Chapter 1253: Stamping a Seal

The workers excitedly looked around on the boat. Although it wasn't their boat, they were rare to see, and by the way, they grew their knowledge.

Such a big boat, and a fresh-catch boat, don't know how much money it will earn in the future.

They chattered and discussed endlessly, but after the boat opened for a long time, the monotonous scenery made them tired. Some returned to the boat to rest and make up for sleep. Those who didn't have enough beds just started a game of cards on the deck.

Some took clothes and covered their faces, and some lay directly on the deck to sleep.

Ye Yaodong captained the boat wholeheartedly along the way. Without his father following, no one took turns with him, so he could only do it himself.

It took from night departure to evening to arrive. It was also because of changing boats in the town and refueling, which delayed the work; otherwise, according to the speed of the fresh-catch boat, it should have arrived before the sun set.

Except for a few old hands from last year on the boat, half of them followed other boats last year, and the remaining five or six hadn't been here.

He brought 16 people here this trip. Two couldn't go into the water. They were promised to be brought over before, used as manpower to work on the fresh-catch boat. Now they can't collect goods, but they still have to take turns leaving people at home to cook and watch the house.

With so many people, it's not too many. Now that they start fishing, four waves of people take turns going into the water.

When fishing for sea urchins, some people go to the small boat to fish, some people put on the fresh-catch boat to collect goods, and two people have to be left to watch the house and cook. It's not too many.

After arriving at the place, he moved his bicycle brought from home off the boat, letting everyone wait on the boat first.

He went to borrow a flatbed cart or tractor; otherwise, relying on them to move the materials on the boat was too troublesome, and relying on two legs to walk was far.

At this time, the sky was already dark, and everyone was hungry. Ye Yaodong went to the house he set up in this city first.

The twins had already finished work and were eating at home. Seeing Ye Yaodong open the courtyard door with a key, they were all surprised, then hurriedly put down their chopsticks and got up to welcome him.

"Brother Dong, you're here? Why didn't you call in advance, we'll prepare well..."

"Yeah, thought you guys would arrive at the end of the month anyway."

"Yeah, advanced. There is still a pile of people outside the pier, you guys go cook first, cook a meal for 17 people, I'll go to the factory to find a car to see."

The two hurriedly nodded and agreed.

After explaining, Ye Yaodong pedaled his bicycle to the lighter factory again.

The lighter factory at night was brightly lit, machines were running, and a group of workers were working on the assembly line. It didn't stop for 24 hours here.

He had been here many times, and people in the factory also knew that there was him, the No. 3 boss. The cars in the factory at night were all parked there, not driven out, just right for him to borrow.

Now there is a truck and a tractor in the factory, which are specially used to deliver goods to surrounding towns.

The things he brought back, the tractor could finish pulling, and others, although many, could stand by squeezing, or sit on the sundries, which was barely okay.

Actually, it was mainly because he hadn't driven a truck, and hadn't learned...

After saying hello, he drove the tractor away to pick up people at the pier first.

Tumbled, returned and returned the tractor, then drove the bicycle back to eat.

Others had already settled down, and his exclusive room was still there.

After eating, he told everyone to go out to sea early tomorrow morning, let them rest well at night, and went back to the room to lie down casually.

Tired to death, finally arrived at the place after tossing for a day, he was too lazy to move, didn't take a bath, lay down and fell asleep. Anyway, except for his wife, no one would dislike him.

When he fell asleep, it was still noisy outside, feeling that it didn't stop in the middle of the night, but when he got up early in the morning, more than half of the people were already eating there.

"Are you guys sleeping, or not sleeping?"

He was a bit suspicious that these people didn't sleep at all, played cards all night?

"Slept, why didn't sleep, still have to work today."

"It didn't stop in the middle of the night, be careful, going into the water is not a joke, must rest well and keep the spirit high. In the future, you can't play cards after 10 o'clock at night."

Definitely couldn't be stopped. A group of big men, all young and strong, gathered together and didn't play cards, would also find other fun to play. That might as well play some small cards.

