"And then what happened?" Feng Ye pressed.
Xiao Chunxiu sighed and continued, "It took three or four days for the red tide to gradually dissipate, and the seawater gradually returned to normal."
"After the red tide receded, many fish, shrimp and crabs died in the sea, and many more were washed ashore."
"Especially all kinds of big fish, such as whales, sharks, dolphins, tuna, etc., everyone was saying it was a pity, but no one dared to pick them up and eat them."
"The older folks all say that eating this could kill you."
During the entire process of a red tide, its decline phase is the most serious stage in terms of harm to fisheries.
The so-called extinction phase refers to the process by which the red tide phenomenon disappears.
The disappearance of red tides can be caused by wind, rain, or depletion of nutrients; it could also be due to temperatures exceeding the suitable range for the red tide organisms; or it could be due to stronger currents causing the red tide to spread, etc.
"What happened to those big dead fish? We couldn't just let them rot on the beach, could we?"
"How could that be? It would stink to death."
"They were all pushed back into the sea. Those that were too big to push were towed back into the sea by boat."
"As for the smaller fish, shrimp, crabs, and shellfish, no human intervention is needed; they attract countless seagulls and other seabirds to hunt them."
"During that period, the sky was filled with seabirds circling overhead, and their calls were almost unbearable."
"And you have to wear a straw hat when you go out, otherwise a bird dropping might fall on your head."
"So this is what a red tide is like!"
Ye Qingling and Du Guilan both suddenly realized.
"However, although red tides are terrifying, they are not common. I've lived half my life and only seen one."
"Mother, you're right."
Feng Ye nodded perfunctorily.
He was well aware that red tides were not uncommon, but rather that the ocean was too vast to be easily seen, and given the current information isolation, the only way to spread the news was by word of mouth, aside from radio and television.
It's hard to imagine what a red tide looks like unless you've experienced it firsthand.
He had seen it with his own eyes several times in his past life, and even more times online.
Moreover, he knew that the blue tears phenomenon, a type of red tide, was very common and would occur every year from April to October.
"The waters where we found the small yellow croakers were very clean, so it shouldn't be due to a red tide."
After a moment's thought, Feng Ye added, "Red tide outbreaks are usually accompanied by abnormal changes in the color of the seawater, and the fish also die, but the small yellow croakers we caught were all alive."
"You guys are really lucky." Xiao Chunxiu smiled.
"What exactly caused so many small yellow croakers to float on the surface of the water?"
Ye Qingling blinked her curious eyes and asked impatiently.
"There is a magical phenomenon called 'water barrier,' which is..."
Feng Ye paused, seemingly thinking about how to explain it to them in the simplest and most understandable way.
"...Perhaps we just encountered this phenomenon."
"That's amazing! I've never even heard of it before."
Ye Qingling opened her mouth wide in surprise.
Xiao Chunxiu smiled and shook her head, sighing, "Actually, there are so many amazing things about the sea. What we've seen and heard is just the tip of the iceberg."
She paused briefly, looked out the window, and continued, "I remember when I was little, my grandfather told me a story."
"It is said that in the deepest part of this sea, there is a huge treasure trove, which contains endless wealth and secrets."
"Whenever unusual phenomena occur at sea, it may be that the treasure is about to be revealed."
Upon hearing this, Feng Ye couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Mother, the ocean is indeed a treasure trove, but it's not as fantastical as you make it out to be, is it?"
Xiao Chunxiu glared at him and said seriously, "That's hard to say. The ocean is so vast, how much do we really know about it? Like what you've encountered today, if you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, how many people would believe you?"
Ye Qingling said with great interest, "Mother, don't pay attention to him, please tell me, I want to hear it."
Seeing this, Xiao Chunxiu continued, "That treasure vault is said to be found only by those who are truly destined to find it."
"Moreover, the person who finds it must have enough courage and wisdom to retrieve the treasure inside."
Feng Ye smiled and shook his head: "Mother, please stop making things up."
Xiao Chunxiu said seriously, "I didn't make this up. My grandfather said that he heard it from the old people in the village when he was a child."
"When the old man was young, he went out to sea with an old fisherman and saw the light emanating from the treasure trove with his own eyes."
Ye Qingling and Du Guilan were both skeptical when they heard this.
There are indeed many things that happen at sea that they are unaware of.
“I remember Grandpa also said that whenever the moon is full, the sea surface will shimmer with a silver light, as if the entire sea is lit up.”
"Wow? That's amazing?"
Ye Qingling and Du Guilan said in unison, their faces showing surprise and curiosity.
Xiao Chunxiu nodded and continued, "Yes, it sounds like a myth."
“But Grandpa said it was true. Moreover, he said that the light could only be seen in a specific location and required some special conditions.”
"Mother, did Grandpa say what's inside that treasure vault?" Ye Qingling asked curiously.
Xiao Chunxiu shook her head, "No, Grandpa doesn't know either..."
After telling the whole story, she smiled slightly and said, "You may think this story is fake, and I think so too. The sea has been the subject of many magical tales since ancient times."
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingling couldn't help but giggle: "Mother, you were so serious when you said that, I almost believed you."
“Silly girl, stories are just stories, how much of it is true? I just heard Grandpa tell them and found them quite interesting, so I told you.”
Xiao Chunxiu smiled and gently shook her head.
Feng Ye was stunned by his mother's rapid change in attitude.
After listening to it all, it really was just a fictional story.
However, at this moment, Du Guilan suddenly interjected, "But Mother, I don't think this story is entirely unfounded. The sea is so vast, perhaps there really is a treasure trove there."
"Of course there are treasure troves. Not to mention the natural resources on the seabed, just the shipwrecks that have been there for thousands of years are treasure troves in themselves."
Feng Ye shook his head speechlessly.
After talking for a while, he took out the money, counted out 825 yuan, and gave it to Du Guilan along with the receipt: "Sister-in-law, this is my brother's share. You can also take a look at the receipt."
After saying that, he handed the remaining 1,650 yuan to Ye Qingling for safekeeping. He turned around and was about to go take a shower when he turned back and said, "Pan-fried yellow croaker, I like to eat it."
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