Selling fish

The morning began in silence in the Lin household. After a simple breakfast of hot rice porridge and pickled vegetables, Lin Qing'an and Lin Changyu immediately prepared to leave. She carried a small basket with some snacks for the journey, while Lin Changyu made one last check on the fish cart.

" Father, are you ready ?" Lin Qing'an asked as she helped to load the fish basket onto the cart.

" Ready, but are you sure we need to take that detour ? The other way should be easier," Lin Changyu asked hesitantly.

Lin Qing'an shook her head slightly.

" Father knows that the Zhu family is keeping an eye on us. If they see us, they might find an excuse to bully us again. I think it's safer to take this roundabout way, even though it's farther."

Lin Changyu sighed, but accepted the reason.

" You're right. Let's not take any chances. Come on, let's go."

The two of them pushed the cart through a small path around the village. The path was full of rocks and roots, making the journey even more difficult.

" Father, be careful here. The cart wheels might get stuck," Lin Qing'an warned as he pointed to a small hole ahead.

" Okay, Dad will be careful," Lin Changyu replied, gripping the handle of the wheelchair tightly.

After traveling for nearly two hours in the blazing sun, it was already very late when the two of them arrived at Haitong County. Lin Changyu wiped the sweat dripping down his forehead as he looked around the market where the number of people had thinned out.

" We've wasted too much time. Qing'an, go find a place. I'll rest here for a while," Lin Changyu said tiredly.

" Father, please rest for a while. I will find a suitable place for you," Lin Qing'an quickly replied before walking along the market's aisle.

She found an empty space on the side of the walkway near where some people were still walking by.

" Father, we can set it up here," she waved before helping her father push the cart to a suitable location.

Lin Qing'an helped her father arrange the fish in the basket to make them look fresh and most tempting to buy. She called out in a cheerful voice.

" Fresh fish ! Just caught from the mountain stream. Definitely fresh !"

Lin Changyu added in a deep voice.

" Affordable price, big fish, not many left, hurry up and buy !"

A few villagers stopped to look.

" The fish is really fresh, but I'll have to let you butcher it for me first. I don't know how to do it," said a middle-aged man.

Lin Changyu nodded.

" I can dissect it, no problem."

But when it seemed that the number of customers started to thin out, Lin Qing'an started to worry.

" Father, there are still a lot of fish left. If we don't sell them all today, we will be in trouble."

Lin Changyu sighed.

" Father also thinks so, but we did our best. Don't worry about it."

Lin Qing'an looked at her father who was starting to look tired, and she decided to take out a little money from her pocket.

" Father, I'm going to buy some buns for you to eat. Please rest for a while. I'll be back soon."

" Don't waste your money. We have to save it for our family," Lin Changyu said, but his eyes looked so tired that Lin Qing'an couldn't help but follow.

" Don't worry, I know what to do."

Lin Qing'an smiled slightly before walking away. Not long after, she returned with two hot steamed buns.

" Father, hurry up and eat so you'll have strength."

Lin Changyu received the bun and thanked his daughter.

" You really care about your father. Thank you very much."

Lin Changyu picked up some fresh leaves and covered some of the fish to keep them cool from the still moist water in the basket.

" Qing'an, don't forget to call out loudly to the customers. The people in this market will hear it and come to support us father and son," Lin Changyu advised as he showed off a large fish.

" Yes, Father," Lin Qing'an replied with a smile, before starting to call out in a cheerful voice.

" Fresh fish from the mountain stream ! Big fish, firm meat, not expensive !"

After a short while, an old woman approached with interest.

" Miss, is your fish really fresh ? I need some fish to make soup tonight."

Lin Qing'an smiled and held up a fish for him to see.

" It's definitely fresh, Auntie. This fish was just caught yesterday. The meat is very firm. You can try holding it."

The old woman touched the fish before nodding.

" It's true as you said. What about the price ?"

" I sell this one for 15 yuan, but if you buy another one, I will lower the price to 28 yuan," Lin Qing'an bargained in a friendly tone.

" Good, good. I'll take two. Can you help me dissect them ?" the old woman asked .

" Of course !" Lin Changyu replied, before taking out a small knife and skillfully butchering the fish.

As they were butchering a fish for the old woman, a young man in old work clothes walked in. He stared at the fish with interest, but seemed hesitant.

" Brother, are you interested in fresh fish ?" Lin Qing'an asked with a smile.

" Is it really fresh ? I don't have much money," the young man replied.

" It's definitely fresh. Brother, try this one. It's a good weight and only costs 12 e-pae. If you grill or fry it, it will be very delicious," Lin Qing'an said.

" But I don't have any dissecting tools," the young man replied with a troubled expression.

" Don't worry, my father will prepare it until it's ready to cook. Brother just needs to cook it," she replied confidently.

Smiling young man

" Then I will take this one. Thank you very much."

Not long after, a middle-aged man in fine clothes walked in with a young woman who seemed to be his daughter. The two stopped to look at the fish with interest.

" Do you really sell fresh fish from the stream ?" the middle-aged man asked with a curious tone.

" Of course it is ! We caught it ourselves from the mountain stream. This fish is not raised in a pond, so its meat is firm and especially sweet." Lin Qing'an said as she picked up a large fish to show it off.

The middle-aged man's daughter pointed at a fish.

" Father, I think this looks good. If you fry it and eat it with rice porridge, it will be delicious."

The middle-aged man smiled slightly, "How much do you sell this for ?"

Lin Qing'an replied confidently.

" This one is 20 e-pae, but if you want more than one, I will reduce it to 35 e-pae for two."

The middle-aged man nodded.

" Okay, take two. You dissect them properly."

" Yes, uncle !" Lin Qing'an replied, and she began to skillfully dissect the fish.

Although only half of the fish were sold, the father and son were not discouraged. Lin Qing'an continued to call out to customers enthusiastically.

" Fresh fish from the mountain stream ! Firm meat, reasonable price !"

Lin Changyu looked at his daughter with pride.

" You have a business mind. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to do this."

Lin Qing'an smiled faintly.

" Father, we will make our family stable. I promise."

Despite the difficult days, the father and son's determination remains unwavering, with hope that a new day will come with better opportunities.

By the time the two of them left Haitong County, the sun had already set. Although they still had almost two baskets of fish left over from today's trade, it could be said that the father and son had not wasted their energy. Today, all the money they had earned from selling the fish had completely relieved their fatigue. They hurriedly pushed the cart back home to Dahai Township as quickly as possible, so that they could show off the money to Lin Ai and the twins who were waiting for them at home.