Back to 1980: Farming the Sea and Expanding the Island

"Be careful," Lin's mother said, her eyes full of smiles. The firelight reflected on her face, making her feel warm and cozy.

Occasionally, neighbors would hear the commotion and come over to watch, chat for a while, and then leave.

The dull thud of the wooden pestle echoed back and forth in the rainy courtyard.

The glutinous rice gradually loses its grainy texture, becoming soft and sticky, and finally is kneaded into a ball, white and smooth, steaming hot.

Lin's mother stepped forward, rubbed some cooked oil on her hands, and kneaded the rice dough on the cutting board.

"Our rice cakes from Qingpingzhou are different from those elsewhere," she said as she kneaded the dough. "Other places like to mix in glutinous rice, but we have to use pure glutinous rice here."

It has to be grown on the sandy land at the mouth of the Yangtze River, absorbing the essence of the river water, that makes the rice cakes so glutinous and chewy, and they won't harden even after being left out for a long time.

"Next year, we'll use rice and water from Canhong Island to make rice; it'll definitely taste even better," the old man said with a smile.

"Grandpa Lin is right, I love eating the food on the island, it's delicious!" Li Jiaye said with certainty.

"Okay, let's make rice cakes on the island next year." Lin Chuan smiled as he helped divide the rice dough into small portions and roll them into long strips.

"Aunt Lin, why do we have to make rice cakes before the New Year?" Li Jiaye asked curiously, kneading a small dough ball as well.

"So particular." The old man watched the smoke rising from the chimney in the distance, observing the busy people in the courtyard, his gaze distant.

"New Year cake, New Year cake, may you rise higher every year. The whole family getting together to make New Year cake symbolizes family reunion."

The sound of pounding the rice is a reminder to our ancestors that the family is still united and that we can continue to live well. The rising steam from the steaming rice symbolizes our hope for better fortune in the coming year.

Xiaoman tilted her head back and asked, "Grandpa, why do we dip it in brown sugar?"

"Yes, it tastes better dipped in brown sugar," Xiao Wu said.

"Brown sugar is red, which is auspicious. Its sweet taste symbolizes the hope for a sweet and happy year ahead. In the old days, life on the island was tough, and being able to eat a piece of brown sugar rice cake during the Lunar New Year was a great blessing."

The old man smiled, his wrinkles crinkling at the corners of his eyes.

Lin's mother neatly arranged the rolled rice cake strips in a bamboo tray, each one being of uniform thickness.

"These need to be dried until the outer skin hardens before they can be stored, so they can be eaten until spring."

As she spoke, Lin's mother picked up the kitchen knife again, smeared some cooked oil on the blade, cut off a few scraps, put them in a bowl, and sprinkled brown sugar on them. "Here, try the hot food first."

The hot rice cakes, dipped in brown sugar, were soft and chewy, with the aroma of rice mixed with the caramelized sweetness of the brown sugar. Xiaoman and the other little ones ate with their eyes squinted.

"Grandpa, have a taste." Lin Chuan handed a piece to the old man.

Lin's father also picked up a piece, chewed it, and nodded: "This is the taste."

Lin Chuan chewed on the rice cake, his thoughts drifting away.

In the previous life, the young people on the island would leave one by one, and the old people who knew how to make rice cakes would gradually pass away. Later, during the New Year, everyone would buy machine-made rice cakes.

It's neat and tidy, but it lacks the warmth and resilience of hand-pounding.

Later on, fewer and fewer people bought rice cakes, and the New Year celebrations became more and more of a compromise.

"Xiao Chuan, what are you thinking about?" Lin's mother's voice brought him back to reality.

"I was thinking, should we write down our rice cake-making skills?" Lin Chuan said with a smile, snapping out of his reverie.

"It should be remembered; the things passed down from the older generation must be preserved," the old man nodded and said.

"How to use a stone mortar and pestle, how to control the heat—these are all skills that we cannot afford to lose here."

The rain started again, and the steam from the kitchen drifted into the yard, turning into white mist when it met the cold rain.

The rice cakes in the bamboo tray gradually cooled and set, resembling rows of neat little pillars.

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, just as dawn was breaking and the mist on the river had not yet dissipated, Qingpingzhou was already bustling with activity.

