Chapter 275: with translation of chapter title

Early the next morning.

Translation: "Early the next morning."

Wu An opened his eyes before the alarm even rang.

Translation: "Wu An opened his eyes before the alarm even rang."

Being young is great.

Translation: "Being young is great."

Once the biological clock is set, one wakes up naturally.

Translation: "Once the biological clock is set, one wakes up naturally."

Yesterday, he chatted with Gu Anran until midnight.

Translation: "Yesterday, he chatted with Gu Anran until midnight."

Originally, Gu Anran knew he was going out to sea, so he planned to just say a few words before sleeping.

Translation: "Originally, Gu Anran knew he was going out to sea, so he planned to just say a few words before sleeping."

But each time they said good night, he would bring up a topic and they'd start chatting again.

Translation: "But every time they said good night, he would pick up a topic and they'd start chatting again."

When his yawns came nonstop, Gu Anran got anxious, urging him to sleep quickly, since dozing off at sea is no good.

Translation: "When his yawns came nonstop, Gu Anran got anxious, urging him to sleep quickly, since dozing off at sea is no good."

Only then did Wu An realize it was already 1 a. m.; this time Gu Anran said good night and hung up.

Translation: "Only then did Wu An realize it was already 1 a. m.; this time Gu Anran said good night and hung up."

Wu An put down his phone and pondered a bit.

Translation: "Wu An put down his phone and pondered a bit."

What did they talk about for so long?

Translation: "What did we talk about for so long?"

In the end, they didn't discuss anything meaningful, just random fucking chatter.

Translation: "In the end, we didn't discuss anything meaningful, just random nonsense."

Note: "瞎J8亂聊" includes slang "J8" which is a censored vulgar term. We should translate as "just random bullshit" maybe. But we need to be faithful: "瞎J8亂聊" literally "randomly chat like crazy". The "J8" is a vulgar placeholder for "fucking". We could translate as "just fucking chatting randomly". However, we should avoid adding profanity not present? It's present as slang. We'll translate as "just fucking chatting nonsense." But we need to keep tone. Let's do: "just fucking chatting nonsense."

He simply checked his luck value.

Translation: "Simply, he checked his Luck Value."

Upon seeing this,

Translation: "Upon looking,"

Upon seeing this,

Seeing it directly excited him.

Translation: "It directly got him excited."

Luck value: 315 (188)

Translation: "Luck Value: 315 (188)"

This is the rhythm of getting rich.

Translation: "This is the rhythm of getting rich."

The long-dormant longline fishing can make a comeback.

Translation: "The long-dormant longline fishing can make a comeback."

This excitement kept him tossing and turning until he finally fell asleep at 2 a. m.; it's now just before 6 a. m., so he's slept less than four hours total.

Translation: "From this excitement, he tossed and turned until 2 a. m. before falling asleep; now it's barely 6 a. m., and he's slept less than four hours total."

He's a bit sleep-deprived.

Translation: "He's a bit sleep-deprived."

But it's not a big problem.

Translation: "But it's not a big problem."

Now Old Fu Tou is piloting the boat, so he can catch up on sleep once aboard.

Translation: "Now Lao Fu Tou is piloting the boat, so he can catch up on sleep once aboard."

Before he could even call, Ah Qing already phoned, saying everything was ready and Li Juan had boiled plenty of eggs for breakfast.

Translation: "Before he could call, A Qing already phoned, saying everything was ready and Li Juan had boiled some eggs, which they could eat later in the morning."

Wu An said, "See you at the dock."

Translation: "Wu An said, 'See you at the dock.'"

He then called Old Fu Tou, who replied that he was waiting for his call.

Translation: "He then called Lao Fu Tou, who replied that he was waiting for his call."

He hung up.

Translation: "He put down the phone."

Wu An quickly packed up, freshened up, and headed out.

Translation: "Wu An hurriedly packed, freshened up, and headed out."

The dirty clothes he took off last night, he surely didn't have time to wash; his sister-in-law will come pick them up later. He had considered buying a washing machine, but she declined, saying the one at home is the one he just bought.

Translation: "The dirty clothes he took off last night he surely didn't have time to wash; his sister-in-law would come pick them up later. He had originally thought about buying a washing machine, but she declined, saying the washing machine at home was the one he had just bought."

If Wu An doesn't use it, neither will they.

Translation: "If Wu An doesn't need it, neither do they."

Hearing his sister-in-law say that, Wu An stopped being fussy.

