After Reincarnating as the Dragon King, I Made a Fortune with Seafood – CH16

Chapter 16: Visitors

Lin Manzhang knew a lot of people.

Right there and then, he contacted a fish fry farm for Lu Ao. The other party bred giant grouper fry year-round.

However, they currently had no stock. Lu Ao would have to place an order and have them bred temporarily. The minimum order was two hundred fry, and for orders under five hundred, each fry cost seven yuan. Delivery would only be available a month later.

This was the first time Lu Ao learned that fish fry also needed to be custom-ordered. After thinking it over, he agreed in the end.

Lin Manzhang helped with the initial communication, then pushed the WeChat contact to Lu Ao so it would be convenient for them to sign the contract later.

Lin Manzhang said, “This fish fry farm has decent credibility and skill. Quite a few friends I know order from them.”

Lu Ao added the person and answered, “Thank you, Brother Zhang.”

“What are you thanking me for? You’re doing public good too.” Lin Manzhang was somewhat helpless and also somewhat admiring. “Of all the people I know, you’re the only one willing to throw money into the sea like this.”

“I earn quite a lot. This doesn’t count for much.”

“That’s not how it works. No matter how much you earn, it’s still hard-earned money.” Lin Manzhang gently pushed his shoulder. “Go back and rest first. Later, we still have to sell the mud crabs.”

“Then I’ll go back first. See you later.”

Lu Ao responded, left the mud crabs and butter crab at Lin Manzhang’s house, and went home first. He did not feel tired. He was just still a little hungry and had to go home to add another meal.

It was not that Lin Manzhang’s family had not made enough food. It was simply that his appetite was too large, and he had been too embarrassed to eat freely.

After returning home, Lu Ao simply made pan-fried fish, stir-fried pork, cold-dressed eggplant, seaweed fish soup, and a large pot of white rice.

After finishing three dishes and one soup, Lu Ao wiped his mouth in satisfaction and returned to his room for an afternoon nap.

The weather was very hot, but his room was cool and shaded. Turning the fan to the first setting was enough.

With the cool breeze blowing gently, he soon fell into a deep sleep and even had a dream.

In the dream, he arrived above Song Zhou in ancient times. He circled the land again and again, seeing the people of Song Zhou worship the god of soil and grain during festivals. Later, that god slowly gained Song Zhou’s face, gained life, and finally walked down from the altar.

Beep, beep, beep—

A sharp, urgent sound rang out, forcibly pulling Lu Ao back from the role of a bystander into reality. He opened his eyes. A flash of dark green passed through his pupils and quickly disappeared.

Lu Ao rubbed his temples, stopped the ringing alarm, and sat cross-legged on the bed. He let out a long breath. After thinking for a long time, he still could not understand why he had dreamed of that.

He did not know whether the contents of the dream were truly connected to Song Zhou, or if it was only an absurd little dream.

After washing up, he went to Lin Manzhang’s house to gather.

Only Lin Gongshang had arrived at Lin Manzhang’s house.

Doubt appeared in Lu Ao’s eyes. Seeing his expression, Lin Gongshang quickly explained, “The other three all have farm work to do, and they didn’t catch many mud crabs, so they’re not going. The three of us will go. It just so happens Brother Niu is looking for us too.”

“Looking for us?”

“Mainly looking for you.” Lin Manzhang came in from outside, holding a plate of chilled watermelon. “Jiacheng Grand Hotel has some distinguished guests who want to go sea fishing. They said they want to visit a near-primitive fisherman’s home and personally go out to sea to fish.”

Lu Ao raised his eyes. “Would that even work?”

“Of course it would. Why wouldn’t it?” Lin Gongshang picked up a slice of watermelon, ate half of it in one breath, narrowed his eyes, and sighed. “We used to occasionally receive rich people like this. You don’t really have to manage them much. Just feed them whatever the family eats. Be a bit enthusiastic, and it’s best to take them to experience something fresh, like squid fishing or digging mud crabs. It’s easy money.”

