Chapter 32 – The Koi Physique

Ye Tao was busy planning the menu for the upcoming dinner and realized there was quite a lot to prepare.

“Taotao.”

She looked up to see Xu Lan leading little Ruirui over for a visit.

Ye Tao quickly brought out some homemade snacks for him. The little one beamed and said sweetly, “Thank you, Auntie.”

“You can only eat one piece,” Xu Lan warned, “or your teeth will all be eaten away by bugs.”

Ruirui already had a few cavities, so Xu Lan usually kept strict control over his sugar intake.

But even with just one piece, Ruirui ate happily.

“Taotao, do you want to go clam digging later?” Xu Lan finally revealed her reason for coming.

“Clam digging?”

“Yes, it’s almost low tide. The military wives usually head down to collect seafood—flies may be small, but they’re still meat. It’s a little treat for the family.”

When Xu Lan had first come to the island, she was so fascinated by the sea that she dragged Zhou Chongli out with her every day. They’d eaten so much seafood back then that they nearly got sick of it.

But since this was Taotao’s first time here, she should definitely experience it.

“Sure, I was just worrying about what to cook for the dinner. If we can gather some seafood, I’ll have more dishes to work with.”

“Most of the military wives have been here for years—five in my case, and that’s considered short. Everyone’s tired of seafood. Clam digging is mostly just to let the kids play.”

“What? You mean nobody likes things like garlic scallops or salt-and-pepper mantis shrimp?” Was her grand seafood feast over before it even started?

Ruirui licked the crumbs off his lips. “Auntie, how come I’ve never eaten the things you just said?”

Xu Lan blinked. “That’s true, Taotao.”

“How do people usually cook seafood here?” Ye Tao asked.

Xu Lan was puzzled. “Just toss it in the pot and boil it, of course.”

So that was it. Boiling preserved the original taste but also left a heavy fishy smell. With proper sauces and seasonings, though, the flavor could be transformed.

“Sis, don’t worry. Tonight I’ll make you seafood like you’ve never had before.”

Xu Lan, already curious about Ye Tao’s cooking after hearing Zhou Chongli rave about it yesterday, grew eager. “Then let’s go right now!”

The two women gathered their tools, took Ruirui with them, and set off for the beach.

Ye Tao hesitated, worried the boy was too young for it to be safe.

“It’s fine,” Xu Lan reassured. “Normally I don’t let him play near the shore. Just this once, I’ll let him run around a bit.”

That sounded… like she was talking about herding sheep.

Sure enough, when the other military wives heard about their plan, they lost interest immediately. Everyone was sick of seafood. Only a few local fishermen were on the beach besides the three of them.

“Sis, I’ll be hosting soon. Do you know where I can buy vegetables and meat?” Ye Tao asked.

“The supply co-op has them, but only in the morning.”

No wonder she hadn’t seen any last time.

“There’s also a little market nearby,” Xu Lan added. “About ten minutes’ walk from the housing compound, along the path. Villagers sell their own produce there, it’s cheaper and fresher. If you’re not in a hurry, I’ll go with you tomorrow on my day off.”

Ye Tao thought about it—her dinner was the day after tomorrow. “Perfect.”

On the beach, tiny crabs scuttled everywhere. Armed with a bamboo tong his father had given him, Ruirui aimed at one, but it scurried away before he could catch it.

Undeterred, he tried again, determined to fill his bucket and later brag to his friends. The thought of their praise made him giggle to himself.

Xu Lan frowned. What’s this silly boy laughing about now?

“Ruirui, don’t run too far. Come back here.”

“Okay, Mama!”

As the tide receded, all sorts of seafood emerged—from the sand, the rocks, and the crevices.

Ye Tao bent down with her tong, dropping one find after another into her bucket. “If only I could catch a big lobster,” she sighed, her mouth watering at the thought of its tender, springy meat.

Shaking her head to banish the daydream, she reminded herself that other shellfish were just as good.

Ahead, she spotted a scallop sticking out. She clamped at it but couldn’t pull it free.

“Huh?” She tried again, using more force, but still no luck. Could this be the king of scallops?

“What’s wrong, Taotao?” Xu Lan, noticing she’d fallen behind, came back.

“This scallop won’t budge. Sis, let’s try together.” Ye Tao braced herself and had Xu Lan hold her waist. Both women pulled with all their strength. Surely it would come free!

Seeing them, Ruirui thought they were playing a game and grabbed his mother’s leg to help.

“Ahhh—”

All three tumbled over like a stack of dominoes.

“You okay, Sis?” Ye Tao scrambled up first.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. That was actually kind of fun, hahaha!” Xu Lan burst out laughing.

“Mom, get up.”

Only then did they notice Xu Lan had accidentally sat on Ruirui’s foot.

The two guilty adults quickly helped him up and brushed the sand off. Soon the little dumpling was spotless again.

“Sorry, Ruirui. Did it hurt?” Ye Tao asked gently.

“Nope. Auntie, look!” Ruirui pointed at a massive shrimp lying on the sand.

Xu Lan gasped. “It’s huge!”

She stretched out both hands but couldn’t even encircle it. “I’ve never seen a lobster this big.”

Ye Tao realized the lobster’s claw was stuck in the scallop—no wonder she couldn’t pull it out earlier.

“A giant lobster!” Ruirui’s eyes lit up. “Auntie, can I hold it? I want to show my friends!”

“Of course, if you don’t mind how heavy it is.” Ye Tao smiled.

Overjoyed, Ruirui abandoned his little bucket and hugged the lobster to his chest. Even as seawater dripped all over him, he refused to let go. Xu Lan, seeing how happy he was, didn’t scold him either. They could just change clothes later.

By sunset, the tide was rolling back in. The women returned home with buckets brimming over.

Even Ruirui marched proudly at the front, carrying his small but full bucket.

“Daddy!” he ran straight to Zhou Chongli. “Look at all the seafood I caught!”

Inside were only tiny crabs and conchs, but Zhou Chongli praised him without hesitation. “Amazing, son! You caught so much seafood—tonight’s dinner is thanks to you!”

Ruirui’s chest puffed up with pride.

Huo Tingwu came over to take Ye Tao’s heavy bucket.

“You’re here?” Ye Tao blinked.

“On the way back, I heard the wives say you’d gone clam digging. I came to pick you up.”

What he didn’t say was that they’d told him not to bother letting his wife dig seafood at all—it was too much trouble for little reward. Better to tend the vegetable garden.

“Come on,” Ye Tao announced, “tonight I’ll cook everyone a seafood feast.”

Zhou Chongli instantly regretted eating at the mess hall. Honestly, he’d rather have a few vegetables than more seafood.

“Daddy, look! We caught a giant lobster!” Ruirui said proudly.

The little boy had given up carrying it halfway back and tossed it into Ye Tao’s bucket.

He sighed like a little adult. “My small bucket is still better—at least it’s light.”

Ye Tao chuckled. True, his bucket was tiny. Even if it were filled, it wouldn’t hold enough seafood to fill one bowl.

The two men were stunned when they saw what was in her bucket.

“Little sister-in-law, your luck is unbelievable,” Zhou Chongli exclaimed. “I’ve never seen a lobster that big.”

Those words sounded awfully familiar. Ye Tao frowned. Could it be that I really have a cheat-like koi luck?