Translation: "Hearing his sister-in-law say that, Wu An stopped being pretentious."

……

Translation: "……" (ellipsis stays as is)

He arrived at the dock.

Translation: "He arrived at the dock."

As usual, he bought plenty of soy milk.

Translation: "As usual, he bought some soy milk."

A bite of egg, a sip of soy milk.

Translation: "A bite of egg, a sip of soy milk."

After wolfing it down, Old Fu Tou also showed up.

Translation: "After wolfing it down, Lao Fu Tou also arrived."

They went to Old Xie's shop to get a bunch of bait—worthless dead fish and rotten shrimp—but it still cost a few hundred, which is an expense fishermen have to bear.

Translation: "They went to Lao Xie's shop to get some bait—worthless dead fish and rotten shrimp—but it still cost a few hundred, which is an expense fishermen have to bear."

If they go out for a turn and come up empty-handed, the loss wouldn't be small either.

Translation: "If they go out to sea for a round and come up empty-handed, the loss is also not small."

Thus, fishermen are dwindling; the work is exhausting and tough, with no guarantee of profit, plus fishing bans, bad weather, and often being unable to go out to sea—harvests are uncertain, and the biggest issue remains danger.

Translation: "So nowadays there are fewer and fewer fishermen; it's tiring and hard, and they may not even make money. Add the fishing bans, bad weather, many times they can't go out to sea, droughts and floods bring no guarantee of harvest, and the biggest issue remains danger."

Many fishermen who make money choose to switch careers.

Translation: "Many fishermen who make money choose to switch careers."

If you ask those who've switched careers to go back to fishing, nine out of ten would be unwilling.

Translation: "If you ask those who switched careers to go back to fishing, nine out of ten would be unwilling."

Fishing at sea is basically a debuff stacked to the max.

Translation: "Fishing at sea is nothing but a debuff stacked to the max."

After greeting Old Xie, Wu An and his two companions immediately boarded the boat.

Translation: "After greeting Lao Xie, Wu An and the two others immediately boarded the boat."

He sent a message to Mai Hangyu saying they were going out to sea, likely for a day; if anything came up, he'd decide on his own, otherwise he'd consult Old Mai if he couldn't make up his mind.

Translation: "He sent Mai Hangyu a message saying they were going out to sea, probably for a day; if anything came up, he'd decide on his own, and if he really couldn't make up his mind, he'd consult Lao Mai."

Originally they planned to attend the groundbreaking ceremony today, but upon reflection it seemed unnecessary; the main reason is today's high luck value, which shouldn't be wasted.

Translation: "Originally they said they'd attend the groundbreaking ceremony today, but upon thinking, it seemed unnecessary; mainly, today's Luck Value is too high to waste."

Fortunately, yesterday he had Old Mai ask his lawyer friend to review the contract, which turned out fine, so he had already signed and sealed it with Director Chen yesterday.

Translation: "Fortunately, yesterday he had Lao Mai ask his lawyer friend to review the contract, which had no loopholes, so he had already signed and stamped it with Director Chen yesterday."

The large tract of wasteland near the sea in Zhongzhong Village, spanning over ten mu, now belongs to him.

Translation: "The large tract of wasteland near the sea in Zhenzhongcun, spanning over ten mu, now belongs to him."

The villagers are even happier than he is.

Translation: "The villagers are even happier than he is."

For the village, that wasteland generated no value, yet now it yields over two thousand yuan annually, and Wu An has leased it for fifty years in one go.

Translation: "For the village, that wasteland generated no value, but now it yields over two thousand yuan a year, and Wu An has contracted it for fifty years in one go."

That amounts to over a hundred thousand yuan in returns.

Translation: "That amounts to over a hundred thousand in revenue."

Although it's paid in installments, this sum is definitely something the village can actually receive.

Translation: "Although it's paid in installments, this sum is definitely something the village can actually receive."

After Wu An signed the documents, every member of the village committee shook his hand.

Translation: "After Wu An signed, every member of the village committee shook his hand."

They told him to work hard.

Translation: "They urged him to work hard."

They urged him to strive to become a leader in prosperity.

Translation: "Striving to become a leader in getting rich."

If he encounters any difficulties, he should communicate with them anytime; they'll do their utmost to help resolve them.

Translation: "If any difficulties arise, he can communicate with them anytime; they'll do their utmost to help resolve them."

All kinds of praise were heaped upon Wu An like free money, and he was delighted, unable to stop smiling.

