After the father and daughter left the grocery store, Li Erlang asked Li Yan what else she wanted to buy?
Li Yan wanted to buy a lot of things, but she couldn't spend them recklessly, so she shook her head to indicate that she didn't have any.
The two of them carried large and small bags and went out of the city. After a long time, Li Erlang was afraid that Li Yan was too tired, so he took these things and suggested taking a boat back. Li Yan nodded in agreement.
When she reached the dock, Li Yan saw the old boatman from yesterday. The old boatman also saw Li Yan and rowed the boat to the dock. He said happily: "Girl? Would you like to take a boat?" Li Yan nodded in response.
As Li Yan boarded the boat, she said to Li Erlang, "Sister Daya and I also took the old man's boat back yesterday, and he didn't even take our money!"
There were no other passengers on the boat at that time. Li Yan asked, "Uncle, where is your grandson? When are we leaving?"
The old boatman smiled and replied, "My little grandson and my youngest son are at home. Today, my eldest son and I are here to deliver fish to the town. Wait a moment. He's been gone for a while and will probably be back soon. We'll leave when he comes back!"
The three of them exchanged greetings for a moment, and then they saw a young man walking towards them carrying a bamboo basket. The man was wearing straw sandals and a worn gray jacket. His skin was rough and dark due to years of fishing.
When the man approached, the old man hurriedly asked, "Da Zhuang? How's it going? Did Pinxianglou accept our fish?"
The man nodded with a worried look on his face. "If you want it, the price is not high. I won't take this smaller fish!" He put down the bamboo basket behind him. The wet bamboo basket soaked the man's back.
"Whatever you collect is what you get. There's no market today, so take some home and eat it yourself."
The man nodded, walked to the bow, and silently took the pole from his father.
Li Yan walked over and took a look. There were more than ten fish weighing about a pound in the bamboo basket. She asked, "How are you selling these fish, uncle? Can you sell some to us?"
The old boatman looked up when he heard this and said, "Miss, if you want to eat some, just take two back and try them. They are not worth much money!"
"How can I take advantage of an old man? I want more. How about selling me eight?"
The old boatman smiled and said, "In that case, give me forty-five coins!"
Li Erlang took out his purse from his pocket, counted out fifty copper coins and handed them over.
The old fisherman said hurriedly: "No, why are you giving more? It doesn't make sense!"
Li Yan hurriedly said, "Uncle, please take it. We still have to pay for the boat ride!"
The old man then took the copper coin and smiled with wrinkles on his face: "My surname is Zhou, and I live in Zhoujiazhuang upstream of the river. If you like the food, come to my place again and I will give you a discount!" Li Erlang nodded politely in response.
After exchanging pleasantries along the way, the boat was soon about to go ashore. Two children, one big and one small, were seen standing on the shore looking at this side. The smaller one jumped for excitement when he saw who was coming.
When Old Man Zhou saw the two children, a smile appeared on his face unconsciously.
As the boat docked, Li Yan was the first to get off. When the little boy saw Li Yan, who had given him buns yesterday, he grinned, called her "sister" sweetly, and shyly hid behind his uncle.
Li Erlang planned to go back first and let Li Yan stay here to look after things for a while.
Old Man Li neatly tied the fish with a straw rope and handed it to his youngest son: "Help your Uncle Li take it back!"
Li Erlang thanked him profusely. He had bought a lot of things today and couldn't carry them all. The boy took the fish skewers from his father and followed Li Yan and the others to Lijiazhuang.
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