Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 368 - 280: Tideland Harvest

"Rely on the sea to make a living" is an old saying often spoken by coastal fishermen. In the fishing village, generations have gone to the sea, and even children as young as seven or eight know the best time to head to the sea.

With the tide receding, some rocks are exposed, and the beach and mudflat areas appear larger. Compared to a few hours ago, many old women, aunties, and children scattered here are rushing to the sea.

Nearby locals saw the couple running with smiles on their faces. They pointed to certain spots to alert the couple of dangers—perhaps the charm of smiles, or maybe because occasional sea-goers aren’t bothering anyone when sharing resources. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Zhang Guoqing saw this and chatted casually with these old ladies, praising them with a few compliments that made them laugh. Only then did he bid farewell with Zhou Jiao.

The scene before them was entirely different from Zhou Jiao’s imagination of carrying small buckets and shovels, digging for clams, fishing for crabs, and catching small fish in a relaxed and leisurely way.

At this moment, on the beach, in the mudflats, and on the rocks, everyone demonstrated their unique skills in gathering from the sea. The tools they used were diverse—iron spades, iron shovels, iron hooks, and even hoes. The young children quickly used bamboo tongs to catch shrimp and dig out cockles and clams with bamboo spikes.

Perhaps accustomed to it, the fishing villagers, regardless of age, showed no joy on their faces at their harvest. Everything is valued by its rarity; if abundant, it loses value.

Seaweed and sea grass, pushed ashore by the waves, were scattered all over the beach, along with sea cucumbers, though locals left them discarded underfoot.

Maximizing profit is known even by the young children. At this moment, slightly older children searched for valuable marine products on the rocks and mudflats.

When they found Zhao Dashan’s family, they were buried with their heads down, working diligently around an excavated hole with iron hooks and shovels.

Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao’s arrival attracted no attention from the family of three. In this cold weather, the family of three had red hands, reaching into the seawater in the hole to fish things out, showing great perseverance.

Zhang Guoqing joked, "Have you found any gold yet?"

"No gold, but there’s plenty of stuff, though. Why were you gone so long?" Zhao Dashan, startled, looked up and pointed to the full bamboo basket beside him.

Zhang Guoqing chuckled, "Found a driver who wanted to buy three boxes. It took him quite a while to settle accounts in the finance office. We waited quite a long time. Want to change places after this hole?"

"I’ve already told Old Wang to let everyone know to bring anything they want to sell to Old Wang’s house. Don’t go too far; it’s unsafe. Just play around this area."

Zhang Guoqing nodded, seeing Zhou Jiao had finished her conversation with Zhao Yuanyuan, he pulled Zhou Jiao about a hundred meters to the left. There was a place where rocks could block some sea wind.

The sea wind was like being cut by a knife against the face. Zhang Guoqing tried to shield the wind for Zhou Jiao, while quickly digging a few pits with an iron shovel. Whenever he found something, he’d throw it into the bamboo basket. His goal was to fill the basket quickly, regardless of quality. If they stayed out any longer, he worried Zhou Jiao’s health wouldn’t hold up.

Gradually, he sensed something was wrong; indeed, his wife was "smuggling" things out, which explained why it never filled up.

"Treat your wife like a daughter," was the advice an elder had told him in a previous life. To earn those words, he treated the elderly man to a Western meal, spending his scholarship for a school year.

"Smuggle," let her "smuggle" then. He had enough strength as long as his Jiao Jiao was happy.

Zhang Guoqing changed to a place specially chosen with a leeward location by the bottom of the rocks, asking Zhou Jiao to stand there guarding the bamboo basket. He quickly worked, picking and washing the finds in a wooden bucket before tossing them into the bamboo basket.

Watching him work hard, Zhou Jiao felt bored since she couldn’t use her hands. Looking at the oyster-covered rocks behind, she secretly climbed onto them.

Quickly, Zhou Jiao discovered the rock she climbed was close to another rock opposite. Between the two was a large water pit. Many marine organisms pushed up by the waves were mercilessly abandoned by the seawater, from basket-sized crabs to sea cucumbers crawling across the ground and rocks, along with sea urchins, starfish, octopuses, and various small fish.

Currently, creatures were scurrying all around, some already crawling out of the rocks. Without caring about being scolded, Zhou Jiao stooped and waved Zhang Guoqing over hurriedly.

The rocks were covered with oyster shells, incredibly sharp, enough to peel off a layer of skin if not careful.