Today is New Year's Day, 1981.

Although the older generation places more importance on the Spring Festival, the younger generation has begun to learn from city dwellers how to celebrate New Year's Day.

Especially this year, life in the village has been a bit better, and many families are planning to have a lively celebration.

Lin Chuan got up very early and when he opened the courtyard gate, he found several strings of icicles hanging under the eaves.

It frosted last night, and the roof tiles are covered in a white blanket.

"Xiao Chuan, take the rice cake with you." Lin's mother poked her head out from the kitchen, holding a reed basket in her hand.

There were seven or eight neatly stacked white rice cakes inside. "Send these to your Uncle Wang and Uncle Li's families."

Lin Chuan took the basket; it was heavy. The rice cakes had cooled and hardened, their surface slightly yellowed, and they exuded a fragrant aroma of rice.

"Auntie, have we kept enough food?"

"That's enough, that's enough. There's another plaque in the granary; your grandmother left one too." Lin's mother waved her hand with a smile. "Go on, and come back soon. We'll have rice cakes for lunch too; I stewed an old hen."

Lin Chuan carried the basket out the door.

People were already walking around in the alley.

Aunt Liang was standing at her doorway shaking out the bedding when she saw Lin Chuan approaching. She greeted him with a smile, "Little Chuan, so early! Oh, are you delivering rice cakes?"

"Yes, Aunt Liang, it's New Year's Day, so I'm giving everyone some." Lin Chuan said with a smile, handing a portion to Aunt Liang.

"Your family is so particular," Aunt Liang exclaimed. "Your mother's rice cake-making skills are among the best in the village."

Your Uncle Liang was just saying yesterday that the harvest was good this year, and it was time to make some rice cakes. And that kid Xiao Wu is also clamoring to make rice cakes.”

"If Uncle Liang wants to make a mortar and pestle, our family's mortar and pestle is always ready to use."

"That would be great!" Aunt Liang said with a smile. "After New Year's Day, I'll have him borrow it from your house."

Just then, Xiaoman's clear laughter came from the other end of the alley.

Several children ran over, with Xiaoman at the front, holding a red paper windmill in her hand, which spun around as she ran.

"Brother!" Xiaoman ran up to him, her face red from the cold. "Let's go to the dock to see the boats! I heard a passenger ship from the county is coming today!"

"Be careful, don't go near the water," Lin Chuan warned.

"Okay!" The children ran off in a swarm.

Lin Chuan continued walking forward, and the village was indeed more lively than usual, with several houses decorated with red paper-cut window decorations.

Although simple, it seemed especially festive in this gloomy winter day.

Since Shui Houzi's house was nearby, Lin Chuan went there first.

The courtyard gate was ajar, and the sound of chopping wood could be heard from inside.

Lin Chuan pushed open the door and went in, and saw Wang Pusheng swinging an axe, with a small pile of chopped firewood already stacked next to him.

"Uncle Wang, Happy New Year," Lin Chuan greeted with a smile.

Wang Pusheng put down his axe and wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve: "Xiao Chuan's here! Come in and sit down."

"I won't sit down, Uncle. Also, send some from Third Uncle's house." Lin Chuan took out two pieces from the basket. "These were from the day before yesterday. Please try them."

Wang Pusheng took the rice cake, weighed it in his hand, and smiled, "Your mother's cooking is really good. By the way, you've come at the right time; the transport team has something to discuss with you."

The two entered the main room. Wang Pusheng poured Lin Chuan a bowl of hot water, his expression turning serious: "I've been on the ship these past few days and heard some rumors."

"What's the rumor?"

"About Zhao Chenghu," Wang Pusheng said in a low voice, "I heard he got into some trouble in Yinyang Commune."

Lin Chuan's heart skipped a beat: "What trouble?"

"The specifics are still unclear, but it seems there was a conflict with the fishing team over there," Wang Pusheng said.

"As you know, the area around Yinyang Commune is right next to the sea, where there are many fish, and it has always been a fertile place."

Zhao Chenghu had always wanted to get involved, but he guessed the other party wasn't willing.

Lin Chuan seemed to be deep in thought.

However, Lin Chuan didn't care. As long as Zhao Chenghu didn't come looking for him, he wouldn't have a chance to manipulate him now.