"Go hunting in the mountains? You two have no experience, what if something happens?" Lin Shanhai's eyes widened when he heard this.
"Dad, don't worry at all. My older brother can do everything now, it's like he's been possessed." Lin Shansheng quickly reassured his father.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shufang immediately scolded, "Pah, pah, pah, what unlucky things are you saying? You never know what's going on in your head."
Lin Shansheng quickly ran over to help Zhao Shufang scrape the fish scales: "Mom, don't be angry, I was wrong."
Watching his family cook together harmoniously, Lin Chaosheng felt a warmth in his heart.
He secretly resolved that he would make up for the unconditional support and love from his family members in this lifetime.
"Then I'll go back and help Xiaomei first. Don't skimp on your meals, eat well!" Lin Chaosheng waved to his parents and prepared to go home.
"Take good care of Mom and Dad." Lin Chaosheng patted Lin Shansheng on the shoulder.
Lin Shan grinned at Lin Chaosheng, revealing his four big teeth, and said, "Okay, brother, go home and help your wife."
Lin Chaosheng walked home. It was already dark, and the sea breeze, carrying a salty smell, caressed his face.
He suddenly looked at the old locust tree at the entrance of the village, and Lin Chaosheng saw a group of people gathered at the gate of his own yard from afar.
Lin Chaosheng squinted in the dim light and made out the familiar figures.
They all craned their necks to peer into their homes, whispering among themselves from time to time.
The air was filled with the fresh aroma of scallions, ginger, garlic, and seafood, making one's mouth water.
"Hey! Isn't this Chaosheng?" Wang Lao Er was the first to spot him and quickly went forward to greet him, his wrinkles crinkling into a smile.
"I heard you caught two big fish today, that's really something!" Old Wang said with a fawning smile.
Lin Chaosheng's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. This Wang Lao Er was none other than the "kind-hearted" guy from before.
He had previously reported his location to the debt collectors, which resulted in him being beaten half to death.
"I was just lucky," Lin Chaosheng said as he walked home.
"I told you long ago that this kid has a bright future, but you wouldn't believe me!"
Butcher Lü, his breath reeking of foul odor, approached Lin Chaosheng, his body suffocating with a fishy, greasy smell.
"Chaosheng, I'm your Aunt Li. I've watched you grow up since you were a child," Aunt Li said, her eyes wide and her nose twitching as she inhaled the delicious aroma. "Oh my, your fish smells so good. My husband loves it the most."
Lin Chaosheng stared at these people expressionlessly, his disgust reaching its peak.
Months ago, these people treated him like a plague, running away whenever they saw him, afraid that he would ask them for money.
Today, Lin Chaosheng only caught two fish, and these people are already rushing to flatter him.
"Excuse me, everyone, I need to go home." Lin Chaosheng pushed aside the people crowding around his doorway and walked inside.
"Oh my, Chaosheng, you really have some skills!" A sharp voice pierced through the air.
Upon hearing that familiar voice, Lin Chaosheng turned around and, sure enough, it was Sun Erma, the village's notorious gossip.
The person who usually gossiped about his family the most was none other than Aunt Sun Er. Now that she's come up to flatter him, everyone knows what she's really thinking.
"Oh dear, Chaosheng, look at my Gangzi, how long has it been since he's tasted meat!" Aunt Sun Er stood in front of her, leading a sallow-faced, thin child, and wiped away the tears she had just squeezed out.
"Besides, I even delivered eggs to your family last year. Your wife had a high fever then, and I..."
Lin Chaosheng recalled that Sun Erma had indeed delivered eggs, but they were all rotten. Afterwards, she went around proclaiming how kind-hearted she was.
"I'm sorry, this fish is only enough for my own family." Lin Chaosheng didn't intend to get entangled with her and turned to walk home.
Sun Erma's face immediately darkened. "Hmph, now you look down on people, huh?"
She turned to the crowd and shouted, "Everyone, come and see! What kind of person is Lin Chaosheng? When his family was in such dire straits, who didn't help him? Now he's repaying kindness with enmity, not even sharing a piece of fish or meat with everyone!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed, and they all began to criticize Lin Chaosheng.
"That's right, that ungrateful bastard!"
“Last year, when his mother was sick, I even brought him some things!”
"That's right, I even gave him a string of cash!"
"I gave them a bowl of rice too!"
...
The accusations grew louder, and the faces of the onlookers were all contorted with rage.
Lin Chaosheng stood there quietly, watching the farce unfold.
In his past life, he was so destitute that he had to beg for alms from house to house, and now he has become the "helper" of these great benefactors.
These repulsive people only made him laugh.
"Everyone," Lin Chaosheng stopped the scolding, "it's not that I don't want to share this fish with you, it's just that there's really not enough fish to go around."
The crowd quieted down, and everyone looked at each other, unsure how to continue their condemnation.
"Then go catch some more!" Aunt Sun shouted shrilly. "Aren't you so capable? Then catch one for each of us as a reward!"
"That's right!"
"Since you're so capable, it wouldn't be too much to ask that you catch one of the smaller ones for each of us, would it?"
"Yeah, we don't need any big fish, a medium-sized one will do."
Lin Chaosheng sneered, “I, Lin Chaosheng, don’t have that much ability, but the place where I fished today is about three or four hundred meters north of Old Yu’s fishing boat. There’s a reef down there.”
Lin Chaosheng lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "There are lots of fish over there, but it's a bit secluded, and there might be danger if you're not careful. But if we don't go now... we might end up in someone else's stomach."
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd immediately stirred.
"No, is this real?"
"Do you have that piece? I don't remember it at all."
"They can't be lying to us, can they..."
Aunt Sun looked at Lin Chaosheng suspiciously, "Are you telling the truth? Or are you just lying to get rid of everyone?"
Lin Chaosheng smiled and said, "Anyway, I've said everything I know. Whether you believe it or not is not my concern."
He then sniffed the delicious aroma: "Wow, it smells so good! I just wonder if there will be any left if I go too late..."
Enticed by the aroma of fish, everyone rushed home to grab their tools and go fishing after hearing what Lin Chaosheng said.
Everyone wanted to catch all the fish and not let a single one fall into anyone else's hands.
In the blink of an eye, Lin Chaosheng was the only one left at his doorstep.
Lin Chaosheng looked at the anxious figures running away and sneered.
There are indeed fish under those reefs, but the currents there are so strong that it's not a place where ordinary people like these can catch fish.
These snobs are probably going to get nothing tonight.
"Squeak—"
Lin Chaosheng pushed open the door, and the warm light instantly warmed him up. He went straight to the kitchen.
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