pertwk Chapter 14 Hooking
Chapter 14 Hooking
Chen Zheng looked at his expression thoughtfully.
Zhao Deming taught in this village for more than ten years, teaching hundreds of students.
His greatest wish is for his students to be able to go to university, leave the mountains, and make a name for themselves.
They especially hope that someone can come back.
He returned to the village, took the chalk from his hand, stood on the platform, and continued teaching.
Lin Xiaoyun is the one who wants to come back.
"Teacher Zhao, she's not stupid," Chen Zheng said.
Zhao Deming glanced at him, and the corners of his mouth turned up even higher.
After a while, Lin Xiaoyun returned carrying a thermos.
She put the kettle down and then used a towel to wipe Zhao Deming's face with practiced ease.
"Teacher Zhao, are you hungry? Zheng-ge cooked you noodles and poached an egg. Shall I feed you some?"
Zhao Deming nodded.
Lin Xiaoyun picked up the enamel mug, scooped up a spoonful of noodles, blew on it, and brought it to his lips.
Zhao Deming opened his mouth, ate, chewed, and nodded: "Delicious. Zhengwazi's cooking is pretty good."
Chen Zheng smiled sheepishly: "It's just cooking noodles, what's so special about it?"
There are also techniques to cooking noodles.
Zhao Deming said earnestly, "Put the noodles in boiling water, and rinse them in cold water after they're cooked, otherwise they'll clump together."
The one you cooked is just right—not mushy, not mushy.
Chen Zheng was stunned for a moment.
Zhao Deming can talk so much about a bowl of noodles.
He's been teaching for so many years, isn't he the same way?
He broke down each word into its own words and fed them to the students, afraid that they wouldn't be able to swallow them.
Lin Xiaoyun fed Zhao Deming more than half a bowl of noodles, but he couldn't eat anymore and shook his head, saying, "That's enough, I can't eat anymore."
Lin Xiaoyun put the enamel mug aside and used a handkerchief to wipe Zhao Deming's mouth.
"Teacher Zhao, please rest and don't talk."
Zhao Deming nodded and closed his eyes.
After a short while, her breathing became even and she fell asleep.
The ward fell silent.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating Lin Xiaoyun's profile.
Her skin was almost transparent in the light, revealing fine downy hairs.
There's also a small mole behind my ear.
Chen Zheng glanced at it, then looked away to see the scenery outside the window.
There's a sycamore tree outside the window with big leaves that rustle in the wind.
There was a sparrow in the tree, hopping around and chirping incessantly.
Zhang Jianguo yawned and stretched in his chair, his bones cracking.
"Ah Zheng, I'm going back to tell my mother."
"Let's row the boat back while we're at it; there's no one watching it on the lake, in case it gets lost."
"Okay. Go back and get some rest; you've been up all night."
"It's okay, I'm fine."
Zhang Jianguo stood up, stretched his neck, which cracked, and said, "I'm leaving now. I'll come back this afternoon."
He walked to the door, then looked back at Lin Xiaoyun and scratched his head.
He grinned at Chen Zheng again, winked, and left.
There was something meaningful about that smile.
Chen Zheng pretended not to see it, sat in the chair, and watched the medicine drip down the IV drip bottle.
Zhao Xiaojun lay down by the bed and fell asleep again.
His little hands were still clutching the corner of his dad's blanket.
Lin Xiaoyun sat on the other side of the bed, took out a book from her bag, opened it, and read quietly.
The book is a math textbook, turned to the chapter on trigonometric functions.
The margins of the page were covered with notes, written in neat handwriting, with no carelessness in any stroke.
Chen Zheng looked at her profile as she read, and pondered to himself.
In his past life, he hadn't read many books.
After graduating from junior high school, I went fishing in the lake. Later, I went to the city to work, doing all sorts of jobs, like carrying bricks and cement.
Most of the people he met were roughnecks like himself.
He speaks loudly, moves roughly, and swears constantly.
A girl like Lin Xiaoyun sat there quietly reading a book.
