Chapter 10: Women Arguing in the Streets

Ye Yaodong glanced at the crabs’ bellies and smiled broadly. “Two males, over a pound combined. Today’s haul is not bad; just right for a stew to nourish the kids at home.”

He looked around and casually found a piece of hemp rope washed up by the sea.

With a quick motion, he tied the two crabs together and hung them from his basket, feeling pleased as he continued prying open oysters and digging for clams on the rock face.

He had to complete the tasks his mother assigned him; otherwise, he’d have to listen to her nagging again. Tomorrow’s tide would recede even further, and he could come out to gather more.

As he moved closer to the outer rocks near the tide, he noticed the clams were getting bigger. After prying a few, he checked the tide level, then rolled up his pant legs to his thighs, planning to venture a bit further out where he expected to find more.

Most people out today were busy looking for sand clams, so there weren’t many searching the rock face.

The catch was lower today, and on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, many would dig. With only half a month for growth, there weren’t many large ones, making the sand clams more worthwhile.

Ye Yaodong walked along the rocks until the water reached his knees. Only then did he stop and patiently pry oysters from the rock face.

The oysters he opened here were slightly larger, and the attached snails and clams were also relatively bigger.

There were lots of tiny clams growing densely, but they were only the size of a fingernail and couldn’t be dug out.

Everyone was focused on their work, so no one noticed how far he had gone, allowing him to dig in peace for a while.

As the tide slowly receded, he inched further out. It had been decades since he had gathered at the sea, and his interest was completely piqued.

This feeling of harvest was a bit intoxicating, though he regretted not wearing a straw hat as the sun blazed down on him.

At this time, because he hadn’t done much labor, his skin still appeared fair and clean, unlike the typical tanned complexion of those living by the sea.

However, prolonged exposure to the sun turned his face red, and sweat poured down. Only having his lower half submerged in seawater brought him some relief from the heat.

By the time the tide fully receded around 10:30, he felt the water slowly rising again. He could clearly feel the water creeping up from his knees as the waves rolled in.

When the water reached his thighs, he gradually moved forward, glancing at his ladle. It was about one-third full, which was decent enough for two bowls of oyster omelet. He also had half a basket of snails and clams.

Lin Xiuqing, having squatted for a long time, felt a bit tired. She looked at her half-filled basin and stood up to stretch her back, glancing at her second son.

The little one was happily playing with the sand, excited and covered from head to toe. His shirt was soaked with drool as he grabbed handfuls of sand to play with.

He was well-behaved, not crying or fussing, nor looking for his mother.

She scanned the area again but didn’t see her husband. Frowning, she thought, “I can’t hold out any hopes for this man!”

Ye Mother noticed she had stood up and felt a bit tired as well. She intended to take a break, but upon checking the rocks, she didn’t see Ye Yaodong, which infuriated her. “Where has he gone again? I told him to dig for oysters, and now I can’t even see his shadow!”

“Mom, how can you believe what Yaodong says? After all these years, when have you seen him work seriously? Every time he just pretends to be busy for a moment and then runs off,” Ye Ersao said disdainfully.

Ye Mother was exasperated. “I’ll have his father break his legs when we get home! He’s so unreliable all the time!”

“Don’t worry about it; you have your aunt here,” Ye Mother said, exasperated. It was frustrating to see her son turn into such a lazy glutton. She worried that once they were gone, he might starve.

Ye Da Sao added, “Mom, we can’t let Yaodong keep being idle like this. Who can support him for a lifetime? Is Xiuqing supposed to do it? He’s a grown man with hands and feet, and he just relies on his wife without feeling ashamed.”

Ye Er Sao chimed in, “Exactly! It’s tough enough for a woman like Xiuqing to support the family! Only Xiuqing has the patience to put up with him. What woman could tolerate a man who does nothing at home?”

Other women digging for sand clams nearby joined in, “Yaodong really isn’t behaving properly. He’s been married for years and isn’t a child anymore…”

“It’s time for a good talk; we can’t let him continue like this…”

Just as Ye Yaodong returned to the beach, laden with his haul from the sea, he overheard the group of women gossiping about him, his face darkening with anger!

These meddling aunts had no business talking about him!

His wife hadn’t even said anything yet, but they were already chattering away!

“What are you saying? Where have I gone? I’ve been right here the whole time!” he called out.

Everyone turned in surprise, thinking he had left shortly after arriving. They hadn’t expected him to still be there, and the gossipers suddenly felt embarrassed.

Caught red-handed for their behind-the-back talk!

However, some among them felt justified and boldly retorted, “Yaodong, we’re saying this for your own good. A man should support his family. If you keep being idle, do you expect your parents to take care of you and your family forever?”

Ye Yaodong coldly glared at the speaker. “Aunt Zhu Hua, are you being overly concerned? Which eye of yours saw me being idle? I’ve been working! Were you speaking with your eyes closed? No wonder your family is poor! Have you gotten your eyesight checked?”

He was used to being reckless, so he shot back without hesitation!

“Stop talking nonsense; your eyes are the ones with problems! Your family is the one that’s poor; you can’t even build a house, and you can’t split up the family. You’re so broke, yet you still dare to call my family poor…” Aunt Zhu Hua snapped back, rising with one hand on her hip and the other brandishing a spatula.

Now it was Ye Mother’s turn to get angry. “What are you pointing at? My son doesn’t deserve to be scolded by you! So what if we’re poor? Does my family eat your rice? If you’re not poor, then why are you out here digging in the sea?”

“This sea belongs to you, then? You don’t let anyone else dig?”

“It doesn’t belong to me, but it’s part of our village! You’re from the next village over, and you dare to say that! My son is hardworking and digging in the sea; who gives you the right to criticize him?”

Ye Yaodong didn’t say anything further after his initial response, standing by as the verbal altercation unfolded. It was more fitting for his mother to handle the insults; as a grown man, it felt inappropriate to bicker with women.

After all, half the village was related to them, and his mother was always formidable when it came to scolding people.

As more villagers gathered, a peacemaker intervened, asking both sides to tone down their remarks. It wasn’t a serious issue, just a few idle words.

With someone mediating, both parties shot each other one last glare before stopping.

Aunt Zhu Hua figured there was no point in staying any longer. The tide was about to come in anyway, so she simply picked up her bucket and went home.

The atmosphere gradually eased.