Reborn in 1984, fishing and hunting in Jiangnan

Chapter 16 A Gentleman Remains True to Poverty

Chen Zheng squatted at the bow of the boat, arranging the fish in the hold one by one, and pressed his finger on the gill covers.

"Six crucian carp weighing a little over a pound each, and four weighing over eight ounces each."

Four bream, each weighing over one and a half pounds.

Two carp, one weighing two and a half pounds and the other three pounds.

"One black carp, weighing about three pounds."

As he spoke, his gaze fell on the last mandarin fish.

"Fish weighing five pounds or more, in perfect condition, with not a single scale missing."

Chen Rong squatted at the stern of the boat, his hands resting on his knees.

His eyes were fixed on the fish in the hold, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

"Brother, how much money can we make this morning?"

Chen Zheng didn't answer immediately. He flipped the mandarin fish over and looked at the scales on the other side.

The fish has a long, slender body and fine, dense scales.

The fish's fins are intact, its eyes are clear, and its gills are still bright red.

"We're lucky this time."

Once you get your admission ticket to the trade fair, you can go in and set up your own stall to sell fish without going through middlemen.

That mandarin fish costs 2.5 yuan per jin (500g), so it can easily sell for 12 or 13 yuan.

Carp is one yuan a piece; two fish weigh five and a half pounds in total, so it's six yuan.

One bream, four breams for six pieces.

Crucian carp are nine mao (0.9 yuan), ten fish are counted as nine jin (4.5 catties), and that's eight yuan a piece.

Blackfish,

As he spoke, he picked up the blackfish and weighed it in his hand.

The blackfish was barely moving, its mouth opening and closing.

The dark patterns on its body were clearly visible in the light.

"Black carp costs 1.2 yuan per jin (500g), 3.3 jin (1.5kg) is 4 yuan. How much is that in total?"

Chen Rong squatted there, his lips moving as he counted on his fingers:

"Mandarin fish is 13 yuan, carp is 6 yuan, bream is 6 yuan, crucian carp is 8 yuan, and snakehead is 4 yuan..."

"Brother, it's thirty-seven yuan a piece!"

The sound suddenly rose in pitch and carried far across the lake.

"Almost." Chen Zheng put the fish back in the cabin and covered it with seaweed.

"Thirty-seven yuan! Bro, we made thirty-seven yuan this morning!"

Chen Rong stood up, but the boat rocked, so he quickly squatted down again.

"It can sell for this price at the trade fair; it's not usually this high."

Normally, mandarin fish costs 1.8 yuan per jin (500g), and carp costs 0.8 yuan.

Chen Zheng carefully put away the hooks, coiling them up round and round. "We've come in lucky."

He looked up at the sky.

The sun has risen, and most of the mist on the lake has dissipated, revealing a golden expanse of reeds in the distance.

"Come on, let's go back and raise the fish. Don't let them die. Live fish and dead fish are half the price."

The two people rowed back.

Splash, splash.

Chen Rong sat at the stern of the boat, his feet soaking in the water.

"Brother, shall we come again tomorrow?"

"Come on. The trade fair doesn't start for another three days, so we can still fish twice more with our rigs. Let's collect more fish and sell them all together then."

Chen Zheng rowed his oar, his eyes fixed on the village ahead. "But we'll have to find another place tomorrow."

The fish in East Bay were startled; there might not be as many tomorrow.

"Where to change to?"

"South Bay. The water is deep there, and there are big fish. It's just a bit far, so it'll take an extra fifteen minutes to row."

"I'm not afraid of being far away," Chen Rong said.

Once the boat docked, Chen Zheng scooped the fish out of the hold and placed them one by one into a fish basket on the shore.

The fish basket is woven from bamboo, with a round mouth and a narrow bottom, so it can sink in water and the fish live well in it.

He sank the fish basket into the shallow water by the lake and tied it to a wooden stake with a rope.

Then I covered it with a few more lotus leaves to provide shade.

"Rongzi, go and call Jianguo over, ask him for a favor."

