It turned out that just as it lay down, the old Taoist priest lit the firecrackers at the opportune moment. With a loud "bang," Yuan Yuan (the cat) bristled and scurried back into Lu Wuyai's pocket, while Little Earl (the dog) also tucked its tail between its legs and hid in Lu Wuyai's arms.

Setting off firecrackers, burning paper money, setting up wreaths, offering food, fruit, and incense—Lu Wuyai completed the ceremony while dealing with two children who were so frightened they wet themselves. This also marked the reunion of three generations: youth, middle-aged, and young adults...

After erecting the monument and repairing the tomb, Lu Wuyai fulfilled a wish. After returning home from the mountain, he felt much more relaxed, both physically and mentally.

Little Earl (the dog) and Yuan Yuan Cat (an expert in a certain field on the island) were both terrified. They were still in shock all day, and as soon as firecrackers went off outside, they immediately ran away like wolves.

Lu Wuyai could understand why Yuan Yuan Cat, an expert in a certain field on the island, was so afraid of firecrackers. After all, it was still just a kitten. Little Earl (the dog), on the other hand, had lived for five or six years and was already a middle-aged dog. Why was he still so afraid of firecrackers?

Li Fugui came up to Zeng Fan and told him the answer: "Hey, it was all those brats in the village who did it. During the New Year, they would set off firecrackers to scare the two Earls (dogs), and they scared them half to death."

A dog without an owner is like a weed; anyone who sees it can trample it to death.

So, that night, Lu Wuyai slept with Little Earl (the dog) in his arms.

But there were no firecrackers that night, and Little Earl (the dog) felt too hot, so I hugged him for half a minute. Little Earl (the dog) pushed me away in disgust and ran away...

With the start of tutoring classes, Lu Zhizi became busy. Apart from occasionally having dinner together in the evening, she and Lu Wuyai didn't have much contact.

For over five years, Lu Wuyai had grown accustomed to living alone. Although he had a lot of fun with Lu Wuyai a few days ago, he actually felt a little awkward. Now that Lu Wuyai was busy, it was perfect that he could live alone again. To survive.

He would go out to sea whenever he had free time. If he caught any fish, he would sell them to Old Sun. If he didn't catch any, he would absorb water vapor in the sea and condense it into golden pills, or play with dogs and cats. He lived a very comfortable life.

After getting up in the morning, he went to the fishpond to check on the lobsters and mantis shrimps he was raising.

Because the fishpond is shallow and the water temperature is high, mantis shrimp can survive here.

However, fishponds are not oceans after all; there is no flowing water. Mantis shrimp can survive, but they don't thrive. Their vitality is significantly weaker than on the seabed, and some are even lifeless.

Lu Wuyai pinched its windward side, but it only shook its foot and didn't wag its tail and bite like before.

Seeing this, he sprinkled a small drop of gold into the water.

Now the mantis shrimp are active, crawling out of the mud and sand at the bottom of the pond one by one, chasing after the little golden pearls.

He was packing mantis shrimp when Gu Yuxin, having taken a bite of watermelon, came in and said, "Yangzi, go catch some crabs. They're yellow in June, and we eat them in July. Whether you go or not doesn't matter."

Everyone on the beach knows that August and September in the lunar calendar are the best times to eat crabs. This is August in the Gregorian calendar, and July in the lunar calendar. The crabs in the sea aren't very plump.

However, the crabs in the lake are all plump now.

Freshwater crabs undergo up to ten molts in their lifetime. The first two or three molts are very soft, gradually hardening as the new shell grows.

The so-called "June Yellow" refers to male crabs that have just molted for the third time. Each crab weighs only about one ounce, hence the name "male crab." It has a crispy outer shell, a soft inner shell, a rich aroma, and plump meat. It's considered a delicacy.

The best June Yellow hairy crabs come from Chengyang Lake, where the crabs are famous throughout the island. While the young June Yellow hairy crabs are not as well-known, they have thin shells, tender yellow meat, and are of the highest quality.

After listening to Gu Yuxin's words, Lu Wuyai nodded and said, "Okay, let's go take a look together."

Gu Yuxin shook off the watermelon rind and said, "Then hurry up. I've seen those dogs from Wangjia Village fishing in the lake all day long. I bet they've killed all the crabs."

