Chapter 105: This crab must be left for me

He glanced at someone's phone, Ye Cheng's mouth twitched, Moto V70, a phone with a twist‑lock design, this phone is quite expensive.

A phone costing several thousand is being used to photograph this anglerfish; it's a bit overkill for this broken fish.

After striking a pose, Ye Cheng took a photo of him; nowadays phone cameras have such low resolution, barely usable.

Zhao Zhiming looked at the photo on his phone, very satisfied: "Alright, with this I can also brag next time I drink."

Although only Ye Cheng caught many fish among the five, the others were also enthusiastic; finally they unanimously agreed not to go back to eat.

Xiao Hu went back to the village and brought back several buckets of instant noodles plus beer.

Fishing folks never complain about what they eat; all they want is to catch fish.

Each of the five had a bucket of instant noodles, plus beer and peanuts; after passing around cigarettes twice, they instantly became friendly.

The five chatted while fishing, fishing until 3 p. m.; then, satisfied, they carried the fish box back to the village.

Back at the village entrance, Zhao Zhiming first put his fish box in the trunk; he caught four fish today, which is okay, though nothing high‑end.

Ye Cheng checked the time; it was almost 4 p. m.; he said to Zhao Zhiming, "Zhao Ge, how about we eat something here tonight? We still have a few fish traps not collected; let's see what we can gather and eat that."

Zhao Zhiming had planned to return to the city, but hearing there were still fish traps, he became interested; putting his arm around Ye Cheng, he said, "Sure, Lao Er, eating is fine, but you have to take me to collect the fish traps."

He didn't know how to address Ye Cheng, so he directly called Ye Cheng 'Lao Er' together with Chen Jinshui.

Ye Cheng chuckled lightly, "Sure, but I don't know where either; I'll have to ask Xiao Hu this guy."

"Xiao Hu Ge, let's go, hurry up and take us." Zhao Zhiming's enthusiasm was unusually high; male friendship is just like that.

Of the five, Zhao You Tian and Chen Jinshui didn't go, saying they were too old to move, but actually they were just lazy, waiting to eat.

Ye Cheng, Xiao Hu, and Zhao Zhiming went to the back mountain; the fish traps were still where they had been left.

Standing on the mid‑slope and looking down, there were still many fish traps by the sea.

Moreover, since Ye Cheng made money by gathering seafood, the villagers have paid more attention to sea gathering.

Whenever they have nothing to do, they go for a stroll; they can always pick up something, earn a little extra cash, and occasionally luck strikes and they get a valuable item.

Therefore, this relatively low‑effort method of using fish traps is still popular with many people.

"Lao Er, life in your village is too great—you can fish and set fish traps." Zhao Zhiming said enviously.

"That's because you've gotten a bit sick of city life; if you had to stay in the village every day, you couldn't stand it, right?"

"The village has no bars, no karaoke halls, few restaurants—are you used to that?"

Hearing Ye Cheng say that, Zhao Zhiming showed a smile that men understand, tapped Ye Cheng and said, "Sure, Lao Er, you know everything—have you ever lived in the city?"

"No, just hearsay." Ye Cheng replied calmly.

These things will be the same for decades to come; in the city pressure is high but there's plenty of entertainment, while in the village pressure is low and it's peaceful and harmonious.

The three walked down the mountain path; Xiao Hu pointed to a marked fish trap over there and said, "Brother, that one is ours."

"I'll get it, I'll get it, don't fight me for it." Zhao Zhiming shoved the two aside and ran ahead.

This guy is about the same age as Ye Guowei, but his mindset is much younger than that old stubborn Ye Guowei.

"Just pull it straight up, right?" Zhao Zhiming asked, turning back, "This is my first time."

"Zhao Ge, just pull; put your strength into it, watch your back." The last few words Ye Cheng mumbled, already with a cigarette in his mouth.

He and Xiao Hu leisurely watched Zhao Zhiming pull the net; Xiao Hu said, "Brother, why do city folks love working so much?"

"We work, they have fun—you don't get it."

During the peak years of farmstead tourism, I'd guess farmers went crazy—people would work for you and still have to pay you; this world is absurd.

Now Zhao Zhiming is exactly that city person who can work but is just short of paying.

"We've got a catch, we've got a catch!" Zhao Zhiming started shouting excitedly when he had pulled it halfway; seawater splashing on the rocks soaked him, but he didn't notice.

"Let's go, help out—this trap feels like it's got a lot."

It had only come up halfway, and this guy started shouting; according to Ye Cheng's thinking, it must be full of fish and shrimp.

When he and Xiao Hu cautiously stepped through the water to look, his face instantly darkened; he pointed at Zhao Zhiming, speechless, and said,

"Zhao Ge, just a few shrimp—why the fuss?"

"Why not? Look at how nice these shrimp are—ah, hahaha."

Seeing Zhao Zhiming laugh like a child, Ye Cheng also felt helpless; this is the charm of nature.

No matter whether you have money or not, before nature you are just a pure person.

There wasn't much; the three together pulled a few times and hauled it all up.

"Swimming crab, and more swimming crab."

"This is small squid, octopus, and what kind of small fish is this?"

Seeing Zhao Zhiming this happy, Ye Cheng couldn't help asking, "Zhao Ge, you're from the Fishing Association, right? Haven't you seen these before?"

"Ah, I am from the Fishing Association, but most of the time I fish in ponds; I rarely fish at sea, and besides, you can't fish for crabs and big shrimp with angling."

"Let me tell you, this crab must be steamed for me soon; I just like looking at it."

Zhao Zhiming happily held this swimming crab, the more he looked, the happier he got.

"Like, you should take it home to keep as a pet—why would you eat it?"

"Keeping it in my stomach, where I absorb it—isn't that better? Hahaha."

Xiao Hu had placed a total of six fish traps; because they had dedicated bait packs, the catch was quite abundant.

They caught two large roe‑filled crabs, but the original swimming crab that Zhao Ge loved so much—no one knows where it got thrown.

There were also seven or eight catties of large shrimp, various kinds; Ye Cheng planned to go back and simply boil them, make some dipping sauce, and they'd be absolutely delicious.

The remaining small octopuses and browny fish—these little ones—would go into a mixed‑fish stew.

On the way back, Ye Cheng and Xiao Hu casually picked up a small bucket of spicy snails.

That night's dishes were sufficient.

After returning, Zhao Zhiming drove his car to Ye Cheng's doorstep; anyway, this place is rather remote and spacious.

Ye Cheng went to tidy up the seafood, and let him sit in the courtyard.

"Damn, air conditioner? Water heater?" Zhao Ge spotted those two things that should be in the city at a glance, "You really know how to enjoy."

"Just you city folks can enjoy it, we villagers can't even enjoy technology."