SterbenTod
Getting some practice in, huh?
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Thanks for the chapter. Taking care of a family member is more important.
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Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad
Pujimaki
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Thank you, I appreciate your comment.
8ightbit
Know what you're doing yet?
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I hope everything is okay now author, take care of yourself,
also, don't force it otherwise you'll burnout, just do it naturally when you feel like it.
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Pujimaki
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Thank you
Hecatoncheires
Some jackass just here to read
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If I'm going to say something, it's this: Try finding your pace when to write, and aside from this, hope you keep cooking your stories.
Pujimaki
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Thank you, I'll keep that in mind
Chapter 178
New
Pujimaki
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Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 178
"Papa! Jowwybee!" Arabella ran towards her father and reminded him to buy Jollibee. The one who thought of the idea was Iñigo, but Arabella was the one who initiated the plan. Despite being young, Iñigo already had new ideas forming in his brain.
Yesterday, they saw their father bringing another box filled with shrimp. That was the moment Iñigo realized he could ask his father to buy them souvenirs whenever he used the tricycle. He found that whenever Karlos used the tricycle, he would bring souvenirs, sometimes snacks and sometimes small toys. His deduction was not completely right, but it was still impressive for a one-year-old baby.
Because of that, Iñigo and Arabella had a babble conversation. They were twins, so they understood each other better. When Iñigo explained that 'Papa can buy Jowwybee' to Arabella, the little girl immediately became excited.
Hence, Arabella asked her father to buy them Jollibee.
"You want me to buy Jollibee?"
"Yes!" Arabella nodded eagerly, and so did Iñigo, who was standing behind her. The twins looked up at their father with hopeful expressions across their adorable faces.
In their small stature, their mother was tall, but their father was far taller. He looked like a giant in their eyes, a gentle giant who played with them and brought souvenirs.
Looking at his two children, Karlos couldn't help but chuckle and knelt down to see them face to face. He patted their heads. Their eyes were filled with longing, they wanted to eat greasy food once again. Karlos recalled how sad they were when they didn't go to Jollibee last Sunday.
"Alright, I'll buy Jollibee for you guys."
"Yay!"
They jumped happily and hugged Karlos.
"Papa, I wuv you!"
"Wuv you!"
"... So you only love your father because he will bring Jollibee, is that it?" Maya giggled as she watched their interaction.
"No!" The twins denied the allegations. They loved their father no matter what... although they might hate him if he didn't bring Jollibee, they still loved him. Yeah, it was complicated for the kids, their emotions changed faster than the weather.
"Take care of the kids." Karlos turned to Maya and kissed her forehead. Maya blushed slightly and nodded, his sudden affectionate gestures were quite exciting.
"Take care on your way. Be careful on the road, drive safely," she said.
Karlos got into the tricycle. The twins waved their hands and yelled, "Bye-bye!"
Karlos didn't hit the road right away, he first went to Brandon's house, which was only a short distance away. The man with yellow hair was talking to his parents, and it seemed they were having a serious conversation because Gomez and Carmine had solemn expressions.
"Ma, Pa, let's talk later."
"Have a safe trip."
Brandon sat in the passenger seat while carrying a small sling bag.
"I didn't disturb you, right? I feel like you were talking about something serious," Karlos asked.
"Nah, it's really not that big of a deal... I just told them I'm now a co-owner of a shrimp farm and will earn a couple of thousand pesos every month. They asked me why I brought so much shrimp, and my mother reprimanded me for spending too much, so I told them the truth. Besides, I was already planning to tell them anyway. I don't want to hide it from them... I didn't cause trouble for you, right?" Brandon scratched his head awkwardly after saying that.
"It's no problem. This news will come out anyway."
"Don't worry, I told my parents to keep quiet about it. My mother might love to hear gossip, but she also knows how to keep a secret."
"That's great to hear."
Karlos nodded.
.........
......
...
"Did I hear it right, husband?" Carmine was speechless as she watched the tricycle leave.
"Brandon is a good kid, he's honest and works hard. He has no reason to lie to us." Gomez nodded, his expression calmer compared to his emotional wife.
"Then, then..." Carmine sobbed. Gomez hugged his wife and comforted her.
Carmine was not crying out of sadness, it was the opposite. She was shedding tears of joy. At last, Brandon seemed to be on the right track and had finally found people who appreciated him.
Since his childhood, Carmine and Gomez had been worried about Brandon's future once they were gone. Brandon was a good kid, but his appearance made people avoid him despite his honest personality.
And now, Brandon had just explained that he was a co-owner of a shrimp farm and was earning about 50,000 pesos per month. Brandon didn't tell them the exact number so as not to scare them.
50,000 pesos per month!
How could Gomez and Carmine take it lightly? That was a lot of money for a simple household like theirs.
"He can stand on his own now. I'm proud of him," Gomez said, and Carmine agreed while wiping her tears with trembling fingers.
"I... I'm going to go to the backyard and harvest eggs from our hens. I want to give them to Maya and her family."