Chen Rong responded and ran off.

Chen Zheng squatted by the lake and washed the fishy smell off his hands.

The sun shone on the water, making it sparkle and dazzle the eyes.

He recalled that in his previous life, he was also this age, carrying bricks on a construction site.

Working over ten hours a day, it's all hard-earned money.

Lying in the workers' shed at night, my bones felt like they were falling apart, and it was difficult to even turn over.

Back then, he often thought how wonderful it would be to go back to the village and fish.

Even if I earn less, at least I'll be free and won't have to be at the mercy of others.

Now he's back, and he's really fishing.

Moreover, I earned thirty-seven yuan in one day.

Thirty-seven pieces.

In 1984, a worker's monthly salary was only forty or fifty yuan.

He earned more than half a month's salary in just one morning.

But Chen Zheng knew in his heart that this was not luck.

This is because he knows where the fish are, how to catch them, when to sell them, and to whom.

This is experience accumulated over two lifetimes.

He didn't live in vain in his past life.

All those hardships and exhaustion have become the capital for living a wise life.

Zhang Jianguo arrived quickly, followed by Liu Jiawang.

Zhang Jianguo was shirtless, his trousers rolled up above his knees, and wearing a pair of worn-out slippers.

"Ah Zheng! I heard you caught quite a lot this morning with your hooks?"

His voice arrived before he did.

"Not bad." Chen Zheng stood up and shook the water off his hands.

Liu Jiawang followed behind, wearing a vest.

The words "Serve the People" were printed on it in red, but the writing was already blurred.

He pushed up his glasses on the bridge of his nose.

One of the temples of the glasses was wrapped with adhesive tape, causing it to wobble as the person walked.

"Jiawang, is your crossed eyes still able to see things?" Chen Zheng asked.

Liu Jiawang replied in a serious tone: "As Mencius said, nothing is better than the eyes."

Although my eyesight is slightly off-center, I can still see fish clearly.

Zhang Jianguo laughed from the side:

"Come on, last time you mistook a grass carp for a black carp, making me happy for nothing."

"That's because of bad lighting, not my fault," Liu Jiawang calmly explained.

Chen Zheng laughed: "Alright, alright, stop arguing."

Jianguo, do me a favor. Go to the aquatic products company in town and ask how to get tickets to the trade fair.

If we are allowed entry, how exactly will the live fish be received, and will we need to register in advance?

Jiawang, can you write down a list for me, including the type of fish, its weight, and the number of fish?

I'll need it when I sell fish tomorrow.

"Okay!" the two said in unison.

Zhang Jianguo turned to leave, but after a couple of steps he turned back and asked, "Azheng, how's Teacher Zhao?"

"Much better. My fever broke yesterday, and I feel much better today."

"That's good. My mom said she'll go to the health center this afternoon to see Teacher Zhao and bring some eggs."

"Please thank your aunt for me."

Zhang Jianguo waved his hand and ran away.

Liu Jiawang squatted down and took out a pencil and a notebook from his pocket.

He flipped to a blank page in his notebook, licked the tip of his pencil, and began to write.

"Ten crucian carp, weighing nine pounds in total..."

When he writes, his brows furrow, his lips move, and each stroke is neat and precise.

His handwriting is good; it's more reliable than his words.

As Chen Zheng watched him write, he was reminded of his past life.

Liu Jiawang failed to get into university, falling short by more than ten points.

His father, Liu the Bald, asked someone to find him a job at a supply and marketing cooperative, but he refused, saying he wanted to repeat a year of high school.

I repeated a year of high school, but still failed the exam.

Later he went to the south and I heard that he became a small manager in some factory, and then I lost contact with him.

One year, Chen Zheng was working in the city when he ran into him on the street.

He had gained a lot of weight, wore gold-rimmed glasses, a gray jacket, and carried a leather bag.

The two stood by the roadside for a while and exchanged a few words.

Liu Jiawang asked him what he did, and he said he was carrying bricks at the construction site.

