Chapter 64

Acai looked up at him. "Yo, Dongzi, you're quite knowledgeable, aren't you? You even know that if this fish is over a meter long and weighs over a hundred pounds, the price should be increased!"

Ye Yaodong puffed out smoke and said in a devil-may-care manner, "Sigh~ I'm a seaside person after all. I didn't go to town to play any less in the past two years, so I know a little bit."

"How about this, let's be straightforward and just call it two mao eight. Eight, eight, eight—may we all get rich. It's auspicious and sounds good."

"Aiya, how can 'sounding good' be more important than being practical? We've traded so many times; we're old acquaintances and have an old friendship. Look at how prosperous my luck has been lately. It must be that our new house has good feng shui—it's a treasure land. In the future, our family will definitely be able to catch more and better fish, and we'll sell it all to you. Wouldn't a win-win situation be better? Right?"

"Mm-hmm!" Acai felt what he said made sense and nodded frequently.

"You're good, I'm good, everyone is good. Then let's settle on three mao a jin. No going back on your word!"

"Mm, mm? What? What three mao a jin? I didn't agree to that! Stop trying to lead me astray!" He widened his eyes and looked at Ye Yaodong in disbelief. This price was a far cry from what he had offered!

Two cents difference... difference... it seemed to be only a difference of 2 yuan or so. Acai calculated in his heart and felt it didn't seem to be much, but it was a far cry from the price he had initially offered. He was a businessman, after all!

"This price can't be messed with. At three mao a jin, I'll be stuck with it..."

"Aiya, why are you so indecisive? You were talking nicely just a moment ago, why did you suddenly turn hostile? I didn't bargain with you for all those mackerel before. After I went to inquire about the market price a few days ago, everyone's guts turned green with regret. Several of my buddies almost came over to flip your collection point, and it was me who stopped them. Did you know that?"

"I was too young and thin-skinned back then, so I just took whatever you said? Now I've learned a lesson from experience. We're all fellow villagers, you can't keep deliberately pressing the price down..."

Ye Yaodong rambled on with nonsense. In fact, his appetite had been spoiled by that leopard coral grouper he had casually raised the price for, and he wanted to try again. Who wouldn't want to sell for a high price?

But Acai was actually made to feel a bit guilty by what he said. He really hadn't earned less from those seven thousand-plus jin of mackerel...

"Ah, fine, fine, fine... we're all fellow villagers, and I'm a very easygoing person too. If you say three mao, then three mao it is. This time I really didn't earn your money; I just wanted to rub off on your financial luck."

Ye Fu's mouth was grinning to the back of his head. He didn't expect that after his third son chatted and hooked shoulders with Acai, the price would actually be raised.

In fact, Ye Yaodong was cursing in his heart. Damn, those seven thousand-plus jin of mackerel were really sold at a loss. This profiteer—there really is no business without deceit!

Damn it, he spent the first fifty years of his previous life muddle-headed and heartless. Just after being reborn, he didn't understand the current prices of fish, and Acai had taken a huge advantage.

After the Reform and Opening-up, there were quite a few rich bosses. Such a big fish could only be afforded by the rich and the officials anyway. They didn't care about those few cents, and he didn't believe this profiteer wasn't making money.

Lin Xiuqing was also very happy. From Acai's initial casual offer of two mao two to three mao now, that was a full eight cents more! Adong's tongue was really nimble!

She excitedly brought the bucket in her hand to Acai. "There's also a sea bass and two big blue crabs here!"

"Tsk tsk tsk~ your harvest is really not bad. How long has the tide been receding? And you've already picked up so many valuable things!"

"Brother Cai, calculate it all together. Give a higher price, we're old acquaintances... I sold the mackerel at a loss..."

"Ah, fine, fine, fine, I know, don't bother me while I'm calculating!" Acai's head ached as soon as he heard him speak. He never knew this kid Ye Yaodong was so difficult to deal with. With what he said about this yellowtail amberjack, he couldn't even earn a few yuan.

"115 jin and 8 liang, at 3 mao a jin, this fish is 34 yuan and 7 mao 4 fen!"

"So little??"

Ye Yaodong widened his eyes!

Acai also widened his eyes!

"Where is it little? You earned nearly a month's salary for others just by picking up one fish. Why don't you have your wife do the math!"

"Uh... let me calculate."

Money matters certainly couldn't be sloppy. Lin Xiuqing took the pen with an awkward laugh and started calculating.

"That's right, Adong."

"Fine then, calculate that sea bass and those two blue crabs together too."

Acai took the pen and brushed it on the paper for a while. "This sea bass is 4 jin and a half, one yuan, here is 4 yuan 2, plus the yellowtail amberjack, total 39 yuan 9 mao 4 fen! Correct?"

"Correct, whatever you say is fine. Could I not trust you!"

Pfft~ now he talks nicely, but he was questioning him just a moment ago! Acai rolled his eyes secretly.

Just as he was about to write the receipt, Ye Yaodong spoke up again. "What receipt are you writing? It's only a few dozen yuan, you're rich and imposing, just settle it for me directly. Are you planning on a monthly settlement?"

"Isn't it going to be calculated as part of your father's cargo?"

"How could that be? My wife found this fish, so the money is naturally hers."

Ye Fu also nodded. "Right, don't calculate it as part of my cargo."

"Then fine, take the receipt and go to my house tonight to get the money. I didn't bring that much cash."

"Okay, then just write 40 yuan even. It's not like 6 cents makes a difference!"

The hand Acai used to write trembled. This Ye Yaodong!

He cursed in his heart, but he still followed this guy's wishes and wrote 40 yuan even!

"Take it. Next time you have good goods, send them over again. I really didn't earn your money..."

"I know! I know!"

Ye Yaodong happily took the receipt, checked that it was correct, and then handed it to Lin Xiuqing. "Keep it safe!"

"Mm!" Lin Xiuqing was also very happy, looking at it again and again in her hand.

Seeing that the goods were all sold, Ye Fu said, "I've already picked up the clams on the ground. You two carry them home first, I'll go to the beach to see if your mother and the others have returned."

"Oh, okay."

The couple was exceptionally excited as they carried the bucket. In just two days, they had another sum of money, and their family savings were becoming more substantial. Life was becoming more and more promising.

Ye Yaodong was also immersed in the joy of making money. Having someone to share the hard work with, and having someone to share the joy of making money with, was truly intoxicating!

"Are you really going to go out to sea with Dad tomorrow?"

"Why? Can't bear to see me go?"

Lin Xiuqing said huffily, "You've only been home every day lately. Before, you left early and returned late; except for sleeping, I wasn't even sure I'd see you for meals."

Ye Yaodong took the initiative to hold her hand tightly and said with a rogue smile, "If you miss me too much, I'll tell Dad I'm not going!"

"What nonsense are you talking? Who doesn't do serious work and just hangs around at home all day? Let go, it's not good if people see..."

"What's wrong with holding hands! I'm not holding someone else's; can't I hold my own wife?"

"If people see us walking on the main road later..."

"Let them see, what's there to be afraid of? I'm not your mistress... hiss~"

Lin Xiuqing broke free from his hand and pinched him hard.

Couldn't he let her be happy for a little longer?

Even the word "mistress" came out!

He really had an itchy skin and was asking for a beating!