Several pieces of clam meat were skewered on the tip of a bamboo pole, with two crabs clinging to the meat.
Fang Muyu lifted the pole over the bucket and gave it a gentle shake. The two crabs plopped into the bucket, still fighting each other.
A few seconds later.
The screams of over a dozen children pierced the sky.
“Wow, sister, you’re amazing!”
“Sister, teach us how to do it!”
“We’ll catch big crabs to offer you.”
The children chattered excitedly around Fang Muyu, with Jiang Zhuangzhuang even boldly tugging at her sleeve.
“Stop!”
At Fang Muyu’s command, all the children immediately fell silent.
“Those who brought bamboo poles, follow the method I just showed you to catch crabs.”
“The rest of you, some help smash the clam meat, and the others gather clams around the puddles.”
“Let’s divide the work and cooperate, and make the most of our time.”
As soon as Fang Muyu finished speaking, the children sprang into action.
Jiang Zhuangzhuang very conscientiously helped assign tasks.
A group of mischievous children who had originally come just to play were now organized by Fang Muyu with military precision, like a troop of spirited little soldiers.
This scene happened to be witnessed by several leaders in the distance.
“That brat of mine is as stubborn as a rock in a latrine—stinky and hard, and he never listens to anyone,” remarked Jiang Jinsong, the leader, with a sigh. “This female comrade is quite impressive.”
“Regiment Commander Jiang, of course she is—she’s Lu Yancheng’s wife,” Wu Weiguo said with a smile.
“Oh?” Jiang Jinsong was surprised. “That’s Lu Yancheng’s wife!”
Jiang Jinsong grew even more delighted. “No wonder that brat suddenly submitted a marriage report.”
“Exactly. When an old iron tree blooms after all these years, it’s truly something special,” Wu Weiguo, never one to hold back, added. “A few days ago, Lu Yancheng even picked a bunch of dandelions on the mountain to cheer up his wife!”
The others burst into laughter.
“I heard about that.”
“I heard about it too. I thought it was just a rumor, but it turns out it’s true.”
“Company Commander Lu really is full of surprises!”
…
Time flew by.
The seawater quietly crept back over the tidal flats. The once-dry rocks were gradually enveloped by waves.
The tide surged upward layer by layer, swallowing nearly half of the previously expansive muddy ground in the blink of an eye.
“Stop. Gather all your things; we’re heading back.”
Fang Muyu had been keeping an eye on the distant movement of the sea.
Jiang Zhuangzhuang, thoroughly engrossed in crab-catching, didn’t want to leave. “Sister, it’s still early before the tide rises. Let’s catch a few more!”
“Fine! You can stay and wait to be eaten by sharks. We’re leaving first.”
Fang Muyu had no patience to waste any more words on Jiang Zhuangzhuang. She led the other children back, leaving him alone on the shore.
From the moment she saw Jiang Zhuangzhuang and his group, Fang Muyu had guessed they’d come to the shore without their parents’ permission.
Since the children seemed rather endearing, she reluctantly agreed to let them join her for a while.
But if Jiang Zhuangzhuang wanted to act like a brat, she wasn’t about to indulge him.
Hadn’t she noticed soldiers already rushing down to chase everyone back?
Fang Muyu had already made up her mind: she would give the soldiers a proper account of what happened, so they could report it to Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s parents and have the little troublemaker’s backside tanned to teach him a lesson.
Only the sting of pain leaves a lasting impression.
In the end, Jiang Zhuangzhuang was hauled back by a soldier.
Of course, before he was dragged away, Fang Muyu had already lodged a complaint against him.
Soon, a group of military wives hurried over.
A soldier approached a neatly dressed military wife with a short bob haircut and whispered a few words to her.
That military wife then gave Jiang Zhuangzhuang several sharp slaps on his bottom.
Jiang Zhuangzhuang wailed like a pig being slaughtered.
“You little brat, how dare you sneak off to the beach without permission?”
“Looks like you’re itching for a beating, huh?”
“Three days without a spanking and you’re already climbing onto the roof to tear off the tiles, aren’t you? I’ll teach you to disobey!”
Jiang Zhuangzhuang cried and shouted at the same time.
“Mom, my dear mom, stop hitting me, I was wrong. Look at all the crabs I caught—please let me off!”
“You still have the nerve to mention the crabs? Didn’t I tell you not to go to the beach? Sneaking off is bad enough, but I even warned you to come back when the tide rose. How dare you ignore me?”
Zhu Hongyu hit him even harder.
Jiang Zhuangzhuang cried so hard that snot and tears streamed down his face.
Meeting Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s pitiful eyes, Fang Muyu shrugged and gave him a helpless look.
The other children who had come with Jiang Zhuangzhuang weren’t as unlucky as him. Not only did they avoid a beating, but they also received praise from their parents.
“Wow, you caught so many! My son is so capable.”
“Did you really catch these crabs, son? That’s amazing.”
“Good boy, I’ll stir-fry clams for you tonight.”
…
Wah—
Jiang Zhuangzhuang cried even louder and more sorrowfully.
“Why am I the only one getting beaten when we all sneaked off to the beach together?”
“It’s not fair!”
Hearing this, Zhu Hongyu grew even angrier.
“You still have the nerve to say that? Everyone else came back, so why didn’t you come back with them?”
“I, I…”
How could Jiang Zhuangzhuang admit he was just having too much fun? He could only grit his teeth and endure the beating.
Fang Muyu watched the commotion until it was almost over, then turned to head home.
“Sister, wait! I’ll give you half of these clams.”
“And these crabs—I’ll give you half too, sister.”
“Wait, me too!”
Soon, Fang Muyu’s empty bucket was overflowing with crabs and clams given by the children.
Fang Muyu: “…”
She had only intended to participate and enjoy the process, not to actually gain anything!
What was she supposed to do with this overflowing bucket of crabs and clams?
After the crowd dispersed, Lin Xiaoxiao finally ran over to Fang Muyu with her bucket.
She proudly shook her metal bucket. “Fang Muyu, look! I collected almost half a bucket of clams. Aren’t I amazing? You have no idea how fiercely those people were fighting over them. I had to put in a tremendous effort just to—”
Lin Xiaoxiao’s voice abruptly cut off.
Her eyes nearly popped out of her head as she trembled and pointed at the overflowing bucket of clams and crabs in front of Fang Muyu.
“Did… did you collect all this?”
“No,” Fang Muyu shook her head. “The children gave them to me.”
Just as Lin Xiaoxiao’s shocked expression began to fade, Fang Muyu added another sentence.
“I taught them how to catch crabs and collect clams. This is their thank-you gift.”
Lin Xiaoxiao: …
She… she couldn’t quite bring herself to smile anymore.
Fang Muyu looked at Lin Xiaoxiao with a regretful expression.
“I wanted to invite you to join us, but I couldn’t find you.”
Lin Xiaoxiao’s heart was bleeding.
If only she hadn’t run off to compete with those military wives.
Fang Muyu patted Lin Xiaoxiao on the shoulder.
“It’s fine. Your clams might be a bit small, but a whole bucket should still make a decent plateful.”
…