Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad

[Pujimaki]

Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 180


They stepped out of the bangka and walked to another station. The two men looked at the boats they passed until they stopped in front of another slightly larger bangka.

"This bangka is 10 meters long with 100 horsepower, a solid mid-sized build."

"What's the brand of the engine?" Brandon asked curiously, glancing at the engine box.

"It's a Yamahay, sir."

Brandon nodded in approval. Yamahay was one of the well-known brands and had a great reputation. Furthermore, replacement parts were easy to find.

They stepped into the bangka. Aside from the slightly longer deck, it had the same design as the earlier boat... Every bangka had the same design, anyway.

The 10-meter bangka featured an engine box and a roof. Sometimes boats had a small cabin, but since they returned every day, they didn't need a room to guard against the cold and wind. Besides, a cabin would take up too much space.

However, something caught Karlos's attention. "What is this equipment attached to the post? Is this a radio?" Karlos asked.

"It's a fixed-mount VHF radio."

"I see." Karlos inspected it. He had heard about them, but he wasn't sure if a fixed-mount VHF was safe to leave in the bangka without protection. It could be stolen or broken depending on the situation. The equipment looked expensive and completely different from his ordinary tools.

"As much as I want a VHF radio, I'm afraid it will break if I leave the bangka on the beach every night. It's exposed to the weather and strangers' hands."

It was different from the engine box, which could be protected by a lock and chains. The radio was just attached to the post.

"Are you perhaps from the southern part of the town, sir?" Dantes asked.

"That's right."

"Well, we can detach the equipment instead and subtract it from the price. It's a practical compromise."

"How about a handheld VHF radio instead? I'm more comfortable with that, it's something I can keep close," Karlos suggested.

"Of course, we can do that. A handheld VHF radio is cheaper than the fixed-mount one." Dantes nodded and calculated the adjustment.

Karlos looked at the bangka and was satisfied. This was far better than his older, smaller boat. "So, how much for this boat?"

"Minus the fixed-mount VHF radio and swapping it for a handheld instead, that would be 425,000 pesos, sir," Dantes replied, keeping his tone steady and respectful. But deep inside, he was ecstatic. If he closed this deal, he would earn a bonus!

The initial price of the bangka was 435,000 pesos, but it was cut down to 425,000 pesos. The difference between a fixed-mount VHF radio and a handheld one was 10,000 pesos. A handheld one needed charging, while the fixed-mount drew power from the vessel. For ordinary people, that was a huge price difference.

"I see." Karlos paused, letting the number sink in. "How about you, Brandon? Do you have anything to add?"

"You give freebies like nets and styrofoam boxes, right?" Brandon asked.

"Yes, sir. Everything is brand new and free. We also include one-year insurance," Dantes confirmed without hesitation.

"Can we do some test runs?" Brandon pressed.

"Absolutely. If you find anything you don't like, we will fix it immediately," Dantes replied confidently.

"Before that, I want to know, why is this boat not sold? Did something bad happen to the customer?"

Superstition was not a simple matter in a world where magic once dominated. Karlos wanted to know if the boat carried bad luck. What if the customer had died? Would it affect the boat he ordered?

"No, sir," Dantes quickly shook his head. "The customer decided to upgrade his order and bought a commercial trawler boat instead."

"That's allowed?"

"He paid in cash."

"I see. I assume he paid a down payment, what happened to that?"

"Since he didn't take the bangka, the down payment was ours to keep. It's written in the contract."

Karlos sat down next to the steering handle and held it, imagining himself driving the bangka.

He then took a few laps in the water to test-drive the boat and confirmed nothing bad.

"... We will take it. Although, I want to repaint the hull blue and white. Also, I want to name it Alejandro."

Karlos had thought of naming the boat 'Wave Slicer,' but his wife probably wouldn't like it.

"Naturally." Dantes grinned and shook hands with Karlos and Brandon. He was happy to close the deal.

The bangka had been near completion when the original customer decided to change his order. He didn't fight for the down payment and decided to pay cash for a commercial trawler instead... The name of that customer was Antonio.

Anyway, Karlos and Brandon went to the office to settle the account. Karlos read the papers before signing his name and paying in cash. They had already deposited the cheque from Mr. Chubby at the bank earlier that morning before heading to the shipyard. Karlos withdrew 700,000 pesos to pay for the boat and to settle Zaldy's account later.

