Approaching twelve o’clock, two cars finally arrived at the fishing village where the fishing grounds were located. Passing by the fishing grounds, a row of fairly large buildings was close to the main road, with several trucks parked at the entrance.
Zhang Guoqing slowed down, glanced around, then turned to continue forward slowly. Before entering the village, he could already sll the fishy scent in the air.
According to the arrangents previously discussed with Zhao Dashan, Zhang Guoqing first took the small car to ask for directions and found the Old Wang’s house that his father-in-law Zhou Xiaozheng had ntioned, which was selling crabs.
Upon arriving at the family’s house, they happened to be finishing up their al. Old Wang was delighted to learn they were relatives of Liu Sanyuan and Zhou Xiaozheng, who had visited last ti. These were important custors, so he eagerly invited them to sit down.
Zhang Guoqing returned to the car and brought out ten pounds of rice and a bundle of vermicelli, placing them inside the house.
He smiled at the thrice-refusing Old Wang and said, "Uncle Wang, don’t bother stopping . For today’s lunch, you must let Auntie prepare a proper seafood feast. We’ve co to taste Auntie’s skills."
Old Wang understood imdiately. It was akin to the tis in sumr when Liu Sanyuan’s wife and her group ca to gather seafood—they were city people looking for novelty, having fun and also being able to take seafood ho afterward.
He quickly asked his wife to start preparing, saying, "Drink so hot water to warm up first. Once we finish eating, it will be low tide, and I’ll let my eldest son take you there."
Seeing that a al would take so ti, Zhao Dashan noticed that his wife and daughter were eager to move. He discussed with Zhang Guoqing, deciding that the two of them would let Old Wang help purchase seafood while Cheng Hongli took Zhao Yuanyuan and Zhou Jiao to see the ocean first. After the al, both families would go gather seafood.
Old Wang overheard and instructed his younger son to take the three won to the seaside safely.
The three won, Cheng Hongli, were excitedly rushing outside.
Zhang Guoqing quickly grabbed Zhou Jiao and, seeing that she was warmly dressed, was relieved to watch her run off, being pulled by Zhao Yuanyuan. He couldn’t help but shout to remind her not to take off her coat and to co back early for lunch.
Zhao Dashan and Old Wang couldn’t help but laugh heartily.
Old Wang stopped his laughter and reassured him, "No problem. Although the sea breeze is strong, it’s not cold when you run. When it’s ti to eat, I’ll have my wife call them back."
Zhao Dashan straightforwardly said, "His young wife just finished her confinent. Old Wang, you need to help us gather so seafood."
"Alright. Anyway, it’ll be so ti before the al. I’ll first take you to a few places next door. Look and see; when you’ve picked, have them send it over, and we’ll pay altogether." With that, Old Wang saw they were already standing up and led them outside.
Zhang Guoqing intended to visit the fishing grounds that his father-in-law ntioned. Since the warehouse staff could accept money privately, he had a way to persuade him. He was different from others—he wasn’t short of money and wasn’t afraid of the hot weather, storing it in space for gradual use. On the way, he casually inquired about the fishing grounds from Old Wang.
Old Wang led them to a yard. According to him, this family always returned fully loaded after fishing trips, with a surplus apart from what was required for the fishing grounds. The household elder and the daughter-in-law sun-dried many fish, selling them at the market. Their family had the most seafood in the village.
The won in the yard were nding nets. Seeing Old Wang bringing two strangers, they knew he had brought in custors.
The eldest lady quickly instructed the daughter-in-law with a few words, setting aside her work to greet them.
Old Wang loudly said, "Old sister-in-law, do you have any seafood left?"
Upon hearing this, the old lady happily led them to the storeroom, opened the door, "The sll is quite strong. You can take a look around; let know what you fancy, and I’ll bring it out."
Once Zhang Guoqing and Zhao Dashan entered, a strong fishy odor filled their noses. No wonder they ntioned the sll was strong. Inside, bundles of dried kelp were nurous, baskets hanging filled with sun-dried shrimp and shrimps, each a type of shellfish at, and a wooden rack hung with many large fish dried, with broken bamboo baskets on the ground stuffed with assorted dried fish.
Zhao Dashan checked the prices, then asked Zhang Guoqing, "How about we each pick what we like?"
"Uncle, you choose first; I’ll pick afterward." With that, Zhang Guoqing walked outside.
