Chapter 526: Lin Hu's Choice

After Luo You and Luo Liang brothers ran off, Lao Fu Tou quickly scrambled up and hurried to check on A Qing.

The gas station manager also came over, asking if anything was wrong.

Lao Fu Tou shouted, "How could it be nothing?"

"Look at how you've beaten him!"

"I'm telling you, this isn't over..."

The manager lamented, saying, "Those two good-for-nothings just came here to do a temporary job... this... first go to the hospital, first go to the hospital."

A Qing's appearance was indeed quite serious.

Not to mention his swollen nose and bruised face, his forehead was knocked somewhere, leaving a wound, the corner of his mouth split, A Qing spat out saliva, but what came out was bloody.

This guy is truly reckless.

Beaten by two people, he neither dodged nor blocked, just stared at Luo Liang's face and mouth and greeted him.

If Luo You hadn't come to help, it would really be hard to say who won or lost in the end.

A Qing shook his head: "First, refuel the boat."

Lao Fu Tou said, "No rush."

A Qing shouted, "This is the most urgent matter; no need to go to the hospital, I feel fine."

The manager said, "Then like this, I have a first-aid kit here; let's treat you first. If it's okay, we won't go to the hospital— that boat, right? I'll arrange someone to refuel you."

A Qing nodded.

Lao Fu Tou felt helpless; A Qing had made up his mind, and unless Wu An spoke, no one could sway him. He was about to call Wu An when A Qing said, "Old Fu, no need."

"My two cousins have run off; even if my elder brother came, it wouldn't help."

"Let's talk about it tomorrow."

Lao Fu Tou sighed, fetched some disinfectant water to wash him; A Qing winced, gritting his teeth and howling nonstop as the blood grime on his face was rinsed clean. Only then did Lao Fu Tou breathe a sigh of relief—the wound on his forehead wasn't big, a larger band-aid would cover it.

The rest were also just superficial injuries.

His face was a bit swollen, one eye a bit bruised, the corner of his mouth split a little; otherwise nothing else.

A Qing took a look in the mirror and said, "It's fine, it's fine; good thing I wasn't handsome to begin with, so a ruined face doesn't matter."

"Old Fu, what's that phrase again? 'A blessing in disguise'?"

"..." Lao Fu Tou heard it and could only laugh and cry.

At his age, he was completely bewildered by a simpleton, not knowing what to say.

The manager beside them quietly let out a sigh of relief.

Judging by the situation, it's probably fine now.

Fueling done.

A Qing paid, Lao Fu Tou told him to keep the invoice and then apply for a subsidy; actually, some fishermen earn little from fishing alone, but with the subsidy they can still make some money over a year.

Many fishermen operate individual medium-sized unlicensed fishing boats; without the various subsidies, they truly live by the mercy of the sky— they can make money, but if things go badly, they still incur losses.

So now, more and more fishermen are working ashore or taking jobs as deckhands for boat owners to earn wages.

Returning to the dock.

Lao Fu Tou didn't leave; having pumped so much fuel, he needed to keep watch. A Qing had originally planned to go home, but after being beaten black and blue by his two cousins, he called his family.

A Qing couldn't think of a good excuse to lie, so in the end Lao Fu Tou said that he, guarding the boat alone, feared negligence and called for A Qing to keep him company.

Li Juan heard that and didn't say anything else, asking what time they'd go out to sea tomorrow so she could bring breakfast.

A Qing quickly said that Aunt Yueqin had prepared breakfast, so Li Juan shouldn't bother.

After finally getting through the situation, Lao Fu Tou put down his phone and said, "Tomorrow A An will come aboard; then we won't be able to keep it hidden."

A Qing shook his head: "I don't intend to hide it from my brother."

"I was beaten so badly; I can't just let it go."

"I need to get my brother to help me take revenge."

Lao Fu Tou handed him a cigarette, and the two of them leaned against the boat and started smoking.

……

Meanwhile.

Shen Nan organized a drinking party, and Lin Hu was there too.

These days Lin Hu doesn't go out fishing either; he just stays holed up at home, rarely showing his face, and isn't enthusiastic about drinking, which has drawn comments from others.

"Lin Hu, now there's no wife at home to indulge you, what are you still holding on for?"

"Come on, drink it in one gulp."

"Enjoy the bachelor life to the fullest."

Everyone erupted in laughter.

Lin Hu set down his cup and muttered, "I'm not a bachelor; I haven't divorced yet."

"Holy shit, you're still not divorced?"

"You still plan to keep wearing the green hat?"

"Lin Hu, you're really a coward."

Lin Hu, angry, got up and walked out directly.

Everyone stared at each other; Shen Nan chased after him, saying, "Ah Hu bro, you know, we mean no harm—I set up this gathering just to drink away worries, so you wouldn't stay cooped up indoors all day."

Lin Hu said, "Ah Nan, I appreciate your kindness, but I really can't drink this alcohol, sorry."

Shen Nan waved his hand: "It's nothing."

"By the way, I heard you compensated Wu An with money?"

Lin Hu nodded.

Shen Nan snorted coldly: "Wu An really knows how to kick a man when he's down; your family caused this trouble, yet he actually came to you for money."

Lin Hu: "I gave it voluntarily."

Shen Nan blinked: "That's also because he keeps forcing you to compensate."

Lin Hu fell silent.

Shen Nan patted Lin Hu's shoulder, walked over with an arm around his shoulder to the corner, and said: "I just heard people say that Wu An's trawler has refueled and returned to the dock."

"You also know, the dock management in our village is lax."

"As long as you're careful, it's easy to stir up trouble."

Lin Hu glared: "You want me to go steal oil?"

Shen Nan shook his head: "Stealing oil also requires figuring out how to deal with it; it's easy to get caught."

"We just need to destroy the oil tank."

"After we're done, we'll leave; there will definitely be no trouble."

"Even if there's an investigation, we can help you fabricate an alibi."

Lin Hu didn't speak.

Shen Nan patted his shoulder again and said earnestly: "Lin Hu, you previously had to pay so much money precisely because you did this; are you willing to accept it?"

"You also know the situation at our village dock; it's absolutely safe."

"If you pull this off, from now on we'll be brothers; I've already secured the contract for the sea area, and the next step is to make big money."

"Follow me, and I guarantee you'll live well thereafter; when the time comes, you can pick any beautiful woman you like."

Lin Hu remained silent for a long while: "I understand."

Having said that, he lowered his head and walked away.

……

Wu An was awakened by the alarm clock; outside, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

He got up.

He washed up.

His sister-in-law made a lot of breakfast, plus fried clams, packed them in a lunch box, added a few side dishes—enough for a meal.

Just as he stepped out the door.

Wu An then saw a figure wandering back and forth not far away.

Wu An had his sister-in-law stop the vehicle, thought for a moment, walked over, and asked: "Lin Hu, what are you doing?"

Then he looked toward the ground.

This was still a muddy road, footprints thick as could be; judging by the situation, Lin Hu had probably been waiting here for a long time.

Lin Hu hesitated for a long while: "I have something to tell you."

"Shen Nan is plotting against you."

"He came to me yesterday, I didn't go along with it; Shen Nan might find someone else in the future."

"You should be more careful from now on."

"That's it; let's go."

Lin Hu turned and walked away.