The tide is receding quickly today, and it will rise just as fast.
While Chen Zhiyao and the others were happily picking seafood on the rocky beach, the surging waves were already quietly approaching.
The waist-high waves resembled a pack of charging beasts, their momentum overwhelming. The spray crashed violently against the rocks on the shore, creating deafening roars.
Chen Zhiyao kept a close eye on the changes in the sea. When she saw the waves of seawater surging up, her heart tightened.
She can swim, but her friends can't swim at all.
So he quickly told Li Lin and the others to pack their things and get ready to go back.
"The tide is coming in, hurry up and grab your things, we need to head back."
Yang Yi and Tang Youyou were happily searching for sea snails in a small puddle, while Li Lin was also lying on the rocks digging for crabs.
The three of them moved slowly, clearly not wanting to go back yet.
Seeing the tide rising, Yan Shuting, who was not far away, hurriedly urged the reluctant young people to hurry up:
"The tide rises much faster than it recedes, everyone hurry back."
Although everyone was reluctant to leave this rocky beach, which was full of treasures, they had no choice but to obey the approaching tide.
Chen Zhiyao picked up a bucket filled with all kinds of fresh seafood in her left hand. Inside were lively sea fish, large lobsters with their claws outstretched, and many colorful and beautiful shellfish.
In his right hand, he was carrying two full net bags filled with various sea snails, crabs, and small abalone.
Besides her, the others around her also had a great harvest, their faces beaming with the joy of a bountiful harvest.
While urging everyone to hurry up, Chen Zhiyao led them carefully to avoid the rocks covered with moss and oysters.
Li Lin and the others, holding various little treasures they had just picked up, followed her slowly toward the shore, turning back every few steps.
Suddenly, a strong wind swept across the sea, and a huge wave crashed in, soaking everyone's trousers and clothes.
Seeing the giant waves crashing one after another behind her, Chen Zhiyao shouted anxiously:
"Run, everyone!"
The group quickened their pace, but just then, an even larger wave crashed in, soaking them completely.
When everyone ran ashore, they were all soaked from head to toe, as if they had just been pulled out of the water.
Not only were they all soaked to the bone, but their heads and bodies were also covered with seaweed and kelp that had been swept up by the waves.
These green plants clung tightly to everyone's clothes, hair, and even faces, making the already disheveled group look even more comical.
Looking at everyone's new looks, Chen Zhiyao couldn't help but tease them cheekily:
"Haha, everyone's new looks today are quite unique, they might even start a fashion trend!"
Tang Youyou, who loves beauty, quickly smoothed her wet hair with her hands and shoved it back:
"You have the nerve to talk to us like that? Take off your wig first."
"Haha, Tangtang, your hair has gotten thicker!" Li Lin chimed in with glee.
Chen Zhiyao reached up and touched the top of her head, only to find a small clump of dragon's beard vegetable hanging there. Her smile immediately froze.
The funniest one was Yang Yi. He had a tiny, transparent shrimp bouncing around on his head.
Seeing that everyone else was in the same sorry state, Chen Zhiyao's mood immediately improved:
“We’re all in the same boat, so let’s not make fun of each other here, eldest brother.”
Seeing that the young people hadn't followed, Yan Shuting turned around and found them chatting away. She quickly urged them on.
"Everyone, stop chatting here and hurry back to change your wet clothes."
"Hey, I'm here! I'm here!"
Chen Zhiyao immediately darted to the front, and the three behind her quickly followed. The group of people returned to the fishing boat amidst playful banter.
Under Yan Shuting's urging, the group quickly changed out of their wet clothes.
Today's catch was pretty good; the fish caught by the group were almost piled up into a small mountain.
With everyone working together, the fresh seafood was all sorted out in just half an hour.
Seeing everyone's exhausted faces, Chen Zhiyao brought out a few small stools. The three of them, who hadn't exercised in a long time, slumped onto the stools.
Chen Zhiyao sat quietly on one of the small stools, tilting her head slightly and gazing at the vast, boundless sea in the distance.
The once turbulent and howling sea has now returned to calm, with the shimmering water rippling gently in the mild sea breeze.
Tang Youyou and the other two, who were not used to seeing the world, stared intently at the mysterious mangrove forest not far away.
Li Lin gently nudged Chen Zhiyao beside her with her shoulder and asked excitedly:
"Tangtang, how come there's a small forest growing in the ocean? Could there be some treasure hidden there? Like a giant lobster or something?"
"Could there be any unknown, mysterious creatures inside?" Tang Youyou's eyes lit up as she looked at her expectantly.
Chen Zhiyao thought everyone's ideas were simply outlandish, and shook her head with a smile:
"This is a mangrove forest. Many villagers come here to go beachcombing, so there are definitely no unknown or mysterious creatures here."
"Even if there are large lobsters, there probably aren't many. But there are quite a few large crabs, as well as wild ducks and lots of wild duck eggs."
"Since we can go beachcombing inside, it must be safe. Why don't we go explore inside these mangroves?"
Yang Yi looked at the dense grove of trees and was very interested in it.
"Okay, okay!" the other two echoed, then looked at her expectantly.
Chen Zhiyao thought there was no danger inside, so it wouldn't be bad to take everyone there for fun.
"Okay, I'll take you to see the mangroves, but the tide is high now, so there aren't many places to go beachcombing."
“No problem, as long as I can go,” Yang Yi said eagerly.
So the group, carrying buckets and nets, boarded a small boat and set off for the mangroves.
Knowing that none of the three could swim, Chen Zhiyao put life jackets on them before setting off.
The sea level has risen somewhat, and the surrounding mangroves are now submerged.
After paddling the small boat for quite a while, Chen Zhiyao finally found a place with higher ground.
"Everyone, follow me. This place is on higher ground, so we probably won't get flooded when the tide comes in."
The mangrove forest looked much like an ordinary forest from the outside, but it was dark and secluded inside. The group held hands and followed Chen Zhiyao closely.
The further you go, the more lush the trees become, and the softer the soil becomes, where you can see many small sand crabs crawling on the ground.
"Tangtang, there's a hole under the tree on the left. I just saw a big crab crawl into it!" Tang Youyou shouted excitedly, pointing to the hole in the tree.
Everyone crowded around, and they could sense something moving faintly inside the cave.
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