The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Deliberate Price Suppression, A Fortune from Selling Fish

Wang Liang looked embarrassed, his face bright red. ”I’m sorry, Han Xiaorui. I misjudged you. Thinking about it, the ones most in the wrong are Yang Jianming and my cousin.”

At first, he’d believed one side of the story. But now that he thought about it, Han Xiaorui was the real victim.

In front of Mr. Ye, Wang Liang didn’t want the atmosphere to get too awkward.

Han Xiaorui smiled, her eyes frank and her expression calm. ”I’ve actually already moved on. I have a house, children, and a boat to make a living from fishing.”

”To me, besides life and death, nothing else is a big deal. Now that I’m free of people who aren’t worth my time, every day is a good day. Sit tight, we’re heading back.”

Although Ye Feng hadn’t said a word, his gaze never left Han Xiaorui’s face.

Especially after hearing her say, ”Besides life and death, nothing else is a big deal,” the oppressive feeling in his chest vanished.

In that instant, he felt the sky was a brighter blue, the water a deeper azure, and the air smelled sweeter!

Han Xiaorui started the boat. She was fast. Her Water Ability allowed her to sense the currents, and by constantly adjusting the boat’s direction, she could go even faster.

On the way back, they reached the shore in just an hour and twenty minutes.

Ye Feng disembarked. ”Ms. Han Xiaorui, thank you.”

”You’re welcome,” Han Xiaorui said with a smile, scooping a few Big Yellow Fish out of the livewell. ”Mr. Ye, these four are for you.”

Ye Feng quickly waved his hands in refusal. ”As a soldier of the people, I can’t take so much as a needle or thread from the common folk. It’s against regulations.”

Although Wang Liang’s mouth was watering for those Big Yellow Fish, he wouldn’t dare ask for any in front of Ye Feng.

Ye Feng urged Wang Liang to hurry up and get in the car; they still had other work to do.

At first, the people buying fish at the village dock didn’t pay her much mind.

Song the Second, the village fishmonger, saw the Big Yellow Fish Han Xiaorui brought out and came scurrying over. ”Jianming’s wife, sell these Big Yellow Fish to me.”

”Who are you calling that!” Han Xiaorui said, displeased. She quickly corrected him, ”I’ve already divorced Yang Jianming. I have nothing to do with him anymore. From now on, you can call me Xiao Han or Han Xiaorui.”

Before long, a crowd had gathered to look at the Big Yellow Fish.

Song the Second couldn’t care less if Han Xiaorui was divorced from Yang Jianming. Right now, all he could see were these absolutely gorgeous fish.

”Xiao Han, how much per jin for these fish?” Song the Second asked, looking from the Big Yellow Fish to Han Xiaorui.

Han Xiaorui thought for a moment, then said, ”I have more than just these few. About seven hundred jin in total. And they’re basically all over two jin each.”

Song the Second was shocked. ”Seven hundred jin? Let me see!”

Song the Second had already jumped onto the boat. Seeing the fish in the hold, he was dumbfounded. ”My god, I’ve never seen so many Big Yellow Fish in my life! Xiao Han, prices are deregulated now. The going rate is 280 yuan a dan. I’ll give you 300 yuan a dan.”

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui was not happy. ”Uncle Song, get off my boat! I’m not selling my fish to you! Are you trying to fool me, thinking I can’t do math? A dan is 100 jin, which means you’re offering me 3 yuan per jin.”

”That’s the price for fish under one jin. Look at my fish—they’re all over two jin, and some are even over four! Your offer clearly isn’t sincere.”

Just then, a boat about forty meters long docked. Yang Zhigang, standing on the deck, saw his daughter-in-law—ah, his former daughter-in-law, Han Xiaorui—”arguing” with Song the Second.

Worried that Han Xiaorui would be taken advantage of, Yang Zhigang immediately rushed down once the large boat was moored. ”Song the Second, what are you doing? Don’t you dare bully Pingping and An’an’s mother!”

Song the Second, still fuming from being called out by Han Xiaorui, was growing more desperate to buy the fish and had become a bit impatient.