“Yes, that’s basically what it means. Jiacheng Grand Hotel knows you’re skilled and wants to ask you to receive them. Three people are coming. They said they’ll pay three thousand a day. You just have to take them out to sea for a bit and let them eat some wild seafood.”

Lu Ao thought briefly and refused. “Forget it.”

“You won’t even take three thousand a day?” Lin Gongshang looked extremely regretful. “Guests like this usually stay three or four days. Basically, after receiving them once, you get over ten thousand in hand, and you don’t even have to pay tax.”

“No.” Lu Ao lazily refused. “Too lazy to arrange it.”

Regret also appeared on Lin Manzhang’s face. “That works too. I’ll tell Brother Niu in person later.”

Lu Ao answered, picked up the watermelon, ate three slices in a row, then stopped and wiped his mouth with a tissue.

Lin Gongshang’s gaze could not help following his fingers. His jade-white fingers were smooth and slender, softer in whiteness than the pale tissue.

Perhaps because he had eaten chilled watermelon, his lips were redder than usual, forming a very obvious contrast with his snow-white skin.

Lin Gongshang felt puzzled. Lu Ao had previously worked in the city, so being fair was understandable. But he had been back for almost a month now, exposed to the wind and sun every day just like them. How was he still so fair?

After the three finished eating watermelon and rested, they moved the mud crabs into the trunk.

Lin Manzhang drove his van and took Lu Ao and Lin Gongshang to Longxiang Pier.

Longxiang Pier was a little far. Lu Ao had also not slept well at noon, so he dozed the whole way. When he was shaken awake, he was still somewhat dazed.

Lin Manzhang did not understand. “Why are you so sleepy? Didn’t sleep well last night?”

Lu Ao rubbed his temples. “Digging mud crabs this morning was a little tiring.”

Lin Manzhang parked his car in front of Niu Deyu’s Deyu Fish Shop and honked once.

It was already past five, and there were not many people in the fish shop. Niu Deyu was taking inventory. Hearing the horn outside, he poked his head out to look. The moment he saw Lin Manzhang, surprise appeared in his eyes. He quickly put down his things and strode out, greeting them warmly. “You’re here? Hurry, come in and have some tea first.”

The three were taking the mud crabs out of the trunk.

Lin Manzhang turned his head and said, “Whenever we have something good, we think of you. Tea isn’t enough. At the very least, you have to treat us to a meal.”

“I will! I’ll treat you to a feast!” Niu Deyu rubbed his hands and craned his neck to look around. “Where’s that butter crab?”

“With Lu Ao. He caught it.”

Niu Deyu turned his head. Lu Ao lightly tapped the bucket in front of him with his foot.

The large butter crab, tied up tightly inside the bucket, was trying to move and escape.

“This big?!” Niu Deyu’s eyebrows instantly lifted high. Excited color appeared on his face as he leaned close to the bucket. “Not bad! You can even catch a butter crab this big. Your place really is blessed with good feng shui.”

“Right? I also said our village has good feng shui and produces talented people.” Lin Manzhang picked up the conversation. “Take a look at the crab first. How much is this butter crab worth per jin?”

Niu Deyu gently picked up the butter crab from the bucket.

This butter crab was bigger than his face and felt heavy in his hand.

Taking the crab into the sunlight, he saw that even the edges of the shell were full. The yellow crab legs were also plump and swollen, and even the joints had turned orange-yellow.

Niu Deyu had run a fish shop for so many years, but he had only seen top-grade butter crabs of this quality and size twice.

The first time was more than twenty years ago, when he had just opened this fish shop. Back then, mud crabs were still plentiful, and half-jin wild mud crabs only cost ten or twenty yuan per jin.

The other time was now.

He could hardly bear to put down the butter crab in his hand. After turning it over and examining it for quite a while, he offered a price. “Two thousand per jin. Is that okay?”

Seeing that Lu Ao did not answer, he quickly added, “Last year, there was also a wild butter crab of this quality. Another fish shop offered one thousand eight hundred per jin, and the deal went through. Your crab is bigger, so I added two hundred. If it’s any more expensive, I’m afraid I won’t be able to sell it.”

