197: Chapter 196: Supply Shortfall 197: Chapter 196: Supply Shortfall The coconut juice was finished, and so were the bananas, but these were just minor snacks and couldn’t stave off the hunger.
After playing in the water for a while, Song Yun and his group’s stomachs began to growl.
“Should we go eat now, or should we go eat now, or should we go eat now?” Li Shishi, with a tired look, lay on the beach, looking as enticing as one could possibly look.
“It’s already past eleven, so it’s indeed time to eat,” Song Yun said.
“But who will watch our stuff?
What if someone comes over and takes your things?” “Why don’t you guys go eat first, and just bring me back some food?”
“Idiot, didn’t you see that there’s a beach guard over there?” Li Shishi sneered as if Song Yun was an idiot.
“Just go file a request with him, pay him some fifty yuan, and they’ll help us look after this spot during lunch.”
Feeling embarrassed, Song Yun touched his head and went over to the beach guard, paying him fifty yuan, effectively renting the spot.
The guard also advised Song Yun to take all his valuables with him when he went for lunch to avoid losing anything.
What’s most important when visiting here?
Eating seafood, of course—live off the mountain when near a mountain and off the water when near the water; this ancient principle hasn’t changed.
Of course, near Sichuan, where there are plenty of tombs, Song Yun had seen villages where everyone was a tomb raider, literally living off the deceased.
Arriving at a restaurant close to the beach, since it was lunchtime and very crowded, Song Yun and his friends could only get a table in the minimum charge private room.
After ordering a dozen dishes, Song Yun’s eyes widened when the food was served.
“Cough cough, did our crab order have one missing?” Song Yun said with a dry laugh, but his eyes were fixed on the six crabs on the plate.
“Yeah, it’s already autumn—the best time for crabs,” Shen Yan commented, his eyes gleaming with desire as he looked at Song Yun.
“If we split them, we’d need someone to be self-sacrificing, but it still wouldn’t be satisfying enough.”
“Uh, Shen Yan, go call the waiter, let’s get another plate,” Song Yun swallowed and said.
Nodding naively, Shen Yan went out to call the waiter, but upon inquiry, was told by the waiter that it was the tourist season, and crabs were in short supply and could only be ordered once per table.
Sensing a bad turn, Shen Yan returned to the room to find, indeed, each of his companions holding a large crab, smiling cheekily at him.
Shen Yan, fueled by frustration, voraciously attacked the other dishes on the table.
Seeing him gobble down half a plate of sea cucumber in two bites turned the girls’ eyes red.
Everyone knows sea cucumber helps in nourishing and beautifying the skin, especially beneficial for women’s complexions—half a plate had just disappeared into his stomach, so it was painful for them not to mind.
Thus, under the lead of Xiao Qin and Xiao Yin, and with the support of Li Shishi, Qingluan, and Xiao Qing, it was decided which dishes could be touched and which could not, following which they indulged in their crab feast.
The table was quickly cleared of food, even the conch soup was finished.
Although the meal was satisfying, the fact that there was only one crab left everyone distressed, vowing to find a restaurant in the evening that offered unlimited crabs.
After eating their fill, the group headed back to the beach.
It was now afternoon and there were many more people arriving to escape the heat, creating a crowded scene on the beach.
The men didn’t mind jostling each other—you might even get to sneak an advantage from the women around, but the women weren’t thinking the same.
Already suffering from the heat, now with men occasionally pressing closer and taking advantage, who wouldn’t get upset when one’s own personal Mount Everest was being squashed into the Tarim Basin?
At this moment, the beach guard played their role, beginning an orderly patrol and strictly handling men who purposely tried to take advantage of women.
Gradually, the men gave up such thoughts; sneaking a touch might not have been a big deal before, but with guards eyeing them now, any move could lead to being taken away, and that brought real despair.
The area around Song Yun was calmer, being far from the most crowded parts, so no such offensive behavior occurred.
When the guard patrolled their way, Song Yun greeted the one he’d spoken to at noon.
That guard was quite the conversationalist; after waving over to his colleagues, he sat down and started chatting with Song Yun and his friends.
“How was lunch, young man?” the guard asked with a smile.
“It was good,” Song Yun said.
“I must say the seafood here is really tasty, although we only had one crab.”
“Ah, that’s common during tourist season,” the guard replied as he lit a cigarette.
“Restaurants start to limit the amount of crabs they sell to avoid running out.
Getting one at lunch was actually quite lucky.” He continued, “If you want to eat crabs, you should wait for the evening.
When the late-night stalls start up, they’ll definitely have plenty, but the regular restaurants can’t promise that.”
“Thanks, uncle.
We’ll definitely go there when we head out tonight,” Song Yun said with a smile.
“Uncle, do you know other fun places around here?”
“That’s something I know well,” the uncle chimed in enthusiastically.
“If you plan to stay for more days, you should visit the Five Public Temple, Xixiu Battery, Hai Rui Tomb, Ocean Park, and Wanlu Garden.
All these attractions are quite good, although because of the holiday, it might be crowded.” He paused, then suggested, “If you like soaking, you could also try out the hot springs here.
They are nationally renowned; I take my family there every week.”
This beach guard uncle now showed his welcoming side, continually informing Song Yun and his friends of good places to eat and have fun around, and reminding them to avoid being cheated by some small-time vendors, especially since the tourist season tends to attract swindlers.
Speaking of his own children who went to college in another city, the guard became contemplative.
“You young people just don’t like staying in your own place; it’s a spur-of-the-moment decision, but that’s youth.
My son went away for college too.
His mother kept advising him to stay local, but the little rascal secretly applied out of province.
A child grows up; they need to go out and see the world.
They should, however, visit home often since it’s their root.”