Yesterday, Brandon had expressed his intention to shoulder 5% of the payment, but Karlos disagreed. He explained that he intended to hire another fisherman and give him a 5% profit share. It would be unfair if Brandon paid for a portion of the boat and received the same profit share as a new hire who paid nothing.

So, Karlos decided to buy the bangka with his own money, but he promised Brandon that his 5% profit share wouldn't disappear as long as he worked for Karlos.

After thinking it over, Brandon agreed. He had actually considered buying his own bangka since he had the funds, but he let go of the idea. He understood how fishing worked, and it wasn't easy. There were times when a boat didn't earn anything at all.

Only someone like Karlos seemed to get a steady income from this profession. So, instead of gambling on his own luck, Brandon decided to keep following Karlos. He wanted to return the favor for everything Karlos had done for him.

"Give us three days, and your bangka will be available," Dantes promised. Karlos's requests for a repaint and the radio swap would take a few days, depending on the weather.

"For now, sir, here is your VHF radio." Dantes showed a box to Karlos and opened it. Both men curiously inspected the equipment as if it were a brand-new toy. Dantes explained how the radio worked, and Karlos and Brandon listened intently, memorizing the important buttons.



[Illustration I found from Google. Credits to the owner.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 181


"If there are things that confuse you, you can read the instruction manual," Dantes added, which made Karlos nod.

"I can't read English, so I'll let Karlos handle this stuff, haha." Brandon laughed and scratched his head. Even though Dantes had explained the functions of the radio, he couldn't quite grasp the terminology.

"Thank you, sir."

"We will return in three days." Karlos shook hands with Dantes one last time.

The two left, carrying the documents and a brand-new VHF radio that likely cost around 15,000 pesos.

"Before we go to the shrimp farm, let's buy some food for Zaldy and the workers," Karlos said, and Brandon agreed.

Their tricycle traveled to the central plaza. To be exact, they went to Jollibee and bought fried chicken and burgers for their employees... It was still surreal to think they actually had employees now.

Brandon pointed awkwardly at the pictures while ordering. He couldn't understand the English names on the menu, but fortunately, the cashier listened to him calmly. Of course, Karlos ordered food for his family to take home for later. He knew the kids would go crazy if he didn't bring Jollibee back, especially the kiddie meals with the toys.

"I look stupid at the counter..." Brandon said bitterly once they were done.

"You shouldn't think like that. You're going to experience a lot of things like this since you're a businessman now," Karlos teased him.

"Businessman, my ass." Brandon clicked his tongue, but he was secretly happy because he was indeed a businessman now. "I rarely visit places like this because I feel out of place. This place looks extravagant and expensive. Look at the receipt, we spent 700 pesos! That much!"

"Extravagant?" Karlos felt like Brandon was overreacting. To him, fast-food restaurants were not the definition of extravagance.

"You can invite your parents here once in a while, it's a good experience," Karlos suggested.

"I don't know about that. They would feel awkward stepping into this kind of restaurant." Brandon knew his parents, they were just simple people.

Their orders arrived, and they double-checked everything before leaving. Brandon was actually happy to be eating Jollibee for the first time. Karlos spotted a flower shop next on the street and decided to buy roses for his wife. The color of the roses reminded him of Maya's eyes.

By the time they reached the shrimp farm, it was already 12 noon, the perfect time for lunch.

Even though the shrimp harvest was finished, there was still plenty of work to do. They had to clean the bottom of the pond now that the water was gone... It was a tedious, dirty, and smelly job, as the grime mostly consisted of shrimp excrement.

For two to three days, the farm had hired five additional people to help clean the pond. After that, the farm would return to its regular crew of four workers and one manager.

"Boss Karlos! Boss Brandon! You've shown up!" Zaldy was excited, he was clearly waiting for his reward.

"Johnson, take this food to the others and give everyone a share," Karlos said to one of the permanent workers.

"Yes, sir!" Johnson licked his lips and excitedly headed toward the others, clutching the bags. This was his first time eating burgers and fried chicken from the famous Jollibee. Una Town had only gotten its first Jollibee restaurant this year, so it was common for most citizens to have never had the chance to eat there.

Karlos and Brandon heard the workers laughing happily as they received the food... Brandon had reacted the same way earlier. He wanted to eat a burger again, that thing was delicious. It was fortunate he had ordered extra for himself and his parents.

"Let's go to the office."

The three went inside. Karlos got straight to the point and gave Zaldy his money. Zaldy was shocked when he saw the stacks of 1,000-peso bills.

"Count them, just so we can be sure it's the right amount."