Liu Jiawang paused for a moment, then took out two hundred yuan from his bag and handed it to him.

He said, "Take it, don't be shy."

Chen Zheng refused.

Liu Jiawang tried to force it on him, but he pushed it away, and the two of them struggled in the street for a long time.

Finally, Liu Jiawang took the money back, sighed, and said, "Brother Zheng, if you have any difficulties, just tell me."

Chen Zheng said, "It's okay, I'm fine."

The two of them parted ways just like that.

After walking a few steps, Liu Jiawang turned back and called out:

"Brother Zheng, as the ancients said, 'A virtuous person remains steadfast in poverty, while a petty person becomes reckless when poor.' You are a virtuous person."

Chen Zheng didn't turn around, but his nose tingled with emotion.

At that time, he didn't know what Liu Jiawang meant.

Later, he looked it up and found out that the quote came from the Analects of Confucius, Book 14, "Wei Ling Gong".

It means that a virtuous person can remain true to themselves when they are poor, while a petty person will do anything when they are poor.

Liu Jiawang said he was a gentleman.

But he knew he wasn't; he just didn't have the guts.

"Zheng-ge, it's finished."

Liu Jiawang handed over the homework book.

Chen Zheng took it, opened it, and saw that the handwriting was neat and tidy, stroke by stroke.

He put the notebook in his pocket and patted Liu Jiawang on the shoulder: "Let's go see Teacher Zhao at the health center."

The three people arrived at the health center.

Zhao Deming was leaning against the headboard, holding a newspaper with county documents on it.

Seeing them come in, Zhao Deming put down his newspaper and smiled, "Zhengwa's here? Back from selling fish?"

"You're back, Teacher Zhao."

Chen Zheng sat down on the stool by the bed. "We've sold quite a few fish; that's enough for Mother's medicine and your medical expenses."

Zhao Deming nodded, took out a few sheets of paper from under his pillow, and handed them over:

"Zhengwa, take a look at this."

I had someone bring this from the county yesterday; it's this year's new policy regarding support for aquaculture.

Take a good look, it's useful.

Chen Zheng took it; it was a mimeographed document.

The paper was yellowed and the edges were curled. The words on it were copied by Zhao Deming.

"...encourage farmers to utilize barren beaches and undeveloped waterways to develop aquaculture."

The credit union provided loan support, and the county aquatic products company provided technical guidance and procurement guarantees...

"...Large-scale aquaculture farmers will be commended and rewarded by the county government, and given priority in the supply of feed, fish medicine, and other production materials..."

"...to develop the aquatic product processing industry, and to provide financial subsidies to farmers who purchase processing equipment..."

Chen Zheng read it page by page, very slowly.

There were some parts I didn't quite understand, but I got the general idea.

The county encourages breeding and processing, providing funds, technology, and sales channels.

"Teacher Zhao, may I take these materials back and take a look?"

"Take it back. I made a copy; this one is for you."

"Thank you, Teacher Zhao."

Zhao Deming waved his hand: "No need to thank me. It's a good thing that you're thinking about making money."

Zhengwa, remember this: the current policies are good, and there are many opportunities.

But opportunity favors the prepared.

You need to think clearly about what you want to do and how you want to do it. You can't just do it blindly or recklessly.

Chen Zheng nodded: "Teacher Zhao, I've got it."

Zhao Deming looked at him, his eyes holding something that seemed like a mixture of relief and anticipation.

"Zhengwa, you're different from the students I've taught before."

"What's different?"

"You're steady," Zhao Deming said.

"You are well-informed when you do things. You are patient and steady, taking things one step at a time. That's how success is achieved."

Chen Zheng was stunned for a moment.

In his past life, no one had ever said such a thing to him.

At the construction site, the foreman said that he was okay at work, but it was too boring.

At the fish market, the vendor said to him, "This kid is very shrewd and not easily fooled."

No one ever said he was stable.

"Teacher Zhao, you flatter me."

Zhao Deming shook his head: "Just telling the truth."