Brandon hadn't explained everything, but Carmine deduced that Karlos was the reason Brandon became a co-owner of a shrimp farm. She wanted to thank them by giving them eggs, even if it was only a simple gesture of gratitude. From now on, Carmine and Gomez would treat Karlos and his family as their own and support them whenever they could.
"I'll help you," Gomez said.
.........
......
...
Una Town was huge, but not every part of it was filled with infrastructure. Only the eastern and central sides of the town were heavily populated with houses and buildings. The southern side had less infrastructure, and most villages relied on the mangroves and other fishing-related careers. As for the northern part of the town, it was under a development project.
Karlos's destination was further north of Una Town. Their tricycle sped up and passed by tall buildings that were under construction.
"This place is changing so fast! Just two years ago, this place only had endless farmlands and hills. Now I see buildings and subdivisions getting built!" Brandon was surprised, and so was Karlos.
They rarely hit this road, so they didn't expect such a huge difference. The buildings were still incomplete and might take a few years to be finished. Yet smaller infrastructures were already appearing here and there, such as convenience stores and small eateries for construction workers. This whole development project would obviously change the status of the entire town.
The tricycle traveled further until it reached the shipyard. This was the shipyard his brother-in-law had talked about. They stopped in front of a huge gate, and the guard asked about their business.
"We are here to buy a boat," Karlos said confidently. He had the money to be confident.
The guard looked at the two before letting them in after realizing they were serious customers.
[Thank you guys for reaching this novel.]
"Papa! Jowwybee!" Arabella ran towards her father and reminded him to buy Jollibee. The one who thought of the idea was Iñigo, but Arabella was the one who initiated the plan. Despite being young, Iñigo already had new ideas forming in his brain.
Yesterday, they saw their father bringing another box filled with shrimp. That was the moment Iñigo realized he could ask his father to buy them souvenirs whenever he used the tricycle. He found that whenever Karlos used the tricycle, he would bring souvenirs, sometimes snacks and sometimes small toys. His deduction was not completely right, but it was still impressive for a one-year-old baby.
Because of that, Iñigo and Arabella had a babble conversation. They were twins, so they understood each other better. When Iñigo explained that 'Papa can buy Jowwybee' to Arabella, the little girl immediately became excited.
Hence, Arabella asked her father to buy them Jollibee.
"You want me to buy Jollibee?"
"Yes!" Arabella nodded eagerly, and so did Iñigo, who was standing behind her. The twins looked up at their father with hopeful expressions across their adorable faces.
In their small stature, their mother was tall, but their father was far taller. He looked like a giant in their eyes, a gentle giant who played with them and brought souvenirs.
Looking at his two children, Karlos couldn't help but chuckle and knelt down to see them face to face. He patted their heads. Their eyes were filled with longing, they wanted to eat greasy food once again. Karlos recalled how sad they were when they didn't go to Jollibee last Sunday.
"Alright, I'll buy Jollibee for you guys."
"Yay!"
They jumped happily and hugged Karlos.
"Papa, I wuv you!"
"Wuv you!"
"... So you only love your father because he will bring Jollibee, is that it?" Maya giggled as she watched their interaction.
"No!" The twins denied the allegations. They loved their father no matter what... although they might hate him if he didn't bring Jollibee, they still loved him. Yeah, it was complicated for the kids, their emotions changed faster than the weather.
"Take care of the kids." Karlos turned to Maya and kissed her forehead. Maya blushed slightly and nodded, his sudden affectionate gestures were quite exciting.
"Take care on your way. Be careful on the road, drive safely," she said.
Karlos got into the tricycle. The twins waved their hands and yelled, "Bye-bye!"
Karlos didn't hit the road right away, he first went to Brandon's house, which was only a short distance away. The man with yellow hair was talking to his parents, and it seemed they were having a serious conversation because Gomez and Carmine had solemn expressions.
"Ma, Pa, let's talk later."
"Have a safe trip."
Brandon sat in the passenger seat while carrying a small sling bag.
"I didn't disturb you, right? I feel like you were talking about something serious," Karlos asked.
"Nah, it's really not that big of a deal... I just told them I'm now a co-owner of a shrimp farm and will earn a couple of thousand pesos every month. They asked me why I brought so much shrimp, and my mother reprimanded me for spending too much, so I told them the truth. Besides, I was already planning to tell them anyway. I don't want to hide it from them... I didn't cause trouble for you, right?" Brandon scratched his head awkwardly after saying that.
"It's no problem. This news will come out anyway."
"Don't worry, I told my parents to keep quiet about it. My mother might love to hear gossip, but she also knows how to keep a secret."
"That's great to hear."
Karlos nodded.
.........
......
...
"Did I hear it right, husband?" Carmine was speechless as she watched the tricycle leave.
"Brandon is a good kid, he's honest and works hard. He has no reason to lie to us." Gomez nodded, his expression calmer compared to his emotional wife.
"Then, then..." Carmine sobbed. Gomez hugged his wife and comforted her.