Lu Wuyai carried Little Earl (a dog) and Yuan Yuan Cat, an expert in a certain field on the island, on his shoulders and walked towards Longyan Lake.

A dog on the road saw Little Earl (the dog) running over to join in the fun. Before Little Earl (the dog) could say anything, Yuan Yuan (the cat) opened its eyes wide, jumped off Lu Wuyai's shoulder, and slapped his paw.

Enraged by the attack, the dog turned around and bit back.

As a result, Yuan Yuan (the cat) was extremely clever. She leaped up and nimbly dodged the attack, then took the opportunity to raise her paw again, covering the scar on the dog's face.

The dog had no choice but to tuck its tail between its legs and run away.

Gu Yuxin stared at it in astonishment: "Damn, cats and dogs are enemies. Cats are usually the ones who get bullied. Your cat is really something."

Lu Wuyai stroked his chin. The temperament of Yuan Yuan Cat (an expert in a certain field on the island) didn't match his image. This guy was fluffy and cute. He liked to innocently stare at people with his clear, big eyes. He hadn't expected him to be so fierce when facing a dog.

Yuan Yuan Cat, an expert in a certain field on the island, is fast, has strong explosive power, and good balance. Lu Wuyai believes that this should be related to the golden drop he fed to Yuan Yuan Cat.

When they reached the lake, they found that someone was already exploring the area.

Lu Wuyai greeted her, "Fourth Aunt, how was your harvest today?"

A woman behind him looked up and said, "The grass tower birds, Huang Jun, are becoming increasingly rare. The people of Wangjia Village must be using extinction cages to catch Huang Jun."

In July, Lu Wuyai took a picture of Wang Dongliang fishing at Shipazi with his mobile phone and sent it to the students' parents. The parents then forwarded it, and within a few days, the news spread throughout the surrounding villages.

Now, no matter what's missing from the lake, everyone blames Wangjia Village.

For fishermen, using extinction cages is a highly shameful act. This implies that Wang Dongliang's family is very powerful; otherwise, someone would certainly have taught him a lesson.

Even today, tourists still catch crabs by the lake. In recent years, tourism has spread throughout the entire island. Hongyang is a very popular and beautiful seaside city.

However, the number of tourists is still too small. After all, these villages lack a compelling narrative to attract visitors. The arrival of tourists has not boosted the village's economy.

Take Coconut Grove Village as an example. There are four or five fishermen's clubs in the village. These fishermen's clubs can earn some money, but not much. Five or six thousand yuan a month is considered a big deal.

Hearing what his aunt said, the young man who looked like a tourist said unhappily, "Does anyone use houses as cages? It's disgusting. This is how seafood and aquatic products from a certain island are going to become extinct."

"It's not just seafood. Even weeds and fruits have been eaten up. Carp can roam freely in Europe and America. Come and try it out on a certain island or in a certain area."

"This is a certain area on an outer island where the moon is relatively round. Carp are an invasive species in Europe and America. Of course, invasive species can easily become rampant."

"Who cares? Crayfish are an invasive species in a certain area of ​​our island. How much do wild crayfish cost now? In any case, Mad will have to spend at least 50 yuan per kilogram."

"You would also give an example, such as crayfish having the audacity to be called an invasive species. It's shameful to call it an invasive species."

"Water hyacinth is an invasive species that has become rampant in a certain area of ​​my island."

"Ha, that's because a certain country on this island doesn't want to govern it. If it wanted to, it wouldn't need anything else; it could just hire a few experts and scholars to say that eating this stuff can nourish yin and strengthen yang. Let's see how it still runs rampant," the young man said disdainfully.

The other tourists fell silent, and Lu Wuyai nodded in agreement; this guy was really telling the truth.

He took off his shoes, gave them to the little count (the dog), and went to the lake to look for little crabs.

Yuan Yuan Cat, an expert in a certain field on the island, perched on his shoulder, frowned immediately when he stepped into the lake: "Holy crap."

Lu Wuyai knew it was afraid of water, so he comforted it, saying, "It's okay, it's alright. You can lean on my shoulder, and you won't fall in."

Yuan Yuanmao, an expert in a certain field on the island, didn't believe it, so he hurriedly jumped to the shore, far away from the lake.

A female tourist saw it and was overjoyed: "Wow, this kitten is so cute!"

