The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Red-spotted Fish Bursting the Warehouse

Han Xiaorui took a closer look and saw they were red-spotted groupers.

They were so beautiful!

However, Han Xiaorui didn’t stop. She continued on for about half an hour, dropped the shrimp pots, and then turned back.

”Sister Xiao Yu, it’s time to start fishing!” Han Xiaorui said, taking out her fishing rod to start catching the red-spotted groupers near the reef.

Liang Xiaoyu’s spirits lifted as soon as she heard that. ”I’m on it! I really love fishing now.”

After baiting her hook, Liang Xiaoyu started fishing with a look of intense concentration.

The people on the other boats nearby saw Han Xiaorui fishing, so they spread out and began fishing as well.

Han Xiaorui was incredibly fast. In less than two minutes, she had already reeled in a red-spotted grouper weighing seven or eight pounds.

Liang Xiaoyu watched with envy, exclaiming, ”Oh my god, it’s a red-spotted grouper! Those are more expensive than green groupers.”

”They’re pretty fish, and they have a festive look,” Han Xiaorui said with a smile as she baited her hook and continued fishing.

Just as she finished speaking, Liang Xiaoyu landed one that was over three pounds.

The two of them were like they were in a competition, pulling in fish one after another and catching a huge amount.

Wang Gensheng was an old fisherman with excellent technique. A dozen or so minutes later, he also caught a red-spotted grouper. This one was five pounds, and he was so excited he was on the verge of tears.

”Son, focus on fishing! If there’s a school of red-spotted groupers down there, we’re going to make a lot of money today.”

”I’m trying, Dad! I think I’ve got a bite.”

The others also began to catch red-spotted groupers one by one, but their speed was nothing compared to Han Xiaorui’s and Liang Xiaoyu’s.

About an hour later, Han Xiaorui’s arms were starting to feel sore.

”Sister-in-law Xiao Yu, let’s take a break!”

Liang Xiaoyu quickly shook her head. ”The fish are still biting really well! Let’s keep going! It’s a six-hour round trip, so if we don’t catch more, I’ll feel like we’ve wasted it!”

Seeing how motivated Liang Xiaoyu was, Han Xiaorui felt too embarrassed to keep resting.

”When I get back, I’ll ask the shipyard if they have any machines that can automatically reel in the line. Once a fish is hooked, you just press a button, and it pulls the fish up.”

Liang Xiaoyu’s eyes lit up, and she smiled. ”If something like that exists, it would make things so much easier for us! Both my arms are getting a little sore now!”

Han Xiaorui fished for a while longer, but when she saw Liang Xiaoyu’s face was flushed from exertion, she stopped.

She used her Water Ability to directly lure the red-spotted groupers out from under the reef and make them float to the surface.

Han Xiaorui grabbed a fishing net. ”Sister-in-law Xiao Yu, stop fishing. I’m going to cast the net!”

As she spoke, Han Xiaorui sent a net flying from her hands, tracing a perfect circle in the air before it landed in the water.

Once the fish were netted, Han Xiaorui placed the rope on the net hauler and used it to start pulling in the net.

With the help of the machine, it was indeed much easier.

All Han Xiaorui had to do was cast the net, and all Liang Xiaoyu had to do was sort the fish.

Thankfully, they were all red-spotted groupers, so they just needed to be sorted by size.

The large fish all went into the live-well tank; live red-spotted groupers were more expensive. The dead ones were cheaper, and the small fish went into the refrigerated hold.

When the other fishermen saw Han Xiaorui using a net, they wanted to do the same, but they couldn’t see any schools of fish and were worried the net would scare away the fish below.

Some chose to continue fishing with rods, as they could still catch a decent amount that way.

But some were greedier and tried to copy Han Xiaorui by using a net.

As a result, their nets came up empty. Some even got tangled on the reef, wasting a perfectly good net.

Not only that, but they scared off all the red-spotted groupers in the area.

They had no choice but to move to a different spot to continue fishing.

Some things you just couldn’t be envious of. Every time Han Xiaorui went out to sea, she returned with a full load.

At first, they would watch her, their hearts filled with anxiety.

But now, they had come to accept it. They were used to it.

