Chapter 40 - 41: You Can Park at My Place

Chapter 40: Chapter 41: You Can Park at My Place

"Boss Chen, so this is your fishing spot numbering system, huh."

The three-wheeler pulled up to the pond, and Ye Huan and the others hopped off and immediately stared at the crude black numbers painted on the ground. They could read them fine — they just looked incredibly half-assed.

"Ha, the place is still under development. It’ll keep getting better."

Chen Yuan didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed.

"Coming from you, Boss Chen, I actually believe that. Any other fishing spot owner said that, I’d call it straight-up bullshit."

It was, without a doubt, the highest compliment anyone could pay Chen Yuan and his pond.

"Everyone fish from the same spots as last night."

Chen Yuan glanced over at Mr. Qin and his group. Fortunately, they weren’t in Ye Huan’s spots.

Still, he did feel a little bad for Mr. Qin’s group.

He’d originally planned to let them experience the thrill of the Fish King this morning, but it was almost eight o’clock now — clearly that wasn’t happening. They’d have to wait until the afternoon session wrapped up.

"Come on, here’s your gear!"

Chen Dequan and his wife came jogging over with the equipment, already drenched in sweat first thing in the morning. But neither of them looked tired — both were all smiles, going out of their way to be as warm and welcoming as possible to Ye Huan’s group.

Chen Yuan knew exactly what they were up to.

He was about to say something when his phone buzzed in his pocket again.

Unknown number.

"Boss Chen, do I turn left or right when I come into the village?"

A new customer, obviously. The signage issue had somehow slipped through the cracks.

"How’d you get here?"

Chen Yuan asked while climbing onto the three-wheeler, casually waving to Ye Huan’s group and then over to Mr. Qin’s side, where Chen Wenbin was also standing.

No idea what he was over there chatting about.

"I’m on a motorbike."

"Then turn right and take two turns. When you see a spot with a few cars parked out front, that’s the place."

Chen Yuan twisted the throttle and headed back.

"Come on, come on, we need a hand!"

Chen Dequan didn’t even have time to wipe the sweat off his face. He’d barely finished handing out the fishing gear to Ye Huan’s group before grabbing Liu Fang and rushing off toward Chen Yuan’s place.

They hustled all the way there and arrived just in time to find Chen Yuan already laughing and chatting with a new customer.

"Hey buddy, that your fishing gear? Here, let us carry it down to the pond for you."

Chen Dequan and his wife beamed with enthusiasm — more over-the-top than any city restaurant staff Chen Yuan had ever seen.

"Wow, Boss Chen, the service here is something else. Your staff are so enthusiastic."

The angler looked genuinely taken aback, almost flattered.

Someone had directed his parking, someone helped grab his gear, someone offered him a cigarette, and now they were personally hauling everything down to the pond for him. Was this really the kind of treatment you got at a fishing spot?

"Good service is non-negotiable. You’re here to have a good time, so let’s make it one. Come on, hop in."

Chen Yuan patted the side of the three-wheeler and couldn’t be bothered to say anything to Chen Dequan and his wife. If they wanted to help, fine by him.

Besides, whatever the monk’s fault, you still respect the Buddha. Uncle Bin’s face was worth saving.

"Dad, can you guys throw together some breakfast and help with the parking?"

With Chen Dequan and his wife picking up the slack, there was no need for his dad and uncle to keep running back and forth to the pond. At least they could catch a break.

By the time it crept toward half past eight, the rush of incoming customers was in full swing. Chen Dequan and his wife were hauling gear in a full sweat — they’d never worked this hard at their own place.

But they couldn’t stop to rest. After all, their fate was still squarely in Chen Yuan’s hands.

"Hey, you poor bastard — need any help from me?"

Qin Fen and the others had already packed up their rods by then. With all the paying customers about to arrive, it didn’t feel right hogging the spots.

Chen Wenbin had vanished at some point, nowhere to be seen.

"Nah, I’m good. Can’t you see I’m just taking it easy over here?"

Chen Yuan grinned, watching Chen Dequan and his wife scramble around.

"Serves them right."

Qin Fen looked at the two of them soaked through with sweat and felt deeply satisfied. That was what that shrewish woman got for being so insufferably smug earlier.

"Mr. Qin, why don’t you all head back and rest? My mom should be getting breakfast ready — go have a bite. As for what happened earlier, I’ll explain everything once things calm down."

Chen Yuan passed around cigarettes.

"Chen, you’re too formal about these things sometimes. It was nothing."