The sunlight shone on his face, and even his breathing became soft; he had never seen anything like it before.
"Why are you looking at me?" Lin Xiaoyun suddenly raised her head, looking directly at him without flinching.
Chen Zheng was caught red-handed and was a little embarrassed.
"No... I didn't see it. I just wanted to ask you if you were thirsty? I'll go get some water."
Lin Xiaoyun smiled, her eyes crinkling: "I just got some water, you forgot?"
Chen Zheng then remembered that the thermos she had gone to fetch water for was placed next to the bedside table.
"Are you hungry? Should I go buy something to eat?"
"I'm not hungry. I already ate breakfast."
Chen Zheng, trying to make conversation, asked again, "What books are you reading?"
"Mathematics. I'm going to be a senior in high school soon, I need to get serious."
Lin Xiaoyun turned the book over, cover facing up, and asked, "Did you even finish high school?"
"No. I stopped studying after graduating from junior high school."
Why?
"My family is poor. My father fishes to support five people, but he can't afford it. I have to go down to the lake to help."
Lin Xiaoyun glanced at him, then lowered her head and continued reading.
But after a while, she looked up again and said, "You graduated from junior high school, so your cultural foundation isn't bad."
If you want to learn, you can study on your own. Teacher Zhao has books you can borrow.
Chen Zheng smiled and said, "I'm not cut out for studying. I'd rather be a fisherman; I'm good at fishing."
Lin Xiaoyun didn't reply and lowered her head to read.
But the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, as if he wanted to say something but didn't.
Chen Rong arrived in the afternoon.
He was carrying two buckets, one filled with crabs and the other with fish.
There were a dozen or so crabs, quite large, with green shells, white bellies, and golden claws, crawling around in the bucket.
The fish were crucian carp and bream, lively and splashing water all the way.
"Brother, I sold most of the fish I caught today, these are all that's left."
Chen Rong slammed the plastic bucket down on the ground and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Chen Zheng glanced down at the crabs writhing in the bucket, then looked up at Chen Rong:
"So many left? Did you put them all in the cage by yourself?"
"Yes. As you said, we set up spots on the shallows, one every two or three zhang, and provided plenty of bait."
As Chen Rong spoke, he pulled a wad of crumpled bills from his pocket.
"The crabs sold for 12.6 yuan. The seafood company bought them for 0.96 yuan per pound, which is 20% more expensive."
Chen Zheng took the money, counted it, and found it to be exactly twelve yuan and sixty cents.
"Rongzi, you're doing well, you've made something of yourself." Chen Zheng patted him on the shoulder.
Chen Rong's lips curled up slightly, but he didn't say anything, though he straightened his back a bit.
Lin Xiaoyun, watching from the side, asked, "Are you catching crabs to sell for money?"
"Okay. Pay Teacher Zhao's medical bills." Chen Zheng put the money in his pocket.
Lin Xiaoyun was stunned for a moment, and then she stood up.
He took something wrapped in a handkerchief from his bag and handed it to Chen Zheng.
"This is fifty yuan. I saved it up, and I was planning to use it to pay my tuition next semester."
"Pay Teacher Zhao's medical expenses first; I'll figure out how to pay the tuition when I get back."
Chen Zheng was stunned.
Fifty yuan.
In 1984, how long would it take a high school student to save up fifty yuan?
"No. This is your tuition fee; I can't accept it."
"Teacher Zhao is also my teacher."
Lin Xiaoyun stuffed the handkerchief into his hand.
"Don't argue with me. Teacher Zhao has been kind to me, I can't just ignore it."
Chen Zheng looked at the handkerchief in his hand. It was white with blue flowers, washed clean, and folded neatly.
The handkerchief still carried her scent, a faint soapy fragrance.
He looked up at Lin Xiaoyun.
She stood there, the sunlight streaming in through the window and falling on her.
White shirt, blue pants, black canvas shoes.
Her ponytail was tied high, and a white ribbon fluttered in the wind.
Chen Zheng then accepted the money.
He could tell; this girl was just as stubborn as he was.
