Back To the Small Fishing Village In 1982

Ah Cai looked up and gazed at him, saying, "Oh, Yaodong, you're quite knowledgeable, huh? You even know that this fish is over a meter long, weighs over a hundred jin and the price should be higher!"

Ye Yaodong also casually replied with a playful tone, "Ah, well... Being a coastal dweller and having visited the town quite a bit in the past few years, I happen to know a thing or two."

"Alright, let's make it simple. Let's settle for 28 cents, 888, a lucky number. Let's make it happen and bring good fortune to all of us."

"Oh, it's not just about sounding good; the most important thing is the benefit. We have been doing business for a while now, and we have a long-standing relationship. Look at my recent good luck; it must be because our new home has excellent Feng Shui, it's a treasure trove of good fortune. In the future, we will catch even more and better fish, and I'll give them all to you for sale. It's a win-win situation, isn't it?”

"Mmm, mmm!" Ah Cai felt that his words made sense, and he nodded frequently.

"You're good, I'm good, everyone's good. So let's settle on 30 cents per jin, no backing out!"

"Uh, uh? What? What 30 cents per jin? I didn't agree to that! Don't mislead me!" He widened his eyes and looked at Ye Yaodong in disbelief. This price was much higher compared to what he offered!

Just 2 cents difference... Well, it's just a little over 2 yuan. After calculating in his mind, Ah Cai realized that it wasn't much of a difference. However, compared to the price he initially offered, it was significantly higher. And he was a businessman after all!

"The price cannot be too crazy, thirty cents a jin is too much..."

"Oh my, why are you so indecisive? You were just fine earlier, and now you suddenly change your mind. I didn't negotiate the price with you for all those mackerel before. But when I inquired about the market price recently, everyone regretted it. A few of my buddies almost came over to ransack your acquisition point. It was me who stopped them, you know?"

"At that time, I was too young and had thin skin, so I agreed to whatever you said. But now, I have experienced and learned from various encounters. We are all fellow villagers, so you can't deliberately lower the price anymore…”

Ye Yaodong blabbered on, making up stories and excuses, but in reality, he was enticed by the idea of raising the price of that large Yellowtail. He couldn't resist the temptation to give it a try and see if he could sell it at a higher price. After all, who wouldn't want that?

But Ah Cai was indeed feeling a bit guilty after hearing his words. He had indeed made quite a profit from those over 7,000 jin of mackerel.

"Ah, alright, alright... We're all from the same village, and I'm easy to talk to. If you say it's 30 cents, then it's 30 cents. This time, I really didn't make any money from you. I just wanted to share in your good fortune."

Father Ye's smile stretched from ear to ear. He didn't expect that after some casual chatting between his third son and Ah Cai, the price would actually increase.

In fact, Ye Yaodong was cursing in his heart. Damn it, he actually sold over 7,000 jin of mackerel at a loss. This cunning merchant, truly no scruples in business!

Motherf**ker, he spent the first fifty years of his previous life in a carefree and clueless manner. Just when he was reborn and still unfamiliar with the current fish market prices, he let Ah Cai take a huge advantage.

After the reform and opening up, there are quite a few wealthy bosses around. Such a large fish was originally something only the rich and government officials could afford. They don't care about those few cents at all. He doesn't believe this shrewd merchant isn't making money.

Lin Xiuqing was also very happy. From the beginning, when Ah Cai casually quoted a price of 22 cents, to now 30 cents, it increased by a whole 8 cents. Ah Dong is such a smooth-talker!

Excitedly, she brought the bucket in her hand to Ah Cai's side. "Here's another sea bass and two big blue crabs!"

"Tsk tsk tsk~ You guys have had quite a harvest. How long has it been since the tide receded? And yet you've picked up so many valuable items!"

"Let's calculate the price together, Brother Cai. Give me a higher price, we've known each other for so long... I've sold the mackerels at a loss..."

"Alright, alright, I got it. Don't disturb me while I do the calculations!" Ah Cai felt overwhelmed when he heard him speak. He never knew that this kid, Ye Yaodong, could be so difficult to deal with. Even with the price he mentioned for this Yellowtail, Ah Cai wouldn't make much profit.

