Chapter 456: Everyone Says You Like Widows

There was no choice; I really had to rehang it, and also take down everything I'd hung before—equivalent to adding an extra step.

It seems next time I really can't prepare the bait ahead of time, but at least I won't need to redo the fishing line on the spot.

The six lines just hauled in, Lin Zhan piled them to one side, to be organized by Han Xiaotao later.

Hanging the bait took a full one and a half hours—Ye Cheng's eyes were practically glowing green from it.

I can't do this, damn—if I'd known I'd have to hang the bait myself, I'd have used six lines.

Yeah, yeah, brother—next time we can't use six lines, my eyes can't take it either." Xiao Hu, such a tough guy, his eyes also swelled up, looking like a big bear.

You guys just lack training—hurry back after finishing; it's not early anymore.

The three tidied up and headed back the way they came.

Back at the dock, I didn't run into Lao He this time; Zhou Lao Ban came over to collect, and all the fish were sorted by size and type.

Horse-head fish and yellow aunt fish were the most abundant, followed by sea bream and grouper, plus peelskin fish and sea eel, plus the catch from the fish traps—over 24,000 in total.

Adding the previous haul, total sales came to nearly 40,000.

This time Ye Cheng took 20,000, while Xiao Hu and Duan Chunsheng each received 10,000.

Points: 1700

Savings: 430,005, external debt: 10,000, mortgage: 300,000

Although I made 20,000, I feel a bit worn out—I left at dawn and only returned after dinner, feeling like I had no time to rest.

Back home, Han Xiaotao was already waiting at the door; seeing Ye Cheng return, she rushed over and unloaded the load.

A Cheng, how did the lines I coiled today turn out?

Hmm." Ye Cheng nodded. "No problem—just don't put the bait on yet; once outside the wind will dry it, we'll do it together on the boat later.

Ah? It'll dry in the wind—should I come aboard and help you guys?

Forget it—there are already three people on the boat; four would be too many.

Three people, plus the fish trap and longline fishing line sets, is a bit cramped.

Oh, then Brother Cheng, I'll still bring it over in the morning tomorrow.

Hmm, this time I added six sets, which belong to Uncle Duan; you helped with them, I'll return them to him later, and I'll add 60 to your pay.

Thanks, Brother Cheng—I'm off.

After saying that, Han Xiaotao pedaled her tricycle and pulled the load back.

This job is pretty good—100 bucks a day, and during the day I'm free to bring the kid.

After seeing Han Xiaotao off, Ye Cheng went to Li Quezi's; the happy water was almost gone, so he needed to stock up.

As soon as he entered, Ye Cheng noticed that guy's gaze was a bit lecherous.

Hmm, although he's usually lecherous.

But today he was especially lecherous.

Moreover, Ye Cheng faintly felt that this lecherousness might be related to him.

Just let it out if you've got gas." Ye Cheng said irritably, then grabbed a bottle of happy water from the fridge, twisted it open and drank; the bubbles rushed in—so refreshing.

Hehe, actually it's not a good fart; are you sure you want to hear it?

Just listen—what else can you do?

Then I'll say it—first, a disclaimer: this is what I heard, not what I said.

Li Quezi actually tried to distance himself; looks like it really is related to me.

Speak." Ye Cheng said, leaving no room for objection.

It's just that there's some gossip in the village today, and it's about you." Li Quezi gave Ye Cheng a playful look.

Hmm, continue.

They're saying you and the Chen family's widow have an affair with Han Xiaotao, and that you went to the widow's house in the middle of the night.

Ye Cheng pursed his lips, thinking to himself, "What they said isn't wrong—I really did go at night."

Something happened, but not much.

Is that all?" Ye Cheng said lightly.

Pretty much, and also they say you're close with Widow Zhang, that you just like widows.

Pfft!

Ye Cheng almost spat out a mouthful of cola.

Damn, when did I become someone who only likes widows? That's Cao Cao.

Although Cao Cao is also a tough guy, his reputation is truly awful.

Lao Er, could what they're saying possibly be true?" Li Quezi said tentatively.

Would my explanation even work? I say it's not—would these people believe it?

Then you really do have a leg with them?" Li Quezi's voice rose excitedly.

What a load of crap—I went that night to find Han Xiaotao, asked her to coil ten sets of longline fishing lines; I was giving her work, but the Chen family ignores her, I give her some work and they still complain.

You, don't listen to wind and mistake it for rain—I'm leaving.

Village gossip like that is everywhere; Ye Cheng didn't think much of it, bought his stuff and left.

The next day, Ye Cheng hadn't even gotten up when he heard a sound in the courtyard; he got up to see it was Han Xiaotao, delivering the extended fishing line.

Ye Cheng's eyes were still swollen from yesterday's bait‑hanging.

You came?" Ye Cheng said, yawning.

Yeah, Brother Cheng, I was afraid you'd go out to sea early, so I brought it over early." Han Xiaotao was in good spirits; it seems not having to bait the hooks makes this job much easier.

Brother Cheng, these six sets are the ones you said you'd return to someone, and these ten sets are what we're taking out to sea today.

Alright, I'll give you the money." Ye Cheng went inside, pulled out 160 bucks and handed it to her, then said,

"You've worked hard!"

"It's not hard work; this bit of work is nothing."

Han Xiaotao happily took the money, thanked him profusely, then left.

Ye Cheng was about to go in when he saw a shadow flicker at the corner.

He planted his feet and shouted sternly,

"Who's there? Sneaking around, come out!"

A soft rustling sound came from the corner, followed by a cough, and two people walked out from the corner.

Ye Cheng took a look, and his fierce aura instantly vanished, leaving him speechless.

"Big brother, sister-in-law, what are you doing? You're still keeping an eye on me?"

Ye Guowei and his wife walked over a bit embarrassedly, Ye Guowei gave Ye Cheng a stern look, then hemmed and hawed for a while, not knowing what to say.

Finally, Jiang Yunxiang spoke up.

"A Cheng, your brother is worried you'll get involved with that widow; yesterday someone in the village said they saw you going to the widow's house at night, so we came to check."

I did go, but only to have her help me prepare the longline fishing line; this thing is too bothersome, I couldn't be bothered to do it myself. Ye Cheng pointed at the things in the courtyard and said.

Ye Guowei looked, then spoke in a muffled voice,

"Um, your sister-in-law could do this too, or if not, Aunt Qian could; you went at midnight to see a widow, if word gets out, that'll sound bad."

"Oh dear, my big brother, what era is this? It's feudal society. I'm just considering her difficulties."

Facing his older brother and sister-in-law, Ye Cheng really couldn't get angry; he could only comfort them properly, then made an excuse saying he needed to rush out to sea to earn money, and only then did he see them off.