CHAPTER 64: CHAPTER 64: THE REAL CULPRIT WHO KNOCKED OUT CHEN WENJUN

Just right beside, there was an expired newspaper. After settling accounts with Huang Wenlong, Chen Wenjun asked, "Boss Huang, can I borrow this newspaper for a couple of days?"

Huang Wenlong glanced at it and said indifferently, "I don’t even know how long it’s been sitting there. Just take it! I’ll give you the money right now."

Apart from those vegetables, Chen Wenjun sold the rest at a low price.

Huang Wenlong knew the score and paid quickly and willingly.

After he left, Chen Wenjun began helping Lin Qin with the fish.

The couple worked until 11 o’clock, finally finishing the meal for over twenty people.

Everyone had worked hard for half the day and was waiting for this meal to relieve their fatigue.

Lin Qin couldn’t help but feel nervous seeing them finish their work and come over.

Huang Wenlong’s brothers also saw the spread of food on the table by now.

Ten or so fish were divided and braised, filling a huge basin, ensuring each person could get a generous piece. There’s also a basin of snails, enough for everyone to have a spoonful, alongside scrambled duck eggs with chives, also a big bowl. Additionally, there was winter melon, river shrimp, and clam soup, a real treat in the summer.

The main dish was sweet potato porridge, which wasn’t particularly special.

The workers, drawn by the food, all smiled as they took their trays and lined up for food.

It was Lin Qin’s first time serving the food, and she looked to Huang Wenlong for help.

Huang Wenlong cheerfully said, "Just serve them what you feel is right, and if they need more, they can come back for seconds."

Only then did Lin Qin feel at ease to continue serving.

After serving everyone, she looked back to see everyone eating heartily, hesitant to speak but too shy to ask.

It was only after the first person finished eating that she gathered the courage to ask, "How does it taste?"

The person gave a thumbs up, "Great! This meal is much better than what we had on the construction site before!"

"Right, right! It’s all meat; nothing to complain about!"

...

Initially, some thought it wasn’t right for Huang Wenlong not to use his brothers’ wives or sisters, but seeing such a meal and discreetly inquiring about the price Chen Wenjun charged for the ingredients, their opinions vanished.

After all, they weren’t Chen Wenjun and couldn’t get such prices, so they were thoroughly convinced.

Seeing everyone satisfied, Lin Qin couldn’t suppress a slight smile, the joy evident on her face.

Once everyone finished eating, she also began to clean up.

Huang Wenlong approached Lin Qin to talk, his expression overly friendly, "Sister-in-law, I’m counting on you from now on! Starting tomorrow, let’s maintain today’s meal standard but change the dishes every few days to keep it fresh."

Lin Qin understood immediately and agreed readily.

Lin Yi had been worrying about Lin Qin all morning, especially since they had no money at home and the progress on the house construction had halted. Now his job was to fish with the two kids, pick wild duck eggs, and gather snails.

With more idle time, he had more time to think.

Just as he was muttering to himself, Lin Qin returned, bringing some leftovers.

Lin Yi quickly asked, "How did it go? Were they satisfied?"

Lin Qin nodded with a smile and a hint of pride, "They enjoyed the meal. Boss Huang wants us to continue like this tomorrow, and after that, we can change dishes every few days. Dad, some of the vegetables in your garden are growing. We can plant more, and later sell them to Boss Huang at market price. We’ll be able to earn a bit."

Lin Yi immediately nodded, keeping the matter in mind.

The father and daughter had just finished discussing when an unfamiliar voice came from outside. Before Lin Yi could go out to see, the person had already boarded the boat, "Is Wenjun around?"

The person was lean with restless eyes, looking around incessantly.

Lin Yi instinctively disliked him and immediately climbed out, "He’s out fishing. What do you need?"

Zheng Aqiang kept smiling as he tried to get friendly with Lin Yi, "Uncle, you must be Wenjun’s father-in-law! I’m his buddy! We grew up wearing the same pair of pants!"

Chen Wenjun actually considered someone like this a brother?

Lin Yi instinctively frowned, his dissatisfaction visible on his face.

At this time, Chen Wenjun returned.

Seeing him, Zheng Aqiang’s eyes lit up as he approached Chen Wenjun with excessive enthusiasm, throwing an arm around his shoulder, "Bro! Finally, you’re back! I barely recognized you after not seeing you for a few months! What is it? Got married and added a couple of wives? The boat seems lively!"

Chen Wenjun slowly lowered his eyelids. Since his rebirth, he knew this day would come, but he didn’t expect it would be so soon!

He calmly put down his things, "Where have you been in these few months? When I came back injured, I wanted to find you but couldn’t!"

Zheng Aqiang’s smile froze, his expression growing more exaggerated as he spoke, "Didn’t I hear there was work over at Xiamen Bay? Afraid that others would snap it up, I hurried over with the boat, and months passed before I knew it. When the job ended, I came back.

I heard you’ve had a good streak lately, making money from fishing. Can you let a brother in on some of that luck?"

Lin Yi, frustrated, immediately chimed in, "Wenjun! You still owe Boss Huang for the materials! You’d better discuss it with him tomorrow clearly. We’ll pay it back slowly, but keep track of this debt carefully."

Zheng Aqiang seemed oblivious to Lin Yi’s underlying message, continuing to trail Chen Wenjun, now speaking more plainly, "Brother, I’ve had a bad streak lately, losing some money. I’m so broke I can barely eat. Can you lend me ten bucks? I’ll pay you back next month."

Lin Yi was so angry his eyes widened, preparing to go over and have a good word with Zheng Aqiang.

Lin Qin grabbed his hand and shook her head, while Chen Ping’an beside them was listless, his head hanging low.

Chen Wenjun shook his head firmly, "I’ve been building a house recently, and all my money went into that. Now I’ve run out of money, and the house isn’t even finished. I really can’t spare ten bucks."

Zheng Aqiang’s face fell instantly. He had heard that Chen Wenjun caught a big fish and made a lot of money, even bought land to build a house, which is why he came looking.

Seeing he was refused immediately, Zheng Aqiang unhappily gave Chen Wenjun a push, "So many years of brotherhood, and you won’t even lend me ten bucks when I’m this desperate? Do you not consider me your brother anymore? Is this relationship over or what?"

Chen Wenjun staggered from the push, but regained his balance and pushed Zheng Aqiang back, gritting his teeth, "I also want to ask you, what did I, Chen Wenjun, ever do to wrong you that you would harm me?"

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Zheng Aqiang angrily clenched his fists.

Chen Wenjun sneered, "There’s no one else on this boat, no need to pretend. You and I both know who hit me with a club in the alley! Don’t think that just because it was nearly dark that no one saw. There are plenty of residents in that alley, and quite a few two-story houses nearby. I have witnesses!"

Zheng Aqiang was shocked but stubbornly denied, "I don’t know what you’re talking about! Your injury has nothing to do with me! If you don’t want to lend money, just say it, don’t blame me for your problems! If you don’t acknowledge me as your brother, then let’s end this! We’ll go our separate ways from now on!"

With that, Zheng Aqiang stormed off Chen Wenjun’s fishing boat in a huff.