After another half an hour, the holds were once again overflowing with red-spotted groupers.

Han Xiaorui organized the fishing nets while Liang Xiaoyu sorted the catch and cleaned the boat.

”Sister-in-law Xiao Yu, come take a break! Let’s go collect the shrimp pots! The sooner we get them, the sooner we can head back!”

”Alright!” Liang Xiaoyu said, washing her hands. ”We don’t have time to cook, but luckily I brought the mung bean cakes my mother-in-law made!”

”Then I’m in for a treat today!” Han Xiaorui said with a laugh as she started piloting the boat.

Liang Xiaoyu handed her two of the mung bean cakes. Neither was very large, just the right size for a single bite.

The slightly sandy, fragrant, and floury texture, with its delicate sweetness, instantly filled Han Xiaorui’s mouth, leaving a lingering aroma.

Han Xiaorui had bought mung bean cakes before, but their flavor was nowhere near as good as Granny Cai’s.

”Sister Cai’s skills are just amazing!” Han Xiaorui praised. ”She gets every aspect just right!”

Liang Xiaoyu said proudly, ”Of course! My mother-in-law used to only make them when she was in a good mood. Now she’s thinking up new things to make at home every day just to have me bring them to you!”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”I appreciate Sister Cai’s kindness! You should take a big grouper home from our catch today!”

”No need!” Liang Xiaoyu refused. ”You sell the big fish for money. A small one is fine for me!”

Han Xiaorui waved it off. ”Red-spotted groupers are best when they’re bigger. The small ones don’t have much meat!”

”I don’t just see you as an employee, but as a good friend. Besides, Sister Cai makes so many delicious things for me. Giving her a fish is nothing!”

As expected, the lobster nets were full. They hauled them straight up and onto the boat.

”Let’s head back!” Han Xiaorui said with a smile. ”Anyway, once we get to shore, Boss Zhang will have people to sort everything. Sister-in-law Xiao Yu, don’t worry about it. Just rest.”

Liang Xiaoyu was truly grateful to Han Xiaorui in her heart. Although Han Xiaorui earned a lot of money, that was a testament to her own ability.

Going out to sea with Han Xiaorui had changed her completely.

She had become more open-minded, her horizons had broadened, and she no longer got angry or nitpicked over trivial matters.

After exchanging greetings with some fellow villagers, Han Xiaorui steered the boat away.

By the time they reached the docks, it was already 4:30 in the afternoon.

Boss Zhang was looking around anxiously, waiting for Han Xiaorui. He finally spotted her boat.

”Xiao Han, you’re finally here!” Boss Zhang greeted Han Xiaorui while signaling for the aunties to hurry onto the boat and sort the lobsters.

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”I can’t go out again tomorrow, so I went a bit farther today. But I definitely got the good stuff.”

Boss Zhang’s gaze darted to the fish hold. If he had wings, he would have flown over right then.

The lobsters and crabs were sorted by grade and sold for a total of 3,450 yuan.

Once there was room to stand, Boss Zhang immediately boarded the boat. Seeing the red-spotted groupers in the hold, he swallowed hard. ”My goodness, this is all top-quality stuff! Xiao Liu, Xiao Zhao, be careful with them!”

It just so happened that a big-shot boss from Hong Kong Island had recently celebrated the birth of a son and was planning a banquet. Red-spotted groupers were perfect for the occasion.

Han Xiaorui asked, ”These red-spotted groupers are high quality. What price are you offering, Boss Zhang?”

”For the same grade, how about two yuan more per pound than green groupers?” Boss Zhang asked. He was willing to add a bit more if she wasn’t satisfied.

Han Xiaorui thought for a moment. ”Make it three. The quality of these fish is excellent. Plus, they’re considered festive, so they sell better than green groupers.”

”Deal, that’s the price!” Boss Zhang agreed, then had them graded, weighed, and tallied up.

The red-spotted groupers sold for 7,690 yuan, bringing the total to 11,140 yuan.

It was almost dark by then, so Han Xiaorui hurried home.

She gave Liang Xiaoyu a large fish, and kept a five-pound red-spotted grouper for herself.

Once home, she quickly cleaned the fish and steamed it.