Chapter 31

"After lunch, we'll go back and find Huang Lang. Our boat is too small to carry all these fish," Bo Xiaoer said, sitting at the bow of the boat, munching on the grilled fish made by Hong Tao while looking at the two large fish lying in the cabin. He laughed with each bite, enjoying a day of fishing that he had never experienced before, not even in his wildest dreams. The joy welled up from deep within him, impossible to hide.

"This is why I asked Uncle Huang to bring more families to work with us. We can't take all these fish back ourselves, and even if we brought over a row of boats, these fish can't be stored for long. In the future, we'll need a dedicated boat for transportation. Catch a couple of fish and send them back to Zhenzhou immediately; the fresher they are, the better they'll sell." Hong Tao felt more confident now. It didn't matter whether the crab traps were useful or not; he was determined to be the chairman. With these results, even if Bo Fu said anything, it wouldn't matter. Future work arrangements would naturally be decided by him.

"We should call over the second brother's family too, but they're a bit far, helping the natives transport rice in Qiongzhou. Second Brother, when you have time, send someone to pass the message. Don't let them suffer at the hands of the natives; come back and work with us." Bo Xiaosan agreed with Hong Tao. The Dan people originally lived in different seas in family units, mainly because their productivity was insufficient. Even if they all gathered together, they couldn't catch more fish, so they lived separately. Now, with increased productivity, more people meant more benefits. Even if he didn't understand the concept of productivity, he knew that strength lay in numbers.

"I've already asked Uncle Huang to go to Zhenzhou and pass the message. His family has many people who can go to sea. If they don't come back to fish, they'll just ferry people and eat the natives' official rations, disgracing the Dan people!" Bo Xiaoer clearly had a grudge against his father-in-law, and it seemed the two families had never seen eye to eye.

"Grandpa! Sharks! Several of them!" Bo Jiao, who ate quickly and didn't want to chat with the adults, was squatting at the bow, watching the floats. He was very interested in this fishing method, and the four floats kept him entertained. Whenever there was movement, he would loudly alert the others. Now he shouted again, his voice trembling.

"Tao, it looks like we won't be catching any more fish today. They'll eat anything we throw in. Let's quickly pull in the hooks!" Bo Xiaoer and Bo Xiaosan got up to look, threw away their yams, and started to pull the sail.

"They've bitten our hooks!" It was too late to avoid it. One of the floats suddenly went down, and the nearby water churned like a pot boiling. Several sharks showed their dorsal fins, as if tearing at something.

"Tao, I'll go and pull in the other rolling hook, but we'll have to abandon this one! They come in groups and can capsize a small boat. Don't go near them!" Bo Xiaoer had already raised the sail to increase the boat's speed. Bo Xiaosan rowed frantically to help and reminded Hong Tao not to provoke the sharks. It seemed they were still very afraid of sharks and were willing to abandon the rolling hook.

"Don't be ridiculous. I worked hard to get these hooks. How can I let them have them for free! Jiao, can these things be sold for money?" Hong Tao wasn't afraid of sharks. In his previous lives, he had killed countless sharks. As a fisherman, sharks and sea wolves were his enemies, and the sight of them made him even more determined.

"Um... but Grandpa..." Bo Jiao instinctively nodded at Hong Tao's question but immediately showed fear, pointing to Bo Xiaoer in the distance, trying to make Hong Tao change his mind.

"Grandpa my foot, you're Bo Jiao. What is Jiao? Isn't it a shark? Is there such a cowardly shark? Shut up and come over! Watch how your rat uncle battles the sharks!" Hong Tao didn't have time to argue with Bo Jiao. He took off his shirt, revealing a rat head tattoo on his back. Seeing the rolling hook about to be dragged away, he knew the hemp ropes couldn't withstand the sharks' teeth. Losing a hook would be like losing several days' worth of rice money. After so many reincarnations, Hong Tao sometimes didn't know who he was. Sometimes he really felt like he was Ratman. Once a person realized they couldn't die, or that they would come back to life after dying, death became meaningless.

"Get closer! Don't be afraid, when have I ever lied to you? When I say turn the rudder, turn it. Make sure you know left from right, and be ready!" As the boat slowly approached the rolling hook, Hong Tao picked up a fish spear and stood at the bow, staring intently at the churning black shadows in the water. The sea water was already murky, and it seemed the sharks weren't fighting but were competing for food. One of the fish must have bitten the hook but lacked the strength to pull the float. The blood attracted the sharks. Not just that fish, but five fish had bled in this area this morning, along with the sea wolf that had been cut in half and thrown overboard. The smell was intense.

"Tao! Don't..." Bo Xiaoer finally noticed that Hong Tao's boat wasn't following. Turning around and seeing Hong Tao's stance, he understood what Hong Tao was about to do. But before he could finish his sentence, Hong Tao threw the fish spear with a standard javelin throw, plunging it into a shark that had just exposed its dorsal fin. The sharp, four-sided point pierced deep into its side, and a dark, blackish blood gushed out. The shark, in pain, flipped over and dove into the deep sea, but the barb on the fish spear was firmly embedded in its flesh, pulling the rope from the boat down with it.

"Jiao, remember, on a boat, never step on the rope, no matter what boat it is. And never put your foot between the ropes. See, are sharks scary? Even if they're in pain, they still try to escape. As long as I want something, it won't get away!" Hong Tao was satisfied with the power of his spear. He taught Bo Jiao the precautions for using a fish spear while keeping an eye on the speed of the rope. When the rope slowed, he grabbed it and started to pull.

Sharks are fierce and fast, but they lack endurance and can't swim on their backs. Once they are flipped over, they lose control, becoming almost paralyzed. Hong Tao wasn't sure why, but it seemed to be a problem with their body structure. If it were a tuna of the same length, Hong Tao wouldn't dare to spear it; a crazed tuna could drag a small boat for over ten nautical miles without stopping. Even with modern high-tech fishing gear, it's not guaranteed to catch a large tuna. But sharks don't have that ability. Soon, Hong Tao dragged the shark back to the surface like a dead dog. It thrashed once, and another spear plunged straight into its head. This time, it didn't try to escape, and Hong Tao speared it to death, leaving it lying stiff on the water's surface.