"I will kill him!"
The fisherwoman's words shocked Tang Qiyue.
She had expected the woman to run away, to panic, perhaps even go mad—but instead, she spoke with the calmest, most precise cruelty.
"Actually," the fisherwoman continued, her eyes fixed on the surging white waves, "it's too easy for someone to die in this fishing village."
The sea glittered beautifully under the sunlight, yet its vastness carried hidden danger. Tang Qiyue listened intently.
"I am a woman of the sea," the fisherwoman said, her voice steady. "If I want someone dead, I only need to wait until he goes into the sea. He won't surface alive."
She pointed to the waves. "Beneath this sea are countless ferocious creatures. Many appear beautiful, but they are instantly fatal."
The waves crashed against the rocks, echoing the power of her words. The fisherwoman, who had endured so much in silence, was now revealing to a stranger—Tang Qiyue, whom she had only met twice—the methods she had imagined to kill her abusive husband.
Yet Tang Qiyue didn't flinch. She didn't interrupt. She simply listened, as though the fisherwoman were recounting a tale, not describing a potential act of extreme violence.
Finally, the fisherwoman asked, almost shyly: "Am I scary?"
Tang Qiyue patted her shoulder reassuringly. "If I were you, I might not have thought about it as meticulously, but the result would be the same."
The fisherwoman froze, then after a few moments of stunned silence, broke down in tears. She buried her face in her knees, crying uncontrollably.
Tang Qiyue gently patted her back, letting her vent, understanding that this release had been long overdue.
Her crying didn't last long; once it subsided, her face was red but composed.
"Thank you," the fisherwoman said, again.
"You're welcome," Tang Qiyue replied with a smile.
She knew gratitude had to be accepted, even in the simplest way.
"But I don't recommend you kill him. Carrying a life in your hands is a heavy burden. This is a new society now—you can divorce him."
Tang Qiyue told the fisherwoman about the outside world: the awakening of women, new marriage laws, and the rights they could claim. These were things the fisherwoman had never imagined, and a deep longing for the world beyond the island flickered in her eyes.
"Running away isn't the solution. The best way is to become strong and make him afraid. Men who hit others are ultimately bullies. Once you're strong enough to scare him, he won't dare raise a hand again."
Tang Qiyue understood that even if the fisherwoman left the island, she wouldn't necessarily feel freer—her life depended on the sea, her livelihood tied to it. She had to stand her ground.
"But besides killing him, I don't know how to make him afraid!"
The fisherwoman's options were limited. She could imagine killing him, yes—but real methods of asserting power had never occurred to her.
Tang Qiyue handed her a small device.
"Spray this in someone's eyes. It makes them cry and run snot down their face, temporarily blinding them. Use that moment to tie them up."
Tang Qiyue didn't mince words. Her survival in the ruthless environment of the apocalypse had taught her efficiency: a simple pepper spray could neutralize an abusive man. Tie him up, beat him if necessary, and unless he shamelessly admitted being beaten, no one would dare interfere.
"As long as he's home, make sure he's terrified of you. The first time, beat him until he can't get out of bed. After that, whenever you're on the verge of death, he'll be more terrified than you are."
The fisherwoman's jaw dropped. The pain on her face momentarily forgotten, she stared at Tang Qiyue in disbelief.
Fortunately, the tide had begun to recede. People from the fishing village gradually gathered on the beach, curiosity overcoming their hesitation. Tang Qiyue ended the lesson there, leaving the method to the fisherwoman—whether she would use it or not, Tang Qiyue didn't know.
Soon, Xu Qiuju and Li Erhong arrived, carrying wooden buckets. They ran over when they saw Tang Qiyue, but the fisherwoman, embarrassed by her disheveled appearance, called Shanhu to lead them to the reefs for clamming, while she went to the other side.
Tang Qiyue understood. When Xu Qiuju asked why the fisherwoman wasn't joining, Shanhu explained they were checking the reefs for fish and shrimp. Xu Qiuju's curiosity quickly shifted to the task at hand.
The day turned out to be a bumper harvest. Each bucket teemed with swimming crabs, some octopuses, and even a conger eel. Coral remarked that they were lucky today.
As darkness fell and the tide rose, Tang Qiyue said goodbye to Coral and returned to the family compound with Xu Qiuju and the others.
Back in the courtyard, the fence was complete, and a stone path laid to prevent muddy shoes. The house had been fully renovated.
Tang Qiyue placed the wooden buckets in the kitchen, washed up, and tidied her bedding. She hung her dowry clothes in the wardrobe. Zhan Zeyi was still out, likely at the camp.
She wanted to steam the crabs, but there were no side dishes or staple food. No firewood meant the stove couldn't be used. She decided to ask the one-eyed uncle at the canteen for scallions, ginger, and garlic the next day.
After a shower, she changed clothes and noticed Zhan Zeyi sitting on a small stool in the yard.
He looked at her, and Tang Qiyue touched her nose, feeling a little guilty despite knowing he wouldn't suspect anything.
"Having fun?"
Zhan Zeyi rose and walked over, twirling a strand of her hair between his fingers. The jasmine scent lingered softly in the air.
"I hit someone!" Tang Qiyue admitted.
"Oh? Was hitting someone enjoyable?"