Chapter 16: Going to the City to Sell Fish

Having secured the village chief’s promise, Lin Yu felt a surge of happiness. With this, the issue of timber was effectively resolved. Old Village Chief Luo Quande was a respected and venerable figure, having served as village chief for many years; obtaining some wood was certainly within his capabilities. Moreover, since he needed the wood himself, he would handle it conscientiously.

Now, the most pressing matter was to sell all the fish and crabs. Once the crabs were sold and money in hand, they could begin purchasing timber to repair the house.

“Xiao Yu, has Grandpa Luo left?” Lin Yu’s mother, Wang Yufen, asked as he returned indoors. “What did you two talk about?”

“I asked Grandpa Luo to help buy timber. Once we sell all these fish, we’ll have the money to fix the house. Then, when the strong winds blow, we won’t be stuck in a pitch-black, drafty room anymore,” Lin Yu explained.

At the mention of repairing the house, Lin Yao jumped up excitedly. “Wonderful! We’re going to fix the house! Then Yao Yao can sleep indoors without worrying about the wind.”

Seeing the child so delighted, Wang Yufen’s heart warmed. “That’s great. The house definitely needs repairs. It’s been tolerable in these windy days, but when winter comes and the northeast wind blows, this place won’t stand it. Just a few days ago, I was thinking about this, but I had no means to earn money. I never imagined my son would solve this problem for us one day.”

At that moment, Wang Yufen felt genuine joy. Everything that had happened over the past few days proved that her son was truly capable—just as he had said, he had become the pillar of the family. Having such a capable son filled her heart with pride.

“But Grandpa Luo just said that we can’t sell the fish and crabs at the dock, fearing others might envy us. Where do you plan to take them?” she asked.

Lin Yu smiled. “That’s not a problem. I plan to take them to the city to sell! With these strong winds and white-capped waves, no fishing boats have gone out. The city must be short of fresh catch, so I’m sure I can get a good price there.”

Wang Yufen nodded. “But there’s so many fish and crabs, Bear Cliff City can’t possibly consume them all. Selling them all in one day might be difficult.”

Lin Yu chuckled. “Who said I’m selling them in Bear Cliff City? There aren’t many restaurants there, and the locals’ spending power is limited. There’s no way to sell such a large catch. I plan to go to Yingkou instead. Although it’s a bit farther, I can sell all the fish there, so the trip is worth it.”

“What? You’re going to Yingkou?” Wang Yufen was startled.

The journey to Yingkou was long. Even by donkey cart, it took six to twelve hours one way. Selling all the fish there would take time. More importantly, the roads were unsafe—many stretches passed through remote wilderness. What if something happened?

Worried, Wang Yufen immediately opposed the idea. “That’s too far. I don’t agree to you going alone; it’s not safe! Besides, we don’t even have a donkey cart at home. You can’t go.”

Indeed, in their entire fishing village, only the village chief’s family owned a donkey, a reward from the old production brigade days. In this era, donkeys, mules, horses, and oxen were vital work animals; any family lucky enough to have one was envied by all.

“Mom, although the road is long, it’s worth it. As for safety, don’t worry—I’ll travel during the day and avoid night travel. I’ll set off early tomorrow morning and arrive by afternoon, even at a slow pace. If I sell the catch too late, I’ll just spend the night in the city.”

“Besides, with so many fish, we have to sell them quickly. It concerns our future. You don’t want us to live in this broken house all winter, do you? Otherwise, the three of us will freeze to death.”

Wang Yufen fell silent.

Her son was right: when winter came, this house would never withstand the northeast wind. If they didn’t want to freeze, they had to fix the house quickly. This was an opportunity she couldn’t guarantee would come again—if it did, they’d still face the problem of selling the catch.

“Mom, don’t worry. I’m grown up now and I’ll be careful.”

Resigned, Wang Yufen finally nodded in agreement, reminding her son to stay safe. Knowing he would leave early the next day, she steamed a pot of buns that night, packed some into a cloth bag for him to take on the road.

That same evening, Lin Yu went to the village chief’s home to borrow the donkey cart. Because it concerned the repair of their home, the village chief lent the cart without hesitation.

The next morning, Lin Yu rose early. He fed the donkey, hitched the cart, loaded the freshly caught fish and crabs, and covered them with straw to avoid attracting attention and to keep flies away.

“Xiao Yu, you must be careful. Even if you can’t sell everything, just come back safe,” Wang Yufen said tearfully, pressing the prepared buns into his hand.

A mother’s worry runs deep. Though Lin Yu was grown, this was his first time traveling so far away alone, and her heart fluttered with unease.

“Don’t worry, Mom. Wait for me,” Lin Yu said as he climbed onto the donkey cart, flicked the whip, and slowly left the yard.

“Brother, come back soon! Yao Yao’s waiting at home!” Lin Yao chased after him, standing at the gate, nearly in tears, her small hands twisting nervously.

“All right, when I come back, I’ll bring you something tasty. Yao Yao, listen to Mom at home...”