"Come on, come to my sister's side, give her a kiss and a hug, do you want to?"

Seeing the tourists surrounding him, Lu Wuyai quickly warned, "Don't go near it, this cat has a bad temper."

"The kitten is very nice."

“But he didn’t get the rabies vaccine,” Lu Wuyai added.

The girls left immediately.

Ambergris Lake is rich in aquatic plants, fish, shrimp, and crabs. Despite overfishing in recent years, these species have not gone extinct and some still exist.

The weather was clear and calm, and the vast lake was on full display.

The two sides of the lake blend with the autumn moon, the lake surface devoid of scenery. Gazing at the distant view of Dongting Lake, a green snail appears in a silver dish. This ancient poem praising the beauty of Dongting Lake is particularly fitting at this moment.

Small boats bobbed on the lake, with people on board holding fishing rods, waiting for fish and shrimp to bite. Some water birds flapped their wings and flew over from the depths of the water plants, while others folded their wings and plunged into the lake.

Lu Wuyai stared intently at the lights on the lake, while Gu Yuxin grew impatient: "Damn it, what are you looking at? Do you see any beautiful women bathing in the lake?"

"Look at the lake, look at the scenery."

"What's there to see? I've been watching for over 20 years, I'm tired of it. I catch crabs and drink at night."

Lu Wuyai smiled but did not answer. For the people in his hometown, this kind of scenery was commonplace, not even considered a scenic spot.

But for him, who had experienced the hustle and bustle of Beijing, the picturesque scenery by Longyanxiang Lake was simply too leisurely and wonderful.

Gazing at the lake, he pondered, "Ambergris Lake is actually a great tourist attraction, it's a pity it hasn't been developed. If he had the ability to lease this large lake, he would definitely have a way to make it a famous waterscape on some island or in some field."

He stood in the water, meditating quietly, without trying to catch any crabs, but a few crabs came to his door.

A crab, no bigger than a baby's palm, bumped his foot to the side. Unaware that it had bumped into someone, it tried to run him over.

Seeing this, Lu Wuyai laughed: "What do you call this? Jiang Taigong's fishing volunteer has taken the bait."

Freshwater crabs, like sea crabs, are unpredictable. Catching crabs with bare hands is a skill. Every day, tourists get their fingers pinched by crabs.

But it's easy for fishermen; men, women, and children alike are all very good at catching crabs.

Lu Wuyai reached out from behind the crab and made a quick movement. He used his thumb and forefinger to hold the little crab's belly and carapace from behind, forcing the little crab to obediently fall into his hand.

He picked up the little crab and said to Gu Yuxin, "You caught some crabs."

Li Fugui bent down, lowered his head, and tried to scan the bottom of the lake. He muttered to himself, "What a load of crap."

Lu Wuyai immediately laughed: "Didn't you just think I was doing business while enjoying the scenery? Turns out, I'm the first person to catch crabs without doing business."

Li Fugui glanced back, grinned, and said, "Pretty lucky."

Lu Wuyai picked up the little crab, looked at its belly, and then threw it back into the lake.

Gu Yuxin asked, "What's wrong, female crab?"

Lu Wuyai nodded: "Yes."

"Then don't throw it away, eat it like a female crab." Gu Yuxin felt a pang of heartache.

The best June crabs are male crabs, and you eat the crab roe, but the female crabs are just as tender and the shells are just as crisp.

Lu Wuyai said, "Let's raise them for a while first. Now let's catch some male and female crabs together. What should we catch for the Mid-Autumn Festival? What kind of fish should we fish for later? All the tourists know the consequences of draining the pond and fishing, but we don't."

Gu Yuxin said, "I know, but other people in the local village probably don't know about this. Sooner or later, this crab will be caught by someone else."

Lu Wuyai smiled but did not answer. Others should catch them; he certainly wouldn't catch such small crabs.

As he searched in the lake, someone nearby shouted excitedly, "Good luck! I caught a fat one! Ouch! Ouch!"

You don't need to look at Lu Wuyai to know what happened. It must have been a tourist who accidentally let a crab hold their hand.

It was a girl who had been caught by a crab claw. Ou Fugui immediately ran over, even more excited than the little count (dog) who had seen that bitch: "Don't worry, beauty, I'll take care of it."

The young man next to him shouted, "I know what to do. Put your hand in the water, and it will release itself."