"115 jin and 8 taels, 30 cents per jin. This fish is 34.74 yuan!"

"So little?!"

Ye Yaodong stared!

Ah Cai also stared!

"Where is it less? With just one fish, you've earned almost a month's salary for others. Otherwise, let your wife do the calculations!"

"Um... Let me calculate."

Money matters should never be taken lightly. Lin Xiuqing awkwardly took the pen and started calculating.

"He’s right, Ah Dong."

"Alright then, include that sea bass and the two green crabs in the calculation as well."

Ah Cai then took the pen and calculated on the paper for a while. "This sea bass weighs 4 and a half jin, priced at 6 cents per jin. The two blue crabs weigh a total of 2.6 jin, let's say 2.6 yuan for both. So, that makes it 4.2 yuan, plus the Yellowtail, it totals 39.94 yuan, right?"

"That's right, whatever you say goes. Can I not trust you?"

Tsk, now he’s saying it so nicely. Just a moment ago, he was doubting him! Ah Cai rolled his eyes discreetly.

As he was about to write the receipt, Ye Yaodong spoke up again, "Why bother with a receipt? It's just a few dozen yuan. You're a big shot; just settle it with me directly. Are you planning to do monthly settlements or something?"

"Why don't you include it in your father's goods and settle the account together?"

"Nah, this fish was discovered by my wife, so the money should naturally go to her."

Father Ye also nodded, "Right, it doesn't belong to my goods, so settle the account separately."

"Alright then, take the receipt and come to my house in the evening to collect the money. I don't have that much cash with me."

"Alright, why don't you just write 40 yuan flat? It's not worth the hassle for those 6 cents!"

As Ah Cai's hand moved to write, it trembled slightly. This Ye Yaodong!

He cursed inwardly but still followed this guy's suggestion and wrote 40 yuan flat!

"Here you go. If you have any more good finds in the future, feel free to send them over. I really didn't make much profit from you..."

"Got it! Got it!"

Ye Yaodong happily took the receipt and checked it for accuracy before handing it over to Lin Xiuqing. "It's all settled!"

"Mhm!" Lin Xiuqing was also delighted, holding the receipt and examining it.

With the goods all sold, Father Ye spoke up, "I've picked up the clams on the ground. You two take them back home first, and I'll go to the beach to see if your mother and the others have returned."

"Oh, okay."

The couple was filled with excitement as they carried the buckets. Every other day, they would earn another sum of money, enriching their funds. The future was becoming more promising.

Yaodong was also immersed in the joy of making money. It was a great feeling to have someone by your side working hard with you and sharing happiness when you succeeded. It truly lifted one's spirits!

"Are you really going to go out to sea with Dad tomorrow?"

"Why? Can't you bear to see me go?"

Lin Xiuqing replied irritably, "You've been staying at home all the time lately. Before, you used to leave early and come back late. Except for sleeping, I couldn't even guarantee that I would see you during meals."

Ye Yaodong proactively held her hand tightly and smirked, saying, "If you miss me so much, I'll tell Dad that I'm not going!"

"Nonsense! Who can afford to be idle and stay at home all day? Let go; it's not good for people to see us like this…”

"What's wrong with holding hands? I'm not holding someone else's hand; can't I hold my own wife's hand?"

"If someone sees us while walking on the main road..."

"If they see us, so what? I'm not your mistress... Hiss~"

Lin Xiuqing freed herself from his grip and pinched him hard.

Can't she be happy for a little while?

Now the mistress has even been brought up!

It’s really irritating, asking for a beating!

(end of this chapter)

***

....hehe mass release yay(!)

Okay so this new job killed my legs and my will to do anything for a few days (add a little bit of workplace politics) so I.... got sidetracked.

But on the bright side I got an interview for a CRO position in an English teaching center that seems nice and has good working hours. But whether I get the job or not, I don't plan to do that disappearing act again (#^.^")

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