"Are you sure you're alright, kid?"
Tu Tianzong glanced at Chen Yang, his eyes scrutinizing.
The old man had lived for over seventy years, from the Qing Dynasty to the present day. He was experienced and wise, and unlike others, he didn't immediately shake his head in fear upon hearing about doing business.
"What could go wrong? The government policy is to vigorously support aquatic products. Fish in the rivers and ponds are naturally grown, they don't require much feed. Compared to pork, lamb, chicken, and duck, they can certainly save a little for the common people to eat."
"I have a distant cousin who works for the government and needs to complete a quota, so I'm just helping out with the legwork. A few cents per jin, it's nothing to the government."
"I also thought about how our village just suffered a disaster, which is why I took on this good deed. Otherwise, there are plenty of villages in Liuhe County that can catch fish, and I wouldn't be afraid of not being able to get fish at two cents a jin."
Chen Yang smiled faintly, as if discussing something trivial. He met Tu Tianzong's sharp, hawk-like gaze head-on.
Seeing that Chen Yang showed no sign of deception, Tu Tianzong frowned.
"The logic makes sense, but after all these years, I've become scared."
"Wait here, I'll go discuss it with Fugu. If he agrees, we'll first call everyone together for a meeting to discuss this matter."
After careful consideration, Tu Tianzong ultimately chose to trust Chen Yang. Besides this method, he truly didn't know how the entire village of Shenjiaba could survive this great disaster this year.
"Uncle Tu, if you're going to find someone, find someone reliable. Too many people talking can cause trouble."
Chen Yang smiled faintly and took out the more than twenty yuan he had prepared for Zheng Weiguo and Liu Maosheng from his pocket.
"Weiguo and Maosheng caught fish yesterday. I'll give them the money. If you and the old village secretary agree, bring the people together. Uncle Gen's house isn't far from the old village secretary's."
Zheng Weiguo and Liu Maosheng stayed at Shen Yougen's house when they came to the countryside. Shen Yougen was the village hunter. He had gone into the mountains years ago, likely encountered wolves, and never returned.
He had no old or young family members. After he passed away, his house became empty. Therefore, Zheng Weiguo and Liu Maosheng were arranged to stay in his house when they came to the countryside. Chen Yang was also there back then, but he moved out after marrying Shen Xue.
"You kid, you're quite meticulous in your actions. If there are no problems later, and everyone sees that they're making money, they probably won't have any ill intentions."
"It's just that the two old guys will be accused of favoritism."
Tu Tianzong, being old and wise, naturally understood why Chen Yang did this. It was to avoid drawing too much attention and being reported before he gained momentum. Once his business grew, he wouldn't have this concern.
Everyone would likely want to join in making money, and then there wouldn't be such an issue. Who wouldn't want to make money? They'd be better off silently making a fortune. Who would be foolish enough to report him?
Tu Tianzong went to discuss with Shen Fuguo, while Chen Yang took his fishing net to find Liu Maosheng and Zheng Weiguo.
"The total for selling fish was twenty-six yuan and four jiao. I didn't discuss it with you beforehand, but I bought two fishing nets for five yuan, leaving twenty-one yuan and four jiao."
When Chen Yang placed the two brand-new fishing nets and the more than twenty yuan in front of Liu Maosheng and Zheng Weiguo, their eyes nearly stopped moving.
More than twenty yuan in one night! They would split it, with each of them getting over ten yuan!
Normally, the work points they earned in an entire year wouldn't add up to the stack of money in Chen Yang's hand.
In other words, they had earned a year's worth of money in one night. How could they not be stunned?
"You guys aren't going to blame me for acting without permission and buying fishing nets, are you? These nets are a bit expensive, but we'll earn the money back quickly by catching more fish."
Chen Yang spoke as he looked at the stunned pair. While he didn't care about the money spent on the fishing nets, he wouldn't pay for Zheng Weiguo and Liu Maosheng.
Even close brothers need to settle their accounts clearly. Moreover, he and Zheng Weiguo weren't even blood brothers. Since they were doing business, they had to follow business rules. Buying fishing nets for them was to help them catch more fish, which would then supply Chen Yang. But he couldn't pay for it.
"Brother Yang, saying that is an insult to us."
"If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have made any money. Even if we bought fishing nets and made ten yuan in one night, it's something we wouldn't even dare to dream of."
"Besides, we're not stupid. Brother Yang buying us fishing nets is to help us catch more fish and earn more money."
"I have nothing more to say. Brother Yang, you are now our elder brother. If you tell us to go east, we will never go west. If you tell us to chase a dog, we will never catch a chicken."
Liu Maosheng and Zheng Weiguo's eyes instantly turned red. It was as if they truly saw the glorious scene Chen Yang had described back then – riding a "28" bicycle, carrying two packs of Daqianmen cigarettes home.
"Good boy, I was worried you were trying to trick Uncle Tu just now. I didn't expect you to actually become successful and have a way to make money for everyone."
"You guys have all seen it. Maosheng and Weiguo are holding real 'Da Tuanjie' (a 10-yuan banknote) in their hands. Are you at ease now?"
Just as Chen Yang was giving the money from selling fish to Shen Weiguo and Liu Maosheng, Shen Fuguo and Tu Tianzong arrived in the courtyard with more than ten strong men. They happened to witness this scene.
"Chen Yang, are you really buying? Two cents per jin for fish over one jin, and one cent per jin for fish under one jin?"
A man still couldn't quite believe his eyes. That was a "Da Tuanjie"! The work points they earned in a whole year wouldn't even get them a few "Da Tuanjie."
"Would my Brother Yang lie to you? Look, this 'Da Tuanjie' is right here in my and Brother Maosheng's hands!"
The man accompanying Shen Fuguo was somewhat disbelieving, but before Chen Yang could speak, Zheng Weiguo couldn't help himself. Chen Yang had brought them wealth, and he wouldn't agree with anyone who didn't believe in Chen Yang.
"Esteemed elders and uncles, two cents for fish over one jin, and one cent for fish under one jin. I'll buy as much as you have."
"Of course, I'll say this upfront. The money will be recorded for now. After I deliver the goods and get paid, I'll settle with you all. Also, the fish must be fresh. If they're not fresh, I won't take a single one."
Chen Yang's eyes swept over the ten or so men in the courtyard. Almost all of them had learned a few tricks from Tu Tianzong and were excellent swimmers, certainly more skilled at catching fish than Zheng Weiguo and Liu Maosheng.
"We don't need you to say it. When we catch fish, we'll naturally pick the freshest ones."
Upon hearing Chen Yang's reply and seeing the "Da Tuanjie" in Zheng Weiguo and Liu Maosheng's hands, everyone's eyes were shining. They couldn't wait to rush to the river to catch fish.
From now on, the river would no longer hold fish, but real money!
"Good. Tomorrow morning, bring your fish to my house. I'll weigh them and record them. In the afternoon, I'll deliver them to the government in the city, and then I'll settle the accounts with you all."
Chen Yang smiled faintly. With over ten fishing experts, plus Zheng Weiguo and Liu Maosheng who now had fishing nets, he could already imagine the enormous harvest tomorrow.
The days of earning a fortune would not be far away!