Zhang Guoqing, startled, dropped everything and dashed up to her, "Jiao Jiao, when did you get up here? I just saw you behind me."

"Brother, look! I’ll give you the basket, and I’ll catch the escaping crabs. You be quick before someone else sees, or the things won’t be ours anymore."

"No, be careful not to get pinched. You guard the basket here; I’ll be quick." Zhang Guoqing quickly hugged her. Seeing her nod but still uneasy, he glanced at her—her reliability rating plummeted.

Zhou Jiao urged him, reassuring him she’d stay put, impatiently nudging him. Any more hesitation, and only the seawater would be left.

No doubt, if anyone was to be deemed the most capable and fastest, Zhou Jiao would nominate her husband without hesitation.

As Zhou Jiao kept swapping baskets, the marine life in the water pit was looted by them.

After finishing, Zhang Guoqing turned his attention to the worms living among the oyster clusters on the rocks. These creatures’ nutrition was no less than sea cucumbers, and their medicinal benefits were even better.

He glanced at Zhou Jiao, knowing she was afraid to touch these creatures, "Jiao Jiao, I’ll carry you down first. I have to catch some of these worms, they’re good for beauty."

Sure enough, as he mentioned beauty, Zhou Jiao quickly nodded.

Once off the rocks, Zhang Guoqing instructed her to stay put, promising he’d be back soon. Seeing her nod, he grabbed the wooden bucket and swiftly started working.

Descending the rocks again, Zhang Guoqing couldn’t help but sigh, followed by hearty laughter.

There she was, crouched by the unfinished pit, intensively digging with an iron shovel. Zhang Guoqing hurriedly pulled her up, telling her to jump around to warm up, while he quickly resumed working.

"Jiao Jiao, why is Xiao Wu laughing so loudly? Did he discover something new?" Zhao Yuanyuan ran over and shouted from afar.

"He’s teasing me about being weak."

Zhang Guoqing observed her and Zhao Yuanyuan giggling together, hugging and jumping tirelessly, running back and forth between him and Zhao Dashan. Quickly, he increased his speed, dragging the bamboo basket with one hand and picking up with the other.

Finally, having filled a bamboo basket, a wooden bucket, and a small backpack, Zhang Guoqing stood up, moved his limbs, and dragged everything to Zhou Jiao.

A glance at the pile of seaweed and miscellaneous goods in front of her told him they were unwanted items, prompting a smile, "Jiao Jiao, let’s go. Let’s get back early to see our son."

At the mention of their son, Zhou Jiao’s interest waned. The couple quickly packed away the items on the ground, heading to Zhao Dashan’s location.

Zhao Dashan dragged the bamboo basket and grabbed the wooden bucket to leave. He couldn’t possibly move his wife and daughter, so he had to manage the items, wondering where they could store them.

After Zhao Dashan and the two women were some distance away from Cheng Hongli and her daughter, they waited for a while until Cheng Hongli and her daughter caught up.

Upon reaching the Wang Family, Zhao Dashan, after consulting with Zhang Guoqing, asked Old Wang to inform everyone to bring over some dried shrimp, dried cuttlefish, and shellfish meat. These items are nice to give away and practical.

After Old Wang’s wife went out to notify the villagers, Zhao Dashan began by picking fifty pounds of crabs.

Zhang Guoqing reported a quantity, causing Zhao Dashan to clutch his forehead in a headache, "Old Wang, pick out the male crabs and small females, and then start wrapping up the rest."

His words prompted laughter from everyone. Such a number certainly wasn’t a wrap-up.

Zhou Jiao explained, "Uncle Dashan, one female crab weighs nearly a pound, so there’s actually not much by count. Moreover, in the provincial city we’ll give to five uncles, four elder sisters and brothers of Xiao Wu, plus some close connections. Rarely do you come over with a truck, so better prepare more."

Zhao Dashan nodded in understanding, "Then later when gathering sea things, take more, those are cheaper. When gifting, don’t give all good things, mix it up."

Zhou Jiao’s face lit up with a bright smile, nodding, "Sure, I’ll listen to you."

Zhao Dashan asked Zhang Guoqing, "Are you planning to send them tonight?"

"We’ll deliver them as long as we have a vehicle to get home first."

"Before heading to the provincial city, stop by my place; there are some things for you to take over," Zhao Dashan said, pondering what to send. Thinking it over, he decided to wait and see once he got back.