Translation: "All kinds of praise rained down on Wu An like free money, and he was so happy he couldn't stop grinning."

Everyone likes to hear kind words.

Translation: "Everyone likes to hear kind words."

Moreover, he fully understands how precious this leased seaside wasteland is as a fortune!

Translation: "Moreover, he fully understands how precious this contracted seaside wasteland is as a fortune!"

Compared to his previous life, he fled in a sorry state.

Translation: "Compared to his previous life, he fled in a sorry state."

Now he has taken root in his hometown and possesses his own enterprise.

Translation: "Now, he has taken root in his hometown and possesses his own enterprise."

It's different now.

It's really different now.

Wu An leaned against the canopy, pulled his cap over his face, and as the fishing boat rocked, he slowly fell asleep.

When he groggily woke up, he heard A Qing shouting from nearby: "The catch is up, the catch is up!"

He turned over.

Outside the canopy, the sun was blazing, the white light blinding, making it hard for him to open his eyes.

After squinting and adjusting for a moment, he could see clearly that the winch was operating, pulling the crab pots out of the seawater.

A Qing was happily jumping around, looking at the catch, which seemed good.

Lao Fu wasn't steering the boat, but was also helping sort the catch nearby.

Looking at it, the catch was still mainly shrimp and crab.

Wu An pushed himself up and stood.

He picked up a bottle of water from the side, drank half, splashed the other half on his face, and instantly felt refreshed.

He walked over to help sort the catch.

As he worked, he realized he wasn't as fast at sorting as Lao Fu.

Don't let Lao Fu's age fool you—his hands and feet are quick, especially with his experience; one grab, one sort, one toss, and the shrimp and crab fly into the basket.

His accuracy isn't quite 100%, but you could say he makes no mistakes.

"Lao Fu, you're great." Wu An tried to grab a few times, but each time Lao Fu Tou beat him to it, laughing as he said, "You can take it easy, no need to rush, don't wear yourself out."

"Today's haul looks pretty good too; the money I've made these two days equals half a month's wages on the Chen Family fishing boat."

"A An, you're the boat owner; just watch, no need to get your hands dirty."

"I'll do it, I'll do it."

He said.

He then pulled the mantis shrimp in front of Wu An aside and quickly placed them into the net cage of the live fish hold.

Wu An was both amused and exasperated.

He couldn't be bothered to say more to Lao Fu Tou, walked over to the opposite side, squatted down, and kept working.

As a result, Lao Fu Tou came over again to snatch the work.

Wu An got anxious: "Lao Fu, I order you to stay over there and keep busy."

"Don't come over and steal my work."

"If you want to show off, I don't mind."

"But as the boss I need to do some work; if you stop me, that's on you."

He said.

He then laughed to himself.

Lao Fu Tou also laughed, and after a while managed to say: "You're being too good to me."

"What era is this now? We're all equal, there's no oppression or being oppressed." Wu An paused, then continued: "For a job, either the pay is high, the work is light, or it's close to home."

"Going out to sea to fish, honestly, nothing really matters—of course, being happy is most important."

"I'm not just saying this off the cuff; I have grounds for it."

"If you're happy while working, won't you be more conscientious on the boat, and wouldn't that let me relax more?"

Lao Fu Tou thought seriously for a moment, then said: "You're right."

"Young people as bosses really are different."

"When I work on the Chen Family fishing boat, Chen Lao Da whips us to work."

"Funny enough, the more he urges us, the more we slack off."

"In the end, I still end up getting nowhere."

Saying this, Lao Fu Tou let out a heavy sigh, his expression somewhat complex.

Wu An smiled.

As a 90s-born boss, he's definitely different from some old fogeys.

When the 2000s-born come out to work, they'll also be quite individualistic.

Reforming the workplace is no joke.

As for Lao Fu Tou's predicament of getting nowhere, he was quite curious, but seeing that Lao Fu Tou didn't volunteer the info, he didn't ask.

As a result, A Qing had finished tidying the first row of crab pots, just happened to hear this gossip, and curiously asked: "How did you end up getting nowhere?"

Lao Fu Tou hesitated: "If I say it, I'm afraid you'll laugh at me."

A Qing became even more curious: "Is it that funny? Then you really have to tell us, let us have a laugh."

"Come on, spit it out."

Lao Fu Tou: "……"

Wu An twitched the corner of his mouth, thinking, "A Qing, are you a devil?"