Chapter 441: Gathering Information at the Shipyard

Well then, I'll go out to sea with you tomorrow, teach you to set the longline fishing gear; I'll prepare the equipment first, and you'll eventually have to learn it.

Damn, Uncle Duan, you're reliable. Ye Cheng laughed.

By the way, prepare 50 fish traps; we'll set them together later, we'll go out to sea this afternoon, and the day after tomorrow morning we'll go collect them.

Sure! We'll listen to you, Uncle Duan.

To be honest, having an old fisherman like Uncle Duan is pretty good; after all, Ye Cheng before had only seen many things, which doesn't mean he could do them.

Duan Chunsheng left, Ye Cheng played a game for a while then slept; tomorrow he still has things to do.

The next morning, Ye Cheng got up.

Into the city!

He wanted to go into the city to ask something.

After entering the city, he first went to the market boss's wife and ate a bowl of noodles; this time he didn't dare ask for their hometown's chili, just got medium spicy and called it a day, and it was quite smooth.

Actually, noodles and pasta are delicious, but in modern times they've been labeled as carbs, wasting so much flavor.

After breakfast, Ye Cheng checked the time; it was past eight, about time.

He got on his motorcycle, rode along the river all the way, and arrived at the shipyard.

This was the shipyard where Ye Cheng bought his boat.

After arriving, he made a call, and soon Xiao Fang came out of the shipyard.

Hello, Mr. Ye, why do you have time to come today? Xiao Fang still had that salesman's smile.

Oh, I'd like to look at the boats again; I have a friend who also wants to buy one. Ye Cheng said casually, as for who the friend is, who cares.

Sure, do you want to see new or used boats this time?

We can only afford used boats; ordinary fishermen like us can't afford new ones. Ye Cheng said, proactively passing over a cigarette.

With you saying that, if you were an ordinary fisherman, I'd eat this boat; ordinary fishermen couldn't afford such a big boat, let alone pay in full.

The two exchanged compliments, and Xiao Fang, familiar with the route, led Ye Cheng to look at the boats.

They were still those used boats, no different from when Ye Cheng last came to look.

Haven't sold a few boats in this long time? Ye Cheng teased.

It's a big-ticket item, not something from a mall; how could it sell that fast?

Seeing the conversation winding down, Ye Cheng suddenly asked,

I heard boat prices have gone up now?

Xiao Fang froze for a moment,

No, it's still the same price.

Ah, earlier some people from our village came to buy, went back saying prices had risen, and he said the ones he bought were tens of thousands more expensive than mine?

Impossible, I've sold just two boats in this period, both delivered to your village's dock, each for 300,000.

Xiao Fang said firmly, then after speaking he pointed to one of the boats,

That's the one; they bought it, then a few days later sold it back to us, and judging by its condition it still looks new, so I only deducted a little depreciation.

Isn't that the case? Ye Cheng suddenly raised his voice,

He told us the shipyard people are bad, really pushing down prices; could it not be you, Xiao Fang, who's selling?

Upon hearing this, Xiao Fang got anxious,

Damn! I was proud to have raised the price for him, yet he dares say I suppressed it; damn it, if I'd known I'd really have suppressed it.

Really or not, that boat was bought by dozens of households in our village pooling money; each family lost a lot, and now they're constantly stabbing you in the back.

Damn his ancestors, if I'm lying may thunder strike; wait, I'll get the contract for you to see.

Saying that, Xiao Fang didn't bother, just sprinted back to the office and quickly brought over two contracts.

Look, this is the purchase contract, clearly written in black and white as 300,000.

And this one is the sale contract; I gave him 270,000.

Ye Cheng took it and examined it carefully; the signature and seal were Chen Jinfa's, those characters written crookedly, hard to forge.

Indeed, that guy Chen Jinfa made money from it, not a little.

No one said how many Chen family members sold it, but the purchase price was 320,000, which he remembers clearly.

In other words, just from buying the boat, Chen Jinfa pocketed 20,000; adding the kickback from selling the boat, heck, no wonder he could come up with 40,000.

He collected 270,000, that's not low. Ye Cheng said.

It's not low anyway; when I come back I still have to repaint it; if he weren't here pretending to be poor and crying poverty, I'd definitely have pressed it down to 250,000.

Xiao Fang said, full of indignation,

Brother, you need to speak up for me; I did a good deed, being blamed like this is too unfair.

That's true; I'll take a photo and bring it back as evidence, damn it, how can we let this bad reputation stand?

Saying that, Ye Cheng pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of the price and signature; although the phone's resolution isn't high, capturing text is still fine.

After taking the photo, Ye Cheng chatted with Xiao Fang a bit, pretending to have learned about current boat prices, then rode away on his vehicle.

He had earlier suspected Chen Jinfa was skimming off the top; now it's confirmed, you bastard, wait till you see what I have in store for you, messing with my boat.

Back in the village it was already noon; Ye Cheng went straight to Li Quezi's, after a while came out, leaving Li Quezi with an awkward expression.

He wanted Li Quezi to spread the news; this guy at first hemmed and hawed, saying it would easily get him beaten.

However, under Ye Cheng's threats and inducements, he could only compromise.

After finishing with Li Quezi, Ye Cheng went to Xiao Hu's and showed him the photo.

Xiao Hu looked at it and immediately laughed,

Damn, brother, Chen Jinfa is doomed; you better hurry up and post this at the village entrance.

Holy shit!

Ye Cheng thought about it, and it really is ha.

I didn't think of this, and I don't need to let Li Quezi risk danger to do it.

Xiao Hu, you can do it—after being with me for a while, your brain has gotten smarter.

Brother, I don't like hearing you say that—I'm naturally smart, okay.

Okay, okay, you're the smartest, damn it, I'll go print a few more copies.

I don't have a printer, so Ye Cheng has to rush back to town; this can't be done in the countryside, since printing there is known by acquaintances, and if I ever get exposed it'll be trouble.

Ye Cheng printed a dozen or so copies, damn it—let's see if you're finished.

After printing, Ye Cheng directly gave the paper to Li Quezi, letting him find an opportunity to put it up.

Li Quezi saw it had become a sticker and was no longer worried; he could sneak out at night when no one's around to put it up, and no one would notice.

Moreover, he'd put it toward the Chen family's side and also at the village entrance, so you couldn't tear it off.

In the afternoon, Duan Chunsheng came to call Ye Cheng, riding a tricycle loaded with five plastic basins, each filled with a big tangle of thread, and the basin edges densely packed with fishhooks.

Uncle, is this longline fishing? Why also have a basin?