CHAPTER 92: CHAPTER 92: MAKING ANOTHER PROFIT BEFORE THE NEW YEAR

Chen Wenjun chuckled vaguely, "We’ll only know after doing the accounts when we get back. It was just by chance that I got hold of an iron boat this time. I thought I’d test how far it could go, and ended up reaching South Port."

Zheng Guoxing came to a sudden realization.

The Dang people here all lived on five-canopy boats, and indeed no one had seen a family using an iron boat before. Chen Wenjun was quite capable.

After settling the accounts, Chen Wenjun received a pile of money and had an idea. He whispered to Zheng Guoxing, "I plan to make another run in the early hours of New Year’s Eve, but I guess seafood will be more expensive that day. If you want, I can bring some back for you."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Zheng Guoxing nodded eagerly, so excited he looked like he’d rush over and hug Chen Wenjun tightly the next second.

After agreeing on a plan, Chen Wenjun and Lin Qin pushed the cart back to the vicinity of Xiatian Village, with the money in hand.

Lin Yi was still guarding the iron boat.

Seeing the two returning, his eyes lit up, and he quickly went forward to help.

The three of them returned to a gap in the dock.

As soon as the gate opened, Lin Qin immediately shouted at the top of her lungs, "Ping’an, Yaya!"

After a while, two children ran out of the courtyard and rushed towards them.

Lin Qin breathed a big sigh of relief, patted the two children’s heads, "What were you playing while the adults were not home?"

Ping’an excitedly showed a fist, jumped weirdly and said, "Yaya and I drew pictures, played with turtles, and picked some small grass and flowers to play house."

Yaya dragged Lin Qin over to look at their accomplishments.

In one corner of the yard, there were some bricks and broken tiles, piles of sand next to them, with a lot of wild grass neatly arranged.

Lin Qin was immediately amused, "Not bad, not bad, as long as you don’t play with fire or do anything dangerous, you can keep playing!"

While she was speaking, the two children continued to play house, and the three adults went to the hall on the second floor.

Chen Wenjun poured out all the money they earned today, and Lin Yi, seeing so much money, felt a burning excitement and came over to help count.

The three of them counted for about twenty minutes.

Lin Qin informed them of the final amount, "We have a total of five hundred and thirty-eight yuan and ninety-two cents. We only brought two hundred yuan when we left, and after deducting the diesel money, we made about three hundred yuan."

Lin Yi took a deep breath, "So profitable! We won’t need to fish anymore, we’ll just earn the seafood price difference."

Lin Qin nodded with a smile, "This business can be done long-term, at least for now there’s no competition, but who knows about the future."

Lin Yi was optimistic, "Then let’s seize the opportunity. Making money each time counts. Let’s save up for the household, and deal with future matters later."

Chen Wenjun was surprised by Lin Yi’s open-mindedness, "Dad! You’re really something, I thought you’d be worried about the future!"

Lin Yi laughed heartily, "We’ve got so much land on this island, if this business doesn’t work out, we can always farm. What’s there to fear?"

Lin Qin found it amusing, feeling that those lands gave Lin Yi confidence.

The couple, having tasted the sweetness of success, took a shower and fell asleep, waking only in the evening when Chen Wenjun went to check the fish traps.

Early the next morning, after collecting the traps, they went to set up the stall.

As soon as they arrived at the market, they were surrounded by a group of people.

"Do you have seafood today? Those little yellow croakers from yesterday."

"I want to buy some more razor clams to keep for the New Year."

"Squid is nice too, stir-fried with onions, it’s so fragrant!"

"Boss, can you get some saltwater shrimp?"

...

Chen Wenjun was surrounded, explaining until his mouth went dry. Only after he reassured everyone several times did they leave satisfied.

That afternoon on the 29th, the couple took food to South Port again.

Lin Yi specially prepared some boiled sweet potatoes for them.

They arrived at South Port just in time for the evening. At this point, fishing boats were docking, and the couple went for a walk and found that fishermen had just returned to the port.

The goods were quite scattered, but pretty good, and the prices were cheap.

It was understandable, after all, seafood entering the port at dawn could make it in time for the early market. Those entering the port at dusk had to be frozen or sent to various restaurants, and if no one wanted them, they’d have to wait till the next morning’s market for a less profitable sale.

If someone were to buy the goods at that time, the price could be negotiated.

Lin Qin quietly pulled Chen Wenjun aside and said, "I think we can purchase a batch of goods now and deliver them to Zheng Guoxing, then come again at dawn. Once the goods arrive, send them to Xiatian Market."

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, and we can sell them at a higher price.

Chen Wenjun nodded repeatedly, "Let’s do it. Guoxing said his place finds small yellow croakers rather popular, as well as stir-fried squid and razor clams. These dishes sell well. Besides these, he also wanted to sell oyster pancakes, asking if we could get him more fresh oysters.

Actually, he needs other seafood too, but these items can be stocked more heavily."

With a goal in mind, the couple split up to take action.

They went around several nearby ports and finally bought two large baskets of small yellow croakers, a large basket of squid, two large baskets of razor clams, a basket of clams, and half a basket of abalones. Walking into the fishing village, they also saw many households opening oyster shells.

They procured two large barrels within the village.

They used up the five hundred yuan they brought before heading back.

By the time they reached the city, it was almost nine o’clock.

Guoxing Restaurant closed around nine-thirty to ten o’clock.

There weren’t many diners left, mostly drinkers, while the waiters were cleaning up.

Seeing Chen Wenjun and Lin Qin pushing a large load over, they hurried to the kitchen to call Zheng Guoxing.

Seeing them, Chen Wenjun immediately shouted, "Seafood, all delivered!"

Zheng Guoxing’s eyes lit up, and he jumped out in one breath, reaching for Chen Wenjun’s cart.

"Do you have small yellow croakers?"

Lin Qin immediately pointed at the two baskets of small yellow croakers, "They’re all here, everything you asked for, plus fresh oysters."

Zheng Guoxing patted his thigh with force, "Great! Tomorrow my restaurant is fully booked, and everyone said they wanted seafood. With these oysters, oyster pancakes can be arranged for tomorrow. Perfect timing, you probably haven’t eaten yet! Stay and taste some dishes for me, I’ll start cooking right away."

With that, Zheng Guoxing quickly summoned the waiter for help.

The oysters were weighed first, and while Zheng Guoxing was busy making oyster pancakes,

Chen Wenjun and the waiter sorted and accounted for all the seafood, then stored them in the freezer by category.

By then, the first oyster pancake was ready.

Lin Qin tasted it carefully and said, "It would taste even better with some sweet chili sauce or garlic sauce, but it’s delicious on its own too."

Chen Wenjun nodded, "The main thing is the oysters are fresh enough."

Zheng Guoxing took a bite and strongly agreed.

The guests outside who were drinking quickly ordered a portion upon smelling the aroma of the oyster pancake.

Zheng Guoxing, who was about to close the restaurant, got busy again.

By the time he finished, Lin Qin and Chen Wenjun had almost eaten their fill.

Zheng Guoxing quickly grabbed the receipts to settle the bill with Chen Wenjun.

Seeing the unit price, Zheng Guoxing was a little surprised, "Didn’t the price go up?"

Chen Wenjun honestly said, "We bought these at the port in the evening. Seafood isn’t that expensive then. But at dawn, when it’s in high demand, people are scrambling for it, making it impossible to bargain, so it definitely costs more."

Zheng Guoxing looked relieved, paying with particular satisfaction, even rounding up the change.