Eighty-five yuan!
This was enough to buy a cheaper watch, and in this era, the "three rounds and one bell" held a status in people's hearts no less significant than houses and cars in later generations.
Just the money earned from fishing for one night could buy a watch from the "three rounds and one bell." If Zheng Weiguo and Liu Maosheng knew this, they would likely be stunned.
However, after a moment of surprise, Chen Yang regained his composure. He had seen much greater storms in his past life; this amount of money was not enough to make him lose his composure.
This was just the beginning. In the future, this number would quickly double, even multiply by tens of times.
Wang Jianguo, standing beside him, saw no fluctuation on Chen Yang's face upon hearing Old Zhang announce the price, and was also surprised.
This young man was not simple!
He himself had worked for over twenty years and was the head of the Aquatic Products Station. His monthly salary was only a little over fifty yuan. The fish Chen Yang had caught were equivalent to a month and a half of his salary!
Not to mention ordinary workers like Old Zhang, whose monthly wages were only twenty to thirty yuan.
Facing so much money, Chen Yang's composure made Wang Jianguo look upon him with greater respect.
"Chen Yang, is it? Come with me to the office, and I'll have the accountant settle your accounts."
Wang Jianguo waved his hand, and Chen Yang dutifully followed him with the donkey cart towards a row of bungalows in the factory. The baby on the cart was very well-behaved, knowing that Daddy was discussing business, it didn't fuss and sat quietly.
"Director Wang, I caught a turtle yesterday during the rain. Please take it home for a soup after work."
Seeing no one nearby, Chen Yang quickly brought out the largest remaining turtle and handed it to Wang Jianguo.
"What are you doing, kid? The Aquatic Products Station has just been established, and purchasing aquatic products is a task assigned to me by the state, and a trust placed in me by the factory leadership. Take it back, take it back, I can't accept this."
Wang Jianguo, after all, was a leader. Unlike Liu Hua, a small worker, he was not so mercenary and quickly tried to decline. However, Chen Yang, having lived two lives, understood the intricacies of such matters.
If he insisted on taking it back today, even if Wang Jianguo accepted his aquatic products in the future, he certainly wouldn't be as enthusiastic as he was today, let alone offer further assistance.
If he wanted to do well in the aquatic products business, this Director Wang was someone he definitely needed to befriend.
"Director Wang, you're overstating things. It's not anything valuable; they are everywhere in the ponds."
"You have no idea how much help you've been to our village by purchasing aquatic products. Yesterday, there was a heavy downpour, and half of our village's newly harvested grain was washed away by the flood."
"Now the entire village, young and old, doesn't know how they'll get by next year. It was only yesterday when I came to buy meat and saw the sign of our food factory collecting aquatic products that the elders in the village gritted their teeth and fished all day, telling me to give it a try."
"You helping our village by collecting aquatic products is saving the lives of everyone in our village. Let alone one turtle, even if it were delicacies from the mountains, I couldn't repay your immense kindness."
Chen Yang imitated the accent of the villagers from Shenjiaba Village, putting on a performance filled with emotion, even making Wang Jianguo frown.
"The rain yesterday was indeed heavy. I didn't expect our farmer brothers outside the city to suffer such heavy losses."
"Chen Yang, don't worry. Purchasing aquatic products is a task assigned to me by the state and the factory. I understand your village's situation. We workers and farmers are one family."
"I, Wang Jianguo, dare not say I can help much, but from now on, as long as your village catches aquatic products, I will purchase them at the standard price, and no one will dare to cheat you."
The people of this era were indeed simple and honest. Wang Jianguo did not suspect Chen Yang was lying. Upon hearing Chen Yang's description of the situation, Wang Jianguo immediately patted his chest and made a promise, no longer mentioning having Chen Yang take back the turtle.
"Then I thank you on behalf of all the elders and young people in our village."
