Read/BTSFVI/Chapter Eight
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Chapter 8 Digging for Sand Clams by the Seashore
Their home was not far from the beach, just a ten-minute walk away. However, when they reached the beach, instead of going directly onto the sandy shore, they continued walking along the coastline towards the pier.
There were also sand clams to be found beneath the sand, but they needed to search for them. The beach was vast, and not every spot had sand clams. It wasn't as simple as just digging a few times to find them.
Sand clams are a type of clam, also known as ‘flower clam’ in some regions. However, in their village, people habitually referred to them as ‘sand clams’ because they were dug out from beneath the sand on the beach.
Although they are dug out from beneath the sand on the beach, most of the sand clams do not contain sand inside. In very rare cases, there might be some sand, but even then, they can be easily cleaned by soaking them overnight before cooking.
When used in soup or added to noodles, a few sand clams can enhance the flavor and add a delightful freshness to the dish.
In the future, the clams available in the market no longer appeal to the villagers. They lack the freshness and the firm texture of the sand clams they dig by themselves from the seaside.
Moreover, the sand clams on their beach are somewhat different from the clams available in the market. The size of the sand clams varies, with some as small as a fingernail and others as large as normal clams. However, even the small ones are meaty and delicious.
There are two high tides and two low tides every day. During regular low tides, children would go and play by digging for clams. However, on the first and fifteenth day of lunar new year when there is a significant low tide, more people would gather for clam digging.
Moreover, people in their village are accustomed to digging clams outside the pier because it is only on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar new year when the tide recedes significantly, exposing the beach near the pier. Usually, whether it is during high tide or low tide, the area is filled with water.
Whenever the beach is exposed, there are many sand clams to be dug under the sand, and the reefs along the shore are also revealed. On the reefs, you can find sea melon seeds, oysters to pry open, and even spicy snails to pick up.
Rely on the mountains to eat from the mountains, rely on the sea to eat from the sea!
Living by the seaside and being diligent ensures one won't go hungry.
After reaching the pier, they slowly descended the steep slope made of rocks. By this time, the tide had receded, revealing a small stretch of sandy beach. Several women were already squatting there, digging into the sand.
Usually, it was the women and children of the families who would dig for seafood on the beach. Since getting married, Ye Yaodong hadn't come to the seaside to play. Being no longer a child, he had lost the sense of novelty towards the beach.
But since his rebirth, there seemed to be a nostalgic feeling, and his state of mind had changed. He found a renewed sense of freshness on this beach.
He walked over and took a look at the buckets beside the women from the village. "Did you find anything? Oh, there really are some. How long have you been digging?"
Everyone was focused on digging with their shovels on the surface of the beach, and no one paid any attention to him.
Is it that they are as idle as a man who spends his days leisurely? Instead of idle chatter, wouldn't it be better for them to dig a few more times?
No one paid attention to him, but Ye Yaodong wasn't bothered. He watched his son playing with sand alone on the beach and then walked back to his wife. In just a short while, she had already collected six or seven sand clams in her basin.
Hearing two more clinking sounds, indicating the discovery of two additional clams, he squatted down and said, "You're digging pretty fast."
The shovel is the most practical tool for digging clams in the sand, without a doubt!
Some people, if they can't attach the wooden handle, simply use a single shovel blade to dig instead.
Lin Xiuqing also holds a shovel blade, and without lifting her head, she says, "Practice makes perfect, and this doesn't require any special skills, just dig the sand."
Yeah, he did this a lot when he was a child. Growing up by the seaside, the most common activity for kids was digging sand.
Since he was already here, he couldn't just stand and watch. Without a shovel, he simply used his hands to dig.
On the sandy beach, there were small bubble-like holes. With a casual scoop of his hand, Ye Yaodong would find a sand clam in each scoop, and he was quite accurate at it.
Hearing the consecutive "clang" sounds in the basin, Lin Xiuqing glanced sideways. So fast?
Yaodong noticed her gaze and raised an eyebrow as he looked at her. "What's up? Do you think I'm impressive? Want me to teach you?"
Saying so, he used both hands to scoop on the surface of the beach, and there was another one!
He scooped it into the basin and added, "These things are really easy to dig. I used to dig them a lot when I was a kid."
"How do you get one every time you dig?" She was genuinely curious.
Although her parents' home was in the neighboring town, it was not near the sea. It was located inland, close to the mountains.
After marrying and moving to the seaside for several years, she had always followed her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. She would do things the way they did. Every time they went to dig for seafood, she would join them. Everyone would use a shovel to scrape the sand, unlike him, who could scoop them out like that.
Ye Yaodong pointed at the small holes on the beach, "Do you see these? Sand clams also need to breathe. They rely on these small openings to breathe. Where there are holes, there are likely to be sand clams beneath them."
While explaining, he demonstrated by scooping out two more sand clams.
He was quite skilled at finding the holes and scooping out the sand clams.
It's because it's close to the first day of the lunar month that the beach near the pier has such good conditions for digging. The central part of the beach is not as easy to dig.
Lin Xiuqing also tried digging curiously, and sure enough!
"Then why bother with a shovel? Just dig directly with your hands!" It's tiring to dig with a shovel, and after a while, your hands will get sore.
"It's still better to use a shovel. Having tools makes it more convenient. I used my hands because I didn't have a shovel. Some sand clams are closer to the surface and can breathe without the need for small holes. But once the beach gets trampled on, you won't see the holes anymore. It's only during low tide that you can see the air bubbles."
Lin Xiuqing kept looking at him as he spoke. Over the years, except for the early days of their marriage, they rarely had normal conversations. He was always disappearing, appearing only during mealtimes or when it was time to sleep. At most, they exchanged a few words in their daily routines.
Most of the time, he appeared carefree and nonchalant. So when he suddenly spoke earnestly and seriously, even offering to teach her, it made her feel somewhat uneasy.
"What are you looking at? Dig!"
"Oh!"
After a while, more people came to dig clams. Nowadays, people are very diligent, except for Ye Yaodong.
After squatting and digging for a while, he felt his legs getting a bit numb, so he stood up, stretched his waist, and turned his neck, looking at the sea in the distance.
Digging for a while, just showing a little effort is enough. He couldn't appear too diligent.
At this moment, the tide was still receding, and many small boats were stranded near the pier due to the tide. They could only wait until the next high tide to return to the sea.
The current time is 9:30 AM. The tide is expected to fully recede by 10:30 AM, and then begin to rise again. It will reach its highest point around 4:30 PM in the afternoon and recede again around 11:30 PM at night. By around 7:00 AM in the morning, it will reach its highest point again.
Every day, the tides recede and rise approximately 50 minutes later than the previous day. Although Ye Yaodong has just been reborn today, by looking at the tide, he can already predict the timing of the tides tomorrow.
No wonder his eldest and second brothers wanted to come out and check the tides before setting sail. As it approaches the first day of the lunar month, the tides recede even further in the middle of the night. By midnight on the first day, the tide reaches its lowest point. They would probably set sail around 1-2 AM at that time, ensuring that the tide hadn't risen much.
If the tide is not sufficient, the boat cannot go out.
(end of this chapter)
