Chapter Three: The Rising Tide

“Son, what’s going on…”
Li Chunhong looked at Du Yu, who seemed like a completely different person, her face clouded with worry.
After all, the eldest son, who had already started his own family, used to send a hundred or two hundred yuan each month to help pay off debts. Now, with the eldest son having moved out, all the debts remained with the family. How would they get by in the future?
Unexpectedly, the second son, who had been listless ever since failing the college entrance exam, suddenly shoved a wad of cash into her hand!
“Mom, this is what I earned digging razor clams on the beach today. Keep it for now. I’ll go back to the shore during tomorrow’s high tide.”
Du Yu spoke casually, but to Li Chunhong, her second son had suddenly grown up.
“You little rascal, you really had me worried sick.”
It was the first time Li Chunhong had ever taken money from Du Yu.
After looking at the money, her eyes welled up with tears.
“Mom, why are you crying? When your son hits it big someday, I’ll take you to live in a tall building in the city.”
Du Yu smiled wryly; people were simpler back then.
Still, his heart stirred with emotion.
Afterward, his mother cooked dinner; Du Yu ate and then went to his room to sleep.
The next day, well-rested and before dawn, Du Yu took his tools and left the house.
Passing by a neighbor’s, he called out to Baldy.
Baldy’s real name was Wang Xiaowei, two years younger than Du Yu, and had been his shadow since childhood.
Though disliked by many in the village, Wang Xiaowei was deeply reliant on Du Yu.
“Yu Ge, what are you up to so early?”
Yawning, Wang Xiaowei looked puzzled.
“Today’s a big tide; I’m heading to the shore to check it out.”
Big tides didn’t come every day, and now that Du Yu had the system, the earlier he went, the more he could gather.
“Going tide hunting?”
Wang Xiaowei showed little enthusiasm, preferring to play and laze around at his age.
But Du Yu’s next words ignited excitement in him.
“Haven’t you always wanted to visit the city? After we finish tide hunting today, we’ll go tomorrow.”
“Really?”
“If I lied, you’d be my brother!”
“That’s great, Yu Ge! I’ve always heard the Red Red Hair Salon is fun; I’ve never been…”
“That place’s not for you yet. I’ll scout it out first…”
Talking as they walked toward the beach, the tide had receded, leaving a large stretch of sand. Already, villagers with tools were scattered about, digging for clams and razor clams.
“Yu Ge, what’s this? It looks like a snake!”

“Snake?”
Du Yu’s heart skipped a beat, but when he approached Wang Xiaowei and looked down, he saw what was actually a three-star eel. It resembled a snake but was a highly valued type of eel.
Coastal residents usually regarded it as a tonic.
Using tongs, he tossed the three-star eel into the bucket.
“System detected host’s first capture of three-star eel; luck value increased by +10.”
Curious, Du Yu checked his system’s luck value.
[Host: Du Yu]
[Luck Value: 10]
Enough now to purchase a dip net.
He sent Wang Xiaowei off and went alone to a tide pool among the rocks to exchange for the dip net.
After every big tide, small fish and shrimp stranded in tide pools.
At that moment, a palm-sized orchid crab was swimming inside.
Seizing the moment, Du Yu gently scooped it up with the dip net.
As the crab entered the net, his palm suddenly felt heavy.
Looking down, he saw the crab had inexplicably grown larger!
What was once only a few ounces now weighed half a pound!
Crabs this large were typically only seen on fishing boats.
“Wow! Yu Ge, you’re making a fortune! Such a huge orchid crab!”
Wang Xiaowei came running, holding two red-shelled crabs, intending to show off, but Du Yu had scored the real jackpot.
“System detected host’s first capture of orchid crab; luck value increased by +5.”
“Don’t stop, keep catching!”
Du Yu instructed Wang Xiaowei while he himself kept searching the beach for fish and shrimp stranded by the receding tide.
“System detected host’s first capture of mantis shrimp; luck value increased by +5.”
“System detected host’s first capture of green shrimp; luck value increased by +1.”
…
The system’s notifications rang continuously in his ears, and Du Yu grew more and more enthusiastic.
After a while, their bucket was filled to the brim with various seafood.
“Wow, Yu Ge, we’re going to get rich!”
Wang Xiaowei rummaged through the bucket, eyes shining at the oversized seafood.
“Yu Ge, you’re amazing. My mom’s never caught crabs this big before.”
Wang Xiaowei poked one of the large crabs, marveling.

“This is just the beginning.”
Du Yu patted Wang Xiaowei on the head.
The sun was rising, and soon the beach would heat up.
They had to hurry to sell the seafood.
On big tide days, a small market popped up by the fishing village, mainly attracting city folk looking to buy fresh seafood.
Du Yu’s bucket was full of large fish, shrimp, and crabs—enough to fetch a good price.
“Come, come, take a look! Fresh local big crabs!”
Du Yu placed the bucket before him, and Baldy loudly called out.
Soon, a few city buyers gathered around.
“Wow! Mama, these crabs are so big! I’ve never seen such big ones even in restaurants!”
“Young man, how much for the crabs?”
As soon as the orchid crab was displayed, people couldn’t help but inquire.
After all, those buying from fishing villages were either gourmets or wealthy customers.
Moreover, half-pound local orchid crabs were rare and highly sought after.
“This one’s over half a pound; we’ll price it by weight—seventy yuan each!”
Du Yu estimated and announced.
“Seventy? That’s a bit expensive, isn’t it?”
In 2002, a bowl of noodles cost only two yuan, and ordinary workers earned just a few hundred a month.
Yet Du Yu’s asking price was seventy yuan—enough to feed a family for several days.
“This stuff’s rare. Look, apart from those fishing far offshore, where else can you find fresh, big crabs like this on the shore?”
“The girl just said even city restaurants don’t have crabs this big.”
Du Yu spoke confidently. An elderly man with graying hair looked it over, hesitated, then decided to buy the orchid crab.
“You’re a sharp young man with a strong mouth. I accept it. I’ll leave you my number—if you get more good stuff like this, call me.”
Du Yu’s eyes brightened—there really were customers who didn’t mind the price.
Now he had no worries about selling whatever he caught at the tide.
Soon, Du Yu’s bucket of seafood was snapped up completely.
Counting it up, he now held a hefty sum of three hundred yuan in his hand!