Years: Return to the Leisurely Fishing Village

Chapter 10 Picking Clams

At two o'clock in the morning, when the tide was high, the Tan family fell into a deep sleep.

At 4 o'clock, the whole family got up.

They still trust what Tan Shaoyang says, because he has made a lot of money during this period!

Even Tan Shaoyang was called up.

"Wake up, don't sleep any more, help lead the way."

The sack was picked up and the claws for digging clams were ready, obviously aiming to make a lot of money again.

In the end, I didn't ride the bike because the sea water had not receded yet and I had to walk on the sea water. I definitely couldn't ride a bike.

Tan Shaoyang was only concerned about transporting the goods, but forgot that the sea water had not receded and it was inconvenient to move forward. The Tan family did not make fun of him, but can you expect someone who doesn't even go to the sea to understand the basic knowledge?

Even if Tan Shaoyang knew where he could dig clams, he would be at a loss if he went out at night. He couldn't tell the location in the vast ocean, not to mention that he had to go to the place where the tide had receded, where there were more clams.

We finally reached Silver Beach but it was already 5 o'clock.

This place is too remote, far away from the small fishing village. It takes an hour's walk to get there. The further you go towards the end, the fewer people there are. Apart from a large family, there are only a few other people.

The sea water will not reach its lowest level until 8 o'clock, so you can only follow the low tide.

Strong winds and waves are indeed a good time to pick up goods.

Digging towards the sea water line, I found big and plump clams.

There were only two or three flashlights at home, and we didn't walk around separately, but stayed in one place. Fortunately, there were a lot of clams pushed up, as if there were endless ones to pick up. We found a lot of them at a time, and they were all very big.

The division of labor in the Tan family is very clear.

The eldest and second brother each got five dollars of the money earned from going to sea, and the rest was kept for household expenses.

No matter how much or how little money they earn from fishing, it all belongs to the family. In other words, they can keep the money themselves without having to let Tan's mother control it.

That's the only way to have the motivation to work.

Who doesn't want to make a lot of money? Even my second sister-in-law was pregnant.

She let the fat boy fall asleep with Grandma Tan, and went out with her husband. She sat on a stool and dug clams faster than anyone else. She didn't show any sign of tiredness at all.

After the child was born, one room became too small to live in, and she also wanted to have her own home. It would be best if she could build a house while the third child had no intention of getting married.

So even if it takes a lot of energy and makes me tired, I am not willing to waste the opportunity.

Tan Shaonan's family, the three little girls all went to work, working at night and going back to sleep during the day. This is a normal operation at the seaside.

The eldest, second and third girls were very excited. The oldest was seven years old and the youngest was five. They were all hardworking and they were very determined in picking up the fruits from the bucket.

"Wow! It's so cool. There are so many big clams. Can I earn money to buy ice cream today?"

"It's been a while since I've picked up such a big clam. It feels so good."

The children's childish chatter makes this quiet place noisy. They are busy with their hands and chatting with their mouths.

Tan Shaoyang listened to the innocent voice and responded, "You try your best to pick them up, and your uncle will buy you some ice cream when you go back."

The little girls were no longer sleepy and asked happily, "Uncle San is a man of his word. You can't lie to children."

Tan Shaoyang nodded affirmatively. How much is the ice cream? It's not a big deal. "Don't worry, it's just ice cream. Uncle San will definitely buy it."

Although these three are young, they work very skillfully. They just pick up the things and put them into the bucket, and the bucket is full in a short time.

Tan Shaoyang also took action. He couldn't be worse than three little brats. He said he wanted to receive the goods, but it was not just talk. He had to save some money. Otherwise, who would be willing to sell the goods to him without money?
So I dig very hard. I pick up the big ones with both hands, picking up the biggest ones. This thing is addictive. The more I pick, the more addicted I become. In a short while, the bucket is full.

Pick up pick up...

This one is good, that one is big.

My eyes can’t see it all, and my hands can’t pick it up.

Only those who experience it personally can understand the joy.

Only when the waves are big on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month will so many cargoes be rolled up. It is rare to have such a satisfying harvest at other times.

When you are working, you are unaware of the passage of time.

Before I knew it, I had picked up three large bags, tied them up with ropes, and threw them into the sea to soak.

The sky gradually brightened, from the dim light at the beginning to becoming increasingly clear. Although it was early, the temperature was not low, and the sea breeze was warm.

The busy Tan Shaoyang's vest was soaked.

Even so, he did not stop his busy pace.

Time is money, the more you pick up, the more you earn.

The vast sea is sparkling with waves. As the sun slowly rises and reveals the coastline, a ray of light yellow shines on the sea, creating a golden scene that is magnificent.

Tan Shaoyang had never seen such a heart-wrenching scene before. He couldn't take his eyes off it. The most beautiful thing was the vast ocean.

He has the best wealth, why didn't you know it before?

The boundless sea can instantly broaden one's mind and dissipate any depression that has accumulated in one's heart.

If you are a depressed person, you can go for a walk on the beach and all your worries will disappear.

In his previous life, he was lazy when he was young. He would still fall asleep in bed when the sun rose. No matter how busy you were, he would still sleep soundly.

After he got married, his life became a mess and he just muddled through every day. Diligence was not something he had in mind at all.

Being able to see such a scene now, which he would not appreciate or feel before, now makes his blood boil, especially when he sees his busy family members with happy smiles on their faces.

Suddenly I felt so satisfied.

Three simple meals a day and a plain life are what he looks forward to.

He must cherish these hard-earned days and use the experiences from his previous life to make his life better and better.

Turning around and looking at the large group divided into several waves, the old family undoubtedly picked up the most. The couple were both nimble people, and with three little helpers, the sacks were filled with soaked in water.

The second family was not as good, mainly because it was too tiring for the second sister-in-law to bend down, and her speed was relatively slow. She didn't dare to do it recklessly for fear of hurting the baby in her belly.

Looking at Mr. and Mrs. Tan, they are worthy of being people who have lived by the sea for most of their lives. Compared with the eldest brother, they are not bad at all.

At this time, Tan's father went back, and I guess he went back to pull the cart.

Tan Shaoyang also stopped and chased after him.

I didn't notice it until I stood up, but only after I stood up did I realize how tired I was. My waist almost broke, and I felt sore and painful.

Going to the sea to catch clams is not an easy job. Bending over for a long time causes extreme pain. The money is really not that good. If so many clams are pushed up every day, even if you can make money, your waist will be mostly broken.

Fortunately, the young man recovered quickly and was fine after a short break.

(End of this chapter)