Before we knew it, the scorching summer had arrived again, the sweltering weather stirring up restless hearts. With days filled with busyness, where can one find tranquility?
My ten-year-old son had just started his summer vacation, yet his schedule was already packed with guitar classes, dance lessons, and English training. When I got home from work, he would always come to me, whining about when I would take him out to play. Looking into his hopeful little eyes, I said, “Alright, this weekend Daddy will take you and Mommy to the seaside!”
So, I contacted the person in charge of Anzhiro via their WeChat public account, discussed the two-day weekend itinerary, and after confirming it would only cost a few thousand yuan, I promptly placed the order, submitted the required documents, completed the procedures, and waited eagerly for the weekend trip to Weihai, Shandong.
On Saturday morning, my son, breaking his usual habit of sleeping in, urged us to get up and get ready quickly. Finally, after his non-stop chatter, we boarded the plane, and before long, we arrived punctually at Liuting Airport at noon. Right after getting off the plane, we received a call from the Anzhiro company: “This is the Anzhiro Rushan Base receptionist. I’m waiting for you at the airport exit...” After connecting, the receptionist led us to a business van, and within just over an hour, we arrived at the Rushan Hotel.
After settling into the hotel briefly, we headed to the departure dock. The fishing guide was already there waiting for us. Since my son was not yet twelve years old, he couldn’t go out to sea with me. My wife and son had already changed into their swimwear. My wife wore a blue bikini, and although she was over thirty, her figure remained as youthful as a teenager. She planned to take our son for a swim at a nearby beach. After a loving kiss goodbye, I boarded the speedboat under the guidance of the fishing guide.
About half an hour out to sea, the fishing guide kept explaining fishing knowledge along the way — how to bait the hook, how to battle the fish, how to reel in, and so on. Once we reached the fishing spot, the guide provided us with specialized fishing gear. Under his instruction, we baited the hook, cast the line, and waited quietly. A gentle breeze brushed against our faces as we gazed at the endless sea. In the distance, the sea and sky merged seamlessly, making it impossible to tell where the water ended and the sky began — truly, “Mist locks mountain peaks, peaks lock mist; the sky meets the water’s end, the water meets the sky.” The sunlight danced on the sea surface, resembling scales of fish scattered across the water or playful children leaping continuously. I couldn’t help but think of my wife and son, surely having fun on the beach right now. A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. Just then, a tug on the fishing rod snapped me back to reality. Feeling a fish nibbling, I gently lifted the rod, and then a stronger pull jolted the rod. I was thrilled, surely it was a big catch. I began reeling in the line, but something felt off — the hooked fish wasn’t struggling. I told the guide about it, and he suggested we slowly reel it in to see what was going on. As the line was smoothly pulled up, I grew nervous and excited, wondering what surprise awaited. When the line was finally reeled in, the result left us both amused and bewildered. It turned out that the small fish on the hook had been bitten by a larger fish. Even though the smaller fish had been pulled out of the water, the larger fish refused to let go. As a result, we ended up catching two fish at once. The guide was pleasantly surprised too, explaining how rare such a thing was.
In the evening, we returned to the dock with a bountiful catch. The first thing we did was dash over to the beach where my wife and son were. From afar, I saw my wife sitting on the sand, reading a book. The setting sun bathed her alluring figure, and her long hair fluttered in the sea breeze, as if we had returned to the days of young love. Not far away, our son was building a sandcastle, almost as tall as he was. The scene was peaceful and beautiful — I wished time could freeze at this very moment.
When he saw me return, my son dropped what he was doing, covered in sand, and threw himself into my arms. I picked him up and sat down next to my wife. She put down her magazine and watched our interaction with a smile. My son then launched into his chatty mode, telling us how fun the Anzhiro summer camp was that afternoon, how he found several beautiful shells to make a bracelet for Mommy, how he went swimming with her, and how he built a huge sandcastle... After finishing his stories, he asked me how many fish I caught. I shared the “rare event” of the day with him. Both my wife and son looked incredulous, and my son happily praised how amazing Daddy was to catch two fish at once. “I want to be as awesome as Daddy when I grow up.” Amid the sea breeze, our family laughter echoed far and wide.
In the evening, the Anzhiro team served the “two fish” I caught that day prepared in the most authentic style, along with Rushan’s most famous oysters, mussels, and crabs. All were freshly caught that day — it was the freshest seafood feast I’d ever had. We ended the meal with contented burps.
The next day, Sunday, we woke up early to watch the sunrise over the sea with my wife and child. It was beautiful. But perhaps what mattered most wasn’t how stunning the scenery was, but the fact that we were there as a family, away from dull, busy, exhausting work and classes, savoring the love and connection of the moment. Our son, adorable and lively, kept running along the Yintan Beach, exploring the tide pools, while my wife, gentle and affectionate, accompanied him with doting eyes. I joined in the tide-pool fun and played a water-splashing game with them.
In the morning, I went out to sea again while my wife and son attended the summer camp. We returned with another great catch. In the afternoon, an Anzhiro van took us to the airport, and we said a reluctant goodbye to them.
Back home, feeling a bit tired, my son snuggled into me and said, “Let’s go there a few more times in the future.”
Yes, we’ll go again — to that place where we soothe our restless hearts.