"Hehe, yes, sir." Zaldy bowed respectfully twice. He felt so lucky to have a boss like Karlos. He once again promised to work hard for the shrimp farm.

"Is the cleaning still not over?"

"Yes, sir. But don't worry, we will speed it up."

"Tomorrow, we will help you clean the pond," Karlos offered.

"I'll bring my father," Brandon added while munching on a burger.

"Thank you, sir." Zaldy finished counting. The money was exactly 90,000 pesos. Zaldy thanked Karlos for the nth time.

"Well then, it's time for us to leave. We'll see you tomorrow." Karlos stood up.

Zaldy bid them farewell. He looked at the burger and fried chicken Karlos had given him and decided not to eat them yet. He knew his children loved Jollibee, they deserved the treat more than he did.

The tricycle traveled through the streets until it reached their neighborhood. It stopped first in front of Brandon's house, where his parents were waiting to hear more of the story. Carmine and Gomez invited Karlos in for coffee, but he respectfully declined, wanting to get back home.

"Pa, tomorrow we're going to the shrimp farm to clean the pond."

"Alright." Gomez agreed immediately. He was already interested in the farm that Brandon now co-owned.

Karlos's tricycle reached his house, and the children were already waiting for him. They were playing in front of the house with the baby bikes Roman had given them for their first birthday. The twins were eagerly anticipating their Jollibee.

"Papa!"

"Jowwybee!"

"Kids, don't stand in front of the gate." Maya raised her voice and pulled them away. "I'm going to open the gate, don't block the way. That's dangerous."

The children just giggled, but they stayed still and let Maya open the gate for the tricycle. Once he parked under the shed, the twins excitedly looked for their Jollibee.

"Let's go inside." Karlos handed the roses to his wife and then carried the twins into the house.

"What's this?"

"It's for you. I know you're more beautiful than these roses, but that's the best they had in the shop."

"..." Maya was speechless. She smiled lovingly and followed her husband and children inside.

"By the way, why do we have so many eggs? You bought them?" Karlos asked.

"They are a gift from Auntie Carmine."


[Author's Note:]

You can read more on my Patreon with:

97 advance chapters of Behind The Spotlight

81 advance chapters of Reincarnated as a Fisherman and Dad

Patreon link: https://www.patreon.com/Puji_makii

 

[Pujimaki]

Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 182


A day later.

"So how was it? Is the shrimp farm nice-looking? Brandon didn't get scammed, right?" Carmine asked her husband immediately as Gomez sat down on his bed and lightly stretched his shoulders. He had just returned from the shrimp farm, where he had helped clean the pond.

"Wife, we don't have to worry about our son anymore." Gomez smiled lightly at Carmine.

"Don't show me that fulfilled smile. I need more context. So, how was it?" Carmine asked curiously. She had been dying to know the status of the shrimp farm.

Carmine had seen a fish pond before, there was a small one near the river owned by the village/district captain's family. Aside from that, she didn't know anything about aquaculture or how that kind of business operated.

Yesterday, Brandon had invited his father to check out the shrimp farm. Gomez naturally agreed, wanting to see it for himself.

"It's amazing." Gomez smiled and explained what he had witnessed, recalling the events of earlier that day.

The shrimp farm was huge, spanning three hectares, and it had five large ponds. He saw workers cleaning one of the ponds. Karlos and Brandon were helping them, so Gomez naturally pitched in too. He was confused at first as to why the pond had a rubber floor, finding it strange to step on. They cleaned away the waste, ensuring the pond was completely spotless for the next batch of shrimp.

While cleaning, he heard the other workers talking. They mentioned that the shrimp harvest had been incredible and that the owners had earned more than a million pesos!

Gomez listened carefully, since Brandon hadn't explained much regarding the money. He also saw the manager of the shrimp farm showing immense respect toward Karlos and Brandon... Gomez was left speechless, he hadn't expected Brandon's status at the farm to be that high. He was incredibly proud of his son.

When lunchtime arrived, they shared a nice meal, and Karlos decided to explain everything to Gomez. He felt that Gomez should know the details so Brandon would have someone to turn to for advice if any problems arose, particularly from Brandon's siblings.

"Brandon's share is 5%. Every month, he will receive 5% of the farm's profit," Karlos explained.

"Am I allowed to know about this?" Gomez turned to his son, and Brandon nodded.

"This month, he earned 90,000 pesos," Karlos added.

