Capítulo 23: 23. Small moneygrubber and the tuna case
"Miss Bai, we finally see you again." The youth came behind Shu Ya that stood outside and looked intently at something in the water. "What is it?"
''Big, very big fish!'' She childishly pointed at a whole bunch of tunas that were nearby the ship.
The youth was stunned and rushed to call Captain Chen. ''Captain, slow down. We are in mid of tunas. If we could capture some before next station, wouldn't we earn a bunch of money? And we can eat some good food as well.''
Captain Chen turned his head towards Tao that was actually just then talking to him about that possibility and with astonishment laughed. ''Wow, my brother has amazing skills. Wait, we will arrive at the next harbour in two days. How shall we proceed with fish? It cant be left like that...''
Tao sighed and saw the small girl looking at the tunas with curiosity while two guards stood by her side in fear she would fall in the water. ''I think I have an idea.''
He walked swiftly down and saw a small smile appearing on her face and knew that they were doomed. He laughed from inside. That child knows how to make deals.
''How much?'' He asked straightforwardly making everyone baffled.
She pointed at the tunas and smiled. ''Half of catch and replenishment of my salt. Take it or leave it.''
He nodded. ''Deal!'' By old tradition, he clapped her hand three times as done deal under completely frozen Captain Chen.
Tao turned his eyes towards her guards and smiled. ''Today, I will need your help. Young miss will go to her room while you two and everyone else will catch those. If we capture enough, we might earn quite a lot fo money. Who is willing?''
Everyone rose their hands including the two youths. Shu Ya was this time quite surprised so she was curious, but she as well knew how dangerous these could be. So she turned around and went to her room where she opened the window to watch from the safety of her room what is going on.
Seeing her small head peeking at them Tao started laughing and when they looked at him in wonder he pointed at her direction.
She blatantly just waved her hand and smiled brightly while motion with her hand to hurry up.
This was the first time in her life seeing real tuna. While part of people pulled the tuna's up, the others straight handled them and put their meat inside boxes and covered it with salt.
For the whole afternoon, they did that until there were no more tunas. Shu Ya's stomach grumbled but she didn't want to complain so she patiently waited. Not long after a light knocks on the door could be heard.
''Enter!'' her tiny voice could be heard from another side of the door and to her surprise, one of the young men came to bring her food.
He saw her curios expression and chuckled. ''Your guards went to get the fishy smell of their bodies and it will take some time. I was lucky. I just helped with lines do I was neither splashed with water or blood. But everyone else...''
Shu Ya nodded. ''Then I shall thank you, scholar... uhm.. noble?'' She was not sure how to address him as she had no idea about his background.
He put the food in front of her and bowed deeply. ''I would like to ask in forgiveness. My name is Ling Liwei and my guard's name is Shan Peng. You can call me big brother...'' But again this child rose her hand.
''Nope. I have no brother so I will call you Uncle Liwei.'' She took her spoon and started eating the hot fish stew while the youth stood there completely frozen.
''Miss Bai, I am too young to be called uncle.'' He was completely out of words that he couldn't even breathe.
Shu Ya stopped with a full spoon in front of her open mouth and put the food back in the bowl with a sigh. ''I address people that are older than me as Uncle as I show them my respect and closeness at the same time. I can't call you big brother as I have no idea who you are. I can call you noble Liwei or scholar Liwei, merchant Liwei, traveller Liwei...''
The more she spoke the more distant her words became. Ling Liwei met so many people in his life, but never anyone so simple and at the same time complicated as she is. But he still was not willing that she calls him uncle.
''Call me scholar Liwei.'' He gave up. he is sure that was the closest he would come to this child anyway.
Shu Ya actually didn't care. Even naming Uncle everyone didn't mean she cared much. Just showing partial respect and that worked well so far. ''Then so be it. If you don't mind I would like to finish my stew before it gets cold. Cold fish stew tastes horrible.''
He nodded and with a bow he left the room still completely in his thoughts. How is this girl actually completely cold near him? He met so many females and they literally threw themselves in front of his feet. But tiny kitten just shows her claw whole time. What should he do to calm her down?
Shu Ya had no idea that she made Liwei completely lost while eating the best stew ever. ''Just as I thought so, Uncle Tao cooks really well.''
But she missed so many spices inside. She stood up and from one of the boxes, she took a few spices, mixed them and added to the stew. Now even better smell came out and she ate the rest of the stew with relish.
When she was done she left the plates in front of her door as usual and washed her self lightly and with happy expression travelled to the dreamland while two eyes looked at her curiously for a long long time.
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