After Reincarnating as the Dragon King, I Made a Fortune with Seafood – CH43

Chapter 43: Honey Peaches

It was still early, so Lu Ao and Lin Qiyan simply waited in Lin Dawu’s shop while he asked.

Lin Dawu did not drag things out either. He called his friend on the spot.

The volume on his elderly-style phone was very loud. Lu Ao and Lin Qiyan were standing in front of the counter, and both heard his friend answer with a “Hello?” before asking, “Dawu, what’s up?”

“Didn’t you say a couple days ago that you wanted to sell those fruit trees at your place? I have a little brother who’s quite interested, so I wanted to ask whether the trees have been sold yet.”

“No, no, they’re all still on the mountain.” His friend, Old Chen, asked, “What kind of trees does your brother want to buy? When is he free to come take a look?”

“Wait a second, I’ll ask him.”

Lin Dawu moved the phone away, covered the receiver, and relayed to Lu Ao, “Old Chen is asking when you’re free to go over and have a look.”

Lu Ao said, “If it’s convenient, I’m free now.”

“That’s easy, then. I’ll ask him.” Lin Dawu uncovered the receiver and gave a sharp “hello” toward the other end. “Old Chen, Lu Ao says he’s free now. Are you home? If you’re home, I’ll bring him over to look at your trees.”

“I’m here, I’m here. I’m in the fields right now. You come over first, I’ll be back right away.”

Lin Dawu finished speaking to him and hung up. Then he said to Lu Ao, “He’s home. Let’s go, I’ll drive you over.”

Lin Qiyan quickly raised his hand beside them. “I’m going too. Can I film some footage of this?”

Recently, he had been racking his brains so hard for video ideas that he was almost going bald. This was perfect ready-made material.

Lin Dawu was from the same village as him and knew he made videos, so he said, “Bring your equipment first. If Old Chen agrees later, then film. If he doesn’t, then don’t.”

Unexpectedly delighted, Lin Qiyan’s eyes instantly lit up. “I know. Wait for me, I’ll go home and get my equipment. Very quick, five minutes.”

“Okay. We’re not in a rush anyway.” Lin Dawu waved, then reminded him, “Ride carefully. Don’t speed.”

“Don’t worry. I’m bringing my equipment. Even if I fall, I wouldn’t dare let the equipment fall.”

As Lin Qiyan spoke, he had already run out of the shop, started his motorcycle, and sped off in a flash.

Lin Dawu’s wife, Gui Yandan, happened to come out. She craned her neck to look at his retreating figure and asked, “You’re letting Qiyan go just like that? Not keeping him for a cup of tea?”

“He’s going back to get his equipment. Wife, I’m taking Lu Ao and the others to Old Chen’s place. Watch the shop this morning.”

“Okay, okay. You go. Are you coming back for lunch?”

“Don’t know. If things go smoothly, Old Chen will definitely keep us for lunch.”

Gui Yandan said nothing more. She brought tea and snacks over with a smile, greeting Lu Ao warmly. “Come, come, try the pickled vegetable pancakes I just made. They all say they’re good.”

Lu Ao took one and had a bite. Giving her face, he praised, “They really are good.”

“Right? These are pickled vegetables from the beginning of the year. I packed them tightly in a jar and added scallions, ginger, garlic, and chili. The flavor is excellent. When you go back later, take some with you. Fry up a plate with plenty of oil. They’re best with rice.”

Lu Ao smiled. “Then I won’t stand on ceremony.”

“We’re all friends. What’s there to be polite about? Your Brother Dawu and I can’t eat much at home anyway. A few days ago, my son even called back and told us not to eat too much pickled vegetables, saying it’s bad for our health. Tell me, our ancestors lived like this for generations, and we’ve seen plenty of long-lived old people too. How is it bad?”

Gui Yandan complained with her mouth, but her brows and eyes were full of smiles. Her son had called back to show concern, and she was actually very happy.

Lu Ao knew their eldest son was studying outside. He seemed to be in his second year of university this year. He asked, “Is your nephew about to have vacation too?”

Gui Yandan counted on her fingers. “Today’s Friday, the tenth. I think so. He said his vacation starts on the fifteenth.”

Lin Dawu said with certainty, “Yes, in a few days. He also said he wants to bring friends over to the seaside to play.”

Gui Yandan smiled. “I even told him, our place is poor and remote. What’s there to see? If he wants to bring someone, he should bring them to the county town. Otherwise, when that girl sees these winding mountain roads, who knows what she’ll think?”

