Chapter 322: "Fellow Sufferers

Chapter 322: Chapter 322: "Fellow Sufferers

Chen Yupeng had connections in the area and sent a colleague to help with the inspection.

The boat was built to high standards, meeting all specifications. Han Xiaorui paid the balance in full right then and there and arranged for it to be sailed back to the docks.

Amidst the sound of firecrackers, the new fishing boat slowly left the dry dock and sailed steadily out onto the open sea.

Just as everyone was looking around, Yang Zhigang came over and said to Han Xiaorui, "Xiao Rui, have you found a captain and crew for the boat?"

Han Xiaorui replied, "Some of the former fishermen in the village want to work, and I’ve already spoken to Brother Jianguo about it, but I haven’t found a captain yet. Uncle Yang, do you know anyone suitable?"

Yang Zhigang nodded and said with a smile, "What about Wu Guangfu? The fishing boat you bought before was his. Now that he doesn’t have a boat, he needs to work to earn a living."

"He came to me a few days ago saying he wanted to work on a boat. He’s very capable, so if you don’t have anyone suitable, have him come over as captain."

Han Xiaorui nodded. "Since you speak so highly of Wu Guangfu, Uncle Yang, let’s make him the captain. When the time comes, our three boats can head out to sea together and watch out for each other."

Seeing Han Xiaorui agree to his proposal, Yang Zhigang was very pleased. "Alright then, I’ll give him a call this afternoon."

Han Xiaorui asked curiously, "Uncle Yang, how is Wu Guangfu’s son doing?"

Yang Zhigang smiled. "After his injuries healed, Wu Guangfu sent him straight to the army."

"Huh?" Han Xiaorui was taken aback. "Doesn’t he have a criminal record for assault?"

Yang Zhigang gave a sheepish smile. "He paid compensation, so it was treated as a civil dispute, no criminal record. Besides, there was a reason for the fight; he didn’t just attack someone for no reason, so they didn’t pursue it further."

"Sending him to the army... it’s a great crucible. Even if he doesn’t become some great talent, at least he’ll learn some discipline and grow up."

Han Xiaorui understood. "So he couldn’t control him himself and handed him over to the state. Better for the army to manage him than a prison."

Yang Zhigang roared with laughter. "Xiao Rui, you’ve hit the nail on the head. That’s exactly it. Whenever Wu Guangfu tried to discipline his son, his wife would undermine him, and his parents would protect the boy."

"You should have seen it. Wu Guangfu, a man nearly six feet tall, was crying his eyes out from frustration. He knew that if he didn’t intervene, his son would be completely ruined. So he hardened his heart and sent the boy to the army behind his wife’s and parents’ backs."

"Now, the only one at home is his daughter, who’s still in school. Wu Guangfu doesn’t have to worry anymore, so he’s thinking of finding work. He’s capable, a good guy, and can manage a crew."

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui nodded. "It’s tough being a parent. The kid isn’t bad at heart. The army should be able to straighten him out."

Yang Zhigang could sympathize with Wu Guangfu. Both had been through hell because of their sons.

Yang Zhigang sighed. "If I had known, I wouldn’t have let Jianming go to college. I would’ve sent him to the army. Or even if he went to college, he should have gone to a military academy. Maybe things would have been better."

Han Xiaorui gave a weak smile. "Uncle Yang, you should be glad Jianming didn’t go to a military academy. With his intelligence, he would have definitely gotten into the best one. But he’s restless, and his principles are shaky. If he were tempted by outside influences, he’d very likely become a traitor."

"The trouble he’d cause wouldn’t be as simple as getting married, divorced, and abandoning his child. Your whole Yang Family might even be branded as traitors."

Yang Zhigang, who had been feeling a bit regretful, was left dumbfounded by Han Xiaorui’s words.

’Now that I think about it, that’s entirely possible!’

Yang Zhigang let out a long breath. "You’re right, you’re right. That kid is probably capable of it. If he really became a traitor, our Yang Family ancestors would be rolling in their graves."

