Chapter 59

Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 59

When they reached the beach, they saw that people were already scooping shellfish, particularly oysters and clams, their buckets clinking as they dug through the wet sand.

It was not recommended to eat filter feeders immediately after rain or a storm because the water’s toxicity increased during this time. Many locals knew that even a small mistake could lead to serious illness, so everyone was cautious. Only three days after the rain could oysters and clams be safely eaten, and this waiting period was widely respected.

Almost everyone on the beach had the same goal, they hoped to get lucky and find pearls, dreaming of the rare fortune that could change their lives with a single find.

While some dug in the sand, Karlos and Andres noticed people kneeling and crying at the top of their lungs, their wails carried by the wind, adding to the chaotic post-storm atmosphere.

“Our boat—!”

“Dear Goddess, why are you doing this to us?”

“Waahh—!”

A family of three watched pieces of their destroyed boat being washed by the waves, the broken planks drifting aimlessly. The father stared at the white-painted debris, a harsh reminder of the storm’s fury. His main source of income was gone, and the worry etched across his face revealed how much he depended on the boat to feed his family.

“Davis lost their boat?” Karlos asked Andres, scanning the shoreline.

“If I remember correctly, they carried it farther away, but the waves still caught it. The current was merciless, dragging it back into the sea,” Andres explained.

Seeing Davis and his family’s situation made Karlos feel grateful that he had moved his boat near his house, safe from the ocean’s wrath. At least he didn’t have to worry about it being swept away.

“Brandon works for Davis. I wonder what he’ll do now.”

“If he can’t find a job, he can work as a porter. Haha, I’ve been looking for someone to help me push carts lately. This might actually be a good opportunity,” Andres replied.

The two went their separate ways to collect shellfish. The waves were still tall and strong, so Karlos avoided that area, choosing a quieter spot where the sand was less disturbed. He wasn’t sure if this area had already been picked over.

Using tongs to dig through the sand, Karlos found an oyster, its shell slightly open to reveal the soft flesh inside. Satisfied, he decided to stay in the area for a while. He found clams, oysters, and even conches, the shellfish scattered across the wet sand like tiny treasures. Conches, or sea snails, could also produce pearls, though far more rarely than oysters or clams.

Because of that, conch pearls were valuable. Even a lower-quality conch pearl could sell for 100,000 pesos or more if the color and shape were unique. Conch pearls could be orange, pink, or white, with subtle hues reflecting the sunlight.

Karlos put the sea snails in his bucket, a quiet excitement building inside him. Even though finding pearls was rare, he was willing to try his luck.

Two hours later, he realized his bucket was full, the shells pressing heavily against his arms. He called out to Andres to say he would return first, and Andres waved back before kneeling down to continue searching, determined to maximize his chances.

Old people nearby reminded Karlos that eating shellfish after rain was dangerous, their raspy voices filled with concern. He nodded politely and reassured them that he wouldn’t eat any. After the rain, these elders loved reminding people of the danger, and Karlos respected their advice.

When Karlos returned home, Maya had prepared two flat screwdrivers, placing them neatly on the table. Having found a pearl last time, Maya was excited, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Last time, she had found a white pearl the size of a pinky finger. The memory of holding it, feeling its smoothness, still made her heart race. They estimated it could sell for 50,000 pesos, a small fortune that made a noticeable difference in their savings.

Karlos chuckled as he sat down at the recently dried table, his back aching slightly from carrying the bucket but his spirits high.

“I already fed the kids; they won’t disturb us for a while,” Maya said, gesturing to the twins in their baby walkers, wobbling and giggling as they practiced walking.

“Alright.”

The couple began shucking shellfish, their movements careful but rhythmic.

“I’ll take care of the snails; they’re troublesome to shuck.”

Karlos had only picked conches that could possibly contain pearls, such as Queen Conch, Pink Conch, and True Conch, minimizing wasted effort.

“How about boiling them first so they won’t move? The stove still has embers,” Maya suggested, her voice filled with practical wisdom.

“That could work.”

Karlos placed all the moving conches into a huge pot of water on the stove. He added firewood, and the flames crackled.

“…Will the pearls get damaged if we boil them?” Karlos asked, brow furrowed.

Maya paused. She recalled a story of a townsperson who had lost the luster of a pearl while cooking clams, shivering at the thought. The pearl bad cracked because of being boiled.

“You know what, never mind. Just wear gloves when you shuck them. None of these are venomous anyway,” she said firmly but encouragingly.

“Alright.”

Karlos began the tedious work of carefully prying open each conch. Most were still alive, their sharp shells lightly cutting against his gloves.

When he shucked the third snail, Maya found a pearl in a clam. Her eyes lit up as she held it gingerly, marveling at its smooth, glimmering surface.

“I found one.”

She smiled, inspecting it under the light for imperfections. The white pearl was larger than her last find but slightly irregular, with a small bump. Its value would be lower than a perfect pearl, perhaps 1,000 to 2,000 pesos, but it was still a good start to the day. Even a small win was still a win.

By the time Karlos had finished shucking two-thirds of the conches, Maya opened her last shellfish, an oyster. She didn’t expect much, having already found a pearl earlier.

But then she gasped. Inside was a 2-centimeter pearl, silver-white in color, perfectly round, reflecting the sunlight like a tiny, flawless jewel. Karlos froze mid-motion as he stared at it.

Maya held the pearl in her palm, mesmerized by its weight, smoothness, and magical glow. It was perfect. The silver undertone gave it a rare and enchanting quality. A 2-centimeter pearl was large enough to catch the attention of serious collectors, making it worth a fortune.

“Babe, I… I think I struck gold,” Maya said to Karlos, her voice trembling with disbelief, joy, and excitement.

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[Author's Note: We received a disconnection notice on our electricity today, so I decided to promote a 50% discount to get money. I apologize, life is tough for us lately. The first 10 subscribers will get 50% off for the first month or first year.]