Mingjing turned to look at her and remembered that this was the original owner's younger sister, Mingyue. She had a red birthmark on the left side of her face and was often ridiculed. She dropped out of school after graduating from junior high school and made a living by fishing with her parents.
The original owner always disliked her because she was ugly and had a fishy smell that couldn't be washed off, and didn't want to play with her.
"Xiaoyue, what brings you here?"
"Sister, Dad asked me to help you," Mingyue said, her head bowed and one hand gripping the wooden bucket tightly, not daring to look up.
Mingjing raised her arm to wipe the sweat from her forehead and waved, "Great! Come on, help me get some moon clams, I'll make you a big meal when we get back!"
"Huh?" Mingyue looked up, startled.
"What are you standing there for? Come on!" Mingzhu stood up and pulled her to squat down. "There are quite a few black butts here. Get more and sell them."
Mingyue came to her senses and said timidly, "Sister, black-headed clams are worthless. They don't have much meat; they're mostly shells. We can't sell them."
Black buttocks?
Mingjing looked at the moon shells in the bucket and remembered that there were many kinds of moon shells. There were white ones and black ones in this area, with a lot of black ones. The tails were black, which was called "black butt" in the local dialect.
It is also called the Moon Clam because the edge of the Moon Clam is white and shiny, like the moon.
There are many kinds of seafood, and moon clams are everywhere. The purchasing points don't need much each day, and the price is low, so the fishermen are too lazy to collect them.
"Worthless?"
Mingyue remembered that this was in 1990, when there were many large goods, and this kind was indeed not rare.
"Then we'll eat them ourselves and pick up more."
Mingyue took out the fishing net from the bucket, scooped up a handful of sand, and dragged it into the sea, glancing at Mingjing out of the corner of her eye.
Something seems different.
The moon-shaped shells were shining in the clear mirror. My legs went numb from squatting, so I stood up, straightened my back, and continued digging.
With Mingyue's help, Mingjing's bucket was already more than half full, weighing at least seven or eight jin.
The seawater rose to Mingjing's ankles and continued to rise.
"Sis, that's enough, let's go back. The tide's coming in, we won't be able to leave later."
Mingyue poured half a bag of moon shells into the bucket, filling it exactly halfway.
"Let's dig a little longer, the tide's coming in, and everything underground should come up. Let's go check over there."
If she goes back carrying half a bucket of moon shells, those old women will laugh her to death. She has to dig up something worthwhile.
The seawater lapped against their ankles, and in the golden glow of the setting sun, Mingjing's profile was incredibly beautiful.
Mingyue turned her head and was dumbfounded.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Mingjing noticed Mingyue's gaze, turned her head and smiled.
Mingyue blushed, but mustered her courage and said, "Sister, you're so beautiful. Are all city dwellers in the inland this beautiful?"
"I am a fisherwoman from an island, not from the mainland."
Mingjing bent down and turned over the stones.
Having received a reply, Mingyue grew bolder and whispered, "Sister, what's it like inland?"
Normally, Mingyue wouldn't dare ask Mingjing these questions, because Mingjing would get angry if she did. But today, she felt that Mingjing was different, so she asked a few more questions.
"There's no sea, just skyscrapers everywhere, it's not fun. If you want to go, let's go inland after we pay off our debts and make some money!"
"Shall we go inland for some fun?"
Mingyue repeated in surprise.
Her sister is really different now.
Things have gotten better.
"Yes, once we make money, I'll take Mom and Dad and you to the inland to enjoy life."
The coastal areas were much wealthier than the inland areas in the 1990s, but this didn't apply to the Ming family. Once they had the money, she was determined to take them to see the outside world.
The seawater reached above the mirror-like ankles and gradually rose upwards.
"It's getting late, Xiaoyue, we should go back now," Mingjing said, carrying the heavy wooden bucket uphill.
"oh."
Mingyue was a little unwilling. Today she picked up some worthless things that she couldn't sell for any money. There were still three days left. How was she going to pay back the 30,000 yuan?
On the way back, I encountered several gossiping women who sneered at Mingyue's wooden bucket.
"Mingyue, Mingjing, why are you picking up so many black buttocks?"
"Who are you going to sell it to? Hahahaha!"
"Mingjing, this stuff is so cheap and common around here."
Mingjing rolled her eyes, not wanting to pay them any attention.
Once she earns enough points, gets better equipment, and catches a big fish, let's see if they can still laugh then.
Mingjing pulled Mingyue home as fast as they could.
Ming Dahai glanced at the wooden bucket, sighed, and said nothing.
"Mom, take a break, I'll cook!" Mingjing untied the apron from Sun Yunmei's waist, tied it around her own, rolled up her sleeves, and started scrubbing the iron pot.
"Mom, get out!" Mingjing carried the wooden bucket into the kitchen and shooed Sun Yunmei away.
Mingyue came in and said, "Sister, let me help you start the fire!"
This is a fishing village, and they all cook with firewood. Mingyue sat in front of the stove, tending the fire.
Sun Yunmei stood there stunned for a long time before moving away.
She didn't know that her daughter, who had been with her for the past two years, could cook.
Pour the clams into a basin of water to remove sand, then add oil and baking soda.
In his previous life, Mingjing was not only an oceanographer, but also conducted specialized research on how to cook seafood.
Unfortunately, there were too few ingredients. Fortunately, the recipe didn't specify what ingredients to use, so she could only make do with what she had.
Place the moon clams that have expelled the sand into a hot pot, cover and steam for 30 minutes.
Outside the door, Sun Yunmei and Ming Dahai frowned as they watched.
When did their daughter become such a good cook? And she even cooks so well!
"Daughter, Dad's here. I'm sorry you've been wronged." Ming Dahai walked into the kitchen and sat down in front of the stove to cook, like a child who had done something wrong.
He was incapable of protecting his daughter and even caused her to suffer; he was a useless father.
"Dad, why are you talking about that? Just wait for me to pay off my debts in three days and we'll live a good life."
Sun Yunmei didn't know where her daughter got the information from, and just nodded, her face showing even more worry.
Lifting the lid, a savory aroma wafts out.
Place chopped scallions, ginger, garlic, and chili peppers on top of the dish, then pour in some soy sauce and drizzle with a spoonful of hot oil. It's ready to serve.
The aroma was so enticing that Mingyue swallowed hard. "Sister, it smells so good!"
"Go quickly, wash your hands, and call Mom and Dad for dinner!"
Mingjing urged Mingyue to leave.
"good!"
Mingyue turned and ran to the courtyard to wash her hands.
bite!
[Congratulations, host, on completing your first dish. You have earned 500 basic points and 50 praise points.]
Praise points?
Making food earns you basic points. If your food receives praise, you also earn points, and your luck score will increase.
Mingjing basically understood that luck value is not only related to the items exchanged, but also to points. Higher points result in higher luck value.
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