"Director Wang is helping us so much, we are not ungrateful people. From now on, we will only send the freshest fish to the Aquatic Products Station. You won't see any sick or weak ones, I guarantee it."
Chen Yang also imitated Wang Jianguo, patting his chest and making a promise. Seeing Chen Yang so sensible, Wang Jianguo's evaluation of him increased.
Although he had made a promise, if Chen Yang frequently brought in stale fish in the future, Wang Jianguo, out of politeness, wouldn't refuse to buy them, but he would certainly feel unhappy.
However, Chen Yang had already made a commitment in advance. Such a thoughtful young man, and his actions also helped him complete his task, so he naturally appreciated him.
"I'm relieved to hear you say that. Collecting aquatic products is a task assigned to me by the state. Regardless of anything else, if we can get a thousand or ten thousand jin a day, I'll have prestige in the city. Unfortunately, here in Liuhe County, it's not like the surrounding counties..."
As Wang Jianguo spoke, he suddenly realized that Chen Yang was not an employee of the factory and stopped himself. In this era, some things could not be spoken carelessly.
He was worried. Liuhe County, its name itself containing "river," clearly indicated that its waterways were developed, and thus its aquatic resources were abundant. However, the people of Liuhe County, unlike those in surrounding counties, hardly dared to catch fish to sell.
This resulted in Liuhe County not even having an aquatic products company. If it weren't for the policy supporting aquatic products from above, the food factory wouldn't have established an aquatic products station.
As a result, he, the director of the Liuhe County Aquatic Products Station, despite having the richest aquatic resources within his jurisdiction, consistently ranked last among the counties under Qinghe City in completing his quota. It was truly embarrassing.
"Director Wang, with your words, I am relieved. Our village is surrounded by several large rivers. As long as you purchase them, we dare to go into the water and fish at night during the off-season."
"Don't complain if we catch too much. Just you collect it."
Having received a hint from Director Wang, Chen Yang felt even more assured. He wasn't afraid of Wang Jianguo wanting too much, only that he wouldn't be able to handle it.
"Good lad, if your village can truly catch a thousand or ten thousand jin every day, I'll buy it all. Not only that, but I'll owe your village a favor."
Wang Jianguo patted Chen Yang heavily on the shoulder. After holding his position for so long, this was the first time he saw hope for his own promotion in a young man.
"Accountant Hu, please settle the accounts for Chen Yang. A total of eighty-five yuan."
"Also, let me give you some instructions. From now on, when Xiao Chen brings fish, be sure to settle the accounts on the spot. If the station doesn't have enough, you can find me. If I'm not here, you can directly go to Section Chief Shen in the factory's finance department."
Wang Jianguo personally led Chen Yang to Accountant Hu Defu in the bungalow office and solemnly instructed him.
Judging by his behavior, Chen Yang knew that this Director Wang was an honest man worth befriending. He also secretly thought that he must bring him something good next time.
Such a leader, who promised and personally attended to even small matters, was likely recently promoted. People who were truly accustomed to high positions would not be so hands-on.
He naturally had to maintain a good relationship, lest Wang Jianguo's position become higher in the future and their relationship distance.
After that, Wang Jianguo had no further involvement. Chen Yang received eight large "Da Tuanjie" bills from Accountant Hu, and the rest were small bills, a thick stack.
Holding this thick stack of money, Chen Yang couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. After deducting the twenty-six yuan and four mao to be given to Liu Maosheng and Zheng Weiguo, the remaining fifty-eight yuan and six mao were his net profit.
"It's time to upgrade the equipment for Maosheng and Weiguo. Relying solely on their hands, their daily catch depends entirely on luck. Yesterday was due to the flood. Without the flood, catching about ten jin a night would be good."
Chen Yang secretly planned. Next, he would make Liu Maosheng and Zheng Weiguo role models and lead the entire Shenjiaba Village to catch fish.
Otherwise, how could he help Wang Jianguo achieve the daily delivery target of thousands or tens of thousands of jin!