Xu Hai opened his eyes to find himself lying in a leaky thatched hut.
Raindrops fell through a hole in the roof, splashing on his cheek. He stared at the smoke-blackened roof beam for a long while, memories flooding back—a 38-year-old fishery engineer in a modern city, working overtime until 3 a.m., sudden cardiac arrest. Waking up again, he had become the 22-year-old Xu Hai of Qingxi Fishing Village in the Great Yong Dynasty, a poor fisherman's son so destitute you could hear the coins jingle in his empty pocket.
"Ah-Hai, you're awake?" A soft voice came from beside him.
He turned his head and saw Lin-shi—his wife in this life. She wore coarse, patched clothes, her hair simply tied up with a wooden hairpin, holding half a bowl of thin porridge as she sat on the edge of the bed. Dark circles under her eyes were deep; she probably hadn't slept well all night.
"You fainted on the beach yesterday," Lin-shi handed over the porridge, her voice gentle and low. "Have some. This is all that's left."
Xu Hai sat up and took the coarse clay bowl. The porridge was so watery he could see his reflection, a few wild vegetable leaves floating on top. He looked around the room—cracks riddled the earthen walls, sea wind whistling through the gaps; the thatched roof had at least three leaks; aside from two plank beds and a rickety, lame-legged table, there were no decent furnishings. Piled in a corner were tattered fishing nets and a few bamboo poles—the tools of his former self's livelihood.
Children's playful noises came from outside the door as two mud-streaked boys, one about five or six, the other three or four, ran in.
"Father!" The younger one pounced on the bedside, eyes fixed eagerly on the porridge bowl in his hand.
Xu Hai's heart softened. He handed the bowl over. "Little Tiger, you drink it."
Lin-shi moved to stop him, but Xu Hai shook his head. Looking at his sons' sallow hair and thin faces, a strange sense of responsibility surged in his chest—this was his bloodline. He had to make life better for them.
"Ah-Hai, you rest. I'll go to the beach and see if I can gather any clams or snails." Lin-shi stood up, picking up a broken bamboo basket from behind the door.
"I'll go too." Xu Hai got out of bed. His legs were weak, but he could walk.
Stepping out of the hut, the salty, damp sea breeze hit his face. Qingxi Village spread out before him—a cluster of several dozen dilapidated thatched and mud-brick houses huddled against the foot of a hill. In the distance, the vast blue-grey sea stretched to the horizon. The beach was dotted with a few broken, weather-beaten fishing boats pulled up on the shore. Several women and children, wearing patched clothes like Lin-shi, were bent over the tidal flats, their bamboo baskets slung over their backs, searching for anything edible left by the receding tide.
This was his new life. This was his reality.
"Brother Hai! You're up?" A robust young man with sun-darkened skin approached, worry etched on his face. This was Xu Hai's second elder brother, Xu Jiang. "We were so worried yesterday. You just collapsed. Good thing Da-Shao found you."
"I'm fine now, Second Brother." Xu Hai managed a smile. His memories told him this family, though poor, was tightly-knit and caring.
"Just rest well. Don't think about going out to sea today. Yesterday, the village chief said the fish tax collector will be coming in a few days. Everyone's hearts are in their throats." Xu Jiang sighed, his brow furrowed with worry. "Last year, Old Wang from the east end couldn't pay, and they took away his boat... Ai."
Fish tax. Salt tax. Xu Hai's mind rapidly sorted through the relevant memories. In the Great Yong Dynasty, fishermen had to pay a fish tax based on their catch, and also purchase official salt at a high price for preserving fish. For poor fishermen, these two burdens were like mountains on their backs.
"Father! Father!" Little Tiger, having finished the porridge, came running over, tugging at Xu Hai's pants. "Are we going to eat fish today?"
Lin-shi's eyes reddened slightly as she pulled the child to her side. "Be good. Father needs to rest today."
Xu Hai looked at his son's expectant eyes, then at his wife's weary face. A resolve solidified deep within him.
"Let's go to the beach." He said.
---
The tidal flat was vast, littered with shells and small stones. Lin-shi, experienced, quickly spotted a few sand clams and razor clams, placing them in her basket. Xu Hai, however, was looking at the sea.
His professional instinct as a fishery engineer was stirring. The sea before him was pristine, completely untouched by modern industry. Through the clear water, he could even see small fish darting among the rocks near the shore. This was a treasure trove.
But he had no boat, no proper nets, not even a decent fishing rod. His only assets were a few worn-out hand-thrown nets and the simplest bamboo fishing gear. According to his memories, the original Xu Hai relied on luck for his catches—some days bringing back a few small fish, often returning empty-handed.
"Ah-Hai, look, I found a crab!" Lin-shi's voice held a rare note of joy. In her hand was a blue-shelled crab about the size of a palm, its claws waving feebly.
"It's a flower crab. Not bad." Xu Hai walked over. Even this small crab was a valuable source of protein for the family.
"Mother, I'm hungry." The older son, Shitou (Stone), who had been quietly digging in the sand, looked up.
"It's still early. We'll eat when we get back." Lin-shi comforted him softly, but her own stomach let out a soft, betraying rumble.
Xu Hai clenched his fists. He couldn't wait. He had to find a way to catch fish, today.
He scanned the shore and spotted a cluster of rocks further out, where the water looked slightly deeper. In his memory, that area sometimes held fish.
