Wang Liang’s face flushed red with embarrassment. “I’m sorry, Han Xiaorui. I misjudged you. Come to think of it, the ones truly at fault here are Yang Jianguo and my cousin.”
Initially, he had only believed one side of the story, but upon reflection, he realized that Han Xiaorui was the one who had truly suffered. Not wanting to ruin the atmosphere in front of Comrade Ye Feng, Wang Liang kept his head down.
Han Xiaorui smiled, her expression calm and composed. “I’ve already let it go. I have a house, children, a boat, and I can fish to make money. In my heart, nothing is a big deal except matters of life and death. Having shaken off those undeserving people, every day is a good day. Sit tight, we’re heading back.”
Although Ye Feng had remained silent, his gaze never left Han Xiaorui’s face. Especially after hearing her say, “Nothing is a big deal except matters of life and death,” the heavy oppression that had been weighing on his chest vanished. Suddenly, the sky seemed clearer, the water bluer, and the air smelled sweeter.
Han Xiaorui steered the boat at high speed. Her water-based ability allowed her to sense the currents, enabling her to adjust the boat’s direction and maintain a faster pace. The return trip took only one hour and twenty minutes.
Upon docking, Ye Feng stepped off. “Comrade Han Xiaorui, thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Han Xiaorui smiled, scooping a few large yellow croakers from the live tank. “Comrade Ye, these four are for you.”
Ye Feng quickly waved his hand. “As soldiers of the people, we cannot take a single needle or thread from the common people; it is our discipline.”
Although Wang Liang was a bit envious of the yellow croakers, he dared not ask for them in front of Ye Feng. Ye Feng urged Wang Liang to get into the car quickly, as there was more work to be done.
At the village pier, the fish buyers hadn’t thought much of it at first. Song Laoer, a local fishmonger, saw the yellow croakers Han Xiaorui brought out and came running. “Jianguo’s wife, sell me those yellow croakers.”
“Stop with the names!” Han Xiaorui was displeased and quickly corrected him. “I’m divorced from Yang Jianguo and have nothing to do with him anymore. From now on, call me ‘Little Han’ or ‘Han Xiaorui’.”
A crowd soon gathered to look at the catch. Song Laoer didn’t care about the divorce; all he saw were these rare, beautiful fish. “Little Han, how much are you selling these for?”
Han Xiaorui thought for a moment. “I have much more than just these few. There’s about seven hundred jin total, and almost all of them are over two jin each.”
Song Laoer was shocked. “Seven hundred jin? Let me see!” He jumped onto the boat, stunned by the sight. “My goodness, I’ve never seen so many large yellow croakers in my life! Little Han, the market price is now 280 yuan per dan (100 jin). I’ll give you 300 yuan per dan.”
Han Xiaorui was annoyed. “Uncle Song, you can get off now! I’m not selling to you! Don’t try to play me for a fool. A dan is 100 jin, which means you’re offering me three yuan per jin. That’s the price for small fish under one jin. Look at my fish—they are all over two jin, some even over four jin. Your offer isn’t sincere.”
Just then, a forty-meter-long ship docked. Yang Zhigang stood on the deck and saw his former daughter-in-law, Han Xiaorui, arguing with Song Laoer. Worried that she might be getting taken advantage of, he rushed down as soon as the ship moored. “Song Laoer, what are you doing? Don’t you dare bully Pingping and An’an’s mother!”
Song Laoer, already frustrated by Han Xiaorui’s rebuttal, was desperate to buy the fish, which made him impatient. While he dared to yell at Han Xiaorui, he didn’t dare cross Yang Zhigang. “Second Brother Yang, we’re just negotiating business!”
Yang Zhigang looked into the cabin and saw the massive haul of yellow croakers. He rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things. “Xiaorui, this… are these yellow croakers? They’re so big? There are so many?”
“Yes! I had great luck today! Uncle Song offered 300 yuan per dan, but I won’t sell to him; he’s acting too pushy.” Han Xiaorui was indignant; Song Laoer was being dishonest, and she wouldn’t sell to him in the future.
Yang Zhigang glared at Song Laoer. “Song Laoer, your business practices are dishonest. Offering three yuan a jin for such prime yellow croakers? How is that any different from highway robbery?” He then turned to Han Xiaorui, “Xiaorui, these yellow croakers are top quality. Give them to me; I’ll sell them for you and bring you the money later.”
Han Xiaorui nodded. “Okay, Uncle Yang, thank you. You weigh them up, and just bring me the money when you’re done. I need to go back and cook; Pingping and An’an will be home soon.”
“Go ahead,” Yang Zhigang agreed. “Don’t let the kids go hungry.”
Han Xiaorui locked the cabin. Yang Zhigang had his men load the fish into refrigerated trucks packed with ice. Once weighed, there were exactly 720 jin of yellow croakers. Yang Zhigang had his deputy organize the goods on his ship, while he personally took the refrigerated trucks to their partnered wholesaler. The buyer offered a very fair price, which Yang Zhigang accepted on her behalf:
2–3 jin: 8 yuan/jin (230 jin = 1,840 yuan)
3–4 jin: 10 yuan/jin (243 jin = 2,430 yuan)
4–5 jin: 12 yuan/jin (190 jin = 2,280 yuan)
Over 5 jin: 15 yuan/jin (57 jin = 855 yuan)
The total came to 7,405 yuan. Yang Zhigang received the payment on the spot and, upon returning to the village, went straight to Han Xiaorui to give her the money.
“Xiaorui, here is 7,405 yuan. Keep it safe. In the future, if you catch good fish, don’t sell to Song Laoer; he’s a slick operator. I heard you sold to Zhang Facai before—he owns a seafood restaurant and pays well. If you can’t get to the county seat, just have someone bring the fish to my wholesale stand.”
“Understood, Uncle Yang. Thank you.”
“No thanks needed!” Yang Zhigang sighed with emotion. “I never expected you to be so capable, catching so many yellow croakers.”
Han Xiaorui smiled. “I was just lucky today!”
At that moment, Song Laoliu’s minibus stopped, and Han Xiaojing got out with Pingping and An’an. “Call Grandpa,” Han Xiaojing prompted. The children smiled sweetly and chirped, “Grandpa.”
Yang Zhigang rubbed his hands, wanting to hug his granddaughters, but he smelled of fish. “Haha, Grandpa smells a bit fishy; I’ll hug you next time.”
While Yang Zhigang was talking to the children, Han Xiaorui quickly packed a two-jin yellow croaker into a plastic bag. “Uncle Song Liu, thank you for your hard work.”
“No need, you already paid for the ride,” Song Laoliu said, embarrassed to accept such an expensive fish.
Though he had already been tipped with cigarettes and now fish, Han Xiaorui knew how to handle interpersonal relationships, and Yang Zhigang knew even better.