The more you push, the more she wants to give.
It's better to accept it and find a way to return it to Teacher Zhao after she's discharged from the hospital.
"Okay, I'll accept it. I'll pay you back after Teacher Zhao is discharged from the hospital."
Lin Xiaoyun smiled, turned around and sat back down to continue reading.
Chen Zheng looked at her profile as she looked down at her book, and something stirred in his heart, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
As evening fell, Chen Rong carried the remaining crabs and a few fish back to the village at a leisurely pace.
Chen Zheng paid for the examination and medication, thus spending part of the money he had.
He counted the remaining money, figuring it would last him a while if he spent it sparingly.
Back in the ward, Zhao Deming woke up.
He was leaning against the pillows, and Zhao Xiaojun was sitting on the edge of the bed, feeding him water with a spoon.
The child's hands were unsteady, the spoon trembled violently, and water spilled all over the blanket.
"Dad, drink up. Zheng said drinking more water will help you recover faster."
Zhao Deming opened his mouth and drank, water dripping from the corner of his mouth. Zhao Xiaojun quickly used his sleeve to wipe it, getting water all over his face.
Lin Xiaoyun, watching from the side, couldn't help but laugh. She took the towel, handed it to Zhao Deming, and wiped his mouth.
"Xiaojun, go play, I'll feed him."
Zhao Xiaojun shook his head: "No, I want to feed my dad."
Lin Xiaoyun handed him a towel: "Okay, then you feed him. Feed him slowly, one spoonful at a time, don't rush."
Zhao Xiaojun nodded, scooped up a spoonful of water, and this time he was much more steady, bringing it to Zhao Deming's lips.
Zhao Deming drank it and reached out to pat his son's head.
Chen Zheng stood at the door watching this scene, feeling a warm feeling in his heart.
He had never seen such a scene in his past life.
When Zhao Deming passed away, Zhao Xiaojun was only ten years old. He knelt in front of the mourning hall and didn't cry once.
Later, he grew up, went to university, stayed in the city, and never returned to Lutang Village.
Some people say he is unfilial, because he doesn't even come back to sweep his father's grave.
But Chen Zheng knew that he wasn't being unfilial; he was just unable to come back.
Every time he came back and saw that little house, the school, and that podium, his heart felt like it was being cut by a knife.
So I simply decided not to come back.
"Teacher Zhao," Chen Zheng said as he walked in, "how are you feeling?"
"Much better." Zhao Deming smiled; his complexion was better than in the morning, with some color returning.
"Zhengwa, thank you so much for last night. If it weren't for you..."
"Teacher Zhao, please don't say that. You've taught me for so many years, it's only right that I help you out."
Zhao Deming shook his head and sighed: "I've taught for twenty years and taught countless students."
But when it comes to crucial moments, it's still you guys who we can count on.
He spoke in a very calm tone, but Chen Zheng could hear the bitterness in his voice.
Lin Xiaoyun put down her book and said, "Teacher Zhao, please don't say that."
You have taught many students, but they don't know that you are ill.
Once they find out, they'll definitely come to see you.
Zhao Deming smiled but didn't reply.
Chen Zheng sat down in the chair, his mind racing with thoughts of making money.
The cost of my mother's medicine and Teacher Zhao's medical expenses are two mountains weighing on my head.
Catching crabs alone doesn't earn you enough, only a dozen yuan a day.
We need to think of another way.
He remembered that when Chen Rong mentioned going to the seafood company to sell crabs, he saw a notice posted at the entrance.
They said the county's aquatic products company was going to hold some kind of trade fair and needed a batch of live fish and crabs.
The quality must be good, the size must be large, and the price must be 20% higher than usual.
Two percent higher.
Crabs cost 80 cents a pound; if the price increases by 20%, it's 96 cents.
The fish are about the same.
Don't underestimate this 16 cents; it's 16 yuan for 100 jin (50 kg).
The problem is, where can we find live fish and crabs that are in good condition and large in size?
Chen Zheng thought for a moment, and then a brilliant idea flashed into his mind.
