Chapter 74: Sold Out, Heading Back to the Village

He had seen the seafood in the market; it was seafood, but mainly dead fish, there was nothing to be done—once hauled up, after a long time it was hard to keep fresh.

So live ones, especially fresh ones, can fetch a much higher price.

It's even a bit higher than Boss Qian's purchase price, but it also depends on luck.

Today's mouse grouper I caught isn't really suitable to sell at the market—it's too expensive.

If I hadn't run into that wealthy old professor, I'd probably have to take it back to Boss Qian.

Another thing is selling at the vegetable market takes a long time, and the scales are often set high, indirectly causing some loss.

I also don't want to mess with those nine‑catty or seven‑catty scales—it's too underhanded.

All in all, the income is a bit higher than selling to Boss Qian, but it takes more time and requires more effort.

But...

The market also has an advantage—there are pretty women.

If I can't do it tomorrow I'll come back and try again—just that damned Boss Qian, turning off his phone while sleeping, totally unprofessional.

As a leader of a big factory with a 996,007 schedule, what I hate most is subordinates who shut off their phones.

After breakfast, Ye Cheng found a quiet spot and counted his money.

I hadn't kept track earlier, I didn't have much cash on me before, now I have a total of 4700 yuan—I guess I made about 4600 from the sale.

Not bad, five.

After finally making it to the city, Ye Cheng strolled around again and bought a few aerators; these can keep the fish alive as long as possible.

Also there's a headlamp—if I go out gathering at night, the headlamp is far more convenient than a flashlight.

Ye Cheng also bought some vegetables and meat; the city offers more variety, especially beef, which is only available in the city.

While he was shopping, a call suddenly came in; Ye Cheng saw the number—it was his older brother's home phone, he answered, and it was his sister‑in‑law Jiang Yunxiang calling.

"A Cheng, where are you?"

"Sister‑in‑law, I'm in the city selling fish—what's up, anything wrong?"

Getting a call so early in the morning made Ye Cheng a little nervous, afraid something had happened.

"The guy delivering the water heater has arrived." Jiang Yunxiang's tone was a little excited.

"Oh, here it is then—sister‑in‑law, have them install it for you first, then you can just go straight into my place and let them install it there too; I'll be back shortly."

The water heater arrived—I almost forgot about it.

Having finished his business in town, Ye Cheng rode his beloved little electric scooter home.

After more than half an hour on the way back, his older brother's place already had the installation done.

Two technicians began drilling and installing at his home, while Jiang Yunxiang stood by holding Dou Dou.

"Uncle Second, their drill is powerful—it can bore holes in the wall." Dou Dou, speaking in a childish voice, looked curiously at the technician drilling.

Little boys just like these things—tools, guns, and so on.

Ye Cheng chuckled, "Really? Then take a look at this—isn't it awesome?"

Saying that, he took a toy gun from his motorcycle, pulled the trigger—rat‑tat‑tat‑tat—and a bright, fantastical electronic sound rang out; though it didn't sound like a real gun, it was more than enough for a child.

"Whoa, a submachine gun!" Dou Dou jerked free from his mother's hand, reaching out to grab it.

Ye Cheng snatched the gun back, put on a stern face, and said, "Want to play? Have you finished your writing?"

Dou Dou widened his eyes, nodded quickly, "Uncle Second, I finished my writing this morning—don't believe me? Ask Mom."

Jiang Yunxiang looked at her son with indulgence, then helplessly at her own younger brother‑in‑law, "A Cheng, you keep buying him toys—his heart's run wild."

"Kids ought to have some toys, after all."

"Right, Dou Dou?"

"Mm, yes, yes." Dou Dou's little head bobbed like a chick pecking grain.

"Is Uncle Second good?"

"Uncle Second is good, Uncle Second is the best."

"Then who's better, Uncle Second or Dad?"

As soon as he said that, Jiang Yunxiang rolled her eyes, "Why are you still competing with your brother?"

Over there, Dou Dou pondered for a long time, his little brain about to overheat, before finally squeezing out a sentence,

"Both are good."

"Hahaha, okay, both are good—come on, take it and play."

Ye Cheng handed the gun to Dou Dou; the little nephew, about three feet tall, dashed into the yard, instinctively opened fire on the chives and radishes on the ground, shouting, "Charge! Charge! Take down the devils!"

Ye Cheng nodded approvingly; the kid had spine—not like those later‑generation youths who, after eating their fill, still fawn over the invaders.

They've thrown away their ancestors' faces.

Over here, the two technicians were installing fairly quickly; it's electric, so no gas line needed—just plug it in and it works.

"A Cheng, Xiao Hu says you two were exhausted last night—come over for lunch at noon, don't cook for yourself."

"Sure, I'll take a shower and head over."

Damn it, this new water heater has to be put to use.

Before leaving, Jiang Yunxiang took Ye Cheng's unwashed clothes back with her, knowing he doesn't like doing laundry.

The water heater doesn't heat water very quickly; Ye Cheng finished tidying up, then smoked a cigarette, and only then did it reach 65 degrees.

During this time of gathering at sea, I'm constantly damp—dry then wet, wet then dry—it's miserable.

When the water heater turned on, hot water sprayed over me—what a feeling, every pore opened up, and the day's fatigue largely dissipated.

With the newly bought shampoo and body wash, after washing I'm completely fragrant.

That scent—just as I entered my older brother's house, Dou Dou smelled it,

"Uncle Second, you smell so nice."

That is, Second Uncle is a handsome guy, and handsome guys are fragrant.

Dou Dou moved up beside Ye Cheng, sniffing hard, imitating the adults' intoxicated look.

Ye Cheng chuckled, chuckling, said, "Second Uncle still has some; I'll get some for you so you can also smell nice from now on, okay?"

"Dou Dou is a boy, so he doesn't want to be fragrant; only girls want that."

Children speak without restraint; sometimes Ye Cheng discovers he still likes kids quite a bit, though, of course, raising them himself is another matter.

He had seen plenty of those news reports about homework tutoring sending kids to the emergency room.

"A Cheng, although I only ate a little at noon, I stir-fried a few dishes and steamed some buns." Jiang Yunxiang brought the dishes out from the kitchen.

One plate of stir-fried beef with chili, one plate of scrambled eggs, another plate of stir-fried cabbage, and four or five steamed buns.

The beef was bought by Ye Cheng that morning; it felt as if they had repaid the money, Jiang Yunxiang's hand also relaxed a lot, and the household's food standard rose.

"Sister-in-law, these dishes are enough, but still a little lacking." Ye Cheng took a bun, speaking frankly, he still wasn't used to having buns with dishes.

However, Jiang Yunxiang's buns were steamed very well, soft and fluffy, leavened, and Ye Cheng liked eating this kind.

"A Cheng, you should save the money you earn and stop always buying useless things." Jiang Yunxiang glanced at that electronic toy gun.

"Sister-in-law, it's fine, it's just small change."

"Small change is still money, I heard Xiao Hu say you went to collect the fish traps last night? How was the haul?"