Chapter 279: with translation of chapter title

Yeah, over four hundred catties, that's not much—I'm telling you few bosses, don't act like you've never seen the world, okay?

Seeing Ye Cheng's contemptuous gaze, the three instantly felt depressed.

He Lao Ban gave a wry smile, "Brother, is it that we haven't seen the world? You caught a pomfret school the day before yesterday, Buddha's Hand Snail yesterday, and today clear shrimp—can you actually see fish schools?"

Exactly, who can haul in fish schools every day? In your village, Duan Chunsheng has been at it for over twenty years; hauling one net a month is already good." Gao Lao Ban interjected.

Ah, is it really that exaggerated?

Brother, are you a bit too outstanding?

Ye Cheng originally wanted to say it was good luck, but immediately changed his tone: "No, bosses, I actually went out early this morning and hauled many nets to get this catch."

Right, Xiao Hu, you're tired today?" Ye Cheng winked at Xiao Hu.

Xiao Hu immediately reacted, his face full of the kind of sincerity only a fox would have,

Yeah, we're exhausted today, we dropped either eight or nine nets.

Lin Lao Ban and Gao Lao Ban were somewhat convinced, just about to say it was hard work, when they heard He Lao Ban let out a cold laugh,

Lao Er, you're just making things up—even Liu Village's Liu Cuihua couldn't outdo you; I clearly saw you only went out to sea at 9 a. m., and now it's 4 p. m. you're back, seven hours to haul nine nets, plus travel time—you're trying to fool ghosts.

The Liu Cuihua He Lao Ban mentioned is a basket weaver from Liu Village, famous nearby for her fine baskets, comparable to her clansman Liu Huangshu, so locals often joke about her.

Whoa! Lao Er, you're lying to us again." Lin Lao Ban blurted out, then immediately realized, why did I say 'again'?

Seeing He Lao Ban expose his fib, Ye Cheng gave an awkward laugh, "Um, that stuff doesn't matter; look at the price—this is top-quality clear shrimp, over half are twenty centimeters or more, not the ordinary shrimp you mentioned, Lin Lao Ban."

Lao Er, I've noticed you never speak the truth." Lin Lao Ban pointed at Ye Cheng, speechless, "Everyone says I'm cunning, but you're even more so."

I'll pay 30 per catty for those over twenty centimeters, and 15 per catty for those under twenty centimeters.

While Lin Lao Ban was still scolding Ye Cheng, Gao Lao Ban had already started making offers.

This price is okay, but Ye Cheng glanced at the other two, wondering if they could offer a higher price.

Usually several people compete, but this time only Gao Lao Ban spoke among the three, while the other two stayed silent.

Yo, are you three planning to go in together on this order? Like on Pinduoduo.

Lao Er, we don't know what Pinduoduo is; look at you, always swindling us poor folks—we can't make any money, so give us a discount on this order and we three will split it evenly." He Lao Ban said.

Yeah, yeah, you've played with my feelings, so that's the price." Lin Lao Ban still held a grudge about being deceived.

Ye Cheng looked helplessly at the three, like a child who's been cheated and wants justice.

We're all grown-ups, yet we're still pulling this trick.

Alright, alright, let's go with that price." Ye Cheng also felt embarrassed, after being called out face-to-face for his tall tale, and besides, the price is fair.

Seeing Ye Cheng agree, the three hurriedly found people to come sort and weigh.

In total 452 catties—big shrimp 320 catties, small shrimp 132 catties—adding up to ___ yuan.

Ye Cheng gave Xiao Hu 4000 yuan, took the rest himself, and his savings came to 135,000 yuan.

After selling the goods, still early, Ye Cheng took Xiao Hu to the dock's boat workshop, spent 1500 yuan to upgrade to a slightly more powerful winch; according to the boss, it can haul up 500 catties.

Whether it can actually haul that up remains to be seen tomorrow.

Installing it doesn't take long—just one night—Ye Cheng and Xiao Hu paid, then returned to the village.

Back in the village, it was already 6 p. m., and every household had finished dinner.

Xiao Hu has his parents cooking for him, while Ye Cheng, living alone, really didn't want to eat instant noodles.

He had thought about going to Zhang Guafu's for a free meal, but since she's a widow, to avoid suspicion, he'd rather go to his older brother's place and let his sister-in-law cook for him.

Jiang Yunxiang had no objection to Ye Cheng coming over for a meal,

"A Cheng, why don't I cook you a portion to keep for tonight, so you don't have to come over last minute and scramble."

"Sister-in-law, that's not necessary either; if I don't come, it'd be wasteful. Anyway, I'm just annoyed from eating too many instant noodles today; normally I'm fine with them."

Eating too many instant noodles isn't good; take it easy.

Ye Guowei said in a rough voice, feeling that since he no longer has to do manual labor, his physique has gotten a bit puffy.

"Brother, you've got a belly now, just like a landlord." Ye Cheng teased.

Ye Guowei patted his belly, also looking helpless.

"Yay! Dad's a landlord, Mom's a landlady!" Dou Dou exclaimed happily.

"This child." Jiang Yunxiang ruffled her son's head, "Are you the landlord family's silly son?"

"I'm not stupid; I can do mental math up to twenty and above."

"Right, our Dou Dou isn't stupid."

After dinner at his older brother's house, Ye Cheng strolled home slowly, reaching the village entrance where a group of uncles and aunts were squatting and chatting.

They were all elders; Ye Cheng went up and handed out cigarettes to everyone, then squatted down to chat with them.

The villagers' topics were mostly the same: men discussed national affairs, economic development, international situations, how Russia is, how Japan is, how the beautiful country is; Ye Cheng just squatted aside and listened.

The habit of bragging hasn't changed in decades; only now it's shifted from the village entrance to the internet.

On online platforms, as long as you can boast, someone will believe you—like claiming you've had dinner with the prime minister of Elephant Country, or that you've seen European royalty.

Damn it, no matter how outrageous the claim, plenty of people believe it, and many do.

The few aunties, meanwhile, talked about family trifles, but today with the crowd they were all discussing what's happening in the neighboring villages.

Things like someone's sow running into another's pigpen, or someone's father-in-law sneaking around—gossip everyone loves to hear; Ye Cheng also listened with delight, occasionally chiming in with a witty remark, making several aunties want to claim him as one of their own.

They were chatting when suddenly someone pointed at the road into the village and shouted,

"So late, why is a police car coming?"

Police car?

Ye Cheng stood up with everyone to look; sure enough, though they couldn't see the vehicle clearly, everyone recognized the police lights.

"Could something have happened?"

"Has someone in the village recently gotten into trouble?"

I haven't heard anything; otherwise, it's that outsiders have caused trouble, they've been investigated and come to the village—then the matter gets serious.