CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 57: THE WEATHER HAS CHANGED

The two children gazed at the turtle and started making all sorts of wild guesses.

Lin Qin took one look and let it be, then called Chen Wenjun to go take a shower.

She sorted out the bucket of fish and said, "Shall we bring the fish trap up first? Otherwise, the flood might wash it away, and we won’t be able to find it."

Chen Wenjun nodded, "Let’s do it now, or we’ll be drenched again later."

The trap had only been set for a day; the couple thought it wouldn’t yield much, but unexpectedly, it was filled with bulging bamboo fish.

The stranger it is, the more it suggests the weather is about to change.

The couple didn’t dare to delay. After retrieving everything, Chen Wenjun quickly rowed the boat to the harbor, mooring it with the other fishing boats.

Once done, he finally went to shower and eat with peace of mind.

The first half of the night was still quite muggy.

Lin Qin and the two children didn’t sleep very soundly.

In a daze, she heard a crackling noise. Lin Qin slowly opened her eyes, opened the window, and a fresh river breeze blew in. The two children, who had been sleeping in a sweat, turned over and fell into a deeper, sweeter sleep.

Lin Qin sat by the window, listening to the pattering rain outside, feeling the cool breeze. Her eyelids grew heavier, and not long after lying back down, she fell asleep.

She slept until past seven in the morning.

The heavy rain outside showed no sign of letting up. The morning light at seven looked much like it did at six.

Hearing movement, Chen Wenjun came in and said, "The rain is too heavy, the roads are impassable, and carts can’t be pushed. We can’t go to the market today. Let’s see how the weather is later. If it keeps raining like this, we won’t be able to get to Boss Zheng’s place either."

Lin Qin, still groggy from sleep, nodded dumbly, "If it rains, we can fish. We won’t be idle."

Chen Wenjun was momentarily taken aback, then laughed, "That’s right! You play with the kids, and I’ll go buy two more fish traps from Grandpa Chen."

Since all the fishing boats were in the harbor, it was convenient for him to visit Grandpa Chen, and with the rain, no one was leaving their homes, so finding people wasn’t a concern.

When Chen Wenjun reached Grandpa Chen’s after passing several fishing boats, he found their family indeed hadn’t gone out.

Grandpa Chen, a man in his sixties, was still in good health but had a head full of white hair. Seeing Chen Wenjun, he was very pleased, "Don’t need to sell fish in this weather? Why didn’t you bring your wife along? I heard from your aunt that you married a wife from the mainland. That’s impressive!"

Chen Wenjun chuckled, "Grandpa, it’s raining, she’s on the boat with the kids. I came to buy two more fish traps from you."

"More traps? Didn’t you take six before, and it’s still not enough?"

Chen Wenjun had come over several times, taking a total of six traps.

Zhou Shuifang, standing nearby, curiously asked, "I haven’t seen your boat lately; where did you go?"

Chen Wenjun didn’t hide it and told them about buying a deserted island.

Grandpa Chen’s family put down their work and looked at him in shock.

"Which island? You took care of such a big matter in silence?" Grandpa Chen’s son, Chen Yongding, was so excited that his voice rose several notches.

Chen Wenjun scratched his head, embarrassed, "We spent all our savings buying the deserted island and building a house, thinking of setting more fish traps to save up and see if we can build the house this year.

Once it’s built, we’ll invite everyone over, but there’s no point in saying anything when there’s nothing yet!"

What if they misunderstood him as wanting to borrow money?

Grandpa Chen pursed his lips in displeasure, "We could have helped if you’d told us. Not saying anything, does that mean you don’t consider us family?"

"No, no! Grandpa, I came to you for fish traps because I lacked them!" Chen Wenjun urgently explained.

Grandpa Chen looked exasperated, then, after a while, asked, "Where’s your island? How much land did you buy?"

"It’s the one near Qingyun Temple, just over a hundred acres."

Grandpa Chen’s family was dumbfounded.

"Over a hundred acres? Are you farming or building a house?" Chen Yongding was dazed.

