Chapter 102: Securing the Fishing Boat

The fishing boat is all green, the bottom red, the paint mottled; from its appearance, the boat is somewhat worn.

But compared to the surrounding fishing boats, it actually looks somewhat better.

Boarding the boat, everyone greeted each other.

Seeing that Wu An wanted to buy the boat, Guang Liangjun couldn't help being surprised; he didn't expect the buyer to be such a young man.

He curiously asked, "Handsome, is it you who wants to buy, or your family?"

Wu An saw his surprised expression, smiled, and countered, "Is there a difference?"

Guang Liangjun hit a soft nail, so he didn't say more, and gave an embarrassed laugh: "I have nothing else, it's just rare to see someone as young as you coming to buy a boat."

Gao Qiangqi said, "Stop beating around the bush, let's first look at the boat."

Guang Liangjun is a gambler.

Now his wife has divorced him, yet he plans to sell the fishing boat to pay debts and try to turn things around at the gambling table; such a person is already ruined.

There's no need to deal with such a person; what's the point of idle chatter?

Guang Liangjun followed up by describing the boat's condition, only praising how good it is, saying he often maintains it and doesn't go out to sea much, basically just moored at the dock.

Wu An looked, and the boat's condition was not bad.

This is just an ordinary small fishing boat, the size is also suitable; although it cannot trawl, it has a crane that can lower crab pots, longlines, and also cast nets.

Gao Qiangqi interjected, "Liangjun, quit bragging; a boat this size can actually trawl."

"Your boat lacks that, and would need modification later."

"That's why your boat hasn't sold yet."

Guang Liangjun gave an embarrassed chuckle: "Boss Gao is right; I'll give a firm price—88,000—for luck."

Wu An froze for a moment, thinking, "That cheap?"

It's 2012 now; money is valuable, and building a fishing boat is expensive.

Such a fishing boat, the market price for a new one is probably around 200,000; in the future, shipbuilding technology will improve, and the cost of fishing boats will drop accordingly.

He didn't say anything first; after walking around, everyone sat under the awning, and Guang Liangjun diligently handed out cigarettes and poured tea.

It's clear he really wants to sell the boat quickly.

The fishing boat naturally has no issues; Gao Qiangqi and Lao Mai just helped inspect it, and they have sharp eyes—if there were any problems, they'd surely notice.

Wu An's silence isn't because the boat has any problems.

Rather, he's worried about the person.

You can't trust a gambler's words.

"This boat isn't me bragging; its condition is absolutely top-notch—I supervised it at the shipyard back then, and the materials were all solid."

"I've owned it for a few years, but the actual days spent at sea total only a few months; basically it's no different from a new boat."

Wu An smiled and said nothing.

"The fishing season is about to open; if you buy now, you might earn back your capital with just one trip." Guang Liangjun chattered on.

Wu An asked, "Your boat has no debt disputes, right?"

Guang Liangjun raised his hand: "No, I guarantee it."

"Think about it—if the boat had debts, I couldn't sell it; it would surely be seized to settle the debt."

"You can rest assured."

Wu An said, "Since you say so, I've taken a liking to this boat; frankly, I think the price is quite suitable."

He didn't want to haggle.

If he waited a few more days, he thought the price could drop a bit more, but he felt it unnecessary and there could be changes.

Guang Liangjun's face lit up with joy.

Gao Qiangqi said, "Transferring ownership and such can't be done today."

"Or how about this: today we pay a deposit, do a trial run first, and if there's no problem we pay the balance."

Wu An nodded.

Gao Qiangqi's suggestion also made sense; he naturally had no objection.

Guang Liangjun nodded: "I'll listen to Boss Gao."

Wu An directly transferred 8,800 via phone, agreeing to go to the county to complete the transfer procedures after the trial run.

Guang Liangjun took the money, wrote a receipt, got off the boat, said goodbye and left, hurrying into a nearby shed.

