The crowd couldn't bear to watch any longer, and since Hua Kai showed no sign of continuing to dig, Fu Ming picked up a larger seashell from the side and started digging with it as a shovel.
Fu Wan was initially worried that sea turtles might have a habit of digging their own holes, but to her surprise, after the group dug a small hole about 20 or 30 centimeters deep, Hua Kai didn't make a sound. She even stepped aside and, together with Fu Gui, watched over the work with her small eyes.
Hey, this turtle is really good at slacking off!
However, relying solely on its two "hands," it's truly uncertain how long it would take to dig.
"This Fugui is a good-for-nothing. He doesn't lift a finger, and he's even corrupting his wife!"
As Fu Ming dug the hole, he muttered to himself. Fu Wan rolled her eyes and said, "They're just enjoying the benefits of their species. For sea turtles, the males have always been the ones who don't do anything. The females crawl onto the beach at dusk or night, dig a hole in the sand, lay their eggs in it, and then bury the sand."
So that's how it is. Fu Ming had never paid attention to the habits of sea turtles before. Fu Ling listened intently from the side and watched as Fu Wan carefully placed the turtle eggs into the sandpit and then covered them with sand.
"Mommy, when will these eggs turn into baby sea turtles?"
Fu Wan thought for a moment and vaguely remembered the magazines she had read in her previous life.
"It should take one and a half to three months, depending on the surrounding environment. If the environment is good, they should hatch in about one and a half months."
"With so many baby sea turtles, wouldn't Fugui and Huakai be exhausted?"
Hatching and raising them is no easy task!
Fu Wan shook her head, "Once they lay the sea turtle eggs, their mission is complete. When the time comes, the sea turtles will hatch and, based on their own senses, crawl into the sea to live."
In other words, baby sea turtles may never recognize their mothers after they are born.
However, Fu Ling and Qin Mingzhu were still young and had not thought of this.
Every animal has different habits, and nature has evolved over hundreds of millions of years, so there must be a reason for it.
However, the way the flowers bloom is quite strange. Not only do they not lay eggs in the evening or at night, but they also dig holes so casually.
That's so relaxed (and bizarre)!
After burying the turtle eggs, Ye Xiaocui and Jiang Chunlan had already taken baskets and fire tongs to search for crabs in the mud and sand.
The sun was much smaller at this time, but because of the high daytime temperature, the crabs hid in small holes under the rocks or buried in the mud and sand, blowing bubbles.
Ye Xiaocui and Jiang Chunlan had spent most of their lives beachcombing, so they naturally had sharp eyes and soon spotted several blue crabs.
Fu Ming and Fu Liang were also busy looking for clams. Fu Wan had just walked to the beach with a shovel when she discovered several unusual little holes.
These are traces of mole crickets and shrimp!
Fu Wan perked up. The general shape of the mole cricket is somewhat similar to that of a crayfish, but it's usually a yellowish-brown with a hint of light brownish-blue, and its abdomen is white. (Image of mole cricket from the internet, please delete if infringing copyright). In the Fu family village area, mole crickets are a common sight for women and children gathering seafood. These shrimp are not only eaten as a vegetable, but they are also considered a traditional Chinese medicine, especially suitable for postpartum women to help with lactation.
You have to understand that in the 1980s, most families were poor, and new mothers were generally malnourished. In rural areas, new mothers often didn't have enough milk. Those who were better off could buy a pig's trotter stewed with peanuts or beans, while those who were worse off could only afford a few bowls of egg drop soup.
After the discovery that mole crickets could promote lactation, many people treasured them, causing their price to rise again and again.
However, when it comes to eating mole crickets as a dish, some people like it while others don't. Mole crickets are different from other types of shrimp, as they have a unique flavor.
How to describe the taste? Fu Wan thought back to the first time she ate mole crickets and shrimp, it tasted like Ye Xiaocui used soap to wash the shrimp, like laundry detergent.
Like cilantro and houttuynia cordata in later generations, some people like them and some don't. Fu Wan was one of those who liked them.
Why? Because the mole cricket and shrimp meat also contain crab roe, giving it both shrimp and crab flavors. With a little seasoning, it tastes incredibly delicious.
Thinking this, Fu Wan went to Fu Ming's side and snatched the small shovels they used to dig for clams, then started shoveling at the sand holes.
Using a shovel is actually the simplest and most direct way. Some of the aunties in Fujia Village also use their own specially made brushes, which are tied to small branches or bamboo strips to fish for shrimp.
Actually, this kind of shrimp fishing is quite interesting.
When the tide is out, there are usually sand pits of all sizes in the sandy beach. At this time, the women will dig up the sand and mud on the surface of these sand pits and pile them up to surround the middle.
The nests of mole crickets are usually quite large and easy to spot; they are not only flat but also somewhat concave.
At this point, the aunties only need to insert the prepared thin wooden sticks into the hole. If the sticks start to shake, it means there are shrimp underneath.
At this point, you should immediately pull out the wooden stick and replace it with a paintbrush they made themselves. Gently stir it a few times in the hole, and the mole cricket's small pincers will clamp onto the paintbrush. Then, with a quick lift, the mole cricket will naturally be brought out and finally caught in the basket.
Speaking of the calligraphy brushes made by the aunties in Fujia Village, Ye Xiaocui also learned to make several, using pig hair scraped off and cleaned after slaughtering pigs for the New Year.
Fu Wan didn't have the tools with her, nor did she have the patience, but using a shovel was quick enough, and in no time she had caught several mole shrimp in one go.
Fu Wan quickly picked up the few mole crickets and shrimps and threw them into the basket next to her. Fu Ling and Qin Mingzhu saw this and ran over to help.
Although this mole cricket doesn't have big claws, its small claws are still very sharp.
Fu Wan put one of her gloves on each of their right hands. The gloves were a bit big, and the two children laughed heartily.
Startled by their strange laughter, Little Yellow suddenly picked up a mole shrimp from the ground and swallowed it with a smacking sound.
This red hawk actually eats mole crickets and shrimp?!
Adults and children alike were shocked. What happened to the promise of eating rats, sparrows, and baby pigeons?
"It's probably just too hungry!"
Fu Wan found a reason to try to convince herself.
Fu Ling and Qin Mingzhu agreed wholeheartedly, "We'll eat anything when we're hungry!"
After the two children discovered that Xiao Huang was eating mole crickets and shrimp, they started picking them up as well, putting one in each of their two baskets and tossing it at Xiao Huang's feet. Xiao Huang had sharp eyes, and before the mole crickets could even struggle, he would press down with his sharp claws and peck at them, sending the mole crickets to meet their demise.
The three adults and two children worked for an hour to fill the basket with mole crickets and shrimp. Little Huang was so full that he could barely walk.
Just as Fu Wan was taking off their gloves, Fu Gui, who had just disappeared, suddenly crawled over. Fu Wan looked closely and found a brownish-yellow thing in its mouth.
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