Chapter 473: Still have to fight a bit more

Fortunately, the typhoon had just passed these past two days, and for some reason, the temperature didn't rise immediately, nor was there any sun, so the seafood wouldn't spoil by nightfall.

But to maintain freshness, Ye Yaodong still rode his bicycle, intending to find A Cai's wife to buy crushed ice, and incidentally, keep the crabs at their collection point for a few hours to avoid them dying at home.

It was too much trouble to buy a small amount of scraps at the ice factory; anyway, their collection point would always partition off a small two or three-square-meter space specifically for storing ice blocks. They had also received goods yesterday, so there should still be some crushed ice left.

His second brother had just asked his wife to buy some ice while looking for A Cai.

After organizing these goods and preserving them with ice, he went to apply for a tractor. Once everything was arranged, it was already dark, and only then did he sit down to eat with peace of mind.

Lin Xiuqing watched him busy running back and forth, and only after everyone else had finished eating did he finally sit down, so she couldn't help but complain.

"Big brother and second brother want to buy a shop, how did it end up being so much trouble for you, running back and forth like this..."

She moved the dishes on the table toward him, only to find they had already gone cold. "I'll heat the dishes up for you..."

"No need, it's midsummer, it doesn't matter if the dishes are cold; as long as the rice is hot, it's fine." Ye Yaodong was also starving, shoveling rice and dishes into his mouth in large mouthfuls, his mouth so full that his speech was slurred.

"It's because I want to take the opportunity to collect some goods and sell a batch in the city; it has nothing to do with them. I'm just helping to arrange the tractor, since I have to bring goods anyway."

Lin Xiuqing thought about it and felt it made sense, so she quickly shut her mouth. "Mm, eat quickly, walk around a bit after eating to digest before taking a bath and sleeping. I've already boiled the water."

"Mm, you've all eaten, right?"

"All eaten, and the baths are all taken, only you are left. Eat all the dishes, otherwise, they'll just have to be thrown away."

"Mm."

Ye Yaodong polished off the remaining rice and dishes, and after handing the bowls and chopsticks to Lin Xiuqing to clean up, he planned to take a few types of seafood to find some friends.

In the afternoon, when he was collecting goods at his doorstep, they had also curiously come over to take a look. He had been busy and didn't have time to explain in detail, so now was the perfect time for a stroll.

He also intended to mention a few words to them; anyway, it was the same old spiel. As for whether they had any ideas, that was up to them. If they wanted to, they could go together at night.

However, in his opinion, A Zheng and Xiao Xiao definitely didn't have the money to buy. The debt for buying their boat had only just been paid off; they certainly couldn't scrape together that sum of money, even if it was just to pay a deposit first.

Without a doubt, both of them shook their heads, but this didn't affect them taking the opportunity to drink.

Each brought a jug of rice wine, some peanuts and edamame, and then went to Fatty's place to pack up the braised food left over from his dinner, as well as stir-fried pork kidneys and such. The few of them chatted as they walked, heading straight to A Guang's house.

It had been a while since they had drunk and chatted, and Ye Yaodong also took the opportunity to go see his younger sister.

Ye Huimei's belly was already very large, bulging out even while wearing a loose dress.

He didn't ask her to help process it; they could do it themselves. Anyway, they were very familiar with A Guang's place, and the seafood they brought only needed to be blanched, which was very simple.

"When are you due?"

Ye Huimei supported her waist with one hand and touched her belly with the other, smiling as she said, "Two more months, early in the eighth lunar month, it'll be September in the solar calendar."

"That's soon. If A Guang isn't home and you need anything, remember to tell his sister to go to our house and find Mother. If Mother isn't there, go find your three sisters-in-law; they are at home all day anyway."

"I know."

"I heard you spent 3,000 yuan to buy a shop in the city?"

"Mm, your big brother and second brother want to buy one too. I have to go to the city with them tonight."

A Guang was surprised. All three brothers-in-law wanted to buy one?

Ye Yaodong explained again, and incidentally chatted in detail with A Guang and the others for a few words.

A Guang's father, having nothing to do, also joined them for a couple of drinks.

He stated firmly, "The shops in this wholesale market are good, just a bit expensive. This could buy a boat, and the shops haven't even been built yet; it doesn't look as stable as buying a boat."

"Doesn't the family already have a boat? That market isn't small; anyway, it's only a matter of time before it develops."

"That's true. As long as the shop can be utilized, earning money slowly is also fine. It's just that it's too far away, and it's not convenient for us to go out. Anyway, since you've already bought it, it's still an asset."

Hearing Pei Fu say this, Ye Yaodong knew he didn't think much of it either, so he let it be and didn't need to say anything more.

A Guang, however, said, "My father and I plan to buy another boat. I heard from my aunt that the neighbor of my uncle's brother-in-law fell off a ladder while repairing roof tiles after the typhoon, and now he plans to sell his boat to pay for medical treatment."

"Ah, that's so miserable? And falling off a ladder..."

"Don't you already have one boat? Are you planning to hire someone if you buy another one?"

"Yes, we plan to hire a few more acquaintances so two boats can earn money at the same time."

A Zheng said enviously, "You guys are really rich. You already have one boat and want to buy another. Xiao Xiao and I are still two people sharing one boat. After A Guang changed his name, things have really been smooth sailing. It makes me want to change my name too."

