Chapter 226
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It only takes two hours to get to Yueyang from Changsha by train .
It’s drizzling today . There is mist over the lake . Though it’s the 21st century, old-style fishing boats are floating on the lake .
Lin Luoran and Rong Donglin stand on the bank of Dongting Lake . Gentle wind is blowing . Their clothes are wet even though they are holding an umbrella .
The lake waves . Dongting Lake has become much smaller than before and the water is not as clear as it used to be . Granted that there are dragons living in the lake, Lin doesn’t know how they could survive the pollution .
Lin Luoran hasn’t seen any dragon . The fishing boats have anchored and the fishermen are sorting out the fish they have caught today . The closed fishing season is coming . The fishermen have to work for a long time recently . They catch the fish and bring them to the bank . Their wives and old peoples are responsible for sorting the fish out .
It’s not the best season for crab . Nevertheless, lots of crayfish live in Dongting Lake . Crayfish reproduce in March and April . A large proportion of the fish dumped in batches is crayfish .
Crayfish are poisonous after they’re dead . These dead crayfish are piled up on the bank of Dongting Lake and the smell is so disgusting .
Lin Luoran likes to eat spicy crayfish . However, she can’t accept that way of fishing .
Rong Donglin seems to notice what is bothering Lin . He scratches his head and says, “One of my roommates told me that crayfish is the cheapest in Yueyang . One pound of crayfish only costs three or four yuan . The fishermen have to increase the quantity . ”
Lin smiles and lets the topic pass . She walks to the fishermen .
“Hello, are these fish and crayfish for sale?”
The woman doesn’t even look up . She waves her hand and answers,
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“This is not for retail . ”
Lin Luoran doesn’t insist to buy . She asks dozens of fishermen one by one . Finally, an old man who is smoking gives her a different response .
His skin is tanned and he smells like fish . He is smoking his hand-rolled cigarettes by a shabby boat .
“Hello, how is your day?”
The old man knows that Lin Luoran is trying to buy some fish . He was actually waiting for them to ask . However, the woman only asked about his day . The old man looks up at the young man and woman .
They both look like they are in their early twenties . The young man looks ordinary, and the woman is outstanding .
“Little girl, are you really here to buy some fish?” The old fisherman takes a puff and asks indifferently .
Rong’s heartbeats accelerate . He can’t understand why Lin is acting like this . They took plane to Changsha and came to Yueyang by train . They didn’t rest even for a minute . However, after they finally arrived at Dongting Lake, Lin started to buy fish .
Hearing the fisherman’s question, Rong suddenly understands . Miss Lin is so smart . She never does meaningless things . Rong is just going to wait and see .
Lin Luoran blinks . She looks like an innocent schoolgirl . She says,
“Yes, we’re here to buy fish . Can you sell it to us?”
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The fisherman takes a glance at the little fish and shrimps left in his boat . He puts out his cigarette and says, “I can’t sell you these leftovers . People will say that I am not an honest businessman . ”
The fisherman notices that Lin Luoran is neither disappointed nor angry about this, and switches the topic, “If you don’t abhor my dirty boat, I can cook some fish for you . ”
Rong Donglin looks at the fisherman’s boat . This boat is also his home . His daily life supplies are at the corner of the boat, and everything is just as dirty as the man’s clothes .
Rong is afraid that Lin won’t have appetite to eat at such a place .
Rong thinks that Lin will turn the fisherman down . However, Lin says gladly,
“Then we shall stay . Thank you so much . ”
Lin Luoran folds the umbrella and jumps onto the boat . Rong follows, still feeling confused .
The fisherman makes a fire with some wood in the stove and puts a wok with water on it . He picks some fish, shrimps, and crabs and starts to kill and clean them . He throws the heads and claws of the crayfish into the boiling water .
He doesn’t put any ginger, shallots, or cooking wine to cover up the fishy flavor . Therefore, Rong doesn’t expect the fish to be tasty . After the fisherman adds some salt to the soup, Rong smells the delicious flavor .
The fisherman takes out two cracked bowls and fills them for the two .
“Go ahead . ” He speaks to Lin and Rong .
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Lin Luoran takes a sip of the soup . The soup is pretty bland because there are no seasonings except for salt . Nevertheless, it is delicious .
“Rong, the soup is good, isn’t it?”
Lin likes the soup . Rong mumbles with fish in his mouth .
The old fisherman is glad that the young man and woman like the soup .
“Thank you for making us the fish soup…”
“Not at all . It will be 300 yuan . ”
The fisherman reaches out and asks for money . He doesn’t care about Lin and Rong’s friendliness .
“You…” Rong can’t believe in what is actually happening . 300 yuan for two bowls of fish soup? The fisherman is extorting them!
“So what? I never said that the soup is on the house . This was genuine wild fish and you watched me cook . It is worthy of 300 yuan!” The fisherman rolls his eyes . Rong is speechless .
Rong is never good at arguing . He just wants to leave .
Lin Luoran takes 300 yuan out from her purse and gives it to the old fisherman who is getting angry .
The fisherman smiles and takes the money . He says, “Little girl, you’re smart!”
Lin casts a glance at Rong to calm him down . Then she sits on the footstool and starts to chat with the fisherman .
The fisherman is willing to talk to Lin because of the money . Lin starts with the small talk,
“You must have been fishing on Dongting Lake for a long time, right?”
“Right… I’ve been living here since I was nine years old . It has been over sixty years . ”
It is really a long time .
Lin and the fisherman keep chatting . As time passes, the fisherman starts to get impatient .
“Hey, are you guy going to stay the night on my boat?”
Rong really doesn’t want to sleep on the dirty and shabby boat .
The rain is getting heavier and the wind is becoming stronger . The boat shakes . The weather is really quite bad .
Lin Luoran isn’t bothered by the weather . She says carelessly,
“I believe you’re familiar with the lake . Do you mind my asking…if there is a Dragon Palace under the lake, and where would it be?”
This is her real intention of chatting with the cranky old fisherman .
Rong feels dizzy . He thinks that maybe Lin has got a cold so that she is acting so strangely…