Chapter 20 Profit Sharing

Ryan's heart raced with excitement as he looked at the bountiful catch, the shimmering scales of the fish sparkling in the sunlight. It felt like he was back in childhood, fishing with his father at Brighter Lake, where they would reel a bounty of carp daily. The memory of those sun-drenched afternoons, filled with laughter and the thrill of the catch, washed over him. "Ken, you've got to have some tricks up your sleeve," Michael said, eyes wide with curiosity. Ken grinned. "Absolutely. This method is a favorite among seaside fishermen. Folks around here don't usually get to see it, so it's pretty new to them." Michael nodded, impressed. "That explains everything!" Michael leaned in, curiosity etched on his face. "And these fish I've never seen before—what are they?" Just like the colossal catch Kenneth landed yesterday, they were entirely unfamiliar to him. Ryan and Dylan leaned closer, hanging on Kenneth's every word as he began to explain. "These are grouper, typically found in the ocean, with some species reaching several hundred pounds in weight. They're quite common, and a four or five-pound fish is considered large." "As for these that are completely red with dark spots all over, they're brook trout. They're primarily freshwater fish, but this species might have hybridized with marine fish." Kenneth pointed to a red drum with spots covering its body and a large mouth. "I see! This is unheard of!" "I heard from some folks in town that brook trout thrive in freshwater rivers, usually staying on the smaller side. To reel one in, you've gotta use live bait," Michael remarked. He had seen brook trout at the local market before, but they were tiny, barely longer than three fingers. The vendor was asking a steep price, over thirty a pound. "Regular fishing won't cut it for grouper and brook trout. You need to use lure bait to snag them. I'll show you how later," Kenneth explained. "Alright! Ken, what's your plan for these fish?" asked Ryan eagerly. "We'll head back to shore first. I've lined up a buyer already. Spoke to the boss in town," Kenneth said casually. "So soon?" Michael exclaimed in surprise. Kenneth was always one step ahead, already sealing the deal! "Yeah, I already chatted with him when I sold that big fish yesterday. If this goes as planned, we're looking at some serious cash down the line," Kenneth explained. "Wow, that's incredible, Ken! You're a genius! You must be heaven-sent to rescue our Brighter Village!" Michael praised enthusiastically. Kenneth's return spurred development and ignited a newfound inspiration among women. With their abundant catch from Brighter Lake, the villagers envisioned a prosperous future, confident they could maintain this momentum. "Uncle Mike, you're too kind. I'm just doing my part. But I can only keep going with everyone's support," Kenneth replied humbly. "We've got your back!" "Yeah, Ken, count on us!" Ryan and Dylan cheered in unison. Money was no longer their primary concern. The sight of Kenneth pulling in fish from Brighter Lake was enough to earn their admiration. "Haha, let's set this aside for now. Let's get the fish off the net. It's not convenient to keep them at home overnight. I'll take them to town later and see what the boss says." "Got it!" As the iron boat reached the shore, Michael suggested, "Ken, drive the cargo bike in." "Uncle Mike, are you sure? It might damage someone else's field..." Kenneth hesitated, eyeing the narrow path. Even with the village chief's approval, he didn't want to cause any trouble. "Haha, Ken, don't worry. Those chili fields by the road and that rectangular cornfield are all mine. Drive right over them; it'll make things easier for future trips!" Michael laughed. "But..." "Ken, what's the hold-up? Let's haul all those fish and nets for the sake of a few feet of land. Michael had already resolved to fully back Kenneth, no matter what they planned to do. "Alright, if Uncle Mike says so, I'll make it happen," Kenneth agreed. "No need for explanations. Just get it done." "On it!" Twenty minutes later, all the fish were processed and ready to go. Kenneth lined the truck bed with canvas, filled it with water, and hooked up a portable aerator. His meticulous attention to detail left Michael and the others thoroughly impressed. "Ken, you're something else. You even brought all this equipment!" "Haha, it's always good to be prepared," Kenneth replied with a grin. "Uncle Mike, Ryan, Dylan, help me tidy up the fishing net. I'll be back later, and we can review the numbers then." "Numbers? What numbers?" Michael asked, puzzled. Michael and the others exchanged puzzled glances. "I'm selling these fish, so there'll be income. It's not just my effort; we should split the earnings," Kenneth insisted. "No way, Ken. We're in this together," Michael countered. "Yeah, Ken, that's not what we're getting at," Ryan added. "Ken, go ahead and sell them. We'll handle everything else. You don't need to worry about splitting the accounts," Dylan assured him. Kenneth was deeply touched by Michael and the others' genuine humility and sincerity. "This is how I do things. Just like Aunt Rosa, Mrs. Cadman, and Mrs. Dandy up in the mountains gathering herbs, I always ensure they get what's fair," Kenneth asserted firmly. "If you're not with me on this, our plan to make it big together will be a joke. We have to divide the accounts!" His seriousness left Michael and Dylan in shock. Michael, visibly moved, fought back tears as he nodded in agreement. "Ken, go ahead. We're with you all the way," Michael said, at a loss for words. Kenneth's determination set him apart in all of Hollow Springs. "Alright, stay tuned for some good news," Kenneth promised confidently. Without hesitation, Kenneth set off immediately for the county town. An hour and a half later, as the sun descended, it was 5:40 in the afternoon. The entrance of Casa La Daniella overflowed with parked cars, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the lively scene bustling within the lobby's glass-paneled doors. The security guard immediately recognized Kenneth and recalled his direct negotiations with Daniella, the boss. When he saw Kenneth arriving in a car filled with fish, he promptly allowed him to enter and notified the kitchen staff. "Kenneth! Jack at the entrance said you've brought a car full of fish!" Chef Luis exclaimed, his previously indifferent demeanor melting away as he hurriedly set aside his tasks upon hearing the news. "Chef Luis, here are the goods I promised Ms. Galasso. They're pure wild local fish. Feel free to evaluate them," Kenneth said earnestly. "Kenneth, no need for evaluation here. Ms. Galasso instructed me: weigh the fish, and you can pick up your payment on the eighth floor," Chef Luis replied warmly, not glancing at the fish in the car as he welcomed Kenneth inside. "What? Ms. Galasso's in the office?" Chef Luis asked, surprised. "Yeah, she is. Kenneth, head on up. I'll handle the fish," he said. "Alright," Kenneth nodded, heading towards the stairs. Kenneth continued to place his trust in Chef Luis's newfound demeanor. He knew that once Chef Luis saw the quality of the fish, he would surely tell Daniella the truth. His next step was to head upstairs and negotiate with her over the price. As Kenneth approached the door of the eighth-floor office, he caught a sudden exclamation from within. "Oh my god, no way!!!"