He leaned against the pillow, looking at the sycamore trees outside the window, "Zhengwa, if you really want to do this, I'll help you."

I know people from the county's aquatic products company and also people from the credit union.

"Tell me what you need, and I'll get it for you."

Chen Zheng looked at Zhao Deming.

This teacher was so thin, like a stick of firewood, that he was lying in his hospital bed and even turning over was difficult.

But he said, "When I help you, my eyes are bright, just like when I'm lecturing in class."

"Teacher Zhao, I'll come to you once I've saved up enough capital."

Zhao Deming nodded: "Okay. I'll wait for you."

In the afternoon, Chen Zheng left the health center and headed towards the aquatic products company.

Halfway there, they ran into Zhang Jianguo coming out of the purchasing station.

"Ah Zheng! I found out!"

Zhang Jianguo ran over, panting.

"A leader in the county said that we should take bigger steps."

Individual investors are also welcome to attend this trade fair.

Live fish don't need to be registered in advance; just deliver them directly when the time comes.

But you have to go early, otherwise they won't accept you.

In addition, the fish must be of high quality; the scales must not fall off, the gills must be red, and the eyes must be bright.

Dead fish will not be accepted.

"Okay. Go early on that day."

"Ah Zheng, I'll go with you. I'll help you carry the fish basket."

"OK."

The two of them walked back.

Upon reaching the town entrance, I saw a tractor parked by the roadside with several baskets of fish in its cargo bed.

A middle-aged man stood beside the truck bed, haggling with the people at the recycling station.

"Eighty cents a pound? That's too low! I caught these fish this morning, they're still lively and jumping around!"

"That's how the market is. Take it or leave it," the person at the purchasing station said dismissively.

The middle-aged man walked away cursing and swearing, then drove off in his tractor.

Watching the tractor drive away, Zhang Jianguo said, "Ah Zheng, why don't you think that person sold himself to the recycling station?"

"He thinks the price is too low. He wants to sell it for a higher price, but he can't find a buyer."

Chen Zheng watched the tractor disappear on the dirt road. "This is what Teacher Zhao was talking about, the transportation problem."

The fish are good fish, but they can't be transported out; they can only be sold in town.

There's only one purchasing station in town; whatever price they set, that's the price.

Zhang Jianguo scratched his head: "Will our fish fetch a high price at the trade fair?"

"Yes. The trade fair is organized by the county government, so there are many buyers and a lot of competition, which naturally leads to higher prices."

Chen Zheng patted him on the shoulder, "Let's go back and get ready."

Back home, Chen Zheng took out the notebook Zhao Deming had given him and examined it carefully under the kerosene lamp.

He read slowly, sometimes looking at certain parts several times.

Zhang Cuihua was sewing shoe soles nearby, her needle and thread weaving through the hemp rope.

Chi Chi.

Chen Feng was doing his homework, lying on the table, the pencil stub making a scratching sound on the paper.

Chen Rong sat on the threshold, trimming a fishing float; he was almost finished.

"Brother, what are you looking at?" Chen Feng looked up and asked.

"Materials provided by Teacher Zhao. About fish farming."

"Raise fish? Don't we already have fish at home? There are so many in the lake, why would we need to raise more?"

"The fish in the lake are wild; you can catch as many as you want."

Raising fish is different; you stock the fry yourself, feed them yourself, and decide how many you harvest.

Chen Feng thought for a moment: "Isn't that like farming? You plant in the spring and harvest in the fall?"

"almost."

"That's great! Let's raise fish at home! I'll feed them for you!"

Chen Zheng smiled and said, "Okay, once I've saved up enough capital, we'll start raising them."

He closed the notebook and put it under his pillow.

I lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) and closed my eyes.

Zhao Deming's words kept echoing in my mind.

Aquaculture, processing, and transportation.

He had never thought about these things in his past life.

When he was carrying bricks on the construction site, all he knew was how much money he could earn in a day and how much he could save at the end of the month.

I never imagined that money could be earned this way.

This life seems to be a little different now.