Chapter 196: line with translation of chapter title

Wu An stepped out of Lao Xie's shop and watched the pier teeming with people; they were all villagers getting ready to set out to sea tomorrow—inspecting fishing boats, buying provisions, moving crates, and so on, and the scene was extremely lively.

It's just like the New Year.

The sea is about to open.

In fact, for fishermen, it's really much like the New Year.

The months of the off‑season have driven the villagers crazy; after months of barely earning anything, who wouldn't be anxious and irritable?

Once the early morning passes, many villagers launch their boats, racing against the clock to the target sea area for operations.

You must seize the momentum of the auspicious start and hurry to make money!

That's just how fishermen are.

Besides the off‑season, windy or rainy weather also prevents sailing, so at least half the year is non‑operational.

Earn a year's earnings in just half a year!

So they must make a life‑or‑death effort to earn money on the days they can sail; many fishermen, when Luck Value is favorable, work nonstop for days and nights.

Earning money is indeed earning money.

And the hardship is genuinely hard.

Wu An is not anxious.

He decides to get a solid night's sleep to restore his strength, then head out to sea at five or six in the early dawn; this outing is mainly for deploying Crab Pot and Longline Fishing.

Next, he will practice Cast Net.

If he still has surplus Luck Value, he'll go fishing, find an uninhabited island and chase the sea.

As for Adhesive Net or Trawling, he isn't considering them for now.

On one hand, his Luck Value isn't that high yet; on the other, the fishing boat isn't very large, and most importantly, they lack enough hands.

Now, with Mai Hangyu added, there are just three of them.

Tomorrow is Monday.

The older brother has to attend class at the School, so he definitely can't join them at sea; even if sailing could bring earnings, Wu Ping has no intention of leaving the School.

Actually.

As a teacher, he truly doesn't make much money.

Even a factory job screwing bolts would earn far more than he does as a teacher.

Yet he has held his post for nearly ten years!

At the School, he is not only a teacher but also handles logistics; in short, he does the most work, his salary isn't the lowest, but it's still below average.

Even so, he takes it gladly.

Wu Ping thinks it's no big deal—teaching and nurturing people, and Mei Yueqin also supports it; Wu An feels inside that it's not worth it for his older brother, but the sister‑in‑law hasn't said anything, making it even harder for him to speak up.

Wu An and the other two had just left this side when Lao Xie, smoking, drifted over to Elder Chen; Elder Chen's shop had no business, he was idly listening to the radio, and when Lao Xie approached, he asked, "What's up?"

Lao Xie said cheerfully, "Nothing much, just got two Qingyi (Blue-clad fish) (Blue-clad fish) from Wu An, feeling happy and wanted to share with you."

"Enjoying alone isn't as good as enjoying together."

"Elder Chen, are you happy?"

"I'm happy—so happy I could beat you to death!" Elder Chen grabbed a slipper and tossed it, shouting, "Get out right now!"

Lao Xie dodged.

Then he lifted his foot and kicked the slipper far away; after all, he liked kicking a ball in his youth, so the skill remained, and he sent the slipper soaring far.

Elder Chen, furious, hopped on one foot, but naturally couldn't catch up with Lao Xie.

The nearby fellow workers saw this and were extremely amused.

"Elder Chen, don't blame Lao Xie for provoking you; after all, you were the one who spoke so harshly before."

"If you're going to blame someone, don't be jealous of others; it's because you're short‑sighted that Lao Xie got the slip."

"Elder Chen will probably be so angry he can't sleep tonight."

Everyone teased each other; fellow workers are rivals, and as competitors it's not proper to make a serious quarrel, but a few jokes cause no harm—if Elder Chen takes it seriously, he's being immature.

Elder Chen muttered curses, oddly; Lao Xie's provocation didn't really anger him, but he felt a gnawing resentment toward Wu An: "It's nothing, it's just crossing the line."

He feels that Wu An selling goods to Lao Xie is deliberately trying to disgust him.

If anyone wishes Wu An bad luck, it's him.

Probably because he can't have it, and doesn't want others to have it either.

Back then he turned Wu An away at the gate, and watching Lao Xie make money off Wu An made him extremely upset.

……

Back home.

Wu Ping handed money to Mei Yueqin, who looked surprised and said, "Just a few hours out and you earned that much?"

"A Ping, from now on, after you finish work, go fishing for a while."

"Even a month can bring in a decent amount."

Wu Ping beamed, "Alright, alright."

After today's fishing, he's actually a bit hooked; now, with the rod in his hand, he wants to cast it a couple of times.

Mei Yueqin said, "Then I'll buy you fishing gear tomorrow."

Wu Ping became even happier.

Many of the Village's men go fishing in secret, bearing the pressure of being scolded by their wives; when they come here, the wives are very supportive, and that feeling… how to put it.

Whole body feels warm, this is probably what "happiness" feels like.

Wu An glanced at the time and said, "Sister‑in‑law, I'll call the fishing gear shop owner to see if he can deliver to me; if not, I'll have him bring it directly."

He said that and placed the call.

He is very supportive of his older brother going fishing to earn money.

Although it's a bit tough, as long as he stays at home and adds some Luck Value, his older brother can easily make a few hundred yuan a day.

With money, the older brother and sister-in-law can live comfortably and affluently.

Even if he has more money, it's not appropriate to keep giving it to the older brother and sister-in-law.

Zhao laoban said he was eating, and would come deliver after finishing his meal.

Upon hearing that Wu An wanted to order two sets of fishing gear just like before, Zhao laoban was even happier and readily agreed.

The sister-in-law asked how much the fishing gear cost.

Wu An told the truth.

The sister-in-law gave him the money; he didn't refuse, settled accounts clearly, the older brother and sister-in-law bought the fishing gear, he had no need to meddle—just take the money when it's due.

Wait until the meal is finished.

Zhao laoban also delivered the crab pots, longline fishing gear, and cast nets, unloading them directly at the dock.

Hand over money, hand over goods.

Three cast nets, ten shrimp traps and ten crab pots each, plus a kilometer of longline fishing; compared to the equipment on other fishing boats, theirs is not shabby.

But it's rather mixed.

Generally, fishing boats from the village either specialize in netting, specialize in crab pots, or specialize in longline fishing; unlike them, who do a bit of everything.

Zhao laoban understood, remarked that this was a bit disorderly, gave a polite reminder, seeing that Wu An didn't mind, he didn't say more.

There wasn't much stuff, so they didn't let A Qing come help; the few of them placed the crab pots directly on the fishing boat.

The fishing boat has surveillance cameras, which actually makes it the safest.

Returning from the dock, Wu An went straight back to the old house.

That day was full of scheming and conflict, and after fishing half a day, he was mentally and physically exhausted; after a quick wash, he felt fine when he first lay down, but after just a few minutes on his phone he felt his eyelids fighting.

As soon as the light was turned off, he soon started snoring.

In the latter half of the night his sleep wasn't very sound, because the sea opening meant many villagers chose to go out to sea in the early morning, making the seaside quite noisy.

When the alarm rang, he sat up yawning, took a moment to go open the door, but as soon as he opened it he was startled.