Aunt Jiang did not want her eldest nephew to be trapped on this island for the rest of his life. Even though the money earned in the city might not be as much as fishing at sea, it was at least safe. Ever since she was old enough to understand things, she had believed that the ocean was a man-eater. When she was young, her father often went out to sea on large boats, sometimes for seven or eight days, and occasionally for a month or two. She and her mother would worry every single day, terrified of hearing bad news.
"Auntie, I have already decided to stay on the island. I love the ocean, I love this free and easy life, and I love going out to sea to fish."
Aunt Jiang knew that Jiang Nanzhou was extremely determined; once he made up his mind, no amount of persuasion would work.
"Since you’ve already decided, I won’t try to talk you out of it, but you must prioritize your safety."
"I support Xiao Zhou's decision with both hands. You’re just worrying about things that don't matter. People have choked to death drinking water, and the neighbor Li Laoer's relative got hit by a car just going for a stroll—they’re still in the hospital now. It's all fate. Besides, Xiao Zhou has been a strong swimmer since he was a kid; stop worrying yourself blindly."
When Jiang Nanzhou arrived home, the sun had already set. He walked past his own door without going in and went straight to the old house.
Before he returned, he had called Mother Jiang to tell her that everyone should eat dinner at the old house, mentioning that he had bought roast duck and braised dishes. Jiang Nanzhou planned to announce his decision to the family that evening.
During dinner, Jiang Nanzhou poured wine for Grandpa Jiang, his grandmother, and Jiang's father, and poured juice for his mother. Jiang Nanzhou raised his glass.
"I have something important to announce. You might not agree, but I hope to have my family's support."
After saying this, Jiang Nanzhou downed the wine in one gulp.
"Take it easy with that drink; that’s white spirits! You child... go ahead, no matter what it is, Grandma supports you."
"I plan to stay on the island from now on and go out to sea to fish."
No sooner had the words left his lips than Jiang's father slammed his chopsticks down on the table.
"I don't agree! You are going back to Modu after the New Year. What kind of future is there on this island? It’s hard enough just to find a wife here."
"Why are you slamming your chopsticks? Since our son has this plan, I support him. I never wanted him to go so far away to study and work, only to see him once a year. Isn't it just fine for him to stay on the island?"
Mother Jiang missed her son terribly, and since he had decided not to leave, she would support him.
Grandpa Jiang silently lit a cigarette.
"Xiao Zhou, making a living on the sea is risky after all. You heard your second uncle today—the fishing hasn't been good lately. You've had a bit of luck these past two days, but no one can guarantee that luck every day. You don't have experience with deep-sea fishing; you've only been tinkering around in my old, beat-up boat. Have you really thought this through?"
"Grandpa, I really have. I have loved this ocean since I was a child. If there is something I don't know, I will learn it. I believe I can do it."
Jiang's father wanted to say something else, but a look from Grandpa Jiang silenced him.
"Alright then, Xiao Zhou. Starting tomorrow, my boat is yours. I’m getting old; it’s time for me to rest."
That evening, Jiang Nanzhou and Grandpa Jiang talked a lot about the sea, which helped him realize how dangerous it could be.
Lying in bed, Jiang Nanzhou searched the internet for information on deep-sea fishing and the necessary certifications. After all, in their village, only two of the large boats had complete documentation; others were like his grandfather’s, possessing nothing at all. He planned to sign up for a training course the next day and obtain all the certifications he could. He wanted to be a legitimate fisherman.
Early the next morning, Jiang Nanzhou got up early. He intended to go to the city to sign up for a course and get all his certifications before the New Year.
Just after Jiang Nanzhou returned from the city in the afternoon, he received a WeChat message from Jiang Tianfu, inviting him to go forage on the beach, as the tide had just gone out. When the two of them reached the beach, there were already quite a few people there.
"Xiao Zhou, let's head over to the rocky beach. We might find some sea snails, and if we're lucky, maybe even some abalone or sea cucumbers."
Jiang Nanzhou had no objections; he was also craving some big sea snails.
As soon as they arrived at the rocky beach, Jiang Tianfu pulled out his phone and started a Douyin livestream.
"Xiao Zhou, I'm starting a stream. Don't mind if I accidentally film you."
"That's fine, Brother Tianfu. You're a streamer now? Go ahead."
When Jiang Nanzhou was in Modu, he loved scrolling through Douyin after work. He had followed Jiang Tianfu for a long time and occasionally saw his short videos, but he had never seen him livestream.
"What kind of streamer? This is my first time too. I want to try it out. I've seen others streaming beach foraging, and they make a lot of money. I only have a hundred followers; I doubt anyone is watching."
Jiang Nanzhou watched as he turned on the stream, talking to himself. He didn't interrupt and walked forward, head down, searching.
After walking only a few meters, he spotted an abalone on a rock wall. Jiang Nanzhou used a large pair of tongs to gently pry it loose, and the abalone fell into his bucket. Not bad—ever since he had the system, he found his luck had skyrocketed.
Continuing to search, he found a few sea cucumbers. Two were palm-sized, while the others were only the size of a thumb. Jiang Nanzhou kept the two large ones and let the smaller ones grow.
There were truly a lot of sea snails today. In no time at all, Jiang Nanzhou had filled half a bucket.
Jiang Nanzhou arrived at the edge of a small rock pool. The water was shallow, only about twenty centimeters deep. He spotted a big guy in the crevices at the bottom: a large eel, specifically a slick eel, weighing about seven or eight pounds. This thing was delicious.
You have to be careful when catching eels; their teeth are razor-sharp, they don't let go once they bite, and they are incredibly strong.
Jiang Nanzhou looked at the big creature, then at his small bucket, and waved in Jiang Tianfu's direction. But Jiang Tianfu, engrossed in his livestream, didn't see him.
"Brother Tianfu, come quick! Bring your bucket."
Hearing Jiang Nanzhou's voice, Jiang Tianfu told his livestream audience, "Family, my little brother is calling me. He must have found something big. Let me show you."
Jiang Tianfu walked over with his phone and bucket. When he saw the large slick eel in the pool, he hurriedly pointed the camera at it and started narrating.
"Family, look at the big guy my brother found! This is a big slick eel. The meat is delicious and tender. Whether you braise it or stew it, it’s amazing. Most of what you buy in the market nowadays is farmed; pure wild ones like this are rare. His luck is truly incredible—how come I never find things like this?"
Jiang Nanzhou saw him getting excited and took a peek at the livestream interface. Good heavens, there were four people in total, and the one person typing in the chat was accusing them of faking it.