Red Grouper

The owner even threw in a snorkel, diving mask, and dive socks.

Lu Ao had bought a lot of things. The owner asked, "It's getting late. Where are you heading? I'll drive you back."

"Lu Family Village, Chongxin Village."

"Hey, we're from the same village!" The owner slapped his thigh. "I'm from Lin Family Village! Lin Dawu from Lin Family Village."

Chongxin Village encompassed three smaller villages—Lu Family Village, Tanwu Village, and Lin Family Village.

Lu Ao had been taken to Xiding City by his parents to study when he was in third grade, so he was unfamiliar with the villagers. Lin Dawu's words surprised him somewhat.

Lin Dawu studied him carefully for a while before asking, "Are you from Lu Xuehai's family?"

Lu Xuehai was Lu Ao's father.

He nodded.

Lin Dawu laughed heartily. "That's what I thought. No wonder you looked so familiar. You resemble both your father and mother a little. Come on, come on, I'll take you home."

Red Grouper

Early the next morning, Lu Ao got up shortly after five. After washing his face and brushing his teeth, the cold air outside nearly made him shiver.

It was May. Xiding City, where he lived, was already hot enough to require air conditioning, but his hometown was in the mountains, where mornings and evenings were only in the teens or twenties Celsius, and people still needed thin cotton quilts.

After breakfast, Lu Ao went to town to find Lin Dawu.

Lin Dawu was in his fishing tackle shop, having breakfast with his wife.

When he saw Lu Ao, Lin Dawu warmly greeted him. "Have you eaten? Want some more?"

They were having fish-and-chili noodles. Golden, crispy fried fish chunks covered the noodles, while a large platter of stir-fried chilies sat beside them, their spicy aroma filling the air.

Less than an hour after eating, Lu Ao felt hungry again.

Lin Dawu's wife, Gui Yandan, caught his gaze and hurried over to pull him along. "Don't be polite. It's just some home cooking. I'll get you a bowl."

Lin Dawu also urged him, "We made too many noodles anyway. Help us finish some. They won't taste good once they clump up by noon."

Unable to resist their enthusiasm, Lu Ao sat down and ate three bowls.

Lin Dawu and his wife thought he had not eaten breakfast and did not think much of it.

After the three finished eating, Lin Dawu drove the delivery van he used for stocking goods and took Lu Ao to the county seat.

Shuiyuan Town was right beside Yandong County. It took them more than three hours to get from town to the county seat, and by the time they arrived, both their backsides were numb from sitting.

They headed straight to Lin Dawu's brother-in-law's place and picked up the speargun, diving suit, and long fins Lu Ao wanted.

By the time everything was settled, it was already past eleven in the morning.

Lin Dawu's brother-in-law, Pan Jianbao, invited him to stay for lunch.

Lu Ao said, "Thank you, maybe next time. I made an appointment last night to apply for a Fisheries Qualification Certificate, so I need to get that done first."

Pan Jianbao said enthusiastically, "I'll take you there. I know the procedures well. I'll have your sister-in-law cook at home, and we can eat when we get back."

Lin Dawu added, "Take him with you. He can lend a hand, and it'll be more convenient."

Unable to refuse, Lu Ao thanked them and agreed.

He had previously made an appointment through the government services system on WeChat and submitted the relevant documents. All he needed to do now was provide some photocopies, so it was not troublesome.

He went to the government services hall and finished everything in five minutes.

After nearly ten years of restoration efforts, China's marine environment had improved greatly.

The country now opened up part of its fishery resources, controlling the number of fishermen through limited issuance of Fisheries Qualifications, stricter supervision, and tax regulation.

Fishery taxes were now as high as forty-five percent. Ordinary fishermen often earned less from going out to sea than from working elsewhere, and most fishermen had already switched careers during the wave of occupational transitions ten years ago. By now, most had long adapted to other fields, so very few chose to become fishermen again.

After Lu Ao submitted all the materials and passed the review, he would receive his certificate within three months.

After Lu Ao finished applying for the certificate, Pan Jianbao drove him back for lunch. Once everyone had eaten, drunk tea, and rested, Lin Dawu prepared to take Lu Ao back to town.

Pan Jianbao came out to see them off and repeatedly told Lu Ao, "Lu Ao, if you want to buy a fishing boat, remember to contact me. I'll definitely give you the best price."

Lu Ao nodded. "All right. If I buy one, I'll contact you."

Pan Jianbao grinned from ear to ear and warmly saw him into the vehicle. Even after the van slowly drove away, he was still waving hard from behind them.

Once all the miscellaneous equipment was added in, a fishing boat would cost at least sixteen or seventeen thousand.

Selling fishing boats was far more profitable than selling other things.

It was already past five in the afternoon when Lin Dawu drove Lu Ao back to town.

Summer had only just begun, and nightfall was getting later and later. The sunset was still visible after five.

Lin Dawu first drove the van back to the front of his shop and unloaded the goods he had brought. As soon as he returned to the shop, he saw several dark-skinned, sturdy young men wandering around outside. Smiling, he said, "Manzhang, you guys are here?"

"Yeah, Brother Dawu. We came to get a few spearguns."

"Come on, come on. We just got a new shipment not long ago."

Lin Dawu warmly ushered them inside, then turned to Lu Ao and said, "Wait a bit. Once I sell them the spearguns, I'll take you back to the village."

Naturally, Lu Ao would not get in the way of his business, so he nodded.

Lin Manzhang and the others saw a stranger and craned their necks to look him over.

Lin Dawu took the initiative to introduce him. "This is Lu Ao from Uncle Xuehai's family. He just came back and bought a diving suit and speargun today too."

Lu Ao nodded at them.

Chongxin Village was a large village encompassing three smaller villages: Lu Family Village, Tanwu Village, and Lin Family Village.

The three smaller villages were basically spread along the coast. Lu Family Village was farthest inland, Tanwu Village was in the middle, and Lin Family Village was the outermost.

Lin Family Village was the largest of them, with more than six hundred households at its peak.

As soon as Lin Manzhang and the others heard he was from Lu Xuehai's family, they remembered him.

A shorter young man behind Lin Manzhang stuck his head out and studied Lu Ao for quite a while before suddenly asking, "Were we in the same class in elementary school?"

Lu Ao stared at him, confusion in his eyes.

Lin Gongshang shouted, "I'm Lin Gongshang!"

Only then did Lu Ao remember.

The Lin Gongshang from childhood was very different from the one now. Back then, he had been fair and chubby; now he was dark and thin, completely unrecognizable as the same person.