East Bay.
Last time I went fishing in Dongwan, the fish in the water were all quite big, the crucian carp were as big as my palm, and the bream were also very fat.
But that time they used a silk net. The fish got tangled in the net for too long, so they didn't look good, their scales fell off, and they didn't fetch a good price.
We need to find a different approach.
You can't use a net, you have to use a fish.
Fish that are caught in good condition and have intact scales can fetch a high price.
Fishing is too slow; you have to fish one rod at a time, how many fish can you catch in a day?
After thinking about it again, I realized I had to use a row of hooks.
A multi-hook rig consists of dozens of hooks attached to a long rope. Once it's in the water, a fish that bites the hook can't escape.
This is an old method; Chen Zheng's father used it when he was young, but later found it too troublesome and stopped using it.
But this is the perfect time to use it.
"Teacher Zhao, I need to go out for a bit, there's something I need to take care of." Chen Zheng stood up.
Zhao Deming nodded: "Go ahead, don't delay your business. Xiaoyun and Xiaojun are here with me, it's fine."
Chen Zheng left the health center and headed towards the aquatic products company.
When they arrived at the purchasing station, the fat man was still there, squatting on the ground cleaning fish, his hands covered in blood.
"Master, I have a question. What are the requirements for the live fish and crabs at the trade fair?"
The fat man looked up and glanced at him: "Are you the one who came to sell crabs last time?"
"right."
"Your crabs look good, and they're all the same size. That's exactly what the trade fair is looking for."
The fat man stood up, wiped his hands on his apron, and said, "The specific requirements are all written there. Take a look for yourself."
He pointed to the notice posted on the wall.
Chen Zheng walked over and looked at it carefully.
The notice clearly states: live fish, carp, crucian carp, and bream are the main types of fish available.
Each tail weighs over one pound, has intact scales, no injuries, and is very vigorous.
Live crabs, weighing over three ounces each, with green shells, white bellies, golden claw tips, and no broken claws.
Price: Carp costs 1.1 yuan per jin (500g).
Crucian carp is 9 mao, bream is 1 yuan, and crab is 9 mao 6.
It is 20% to 30% higher than usual.
Acquisition time: Three days from now, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. No exceptions will be made after this time.
Three days.
Chen Zheng understood.
By the time we got back to the village, it was almost dark.
He didn't go home; he went straight to find Baldy Liu.
Liu the Bald's house is located at the west end of the village. It is a three-room brick and tile house, which is one of the few brick and tile houses in the village.
His father used to be the village accountant. He saved up some money and built this house.
Baldy Liu inherited the family business.
He also opened a small shop in town, selling groceries, and lived a more comfortable life than other people in the village.
Chen Zheng pushed open the courtyard gate and saw Liu Jiawang squatting in the yard with a basin of fish in front of him, cleaning the fish.
The fish weren't big, just a few crucian carp, about the size of a palm.
Liu Jiawang was cleaning the fish very slowly, muttering to himself.
"Jiawang".
Liu Jiawang raised his head, his eyes meeting yours, seemingly looking at you, yet also looking elsewhere.
"Ah Zheng? What brings you here? How's Teacher Zhao?"
"Much better. I'm here to see your father."
"My dad's inside. He just finished eating and is picking his teeth."
Chen Zheng entered the room, where Liu the Bald was sitting at the table with a plate of peanuts, a plate of pickled vegetables, and half a bottle of wine in front of him.
He was picking his teeth with a toothpick when he saw Chen Zheng come in and smiled.
"Zhengwa's here? Have you eaten yet? Sit down and have something to eat?"
"Uncle Liu, I'm not eating anymore. I've come to borrow something."
"Borrow what?"
"Hook rack. I heard you have a hook rack at home, and I'd like to borrow it."
Baldy Liu paused for a moment, toothpick in his mouth: "Hooks? What do you need those for?"
"Catch fish. The county is holding a trade fair, and live fish are fetching high prices. I want to use a multi-hook rig to catch some good fish and sell them for a good price."