Chen Wenjun smiled, "My father-in-law knows farming, and he wants to clear the land on the island for farming. Building a house doesn’t need that much space!"

Grandpa Chen nodded repeatedly, "That makes sense! We Dang people generally don’t know how to farm, so finding a farming wife is good. Once the land is cleared, you can grow your own food, and you can start a good life!

Oh, right! I have a large fishing net here. Just attach it to bamboo poles, and you can encircle fish. See if you want it."

Chen Wenjun’s eyes brightened, "Where is it? Let me take a look."

Chen Yongding and Zhou Shuifang immediately went to the back cabin to retrieve it.

When Chen Wenjun saw it, it indeed was a large fishing net, requiring two people to hold it.

"Grandpa, how much did you pay for this net?"

Zhou Shuifang laughed heartily, "Why buy? This was woven by me when I had nothing to do. Your uncle and grandpa need to sail, and I can’t handle it alone. Plus, the net’s too big and hard to manage. Just tried it once or twice. If you want it, take it."

Chen Wenjun shook his head quickly, "Even if I want it, I can’t take it for free. Aunt, name a price, and I’ll fetch the money."

Zhou Shuifang adamantly refused to accept it.

Chen Wenjun was insistent and went back to get the money.

Grandpa Chen’s family couldn’t stop him.

Zhou Shuifang sighed, "It seems like Wenjun is doing well. He can even buy a deserted island! Dad, should we also buy some land and build a house?"

Grandpa Chen pouted, "Why buy land? Can’t we live on the boat? Besides, if you buy land, don’t you need to buy a field too? Who in our family can farm?"

At his words, Zhou Shuifang immediately gave up the idea.

"Yeah, that’s right. Wenjun’s father-in-law and wife know how to farm, so buying a deserted island is just right. We’re used to life on the water and moving ashore isn’t convenient."

Chen Yongding nodded repeatedly, "That’s true!"

Zhou Shuifang still couldn’t fully understand, "How much do you think Wenjun has saved from fishing? He can even buy a deserted island! I’d like to know how expensive that island is!"

Grandpa Chen grumpily said, "Why are you asking so much? You’re not planning to lend him money to build a house, are you?"

Mentioning lending money, Zhou Shuifang instantly went quiet.

Money doesn’t grow on trees. Her husband and father-in-law earn money with difficulty, and she’s reluctant to lend it out.

When Chen Wenjun came back, Zhou Shuifang didn’t mention the deserted island. After exchanging pleasantries a few times, she accepted the twenty yuan Chen Wenjun offered.

At the same time, Chen Wenjun paid for the fish traps. Grandpa Chen called his son to help deliver the fishing net to Chen Wenjun.

With the fishing net, Chen Wenjun enthusiastically discussed the next plan with Lin Qin, "I guess the rain will last until the afternoon, and when the upstream river level rises, many big fish will swim over. We’ll set the net at the water inlet; we’re bound to catch many eels."

Lin Qin’s eyes lit up at the mention of eels. They’re valuable and hard to catch, and only during floods can netting yield a big catch. Usually, you’d only catch one or two, not enough to satisfy.

"We’d better prepare more buckets to hold the fish!"

Lin Yi, listening silently at the side, couldn’t help but pour cold water on their enthusiasm, "Fishing depends on nature’s generosity. It’s not up to you to decide the catch. Now with the flow this strong, netting isn’t safe. You might not catch anything, and you might even damage the net."

During floods, trash and driftwood can also wash down with the fish, and if they get tangled, it’s trouble.

Chen Wenjun grinned foolishly, "Dad! I’ll stay alert and make sure our fishing net doesn’t get damaged."

Lin Yi was curious about Chen Wenjun’s methods, so he decided to go along to help.

In the afternoon, the rain indeed subsided, and Nanxi’s water level visibly rose.

The couple, worried about Nanyu, hurriedly poled over to check.

When they arrived, they found the water was still about twenty centimeters below ground level, with no impact on Nanyu.

They carried wooden planks to shield from rain, checked on the foundation on the island, and seeing everything was fine, they felt much relieved.