"Xiao Chen, another bountiful harvest today!"
Without needing to be told, Old Zhang was quickly helping to move the fish. The pack of cigarettes Chen Yang had given him yesterday had really boosted his standing.
His previous job at the aquatic products station had yielded no extra income and was even a source of ridicule for him, spending his days sunning himself. But yesterday, when he handed out cigarettes to the butcher at the pork station, that old man had really enjoyed them.
These were Da Qian Men, costing thirty-five cents a pack, not some cheap, two-cent brand. That's why he was so enthusiastic about helping Chen Yang carry his fish.
"Come, let's sort the fish, weigh them, and let the aquatic products station do its part. I'm the best at contributing to the nation's construction."
After moving the fish, Old Zhang whistled a special tune, separating the big and small fish as he weighed them, clearly delighted with himself.
Shen Futang seemed a bit reserved. Facing these public servants, he didn't even dare to look at them directly. Seeing how familiar Chen Yang, Liu Hua, and Old Zhang were, his earlier apprehension about Chen Yang's business had significantly eased.
"Large fish, fifteen hundred jin; small fish, six hundred and twenty. A total of two thousand one hundred and twenty jin."
Looking at the numbers on the scale, Old Zhang's smile widened uncontrollably. Over a hundred jin, five hundred, a thousand, two thousand... the fish Chen Yang brought seemed to double each day. Of course, he was happy.
"Master Zhang, thank you. I'm going to settle the accounts with Accountant Hu."
Chen Yang gave him a cigarette and then took Shen Futang to find Accountant Hu. Not long after, seeing Chen Yang receive the 1148 yuan, Shen Futang felt as though he was walking on air.
In this era, a thousand yuan was an astronomical sum for an ordinary person. With that money, one could afford all the "three turns and one bell" – the essentials for a modern household.
Seeing Chen Yang completely unfazed and calm, Shen Futang felt he understood his son-in-law even less.
He used to think Chen Yang was carefree and thoughtless, but now he found him utterly inscrutable. How could a person change so drastically and so suddenly?
"Chen Yang, I… I have something I'd like to discuss with you."
After a long hesitation, Shen Futang couldn't help but call out to Chen Yang. Seeing his father-in-law's hesitant expression, Chen Yang felt a pang of curiosity—an experience he hadn't had in his past life.
"Dad, just say whatever you need to say. They say a son-in-law is half a son. And Xue'er doesn't have any brothers. You should treat me like your own son. There's no need to hide anything."
Chen Yang quickly responded. He knew very well that without his father-in-law's constant support over the years, his and Shen Xue's household would have collapsed long ago.
"I misjudged you before. You've changed. You've become a man. Xue'er is with the right person, following you."
"Xue'er has been keeping this from you all along. If you hadn't become successful now, perhaps I would never have told you in my lifetime."
Shen Futang's brows furrowed deeply. Hearing his words, Chen Yang's heart skipped a beat. Could there be a story he didn't know from his past life?
Could Shen Xue's illness and death not have been due to a blood infection, but some hereditary disease she had?
Chen Yang's mind exploded, connecting numerous dots.
"When she sold that bracelet, your mother and I were reluctant, but we had no choice. You had college entrance exams to prepare for, our dear grandchild needed to eat, and we had not a single bite of food left in the house…"
Shen Futang looked guilt-ridden. The panicked and flustered Chen Yang suddenly felt an immense sense of relief upon hearing his next words.
"Dad, you scared me to death! I thought it was something serious. What bracelet? We can redeem it if it was sold. We have money now."
Shen Xue did have a bracelet when they got married. He heard it was his mother-in-law's dowry, passed down to Shen Xue when she married.
Chen Yang hadn't paid much attention to it in his past life, but Shen Futang's reminder brought it back to him.
"That bracelet was Xue'er's mother's dowry, passed down for several generations. Xue'er's maternal grandmother's family has no living descendants. This is the only memento they have."
"Over the years, mother and daughter have shed many tears talking about this. It pained me to see it. I'm a man; if I can't even preserve the last memory of my wife and daughter, I have no face to meet my father-in-law in the afterlife."
Shen Futang felt uneasy seeing Chen Yang's casual reaction. Upon hearing his words, Chen Yang's expression also turned serious.
If his father-in-law hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't have known what that bracelet meant to Shen Xue and her mother. Liu Chunmei's maternal family was gone; the bracelet that came with her dowry was their only link to her family, making it incredibly significant.
Yet, for him, for this family, Shen Xue had sold the bracelet.
He could imagine how much pain Shen Xue must have felt at that time.
Not only that, but she had to return home to a husband who didn't understand or appreciate her. How much sorrow must she have endured in her heart!
The thought sent a sharp, stabbing pain through Chen Yang's heart.
"Dad, where was the bracelet sold? Let's go redeem it right now."
Chen Yang made up his mind instantly. He had to help Shen Xue redeem the bracelet. This bracelet was a thorn in Shen Xue's heart, and if it wasn't resolved, she would surely continue to suffer when she thought of it.
"I only remember it was a small pawnshop next to the big department store. I don't remember the name. It was too dark then, and I didn't dare let anyone see me. I sold it and hurried away with the money."
Seeing that Chen Yang understood, Shen Futang quickly replied. This matter had distressed not only Shen Xue but also his wife.
Once they knew the location, Chen Yang didn't delay. The two of them immediately hitched the donkey cart and headed towards the big department store. Before long, they found a small pawnshop.
"Shopkeeper, do you remember the bracelet I pawned to you back then? I pawned it with a redeemable contract, and now I want to buy it back."
Shen Futang leaned his face towards the shadowy opening where a melon-cap hat was visible. So many years had passed; he wasn't sure if the pawnshop owner would remember him.
"That pair of gold bracelets, pawned for thirty-three yuan. To redeem them, it will be this much."
The pawnshop owner glanced at Shen Futang and held up six fingers. The bracelets were of good quality. If it hadn't been a redeemable contract, he would have sold them long ago.
"It's only been two years, and you dare ask for sixty yuan? Shopkeeper, this is too unfair."
Shen Futang was indignant. Although Chen Yang had just earned over a thousand yuan from selling fish, he still had to pay the villagers. He wasn't sure of Chen Yang's exact profit, but sixty yuan was no small sum.
"You pawned it with a redeemable contract. I've been safeguarding it all these years, and there are costs involved."
"We conduct business with clear pricing, honest to everyone. If you don't have the money, after three years, we'll treat it as a non-redeemable contract and sell it off. Old items are always in demand."
The shopkeeper smiled insincerely, clearly a thoroughly unscrupulous businessman. As Shen Futang was about to say something more, Chen Yang directly pulled out six "Great Unity" banknotes.
"Alright, don't tire yourself out. I've redeemed the item. It's almost doubled in two years. Your business is quite profitable, old man."
"You're just shy of being called a 'skin-peeler'."
Chen Yang paid the money but didn't forget to retort. Good heavens, it was even more exploitative than usury.
Upon seeing the six "Great Unity" banknotes, the pawnshop owner's eyes lit up. If he were to sell it himself, he'd likely get about this price. Chen Yang's lavish payment made him quite pleased.
After a thorough search, Chen Yang retrieved the pair of bracelets that Shen Xue had pawned. Although the shopkeeper was a bit greedy, the bracelets were well-preserved.
Finally, he could return home and give his wife an explanation!