Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Going Out to Sea Again
Buying fabric and then sewing clothes for such a large family took a great deal of time.
These days, there were already small shops selling ready-made clothes.
But the ready-made clothes were too expensive. It was more economical to buy fabric and sew them at home.
Unfortunately, the family didn’t have a sewing machine. Shen Yunlian, Wang Mei, and Granny Yun could only work by candlelight at night, sewing everything stitch by stitch.
They were all very skilled at sewing, and the clothes they made for the family were sturdy and durable.
Yun Jiao would occasionally sit on the bed, chin in her hands, and watch her mom sew.
Shen Yunlian would also teach her.
Once, her interest was piqued, so she took a needle and thread and started sewing with the fabric scraps her mom had set aside.
In the end, she made an ugly, misshapen doll.
When Yun Chenbei saw it, he immediately took it apart and remade it. Two days later, Yun Jiao had a new, very colorful, but beautiful, stuffed kitten.
She absolutely loved it.
"Fourth Brother, you’re so amazing!"
Yun Chenbei smiled. "It’s not hard. You’re just too little right now. You’ll be able to do it when you’re older."
He picked up a piece of wood and continued to carve it.
Ever since he discovered his works could sell for money, he had been putting more energy into carving and other crafts.
"Fourth Brother, can you make this into a pretty necklace for me?"
Yun Jiao took out her fishtail-shaped pearl.
Yun Chenbei held it in his hand and looked at it for a long while before shaking his head. "Not now. Let me find some books and learn first. When I have better materials, I’ll make it for you."
"Okay, then you can hold on to the pearl for me. I might lose it if I keep it."
She had specifically gotten it from her mom to ask Fourth Brother to make a necklace, so leaving it with him was fine.
Yun Chenbei nodded and carefully placed the pearl in his most treasured little box.
There was still no news about her eldest and second brothers.
Though they waited anxiously, the things that needed to be done still had to be done.
One day, the weather was perfect for going out to sea.
Yun Linhai and Yun Linhe were both thinking about the things on that island, so they prepared to go to sea before the sky was fully bright.
The day before, Yun Jiao had clung to her dad’s neck, repeatedly reminding him to take her.
If he didn’t take her, she’d cry all day at home!
Yielding to this threat, Yun Linhai washed up, walked into the room where his children slept, and lifted his daughter—a soft little bundle sleeping in the very back—into his arms.
Yun Jiao was still holding the calico cat doll her fourth brother had given her.
"Dad?"
The little girl’s eyes were heavy with sleep. After being woken up, she barely managed to force them open. Once she saw who was holding her, she went boneless and flopped limply in his arms.
Her soft hair was fluffy and a little messy. Her chubby arms, dimpled like lotus roots, wrapped around Yun Linhai’s neck, and with her chin resting on her dad’s shoulder, she fell right back to sleep.
Like a precious, soft little kitten.
’She still wants to go to sea, yet she’s sleeping this soundly.’
Yun Linhai held his daughter, and without a single glance at his sons sleeping sprawled out, left the room.
Shen Yunlian had also woken up. She changed her daughter’s clothes, and simply combed her hair into a low ponytail.
"Let her sleep if she wants to. It’s fine to just take a small blanket and let her keep sleeping on the boat."
Yun Linhai nodded. He took the small blanket Shen Yunlian handed him, wrapped his daughter in it, and got ready to leave.
Shen Yunlian called out to him, "Wait."
She quickly went into the house and got a large basket, a woven-leaf fan, and Yun Jiao’s small bag.
Inside the small bag was a hard-boiled egg, some dried small fish and dried shrimp, and a few steamed sweet potato flour cakes wrapped in oiled paper.
"There’s food in here. Put the basket on the boat for her to sleep in. When the sun gets too strong, she can also hide inside it for shade."
Shen Yunlian instructed him carefully.
Yun Linhai listened very seriously.
He didn’t speak until he heard Yun Linhe shouting from outside. Then, he replied in a gentle voice.
"Okay, I’ll remember it all."
Then he put everything into the basket, held his daughter in one arm and the basket in the other, and walked out.
Outside, Yun Linhe was holding the big sea turtle.
"This guy is really heavy!"
Yun Chendong came out of the room holding a fishing net.
Yun Linhe was impatient. "Let’s go! We can set the traps today!"
That’s right, Yun Chendong would also be going with them today.
Actually, Yun Chenxi also wanted to go. Compared to helping at the new house, going fishing at sea was obviously much more fun.
But that small wooden boat didn’t need so many people.
In the end, it was decided that Yun Chendong and Yun Chenxi would take turns going.
The three adults and one child went to the pier.
Other hardworking fishermen were already at the pier, also preparing to set out.
"Lin Hai, why’d you bring Jiaojiao with you?"
A person passing by saw who Yun Linhai was holding and immediately teased him.
"What’s this? Hoping your little lucky charm Jiaojiao brings you good fortune?"
Yun Linhai nodded. "Of course. My Jiaojiao is our little lucky charm."
"Chendong is going today too?"
Yun Linhe chimed in, "He’s coming along to try his hand. You know what they say about beginner’s luck. Maybe he’ll help us catch something good today."
As they spoke, they reached their boat. People parted ways, rowing their own boats out to sea.
Yun Linhai and Yun Linhe first rowed to a remote spot near the coast, finding a deserted stretch of beach to set their traps.
It was 5:30 AM, the best time to set the traps.
After the tide came in, the traps should be full of something by the time they returned to collect them.
Only after setting the traps did they really start rowing away from shore.
Yun Chendong had used the basket to make a small nest on the boat. Tiny little Yun Jiao was curled up inside, sleeping soundly.
The big sea turtle was right next to the basket, as if guarding Yun Jiao.
As the sky gradually brightened and they were getting close to the island, she woke up.
Yun Jiao opened her eyes, completely bewildered, not knowing where she was.
She sat up only when she heard the voices of her dad and brother. Her small hands gripped the edge of the basket as she stealthily peeked her little head out.
Her big, bright eyes, full of confusion and caution, first scanned her surroundings.
’Oh, I’m on the boat.’
’Dad and the others brought me out to sea!’
Yun Jiao’s eyes lit up.
’Let’s see what Dad and the others are doing.’
Yun Linhai and the others were pulling in a net.
This time, instead of heading straight for the island, they were casting their net some distance away.
But they didn’t catch anything big—just some small, worthless assorted fish, tiny shrimp, and a few crabs, and not many of those either.
"Looks like there’s nothing here. Let’s just head to the island."
’Compared to this, the haul from the island is much better.’
Yun Chendong turned his head and met a pair of sparkling, big eyes.
A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Jiaojiao’s awake."
Saying this, he walked over and picked the little one up.
Yun Jiao wrapped her arms around her eldest brother’s neck.
Yun Chendong asked, "Are you hungry? Want some water?"
Yun Jiao nodded and mumbled in her sweet little voice, "Hungry."
Yun Chendong sat down cross-legged on the boat and settled the little girl into the hollow space created by his legs, which was a perfect fit.
Then he took out the prepared breakfast.
A hard-boiled egg and a warm cake.
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