The cave in front of us is located at a relatively low point, even though it's high tide today and the water has already receded to the very bottom.
However, the seawater at the cave entrance was still up to Chen Zhiyao's knees. If the seawater rose, it would probably flood her completely.
Although there were a few sparse trees in front, they couldn't stop the surging waves, which kept crashing against us.
Another fierce wave soaked half of their bodies.
However, neither of them paid any attention to it at the moment, because there were actually a lot of goose barnacles growing on the rocks at the cave entrance.
(Friendly reminder: Those with trypophobia, please note that the image may not be suitable for everyone.)
"So many goose barnacles! I'm rich! I'm rich!" With that, Chen Zhiyao immediately ran towards the cave entrance.
"..." Grandpa Chen was so happy he couldn't speak.
He had found quite a few small green dragons and abalone in the cave before, and he came here this time hoping to find those two things as well. He never expected to have this unexpected surprise.
Thinking that these oddly shaped little things could actually sell for nearly 200 yuan per kilogram, Grandpa Chen quickened his pace.
Goose barnacles
Goose barnacles are the name used abroad. Because they look like a Buddha's hand and a dog's paw, locals usually call them Buddha's hand snails or dog's paw snails.
Goose barnacles are said to be related to crabs. They taste and texture similar to crab meat, but are sweeter and fresher. They are delicious simply steamed.
They are mainly distributed in the crevices of reefs or on cliffs where there are frequent waves. They feed on plankton and generally grow better when the waves are bigger.
However, because the places where they usually grow are very dangerous, harvesting them is very difficult, and many people lose their lives every year while harvesting goose barnacles.
Goose barnacles are incredibly delicious, and because of their appearance, they are often called "seafood from hell."
Goose barnacles have always been highly sought after in Europe because of their incredibly sweet and delicious taste.
Moreover, because it is so difficult to harvest, it is said that a pound can sell for hundreds of euros in Europe.
Goose barnacles are also very expensive in China, with prices comparable to those of small green dragons.
There were many goose barnacles growing on both sides of the cave entrance, so the grandfather and grandson each had one side.
Chen Zhiyao first tried to pry them off with her fingers, but found that they were quite firmly attached, and she couldn't pry any off.
This thing not only tastes similar to crab meat, but its shell is also like a crab shell—it looks thin but is very hard.
After thinking for a second, Chen Zhiyao immediately took a sand shovel from the bucket and pried off several pieces with one shovel.
"Click"
"Click"
Chen Zhiyao scooped all the little babies off with a shovel, and the process was quite stress-relieving.
Seeing that the shovel worked quite well, Chen Zhiyao cheerfully reminded her grandfather behind her:
"Grandpa, it's faster to dig up these basil snails with a sand shovel."
"You don't need to tell me. When I went to the open sea to collect bergamot, your father wasn't even born yet."
Grandpa Chen spoke with a proud expression, his hands moving without any hindrance, each shovelful yielding a small piece of goose barnacle.
"Click"
"Click"
Neither of them spoke; they were both diligently shoveling the goose barnacles off the table, bit by bit.
I must say, the process was incredibly stress-relieving, although the waves were a bit big and stung a little when they hit my skin.
"Splash..."
The waves at the cave entrance continued to crash against the two of them, but neither of them paid any attention to it at the moment, instead quickening their pace.
Except for the smaller ones, the two larger ones were all shoveled down.
Chen Zhiyao wiped the water droplets from her forehead, which she couldn't tell were sweat or water from the waves, and then lifted the bucket in her hand; it weighed about 10 jin (5 catties).
This thing is quite heavy; even a small piece weighs several ounces.
Meanwhile, Grandpa Chen, standing to the side, had over ten kilograms of goose barnacles in his bucket.
Looking at these expensive little treasures, the old man was so happy he couldn't stop smiling.
Chen Zhiyao straightened up, rubbed her aching back several times, and then gave her grandfather two thumbs up with admiration.
"Grandpa, you're amazing! How did you find these goose barnacles?"
Chen Zhiyao thought that the goose barnacles outside the cave were the surprise her grandfather had just mentioned.
Actually, the old man didn't know there were so many Buddha's Hand snails here before he came, but Grandpa Chen, who was concerned about saving face, changed his story.
"When I came here to go beachcombing before, I stumbled upon this little cave. I even found a small lobster and several abalone the size of my palm inside," the old man said confidently.
Upon hearing that there were also small green dragons and wild abalone inside the cave, Chen Zhiyao's eyes lit up immediately.
"Grandpa, let's go inside the cave and take a look."
The seawater had risen to the middle of Chen Zhiyao's thighs, but the grandfather and grandson, preoccupied with finding the little green dragon and abalone, didn't care at all.
At this moment, Grandpa Chen took out two headlamps that he had prepared beforehand.
The originally dark cave became brightly lit under the headlamp, and Chen Zhiyao looked around with curiosity.
The cave is larger inside than at the entrance, looking somewhat like a small rectangle about 2 meters wide and 3 meters deep. There is a thin layer of sand underfoot, which feels soft.
The surrounding rocks have become strangely shaped due to the cumulative erosion of the waves over the years.
Chen Zhiyao had only taken two steps when she saw several pretty little abalone on a rock about waist-high.
Wild abalone
"Grandpa, there really are abalone here."
As he spoke, he took the shovel in his hand and quickly pried the little guys off the rocks one by one.
Wild abalone +6
Grandpa Chen, standing to the side, smiled without saying a word, and happily searched under the sand where the water level was lower. In no time, he pulled out a small green dragon weighing nearly a pound.
Hearing her grandfather's hearty laughter, Chen Zhiyao turned around curiously, and then stared at the little green dragon in the old man's hand, which was baring its fangs and claws.
As a foodie, Chen Zhiyao blurted out, "Such a plump little lobster, it would definitely be delicious steamed."
As soon as he finished speaking, the little green dragon struggled even more fiercely, but in the end, the old man ruthlessly stuffed it into the bucket.
On the rocks in the cave, besides small abalone, there were also many particularly large conch shells, which Chen Zhiyao casually put into the bucket.
Conch +8
Soon, Chen Zhiyao found an even larger abalone in a crevice in the rocks.
However, this little thing sucks very tightly, and it's inside a crevice in the rock, so it's difficult to apply force with a shovel.
Just then, a voice in her mind reminded her, "Tangtang, you can just use a universal clip to clip it."
Chen Zhiyao slapped her thigh hard. "Oh right, I almost lost the multi-clip."
Immediately afterwards, she picked out a particularly plump wild abalone from the crevice in the rock.
abalone
Although it wasn't as big as the palm of Grandpa Chen's hand, it was still quite plump, and Chen Zhiyao happily put it into the bucket.
Wild abalone +1
Suddenly, Chen Zhiyao shouted excitedly from inside the cave:
Wow, we're going to get rich!
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