Chapter 39

Wu An took a shovel from the bucket and said, "Get to work."

Add Point.

Luck Value: 48 (28).

Target: Shovel (+2).

It's worth mentioning that today's Luck Value is very strong, a full 32 points.

Whether gathering at sea or fishing, there will surely be a good haul.

No need to compete with these people here.

If gathering at sea yields too much and draws envy, it's better to go fishing and make money quietly.

He tossed the upgraded shovel to A Qing; A Qing stopped complaining, shone his headlamp upward, and soon found the hole.

A flurry of vigorous digging: "Swish swish swish."

Someone walked over, saw the two digging vigorously with shovels, and laughed: "What are you two digging for?"

A Qing didn't look up: "Clams."

The person laughed: "You won't find clams by digging like that."

"You need to sprinkle salt."

"The clams will come out on their own; one grab, one sure."

Wu An listened, his hands didn't stop.

He certainly knew this method of digging clams, but sprinkling salt isn't a tool, so he couldn't boost his Luck Value; it's more reliable to dig with a shovel.

At that moment.

A Qing suddenly stopped, dug twice with his hands, grabbed a big clam and tossed it into the bucket; using Lao Xie's words, this is a clam king.

"Plop."

Wu An also tossed a clam king into the bucket.

Not long after.

The two kept digging up clams one after another; the onlooker stared in disbelief: "This works too?"

"By the north, your luck is too good."

At that moment.

A cry of surprise came from not far away; evidently someone had found something good.

That person was drawn over and hurriedly went to the mudflats to gather at sea.

Now the tide is ebbing; the big catches are heading downstream, while Wu An and A Qing dig clams above, with no one competing with them; once the shovel's Luck Value runs out, together they've dug half a bucket.

More than enough for bait for fishing.

These razor clam kings sell for 20 per jin; this small half bucket could easily fetch one or two hundred yuan, and this is merely the bait Wu An prepared for fishing.

And gathering seafood only costs time, whereas fishing involves expenses.

Just as they were about to leave, they happened to run into Lin Hu.

Lin Hu saw the two carrying buckets heading east and asked, "The tide hasn't even receded to the bottom yet—why are you leaving already?"

Wu An casually replied, "Too many people."

"You're here to gather seafood?"

A Qing curled his lips and said, "You know the answer; I'm leaving with my brother not because of anything else but because you all came here to gather seafood."

Lin Hu hid the water bucket behind him, gave an embarrassed smile, and said, "Lately my fishing hasn't been going well; my family keeps saying I'm not going fishing but feeding the fish."

"I have no choice, so I came to try gathering seafood."

"If that doesn't work, I'll still go fishing."

Wu An nodded, and they passed each other.

Lin Hu looked back at Wu An and A Qing, muttering softly, "Does this count as swapping identities?"

"It's fine that those two left; maybe we can pick up a bargain today."

"We must catch some good stuff to take home today."

"Otherwise, life at home would really be tough..."

He muttered as he walked into the tidal flats, running into familiar villagers who greeted each other.

"Ah Hu, you fishing guy also came to gather seafood."

"I heard this tidal flat is full of blue crabs and crab tigers—who wouldn't be envious?"

"Ah Dong and Ah Qing, those two kids, actually didn't come."

"They came, then left; it seems they went to Rocky Beach to fish."

"They'd better not come; those two are too lucky, and if they come they'll surely snatch what's ours."

"They're going fishing? Even Lin Hu came to gather seafood, and they're going fishing—have they lost their minds?"

Lin Hu, being used as a negative example, said somewhat embarrassedly, "My fishing luck hasn't been good lately."

"I know, I know; that little Lin Bin has been coming up empty-handed for days."

"Gathering seafood is better; it's just staying up late. To catch a fish you need bait, and those little fish and shrimp can be sold for money; even if not sold, you can eat them yourself, whereas catching a fish just ends up feeding the sea fish for free."

Lin Hu couldn't bear to listen anymore and silently walked a bit farther away.

Although it felt unpleasant to hear, he couldn't deny that what they said was also the plain truth.

He dug in glumly for a while, grabbing handfuls of mud, but after a long time he only felt a few clams; the promised blue crabs and crab tigers—where were they?

……

Wu An and A Qing arrived at Rocky Beach; the waves lapped against the rocks, not violently but gently murmuring; such a small tide was destined to leave no seafood on the shore.

A Qing stood on the rock, could see the tidal flats, and said, "It must be half the village that's come out, Sweet Rain Mother, lighting up the sky."

He still felt somewhat resentful.

Wu An thought, with so many people in the tidal flats still trying to make money, unless someone could also cheat like him.

Add Point.

Luck Value: 48 (18).

Ordinary sea rod: (+5).

Introduction: This is an ordinary sea rod; after being blessed with luck, in fish-rich areas it will surely catch seafood under twenty catties.

The two of them had fished before; they quickly readied their fishing rods, baited them with clam meat, and cast into the sea.

A Qing moved a bit slower; after half a minute, he also cast his line.

The headlamp was aimed at the sea surface; actually, visibility was a bit poor.

For night fishing, it mainly comes down to feel.

Wu An had confidence in the system; as long as a fish hooked, just reel it in.

The fishing line was taut.

The rod tip bent slightly.

Fish on!

Look, all you need is hands.

A Qing was still waiting; seeing him lift the rod, he happily asked, "Brother, got a fish?"

Wu An nodded.

Feeling the fish's pull, I have to say, fishing is far more interesting than gathering.

Lift the rod.

Reel in the line.

Lift the rod again.

Reel in the line again.

Soon the fish reached the surface, thrashing violently, kicking up a splash.

A Qing asked, "Brother, do you need a scoop net?"

Wu An shook his head; the fish wasn't big, after quickly reeling in the line he flung the fish onto the rocks, walked over and saw it was a yellow-footed shrimp.

He hooked it by the eye and lifted it; it weighed about a little over one catty.

This fish is fairly common; Wu An often ate it before, whether steamed or dry-fried it was great, and it also made good soup.

Just this fish alone is worth at least ten minutes of digging for clams.

A Qing also hooked a fish; soon he pulled it up—a sea bass, not big; he was so happy he forgot to talk about the tidal flats.

No matter what kind of fish, as long as you can pull it up, it's definitely worth more than clams.

This round is a sure profit.

A Qing's thought was simple: he rebaited with clam meat, cast, and soon hooked another fish; while reeling in he shouted, "Brother, I got another fish!"

Wu An smiled: "Pretty good."

He also had just pulled up another yellow-footed shrimp, slightly larger than the first; he said, "Save some strength, there's more to fish today."

A Qing shouted, "No problem, my mom gave me lots of eggs, kept in a thermos; if we get hungry later we can eat while we fish."

Wu An nodded.

A child with a mother is like a treasure; a child without a mother is like weeds.

Having someone at home is truly important.