Chapter 386: Selling Crabs at the Dock, News of the Big Ship

The middle-aged uncle waved goodbye to Ye Cheng; they were going to find a spot to cast the next net.

As for Ye Cheng, he was merely a passerby in his seafaring journey.

Just like when driving on the road and occasionally meeting someone.

They needed a longer distance to trawl the net, but Ye Cheng didn't; being small has its advantages, and Xiao Hu simply cast the net from behind, which started the trawling.

For the third net, Ye Cheng felt a bit anxious; after only 40 minutes he hastily hauled it up, resulting in only half a net.

"Brother, don't rush, look, it's just half a net," Xiao Hu complained; this net was estimated to be about a hundred catties, which was indeed a bit little.

Ye Cheng scratched his head, damn it, that big ship affected him, his mindset collapsed.

"Forget it, let's leave it at that for today; finish cleaning up this net and we can go back." Ye Cheng didn't want to continue either, since doing more would be a bit too late.

The two quickly tidied up, altogether they had 30 baskets of swimming crabs, filling the boat's deck completely.

When they returned to the dock it was before 5 o'clock, which was relatively early; Duan Chunsheng hadn't come back yet.

"Lao Er is back!" Lin Lao Ban rushed over; today everyone was collecting swimming crabs, everyone was busy, no one competed with him.

"What's the price for swimming crabs today?" Ye Cheng asked first; on these open‑sea days the price is fairly public, and it changes daily.

"Over half a catty: 60 per catty; four taels to half a catty: 50 per catty; under four taels: 30 per catty; with roe add 20%." Lin Lao Ban knew this by heart.

"Alright, let's go with that; altogether 30 crates, roughly sized, we haven't divided them finely—take another look."

Ye Cheng and Xiao Hu moved crate after crate of swimming crabs ashore.

"Holy shit! Lao Er, you two caught this much? Did the nets burst?" Lin Lao Ban exclaimed in surprise; he had never seen how much was on Ye Cheng's boat before.

Generally speaking, a boat going out for a night can consider hauling ten crates a lot; if luck is bad, you might not even get five crates.

Ye Cheng truly differed from ordinary people; with just two persons on one boat they managed thirty crates.

Lin Lao Ban looked closely; most were over four taels, and there were separately eight crates with roe.

"Lao Er, you've basically cleaned out the female crabs' home," Lin Lao Ban couldn't help praising.

"That's right, we're so handsome that when we stand there, the female crabs rush over; let's settle the bill quickly, we're exhausted."

Lin Lao Ban had the assistant roughly sort the crabs, then began calculating the money.

While they were calculating, Xiao Hu pointed behind,

"Brother, Duan Shu is back."

Ye Cheng turned his head and saw it was indeed Duan Chunsheng's boat.

The boat drew alongside; Ye Cheng caught the rope Duan Chunsheng threw and looped it onto the dock.

"Uncle, how's it going? Can one person really have such fast hands?" Ye Cheng teased.

Duan Chunsheng shook his head, face full of fatigue: "Don't mention it, what hand speed? Yesterday I went to the most central spot, damn it, it was all ships, couldn't pull the net open—look, just this much."

Duan Chunsheng pointed to the baskets beside the boat; Ye Cheng counted, there were six baskets total, plus one that was only half full.

Not to mention comparing with Ye Cheng's thirty baskets, they didn't even reach the average of ten baskets.

"Never mind me, how about you guys—how did you do?" Duan Chunsheng wiped his brow.

"We went a bit farther out, still okay, we got thirty baskets." Ye Cheng pointed to the place where they were sorting the catch.

"Tch, uncle, if it weren't for my brother rushing to haul the net at the end, and him letting some escape, we'd have estimated thirty‑five baskets." Xiao Hu seized the moment to complain to Duan Chunsheng.

"Get lost, how can that be my fault? Bad luck, okay."

"What bad luck, you just eyed someone else's 24‑meter big ship."

Speaking of the 24‑meter big ship, Ye Cheng pulled Duan Chunsheng into a chat,

"Uncle, we saw their big ship last night also out catching swimming crabs; damn, that ship feels impressive, while ours is kinda low‑class."

"What 'low'?" Duan Chunsheng blinked.

"It means 'not good'; my brother said it in a foreign language, I don't know if he's right." Xiao Hu interjected, explaining and adding a bit of disdain.

"Oh." Duan Chunsheng nodded, "Those ships you mentioned are probably from the Fishery Company; in our hometown nobody has such a big ship, and few individuals buy one—it's too expensive."

Speaking of this, Duan Chunsheng waved his hand,

"Forget big ships; look at our hometown, those who own their own fishing boats are considered well‑off; you may have some money, but buying a new ship is impossible, a used one is still possible."

"A used ship?" Ye Cheng muttered softly, "That's not impossible either."

The boat he's currently driving is used; a new one would cost over ten‑plus thousand.

"Uncle, do you know where used ships are sold?" Ye Cheng pressed.

Duan Chunsheng looked at him with surprise,

"No, you're actually planning to buy? This boat isn't something just you and Xiao Hu can handle; you need at least three people, and a trip lasts two or three days, the cost is high."

"I'll just ask first; I'm not saying I definitely want to buy."

"Ask, ask—I just don't know; I only know the Fishery Company has big ships, but I don't know where they're bought."

The three were talking when suddenly a voice interjected,

"I know!"

Ye Cheng turned his head, brows furrowing—it was Wang Defa, Xiao Hu's second uncle.

Since the previous incident, Ye Cheng had grown too lazy to deal with him.

Wang Defa approached with a fawning expression,

"Lao Er, you want to buy a big ship? There's a shipyard in town that builds them, but their new ships are all custom‑ordered."

"Then what's the point of your nonsense? Everyone in town knows about the shipyard." Ye Cheng said irritably; he was already annoyed, and now that the guy offered no value, he felt even less inclined to engage.

"Second uncle, if you've got nothing to do, just go back; why hang around here causing a fuss?" Xiao Hu also didn't want to see him; although he's a relative, saying they'd cut ties, it never works out.

"No, I really know." Wang Defa slapped his thigh, then raised his right hand with a solemn oath,

"I swear, I truly know where used big ships are sold."

Seeing Wang Defa like that, Ye Cheng felt a bit uncertain,

Then you say, where is there?

Just as he finished speaking, Ye Cheng added another sentence,

First, make it clear, this is you voluntarily saying it; even if you say it, I won't give you money.

Wang Defa gave an awkward laugh,

Lao Er, look at what you're saying, we're from the same village, what money could I ask for? Last time voting I also voted for you.

Okay, okay, got it. Hurry up and say it, or I'm leaving.

I say, I'm telling you, I have a buddy who works at the Fishery Company; back when we drank, he told me that the Fishery Company's boats have a service life, and when it's up they have to be scrapped.