“My son said that even if he gets married in the future, he wants to find someone who can live in town. Someone who only wants to run outside isn’t someone who can live a proper life with him.”

Lu Ao had not expected to sit here chatting idly and still be fed such a mouthful of dog food.

Lin Dawu teased his wife, “Just be secretly happy. Isn’t it good that your son is willing to come back?”

“Who said it isn’t? I’m just saying. Coming back to fish, sell fishing gear, and wander around the nearby villages when he’s free, isn’t that pretty comfortable too? People become cheap once they leave their hometown. In my opinion, big city or not, it’s not as comfortable as our place. Look at us. We live in a small villa, eat seafood, earn a bit of money with ease. How nice.”

As they were talking, Lin Qiyan’s breathless voice came from outside. “Huff—I’m here.”

Everyone turned and saw Lin Qiyan hurrying over with his equipment bag on his back.

Gui Yandan quickly poured him water. “Here, drink some tea to moisten your throat. Why were you rushing so much?”

“I’m fine.” Lin Qiyan lifted the slightly hot tea and drank it in one go. Gui Yandan poured him another cup and stuffed a pickled vegetable pancake into his hand. “Qiyan, try your sister-in-law’s pancake. Rest a bit and let the sweat dry before you go.”

Lin Qiyan took it. “I’ll eat it on the way. It’s already past ten. Shouldn’t we go early and come back early?”

Lin Dawu said, “That works too. Then we’ll head over first. Wife, watch the shop. If we don’t come back for lunch, I’ll call you.”

“Got it. Be careful on the road.”

Lu Ao saw him grab the car keys and said, “Why don’t I drive my three-wheeler instead?”

“We’ll take the van. It’s so hot. Why drive a three-wheeler?” Lin Dawu cut him off. “Old Chen has been contracting his orchard for nearly twenty years. The trees are all quite big. Even if you settle on them today, you won’t be able to transport them back right away. You’ll need a truck and a crane for that.”

Hearing that, Lu Ao could only give up.

Old Chen’s family was also in Shuiyuan Town, in Chenwu Village.

Their village was in the mountains and was not close to the sea. There were only forty or fifty households in the whole village, and most of them had already moved to town or to cities outside.

The village was now cold and quiet. Even with strangers coming in broad daylight, there was not even the sound of dogs barking.

Lin Dawu drove the car to the front of Old Chen’s worn, two-story house and went to knock.

A dark, tall, thin woman came over to open the door.

The woman wore a set of polyester clothes and pants, with a pair of plastic sandals on her feet. Her family circumstances did not seem very good.

When she opened the door and saw Lin Dawu, she froze for a moment.

Lin Dawu quickly greeted her. “Sister-in-law. This is Lu Ao, and this is Lin Qiyan. We’re here to look at the fruit trees. Lu Ao, Qiyan, just call her sister-in-law.”

Lu Ao and Lin Qiyan greeted her. “Sister-in-law.”

“Ah.” Sister-in-law Chen smiled at them a little awkwardly and invited them in. “Come in and sit.”

After saying that, she did not speak much and simply ushered them into the house.

Old Chen’s living room was very plain: cement floor, white walls, and an old, gray, boxy television against the wall that looked like it had been around for years.

Sister-in-law Chen lifted a thermos to pour tea for them.

Lin Dawu quickly said, “Sister-in-law, don’t trouble yourself. We’ll just sit and wait for Old Chen.”

Sister-in-law Chen still took disposable cups and poured tea for them. “It’s no trouble. Have some tea first.”

As she spoke, she poured out peanuts and melon seeds from the TV cabinet and urged them to eat. “Sit down. I’ll go call Old Chen.”

“No need. We told Old Chen we were coming. He should be on his way back now. Sister-in-law, don’t rush him.”

Sister-in-law Chen agreed, then hurriedly turned on the television for them.

The television’s resolution was very low, and the people on the screen looked somewhat distorted.

Lu Ao sat on the wooden sofa and listened to Lin Dawu chat with Sister-in-law Chen.

Before long, Old Chen came back carrying a big watermelon. As soon as he came in, he said, “This weather is too hot. I’ll cut a watermelon for you.”

Lu Ao looked up. Old Chen was probably only about one meter sixty, with dark skin and so thin he was almost just skin over bone. His face, however, was full of smiles.

Sister-in-law Chen brought him water to wash his face.

He untied the bunch of keys hanging from his belt. After washing his face, he came over to cut the watermelon, sweat still running down his neck.

Lin Dawu quickly said, “Don’t spend money on us.”

