Chapter 27: Dividing the Profits

About ten minutes later, the tide pools gradually emerged. The two of them patrolled together—no one else knew about this place, so it felt like their own private tide pools.

And sure enough, there was a big haul.

The first tide pool was relatively large, with dozens of big sea snails inside, each one bigger than a grown man’s fist.

Chu Xuan couldn’t help but exclaim, “Did we stumble upon a sea snail nest?”

Mu Chenze replied with a relaxed look, “That’s pretty normal around here.”

Chu Xuan quickly squatted down and scooped up two. The shells were brown and yellowish with mottled patterns, and the snail’s opening was a bright orange-red—these were blood-veined snails.

They lay eggs from June to August every year.

These snails lay a lot of eggs and have few natural predators, so they can easily become overpopulated and disrupt the ecological balance.

But their meat is plump and delicious, very tempting, and highly nutritious. Eating them is a win-win!

Not only do they satisfy your appetite, but harvesting them also helps maintain the marine ecosystem.

Dozens? Even hundreds wouldn’t be too many for Chu Xuan and Mu Chenze.

Just thinking about slicing up the snail meat and stir-frying it made their mouths water.

They stopped talking, exchanged a glance, and started collecting the catch.

Once they finished with the first tide pool, they moved on to the second.

Inside were three sea bass and two blackfish.

Then on to the third tide pool…

Every one of the dozen or so tide pools had good stuff—clams, small snails, little crabs. They skipped the less valuable ones and only picked up the most profitable catches. By the end, Chu Xuan’s two wooden buckets and her large backpack basket were filled to the brim.

Seeing the tide coming in, they didn’t linger any longer.

Chu Xuan carried the big basket on her back and held her foraging tools in hand.

Mu Chenze used a shoulder pole to carry the two buckets. Together, they took the mountain path toward the dock, planning to sort their haul there.

“Mu Chenze, are you free to come again tomorrow?”

Tomorrow would be a spring tide, and the catch might be even better than today’s.

These days, Mu Chenze had been going out to sea with his family’s boat. Calculating the time, they’d be back before three tomorrow, and after selling the fish, he should be able to make it.

“I’m free. Buy two more big willow baskets with handles ahead of time. If we get a big haul tomorrow, we can carry them with the shoulder pole.”

“Got it!”

Among today’s catch, there were only a dozen or so skinning fish—Chu Xuan insisted on picking them up despite Mu Chenze’s objections. They wouldn’t fetch much money, but she wanted to keep them for grilled fish.

She was just about to discuss keeping the skinning fish with Mu Chenze when he spoke first, “Skinning fish aren’t worth much. Take them home and make grilled fish slices. If you don’t know how, I’ll write down the recipe for you tonight and bring it over.”

Chu Xuan was touched by his thoughtfulness. “Thank you! I know how to make them. Once they’re done, I’ll bring you half.”

“Alright.” Mu Chenze shifted the shoulder pole to his other shoulder and kept walking. “Chu Xuan, have you ever thought about starting a business?”

Chu Xuan already considered him a good friend and didn’t hold back. “I have. I want to turn skinning fish into grilled fish snacks and sell them in the county and city, in sweet, salty, spicy, and sweet-spicy flavors. What do you think?”

Mu Chenze looked at her with admiration. “You’re a really creative girl. I support you! From now on, if our boat catches skinning fish, I’ll sell them all to you—three cents a pound!”

Chu Xuan had sold skinning fish before—last time it was seven cents a pound, but the price changed daily. She joked, “That’s cheap. Aren’t you afraid your family will scold you?”

“Not at all. When skinning fish are at their cheapest, they go for three cents a pound. My family won’t mind such a small amount.”

“Thanks! But I’ll adjust the purchase price according to the market. When the time comes, I’ll decide how much to pay per pound.”

“Fine by me.”

Mu Chenze didn’t want to dwell on the topic.

As they neared the dock, Mu Chenze spoke again, “Chu Xuan, give me the basket. I’ll go sell the catch. You wait for me in the wax tree grove. I’ll leave the skinning fish for you in the bucket. I’ll keep six blood-veined snails for myself—do you want to keep a few?”