"Good."

"Then sleep early at night..."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

After everyone finished eating, Ye Yaodong led them to the pier.

The addition of two more boats at the pier also drew comments from the local fishermen; the small boats were fine and didn't stand out, but such a large fresh-catch collection boat surprised everyone.

A 34-meter boat is an eye-catching presence at any city pier nowadays; while not necessarily one of the top few, they aren't exactly common either. Most large boats passing through only dock to resupply and usually leave very quickly.

Therefore, although the fishermen on the surrounding banks would discuss it a couple of times when they saw it, they were also in a hurry to head out to sea, so for the moment, no one recognized Ye Yaodong.

When Ye Yaodong led a group of people in the small trawler to the sea trench, there were some other small boats lingering and drifting nearby, but they moved away after a short while.

This location is now public knowledge. With the fishing season almost upon them, many fishing boats come here to linger and take a look first, which is considered normal.

After he arrived, he chose a spot and let the others wait on the boat while he and Chen Shi went into the water first to scout the situation.

It had been nearly a year since he last came, and he didn't know if the situation below was still the same as last year, or if there were still hairtail fish like last year.

After Ye Yaodong and Chen Shi went into the water, they looked at that deep sea trench and felt only familiarity, without a shred of fear.

Once they reached the inside of the sea trench, the bottom was still covered with patches of black, thorny spheres. The two of them nimbly began picking up iron claws, hooking the sea urchins above and dropping them into the net bags.

When they came down, they had long been fully prepared; they certainly wouldn't go back up empty-handed.

When the two of them filled the net bags and went back up, the people on the boat cheered.

Most of them were following Ye Yaodong for the first time; last year, they had only watched from afar while following other fishing boats.

Ye Yaodong only went down once for the first time, and afterwards, he let the others go down, four people at a time, while he stayed on the boat to oversee things.

Since he had hired so many people, there was no reason for him to do the work himself. It was inevitable to go down and scout the situation the first time, but unfortunately, no hairtail fish were found this year, which left him feeling a little regretful.

However, the equipment had been increased this year, so the earnings were naturally doubled as well.

On the first day out, they worked until the sun set behind the mountains before Ye Yaodong shouted to finish work and return with the boat.

The boss collecting goods at the pier was already an old acquaintance; seeing the large batch of sea urchins, he knew Ye Yaodong had come again.

Many fishermen on the shore also knew him; after all, everyone had known for the past two years that only he had the ability to harvest so many sea urchins.

Ye Yaodong smiled and greeted the fishermen on the pier enthusiastically. You don't hit a smiling face, so most people smiled back and exchanged a few pleasantries.

Some could even joke and ask if he was farming these sea urchins, since he came to collect them as soon as the harvest season arrived.

He also jokingly echoed, "How did you know? These are indeed farmed by me. Our sea area here is suitable for sea urchin farming."

"Really or fake?"

Many people were skeptical.

"Of course it's true. Who knows, in two years, we might have large-scale sea urchin farming here."

"If you were talking about farming jellyfish, I'd believe it. I heard people say they seem to be testing it..."

"If jellyfish are being tested, why is it impossible for sea urchins?"

Ye Yaodong asked back, leaving everyone confused and thinking these sea urchins were really farmed by him.

He wasn't actually just talking; sea urchins can indeed be farmed.

However, it's usually farmed in the north, and southern farming wouldn't happen until after the 21st century, though they are different varieties. He intended to give a hint; maybe it could save them a few decades of detours.

The East China Sea in the Fujian-Zhejiang region also produces purple sea urchins, and after the 21st century, a certain county achieved great success in farming them.

Thinking this way, he also acted this way.

After selling the goods and returning, he told everyone that they would go out to sea again after lunch tomorrow, as he had to take the villagers' fishing application reports to the Ocean Bureau for submission tomorrow morning.

He should have gone today, but he thought that since he had already arrived, one day wouldn't make a difference, so he would check the situation first.