"Yeah, maybe I should go back and find a fortune teller to calculate when I can get rich? See where I should go to kowtow?" Xiao Xiao touched his chin, speaking as if it were a serious matter.

Fatty rolled his eyes. "If kowtowing somewhere could make you rich, I could stay on my knees forever."

"Why don't you say you'll cut off the meat on your body as an offering?"

"That won't do, that would hurt. It took me nearly 30 years to grow this much meat."

Ye Yaodong ignored their banter, feeling somewhat tempted, but there was nowhere to buy a boat right now.

He had just bought a shop and couldn't afford a very large boat. As for the boat he currently had, it would be fine to buy another one similar to it.

"In-law, A Guang, I think if you plan to buy another boat, you might as well find someone to partner with... Hey... not partnering with someone to buy a boat... listen to me finish first..."

Seeing Pei Fu wanted to interrupt him, Ye Yaodong quickly explained, "I mean, you buy the boat and then find someone to partner with. You provide the boat, he provides the labor and effort. The catch can be split 50-50, or you take 60 and he takes 40; anything more would be a bit harsh. It's just like the tenant farmers of the past; the labor and fuel costs are all on them, you only need to provide the boat."

"It doesn't matter who he calls to work with him; this way, it's also more convenient for you. It's also better for the partner; he doesn't have to take orders from others. How much is a boatman's daily wage? This is more cost-effective than being hired as a boatman."

"After this partnership, if they catch more, they get a bigger share; if they catch less, they can pay a little less rent. If they don't go out to sea, they don't have to pay rent. It's quite friendly."

"It's also good for you; you don't have to hire a fixed number of people, and if they don't go out to sea, you don't have to pay wages. Anyway, as long as the weather is good and the boat moves, everyone has money to split and everyone has income."

In his previous life, there were people in their village who did this. If they had two or three boats in their hands, they didn't need to do much work; they just had to wait for the boats to return to port, pick up the goods, and sell them.

A Guang's eyes lit up after hearing his suggestion. "This is good! It's equivalent to more pay for more work, and I don't have to worry about my father not being able to work in a few years and me not being able to manage two boats."

Pei Fu pondered it in his heart and also felt his suggestion was feasible.

Anyway, he had to hire people, so it was better to hire someone to partner with. The whole boat would be left to the other party for independent fishing, and he would take half or 60% of the sold goods as rent. This was good for both sides; the other party could earn a little more money, and he could also save some trouble.

Xiao Xiao couldn't help but give a thumbs up. "Your brain is still the most active. This idea is strong. In the future, if I have money, I'll just buy two boats and leave them there to generate money, and I can stay at home and count money with my feet up."

"That won't do, you still have to have your own people go pick up the goods, to avoid people hiding the good stuff."

"That's true!"

Pei Fu fell into deep thought. "We'll calculate it later."

With that, he stopped drinking, finished the little bit left in his bowl, stood up, and went to ponder it himself.

Ye Yaodong actually also wanted to buy another boat to leave out to generate money, but boats were hard to buy right now, and he felt that buying a shop in the market had more appreciation potential!

The shop was a ready-made opportunity that he had just happened to encounter.

Although the immediate returns weren't as fast as a boat, a shop in a wholesale market was rare and hard to find; this was a long-term benefit.

Thinking this way, he wanted to buy another one...

Once this opportunity was gone, there would be no such shop. Two shops could be divided between his two sons in the future, and for his daughter, he could give jewelry or distribute the family property well when there was more of it later.

As for boats, if he encountered one, he could indeed buy another one; that would show returns immediately.

Ye Yaodong drank wine while pondering in his heart. The opportunity to buy a shop was rare, and thinking that the family's savings were enough, he could still have plenty left over after buying another one.

After finishing a mouthful of wine, he looked at the stir-fried pork kidneys on the table and couldn't help but eat a few more mouthfuls to nourish his waist first...

He would have to grind well with his wife when he went back later...

Just as he was eating non-stop, his chopsticks were suddenly tapped by A Zheng. "You damn thing, leave some for me! You're so impolite, just watching you stare at this bowl of dishes and picking non-stop. Still want to have a fourth one? Haven't you been fined enough?"

"I'm eating my own food, none of your business. Your wife is still in confinement, what are you eating for?"

"She'll be out of confinement soon, can't I nourish myself in advance?"

Xiao Xiao also joined in the fun and moved the pork kidneys in front of himself. "Don't fight, you guys, it's only right for me to nourish myself."

"You still want to eat more to have a second child."

"Definitely! I'll have a second child when I go back tonight. My daughter is five, so I can have another one after five years, saving a fine." Xiao Xiao chewed a chopstick of it happily.

"Forget it, you guys have already drunk alcohol, what second child are you going to have."

"Pfft~ You can last longer after drinking!"

"You damn thing!"

After a laughing scolding, Ye Yaodong poured himself another bowl.

After they had drunk most of the wine they brought, they let out a burp, hooked arms, and walked out of A Guang's house.

Ye Yaodong was also slightly tipsy, and looking at the time, it was almost 9 o'clock.

Forget it, no need to sleep. Go back, take a bath, fight a bit, and then have to go to the pier to get the crabs and set off.