Mr. Qin and the others laughed it off warmly.

Good. That was settled.

Chen Yuan felt much more at ease now.

He had to keep Uncle Bin’s dignity intact, sure — but this wasn’t just Uncle Bin’s problem. If Mr. Qin and his group were holding a grudge, that would have been a real headache.

"Mr. Qin, want a lift? I can drop you off."

Chen Yuan glanced toward the back of the three-wheeler.

"No need, you go do your thing. The country air’s nice — we old-timers could use a walk anyway."

Mr. Qin and the others waved him off.

"Then let me take your gear at least. I’m heading back that way anyway — I’ll drop it inside for you."

"That works."

He loaded everyone’s gear into the three-wheeler, and Qin Fen jumped on too. Chen Yuan twisted the throttle and they took off toward home.

The moment they got back, his uncle called out to him.

"Yuan, both our yards are full, and there’s no room left in front of your second aunt’s place either. Where are we supposed to put the rest of the cars?"

Yesterday there’d been fewer people, so parking wasn’t an issue.

But today was packed — all sixty fishing spots taken. Setting aside the ones who’d come by bike or bus, there were at least forty-odd cars that had driven themselves out.

Country yards were spacious, sure, and there was some open ground in front of the house, but not nearly enough for this many vehicles.

"They can park at my place."

Just as Chen Yuan was starting to feel the headache coming on, Chen Dequan looked up from his work and called out.

"Brother Chen Kingdom, how many cars are still coming? I’d say my yard can fit about ten or so."

Chen Kingdom’s eyes lit up slightly.

Chen Dequan’s place did have a wide-open front — if they used it for overflow parking, it ought to be enough.

But he didn’t say yes on his own. He looked over at Chen Yuan instead.

"Alright, send them over there first."

Chen Yuan thought it over and didn’t refuse.

"I’ll show them the way and ferry the customers back on the three-wheeler."

Chen Dequan was overjoyed.

Chen Yuan accepting their offer meant there was still hope for the mess his wife had caused. And on top of that, he’d been hauling things on foot for so long — he’d been dying to use the three-wheeler but the steady stream of customers never gave him a window. Now he could finally get some relief.

"Uncle, tell the customers to follow behind my three-wheeler."

Chen Dequan’s place was a few hundred meters away. With all the gear already loaded, there was no room for passengers, and besides, there were several cars in this batch — he’d need to come back and pick people up.

Without paying Chen Dequan and his wife any further mind, Chen Yuan tore off on the three-wheeler. Under normal circumstances, Liu Fang would’ve been whining and griping about something by now — but today she didn’t dare breathe a word, not even the faintest complaint.

"You’ve grown fast, Boss Chen — already expanding the parking out here. This an employee’s place? You hiring for a night session or something?"

Once the cars were parked at Chen Dequan’s, one of the regulars from yesterday climbed out and joked around like they were old friends.

Chen Yuan was at a loss for words. These anglers had all assumed Chen Dequan and his wife were staff, and jumped to the conclusion that he was gearing up to launch night sessions.

"One thing at a time."

Chen Yuan jumped off the three-wheeler, already had a cigarette in hand, lighting it with the practiced ease of someone who’d done it ten thousand times.

"What do you mean ’one thing at a time’ — this place is already killing it. The guys in the group chat who couldn’t make it are going to be insanely jealous. I guarantee you, Boss Chen — if you announced a night session right now, tonight’s tickets would sell out in minutes."

The angler took the cigarette and laid it on thick.

"Maybe I’ll put on a little night entertainment then."

Chen Yuan said it with a grin, and the anglers all burst out laughing.

"Alright, grab your gear first, then get on my ride. We can talk more at the pond."

Seeing Chen Dequan and his wife jogging over, Chen Yuan waved the anglers toward their equipment.

"You gents taking all of this down to the pond?"

Chen Dequan arrived panting, eyeing the pile of gear dumped on the ground.

"Sorry to trouble you, uncle."

One of the anglers stepped forward and offered him a cigarette.

Chen Dequan’s eyes lit up. A Hua — he might not get two of those in a whole year. Maybe this gig wasn’t half bad after all.

"No trouble at all, no trouble."

Chen Dequan carefully tucked the cigarette into his battered pack, then wheeled over the three-wheeler. He and his wife made quick work of loading all the gear, then he twisted the throttle and fell in behind Chen Yuan.

Maybe it was the cigarette, but Chen Dequan had a wide grin on his face the whole time, working with more energy than he’d shown in years — not tired in the slightest.