The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Xiao Dai Arrived with ”Relatives and Friends

Han Xiaorui also started sorting. They were huge and still alive; if they weren’t sorted quickly, they’d scuttle everywhere and could even hurt someone.

While tying up a lobster, Wu Mengyue asked Han Xiaorui, ”Xiao Rui, lobsters are worth more when sold live, especially Brocade Lobsters this big.”

(They had to be tied up. Otherwise, they would fight and break their antennae or claws, which would drastically lower their price.)

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Right, these are more expensive than regular lobsters. Boss Zhang will definitely pay a high price! But everyone be careful. If they’re too big, two people can work together.”

The Brocade Lobsters were large and very energetic, making them difficult to tie up, especially the biggest ones.

Everyone worked together to tie the lobsters, with Wu Mengyue using a tool to wrangle any that tried to escape.

The crewmen in the cabin stopped resting and all came out to work.

Even Liu Huamei stopped cooking and came over to help tie the lobsters and put them in the fish hold.

Everyone worked together for an hour and a half before all the Brocade Lobsters from the net were finally tied up.

Han Xiaorui picked out a basket of lobsters that were over a pound each and said to Liu Huamei, ”Sister Mei, let’s have one each for lunch and try them fresh.”

Liu Huamei’s face lit up with a smile as she immediately took the basket. ”Alright, I’ll make sure everyone gets to eat them for lunch.”

Liu Huamei carried the basket to the kitchen and counted them. There were over twenty in total!

’One garlic Brocade Lobster for each person, and with the leftovers, I can make lobster sashimi. That’ll be delicious, too.’

By the time everything was tidied up, more than two hours had passed.

It wasn’t lunchtime yet, but everyone was hungry.

Liang Xiaoyu went to the kitchen and brought out the red bean cakes Liu Huamei had made. ”Here, have some red bean cakes to tide you over.”

Han Xiaorui used a toothpick to pick up a piece of red bean cake and popped it into her mouth. It was the perfect bite-sized piece.

It was sweet, fragrant, and had a soft, mealy texture.

It was not only a great treat for her taste buds but also curbed her hunger.

Lunch was nothing short of a Brocade Lobster feast.

Han Xiaorui had provided a generous budget, so Liu Huamei had gone to a supermarket in the city to buy special ingredients and even bought some foreign cookbooks.

The sashimi was beautifully presented and delicious.

She sliced the Brocade Lobster Meat into thin pieces, served with side dishes like lemon, cucumber, carrots, and cabbage, along with sashimi soy sauce and freshly ground wasabi.

There was one garlic Brocade Lobster for each person.

There was also Brocade Lobster Soup, made by boiling Brocade Lobster Meat with Nori and other ingredients. The Nori complemented the fresh, tender, and juicy lobster meat, making it exceptionally delicious.

Everyone had a wonderful lunch!

The ingredients were already fresh, and combined with Liu Huamei’s excellent cooking skills, it was out of this world!

’I’d be happy to work for a boss like this for as long as possible.’

Han Xiaorui woke up from a nap. It was already evening, and the sky was filled with the colors of sunset.

Xiao Dai surfaced, but this time, it wasn’t alone. A dozen or so other turtles followed behind it.

Wu Mengyue was stunned. ”Why are there so many Turtles?”

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui rushed over. She took a closer look and saw Xiao Dai among them—it had brought its friends.

”I rescued a Turtle yesterday and named it Xiao Dai. These friends of its have barnacles on them. They probably want me to get them off.”

Xiao Dai actually nodded in a very human-like way and flapped in the water.

Wu Mengyue said in surprise, ”Xiao Rui, it seems to understand what we’re saying.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Yes. People gain wisdom with age, and so do turtles. Since they’ve come to us for help, we might as well be good Samaritans and see it through. Help one turtle, help them all.”

There were small nets on the boat. Wu Mengyue and a crewman worked together to bring the Turtle at the very front aboard.

The crewmen found some handy tools and quickly chipped the barnacles off the Turtles’ shells before returning them to the sea.

After finishing with all dozen or so of them, the crewmen were panting with exhaustion. ”No wonder these Turtles were uncomfortable. This stuff is so hard to get off once it’s stuck to you.”

As she released them back into the ocean, Han Xiaorui gave each one a little bit of her Water Ability, hoping they would be smart enough not to come out for no reason.

A Turtle’s shell can be used to make jewelry and is considered a type of organic gemstone.

It is also a very precious medicinal ingredient with high pharmaceutical value.

Many ancient Turtle-shell artifacts from Hua Country were plundered by foreign countries and are now displayed in museums and private collections abroad.

(A translucent, carved Turtle-shell hair comb with story scenes, from the collection of the National Museum of Scotland. Turtles are now a Class I protected species. Don’t buy or even touch their products. You can actually go to jail for it.)

The Turtles, now back in the ocean, didn’t leave right away. Instead, they played around the fishing boat.

After about ten minutes, they finally sank beneath the surface.

After that, their good luck continued unabated. Every net was full, and it was all good-quality sea fish.

This time, in less than three days, the holds were full.

Han Xiaorui used the radio to contact Vice Captain Qi on the other boat. Their holds were almost full too, and they were preparing to head back.

On the way back, they pulled in two more nets. There was no room left, so they sorted the catch on deck.

Although not as fresh as if it were in the refrigerated hold, it hadn’t spoiled.

When they reached the shore, they sold these fish first.

Boss Zhang got the call and immediately came over with Xiao Liu and Xiao Zhao to pick up the goods.

Boss Zhang was very pleased with the Brocade Lobsters this time and took them all, along with the other mid- to high-end seafood.

Although this haul didn’t have any of the top-tier expensive fish like Big Yellow Fish, the rest was almost all mid-range seafood.

Even the low-end catch was bought in large quantities by Boss Zhang because it was in good condition and relatively large.

This haul alone sold to Boss Zhang for 173,200 yuan.

Some of the lower-end seafood was left, which they packed up and sold to a wholesaler at the seafood market for a total of 57,200 yuan.

After deducting all expenses, the net profit was 181,000 yuan.

Chen Yishui, Wu Mengyue, and Liang Xiaoyu each received a 1% commission of 1,810 yuan.

The other crew members each got a commission of 905 yuan.

Although it wasn’t as much as last time, this was still a very high income.

”I haven’t paid you all out yet. If you’re free tomorrow afternoon, come to my place to get your money.”

”If you’re not free, I’ll just give you the money the next time we go out to sea.”

Wu Mengyue burst out laughing. ”When it comes to getting paid, we’re always free!”

”Then it’s settled. Everyone come get your money tomorrow afternoon! Tomorrow is Sunday, so don’t come empty-handed. Bring a homemade specialty dish.”

After hearing this, Sister Yun asked in a low voice, ”My mother-in-law’s cured sea duck eggs are delicious; the yolks are so rich and runny. Xiao Rui, they’re not worth much, but if I bring them, please don’t look down on them!”

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui waved her hand and smiled. ”You all know I love to eat. As long as it’s homemade and you think it’s delicious, I’d be happy even if you just brought me a bowl of pickled vegetables.”

”Of course, you’re also welcome to come empty-handed. This isn’t mandatory. There’s no need to spend extra money just to bring me something.”

When Sister Lan heard Han Xiaorui say this, her eyes lit up. ”My mother-in-law is from An Province, and she makes hairy tofu! It should be ready in the next day or two. You just pan-fry the hairy tofu and top it with the chili sauce my mother-in-law makes from fresh red peppers. The taste is out of this world!”

Another auntie smiled and said, ”My husband makes a really good bean jelly!”

”My mother-in-law’s drunken crab is delicious!”

...