Gao Qiangqi said, "That place is just a spot."

"Get the money and go gamble."

"This person… is hopeless."

"I'll inquire on my side whether the boat has any debt issues; if your trial run is problem-free, hurry to finish the paperwork,"

Wu An nodded and said thanks.

Aside from that, Gao Qiangqi surely has many things daily, yet he accompanies him in these little errands—that's human favor.

Gao Qiangqi said, "Later, keep me company for a couple more drinks."

Wu An smiled and nodded.

The group chatted and laughed as they headed to the restaurant; only then did A Qing belatedly shout, "Brother, did we just buy the boat?"

Wu An smiled and nodded.

Although it was a bit hasty, buying the boat also settled a major concern, and took a big step forward toward a better life.

This feeling is kinda great.

Passing a supermarket, he went to buy a few packs of cigarettes, originally intending to sell the brand he usually smokes, but A Qing said, "Brother, I'll buy the cigarettes."

Then he pulled out a few red bills and directly bought a carton of cigarettes.

Wu An black-faced: "Damn, you dislike the cigarettes I bought, right?"

A Qing scratched his head: "Brother, it's a bit."

"My mom said, smoking is nothing, but later buy better cigarettes to smoke; you get what you pay for, good cigarettes are definitely good for health."

"I think what my mom said makes some sense."

"..." Wu An kicked him, also pulled his calf, seeing A Qing with a Hua Zi cigarette tucked in his armpit running out looking funny, he couldn't help but laugh.

Just a dozen days ago, he and A Qing still had uncertain meals, forcing A Qing to hide cigarette butts everywhere; now he already started smoking Hua Zi every day.

Good.

Pretty good.

Really good.

Coming out of the supermarket, a few young men and women chatting and laughing walked toward them; as they passed, someone shouted "Wu An".

Wu An was stunned, turned his head, looked several times before realizing, these people were still acquaintances, all his high school classmates.

The reason he didn't recognize them is mainly because he is a "rebirth freak"; in his previous life he had already cut ties with these classmates, haven't seen them for over ten years.

"It's me."

"Hello, you all."

He smiled in response.

"What a coincidence, I heard you were expelled from university, looks like it's true."

"Since we met, why not chat?"

"A new milk tea shop opened in town; want to go sit together?"

Looking at his classmates' smiling faces, he shook his head: "No, I still have an appointment."

"We'll get together next time if we have the chance."

After saying that, his phone rang; it was a message from Gu Anran saying she had arrived at the place and asking when he would come.

Wu An replied "right away", then waved at his classmates and hurried toward the agreed location.

Those classmates watched him go, then whispered among themselves.

"Being expelled from university and still acting so cocky."

"Exactly, still thinking he's a college student."

"Don't say that; maybe he feels his life is too bad, embarrassed to hang out with us."

"Haha, that makes some sense."

"I heard his life is really bad; maybe he has no money, can't afford milk tea."

They chatted and walked into the milk tea shop; a few girls sat aside, a few boys went to order milk tea.

It wasn't anyone treating; it was sort of AA, but not completely; the boys fiddled for a while before finally ordering the milk tea and snacks.

This annoyed the server; with so many boys, they couldn't scrape together a "rich person", even ordering food and drink they had to pool money.

Wu An had walked only a short while; just as he reached the intersection, he caught sight of Gu Anran.

After exchanging a few words, Gu Anran said she'd treat him to a meal; Wu An thought, "better to seize the day than pick a date," so why not go eat together.

He explained the situation; he had thought Gu Anran would feel embarrassed, but after thinking she said, "Okay, last time he also helped me a lot, perfect to thank him in person."

He was somewhat surprised, didn't expect Gu Anran to be so generous.

Thinking about it, it makes sense.

Gu Anran is no ordinary girl; meeting someone she's not very familiar with for a meal is just a small affair; she can definitely handle it.

The two walked shoulder to shoulder toward the restaurant, happen to pass by the milk tea shop.