Chapter 226 - Where is the Dragon Palace? (1/2)

It only takes two hours to get to Yueyang from Changsha by train.

It’s drizzling today. There is mist over the lake. Though it’s the 21st century, old-style fis.h.i.+ng boats are floating on the lake.

Lin Luoran and Rong Donglin stand on the bank of Dongting Lake. Gentle wind is blowing. Their clothes are wet even though they are holding an umbrella.

The lake waves. Dongting Lake has become much smaller than before and the water is not as clear as it used to be. Granted that there are dragons living in the lake, Lin doesn’t know how they could survive the pollution.

Lin Luoran hasn’t seen any dragon. The fis.h.i.+ng boats have anch.o.r.ed and the fishermen are sorting out the fish they have caught today. The closed fis.h.i.+ng season is coming. The fishermen have to work for a long time recently. They catch the fish and bring them to the bank. Their wives and old peoples are responsible for sorting the fish out.

It’s not the best season for crab. Nevertheless, lots of crayfish live in Dongting Lake. Crayfish reproduce in March and April. A large proportion of the fish dumped in batches is crayfish.

Crayfish are poisonous after they’re dead. These dead crayfish are piled up on the bank of Dongting Lake and the smell is so disgusting.

Lin Luoran likes to eat spicy crayfish. However, she can’t accept that way of fis.h.i.+ng.

Rong Donglin seems to notice what is bothering Lin. He scratches his head and says, “One of my roommates told me that crayfish is the cheapest in Yueyang. One pound of crayfish only costs three or four yuan. The fishermen have to increase the quant.i.ty.”

Lin smiles and lets the topic pa.s.s. She walks to the fishermen.

“h.e.l.lo, are these fish and crayfish for sale?”

The woman doesn’t even look up. She waves her hand and answers,

“This is not for retail.”

Lin Luoran doesn’t insist to buy. She asks dozens of fishermen one by one. Finally, an old man who is smoking gives her a different response.

His skin is tanned and he smells like fish. He is smoking his hand-rolled cigarettes by a shabby boat.

“h.e.l.lo, how is your day?”

The old man knows that Lin Luoran is trying to buy some fish. He was actually waiting for them to ask. However, the woman only asked about his day. The old man looks up at the young man and woman.

They both look like they are in their early twenties. The young man looks ordinary, and the woman is outstanding.

“Little girl, are you really here to buy some fish?” The old fisherman takes a puff and asks indifferently.

Rong’s heartbeats accelerate. He can’t understand why Lin is acting like this. They took plane to Changsha and came to Yueyang by train. They didn’t rest even for a minute. However, after they finally arrived at Dongting Lake, Lin started to buy fish.

Hearing the fisherman’s question, Rong suddenly understands. Miss Lin is so smart. She never does meaningless things. Rong is just going to wait and see.

Lin Luoran blinks. She looks like an innocent schoolgirl. She says,

“Yes, we’re here to buy fish. Can you sell it to us?”

The fisherman takes a glance at the little fish and shrimps left in his boat. He puts out his cigarette and says, “I can’t sell you these leftovers. People will say that I am not an honest businessman.”

The fisherman notices that Lin Luoran is neither disappointed nor angry about this, and switches the topic, “If you don’t abhor my dirty boat, I can cook some fish for you.”

Rong Donglin looks at the fisherman’s boat. This boat is also his home. His daily life supplies are at the corner of the boat, and everything is just as dirty as the man’s clothes.

Rong is afraid that Lin won’t have appet.i.te to eat at such a place.

Rong thinks that Lin will turn the fisherman down. However, Lin says gladly,

“Then we shall stay. Thank you so much.”

Lin Luoran folds the umbrella and jumps onto the boat. Rong follows, still feeling confused.