Upon receiving Chen Hong's call, Zhang Baiqiang immediately stated that he would personally come to collect the fish, as the Longgong Hotel has always welcomed high-end seafood.
He was very happy to hear that Chen Hong had caught a lot of geoduck clams, sea cucumbers, and abalone while diving.
This is the peak season for these seafoods, when they are at their fattest and most tender, and the demand from hotels is very high.
When the fishing boat arrived at the dock, Zhang Baiqiang immediately arranged for people to board the boat, unload the cargo, and weigh it.
Chen Hong introduced Zhou Yi to him. When Zhang Baiqiang met Zhou Yi, he was secretly shocked. This man was obviously not simple.
After hearing Chen Hong's introduction, he learned that Chen Hong was an active-duty military officer, which confirmed his guess. He thought to himself:
He said Chen Hong is a remarkable woman. The man she chose is no ordinary person. Just by looking at his eyes and demeanor, you can tell that he couldn't have been raised in an ordinary family. His background must be very strong!
It was definitely the right thing to befriend Chen Hong. Not only did she help him gain a foothold in the hotel, but she also has a wide network of connections. No matter what, you won't lose out by associating with someone like her.
Chen Hong kept the fish for the hotel and her own family, and separately kept one geoduck, six abalone, and a dozen sea cucumbers. She sold the rest to Zhang Baiqiang.
This transaction alone involved geoduck clams, abalone, and sea cucumbers, which totaled over 200,000 yuan.
Including sea urchins, scallops, coconut snails, and over 100 kilograms of various sea bream, sea bass, golden bream, and grouper, as well as a beautiful longtail snapper, the total sale amounted to over 260,000 yuan.
Back home, Zhou Yi, who had witnessed the entire transaction, couldn't help but gasp in astonishment. "Chen Hong, I realize I'm not good enough for you! I never imagined your fishing income was so high; you're actually a hidden tycoon!"
As Chen Hong walked into the house, she said, "What's the big deal? It's only a small amount of money! You have a house and money, and you're a military officer, so what's there to feel inferior about?"
Zhou Yi said embarrassedly, "I don't have as much money as you do, and I only have a small courtyard house in Beijing, which is much smaller than your self-built villa."
I didn't have many places to spend money before, and most of my money was lent out, which I probably won't get back.
"So that I won't be looked down upon by you and your daughter in the future, I'll try my best to save as much money as possible."
Chen Hong entered the house and first arranged for Zhou Yi to move the fish she brought home into the kitchen. She then washed her hands and quickly started cooking.
When I delivered the fish to the hotel earlier, I invited the village chief and Uncle Erhu to my house to drink with Zhou Yi and formally introduce them to each other.
If the two decide to date, they should definitely have Zhou Yi visit them openly and honestly. In the countryside, you can't just bring a man home without a clear explanation.
The gossips of the village women can be quite irresistible. Besides, Zhou Yi is an active-duty soldier, and being unknown and unregistered wouldn't be good for him.
"Alright, stop playing the victim. I'll officially make you a couple tonight, and then we'll be together. I don't care how much money you have; I don't need it."
Just continue being a law-abiding soldier, as always. I don't want to get married again anytime soon, so just treat our mother and child well!
Zhou Yi excitedly hugged Chen Hong's waist, "Thank you and Yu Yang for accepting me. We'll see how I perform in the future."
Chen Hong turned around and pushed him away, ordering him bluntly, "You and Yu Yang go to the backyard and collect the chicken and duck eggs, and pick some vegetables while you're at it. I need to hurry up and cook, the village chief and Uncle Erhu will be here soon."
Zhou Yi, resentful, took the vegetable basket Chen Hong handed him and went to work in the backyard with Yu Yang.
Chen Hong first scraped the scales off and gutted the grouper and golden drum fish, then brushed the lobster, geoduck and abalone clean, and also gutted and washed the sea cucumber for later use.
Clean and peel the scallions, ginger, and garlic, then wash and chop them. She also took out meat and pigeon eggs from the refrigerator, first boiling the pigeon eggs and peeling them; tonight she plans to make a family portrait.
Blanch the geoduck in boiling water, then peel off the shell and skin, wash it thoroughly, and slice it thinly. Tonight, let's all try this legendary nourishing delicacy: sea cucumber, abalone, and geoduck!
Chen Hong prepared eight dishes for dinner: cucumber salad with dried shrimp, braised beef brisket with tomatoes, braised pork ribs, steamed lobster, steamed grouper, geoduck sashimi, braised sea cucumber with scallions, braised abalone, and finally a casserole of seafood.
That evening, only the village chief and Uncle Erhu were drinking with Zhou Yi. Aunt Guo had to lead the women in taking care of the hotel's business, so she refused to come for dinner!
Chen Hong thought they might be embarrassed, since rural women still have some old ideas.
When male guests come to the house, the men accompany them; only when female guests come, the women accompany them.
This custom couldn't be changed by Chen Hong's words alone; since her aunts and sisters-in-law didn't come, she had no choice but to give up.
As time goes on and Zhou Yi comes to their house more often, they won't be so reserved anymore and will treat him like a guest.
That evening, everyone drank wine brewed by Chen Hong himself. The village chief and Uncle Erhu originally wanted to test Zhou Yi, but after only two drinks, these two simple old men were won over by Zhou Yi.
The man, Zhou Yi, was highly skilled; he won over the two elders with his descriptions of daily life in the military camp.
After the meal, he kept telling Chen Hong, "Chen Hong, treat Zhou Yi well. Being a soldier is really not easy!"
They braved water and fire, all to protect us, the common people.
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