Chapter 923: Ye Yaodong's Hustle

Ye Yaodong shouted to the fishing boat drifting and fishing on the opposite side to come over.

After climbing over, he crawled into the cabin, put the cloth bundle into his own luggage bag, then locked the cabin up. There were still two guns inside; he had also placed two on his father's boat.

Anyway, each of them kept their luggage outside, and the cabin was basically just idle ship supplies. Apart from fishing nets, basically nothing else could be put to use, and whatever could be put to use was all placed outside.

When it was time to head back, he would open the cabin, pull the fishing net out, and let them cast it—that would be enough.

After Ye Yaodong locked the cabin and came out, he was also mulling over whether he should go buy a combination case. When he went to the supply and marketing cooperative to make a phone call in the morning, he had seen them selling that very old-fashioned brown square one that needed a combination to open.

One can't be too careful. Buying one to store clothes and money would put his mind at ease. Anyway, once he got a big boat by year's end, bringing it aboard would also come in handy.

The thing was, he didn't have a ration ticket, and he didn't know whether he could just pay extra at this supply and marketing cooperative without one.

He'd think about it later when he had some free time.

After coming out, he continued taking over the cutting of the jellyfish. The fishing boat also drifted on and stopped nearby—wherever there were more jellyfish, they'd motor over, then stop to fish. They were actually quite scattered, and there weren't that many of them.

But at least it was better than nothing—not great, but not bad either.

If they had small bamboo rafts, they might be more nimble near the sea trenches, but the load-bearing capacity of small bamboo rafts wasn't up to it. A big jellyfish could weigh nearly a hundred jin and was large in area; even small ones were twenty or thirty jin. They couldn't hold many before having to paddle back, which was also quite a delay.

A small boat would be best—it could generally handle a load of around 2,000 jin—but a small boat couldn't row out here either, let alone row from here to town.

Ye Yaodong cut and let his mind wander for a while. He wanted to think over whether there was some way that was less labor-intensive and more efficient.

But he really did come up with something.

He had just scraped off a large sheet of jellyfish blood when he stopped, then raised his head, stared blankly into the distance for a moment, and muttered something under his breath.

"It should work, right? I'll give it a try when we get back."

After muttering that, he went back to work, but this time he didn't stop again, while his mind kept running through the verification over and over, and daydreaming a little on the side.

When the sun gradually sank behind the mountains and only the afterglow filled the sky, he slammed his knife down onto the cutting board, stood there, called for the others to take over cutting the jellyfish, and walked to the side of the ship to gaze out at the sea for a few moments.

"Huh, feels like there are more of them now."

"Yeah, we felt the same. The boat barely has to move—just rocks with the waves on the surface—and jellyfish keep drifting past nearby every now and then. We can just poke them with the bamboo pole and hook."

"Earlier this afternoon, the boat had to move every so often, switching spots, constantly chasing and searching. Right now the numbers are clearly higher."

"There's no time left. Let's cast the net, drag one net back to the island to cut up, then we have to get it to shore to sell before dark. I'll go grab the net from the boat—one of you come help me sort it out."

"D-d-d-d-dong-ge…"

"Chen Shi, you come."

Calling him out by name directly saved him from going "D-d-d-d-dong" nonstop.

"Y-yeah…"

After Ye Yaodong walked to the stern, he also shouted to the three nearby boats: "Drag one net, we're heading back~"

Jellyfish generally move around in the lower layer of the water at night, so they probably wouldn't take long to retreat. An hour or two wouldn't make much difference—get back early, get it done early.

If it got any later, he was afraid they wouldn't make it in time. Being out after dark wasn't safe—public order wasn't great these days. The earlier they got back, the better, so they wouldn't end up losing more than they gained. Anyway, there was plenty of time ahead, and from the looks of it, nobody else seemed to know about this spot at sea.

Seeing that he had already taken out his fishing net and was getting ready to cast and drag one back, the others also checked the time and got moving along with him.

Ye Yaodong also called out to Brother Brother Asheng, telling him to get ready to start the boat—they'd drag the net while heading back.

After he delivered this batch of jellyfish he'd processed in the evening to shore and sold it, he headed straight for some fishing gear shops near the dock.

He had noticed that morning that there were two or three fishing gear shops near the dock—fishing nets, nylon line, shuttle needles, lead weights, all sorts of things were available.

