Afterward, Xiao Yu gave Yaya a primer on some health issues related to the matter, and although the child was utterly confused by terms like bacteria and harmful substances, which she didn't understand, she grasped the gist of it, which was that seawater couldn't be drunk directly, nor could it be eaten even after boiling -- in fact, Yaya didn't like it either.
"Big sis, seawater tastes terrible; it's bitter, it's salty, and it has this astringent flavor that's hard to describe. It's incredibly unappetizing, and pickles preserved in seawater don't taste as good as those cured with salt. That's what all the aunties in the village say."
"Of course, it doesn't taste good. Do you think seawater contains only salt? It contains other things as well. Moreover, salt boiled directly from seawater isn't fit for consumption either, as it contains too many impurities, which are only detrimental and offer no benefits to people."
