Chapter 232: Zhou Father's New Idea
Chapter 232: Zhou Father's New Idea
After lunch, the family got busy.
Since Zhou Chenglei was setting out on the large ship to the open sea the next day, he borrowed the team's tractor and headed to the city to deliver a batch of dried fish to the publishing house and the railway station. He then returned to town to purchase rice, oil, noodles, and other provisions for the ship's voyage.
Zhou Father pushed a cart and bought eggs, winter melons, pumpkins, taro, and other vegetables from the villagers. Although they also grew some at home, it wasn't enough.
Jiang Xia and Zhou Mu went to the fields to pick corn, cucumbers, and beans.
This time, Zhou Chenglei planned to be at sea for half a month. When he returned, it would coincide with Jiang Xia's trip to the Suai Trade Fair.
In the evening, the corner of the living room was filled with bags and baskets of food.
Zhou Father asked Zhou Chenglei, "Which sea area are you planning to go to this time?"
Zhou Chenglei replied, "The Thousand Mile Mountain area."
In October, codling would form an autumn fishing season in that area and then migrate south for the winter.
Moreover, the coast near Thousand Mile Mountain produces sea cucumbers and abalone. It would be a good opportunity to dive for more sea cucumbers to nourish Jiang Xia's body.
In fact, each sea area has different fish species that form fishing seasons in certain months, especially during summer and autumn. Many fish species form fishing seasons in autumn.
For example, in October, there's a sea area where herring is also in season.
Having patrolled the seas for many years, Zhou Chenglei was well-informed about the fish species and their seasons in various sea areas.
Zhou Chenglei planned to catch codling in the first half of the month and head south to catch herring in the second half.
Herring are small fish, and catching a boatful would be perfect for Jiang Xia to make multi-flavored small fish for the New Year sales.
Upon hearing that Zhou Chenglei was planning to go to the Thousand Mile Mountain area, Zhou Father's heart stirred.
He wanted to go too! The islands near Thousand Mile Mountain boasted beautiful scenery, and during summer and autumn, seabirds gathered in such numbers that they blocked out the sun when they flew.
He had been there in his youth and was fortunate to witness the spectacular sight. He was quite familiar with that area.
Hearing this, Zhou Mu asked Zhou Father, "Have you been there before?"
Zhou Father nodded. "Yes, I've been there several times. I'm very familiar with that area."
Zhou Mu then suggested to Zhou Chenglei, "Why don't you let your father go with the large ship, and you stay home?"
If her son stayed home for a few days and then went out to sea for ten days or half a month, when would she get to hold her grandchild?
Zhou Father's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea! I also know where there are more sea cucumbers, so I can catch some while I'm there."
Seeing his father's eagerness to go, Zhou Chenglei said, "Dad can come too. We can have someone from the village and Big Brother go out to sea with the small boat."
Zhou Mu said, "If your father goes, you can just stay home. The house is still under construction, and we can't manage without a man in the house."
Understanding Zhou Mu's concern, Zhou Father said, "Yes, you stay home! I'll go by myself."
Zhou Chenglei thought of his comrade Zhang Jiayang, who was very familiar with that sea area. Moreover, they were like brothers who had been through life and death together, and they would take good care of his father. He nodded and said, "That's fine, but it'll be quite tough to stay out at sea for so many days. Can you handle it?"
Zhou Father didn't seem too concerned. "What's tough about it? I'm used to it! And with the large ship's net retrieval, we won't need manual labor. We'll just sort the fish. It's not that hard. When we trawl at home, we have to pull the net up ourselves. Besides, if I don't go now, I might not be able to travel when I'm old and immobile!"
Hearing this, Zhou Chenglei didn't say anything more.
Indeed, it was best to travel while one was still young and able.
Thus, it was decided that Zhou Father would accompany the large ship on its voyage.
The next day, Jiang Yang and the others brought a lot of things with them.
Jiang Xia kept a small portion for home consumption and let Zhou Chenglei move most of it onto the large ship.
Zhou Father asked Jiang Xia before leaving, "Xia, where's your photo album?"
Jiang Xia had a photo album dedicated to the pictures taken during these days.
Jiang Xia brought out the album and smiled, asking, "Dad, are you planning to take the album out to sea and look at it when you miss home?"
Zhou Father replied, "No, I just need one photo."
Being away from home for only ten days or half a month, he didn't think he would feel homesick.
Zhou Father flipped through the album, searching for a photo that would bring good fortune at a glance.
Hearing that he only needed one photo, Jiang Xia pointed to a Mid-Autumn Festival family portrait that included the elder and second son's families, saying, "How about this one!"
"No!" Zhou Father rejected without hesitation.
He didn't want to bring the unlucky elder daughter-in-law and the wasteful elder son on board.
The expenses for a large ship's voyage were significant, with daily fuel and labor costs being no small amount. If he brought their photos on board and ended up in a loss, what then? He only wanted to bring the photos of Wang Cai and his younger son to attract fortune!
At this moment, Zhou Chenglei called out to Jiang Xia from outside.
Zhou Father said, "Go ahead and take care of your business! Don't worry about me, I'll put the album back in the cabinet after I choose the photo."
"Okay," Jiang Xia replied and left.
In the end, Zhou Father selected a photo of Zhou Chenglei washing Jiang Xia's feet in the courtyard.
This photo clearly depicted their affectionate bond, and it would surely attract fortune.
Then, Zhou Father picked another photo, a smaller family portrait of just the two elders, Zhou Chenglei and his wife, and Zhou Zhou's family.
In this photo, everyone was smiling happily.
Zhou Father wanted to bring Zhou Zhou's photo with him, so his son at sea could see his brother.
After choosing the photos, he put the album back in the cabinet and left.
All the necessary items were gathered at the pier and loaded onto the ship.
The whole family saw them off at the pier.
The large ship gradually departed from the dock, heading out to the open sea.
Only then did Zhou Father take out the two photos. He placed the photo of Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei on the fish finder in the bridge.
The family portrait was stuck on the glass of the cockpit, facing the sea.
When Jiang Yang saw the photos, he was stunned!
He couldn't believe the boss was washing his wife's feet!
Jiang Yang immediately shouted, "Brothers, come and see! The boss is washing his wife's feet!"
Hearing this, a group of people rushed in.
"What do you mean the boss is washing his wife's feet?"
Jiang Yang pointed to the photo, "Look!"
The others were shocked as well, seeing that it was indeed the boss washing his wife's feet!
They couldn't have imagined it!
Feng Jianjun curiously asked, "Uncle, why did you put this photo here?"
He couldn't fathom why Zhou Father had placed the photo in that particular spot.
Could there be a hidden meaning?
Zhou Father explained, "Haven't you heard that a loving couple brings abundant wealth? I placed it here to attract fortune!"
The others were speechless.
Yang Bin exclaimed, "I never thought the boss would wash his wife's feet!" and was even more surprised by the boss's gentleness.
Zhou Father said, "What's the big deal? A loving couple will have a happy life. Your boss does so much for his wife, and only those who love their wives will prosper! You should learn from him."
Upon hearing this, the others were curious about how such a cold-hearted man like their boss could be so loving to his wife. They asked, "Uncle, how does the boss usually show his love for his wife? I want to learn too!"
"Yes, I want to learn as well!"
So, Zhou Father began to teach them the secret to attracting fortune, "Your boss not only washes his wife's feet but also washes her hair, does the laundry..."
Zhou Chenglei had no idea that his father had revealed all his secrets. After the large ship set sail, he, Jiang Xia, and Zhou Chengxin also boarded a small boat and headed out to sea.
(End of Chapter)
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