Gomez almost choked when he heard that. He looked at his son, and Brandon shyly scratched his head. Now that everything was out in the open, Brandon felt completely at ease.

"Mr. Gomez—"

"Just call me Uncle."

"Uncle, we actually have a favor to ask you."

"I'm all ears."

"We hope that you can visit this farm at least once a week. Brandon and I want to continue fishing, and I'm going to buy a bigger bangka. We won't be able to supervise the farm as much, so we hope you can take on this role. Don't worry, I'll pay you. Is 10,000 per month enough?"

This time, Gomez actually did choke. Brandon handed him a bottle of water, and Gomez drank it down to clear his throat.

"C- Can you repeat what you just said? 10,000 pesos? Just for me to supervise the farm?"

"Yes. You don't have to visit every day or stay the whole day, just check on it once in a while to see the shrimp's progress."

"And you're going to pay me 10,000 pesos!?" Gomez still couldn't believe it. Was money really this easy to earn? Absolutely not, but Karlos was simply being generous.

Naturally, Gomez accepted the job. For someone like him who had done heavy labor his entire life, checking a shrimp farm didn't even feel like a chore. He could use his bicycle or hire a tricycle, this was easy money.

"I will check this farm every day." He was determined. For an old man like him, finding a steady source of income was a blessing, especially something as simple as visiting a shrimp farm. Heck, he would have done it for 3,000 pesos if he had to.

"Thanks, Uncle."

Karlos had already thought out this plan and discussed it with Brandon, who readily agreed. He appreciated that Karlos was being so helpful. To keep an older man thriving, you had to give him a sense of purpose.

Karlos had already thought about hiring a supervisor, but he needed someone he could trust completely. Gomez was the perfect choice because he wouldn't gossip about the farm, especially with Brandon being a co-owner. He would keep it a secret at all costs. Karlos had also discussed the matter with Zaldy, and the manager had no problem with it. It was completely normal for a shrimp farm of their scale to have a supervisor.

After lunch, Gomez became even more vigorous, cleaning the bottom of the pond with renewed energy. Brandon reminded his father to take it easy, but Gomez just shrugged. Cleaning wasn't difficult at all. Karlos and Brandon joined in as well, despite being the owners, they weren't afraid to get their hands dirty.

"... What? You're going to earn 10,000 just by visiting the shrimp farm!?" Carmine was so shocked that her jaw dropped.

"Yes, but we must keep it a secret. Karlos and Brandon don't want anyone to find out because it will cause a hassle."

"I'll keep it a secret." Carmine made a sweeping gesture and zipped her mouth shut. "Just lie down and take a rest. I'll let you have the room to yourself," she said, standing up.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to gather more eggs."

Gomez chuckled and let his wife do her thing.

'I actually wanted to talk to Brandon and convince him to stop being a fisherman so he could focus entirely on the shrimp farm. But after thinking it over, I feel like that's not the right decision. Brandon should stick with Karlos and work for him, that way, more blessings will come our way.'

Gomez believed that Karlos was blessed by the sea, everything he had witnessed today was enough to convince him. For their lives to truly get better, Brandon needed to stay by Karlos's side. Gomez even intended to encourage Brandon to help out more with Karlos's boat.

For people like them, who hadn't received a higher education and had seen their potential go to waste, someone like Karlos was their ticket to a better life. Gomez's way of thinking was a bit unorthodox, but it didn't change the reality of the situation.

From then on, Gomez visited the shrimp farm every day to check on its progress. Since he was now officially part of the payroll, Alfred decided to shoulder his supervisor's salary for the next half-year as well.

[Thank you for reading this novel.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 183


"Cheers!"

"Cheers! Hahahaha!"

Four men clanked their bottles of beer and laughed wholeheartedly. They held a drinking session at least once a week. Men love drinking, regardless of their age. Once they tasted alcohol, they would always seek it out... At least, that's how they were in the early 2000s.

"Man, these chicken feet are delicious. Mind telling me the recipe?" Jerry asked Karlos as he picked up a chicken foot.

"Of course, it's not a secret anyway. It's chicken feet adobo, but I just added a cup of Coca-Cola and let the chicken feet simmer for an hour until they were soft and falling off the bone," Karlos said.

Chicken feet were a classic delicacy for drinkers. If you cooked them the right way, they were absolutely delicious. Maya actually loved the dish so much that Karlos had left a bowl of it at home for her to enjoy. The kids loved it too, but since chicken feet had a lot of small bones, Maya had to meticulously pick them out before feeding them to the children.