"By the way, Xiao Rui, do you know Zhang Lili’s uncle? And Wang Liang, Zhang Lili’s cousin, the one who was always causing trouble for you at the beginning?"

Han Xiaorui nodded. "I met him once. He’s the vice dean of the university, isn’t he?"

"Pah!" Yang Zhigang spat and cursed, "The country would have been better off raising a dog than him. He’s a traitor, bought off by the Japanese devils. During an academic visit to Japan, he was caught messing around with a woman."

"Just like that, after being blackmailed, he became a traitor without a second thought. Later, he even became smug about it, thinking he could make money and fool around with women. He completely degenerated."

"Fortunately, the long arm of the law catches up to everyone. They caught the traitor. He’ll be spending the rest of his life in prison!"

Han Xiaorui shared his indignation. "Serves him right!"

Together, Yang Zhigang and Han Xiaorui settled on the captain and crew for the new boat.

「On an auspicious day, they all set out to sea to fish.」

Chen Yishui sighed in admiration. The new boat was incredible.

Boats these days had so many more features, and they just kept getting better and better.

"Boat Owner, congratulations! If you buy ten more fishing boats, we can form our own fleet. Setting out together like that—now that would be impressive!"

Han Xiaorui chuckled. "Sister Shui, you’re even more ambitious than I am!"

"Hahaha, of course," Chen Yishui laughed. "If a big boat owner like you is leading the charge, then I get to be the grand captain of the fleet. How magnificent does that sound?"

Han Xiaorui burst out laughing. "Sister Shui, it does sound magnificent. But we also have to be realistic. I’d worry that with so many boats, we’d fish out all the surrounding waters."

Chen Yishui shook her head. "Then we can just fish in more distant waters. The ocean is huge. There’s no reason others can fish there but we can’t."

Han Xiaorui considered it. They would indeed have to fish in more distant waters.

"We’ll see about that later. For now, I have two boats in the water and another one under construction. It’s not a lot, but it’s not a few either."

"This is the first year of the fishing moratorium. The notice came down last year. It’s from May 1st to September 16th. A full four and a half months where we can’t use nets to fish."

Hearing this, Chen Yishui’s face fell. "Think of all the money we’ll lose!"

Han Xiaorui smiled. Although the thought of the lost income pained her, it was national policy and had to be followed.

"The reason for it is overfishing. Some people even use those fine-mesh nets that catch everything, which is causing marine resources to dwindle."

Chen Yishui nodded. "Today’s boats are huge, and the nets are long and wide. It’s not like the old days with wooden boats and casting nets."

"Even if there were many fishermen in the past, how much could they really catch with those techniques and tools? Now, with advances in technology, bigger boats with powerful engines, and massive nets, the depletion of marine resources is to be expected."

At noon, Han Xiaorui treated everyone to a banquet at the Fortune Seafood Restaurant to celebrate getting the new boat.

In the afternoon, Yang Zhigang arrived with Wu Guangfu.

Han Xiaorui told Wu Guangfu his salary on the spot. It would be the same as the other two captains, Chen Yishui and Qi Heng.

Wu Guangfu had already heard from Qi Heng that the income was quite substantial. He smiled and said gratefully, "Xiao Han, thank you for entrusting the new fishing boat to me. Rest assured, I will do my absolute best."

Han Xiaorui smiled and replied, "Any captain my Uncle Yang frequently praises must have some serious skills. I also trust that you, Uncle Wu, can do this job well."

Wu Guangfu was filled with emotion. ’I used to be jealous of Yang Zhigang, but now I realize I can’t compare.’

"It’s rare for Old Yang to praise me. We used to argue quite a bit."

Yang Zhigang chuckled. "That was all just in good fun. Who took it seriously?"

"Right, right, just kidding!" Wu Guangfu took the easy way out, letting bygones be bygones with a smile.

Just then, Liu Xiangnan called. "Boss, you need to get to the aquaculture farm, quick! Something’s happened!"