Chapter 108

Take a look yourself, you're high-end, right? This mouse grouper will do." Zhao Zhiming said, pointing at the mouse grouper still alive in the water tank.

Seeing the mouse grouper, Wang Ke's pupils dilated quickly, he exclaimed, "Damn, so many groupers."

Nonsense, bro couldn't cheat you—hurry up and take a look, give a good price.

Ye Cheng had been a bit worried, but seeing Wang Ke like that, he felt much more relieved.

Zhao Zhiming beside them handed him and Xiao Hu a cigarette, lit it, and waited for Wang Ke to look.

"Zhiming, I can take all these fish, but I won't take this anglerfish—not many people eat it." Wang Ke raised his head and said.

Before he finished speaking, Zhao Zhiming launched a flying kick, landing hard on Wang Ke's buttocks.

"Damn, listen, this anglerfish is something I caught—you have to take it." Zhao Zhiming grabbed Wang Ke, insisting on showing him a photo of himself with the anglerfish: "Look closely, I caught it myself."

"Okay, okay, you caught it—gotta take it. Fine, I'll have the chef come up with a few cheap dishes using anglerfish, okay."

Wang Ke shook his head helplessly; running into this buddy also left him helpless.

From the approximate weight of these fish, Wang Ke calculated the money on the spot.

Two mouse groupers: 2000.

Eastern star grouper: 3, total 600.

Blue stone grouper: 2, 450.

Stone Nine Elder: 20, 320.

Ma You fish: 7, 800.

Half-side fish: 1, 40.

Squid: 1, 25.

Plus Zhao Zhiming's anglerfish, unit price low to single digits, but it's big and heavy, calculated at 160.

Total came to 4395; Wang Ke gave 4400.

Holding the money, Ye Cheng suddenly asked, "Um, Brother Wang, if it's tuna like this, do you take it?"

"Tuna? Sure." Wang Ke nodded, "Our customers are varied, they have high standards, and they're willing to try anything new; if you can catch tuna, we'll definitely take it."

"Only, this stuff doesn't seem to be abundant around here."

"Yeah, it's not much, but I happened to get one last time and sold it to someone else; so next time I have this kind, can I contact you, Brother Wang?"

Ye Cheng spoke somewhat humbly, but Zhao Zhiming wasn't so modest—he straight up took on everything.

"Lao Er, next time you have fish, just put it here; if he won't take it, give me a call."

"Also, next time you come to sell fish, have him give you cash; this guy likes to give IOUs, you definitely don't want to be tricked by him."

Wang Ke pursed his lips and rolled his eyes, not knowing who was the outsider anymore.

Ye Cheng secured the money, secretly slipped three big bills from it to Wang Ke, and whispered, "President Wang, please keep looking out for me in the future."

As for Boss Qian, Ye Cheng doesn't need to slip him money, because that's his own.

But this Wang Ke is just the manager here; he earns a wage, so of course we need to give him some extra, otherwise what basis does he have to take your fish?

This first time Zhao Zhiming was present; next time if Zhao Zhiming doesn't come, they can completely refuse to take it.

So Ye Cheng wants to get on good terms with them.

Ye Cheng didn't hide this from Zhao Zhiming either; later he'll have to give Zhao Zhiming a share, and even more than this.

However, Wang Ke hadn't yet received the money when Zhao Zhiming snatched it all away and shoved it back to Ye Cheng, feigning anger as he said,

"I brought you here, and you still need to give him tribute? This is clearly looking down on me."

"No, it's just that Wang Ke can't work for nothing, right? We're just helping them do their job." Ye Cheng said calmly.

Ye Cheng felt his remark was completely fine, but he didn't expect Zhao Zhiming and Wang Ke to exchange a glance and then both burst out laughing.

Wang Ke smiled subtly, while Zhao Zhiming laughed uproariously, pointing at Wang Ke and saying to Ye Cheng, "You mean he's a part‑timer, right?"

Seeing them like that, Ye Cheng realized he must have misunderstood, so he could only give an embarrassed smile.

"My eyesight is poor; mainly it's because you, Wang Ke, are too low‑key."

"Not low‑key; strictly speaking he's just a part‑timer, except this restaurant belongs to his uncle, so it counts as family property, thus he's half‑owner, you don't need to keep giving him kickbacks—he's the boss, what would he do with his own kickback, right?"

Zhao Zhiming couldn't hold back his laughter.

Wang Ke coughed lightly twice, composed himself, then said to Ye Cheng,

"Brother, rest assured—I'll definitely take what I can, and I'll be straight about what I can't; this shop is my uncle's, but he's put me in charge, and I treat it as my own, so don't overthink it."

After the big mix‑up and a round of laughter, Zhao Zhiming led Ye Cheng away.

Originally Ye Cheng just wanted to leave them at the roadside, but Zhao Zhiming insisted on taking him to see the association's president to settle the match details, so Ye Cheng had no choice but to follow.

According to Zhao Zhiming's introduction, the Fishing Association is in fact not an official organization at all—just a group of enthusiasts who got it started.

At first it was just for members to exchange experiences and share new fishing spots, with no money involved.

Later, with backing from big shots, they started holding competitions; the main goals were two: to spend money, and to pick a bunch of strong people to enter bigger tournaments.

Zhao Zhiming's car pulled up to a tea house; after parking and entering, he began calling out,

"President, I've brought you a master."

Inside the tea house sat a refined‑looking man, leisurely sipping gongfu tea, appearing quite cultured.

Seeing Zhao Zhiming enter, the president merely rose slightly and pointed to the seat before him.

A large tea table, then four or five cups, then they began rinsing the tea, brewing, tasting, and starting over again.

Ye Cheng hadn't been fond of this before, finding it a bit boring.

But since others were willing to brew tea, he was willing to drink it—plus it didn't cost anything.

Zhao Zhiming plopped down, pulled Ye Cheng over, and said to the president, "President, this is the expert I found, a civilian—Ye Cheng, and this is his friend Xiao Hu."

Then he pointed to the president and said to Ye Cheng, "This is our Fishing Association's president, Jiang Weiyang."

"Hello, President Jiang." Ye Cheng and Xiao Hu greeted him.

Chairman Jiang's tea in hand didn't stop; he poured a cup for each of the several people, then made an inviting gesture, and only then began to speak.

Old Zhao intends to bring them into the association, right?

Yes, then have me sign up for our fishing competition; I'm telling you, I'm definitely champion material.

'How impressive?' Upon hearing about winning the championship, Chairman Jiang gave Ye Cheng a curious look.