Chu Xuan didn’t even need to ask; she knew he was looking out for her.

They’d had such a big haul today—if the villagers found out, they’d definitely ask where they’d been foraging.

But it was different if Mu Chenze sold the catch. His family owned a boat and often sold at the dock, so no one would suspect anything.

Chu Xuan estimated roughly that they could sell everything for about 400 yuan.

“I’ll keep six blood-veined snails too. Let’s sell the rest for cash.”

Mu Chenze knew Chu Xuan was short on money lately—she needed it for medical bills, and she was also saving up to rebuild two old houses. There were expenses everywhere, so he didn’t object.

Chu Xuan took off the basket and let out a long breath, feeling the weight lift from her shoulders.

Don’t be fooled by Mu Chenze’s broad shoulders and slim waist—he was incredibly strong.

He hoisted the basket onto his back, balanced the two buckets with the shoulder pole, and headed for the dock.

He went straight to Li Tong’s stall.

Li Tong greeted him with a smile. “Chenze, didn’t sell everything earlier?”

Mu Chenze replied politely, “That’s right. Didn’t have time to sort it yet. Mind if I borrow a basin?”

“No problem.”

Li Tong handed over a wooden basin and helped Mu Chenze sort the catch.

Mu Chenze instructed him, “Set aside twelve blood-veined snails for me, and the skinning fish…”

Ten minutes later, everything was sorted and weighed.

The large blood-veined snails weighed 119 jin and 6 liang—rounded up to 120 jin, at 0.8 yuan per jin, for a total of 96 yuan.

The sea bass were big—59 jin and 7 liang, rounded up to 60 jin, at 1.5 yuan per jin, for a total of 90 yuan.

The blackfish weighed 72 jin, all still alive. In the 1980s, they were a must-have tonic for visiting the sick. At 3 yuan per jin—sometimes even higher when scarce—for a total of 216 yuan.

Octopus, 60 jin, at 0.6 yuan per jin, for a total of 36 yuan.

Altogether, 438 yuan.

They settled up on the spot.

Ten minutes later, Mu Chenze, carrying the basket and shoulder pole, walked to the wax tree grove.

The wooden buckets were inside the basket.

Chu Xuan emerged from the trees, her eyes shining. “So, how much did we make?”

Her expression reminded Mu Chenze of a gentle blue whale.

Fatty girl could be cute sometimes.

Mu Chenze’s expression was calm. He took out a wad of cash from his pocket and handed it to Chu Xuan. “We made 438 yuan.”

Chu Xuan took it, counted out 300 yuan, and handed it to Mu Chenze. “Your share of the profits.”

Mu Chenze didn’t take it. “That’s too much. Before today, you’d only come here to forage two or three times, and you made at most 600 yuan. Now you’re giving me 300 in one go—that’s a 50-50 split! I only want 30%. If you don’t stick to the agreement, I’ll have to find a new partner. I’ll just take 200 yuan, keep the change! I found the good spot, so I get to decide!”

Chu Xuan didn’t know what to do with him—she’d never met such a silly boss.

She had no choice but to count out 200 yuan and hand it to him. “This time it’s not extra, Boss Mu. Take it quickly, before someone sees.”

Mu Chenze suppressed a laugh and took the money. “Remember to see the Chinese doctor tomorrow morning.”

Before Chu Xuan could reply, he turned and left.

Chu Xuan resisted the urge to watch him go—his figure was just too attractive!

Back in the village, she first went to Liu Zhaodi’s house to buy large willow baskets with handles.

Liu Zhaodi was still out foraging, and only San Leng was home. They only had one big basket finished; the other wasn’t done yet.

Chu Xuan gave him a few instructions and left a 20-cent deposit, telling him she’d come by tomorrow afternoon to pick up two baskets of the same size.

She headed home.

Just as she walked in the door, she heard Feng Chunhua’s voice behind her.

“Chu Xuan, I came to see you about something.”

Chu Feng heard this and immediately ran over, eyes wary. “Feng Chunhua, we have nothing to do with you anymore. What are you here for?”

Chu Xuan looked calmly at Feng Chunhua...

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