NOVPUB
Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The Man Lao Zhao
After leaving Oil Workshop Village and reaching the main road, the two cars headed towards the fish market.
At this hour, there were few cars on the road, and it took the three of them just over ten minutes to travel the less than twenty kilometers to the fish market Zhao had mentioned.
Sure enough, as he said, there was a boss who wholesaled freshwater carp living in a storefront room. He made a phone call, and soon the door opened.
"Why are you selling fish at this hour? Are you a night owl?" The fish market boss was a middle-aged man in his forties, yawning and looking at Zhao.
Zhao replied, "Just came back from fishing, the pit boss offered too low a price, so I brought them here to you! They are all two to three pounds each, alive!"
"Where are they? Let me take a look! Let me tell you first, I can’t pay a high price for fish that look bad with broken heads or tails! No dead fish either!"
At this moment, Zhang Yang said, "Don’t worry, they are fresh from the water, all two-year-old fish (Explanation ①), with good skin and shape!"
"Wow, you young guys really know a lot!"
Soon, two people worked together to move the big box filled with fish out, and Wang Jun beside them also carried a large live fish bucket, putting his catch together as well.
Casually, the fish market boss grabbed one fish and gave it a glance; the scales were thick, the body was sturdy, indeed two-year-old fish with very little transport damage, lively enough in his hands.
"Okay, good quality, then we’ll stick to the usual price, three yuan fifty per pound, however many you have, I’ll take them all!"
"Deal!"
After bargaining for the price, the fish market boss weighed the fish with the box, then dumped the fish into his oxygen-pumped bag, weighed the box afterward, and quickly determined the final catch weight.
Zhang Yang and Zhao’s combined catch weighed 116.7 pounds, while Wang Jun’s own catch was 64.4 pounds, totaling 181.1 pounds for the three of them! At three yuan fifty per pound, the total amount was 633.5 yuan.
"Forget the change, dragging you out in the late night, let’s make it 630!" Zhao Bingguang said openly.
"Alright! If you have more of this quality fish in the future, however many you have, I’ll take them!"
"Deal!"
The sale was completed, and it was already past one at night; they hadn’t eaten dinner since evening, and their stomachs were now growling with hunger.
Zhang Yang suggested using the fish money to have a barbecue in Zhang Yang’s town! After settling the bill, they would split the money!
Although his share was almost as much as Zhao and Wang Jun’s combined, Zhang Yang was certainly at a loss with this suggestion. Zhao declined, but Zhang Yang insisted, saying that since Boss Pan made money tonight, they should celebrate with a barbecue.
They were all straightforward people, and arguing over such trivial fish money would seem stingy, so Zhao and Wang Jun agreed.
After driving to the town, they found a barbecue stall called "Authentically Local" still open, with a heavy front four, back eight truck parked outside, likely a nocturnal truck driver having a meal.
"Boss, is the grill still on? Just got back from night fishing, hungry, could you make us something?" Zhao called out.
"There’s still charcoal! What would you like? We have meat skewers, but we’re out of some tendon skewers!"
"Whatever you have, bring it; not picky! For the three of us!" Zhao pointed at the meat skewers on the menu, then opened a bottle of beer and took a swig.
"Are we sure we should be drinking? We’ll have to drive back afterward," Zhang Yang cautioned.
"It’s fine, Wang Jun won’t be drinking; he can take me back. I’ll park my car in front of your shop, and I’ll be back tomorrow. Your bait works better than pure forage; get me some tomorrow!"
"Alright, then I’ll join you for a drink!" Zhang Yang nodded and poured himself a beer too.
At this hour, the food came quickly, and the three men ate and drank, chatting over drinks.
"Oh my, today’s fish made me regret it! Should’ve listened to you and used a short rod!" After a few drinks, Zhao started talking more, no longer as prideful as usual.
Zhang Yang grinned without speaking, while Wang Jun beside couldn’t help teasing, "You’re not regretting it for the first time! Nine fish is plenty, just like yesterday when you caught as many as a thief!"