The donkey cart creaked steadily over the uneven dirt road, the old wheels groaning like an elder softly singing the song of passing time.

On either side stretched endless wilderness. Tall wild grasses swayed gently in the morning breeze like a soft dance. Dewdrops clung to the blades, scattering tiny shards of light. In the distance, a few tall poplars stood proudly, their branches adorned with fresh green leaves rustling softly, as if whispering amongst themselves. Occasionally, wild rabbits darted out from the grass, bounding gracefully into the distance, stirring a few blades before disappearing into the vibrant life.

Few people passed by; it was just Lin Yu and the donkey moving silently.

When he did pass a small village, it was deserted and quiet. A few weathered houses stood scattered along the road, their chimneys cold and silent as if forgotten by time. Pedestrians were rare and hurried, exchanging no words, quickly passing by to leave behind a deeper stillness.

Such an environment was indeed unsettling for a lone traveler.

Fortunately, the journey passed without incident. By three in the afternoon, Lin Yu arrived safely in Yingkou.

Yingkou was clearly much larger and livelier than Bear Cliff City. The streets were narrow but clean, lined with orderly buildings.

The aged brick houses bore the marks of time; their walls mottled, roofs tiled with a faint blue-gray sheen under the sun. Shops stood side by side, wooden signs swaying gently in the breeze, creaking softly. Outside the grocery stores, a dazzling array of daily goods was displayed—from simple enamel mugs and flashlights to colorful fabrics, dazzling Lin Yu’s eyes.

Here and there, cyclists hurried past, their bells ringing crisply. Children played and laughed in the alleys, chasing a worn shuttlecock or a homemade iron ring. Elderly folks sat on small stools at doorways, basking in the sun, fanning themselves, playing chess, or chatting about family matters and national affairs.

Lin Yu guided the donkey cart farther along and found a crowded spot where several stalls lined the street. There were vegetable vendors, offering fresh greens fragrant with earth—lush spinach, bright red tomatoes, and rounded potatoes piled into small hills; butchers with fresh pork still tinged with blood, knives flashing as they cut meat; and stalls selling cold noodles and spicy dishes.

After looking around, Lin Yu noticed there was no fish vendor.

With the strong winds keeping fishing boats in port, fresh fish was scarce—a perfect opportunity to sell fish and crabs.

He found an empty spot, parked the cart, uncovered the straw, stood on the cart, and shouted loudly: “Travelers from north and south, stop and take a look! Fresh yellow croakers, big blue crabs, and spotted crabs for sale cheap! First come, first served!”

“Don’t miss out! Unbeatable value! You won’t regret it! Fresh catch here...”

Lin Yu’s calls quickly drew attention. After all, with the strong winds, the market had no fish, and prices had risen by several cents.

People’s eyes lit up when they saw the large yellow croakers in the fish cages on the donkey cart. Soon, one man asked, “Boy, these fish look good. Were they just caught? How much?”

“Brother, they’re fresh—caught just today. Don’t believe me? Take a look yourself,” Lin Yu said, handing over a fish. Fish kept overnight and those freshly caught looked no different.

Seeing the man couldn’t tell, Lin Yu added, “Buy one for three cents per jin. Whether steamed or stewed, it tastes great.”

“Three cents?” the man said.

“Well, that’s a bit pricey; usually it’s two cents.”

“Hey, it’s windy these days and no boats have gone out. Look around—where else would you find fresh fish? This catch was brought in at risk to life. Isn’t it fair to pay a bit more? Besides, you look like a man who knows quality—surely a penny won’t matter to you?”

“Ha! This boy’s got sharp eyes. With your judgment, I’ll take this fish.” The man grinned proudly, showing off to those nearby.

Lin Yu quickly used the old scale borrowed from the village chief, hooked the fish, and weighed it. “It’s six jin and two liang, costing eighty-six cents. I’ll round it to one yuan and eighty cents.”

He then grabbed a cornhusk, twisted it into a strip, poked it through the fish’s mouth and gills, tied a neat knot, and handed the fish over.

The man counted out the money in dimes and cents, satisfied, and left with his fish.

“That fish does look nice—big and plump, just a bit pricey,” a woman said as she approached.

She appeared to be a housewife, experienced in kitchen matters, knowledgeable about fish, meat, and eggs. Women like her were masters of household budgeting and rarely bought anything too expensive.

“Sister, it depends on whether you want to eat it soon. It’s been windy for two days and might last six or seven. If you’re eager, I suggest buying now, as prices may rise. But if you can wait, then hold off—the price will drop after the winds pass.”

The woman hesitated, then bit her lip and asked Lin Yu to weigh a fish.

She had no choice—her husband was hosting a dinner tonight, and how could there be a meal without fish?

By nightfall, Lin Yu had sold all the fish and crabs except for one large Spanish mackerel. With the wind keeping other supplies away, the market was hungry for fish, so even slightly higher prices couldn’t dampen demand.

Seeing only the big mackerel left, Lin Yu smiled, tidied up, asked a passerby for directions to the state-run restaurant, and drove the donkey cart straight there.