"I see, I see. I'll try making that later." Jerry grabbed his beer and took a large gulp. He was already getting tipsy. "I still haven't apologized for what my brother did. I'm really sorry. Bastos explained that he was drunk at the time and unconsciously bragged about the island."

"Nah, it's alright. I didn't mind it," Karlos waved his hand. It was true that they had lost their exclusive source of income, but the island was bound to be discovered at any moment anyway. They knew they couldn't keep the island to themselves forever, since many local fishermen were already curious about their frequent catches. It was just a matter of time before the location was compromised.

"Karlos didn't mind it, but I do. It's fortunate his nose was already broken by Escudero, or else I would have given him a black eye myself." Brandon had caught a glimpse of Bastos, who was still recuperating, and saw that his nose had healed crookedly. It made him look quite ugly.

"Yeah, that kid needs to learn his lesson. I hope he becomes a better person after this," Jerry sighed. "So, what's your plan now?"

Andres picked up a piece of chicken foot and savored the taste, listening to them.

"I decided to buy a mid-size bangka."

"Huh? Wouldn't that take a month or two to finish building?"

"Nah, we bought a completed boat this time," Karlos explained. "It's a 10-meter bangka with 100 horsepower. Not bad, right?"

"Cool, you guys are really moving up," Jerry praised them, which made Brandon laugh happily. His parents had been incredibly proud of him lately, now that he had become a co-owner of a shrimp farm.

Even his father was so motivated that he visited the shrimp farm every day, staying there for at least four hours before heading home on his bicycle. Brandon actually wanted to buy a motorcycle and attach a sidecar to it, just like Karlos had done with his own. However, Gomez didn't know how to drive, so it would take a while before he could use one.

"Are you sure you can operate a mid-size bangka? A vessel that size needs at least three people."

"Yeah, we are actually looking for another person to work with us."

"What about me?" Andres put down his beer and nominated himself.

When Andres said that, everyone at the table fell silent. They all looked at him with a mix of shock and concern.

"... Andres, are you really sure?" Karlos looked closely at his friend and realized that Andres was being completely serious.

"I'm alright, I'm sure I can do it," Andres grinned confidently.

"But what happened back then..." Brandon didn't finish his sentence.

"I'm fine. I'm not really afraid of the sea itself. I can swim, and I can fish... I just sometimes remember my father and brother and get sad."

There was a deep reason why Karlos had never invited Andres to become his fishing partner before. Andres had suffered a traumatic experience at sea, he had lost both his father and his brother in a severe storm.

Their boat had been sailing far out in the open ocean when a sudden storm hit the region. They tried desperately to return to town, but the rough waves made it impossible. In the end, their boat capsized. Andres was the sole survivor of that tragedy, but he had never been the same since. Even his mother had eventually passed away from severe depression because of the loss. Andres had decided to stop fishing entirely back then, and everyone who knew his story assumed he developed a permanent phobia of the ocean.

In fact, this shared trauma was the reason why Karlos and Andres had become friends so quickly. Both of them had experienced floating helplessly in the vast sea, coming dangerously close to drowning.

"Karlos, will you hire me?"

"..."

Karlos went quiet. Jerry and Brandon waited anxiously for his response. Brandon had no objections to hiring Andres, in fact, he preferred it because Andres was someone they could trust with their lives. He was a reliable guy who already had plenty of experience in commercial fishing. As for Jerry, he just sat there quietly, waiting for Karlos's final decision. He could see that his friends' situations were improving rapidly, while Andres was the only one left behind. Naturally, he also wanted Andres to get his life back on track.

"Tomorrow, we will go to the shipyard to pick up the boat. You will come with us and help us navigate it back to the beach," Karlos finally said, which caused the entire group to erupt into cheers.

"Alright, haha! To a better future!" Brandon yelled, raising his bottle high. He was immensely relieved to know they had secured a crew member they could rely on.

"Thank you, Karlos," Andres said softly, raising his beer in gratitude.

"You don't have to thank me. If you don't show any bad reactions while we're out on the water, I'll definitely keep you on permanently." Karlos raised his own beer to meet his.

"Alright, alright, cheers!" Jerry joined in, and they all clanked their bottles together.

"Domingo is always busy. I wonder where he ran off to this time."

"That guy is always on the road, it's tough to catch him most of the time."

"That's why we should just drink his portion too, as a sign of respect!"

"Hahaha!"

[Thank you guys for reading this novel.]