The sll was too strong, and it’s only a penny or two per pound; what is there to pick? Buying it all wouldn’t cost much. He was determined not to go in again; once Zhao Dashan finished selecting, he’d take it all, even if he didn’t eat it, then gift it out.
After setting the items, walking out not far from the yard, Zhao Dashan laughed heartily and pointed at Zhang Guoqing, "You truly are Lin Lishan’s son-in-law, buying things in bulk."
Thinking of his mother-in-law’s habit, Zhang Guoqing also laughed heartily, "I have many relatives; sharing it out, there won’t be much left. Uncle Dashan, you should buy more too. It can serve as gifts during the holidays or New Year." After speaking, he discreetly gestured the amount of money with his fingers to him. It was embarrassing to ntion the low price with Old Wang around.
Zhao Dashan imdiately understood the value, indeed viable as gifts. Despite the cheap price here, prices in their county town weren’t low. In his hotown, seafood was even rarer.
After visiting two more houses consecutively, Old Wang couldn’t continue and hurriedly led them ho, "Co. If you don’t select anything, why bother visiting ourselves? Let my wife inform them to send over all their stock to my house. You guys decide how much you need; I’ll make arrangents with so suitable households."
As soon as Zhang Guoqing and they returned, they saw a large table full of seafood in the hall, with fish, crabs, and shellfish, while Old Wang’s wife was still bringing dishes out from the kitchen.
Zhao Dashan quickly said, "Sister-in-law, don’t make any more, it’s already plenty."
Old Wang’s wife said with a smile, "It won’t be too much. Shellfish seem many, but lack at, two more dishes will suffice. You n can drink first. Once the al is ready, the ladies should be back."
Zhang Guoqing saw Old Wang pulling Zhao Dashan to the table to pour drinks and quickly said, "Uncle, I’ll find them; you go ahead and drink first." With that, he slipped away. He now refrained from drinking whenever possible, making it a good ti to check if his wife felt cold.
Listening to the sound of waves, Zhang Guoqing quickly walked towards the seaside. From a distance, he saw the group still playing—so much ti passed with them still yelling, surrounded by a group of children. There were people on the fishing boats parked on the shore pointing and laughing at them.
As soon as Zhou Jiao saw Zhang Guoqing approaching, she eagerly ran over and pulled him, "Co quickly to the rocks; we dared not go there. The kids said there are the most things there, but we have to wait for the tide to completely retreat."
Zhang Guoqing quickly grabbed her; she was so excited that even her grip was strong. He touched her hands, "Didn’t you notice your hands are red from cold? Let’s go back for lunch first. Once the tide goes down in the afternoon, we’ll return."
Zhou Jiao stubbornly pulled him toward the beach. Zhang Guoqing, seeing the situation, had no choice but to follow her, keeping her hands tightly wrapped with his, hoping to keep her a bit warm.
"Aunt Cheng, lunch is ready. Let’s head back and co over later."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Hongli didn’t even raise her head and said, "Give five more minutes. We’ll leave right away."
Watching her and her daughter tirelessly chasing and catching small crabs, Zhang Guoqing was both amused and helpless. Such small crabs couldn’t be eaten even if caught. Looking at the surrounding group of children, she indeed resembled a leader of kids.
Zhou Jiao pulled him towards the sea, pointing at the rocks that weren’t fully exposed, "That’s the rock! It’ll be clear once the tide is low; the sea has already receded by more than half."
Zhang Guoqing raised his foot to show her and softly said, "After lunch, the tide will be just right, and we can return. Let first take you to a quieter place; see what we can find?"
Seeing the army boots Zhang Guoqing was wearing and realizing that moving forward would indeed be difficult for him, Zhou Jiao reluctantly nodded.
Zhang Guoqing led her slowly to the left. The further they moved away from the crowd, the more things were pushed onto the beach by the waves. The tide was currently retreating, and once it went down, the village children would co with bamboo baskets to gather seafood.
Listening to the information Zhou Jiao had gathered, Zhang Guoqing nodded. He saw Zhou Jiao in high spirits and didn’t remind her that one could buy lots of seafood gathered by the children for a re dollar.
Seeing Zhou Jiao squatting down stealthily placing things into space, Zhang Guoqing happily cooperated by standing in front of her to shield her. Protecting his woman ant making her happy was all that mattered.
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