"I'm going over there to take a look." Xu Hai said, heading towards the rocks.
"Be careful! The rocks are slippery!" Lin-shi called after him anxiously.
Xu Hai waded into the knee-deep water. The sea was cool. He carefully felt his way forward, his eyes fixed on the water. Small silver fish, no longer than a finger, darted past him. These were bait fish, too small to be of much use.
As he neared the rocks, something caught his eye. Among the crevices of a larger rock, a dark shadow lurked.
He held his breath, approaching slowly. It was a fish, about two chi long (roughly two feet), with a dark grey back and silvery-white sides—a sea bass! And a decent-sized one at that!
But he had no net, no tools. The fish, sensing movement, flicked its tail and was about to dart away.
At that moment, something strange happened. The fish suddenly seemed disoriented, swimming in a small circle as if confused, then heading straight towards a crevice in the rocks—and got stuck.
Xu Hai was stunned. This... this couldn't be his legendary "luck," could it?
He didn't have time to think. He pounced, pressing the fish against the rock with both hands. The sea bass struggled powerfully, its tail slapping the water, splashing him all over. Xu Hai held on tight, carefully working it out of the crevice, then lifted it with both hands.
The fish was heavy, at least four or five jin (around 4-5 pounds)!
"Lin-shi! I got one! A big one!" Xu Hai couldn't help but shout, his voice filled with excitement he hadn't felt in years.
Lin-shi hurried over, her eyes widening at the sight of the fat sea bass, disbelief all over her face. "This... this is... how did you..."
"I don't know either, it just got stuck in the rocks." Xu Hai grinned, holding up his prize. The sea bass's gills were still flaring, its silvery scales gleaming in the sunlight.
The two boys came running, jumping and cheering. "Fish! Big fish! We're going to eat fish!"
For a moment, the hardship and worry on Lin-shi's face melted away, replaced by a genuine smile. "Good, good. This one is big enough. We can keep half for ourselves and sell the other half. We can exchange it for some coarse grain."
Holding the sea bass, Xu Hai felt a long-lost sense of accomplishment. This was his first catch in this new world. It wasn't due to modern technology or equipment, but to this inexplicable "luck." But a man couldn't rely on luck alone. He needed proper methods, proper tools.
As they walked back to the village, neighbors who saw the fish in Xu Hai's hands showed surprise and envy.
"Ah-Hai, you hit the jackpot today! Such a big sea bass!"
"Old Third Xu, your luck has turned!"
"At the market tomorrow, this could fetch twenty wen at least!"
Xu Hai just smiled and nodded in response. He noticed, however, that some of the gazes held more than just envy—there was a trace of something else, something complex.
Back at the broken-down hut, Lin-shi skillfully began to clean the fish. Xu Hai sat in the doorway, watching her busy figure and the two excited children playing around her, his mind racing.
He needed a plan. A long-term plan.
First, he needed to understand his "luck." Was it a one-time fluke, or a consistent ability? If it was consistent, to what extent? Could he control it?
Second, he needed to improve his fishing methods. Hand-thrown nets and simple hooks were too inefficient. He needed to make better nets, better tools. But that required money, materials.
Third, he needed to understand this world's fish market. What kinds of fish sold for good prices? Who were the buyers? How could he avoid being exploited by middlemen?
"Ah-Hai, come eat." Lin-shi's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
On the rickety table were two dishes: a bowl of fish soup, the milky-white broth bubbling with pieces of fish; and a plate of pan-fried fish, golden and crispy. The aroma filled the small hut, a scent of happiness that had been absent for too long.
The family of four sat around the table. Lin-shi carefully picked out the tenderest pieces of fish for the children, then served Xu Hai a larger portion. "You need to regain your strength. Eat more."
Xu Hai looked at the meager portion left in her own bowl—mostly broth with a few small pieces—and felt a pang in his heart. He picked up a large piece of fish and placed it in her bowl. "You eat too. You've worked hard."
Lin-shi looked up, meeting his eyes. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks, and she lowered her head to eat quietly.
The fish was fresh and sweet, with a flavor no modern farmed fish could match. Xu Hai savored it slowly, feeling the protein replenishing his body.
After the meal, as dusk fell, Lin-shi lit a dim oil lamp. The two children, finally with full bellies, quickly fell asleep on the bed. Xu Hai and Lin-shi sat by the door, looking at the starry sky outside.
"Ah-Hai," Lin-shi spoke softly, "you seem different today."
"Oh? How so?"
"You... you looked at me and the children differently. And you were so decisive when you caught that fish. Before, you were always... more hesitant." Lin-shi's voice was gentle, without accusation, just an observation.
Xu Hai was silent for a moment. He couldn't tell her he was a completely different person now. He could only say, "After fainting yesterday, I had a long dream. I dreamed of many things. I realized I need to take better care of you all."
Lin-shi leaned her head lightly against his shoulder. "As long as you're healthy, that's enough. We can manage slowly."
Looking at the starry sky, listening to the rhythmic sound of the waves, Xu Hai made a vow to himself.
He would make this family prosperous. He would let his children grow up well-fed and clothed. He would let his wife live a life with less worry.
Starting tomorrow, he would truly begin his life as a fisherman in this ancient world.
And that inexplicable luck—he would use it as a starting point, but he would rely on his own knowledge and effort to build a real future.
The sea was vast. His new life had just begun.