Chapter 122: Midnight Fish Trap Setting

Ye Cheng also didn't mind; the fish trap was originally just an extra.

The two walked along the previous foraging path for a stretch, found a spot that looked alright, were about to set the traps, when they heard someone approaching from behind.

The two turned around and saw that person also carrying several fish traps, apparently also coming to set traps.

One has to admit, since Ye Cheng made money from foraging, the villagers have become more diligent in foraging, setting traps, fishing, and the like.

As the person approached, Ye Cheng made out who it was in the moonlight.

Yuan Daqiang, that is Yuan Jiansheng's father, because he had pockmarks on his face, the villagers all called him Yuan pockmarked?.

Yuan MazI? was about the same age as Duan Chunsheng; Ye Cheng and the others would have to call him "uncle," though the two families hadn't had much interaction before.

"Uncle Yuan," Ye Cheng called out openly as a greeting.

Yuan MazI? was taken aback, took a closer look, and recognized the two.

His face was somewhat displeased, and he said with a hint of mockery, "It's you two, out this late at night to sneak around like thieves, acting all furtive."

Yuan MazI?'s rude remark made Xiao Hu instantly unhappy and he shouted back, "Yuan MazI?, watch your damn mouth—who's being sneaky? I think you're the sneaky one."

Yuan MazI? snorted coldly and continued, "What are you two up to? The whole village knows; what are you hiding? It's just some secret formula—big deal."

After saying that, Yuan MazI? still wasn't satisfied, glanced at the two's fish traps on the ground, and went on,

"Setting fish traps takes skill; you think foraging is just luck-based picking, huh."

Xiao Hu still wanted to say something, but Ye Cheng raised his hand to stop him and then spoke loudly himself,

"Uncle Yuan, with such great skill, why haven't you bought a car, built a house, taken a daughter-in-law, etc.? Your earthen house at home is about to collapse."

Yuan MazI?'s family is among the poorest in the village, especially that house—the walls are cracked.

The key is, this guy refuses to admit he's incapable, so whenever he argues with someone, they bring up his house, leaving him speechless.

"You... you don't understand anything, I..."

Indeed, Yuan MazI? had been hit where it hurt, and for a moment didn't know how to reply.

"Uncle, you have the skill, so set your traps here; we'll be over there, won't we?" Ye Cheng said with a smile, pointing farther away.

"Even if you set your traps here, it wouldn't affect me; I rely on skill, not luck." Yuan MazI? began to stubbornly insist.

"Alright then, uncle, we'll set them here; you're such an upright person, you wouldn't sneak over and take our traps, would you?"

"Bullshit, why would I need to take yours? Cut it out—just don't sneak over and take mine, I've got four traps myself."

Yuan MazI? deliberately tugged at his own fish trap to show the two.

"Funny, we have six, so we'll just stay out of each other's way." After saying that, Ye Cheng lost interest in dealing with him.

Dealing with an incapable old uncle who talks too much is just a waste of time.

Overall, this spot isn't really suitable for setting fish traps, because the water isn't very deep.

The two walked toward the sea's shallows, going until the water was about up to their ankles, then began looking for a place to set the traps.

For easy retrieval, Ye Cheng and Xiao Hu deliberately chose a spot with protruding rocks, tied the traps to them, and made markers.

The six traps were spaced far apart, adding up to just under a hundred meters.

"Alright, let's leave it like that; we'll check again tomorrow."

After finishing their work, the two headed back; over there, Yuan MazI? had also finished and was walking from the seaside up to the shore. The three exchanged a glance, then each went their separate ways without acknowledging each other.

By the time they went there and back, it was ten o'clock at night; Xiao Hu went straight home, and Ye Cheng also went back and went straight to sleep.

In the middle of the night, Ye Cheng was startled awake by a strange gust of wind.

He got up and looked; he didn't know when the wind had started, it was howling past, and listening to the wind, it seemed it might rain tomorrow.

Sure enough, shortly after six in the morning, Ye Cheng was awakened again by the sound of rain outside.

Outside, the sky was dark, heavy clouds pressed down, raindrops the size of beans pelted the roof, making a pattering sound.

Last night's strong wind had eased a bit, but it still drove rainwater into the eaves of Ye Cheng's house, and moreover flooded the little patch of leeks and radishes planted in the courtyard, completely submerging them—who knows if they'll survive.

This damned weather, Ye Cheng instinctively reached for his phone to check the forecast, but upon pressing the button he realized—well, it's not the era of smartphones yet.

Since he was already awake, with such heavy rain he couldn't go out, so he might as well get up and play a game.

Compared to Big Pineapple 2, Ye Cheng prefers Heroes of Might and Magic 3, this kind of strategy game makes him seem a bit smarter.

What's more, the Heroes of Might and Magic game, besides having strong gameplay, also introduces many kinds of Western mythological creatures.

For example, the most famous Medusa is placed in the underground faction, along with Satan.

There's also the Behemoth, Titans, vampires, and various other Western mythological races.

Ye Cheng himself likes vampires; although they're only tier-4 units, they can drain blood to restore health, and if there are enough of them, even archangels can't beat them.

Out of boredom, Ye Cheng launched a Necropolis faction game, played through, hunting for equipment in the wild, and only at 10:30 did he clear the map.

He looked outside; the rain had only lessened a bit, and it looked like it would continue for another day.

At around noon, older brother Ye Guowei called, telling him to come home for a meal; today the rain is too heavy, the dock isn't operating.

With such heavy rain, Ye Cheng just slipped on some sandals and went.

"Brother, sister-in-law, I brought over a piece of cured meat." Ye Cheng also brought the cured meat that Duan Chunsheng had given him.

"How come you still have cured meat?" Jiang Yunxiang asked curiously; this little brother-in-law wouldn't be drying this stuff.

"It's what Uncle Chunsheng and them gave me; I borrowed some money to help him buy a boat."

"You lent them money? Earlier Aunt Duan said they didn't need it, yet you went and did good deed for nothing." Ye Guowei still remembered how the Duan family had put it.

Ye Cheng brought over Dou Dou; this kid has felt heavier lately, and holding him feels a bit burdensome.

"Hmm, I think Uncle Chunsheng is straightforward, and indeed it's tough; if we don't buy a boat soon, we'll drain our savings."

"That's right; in this household, if there's no income, money disappears fast." Jiang Yunxiang stepped out holding a clay pot and interjected.

"Oh, you even brought out a clay pot? Beer duck?"

"Yeah, your brother said you like it, and it's easy to make, so he made one."

Beer duck, as the name suggests, is red-braised duck made with beer instead of water—a common home-style preparation.

Ye Cheng couldn't wait to open the lid of the sand pot, and a unique and rich aroma rose with the steam.