Luckily one hadn't closed yet, though the door was already half shut—it was a good thing he ran over in time.

He went straight to the owner and bought two ready-made blue thick-line fishing nets. The mesh was about a finger wide, the same as the nets they used for trawling—just without the lead or iron weights, just the net itself. Those things could be added according to individual needs.

He didn't buy them too big either—just two nets of about 16 meters—but they weren't cheap either; the two of them cost over ten yuan.

After buying them, he hurried back to the boat.

Ye Fu wondered what he was up to—everyone was already on board and he had run off.

"What are you buying these two nets for?"

"Buying them to try something out."

"Try what? These aren't cheap…"

"You'll know once we get back and try it."

He was planning to test out the little trick he'd figured out at sea just now. If it worked, his daily income could increase by a few dozen yuan from then on.

"Are all the buckets and nylon bags on the boat filled with water?"

"They're filled. Just now while we were weighing, I told them to each go fill two buckets of water on board."

"Then let's go, head back."

Ye Fu saw him being all mysterious and not saying outright, so he didn't ask more—just headed back first.

Anyway, fishing nets were something that could come in handy. If the temporary one on the boat broke, they'd have a replacement.

As soon as Ye Yaodong got back to the island, he ate first.

Only he told the boatmen not to bathe after dinner, so as not to waste water—he was going to ask them to get in the water and help out later.

"Dad, after I eat, I'm taking a few people up the mountain to chop down 8 thick sticks or bamboo poles."

"What are you doing? It's already so late, it's dark. Whatever it is, wait till tomorrow when it's light."

"I'm going to make this net pouch," he pointed at the two fishing nets he'd just bought. "I'm going to tie up the nets and put them in the sea. Tomorrow morning we'll see if we can catch jellyfish. If we can, then from now on we can haul in a batch every morning before anything else."

Ye Fu frowned, thought it over for a moment, but didn't reject it outright.

"How are you going to tie them?"

"Just like a custom net, fixed in the sea. The opening of the net is tied with bamboo poles into a square. I checked when I bought them—about 4 meters long and wide, with a net length of 16 meters."

"Once this bundle is made, fixed, and put into the sea, it'll be like an oversized net pouch. It can reach into the sea and scoop up any jellyfish that drift past. During ebb tide and slack tide every day, the current is relatively calm, which is good for the net to surface—and it's also a good time to haul it in."

"During ebb tide and slack tide, even if we're not here, your eldest cousin can keep an eye on it. Hauling it in twice a day during ebb tide and slack tide is no problem."

Ye Fu mulled over whether his idea would work, and also asked some of the boatmen around his age nearby.

The boatmen discussed it among themselves and also felt his method was worth a try. If it worked, their daily income could increase a bit too.

"Then let's give it a try. Everyone eat first, we'll get to it after the meal."

When they headed up the island after the meal, they also drew the attention of others nearby.

They were all villagers from the same village who knew each other, and they called out asking where they were going.

"Going to take a shit?"

"Why would you climb the mountain just to take a shit? There's no path up there, it's hard to walk…"

"Be careful in the dark…"

"Ye Lao San, what are your boys going up there for?"

Ye Father answered with a smile, "Going up the mountain to cut bamboo, or some thicker poles."

"What happened? Didn't you make a few extra poles when you came out, with hooks tied on them? Or did they break?"

"No, it's for something else."

"What are you going to use them for?"

"It was something Dongzi figured out. I'm not too clear on what he wants to do either. I'll just watch in a bit—I have to see what he's doing too."

The truth was, Ye Father really wasn't sure whether the thing he was making would actually work, and he didn't dare to boast outright. Either way, if it worked or not, they'd know by tomorrow.

"Ah-Dong's a sharp kid, always one step ahead of everyone else…"

"Right, we all being able to come out here and earn money is all thanks to him…"

"Exactly, Ah-Dong's clever and hardworking."

"We'll check later what he's come up with, let everyone have a look. If you need any help, just say the word. If it works out, everyone can learn along too."

The others nodded one after another.

"Right, if you need help just give us a shout. Out here on the road, we all have to help each other out and rely on each other."

"Alright, alright. We'll see in a bit if we need help. We've got quite a few people on our side too."

After the meal, everyone was stripped to the waist, wiping themselves down. Each person only used a small half-basin of water—after all, there was no fresh water on the island, and they had to carry water up to the boats themselves.

