The Fisherman's Grateful Clam-Spirit Husband

Once upon a time, there was a lovely white butterfly clam who devoted himself to diligently making pearls. After a century, he became a spirit. One day, he was drifting across the sea with his precious pearls when a huge net came down without warning and hauled him aboard a human fishing boat.

The white butterfly clam lay trembling among a pile of fish and shrimp.

These humans cut open clams to dig out their pearls, grind up the shells for medicine, and eat the meat. To a clam, they were the most terrifying demons in the sea!

Just as he despaired, a warm hand reached through the countless fish and shrimp and picked him up, releasing him back into the sea. Before swimming away, the white butterfly clam memorized the human's face and vowed to repay his kindness.

*

When Song Yuhe was sixteen, his parents died in an accident. His family had no savings, and his two younger brothers were still small and helpless. Forced to make a living, he had to give up the imperial examinations and go out to sea.

But when it rains, it pours.

One disaster after another struck the Song family, and life grew harder and harder.

Everyone was certain that Song Yuhe, burdened with two little dependents, would never get back on his feet. He probably wouldn't even find a wife, since no one would want to marry him and share his hardship.

Song Yuhe couldn't spare a thought for the gossip behind his back.

He still had to work hard to support his family.

One night, after gathering shellfish by the shore, he never expected a young man to climb out of the water and come up to him, asking, "Benefactor, will you marry me?"

The young man was dripping wet, with a red mole between his brows. In the moonlight, his skin was as white as a pearl. When he smiled, two dimples appeared at the corners of his mouth.

Song Yuhe looked at him, his heart thumping. The other man had climbed out of the water by himself, so Song Yuhe couldn't really call himself his benefactor. But he truly did want to marry him.

...But in his circumstances, he couldn't hold the young man back.

Song Yuhe shook his head. "I can't."

After drifting in the sea for months, Bai Li had finally found his benefactor, and the whole village already thought he was the little husband Song Yuhe had picked up. He hadn't expected Song Yuhe to refuse him, and it left him worried.

Fortunately, after all his tireless efforts, he finally got to repay his benefactor!

On their wedding night, Bai Li happily got drunk and flopped into his husband's arms, fast asleep. Song Yuhe was left staring in silence at his little husband, who was spitting out pearls one after another.

When Bai Li woke the next morning, he heard his husband, whose eyes were dark with exhaustion, solemnly promise, "Don't worry. I'll protect you."

Bai Li tilted his head in confusion.

Then he smiled, dimples sweetly curving in his cheeks. "I'll take good care of you, too!"

Before long, everyone noticed that ever since Song Yuhe married the beautiful young man he'd found by the sea, the once-destitute Song family had steadily prospered, becoming a household everyone envied and admired.

Character notes

A clueless, adorable clam-spirit bottom

vs.

A gentle, upright fisherman top

Notes

1. Foraging in the mountains and by the sea, farming, and preparing for the imperial examinations; he opens a private school. No children.

2. The top only passes the provincial-level imperial examination. He will not enter officialdom.

3. The blurb may change, but the setting and story will stay the same.

Theme: Always repay kindness.