Now he could take some sea urchin harvest and local specialties brought from home to visit Zeng Weimin, and by the way, ask him, though he felt it was a bit uncertain.

Zeng Weimin is not Director Chen; he is a leader directly in the Ocean Bureau with such great power. Zeng Weimin is from the Coast Guard, which is a different field, and he is also from out of town.

But he could mention it, and then see.

Thinking this, after returning home, he put the money away, then took out paper and pen, and started writing the application report with great effort.

He had already written it once, so he had experience in writing it.

Since he is the vice president of the local fishery association, he has to put in some effort and do his part.

After finishing writing, his heart stirred, and he wrote a second copy.

Just as he finished writing, he heard the loud voice of Fang Jingfu calling from the courtyard.

"Ye Yaodong, Ye Yaodong, President Ye..."

"Coming..."

"You are really a busy man! You came yesterday but didn't say you'd go to the factory to sit for a while and find me. Today you ran out to sea directly. It's my loss that I heard about it this morning and ran over, only to find an empty house."

"Wasn't it because I wanted to know the situation at sea earlier? Anyway, you must have known I arrived. You must be busy during the day. Look, isn't this time quite good? We can drink and chat while not delaying things. Come, come, come, sit down and talk."

Ye Yaodong pulled Fang Jingfu toward the table and asked someone to fill up the rice wine he had brought.

"I didn't expect your customs to be the same as mine, drinking rice wine too."

"Most are about the same, since they are two adjacent provinces. I brought you the local specialty, dried cuttlefish and cuttlefish eggs, when I came yesterday..."

Fang Jingfu raised an eyebrow, "We have those here too."

"Oh, then never mind..."

"I want them, I want them. Since you brought them, it would be a waste not to take them."

"I can give them to others; it's better to take more to the leaders. You take the sea urchins; I kept two baskets of sea urchins, you can take one basket back later."

"That works too..."

The two started drinking and chatting. Most of the time, it was Fang Jingfu, the chatterbox, doing the talking. However, he had to let him talk more so that Ye Yaodong could understand the situation in the factory over the past six months.

At the same time, Ye Yaodong also ordered another 50,000 lighters from him, but he would have to go to the factory tomorrow to choose the designs himself.

Over the past six months, Fang Jingfu had hired another art teacher and created many lighter designs, and every time he came, he was dazzled by the choices.

This time, he also thought about bringing a batch back when he returned in two months.

When they chatted later, he also showed the application form he had just written to Fang Jingfu and told him his idea about suggesting farming.

Relying on the sea to eat from the sea is fine, but marine resources will slowly become scarce, so farming is inevitable.

Even if there were no fishing ban period to give the ocean time to recuperate, marine resources would have long been unable to support humanity's massive overfishing, and farming can also provide more for human needs.

In coastal areas, the conditions for farming are inherently unique. As long as you find the right species and start farming early, being one step ahead, the first person to eat crab will definitely be among the first to get rich.

Fang Jingfu listened to him talk eloquently and heard him say that his hometown had already started various types of farming, and he also felt it made too much sense.

Usually, after drinking, everything people say is nonsense, but they will also feel it makes sense.

Fang Jingfu slapped the form on the table, "You're right, I support you!"

Saying this, he took out his personal seal from his pocket and stamped the form.

"Submit it tomorrow! I'll have my father and the others study it then!"

Ye Yaodong was a bit stunned by his act of stamping the personal seal, but he felt that this was also fine, as it meant he had gained support. This local guy was much more useful than his words.

"Wait, there's another form, exactly the same. I'll go into the room and get it. Can you stamp that one too?"

"Sure."

Ye Yaodong went into the room and brought out the other form. At the same time, he also took out his own personal seal and stamped it.

"Here's one for you. You can give it directly to your father tomorrow. I'll take the remaining one to report to the association tomorrow and submit it together with the application form."

"No problem, I'll help you get it straight to the top."

"Okay."