Chapter 300: Bountiful Harvest

The boat pulled into the dock, but Chu An was still in a daze.

Everything he’d experienced today had just been too thrilling and fun.

It was a shame the killer whale had already left. Otherwise, he would have wanted to try it again.

The killer whale was incredibly fast. It had taken them several hours to get to the island, but on the way back, even with the boat loaded down, they had made it in less than an hour.

At the dock, the two Cow Harbor Tunas on their boat were particularly eye-catching.

As always, a crowd had gathered to have a look.

"Well, I’ll be. Yun Linhai, you guys managed to haul in two more huge fish! Cow Harbor Tunas, no less! I can’t believe you actually caught these."

Yun Jiao had been busy with her studies recently and hadn’t gone out to sea with Yun Linhai and the others for a long time. Without her, their catches had been average, and it had been a while since they had landed such a big fish.

"So big! A single one must be over a hundred pounds. Together, they probably weigh around three hundred."

"Cow Harbor Tunas aren’t worth much, but you can’t beat that sheer weight."

Ah Wang came running over excitedly. The moment he saw Yun Jiao on the boat, he immediately fished a few pieces of candy out of his pocket and handed them to her.

"Here, Jiaojiao. This is from Uncle for you. Have some."

Having worked with Yun Linhai’s family for so long, Yun Wang had come to a realization: Yun Jiao was truly a little lucky star.

Every time Yun Jiao went out to sea with them, they were guaranteed to come back with a great catch.

It had been the same in the past, with plenty of valuable deep-sea catches. He had made a good amount of money just from the things Yun Jiao helped bring in, and he had even made several valuable business connections through them.

So now, Yun Wang was being as friendly and kind to Yun Jiao as he possibly could.

Yun Jiao took the candy and politely thanked him.

Yun Wang thought, ’I’m truly envious. This little girl, Jiaojiao, is really something else—capable, charming, and so polite.’

"Brother Lin Hai, bring those two Cow Harbor Tunas over to my place. I’ll find a buyer for you."

Cow Harbor Tuna meat isn’t particularly tasty, so high-end restaurants and hotels probably wouldn’t buy it. But the fish was meaty and cheap, so a buyer could still be found if one looked hard enough.

Yun Linhe clapped him on the shoulder. "We’re counting on you, brother."

The other fishmongers weren’t particularly interested in the two Cow Harbor Tunas; they were just looking out of curiosity.

After all, there was no guarantee they could sell them.

With some effort, they got the two Cow Harbor Tunas off the boat and weighed them.

Just when Yun Wang thought that was the extent of their haul for the day, Yun Jiao emerged holding a Su Mei Fish.

"It’s a Su Mei Fish!"

Instantly, the fishmongers who had seen enough of the Cow Harbor Tunas and were about to leave swarmed back over.

"It really is a Su Mei Fish! I’ll buy it! Sell it to me!"

Clearly, the Su Mei Fish was in a completely different league of popularity than the Cow Harbor Tunas.

"Everyone, make way! I’ve already got a buyer for this fish."

Yun Wang rubbed his hands together as he looked at the Su Mei Fish, thoroughly excited.

"Heh, this fish couldn’t have come at a better time. I just got word that the old master of the Song Family in the city is celebrating a big birthday and is looking for fine ingredients. This Su Mei Fish is perfect to send over. Brother, I’ll give you this price."

Yun Wang made a hand gesture for ten and eight.

"That’s the highest I can go."

At that price, he wouldn’t make much of a profit on the sale, but his main goal was to maintain a good relationship with Yun Linhai’s family—especially Yun Jiao.

Looking at the long run, this was definitely to his advantage.

"Done. The fish is yours."

"We also have about thirty Star-spotted Groupers on the boat."

Upon hearing this, Yun Wang’s eyes absolutely lit up.

While Yun Linhai and the others were discussing business, Yun Jiao was already picking out her favorite things to eat and putting them in a separate bucket.

These were all to be taken home to eat.

"Chu An, what kind of fish do you guys like to eat?"

Yun Chen Nan pointed to the fish on the boat, all of which had been caught by Yun Jiao.

There was golden pomfret, white pomfret, a sea bass, and a rather large hairtail.

"We’re taking all of these back, so pick one for yourself."

Their family was no longer in the desperate situation of needing to sell every last fish for whatever money they could get. They had a lot of guests at home today, so these fish were perfect to bring back as gifts, especially since Yun Jiao had caught them for free.

Chu An waved his hands in refusal. "Oh no, I couldn’t. I’m just here to have fun, and I’ve already troubled you all enough. I can’t just take things on top of eating here."

Yun Chen Nan said, "Don’t be so polite. We can’t finish them all anyway, and they won’t sell for much. You should also take plenty of these mussels home later, and the sea snails too."

Yun Jiao scooped a Star-spotted Grouper into her bucket. "I’m ready, Third Brother."

"Let’s go."

Yun Chen Nan, also carrying a few things, said, "Dad, Eldest Uncle, I’m going to take them back now."

"Alright, take plenty. Bring all the mussels back... actually, never mind. Your uncle and I will haul them back later. You all go on ahead."

As soon as Yun Jiao’s group left, someone remarked sourly.

"Lin Hai, your family’s really struck it rich, huh? I just saw your girl Yun Jiao take home a Star-spotted Grouper that big just to eat."

Star-spotted Groupers are so expensive; none of them fishermen could bear to eat one themselves.

Yun Linhai replied, "It’s fine. The kids are growing, they need the nutrition. Besides, we still have more on the boat."

When Yun Jiao’s group got back home, she plopped the bucket down in the kitchen and called out cheerfully.

"Mama, we’re back! Where’s Little Aunt?"

Shen Yunlian, who was sorting through the things they had brought back, pointed toward the pigsty. "She’s feeding the pigs."

"You must be tired. There’s a watermelon cooling in the well. I’ll go get it out for us to eat."

Yun Jiao said, "Let’s wait for Fifth Brother and the others to get back before we eat."

She stood obediently while her mother wiped her face.

"Their classes should be over by now."

"Then I’ll go wait for them."

With that, Yun Jiao took the family’s two dogs and one cat and headed toward the village entrance.

Chu An and Wang Hongfei stayed behind to help prepare the meal; they couldn’t just sit around like pampered guests, after all.

Wearing her little flip-flops and a small sun hat, Yun Jiao ambled along the path. Just as she reached the village entrance, she saw several school-aged kids with red scarves and backpacks walking toward the village.

"Jiaojiao!"

Yun Xiaowu was the first to spot her. Ignoring his friends, he rushed over like a gust of wind, sweeping Yun Jiao up in his arms and spinning her around and around.

"Brother, let’s hurry back! We’re having watermelon at home!"

At that, Yun Xiaowu immediately rounded up his other brothers.

"Hurry up! What are you dawdling for?"

Yun Xiaoqi grumbled, "And who was it that wanted to play marbles on the way home just a minute ago?"

The two dogs wagged their tails, sniffing each of Yun Jiao’s brothers in turn, before running back to nuzzle affectionately against her.

Yun Jiao patted their big heads. On the way back, she ran into Yun Sui, who was returning from foraging on the beach.

His eyes lit up when he saw her, and he gave her a pretty little rock he had picked up.

"Jiaojiao, for you."

He grinned foolishly, like a happy puppy.

"Come on, Yun Sui, come eat at my house."

Yun Sui shook his head and showed Yun Jiao what was in his bucket.

"Taking it back... for Grandpa."