201: Giant manta ray

Yang Qi looked at the Manta Ray on the sea, as big as a large tabletop, feeling a bit flustered, and couldn't help but ask Wang Jinxi:

"A Xi, is this thing a protected animal? I don't seem to have seen anyone selling it!"

"It's not a protected animal. Occasionally, people at the pier sell these, usually for 20 to 50 yuan per jin."

"But I've never actually seen a Devil Fish this big."

Wang Jinxi replied.

"This thing is that cheap!"

Yang Qi said, a little disappointed.

"Hehehe, it's really not that expensive, but this fish weighs over 200 jin, so it could still be worth around 10,000 yuan."

"You control the fishing rod, and I'll use the gaff to deal with it first. This thing has a venomous barb on its tail, it's highly poisonous. Don't get stung by it, or you might end up in a coffin."

Wang Jinxi said to Yang Qi, holding the gaff.

Yang Qi also braced himself, carefully responding:

"Alright! You count to three, and I'll retreat then."

As Wang Jinxi counted to "three," the gaff in his hand fiercely plunged into the Devil Fish's head.

Yang Qi also released the line switch, and both of them simultaneously retreated a few steps. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, as if they had been trained..

When the long gaff pierced the Devil Fish's head, blood instantly gushed out.

The Devil Fish struggled in its death throes, immediately performing a scorpion tail whip. Its thick, long tail thrashed wildly like a whip.

It slammed against the fishing boat's gunwale, making "thudding" sounds.

Its huge 'skirt' fluttered, slapping the seawater and creating a "whooshing" sound.

After half a minute, it slowly stopped thrashing. The entire fish lay motionless, presumably dead.

"It should be about done. Slowly pull it closer."

Wang Jinxi said to Yang Qi.

Yang Qi nodded, re-tightened the drag, and slowly pulled the large Manta Ray to the side of the boat.

Seeing that the large Manta Ray was no longer moving, Wang Jinxi controlled the gaff and poked it a few times.

"No reaction, it's dead."

He took a rope, threaded it through the large Manta Ray's nostrils, and hoisted it onto the deck.

"Wait a moment, I'll first remove the valuable parts of the Manta Ray."

Wang Jinxi took a knife, first cut off the Manta Ray's tail with the poisonous barb, and threw it into the sea.

He also told Yang Qi that the most valuable part of the Manta Ray is its liver.

It is very nutritious; not only can it be made into fish liver oil, but simply boiling and eating it can also treat night blindness.

Yang Qi knew about night blindness. When everyone was very poor in his childhood, especially people in inland areas, they rarely ate fish. At night, they couldn't see things clearly.

Later, after living conditions improved, they learned that it was a disease called night blindness, and that eating liver oil had a therapeutic effect.

The Manta Ray's flat body was all meat and cartilage. Wang Jinxi carefully opened its abdomen with a knife.

First, he carefully removed the fish liver from inside the belly, placing it in a basin.

"Holy cow, what a huge fish liver. This must be twenty or thirty jin!"

Yang Qi exclaimed, looking at the Manta Ray's enormous liver.

Wang Jinxi then removed the other internal organs and threw them into the sea to feed the fish.

Then he picked up the hose and rinsed the Manta Ray's chest cavity.

"A Xi, is this Manta Ray easy to sell? Do many people eat it?"

Yang Qi couldn't help but ask again.

"Hehehe, not really. Actually, the Manta Ray's meat texture is quite good, especially this big 'skirt' part."

"It's good for teppanyaki, steaming, or pan-frying."

"Do you know why it doesn't fetch a high price?"

Wang Jinxi paused for effect, and when Yang Qi shook his head, indicating he didn't know.

He continued: "Come and look closely at its face. What does it resemble?"

Wang Jinxi held the Manta Ray steady, turning its underside face towards Yang Qi, signaling him to look closely.

Yang Qi was a little puzzled, staring intently at the Manta Ray's face.

He then took a step back to view its entire face, and suddenly he realized:

"Holy cow, it looks like an old man's face! How amazing!"

He turned to Wang Jinxi, staring at him unblinkingly, anticipating Wang Jinxi's correct answer.

"Exactly. It's because it has a face that strongly resembles an old man's. Some people feel uneasy looking at it and don't dare to eat it."

"Therefore, fewer people want it, and the price has never gone up."

Wang Jinxi explained with a smile.

"Come on! I'll take a photo of you with it as a souvenir."

Yang Qi shook his head immediately: "I definitely don't want to take a photo with a fish that has an old man's face."

Wang Jinxi said with a smile: "You can turn the fish over and take a photo with its back. Its back is still very majestic and imposing."

"Besides, catching such a large Manta Ray is quite rare."

Yang Qi thought he had a point, so he let Wang Jinxi take his picture.

Then it was his turn to take pictures of Wang Jinxi.

"Holy cow, who hauled up this monster!"

An exclamation came from nearby.

Yang Qi turned around and said with a smile:

"Brother Jun, you're awake! A Xi and I hauled this up."

Zhang Jun circled the Manta Ray, constantly examining it.

He made "tsk tsk tsk" sounds.

"Good! Impressive, one this big is really rare!"

Zhang Jun praised, "Have you taken your photos yet? I want to take a picture with it too."

"This thing looks like a big round table, the feel of it should still be very good!"

Zhang Jun felt he had somewhat missed out on his sleep; if he had known, he definitely would have come to get in on the action.

"Brother Jun, A Xi said this fish liver tastes good. Shall we have it for lunch?"

Yang Qi had already had this idea, so he suggested.

"Alright, I think so. I've never tasted such fresh Devil Fish liver before!"

Zhang Jun replied.

"Oh dear! It's just that this fish is too cheap. I heard it sells for 20 to 50 yuan per jin at the pier."

Yang Qi said with some regret.

"What? That low? And that's the retail price. Wouldn't the purchase price be even lower?"

Zhang Jun really didn't know that the price of Manta Ray was so low.

"Then when you go back, give it to Auntie and them to cut into pieces and sell. Let them also experience the thrill of selling a big fish, sell as much as they can. Anyway, you don't lack these ten thousand yuan or so."

Zhang Jun knew about Yang Qi's mother and her friends selling small fish and shrimp, so he suggested.

Yang Qi also thought Zhang Jun's suggestion was good. Selling a big fish would definitely be more exciting than selling small fish and shrimp.

"Wouldn't it be even more awesome if I gave them a Tuna to sell?"

Yang Qi had a sudden thought.

"Come on! As soon as the Tuna's temperature changes, its taste will be off. Such an expensive fish, wouldn't they be heartbroken!"

Zhang Jun quickly interrupted Yang Qi's fantasy.

"Later, if you catch some large Skipjack Tuna or something, that might work. It doesn't matter how much money they make; letting them have a good time is fine."

Yang Qi also felt Zhang Jun was right, but the premise was that his mother and the others were willing to sell it.

What if they planned to rest that day, and you gave them some fish to sell? You might even get scolded... PS: Please like, comment, urge updates, and give free 'Powering with Love'.

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