The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 113: Chapter 113: The Fish is Too Auspicious, That’ll Be Extra

This was Han Xiaorui’s first time setting out a longline, and she wasn’t sure how effective it would be.

Still, she wanted to try out various fishing methods.

When they reached the spot where they had set the longline, they started to haul it in.

Liang Xiaoyu was quite nervous as well, her eyes glued to the water’s surface.

At first, there were only a few small fish, much to Liang Xiaoyu’s disappointment.

Two minutes later, Liang Xiaoyu felt a distinct weight on the line. She pulled hard, and as the catch surfaced, she cried out, ”Xiao Rui, we caught a bass! It must be over ten pounds! Whoa, and there’s a red sea bream, a black sea bream...”

Longline fishing brought up a wide variety of fish in all different sizes.

Han Xiaorui steered the boat with one hand and came over to help haul in the line. ”The catch is great,” she said, ”but having so many different species is a pain when it comes time to sell.”

Hearing this, Liang Xiaoyu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ”Xiao Rui, these are all valuable fish. It might be a hassle, but it’s the kind of hassle every fisherman dreams of.”

Han Xiaorui paused, then smiled. ”You have a point. We’ve been so lucky in the past that we’ve started taking catches like this for granted.”

Just as she said that, she heard Liang Xiaoyu cry out, ”Xiao Rui, come help, quick! We’ve got a big one here!”

Han Xiaorui dropped the fish she was holding and rushed over. ”I’m coming! Don’t panic.”

’What kind of fish could it be?’ Han Xiaorui was extremely curious.

As the fish gradually broke the surface, Han Xiaorui gasped, ”It’s a Moonfish! That’s a deep-sea fish, what’s it doing here?”

Liang Xiaoyu chuckled, already used to Han Xiaorui’s incredible luck. ”Xiao Rui, don’t just stand there gawking. Hurry, this fish is huge! Let’s get it on board. Didn’t you say some big boss was looking for a Moonfish? We’re about to make another nice score.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”That’s right. As long as it’s over fifty pounds, it’s ten thousand yuan.”

Liang Xiaoyu’s eyes lit up. ”Good heavens, this fish has to be at least eighty pounds, maybe even a hundred!”

”Xiao Rui, don’t be a pushover. This fish is huge, and its orange color is so deep, with some parts even turning red. That’s extra auspicious. You have to charge more!”

While sorting the fish, Han Xiaorui smiled and said, ”Sister-in-law Xiao Yu, you’re right. I’ll make Boss Zhang pay extra.”

They placed it in the live well, and Han Xiaorui infused it with her Water Ability.

The large Moonfish was instantly full of life.

Following that, they pulled in several more Moonfish, each over ten pounds and even more beautiful.

Han Xiaorui made up her mind. ’I have to eat Moonfish tonight.’

According to what she’d read, Moonfish wasn’t just delicious; it was also very special.

Moonfish can maintain a constant body temperature.

A warm-blooded deep-sea fish sounded incredible. But this species, which lived at depths of 1,000 meters, was quite unusual. Not only did it inhabit warm, subtropical waters, but it also had its own internal ”insulation system.”

Liang Xiaoyu thought for a moment. ”Ah, that explains it! No wonder we’re catching Moonfish. It’s the fifteenth of the lunar calendar.”

Han Xiaorui only kept track of the Gregorian calendar, not the lunar one. ”Sister-in-law Xiao Yu, isn’t it called a Moonfish because it looks like the moon? Does it actually have something to do with the full moon on the fifteenth?”

Liang Xiaoyu smiled, her hands never ceasing their work. ”Moonfish do look a lot like the moon. Their bodies are dotted with patterns that look like a field of stars. They’re very beautiful.”

”But the main reason for the name is that they only seem to appear when the moon is full. Fishermen believe there’s some mysterious connection between them and the moon, so they called them Moonfish.”

It was a revelation for Han Xiaorui. ”I learned something new!”

Catching the Moonfish put Han Xiaorui in a great mood.

They quickly finished hauling in the longline. The harvest was excellent, with well over a thousand pounds of fish.

When they reached the spot where they’d dropped their shrimp pots, they found those were all filled to the brim too.

