Looking rather pleased with himself, Ye Yaodong took another red shrimp from the bucket and put it on the hook. "No, this is all I have, one hook and one line. A few months ago, when I was fishing out at sea, my dad said he'd help me lift the hook, but he ended up breaking my rod. All I had left was the line and hook."
"If you're interested, I'll find you a few hooks when we get back tonight. Just tie some fishing line to them. Pick up a few stones to bring aboard too, and you can give it a try tomorrow."
"Sure. We can help supplement your household income while we're at it. Make life a little easier for you, so things aren't so tight?"
Ye Yaodong: "..."
He had only casually pleaded poverty and played for sympathy. He really had just been saying it offhand.
Just then, Father Ye finished setting the fishing pots and came over to look at the sea bass in the bucket.
"Not bad. That's worth thirty cents."
The corner of Ye Yaodong's mouth twitched, and his delight instantly vanished. Catching something was worth celebrating, but could his dad please not mention the price?
Only thirty cents...
Although that price was already far from low, it always sounded cheaper than cabbage to his ears.
"I'll cast once more. Then, Dad, take the boat over toward that shipwreck. The wreck has formed a submerged reef down there, so there are plenty of fish."
"All right. Get this one cast first. I'll let the boat move ahead slowly."
"Okay."
He pinched the line between his thumb and forefinger and swung the stone clockwise. After two or three rotations, he hurled it upward at an angle from below.
The fishing boat happened to be