What does "beachcombing" mean?
Qin Anning looked puzzled; it was the first time she had ever heard of this term.
Fu Wan was surprised that she didn't know what beachcombing was, but considering that she grew up in the capital, it was normal that she didn't know about the seaside.
She patiently explained to Qin Anning, "Beachcombing is when we go to the beach after the tide goes out and collect the seafood that is washed up by the sea."
Qin Anning was overjoyed upon hearing this, "So, even if we don't go out to sea, we can still catch fish and shrimp?"
Fu Wan nodded, "Of course, if you're lucky, you can even make quite a bit!"
These words greatly appealed to Qin Anning, who immediately stood up and pulled Fu Wan along, saying, "Wan, let's go now."
Fu Wan couldn't help but laugh at her impatient look. Her manner was exactly the same as her own Fu Ling Qin Mingzhu's usual silly demeanor.
"Don't rush. The tide hasn't gone out yet, and the sun hasn't set. There probably won't be much to catch at the beach."
Qin Anning was a little disappointed when she heard this, but Fu Wan's next words made her smile again.
"Let's go after dinner. The tide should recede by then."
It was already past 3 p.m., so it was only a few hours after dinner, as Fu Wan had mentioned.
It's only a few hours, Qin Anning said, she can wait!
Hearing Fu Wan's words, Fu Ling and Qin Mingzhu stopped teasing Xiao Huang and ran over to fawn over Fu Wan and Qin Anning.
"Mom, can you take us there tonight?"
"Auntie, we want to go beachcombing too!"
Qin Anning was also undecided and could only look at Fu Wan for advice.
Fu Wancai couldn't be bothered to spoil the two kids.
"You should all stay home tonight. It's pitch black at the beach. What if I'm not paying attention and you get swept away by the sea?"
As soon as he said that, Fu Ling pouted.
"Hmph, I'm not afraid of seawater, I'll learn to swim!"
His serious yet smug demeanor made Fu Wan laugh.
"Alright, do you think I don't know whether you can swim or not? In a couple of days I'll start teaching you how to hold your breath. Once you've mastered holding your breath, we'll go to the beach and I'll teach you how to swim!"
These words immediately diverted the two children's attention, and they huddled together again to imagine how they would dominate the ocean after mastering swimming skills.
"Once I learn to swim, I want to be like my mom and catch lobsters and crabs in the sea!"
"Then I want to be friends with the baby orca, just like my godmother!"
"Then I want to be friends with the baby orca too!"
The two children chatted away, and Qin Anning watched from the side, her smile growing wider and wider.
These two kids are so sweet, sister, can you see them?
While the group was chatting and laughing, Ye Xiaocui and Boss Fu returned from outside.
"Father, what are people saying about that boat?"
Fu Laoda and Ye Xiaocui went to find a boat repairman, and it just so happened that there was a villager in the village who knew how to repair boats who was celebrating the festival at home.
Speaking of this, Boss Fu's relaxed brows furrowed again. "Donkey Egg said that a hole in the deck is not a big deal, but we have to make sure that after the sheet metal is patched up, water won't seep in from the edges."
"He said he would first check if any water had gotten into the boat, and if not, he would repair the deck, which would probably take about three or four days."
Three or four days is actually not too bad.
Fu Wan felt relieved; at worst, she could just take a few days off.
Suddenly she remembered something and hurriedly instructed Fu Laoda, "Dad, did you tell Brother Lin not to come over for the next few days?"
If we don't go to sea, we don't need boatmen. If Ye Lin comes, it'll be a wasted trip.
It would be better to let him build a house at home first.
"Oh dear, I completely forgot! I'll go call the village committee right now!"
After saying that, he hurriedly walked out.
"How old are you? You're still so easily startled."
Ye Xiaocui was somewhat disgusted with her husband, and while muttering to herself, she picked up a broom and swept the yard.
Fu Wan was worried that Qin Anning would be bored, but before she could even think of inviting Qin Anning inside to rest, Qin Mingzhu pulled Qin Anning and Fu Ling to the backyard to see the rabbit family.
With no one else in the courtyards, Ye Xiaocui asked Fu Wan with some concern, "Wan, I heard your father say that he's going to the shipyard to buy a ship?"
Fu Wan nodded, "Mother, renting a boat isn't a long-term solution. Anyway, we've had a good haul at sea, and we can make back our investment in a boat very quickly."
"So what kind of car are you planning to buy?"
She thought to herself that she should go back to her room to see if she had enough money in her savings account.
Fu Wan shook her head; in fact, she didn't know what kind to buy.
"I'll go to the shipyard with Dad tomorrow and we'll talk about it then."
She didn't know what stage the shipyard's technology had reached, so she decided to go to the shipyard tomorrow to observe and then make a decision.
She could tell at a glance that Ye Xiaocui was worried about money, so she quickly comforted her, "Mother, don't worry about money, I have some."
Ye Xiaocui glared at her, "You should keep some for yourself, otherwise you'll spend it all."
A ship wouldn't even cost as much as the more than one million in her savings account.
Fu Wan was both amused and exasperated. "Mother, I really do have the money for that boat. Don't forget I still have a lot of money left over from selling incense last time!"
In fact, Ye Xiaocui didn't look at Fu Wan's bankbook carefully last time; she only looked at the property certificate.
"Really?"
Ye Xiaocui looked at Fu Wan uncertainly, and Fu Wan nodded emphatically, "Would I lie to you!"
Of course, her own daughter wouldn't lie to her. Ye Xiaocui breathed a sigh of relief. "Hey, my savings for my funeral are safe."
Time flew by and it was dinner time. There were still quite a few dishes left over from lunch, so Ye Xiaocui simply called over Jiang Chunlan and her son, and they added two more dishes. That's how they finished their Mid-Autumn Festival dinner.
Jiang Chunlan and Fu Liang were itching to go beachcombing that night after hearing Fu Wan say she was going.
However, Fu Wan did not plan to go beachcombing on the mudflats by the sea in the village this time. She remembered that there was a mudflat behind the mountain in the village with many reefs, and she might have a good harvest there.
The mudflats are a bit far from the village, taking more than half an hour to walk, but it would probably only take about ten minutes by bicycle.
"How about I drive the aunties over?"
Qin Anning noticed that both Jiang Chunlan and Ye Xiaocui seemed interested in going. With these two aunts and Fu Wan, there was enough room in the car!
Fu Wan compared the size of the car to the mountain road, then shook her head, "No, the road is too narrow, the car can't get through."
Qin Anning was at a loss, but Jiang Chunlan didn't seem to care. "It's alright, you young people go ahead, just be careful. Xiao Cui and I can take a good rest."
I've been doing beachcombing for most of my life, so it's okay if I can't go anymore.
"Then Mom and Auntie can wait for us at home when we return with our bounty!"
"Alright, alright, I'll be waiting for your seafood for tomorrow's meals!"
Fu Ming and Fu Liang immediately felt the heavy burden on their shoulders. Since there were four people, Fu Liang went to Xiao Hong's house next door to borrow a bicycle, which, together with Fu Wan's own bicycle, made a total of two bicycles.
And so, under the full moon, the four young people slowly sailed toward the sea.
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