Liang Xiaoyu was grinning from ear to ear. She was on commission now.

The more fish they brought on board, the more money she made.

Most importantly, working with Han Xiaorui was a pleasure. Plus, she got to eat incredible fish. It was pure bliss.

That afternoon, Boss Zhang was buying fish from other boats, all the while craning his neck in anticipation.

Han Xiaorui had said she would have more in the afternoon, and he was determined to buy her catch before he could head back with peace of mind.

He felt like he was turning into a statue, waiting for her boat!

Finally, a little after four in the afternoon, Han Xiaorui’s boat appeared.

Boss Zhang didn’t even wait for the boat to finish mooring before he jumped aboard.

He lost his footing and plopped right down on the deck.

”Boss Zhang, be careful! If you knock yourself out, you won’t get to see the amazing fish I caught today,” Han Xiaorui said, shaking her head with a laugh.

This Boss Zhang seemed like a level-headed man, but the sight of fresh seafood always made him lose his composure.

In Boss Zhang’s eyes, a prize fish was a more beautiful sight than any woman.

Hearing Han Xiaorui’s words, Boss Zhang’s face lit up with excitement. ”Really? What kind of amazing fish?”

”The very one you mentioned yesterday. I can’t believe my luck, but I actually caught one,” Han Xiaorui said with a smile. ”Today’s the fifteenth of the lunar month. If the timing wasn’t right, I doubt I would have caught it.”

As soon as he heard that, Boss Zhang forgot all about his aching behind. ”A Moonfish? For real?”

When he saw the Moonfish, still alive and swimming in the live well, Boss Zhang was ecstatic. ”Xiao Han, the ten thousand yuan, I’ll send it to you right now.”

Han Xiaorui gave him a sly smile. ”Boss Zhang, yesterday you said ten thousand yuan for one no less than fifty pounds. This one is probably over a hundred pounds. Don’t you think ten thousand yuan is a bit low?”

’Things were different now. With a fish this good, she had bargaining power.’

Boss Zhang was taken aback. ”Xiao Rui, if we go by market price, even one over a hundred pounds wouldn’t necessarily sell for ten thousand yuan.”

Han Xiaorui just smiled. ”Boss Zhang, take a closer look. Do you see anything special about this Moonfish?”

Boss Zhang blinked his small eyes and stared and stared. ”Other than its beautiful, festive coloring, it looks the same as any other Moonfish!”

Han Xiaorui traced a pattern on the Moonfish’s body with a slender finger. ”Look at the larger spots on its body. They form the character for ’Longevity.’ That client from Singapore is buying it for an elder’s birthday celebration. With an omen that good, don’t you think it’s worth more?”

”If he doesn’t want it, there are plenty of wealthy people in Shencheng with birthdays coming up. I’ll have no trouble selling this fish.”

Once Han Xiaorui pointed it out, Boss Zhang could see it too—the larger spots did indeed form the character for ”Longevity.”

Seeing such an auspicious sign, Boss Zhang knew Han Xiaorui wouldn’t be happy unless he raised the price. ”12,800 yuan, Xiao Han, how about that?”

Han Xiaorui shook her head. ”18,800 yuan. It’s a luckier number.”

Boss Zhang felt a pang of frustration but couldn’t bear to lose this incredible fish. ”Xiao Han, 14,800 yuan. I can’t go any higher.”

Han Xiaorui considered it. ”15,800. The numbers ’1-5-8’ sound like ’I will prosper.’ That’s a lucky number.”

Boss Zhang almost rolled his eyes at her reasoning. Finally, he gritted his teeth and relented. ”Fine! 15,800 yuan it is! By the way, sell me those smaller ones over there, too.”

Han Xiaorui waved him off. ”Not for sale. I heard they’re delicious, and I’m taking them home to eat.”

Boss Zhang thought she was committing a culinary sacrilege. A fish this good belonged in the hands of a master chef to truly bring out its best flavor.

”Xiao Han, just keep one for yourself. Sell the other four. Don’t turn your nose up at good money.”

Han Xiaorui waved her hand again, her attitude firm. ”I’d rather pass up the money than pass up a good meal.”