Beachcombing: The beach is full of amazing seafood, but my wife won't let me get out of bed!

Wu Sui followed Lin Tao toward the east side of the dock.

The night breeze was cool on their skin as the two strolled side by side.

"You're quick on the uptake." Wu Sui took out a cigarette case and handed one to Lin Tao.

"How can we not be fast? You're scooping up gold one net after another over there, if I mess things up here, won't all the money go to someone else?"

Lin Tao took the cigarette and lit it with the lighter Wu Sui handed him.

The two pushed open the gate to the new courtyard.

The courtyard wall had clearly just been painted; it was a stark white and a bit dazzling at night.

The ground was also repaved and the roof tiles were replaced.

"The cold storage was just tested this afternoon, and the refrigeration effect is fine," Lin Tao said, pointing to the cold storage door. "It can hold about fifty tons of goods, which is enough."

Wu Sui walked over, opened the door of the cold storage, and a blast of cold air hit her.

"I also had someone clean up the area around the dock." Lin Tao led Wu Sui to the dock.

"The basics are all done, now all we need is manpower."

Wu Sui nodded: "Okay, you can just move it over there, I have no objection."

Lin Tao turned his head and looked at Wu Sui, somewhat speechless.

"Where's the manpower? Who are you planning to send?"

Wu Sui was stunned for a moment, not understanding what he meant.

The agreement was that Lin Tao would run the purchasing station and he would only need to get a share of the profits. Now they're making him find people?

Lin Tao noticed his confusion and his tone became serious.

"Ah Sui, we're doing business together. Even brothers need to keep clear accounts. You said that yourself."

"Now, this purchasing station is staffed entirely by my people."

"Lin Jing will manage the accounts, and I will be responsible for receiving and shipping goods."

"It's fine for a short time, but if things go wrong in the long run, I won't be able to explain myself even if I have a hundred mouths."

After hearing this, Wu Sui couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Brother Tao, you're being way too cautious. How could I not trust you?"

"Even if you trust me, I still need to avoid any appearance of impropriety!"

Lin Tao didn't smile at all; his face remained expressionless.

"That's not how business is done. The reason you set rules for them on the ship today is to ensure the accounts are clear, isn't it?"

Wu Sui stopped smiling and nodded.

Lin Tao's words make sense.

The worst thing you can do in a partnership is to have a muddled account.

"You mean, you want someone from my family to come?" Wu Sui asked.

"Yes." Lin Tao said decisively, "The main job of helping out at the store is managing the accounts, and the salary will be paid according to the market rate."

"With your people watching over things here, everyone is clear about every transaction, so no one will have any complaints about how much or how little they earn in the future."

Wu Sui thought about it and didn't refuse.

"Okay, I'll go back and discuss it with my family to see who's suitable."

The two walked around the yard again, checking off the items they needed to buy next.

Back at Lin Tao's old purchasing station, Lin Tao took out a handwritten agreement from the drawer.

Wu Sui took it and glanced at it.

It's written very clearly above.

The profits from the purchasing station are split 50/50 between the two individuals, with accounts settled daily and monthly. Any major expenditure exceeding 10,000 yuan requires confirmation by both parties' signatures.

"Is everything alright?" Lin Tao handed over a pen.

"No problem." Wu Sui quickly signed his name and pressed his fingerprint.

The agreement is made in duplicate, with one copy kept by each party.

After the matter was settled, Wu Sui stretched, said goodbye, and left.

Back at the dock, Wu Gang and his companions had already cleaned the boat thoroughly.

The deck was rinsed, the fishing nets were neatly stacked in the corner, and even the windows of the wheelhouse were wiped clean.

"Second brother, are you done talking?" Wu Gang was sitting on the mooring post smoking when he saw Wu Sui coming over, so he quickly stood up.

"We're done talking, let's go back."

The group sailed the boat toward the village.

Upon arriving in the village, Wu Sui and the others told them to get some rest before heading home.

The lights in the yard were on.

Mr. Wu puffed on his pipe, Li Cuihua mended an old garment, and Chen Xue sat beside her peeling peanuts.

Hearing the commotion, Chen Xue quickly came out to greet them.

"Ah Sui, why are you so late today?"

"I went a bit far today, so I got back a little late."

Wu Sui walked to the table, took the tea that Chen Xue poured, and drank a cup.

"Dad, Mom, aren't you asleep yet?"

"If you don't come back, who can sleep?"

Li Cuihua put down her clothes and called to Wang Feng, asking her to bring out the food for them.

Hearing the noise, Wang Feng started to get busy, bringing out the food.

"Eat quickly, it's been kept warm in the pot."

After a quick wash, the group began to eat.

The old man tapped his pipe, looking at the young men who were covered in sweat.

"How was today's trip?"

Wu Gang put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and grinned from ear to ear.

"Dad, guess how much money we made today?"

Mr. Wu frowned: "Don't talk nonsense, just tell me."

Today, Wu Jianguo's fishing boat was fully booked with all twelve fishing spots, and he earned 1200 yuan in one day.

Seeing his eldest son's smug look, he knew he was in for a treat.

Wang Feng was also curious about how much money he had made today, and slapped Wu Gang across the face in annoyance.

"Why are you making such a fuss about dying? Hurry up and tell me, how much money did you make today?"

"Six hundred and ninety thousand!"

"What?!" Mr. Wu almost dropped the pipe in his hand.

Wang Feng's eyes widened, and she grabbed Wu Gang's arm.

"Gangzi, are you running a fever? What nonsense are you spouting in the middle of the night!"

Chen Xue was also stunned and looked at Wu Sui.

"Ah Sui, is what Big Brother said true? Did you really make that much money?"

Chen Yang chimed in, pulling out a wad of cash from his pocket and slamming it on the table.

"Sister, it's true."

"This is the bonus and red envelope my brother-in-law gave us today, four thousand each!"

Wang Dazhu quickly took out his money and put it on the table.

Several stacks of bright red banknotes were laid out together, which made people happy just looking at them.

The old man stared at the money on the table, his breathing becoming rapid.

He leads people out to sea to fish from morning till night, exposed to the wind and sun, but he doesn't earn as much as the boatmen on the second brother's boat.

Is there no justice left?!

"Second brother, is this...is this real?"

Li Cuihua looked at Wu Sui, her voice trembling.

"Mother, we were lucky. We ran into a school of silver pomfret and even caught a net full of black oxen..."

Before he could elaborate, Chen Yang took over the conversation, gesturing wildly as he recounted how they encountered a small sperm whale leading the way at sea, and then retrieved a black cow from the trench.

After hearing Chen Yang's words, the people in the room were stunned for a long time.

"May Mazu bless you, may Mazu bless you!" Li Cuihua clasped her hands together and bowed several times towards the door.

The old man breathed a sigh of relief, refilled the pot with tobacco, lit it, and took a puff.

"Ah Sui, are you really planning to start a livestock farm? That's a huge investment. You've only just recouped the final payment on your storefront, this..."

"Dad, don't worry, I know what I'm doing and won't expand too much all at once."

Wu Sui turned to look at Chen Xue: "Xiao Xue."

Chen Xue snapped out of her daze: "Huh? What's wrong?"

Wu Sui pulled over a stool and gestured for her to sit down.

"On the way back just now, Brother Tao and I finalized the deal on the purchasing station."

Wu Sui looked at Chen Xue, her tone very serious.

"The yard is all ready, and we'll be opening in a couple of days."

"Brother Tao needs someone to manage the accounts, and I'd like you to go there."