He might dare to raise his voice at Han Xiaorui, but he wouldn’t dare bare his teeth at Yang Zhigang. ”Brother Yang, we’re just talking business!”

Yang Zhigang’s eyes fell on the hold of Han Xiaorui’s boat. Seeing so many Big Yellow Fish, he quickly rubbed his eyes, thinking he was mistaken. ”Xiao Rui, are... are these Big Yellow Fish? So big? So many?”

”They are! I got really lucky today! Uncle Song offered 300 yuan a dan, but I refused to sell, so he got a little agitated.” Han Xiaorui was a bit angry. ’That Song the Second is dishonest. I won’t sell him any fish in the future.’

Yang Zhigang shot Song the Second a fierce glare. ”Song the Second, you’re a dishonest businessman! For such high-quality Big Yellow Fish, three yuan a jin? How is that any different from robbery and fraud?”

”Xiao Rui, these Big Yellow Fish are all top-grade. Give them all to me. I’ll sell them for you and give you the money later.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Okay, Uncle Yang, thank you. You can just weigh the fish, and then pay me after you’ve sold them. I’m going to head back and cook. Pingping and An’an will be home soon.”

Yang Zhigang nodded. ”Alright, you go on back and cook for Pingping and An’an. Don’t let them go hungry.”

Han Xiaorui closed up the boat’s hold, and Yang Zhigang had his men load all the Big Yellow Fish onto a truck filled with ice.

After being weighed, it turned out there were seven hundred and twenty jin, all Big Yellow Fish.

Yang Zhigang told his first mate to sort out the seafood on the big ship, while he followed the refrigerated truck to deliver the Big Yellow Fish to a regular buyer.

The buyer there offered a very fair price, and Yang Zhigang made the decision to sell.

Over 2 jin and up to 3 jin: 8 yuan/jin, 230 jin, for 1,840 yuan.

Over 3 jin and up to 4 jin: 10 yuan/jin, 243 jin, for 2,430 yuan.

Over 4 jin and up to 5 jin: 12 yuan/jin, 190 jin, for 2,280 yuan.

Over 5 jin: 15 yuan/jin, 57 jin, for 855 yuan.

Total: 720 jin, for a grand total of 7,405 yuan.

They paid in cash and gave a receipt on the spot. Yang Zhigang collected it all, and the first thing he did upon returning to the village was give the money to Han Xiaorui.

”Xiao Rui, here’s 7,405 yuan. Keep it safe. In the future, if you have good fish, don’t sell to Song the Second. That man is a slippery character.”

”I heard you sold to Zhang Fa Cai before. He’s a seafood restaurant owner, and his purchasing prices are quite high. If you don’t have time to go to the county seat, you can have someone deliver the fish to my wholesale stall.”

Han Xiaorui agreed. ”I will, Uncle Yang. Thank you.”

”Don’t mention it!” Yang Zhigang said with feeling. ”I just never expected you to be so capable, catching so many Big Yellow Fish.”

Han Xiaorui just smiled. ”It was all just good luck today!”

Just then, Song Sixth’s car pulled up. Han Xiaoqing got out with Pingping and An’an.

”Say ’Grandpa’,” Han Xiaoqing reminded them.

Pingping and An’an smiled sweetly. ”Grandpa.”

Yang Zhigang rubbed his hands together, wanting to hug his two granddaughters, but he smelled of fish. ”Hehe, Grandpa’s stinky right now. I’ll hug you next time.”

While Yang Zhigang was talking with the children, Han Xiaorui put a two-jin Big Yellow Fish into a plastic bag. ”Sixth Uncle Song, thank you for your trouble.”

”No need, you already paid me.” Song Sixth was embarrassed to accept the fish. This was a Big Yellow Fish, and it was quite expensive.

She gave him cigarettes the other day, and now fish today. Besides, he wasn’t giving them free rides; he was getting paid for his services.

But Han Xiaorui knew how to treat people well, and Yang Zhigang was even better at it.