Chapter 12

The two dug for another hour or so, until Ye Cheng realized he too could not dig anything up, and then they stopped.

Now he roughly understood the trick: the higher the Luck Value, the more he dug up; with a Luck Value of 70, he had about this much.

The two buckets were already full, and Xiao Hu's Snakeskin Bag also held quite a lot, already counting as a good harvest.

"Let's go, go make money."

"Sure, bro, making money is really hard."

"Get lost, making money is never easy."

The two tidied up, Xiao Hu shouldered the Snakeskin Bag, picked up half a bucket, and Ye Cheng carried a full bucket as they headed for the village.

It was already 10:30; most of those gathering at the sea had gone back, leaving only a few scattered people.

By the time they rode their vehicle to the Matou, it was already 11 o'clock.

Still Laolin Hai Xian, for now it's the only familiar place.

"Yo, Ye Cheng's back again, what good stuff do you have this time?" Seeing the two, Laolin warmly came out to greet them.

"Hmm, we got some stuff today, take a look." Ye Cheng had Xiao Hu unload the goods.

"Whoa, that's a lot, what is it?" Laolin eyed the Snakeskin Bag curiously—who packs seafood in something like this?

"Sea Squirt and sand worm, all mixed together."

Ye Cheng couldn't be bothered to sort them, letting Laolin do it himself.

"Sea squirt and sand worm?" Laolin excitedly rubbed his hands—this stuff isn't easy to handle.

Only after later-stage aquaculture got going did this stuff become abundant.

Moreover, farmed and wild varieties can't be compared.

Just like cultivated ginseng that's ineffective when eaten, do farmed sea squirt and sand worm have the same efficacy?

Laolin fetched several big boxes and had Xiao Hu pour the contents in.

Xiao Hu was also strong; he didn't need Ye Cheng to help—he alone dumped everything from the Snakeskin Bag out.

Seeing a box full of Sea Squirt gushing out, Laolin's eyes widened—"Damn, you two caught this much?"

"Most of it was dug by my brother; I just lent a hand." Xiao Hu said proudly.

The Sea Squirt and sand worm writhed all over the box, full of vitality.

Ye Cheng casually picked up a Sea Squirt, held it in his palm, and said, "Take a look—this head, big enough?"

"Enough, enough." Laolin, this profiteer, couldn't stand it— a Sea Squirt thicker than two fingers; if he used it to fortify himself, maybe his wife wouldn't keep nagging him.

"They're all good stuff, name your price."

"20, 20 bucks per catty—I'll take it all, how about that, enough sincerity?" Laolin said boldly, as if his offer of 20 were actually 200.

This time Xiao Hu had learned his lesson; when Cheng Ge talked price, he kept his mouth shut.

Ye Cheng also didn't speak, just slightly shook his head: "Lin Lao Ban, if you keep quoting like that, next time I'll change venues."

"Oh dear, brother, don't think just because I run this little shop my overhead is low—rent and utilities eat into it, you gotta let me make a profit." Laolin launched into his usual spiel again.

"20 is for ordinary goods; mine's this kind of goods—you estimate it yourself."

Yes, but yours vary in size; the big ones are a bit pricey, but the small ones are cheap. Laolin said, and deliberately picked out a small sandworm from inside.

Look, this one is just ordinary.

Ye Cheng was also speechless; this guy, a downright swindler, really needs to be replaced next time.

He couldn't be bothered to argue with Laolin anymore, "30 all-in, if it works, fine; if not, I'm leaving."

"How could it be 30? I'd be losing money." Laolin immediately started pleading poverty.

"Xiao Hu, let's go." Ye Cheng shouted loudly.

"Coming, brother." Xiao Hu had this routine down; without a word, he bent over, took out the snakeskin bag, and started loading.

"Wait, wait, 30 is 30." Laolin hurriedly stopped Xiao Hu.

"Xiao Hu, put it down, wait for Lin Lao Ban to weigh it."

Laolin helplessly shook his head, pointing at Ye Cheng and said, "Ah, Ye Lao Di, you're really sharp—you got me from 20 to 30 in one go; I'm telling you, I really aren't making any money."

"Let me tell you, I still have storage, transportation, labor costs..."

Laolin kept muttering on and on, while Ye Cheng pretended not to hear and lit a cigarette.

Seeing that, Laolin thought this guy was impossible to sway, and he found the conversation boring.

"Alright, then I'll weigh it."

Before weighing, Laolin fetched another box, sorted through the items, and kept the small ones in the box.

"Lao Di, these are too small; I won't take them."

Ye Cheng glanced; to say they're small isn't quite right, but to sell at 30, this old guy is a bit reluctant.

"Alright, then those—let's see how heavy they are."

These small ones, taken home and stir-fried, are also delicious.

"All together, 63 catties, 1890—does that look right to you?"

Hearing over a thousand, Xiao Hu's eyes widened again, helplessly.

"Alright, that's the number then." Ye Cheng didn't waste words.

Laolin counted out a stack of money for Ye Cheng, "Lao Di, I really gave you a good price; if you have anything else, just come find me."

"Alright, got it; if I have anything, I'll come find you."

After they came out, Ye Cheng deliberately shoved the money into his pocket, not even glancing at Xiao Hu.

Xiao Hu was anxious, scratching his head, wanting to speak but hesitating.

"What's up, you have something to say?"

Xiao Hu gave an embarrassed laugh, "Brother, I, I wonder if..."

"Yes, yes, it's yours, look at your bear-like appearance." Ye Cheng couldn't be bothered to tease him.

He took out money, counted four big bills from inside and gave them to Xiao Hu, "There, this is yours, 400, go give it to your parents."

"Eh, eh, okay, bro, 400 ah, my mom will probably cry again."

"If she cries, just tell her, from now on we'll have good days, every day will be like that, see if she still cries."

After getting the money, Ye Cheng calculated: yesterday he still had 400 left, plus today's money, total 1800, still some distance from the 5000 owed.

However, paying it back within a month is no pressure at all.

"Bro, my mom said, you take me to make money, let me treat you to a meal, let's go to town and have a meal at a restaurant?"

"Having a meal out, this term Ye Cheng hasn't heard in a long time."

"In that later era where food delivery was rampant, most people ordered delivery, or else went to drinking parties; this simple act of just eating a meal became rare."

"In 2002 there was no food delivery, everyone didn't have much money, usually they cooked at home; only when relatives or friends came over would they go to a restaurant."

"That's called having a meal out."

"The biggest difference between restaurant food and home-cooked food is the high heat and many ingredients."

"High heat makes the stir-fried dishes have a strong wok hei, and they taste much better for freshly stir-fried dishes."

"Furthermore, the various spices and ingredients in the restaurant make it taste better than the simple scallion, ginger, and garlic at home."

"So, Xiao Hu's saying that also moved Ye Cheng."