Chapter 404: Only 30 Boxes

He wants everyone to see, buddies are still this badass.

Just past 6 a. m., they returned to the dock, Ye Cheng glanced over, and the Chen family's boat hadn't come back yet; he didn't know what caused the delay.

Seeing Ye Cheng's boat return, the busybodies on the dock all rushed over.

Everyone still remembers last night's big show, and today the Chen family folks are also on the dock, making this another dragon‑tiger showdown.

Chen Jinhai led the Chen family people, over a dozen of them, holding fireworks and firecrackers, standing in the crowd, looking at Ye Cheng with disdain, "What the hell are you showing off for? In a bit we'll also bring back tens of thousands."

Ye Cheng's boat docked, everyone gathered around, each craning their necks, waiting for Ye Cheng to speak.

Ye Cheng gave a slight smile,

"Want to know how much? Come up and move the cargo yourself."

"Oh——" came a cheer from below; they didn't mind the little effort of work, they were all about participation.

In an instant, over twenty people rushed up, they started moving the cargo as soon as they got up, and after coming down they stacked it neatly, afraid they'd lose count later.

"100 boxes, 100 boxes!"

"150, how many more are up there?"

"This is another 200 boxes, how many were there yesterday?"

"Yesterday was 240 boxes, the day before was 200 boxes, I remember it clearly."

"220, any more left?"

"How many boxes are left?"

"230."

"240!"

"245 boxes, 245 boxes!"

The final count was set at 245 boxes, and the whole place erupted in cheers.

Although it's only a few boxes more than yesterday, it's still a breakthrough.

Chen Jinhai stood in the crowd, looking displeased.

This damned Ye Cheng actually managed to get this much again, it makes him show off.

But thinking about it, it's fine—he got a lot, so we definitely got a lot too; we're all on big ships, everyone's the same.

Just then, someone pointed at the sea and shouted:

"Big ship, another big ship is coming back!"

Everyone looked over and saw the Chen family's ship also returning.

Chen Jinhai hurriedly called out,

"Quick, quick, prepare the fireworks, then light the firecrackers, so everyone can see our Chen family's might."

"Okay."

The Chen family brought a few youngsters; several people squeezed to the front, waiting for the Chen family's big ship to dock, then they used lighters to ignite the fireworks in their hands.

Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—

Gorgeous fireworks shot up into the mid‑air, bursting into beautiful fire.

But it's early morning, really you can't see anything worth looking at.

"Lao Er, they're just putting on a show, making it look like they won a prize." Duan Cunsheng stood to the side, speaking contemptuously.

"Exactly, bro, that's a pretentious show‑off; just wait to be slapped in the face."

The crackling of firecrackers sounded, drawing most of the people on the dock over; people naturally love a lively scene, and with firecrackers going off, not coming to watch would be hard to justify.

Chen Jinhai stood in the middle like a groom, his face full of smiles, greeting the familiar and unfamiliar people around him.

The people around were also happy to give him a couple of praises.

"Oh dear, Village Head Chen, congratulations on your wealth!"

"The big ship has docked, we've got tens of thousands in hand!"

Chen Jinhai laughed so happily, thinking of tens of thousands, he might laugh tears out.

The ship finally docked, and Chen Jinhai shouted loudly,

"Jinfa, how is it? How much? Tell everyone."

He wanted everyone to hear how many ribbon crabs the Chen family had caught, hum, making you all go kiss Ye Cheng's smelly feet.

He was extremely excited, but Chen Jinfa had an embarrassed look; he walked up beside Chen Jinhai and said quietly,

"Jinhai, let's talk about it later when we get back."

Chen Jinhai hadn't noticed anything odd yet; he looked dissatisfied at Chen Jinfa and deliberately spoke loudly,

"What's there to fear? We just want to show everyone how many fish our Chen family can catch."

Having said that, he no longer paid attention to Chen Jinfa, waving his hand broadly,

"Come on, if you want to see how much, you can come aboard and help move it."

He's imitating Ye Cheng—when Ye Cheng shouts, a dozen people go up to move stuff, so he can do the same.

And sure enough, a crowd of busybodies rushed up.

Ye Cheng blended into the crowd, seeing Chen Jinhai so confident, he thought the haul couldn't really be that good.

Soon, those people came ashore holding basket after basket of ribbon crabs.

"20 boxes."

"30 boxes."

"Feels like quite a lot."

"Exactly, maybe we can even manage 200 boxes."

But before the onlookers could finish speaking, those busybodies clapped their hands and came down.

Chen Jinhai looked doubtful,

"No, keep going, you don't want to move it anymore; you don't want to see how much we caught?"

One of them pointed meaningfully at the 30 crates on Matou,

"Village Head Chen, it's all moved; if we move more, you'll have to conjure it out of thin air."

"What?" Chen Jinhai exclaimed in shock.

"You're saying there are only 30 crates?"

Chen Jinhai couldn't believe that number; he climbed up, took a look around, and grabbed a few of the people who had gone out to sea to ask.

"Is there still some hidden?"

"Where did you hide it? You dare to hide everyone's stuff—your guts are huge."

Those who had gone out to sea wore bitter expressions,

"Uncle Jinhai, that's all there is; we can't help it, that's what the net brought up, we don't want it either."

Hearing such a definite answer, Chen Jinhai could hardly take it; his legs went weak and he almost fell.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible."

"Others, Ye Cheng can manage 200 crates, how come you only have 30‑odd? You yourselves say how could that be possible."

Chen Jinhai shouted hoarsely.

Losing face.

This is a huge loss of face.

He even set off fireworks and firecrackers.

Alright, now everyone at the dock knows, and soon the whole township will know.

30 crates.

The Chen Family spent 300,000 on a big boat, went out to sea once, and hauled in 30 crates of swimming crabs.

Not to mention the big boat; even their 12‑meter boat, when lucky, can haul in that much.

300,000, 300,000!

Chen Jinfa wore a helpless expression; I'd already told him to go back and talk later, go back and talk later, but he insisted on showing off, and now look—still showing off?

The onlookers probably understood.

This is a disaster.

Actually, speaking of it, such a disaster is quite normal.

Whoever goes out fishing doesn't always hit a jackpot every time—except Ye Cheng, that monster, who's more reliable; others have ups and downs, and frankly, coming up empty isn't rare.

But this time the Chen Family made such a big deal of it and lost face.

Everyone was whispering; this sort of loss of face isn't something to loudly discuss.

Just then, a nasty voice came from the crowd.

"Yo yo yo, let me see how much seafood our village head has hauled in—these firecrackers blew up, the fish are all blown away."

Everyone turned and saw Ye Cheng leading a few people walking in.

Chen Jinhai glared at Ye Cheng with a dark face; the thing one least wants to see in life is your own misfortune while your enemy prospers.

And now, not only has the enemy prospered, but they've come to slap you in the face.