"Damn! You always enjoy mocking me!"
Zhang Yang covered his mouth with a smile, watching the two men in their fifties bicker.
After the jokes, Zhao Bingguang’s curiosity returned, "Zhang Yang, I’ve always had a question I felt embarrassed to ask you! But since I had a bit to drink tonight, I won’t hold back!"
"You look young, where did you learn all this fishing skill and knowledge from? After today’s session, I really admire your technique, I’m thoroughly impressed!"
Zhang Yang couldn’t tell the truth, knowing they wouldn’t believe him. With a quick spin of thoughts, he fabricated an explanation, "I went to high school at a relative’s place in the provincial capital! My cousin hung out with a bunch of professional anglers, I spent every summer with them!
I picked up the techniques from them. In our small place like W City, a lot of skills spread slowly, things already used outside for some time!"
Indeed, back in 2012, when information wasn’t as widespread as it is today, dissemination of many things was actually slower. Zhao and Wang Jun believed Zhang Yang after hearing the explanation.
"No wonder! You use medicated bait and carp-specific bait formula! Had a mentor guiding you!"
"Hehe, just messing around, earning a living! I just happen to like fishing and idly ponder about it; in other directions, I’d surely not be as capable as you guys!"
"I won’t argue with you on that; everyone has their own life path!
Speaking of which, take me, I used to set up a stall in the small commodity market with only ten thousand capital, initially tipping along slowly earning some pocket money. The next year luck was on my side, unexpectedly snagging a dealership selling satellite dishes.
It happened that year was trending, made so much money, I felt a bit uneasy!
In just over one year, I accumulated enough money to buy three stores in the best section of Huasheng Building in the city!"
Zhao gestured with three fingers, his tone filled with the heroic spirit of a successful man reaching financial freedom.
This surprised Zhang Yang.
Huasheng Building is the core commercial district of W City; owning three stores there is certainly prime estate!
Even earning rent yearly guarantees a base income of at least hundreds of thousands, no wonder Zhao lives like a carefree god usually.
"You’re not even old, not thinking about pushing further? Giving your kids a good start or something?" Zhang Yang raised his glass and clinked with Zhao’s, chugging a large gulp of beer.
"Lay a foundation? I only have a daughter; what foundation? Eventually, she belongs to someone else’s family! I provide her enough material resources, ensure her education is solid to avoid being ridiculed by her in-laws for lack of upbringing; that’s enough!"
With this, Zhao paused, but Zhang Yang didn’t break the silence nor ask the question he had suppressed, how he wasn’t considering having another kid.
Zhao seemed to have figured out Zhang Yang’s thoughts, continued without prompting, "You must be wondering why I’m not considering having a second child, right?
My wife had a tumor surgery a couple of years ago, so we can’t have a second child!
She struggled alongside me from having nothing; the hardships she faced are known only to me! Thus I can’t let her down, won’t divorce or seek someone outside in this lifetime.
I’ve come to terms, just like that! In life, when gaining something, something is lost; many things cannot be forced!"
After hearing this, Zhang Yang’s impression of Zhao grew even greater!
Wealthy but principled, responsible, family-loving, treats his longtime wife still as a treasure. In today’s restless and materialistic society, such men are perhaps rare.
Zhao’s character is directly related to his life experiences; it’s understandable. Only those who’ve achieved something in certain areas can have the confidence that they are surely in the right!
After Zhao expressed his sentiments, Zhang Yang glanced at the quietly eating skewers Wang Jun across him, "Jun, why haven’t you said anything?"
Zhao Bingguang smirked with slight jealousy and said, "Damn, if I were him, I’d keep quiet too; his wife had twins!"
Now it was Zhang Yang’s turn to be at a loss for words.
=============
Explanation ① Two-year-old fish: Fish that have grown from fry to ready to catch in two years; compared to fish caught within the same year, these have better physical conditions, thicker scales, are more robust during transport and breeding. For the same weight, two-year-old fish have better meat quality.