Ye Father sat there chatting with the group, and at the same time kept an eye on the jellyfish blood simmering in the pot.

What was boiled this morning had dried after a day of sun. When it was time to sleep on the boat later, he'd bring it into the cabin and lock it up, to sell together tomorrow morning.

The jellyfish blood newly collected today could be boiled again tonight and left out to dry.

Ah-Guang also sidled up next to Ye Father and said, "Dad, my dad will be here tomorrow evening. I told you this afternoon—Uncle Zheng and my uncle's two boats will also arrive together tomorrow. They just happened to have come back yesterday, so they're right behind my dad. They didn't make it in time to come with Dongzi, so they could only come with my dad."

Ye Father nodded. "You told me this afternoon. It's fine. With so many boats already coming, two more big boats won't make a difference. When they arrive, just let them fish on their own."

"No, Dad, what I mean is, once the three boats arrive, I'll take over their cargo myself and not split it with Chen Jianian. After all, they didn't come with Dongzi—they came with my dad."

Ye Father thought it over and agreed.

"Mm, tomorrow they're brought by your dad, not the same group. Of course what you earn is yours to keep, no need to split."

"That's what I figured too, so I'm giving you a heads-up."

"Did you tell your dad to dock directly at the town's pier?"

"I did. I'll just wait at the pier to meet him."

"Mm, that's good then."

Ah-Guang added, "I just now tallied today's accounts and set aside Dongzi's share. In a bit I'll return the broker's fee to him. Chen Jianian's share is paid out, so he doesn't need to pay mine."

"No need for that. What you earn is yours to keep. Everyone charges a broker's fee. If you return his, how do you think your eldest brother and second brother would feel? They're all your brothers-in-law."

"I'll just give it to him on the sly. I feel like giving, so I will."

"Then wait till he's back, talk it over with him. Let him figure it out himself. I'm not getting involved in this between you two."

"Alright."

"How much did you earn today?" Ye Father asked in a low voice.

Ah-Guang grinned, held up a seven with his hand. Sitting at the pier, a whole day of net income of 70—he was quite satisfied. Once his dad's three boats arrived tomorrow, breaking a hundred was within reach.

"Mainly because Dongzi's two boats and your two brothers-in-law's boats had a lot of cargo. The cargo from their four boats combined is worth what ten other boats would bring in. Did you all go to the sea trench this afternoon?" The latter part he said in an extremely quiet voice.

Ye Father gave a slight nod and said in a barely audible voice, "Don't say anything more."

"Okay."

"Take it slow earning money. Try not to offend people. The public security friend you just met—you need to keep in touch with him too."

"I know. He was off today. I'll reach out to him tomorrow to build the relationship."

"The dried pomfret hanging on the boat has been sun-baked for two days and is pretty much dry. Untie them early tomorrow morning and deliver them to him."

"Sure."

"We have to know how to be grateful. Goodwill goes both ways."

Ah-Guang quickly nodded. "I know, I know."

Ye Father didn't say more—he wasn't his own son after all.

The path was hard to travel at night, especially on an uninhabited island with no trails. Ye Yaodong and the others had to use both hands and feet to climb up the mountain. Luckily, the mountain was full of trees and bamboo.

He casually chopped down a few, then called everyone to slowly drag them down the mountain together.

The group on the beach all eagerly climbed up onto the rocks to help receive the bamboo.

Ye Yaodong was afraid the length wouldn't be enough, so he cut a full eight stalks. He needed four meters in both length and width.

As soon as they dragged them down, he had his own boatmen help tie the opening of the fishing net into a square shape with the bamboo poles.

With the materials on hand, tying them up was much easier. The bamboo poles were also cut to the required length, just a simple binding and it was done—it didn't take much effort.

The only thing left was to drag the finished net pouch into the sea and secure it with bamboo poles. Fortunately, with so many of his family around, their combined strength made it easy.

Although it was pitch black, the people on shore all shone their flashlights to light the way for them, and at the same time curiously watched Ye Yaodong tinker.

Everyone had figured it out by now—the net pouch he made was for putting into the sea to catch jellyfish. Connecting it with the swarm of jellyfish that morning, everyone's heart was stirring.

They all wanted to see if his method would work, if he could pull off something worthwhile.

If it works, tomorrow night they can do the same thing and place them around the nearby islands.