Gu Yuxin quickly pulled him away: "Don't do anything rash, let me handle this. Beautiful lady, give me your hand, come on, I'll give you a quick death..."

With a "crack," he broke off the crab's two large claws.

Without muscle control, the clamps open naturally.

This may be cruel, but it's the best way to solve the problem, rather than putting it in the water, where the crab is already nervous. Even more nervous.

Seeing that the matter was resolved, Lu Wuyai didn't go to join in the fun. He found a place with lots of aquatic plants and examined it carefully.

It's not the daytime that's the best time to catch crabs, but at night, because crabs rarely come out to hunt during the day; they prefer to come out of their burrows to hunt after sunset.

In this situation, the best way to catch crabs is to find their burrows.

Tourists like to turn over rocks because crabs like to hide under the reefs.

However, the lakeside isn't as ideal as the seaside. There aren't as many hidden reefs for crabs to hide in, but the lakeside is full of sand, which is perfect for crabs to dig burrows and build nests. So, finding crab burrows to catch crabs is a great method.

But this method isn't easy. Fishermen all know it. The crab burrows in the shallow water have already been cleared away.

Crab burrows in deep water are hard to find. After all, lake water can't be particularly clear, and you can't find any trace of crab burrows on the surface, so diving down to catch crabs would be a waste of time and effort.

Therefore, catching crabs through crab holes is no longer an easy task.

Lu Wuyai had no such obstacle. He prepared a crab trap, hung it on his waist, took off his clothes, and dived to the bottom of the lake to find the crab holes.

There are traces of crab burrows. One is the large mouth, after all, crabs are big, and the other is the mound of soil at the entrance. As they grow larger, they need more space, so they will continuously expand the space of their burrows. The soil they dig out will accumulate inside the burrow.

He quickly found a crab hole, put on gloves, and stuck his fingers inside.

After a while, he felt something grab his glove, and when he pulled his hand away, a plump little crab was hanging on his glove.

This little crab, with its pointed belly button on its abdomen, is clearly a male crab and the target of this trip.

After filling the crabs, he found a crab hole and put his hand inside.

Because of the wide field of vision, he dug out forty or fifty small crabs in no time.

So he stopped; it was enough for one meal.

For the rest of the time, he swam in the lake, absorbing water vapor to strengthen the golden core.

On the way back, his cages were full, while Gu Yuxin's were empty.

Lu Wuyai looked at him helplessly, and said with a cold smile, "Day, don't look at me like that. I also caught a lot of crabs today, but Yuyu liked them very much, so I gave them to her."

“I also have fish, shrimp, crabs and crabs.” Ao Muyang said angrily, “You’re a pervert. My legs won’t move when I see a woman.”

Ao Fugui continued to laugh: "I'm not a pervert, I am a pervert. I've been starving for over twenty years. Do you think I can see a woman without jealousy? But I'm not giving her away for free. I'm not an idiot. I sold her to her. Hmm, one hundred dollars."

When they returned home after crabbing, the tutoring class had already ended.

When Lu Zhizi was seeing her students off down the mountain, she happened to run into Lu Wuyai. Seeing this, Lu Wuyai said, "Mr. Lu, by sheer coincidence, I got some June yellow crabs today. I'm going to pickle them for a few days and come over to eat them."

Hou Banshuang stepped forward to take a look and said in a kind tone, "Wow, there are so many yellow things in June, Uncle Yang, you are really amazing."

Lu Wuyai also looked at them, then asked curiously, "Are the little crabs delicious?"

"Delicious! June Yellow crabs are the best, even better than big crabs." Wang Ming nodded quickly.

Lu Zhizi then asked, "How did you get infected?"

Lu Wuyai described it so vividly that Lu Wuyai was quite envious: "It seems very interesting. You're being too boring. Why do you go catch them yourself? Take me with you this weekend."

Lu Wuyai smiled and said, "It's okay, we can arrange other activities this weekend. I'll take you squid fishing."

On the first weekend of late August, the weather was still sunny and clear. Lu Wuyai invited Lu Wuyai to go squid fishing together.

Shortly after sunrise, the bay is a deep, clear blue, like a pool of jewels. Sparkling waves crash against the golden sand, carrying away the coarse sand and leaving behind fine sand, making the beach even softer and more delicate.