Lu Ao pondered. "If you're really interested, you could stay and work with me. You'd probably start at eight or nine thousand a month."
Seeing how serious he was, Ge Ranzhou also became serious. He waved a hand. "No need, I was just joking. I studied hard for more than ten years—I can't waste all that time and the country's investment in me."
"True."
Ge Ranzhou sighed. "I really didn't expect you to make this much. I thought fishermen were all poor."
"I didn't expect it either," Lu Ao said. "It's luck, too. If I get the chance later, I might do some work related to marine conservation. If you stayed, you might not necessarily have to fish."
"Not for now," Ge Ranzhou said. "I'm doing all right too. My advisor wants me to take the doctoral entrance exam, and I'm considering it. It'll be harder after I get into a PhD program, but I'm pretty interested in it."
His eyes shone as he spoke. Lu Ao looked at him. "You shouldn't have any problem with it."
"Definitely. Once I get in, I'll come here to visit again. Your place is a little remote, but the scenery really is beautiful."
Ge Ranzhou chattered all the way home.
Lu Ao and Song Zhou listened patiently. Even later on, both of them could tell that Ge Ranzhou was getting a little drunk.
Ge Ranzhou talked about his dreams, his pressures, and marriage.
At the end, he told Lu Ao enviously that Lu Ao was still the happiest one, having met his true love and not needing to go on blind dates.
The two of them returned home and, after much effort, got him into bed to rest.
Ge Ranzhou was still muttering to himself.
Lu Ao poured him a glass of water