“It’s necessary, it’s necessary. This year was a bumper harvest for watermelons, and they aren’t expensive.” He cut the watermelon on the wooden tabletop, handed a piece to Lin Dawu with both hands, then to Lu Ao and Lin Qiyan. “It’s almost noon now, and the weather is hot. Why don’t we go look at the fruit trees after lunch?”

“No need, no need. Let’s go look first.”

Lu Ao asked, “Brother Chen, what fruit trees do you have?”

“Peaches, plums, waxberries, loquats, cherries, oranges, figs, and so on. Forget the peach and plum trees. Those two types of trees only live ten or twenty years. I’ve already planted them for six or seven years, so it wouldn’t be worth it for you to buy them back. You can take a look at the others. They’re all bearing fruit now. If you buy them and take good care of them for a year, you’ll have fruit next year.”

Lin Dawu vouched for him. “The fruit Old Chen grows is very sweet. Every year when he sells fruit, for the same variety, merchants have to pay ten or twenty percent more if they want to buy from him.”

Old Chen acknowledged it and said cheerfully, “The fruit from my place really is big and sweet.”

Lu Ao became interested. “Why don’t we go look at the fruit trees first? Once business is settled, we can eat in peace.”

“That works too. I’ll go get straw hats for you. They’re all new.”

A moment later, Old Chen came back with straw hats and said, “There’s a road to the orchard here. Drive over first, then walk up the mountain from the foot.”

“Okay.”

Lin Qiyan hurriedly asked, “Brother Chen, I want to film some material for a video. Is that okay?”

Old Chen did not quite understand and looked at Lin Dawu.

Lin Dawu said, “It’s like being on TV. He’ll film it, and later people can watch it.”

Old Chen understood at once. “On TV? Sure. Hey, wait for me. I’ll go change into nicer clothes.”

Lin Qiyan had just wanted to stop him, but he had already hurried out of the car and back into the house.

Before long, he returned wearing dress pants and a shirt.

The dress pants and shirt were both too big, hanging loosely on him.

He grinned. “Does this work?”

“It works.” Lin Qiyan gave him a thumbs-up. “Very spirited.”

After receiving the compliment, Old Chen pointed the way in satisfaction and led them up the mountain.

In July, the sun blazed like fire.

The moment they got out of the car, they felt the heat. They still had to walk a distance up the mountain.

The whole mountain they were climbing belonged to Old Chen’s family.

Old Chen pointed them out. “These are plum trees. The ones a little higher up are peach trees. There are still some honey peaches left. I’ll have you take some home later.”

“No, no. Keep them to sell for money.”

“It’s fine. I specially left them for my family to eat. No pesticides were sprayed on them. They’re fully ripe now and can’t be sold anyway. They’re too soft. If you press them, the peaches inside turn into juice.”

As Old Chen spoke warmly, he said, “Wait here.”

Then he quickly turned and, in a few leaps, climbed along the terraced fields. He was as agile as an old ape.

Lin Qiyan quickly set up the camera and aimed it at him.

Old Chen returned quickly, holding two peaches in his hands.

The two peaches were pink and plump, with a deep red blush at the tips.

Old Chen handed out the peaches and demonstrated for them. “Tree-ripened honey peaches don’t need peeling with a knife. Just gently tear the skin like this. First tear open a small opening, suck a mouthful of peach juice, then eat the flesh. Otherwise, the juice will definitely run everywhere.”

Lu Ao did as he said and gently tore open a small opening.

Inside was pinkish-red flesh. He sucked with his mouth, and a stream of sweet peach juice instantly flowed into his mouth.

It was sweet, refreshing, and moist, with only a rich peach fragrance and not the slightest sourness or astringency.

Lu Ao’s eyes lit up. He decided that no matter what, he would shamelessly bring two back later for Song Zhou to taste.

Seeing that they had finished eating, Old Chen asked, “Want more? I’ll go pick some.”

“No.” Lu Ao said, “Let’s keep walking upward. Besides the honey peaches, are there any other trees in the orchard that are bearing fruit now?”

“There are still two waxberry trees. Actually, they’re almost sold out too. One more round and they’ll be gone. As for fruit-bearing trees, there are three Harumi trees up above and two pomelo trees in the corner. Those count too, but they aren’t ripe yet. If you want them, you’ll have to wait until the fruit is sold before moving them to your place.”

Lu Ao understood waxberries and pomelos, but he was confused. “What’s Harumi?”

Old Chen said proudly, “It’s a type of orange, also called papa mandarin. I asked a friend to bring it back from outside. There’s still fruit on the tree. Once it’s ripe, you’ll know after you taste it.”