Chapter 71: You watch the fish trap, I'll go sell the fish

However, this place is really dangerous, so Ye Cheng could only pull the fish trap toward the shore, then jump down from the rock and let Xiao Hu help pull it up.

Chen Lao San also came over, helped pull a few times, and hauled the fish trap completely up.

"Wow, mouse grouper."

Ye Cheng hadn't seen it yet, but Chen Lao San pointed at the fish trap and exclaimed.

Indeed, there was a black grouper in the fish trap, its mouth like a mouse's, its body covered in black spots—this is the mouse grouper, known as the king of groupers.

Ye Cheng also got excited—he never expected to have such a high-quality catch.

The two carefully took the mouse grouper out, put it in the water tank, and it was still alive—good, good.

This fish is under two catties, not big, but it's enough—after all, its value lies here.

"Lao Er, you've struck it rich!" Chen Lao San looked at the two with envy.

"How did you come here in the middle of the night?" Ye Cheng countered instead of answering; they had sneaked out, so presumably no one knew.

Chen Lao San laughed and pointed at Ye Cheng: "If you want no one to know, don't do it. Last night when I got up, I saw you two sneaking around, so I came over today to have a look."

"Who's sneaking around? We're just afraid of waking everyone up," Xiao Hu retorted.

"Cut it out—everyone's been watching you go gathering seafood these days; you think I didn't know? My mother's been complaining for two days about having nothing, and it turns out you came here to set fish traps."

Ye Cheng kept working, his face calm, and said: "With so many people, even if there's something, it gets divided up to nothing; whoever wants to go can only set fish traps and rely on luck."

"What Lao Er says is right—I'll come early tomorrow to set a few; you won't mind, will you?" Chen Lao San stared at Ye Cheng.

"Anyone can set fish traps; this isn't a place we newly found, so feel free to come set them—but..."

Having said that, Ye Cheng paused, looked at Chen Lao San with a serious expression, and said: "Each family should mark its own; what belongs to whom stays with whom."

Chen Lao San shook his head, laughed, and said: "Lao Er, you're worrying needlessly; we're all fishermen by generation, we observe the rules—if we messed around like that, nothing could be done."

Ye Cheng merely gave a reminder, then continued sorting the catch.

This trap isn't heavy, but the haul is decent—besides the mouse grouper, there are several orchid crabs and plenty of tiger shrimp, amounting to a small bounty.

After sorting the catch, Ye Cheng threw the fish trap back into the sea, though not as far this time.

Mainly, Chen Lao San's shout scared him; if it happened again, he feared he'd really fall in.

"Xiao Hu, pack up, we're heading back," Ye Cheng told Xiao Hu to start sorting the gear.

"Ah, we're leaving already? Not going to take another look? Do some more gathering?" Chen Lao San said, still a bit reluctant.

Ye Cheng had thought about coming here to gather seafood before; the problem is, the terrain isn't right.

The terrain here is rocky reef; to gather seafood, you have to stand in the water and feel around.

The wind is high, the waves rough, pitch black—never mind whether there are creepy sea rice dumplings down there; you can't even see how deep the water is.

Even if there were a warning system, Ye Cheng wouldn't want to take the risk.

"So dark, you want to go? If you turn into a ghost, don't come looking for us," Ye Cheng retorted.

Chen Lao San looked at the pitch-black sea surface, gave a dry laugh, and said: "I'm not going, Lao Er—is there anything I can help with? I see you've got quite a haul; you two probably can't carry it all."

Having said that, Ye Cheng took a look—there was indeed a lot of stuff.

One water tank, two snakeskin bags, and the road isn't easy to walk.

"Then you take the two snakeskin bags; Xiao Hu and I will carry the water tank."

"Sure, no problem—come on, Xiao Hu, give me the snakeskin bags."

Chen Lao San eagerly helped Xiao Hu shoulder the two snakeskin bags; Ye Cheng and Xiao Hu lifted the water tank, holding the buckets, and the three headed up the mountain together.

On the way out it was fine—empty-handed—but on the way back, carrying the load really made them a bit shaky.

It took them twice as long to get back to the village, and they brought everything to Ye Cheng's home.

It was already past midnight, yet Chen Lao San was still full of energy, rubbing his hands with no sign of leaving.

"Chen Lao San, time to go—are you still planning to sleep with my brother?" Xiao Hu teased.

Chen Lao San gave an embarrassed laugh: "No, just having a look, having a look—Lao Er, your vegetables aren't bad either."

Ye Cheng knew this guy was waiting for him to hand over some benefits.

"Xiao Hu, give Lao San a few sardines," Ye Cheng said, pointing at the snakeskin bag.

Upon hearing there was something, Chen Lao San quickly put on a false show of reluctance: "Oh dear, Lao Er, why be so polite? We're all from the same village—just lending a hand."

Xiao Hu gave him a sideways glance: "So, do you want them or not?"

"Yes, yes—I couldn't possibly refuse what Lao Er gives."

Xiao Hu pulled two sardines from the snakeskin bag to give Chen Lao San, who accepted them with a cheerful grin.

They're not valuable fish, but they can be sold for a little money—or eaten if need be.

Besides, he really was just lending a hand.

Chen Lao San took the fish, thanked him, and went home.

Xiao Hu began to worry: "Brother, you gave him fish—he probably won't tell the villagers, right?"

After all the trouble of swapping gathering for fish traps, Xiao Hu really feared it would be ruined again.

Ye Cheng said calmly: "You're overthinking—tomorrow that spot will definitely be full of fish traps; just wait."

"I'll go to town early tomorrow to sell the fish; you watch our fish traps—got it?"

Xiao Hu instantly understood: "Okay, brother, I'll keep an eye on our fish traps."

Frankly, Ye Cheng really doesn't trust these villagers; now everyone's jealous of him, so it's possible they'd band together to pull his fish traps.

"No punishment for the crowd," as the saying goes—if someone takes the lead, Ye Cheng thinks the likelihood is high.

After reminding Xiao Hu not to fight and to go early, Ye Cheng lay down early and fell asleep.

At around five o'clock, Ye Cheng woke up.

He wanted to get to town early to sell the fish, not for any other reason—just afraid the catch would die and be unsellable.

Fortunately he'd bought a motorcycle, making the trip to town easy, so he didn't need to rely on anyone else.

Ye Cheng tied the water tank and two snakeskin bags onto the motorcycle's rear seat; this thing can actually carry quite a load—all this stuff can be hauled together.

Around 6, Ye Cheng left; the motorcycle's roar rang out amid dog barks as he rode out of Baiyun Village.

Even early in the morning, there were few cars on the road; Ye Cheng only reached the city at 6:30.

When he rode to Boss Qian's, the gate was tightly locked.

Well, I forgot—they run a seafood restaurant, not a breakfast place; they don't even open this early.