HLM – Chapter 951 Teppanyaki Squid

When Wang Bo was in New Zealand, he had watched an American documentary called The Deadly Battle with Cunning Bluefin Tuna, which introduced how Americans catch bluefin tuna.

Catching blue-spotted mackerel was somewhat similar. Bluefin tuna can grow very large, four to five meters long, while blue-spotted mackerel is comparatively smaller, but the big ones could still reach around two meters.

During the New Year, these big fish were highly sought after—a very precious economic fish. One fish could be worth four to five thousand yuan, sold mainly to wealthy families or high-end hotels.

Father Bo dragged out their old wooden fishing boat from the warehouse. Wang Bo asked worriedly, “Hasn’t this thing been unused for a long time? Can we even take it out to the water?”

Father Bo laughed, flicking away his cigarette butt. “Of course! This boat has been used since you were born, never had a problem! You, though… you’ll never make a fisherman. You don’t even know common sense!”

The boat wasn’t small—it was a large wooden boat capable of going further out to sea. It was square-shaped and stable, fitting eight to ten people. At the back, there was a small wooden cabin to shelter from wind and rain or cook meals.

Mother Bo reassured Eva, “Don’t worry, sweetie. We painted the boat just last summer. It’s well-protected and definitely usable.”

Eva smiled, “I’m not afraid. I’m a pretty good swimmer.”

The village’s warehouses were right by the sea, storing fishing nets, oars, paint, and other miscellaneous tools. The main purpose, of course, was to store boats, so they could be dragged straight into the water without back-and-forth hauling.

On the small pier, a few people in windbreakers and sunglasses were waiting—they were fishing enthusiasts from the county or city, renting boats to go out to sea.

The large wooden boats were powered by outboard motors, so no one had to row. The spare seats were generally rented out to make extra money.

Wang Bo’s family’s boat held six people. With the burly men and the fat cats, there weren’t many seats left. Father Bo decided to rent out two spots.

Mother Bo rolled her eyes. “Rent out what? We’re all family. It’s more convenient this way. No renting.”

Zhong Dabao chuckled, “I’m not an outsider.”

“Mm, not an outsider.” Father Bo handed him a cigarette, and the two smoked together.

In winter, the sea water quality was worse. Waves slammed against the rocks, foaming and carrying a strong fishy smell, making people frown.

Wang Bo asked, “Dad, haven’t those chemical factories stopped production and moved yet? I remember the news said the government wanted them relocated.”

Father Bo snorted, “Yes, the government says that every day, but I haven’t seen any action. I won’t live long enough to see them move.”

Zhong Dabao grinned foolishly, “I think it’ll be fine.”

They boarded the boat. When someone asked for a seat, Father Bo shook his head—it was full. The man left reluctantly.

The outboard motor roared, spraying gray smoke as it pushed the boat into the sea. The burly men wagged their tails happily on the side, letting the waves crash over them without a care.

The fat cat brothers huddled together—they liked baths, but not the ocean.

The snow fox was in even worse shape—it got seasick. As the boat rocked on the waves, it first cried pitifully, then curled up in a corner and started vomiting.

“Even this foodie pukes?” Wang Bo laughed at its misfortune.

Princess immediately showed her foodie spirit. Despite still feeling seasick, after vomiting, she looked at the pile and tried to eat it back!

Dale screamed and rushed over like the wind to drag her away.

Catching blue-spotted mackerel required experience. You couldn’t just go anywhere—the old fisherman’s eye had to find the right spot.

Father Bo was very experienced. After taking the boat four or five kilometers out to sea, he slowed it down and scanned the water. Reaching a certain area, he said, “Alright, this is the place to fish!”

Eva curiously asked, “Can you see through the water?”

Father Bo said seriously, “Not by sight, but by smell. We old sea folk can sniff out fish schools—they have a scent.”

Dale marveled, “Better than Zhuang Ding and Queen’s necks?”

Mother Bo laughed, “Yes, his nose is like a dog’s.”

Eva was impressed. “This must be a magical skill developed after decades of work, right?”

Seeing that the sisters believed him, Mother Bo laughed. “Don’t listen to your dad. He’s joking. Look carefully around—you’ll see there are reefs here.”

“Reefs are underwater elevations. When currents hit them, water flows up and down, forming converging flows. Nutrients from the surface and seabed mix here, feeding algae, seaweed, and small creatures, attracting fish and shrimp. These spots give the best catches.”

Although Mother Bo only finished middle school, she spoke knowledgeably about the ocean and fishing.

Zhong Dabao skillfully unpacked a bundle of fishing rods. He and Father Bo baited the hooks with small fish, cast them out, locked the rods on the boat, and waited.

Mother Bo brewed a pot of hot coffee under the canopy and served small pancake-like snacks, both to eat and keep warm.

Zhong Dabao chuckled, “Hehe, auntie, is this East meets West? Coffee with pancakes—you’re impressive.”

Mother Bo replied, “You think it’s a joke? Try these pancakes later; they’re way better than any Oreos you buy.”

For their first meal, they ate small pancakes mixed with milk and honey from the ranch—fragrant, sweet, and hearty, without worrying about gaining weight. They’d been eating these for days.

Zhong Dabao took a bite and exclaimed, “Whoa, delicious!”

Seeing them eat, the dizzy little princess got up and, despite feeling seasick, walked over determinedly. Seasickness or not, when it’s time to eat, you eat!

The bell on a fishing line rang. Father Bo dashed over, grabbed the rod, and pulled it up.

After testing, he shook his head. “Not a mackerel.”

Sure enough, the line reeled in a sea bass—common but large, weighing about two and a half pounds.

Winter seas were rough. Even anchored, the boat rocked violently.

Wang Bo got a catch too—a large squid.

Zhong Dabao got interested. “Give it here! Perfect—we’ve got a stove on the boat. I’ll make you teppanyaki squid. This is fresh stuff, can’t get it outside!”

He started preparing the squid. In the next ten minutes, no more fish or shrimp bit. Seeing this, Father Bo shook his head and sighed, “There’s less and less in the sea nowadays.”