Interview

Zhang Gui had come here after seeing a news report.

He had never expected there to be such a fish farm in his own little territory. After asking around, he learned about the farm's background.

The owner was a college graduate who had made a windfall in Shangjing before returning home to start a business.

His parents were fishermen from this village, and there were no particularly capable relatives in the family. In Zhang Gui's eyes, Ye Yuan was just a guy who had stumbled into good luck.

Since someone like that was operating on his turf, Zhang Gui would be letting himself down if he did not squeeze some money out of him.

"You're the owner here, right? My name is Zhang Gui." Zhang Gui spoke to Ye Yuan in a superior tone.

"Oh? What can I do for you, Mr. Zhang?" Ye Yuan wanted to figure out Zhang Gui's purpose before deciding how to deal with him.

"Well, I know you're a new fish farmer, so maybe you don't understand Pinghai County's rules. All seafood in this county is sold through me. Your catch here looks good, so I'll buy all your fish at five yuan per jin. From now on, you can just focus on raising fish." As he spoke, he patted Ye Yuan on the shoulder, looking as though he were saying, I've got your back.

"And if I refuse?" Ye Yuan asked coldly.

"If you refuse, then not a single fish of yours will leave Pinghai County." Zhang Gui gave a sinister chuckle.

Just then, another boat pulled up at the dock. It carried the reporters who had come to conduct interviews, along with a county official.

Before the boat had even docked, the reporters had already begun snapping pictures with their cameras.

After getting off the boat, the reporters headed straight toward Ye Yuan. Zhang Gui could tell they were reporters as well, and he whispered in Ye Yuan's ear, "Kid, watch what you say. Loose lips can get you in trouble."

"Excuse me, is the owner here? I'm from Hedong TV Station, and we'd like to interview the owner," a beautiful female reporter asked one of the workers.

The worker turned to look at Ye Yuan.

As a reporter, she could read the situation from a single glance. The young man before her was very likely the owner of the island.

"Hello. You must be the owner here, correct? May I ask you a few questions?"

When the other reporters heard that he was the owner of Yuwan Seafood, which had made a name for itself on Hong Kong Island, they also gathered around.

Everyone raised the questions they cared about, and the scene immediately became chaotic.

It was Ye Yuan's first time being surrounded by so many reporters, but he remained fairly calm. Smiling, he said, "Everyone, please don't crowd around. Ask your questions one at a time. I'll do my best to answer them all, so there's no need to rush."

"Hello, I'm from the Blue Island Daily. I heard that Heng Hai Group on Hong Kong Island has obtained exclusive distribution rights for your seafood there. Is that true?"

A young male reporter asked the first question.

"Yes. I've already signed a distribution agreement with Manager Ma Mingyuan of Heng Hai Group."

Ye Yuan did not give any official-sounding platitudes and answered the question directly.

"Hello, I'm a reporter from Hedong Province TV Station. We'd like to know how you position Yuwan Seafood. Are you taking the high-end route, or targeting the mass market?"

The female reporter who had introduced herself as being from Hedong Province TV Station asked her question.

After thinking for a moment, Ye Yuan answered, "I'll pursue both paths. On one hand, I'll develop the high-end market; on the other, I'll also enter the mass market.

"I've already partnered with a seafood company and a seafood restaurant here on Blue Island. I believe that before long, everyone will be able to enjoy Yuwan Seafood."

"Hello, what do you think about the prospects of the aquaculture industry today?" a self-media reporter asked.

Hearing that question, Ye Yuan glanced at Zhang Gui.

With the corner of his lips curling upward, he said, "Fish farmers have it hard. It's not just natural disasters—we might not even be able to sell the fish we raise.

"My groupers can only be sold for five yuan per jin right now. You may not believe that price when I say it, but this man is here to purchase my catch. You can ask him yourselves." As he spoke, he pointed at Zhang Gui.

Upon hearing Ye Yuan's words, the reporters could hardly believe their ears. Five yuan per jin for grouper? Even frozen grouper sold for around forty yuan on the market, and these were live fish. How could they be priced so low?

Quite a few reporters immediately pointed their microphones at Zhang Gui. "Sir, why are you purchasing these groupers at such a low price? Is there something wrong with the fish?"

"Sir, could you tell us where you're from? Do you normally purchase seafood at this price?"

The reporters bombarded Zhang Gui with all kinds of questions and accusations.

The official who had come with the reporters also looked grim. The county had just held a meeting and decided to support local businesses, yet a seafood bully had appeared right afterward. To them, this was nothing short of a slap in the face.

He stepped out of the crowd and angrily rebuked Zhang Gui, "I don't care who you are. Your actions will be handed over to the relevant departments for handling."

Zhang Gui recognized him. He immediately stopped worrying about anything else and fled in a panic with several of his men back to their boat, then sailed away.

Ye Yuan looked at the man who had spoken and smiled when he recognized him. This was the deputy county head who had received him when he leased the island. Ye Yuan had formed a good impression of him.

"I didn't expect you to come as well. Why didn't you let me know beforehand? I could have welcomed you properly," Ye Yuan said warmly.

"Young man, you've done well. In such a short time, you've developed this remote island to this extent. I'm very pleased to see it." The deputy county head shook Ye Yuan's hand, then turned to the reporters and said:

"Our county will take the matter just raised seriously. We hope everyone will keep watch over us. Something like this will never happen again. We will protect every lawful local business and will not let our fishermen lose heart."

Hearing the county head's words, the workers began applauding of their own accord.

Ye Yuan took the reporters and the county official on another tour of Fishing Bay Island. The reporters all got the material they wanted and hurried back to write their articles. Before leaving, the deputy county head spoke with Ye Yuan alone for a few moments.

"Don't feel burdened. Develop boldly and without worry. Someone will deal with people like Zhang Gui." With that, the deputy county head left.

Ye Yuan became famous. Yuwan Seafood became famous. Ye Yuan had never expected it.

That very night after the interviews, many reports were published online. The island's beautiful scenery and its peaceful atmosphere far removed from the city had been captured by the reporters' cameras and spread to the public.

When Zhang Gui returned from Ye Yuan's place, he knew he was finished.

First, his company's finance department was summoned for an audit. Then, many of his past misdeeds gradually came to light, and many people he had bullied before stepped forward to testify.

The greatest pressure came from Su Mei. According to the contract, the date for the first delivery had arrived, but his fish farm had no stock at all. He had originally planned to extort a batch from Ye Yuan, but instead, he had ended up earning the resentment of the county leadership.

According to the contract, if Zhang Gui could not provide this shipment of fish, he would have to pay 1.5 million yuan in liquidated damages. Although he could afford it, it still hurt badly.

"Damn it. You forced me into this. You deserve to die." Zhang Gui smashed the wineglass in his hand.