This was the truth.

Some rare and precious seafood was extremely hard to find and very expensive, but that did not necessarily mean it could be sold.

If the fish shop received the goods and could not sell them, it would have to lose money and lower the price.

Before coming, Lu Ao had checked the price of butter crabs. Niu Deyu’s price was fairly reasonable, so he agreed.

Niu Deyu smiled so hard his face wrinkled and said repeatedly, “Come, come, come. Let’s weigh this butter crab first.”

The group went inside.

Niu Deyu gently placed the butter crab on the scale, and the display quickly showed the exact number. “A little over one jin and eight liang. After subtracting the rope, it should be one jin and eight liang. Three thousand six hundred.”

Lu Ao nodded.

Niu Deyu smiled. “I’ll write that down first, then weigh the other mud crabs.”

Mud crabs had different prices depending on sex and size.

Lu Ao’s remaining crabs sold for a total of one thousand three hundred.

After deducting tax, his total income for the day was 2,695 yuan, which was very good.

Lin Manzhang and the others also each earned several hundred. With the money deposited, everyone was very happy.

Niu Deyu pulled them to the restaurant next door for dinner. At the table, he brought up the matter of the wealthy guests.

When Lu Ao refused to host them, Niu Deyu was quite regretful. “Didn’t you catch a big giant grouper before? They heard about you and specifically asked to stay at your place. They even said price wasn’t an issue. You really won’t consider it?”

Lu Ao swallowed the food in his mouth and said, “I don’t like having other people in my house.”

Niu Deyu followed the opening at once. “Then what if they don’t stay at your house, and you only take them out to have fun?”

Lu Ao still refused. “I don’t have time. I need to fish in the morning and evening. The rest of the time, I have to look after the vegetables in the fields.”

“How much are those vegetables worth? The rich people are offering three thousand a day!”

No matter how much he coaxed and pestered, Lu Ao still did not give in. He did not like making a living by watching other people’s expressions.

Niu Deyu had no choice but to settle for the next best thing and ask Lin Manzhang and Lin Gongshang, “Do you two want to receive them? Though in your case, that side may still need to conduct an interview.”

Lin Gongshang paused with his chopsticks and immediately said, “Yes! Why wouldn’t we? Three thousand a day. This money is so easy to earn!”

Lin Manzhang hesitated for a moment, then said, “Forget it for me. My wife and children are all at home, so it’s not very convenient to bring strangers back. But if they want to go out to sea, I can help take them out.”

Niu Deyu said, “That works too. I’ll report it. That side will inspect things, and if it passes, I’ll notify you.”

Lu Ao did not take this matter to heart. After hearing it, he threw it to the back of his mind.

Their Chongxin Village was truly too remote. After the other party inspected it, the chance of coming to their village should not be high.

Thinking this, a few days later, he bought a pile of cement and sand from town and returned to the village, planning to fix up the dilapidated firewood shed beside his house into a goose shed. On the way back, several luxury cars suddenly appeared behind him.

The kind worth tens of millions.

The provincial road was not wide, and Lu Ao’s tricycle was relatively large, blocking most of the road.

The luxury cars behind grew impatient and followed behind him honking their horns.

Lu Ao drove the vehicle to the side of the road, with one wheel stopped on the roadside grass, letting the three cars behind go first.

The luxury cars were not polite either. They drove straight past him, leaving Lu Ao covered in exhaust.

With one glance, Lu Ao knew these were probably those wealthy guests who wanted to come to the fishing village and experience primitive fisherman life. Otherwise, their village would not see such luxury cars in eight hundred years.

Lu Ao calmly watched the three cars leave.

Among the people he knew, there were not only tycoons worth tens of billions, but also a god whose original form was an entire zhou.

Luxury cars of this level were nothing much.

Lu Ao originally thought these people had nothing to do with him. Unexpectedly, two days later, the richest one among them only managed to keep his life because of him.