clean the fish, will you? There are so many. Mom and my sister definitely can't manage them all, and I have to help wash and sort everything. I can't manage it all."

"You two must be so stuffed you've got nothing better to do. Wait a moment. I'll go back and get a knife and chopping board." Grandma turned and briskly headed back next door.

The best way to get someone to stop talking for a while was to call her over and have her join in the work.

But once she joined in, she would nag as she worked...