Carmine was not crying out of sadness, it was the opposite. She was shedding tears of joy. At last, Brandon seemed to be on the right track and had finally found people who appreciated him.
Since his childhood, Carmine and Gomez had been worried about Brandon's future once they were gone. Brandon was a good kid, but his appearance made people avoid him despite his honest personality.
And now, Brandon had just explained that he was a co-owner of a shrimp farm and was earning about 50,000 pesos per month. Brandon didn't tell them the exact number so as not to scare them.
50,000 pesos per month!
How could Gomez and Carmine take it lightly? That was a lot of money for a simple household like theirs.
"He can stand on his own now. I'm proud of him," Gomez said, and Carmine agreed while wiping her tears with trembling fingers.
"I... I'm going to go to the backyard and harvest eggs from our hens. I want to give them to Maya and her family."
Brandon hadn't explained everything, but Carmine deduced that Karlos was the reason Brandon became a co-owner of a shrimp farm. She wanted to thank them by giving them eggs, even if it was only a simple gesture of gratitude. From now on, Carmine and Gomez would treat Karlos and his family as their own and support them whenever they could.
"I'll help you," Gomez said.
.........
......
...
Una Town was huge, but not every part of it was filled with infrastructure. Only the eastern and central sides of the town were heavily populated with houses and buildings. The southern side had less infrastructure, and most villages relied on the mangroves and other fishing-related careers. As for the northern part of the town, it was under a development project.
Karlos's destination was further north of Una Town. Their tricycle sped up and passed by tall buildings that were under construction.
"This place is changing so fast! Just two years ago, this place only had endless farmlands and hills. Now I see buildings and subdivisions getting built!" Brandon was surprised, and so was Karlos.
They rarely hit this road, so they didn't expect such a huge difference. The buildings were still incomplete and might take a few years to be finished. Yet smaller infrastructures were already appearing here and there, such as convenience stores and small eateries for construction workers. This whole development project would obviously change the status of the entire town.
The tricycle traveled further until it reached the shipyard. This was the shipyard his brother-in-law had talked about. They stopped in front of a huge gate, and the guard asked about their business.
"We are here to buy a boat," Karlos said confidently. He had the money to be confident.
The guard looked at the two before letting them in after realizing they were serious customers.
[Thank you guys for reaching this novel.]
Chapter 179
New
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
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Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 179
The tricycle reached the parking lot outside the shipyard, the engine slowing down before falling silent. They stepped out and headed toward the entrance.
Just as they reached the gate, the sounds of hammers striking metal and the high-pitched roar of grinding reached their ears.
"Do you have a schedule?" another guard asked, eyeing them from head to toe. He was on guard as he looked at Brandon, the man's crossed eyes gave him a somewhat unsettling appearance.
"No, we are here to order a boat," Karlos replied.
"Please write your names here."
The two signed the logbook while the guard called for a manager or supervisor to handle the visitors.
"Hello, I'm Dantes, the manager of this shipyard. Our expertise is building bangkas, commercial trawler boats, and yachts." A middle-aged man greeted them with a professional smile, adjusting the ID hanging around his neck. Dantes looked at the two and assumed they were fishermen based on their humble appearance.
They headed inside. Karlos and Brandon looked around and found several unfinished bangkas in various stages of construction. In one area, sparks showered the floor as workers welded sections together, in another, men worked on woodwork, chiseling thick planks. The shipyard was massive, far larger than they had imagined.
They saw some bangkas sitting on wooden blocks and scaffolding to keep them steady while workers coated the hulls with thick layers of marine paint. Overall, the scene was unique and lively. This was their first time visiting a shipyard, and it left a strong impression.
"Can we see some mid-size bangkas?" Karlos asked as he looked around. He felt like a kid seeing something new. Even Brandon was having fun just by looking around.
"Yes, sir," Dantes replied. He confirmed they were fishermen from that question alone, but his demeanor didn't change. He showed them respect because they were customers and potential spenders. On top of that, a mid-size bangka in their shipyard costs at least 250,000 pesos with the weakest engine. Every transaction was important for the business.
Dantes led them to the pier where boats were tied to mooring posts with thick ropes. They walked further until they reached the section where the bangkas were mostly docked.
"What are you looking for in a bangka?" Dantes asked, his hands clasped behind his back.
"I'm thinking of eight meters long with 75 horsepower," Karlos answered, already having a plan in mind. He had considered the needs of their future fishing operations.
"I see, I see." Dantes nodded slowly. "We have a model like that. Let me take you there."
It wasn't far, and they soon reached another docking station. Dantes pointed at a bangka painted in white and blue. "That's the boat you're looking for. It has 75 horsepower."
The three stepped onto the boat. It featured a roof to protect them from the sun, something Karlos's old bangka lacked. It was already a huge improvement. The rear of the boat housed the engine box, where the motor resided. The engine was much larger and much harder to detach than his old one.
'We can lock the box instead. It's very difficult to steal an engine this size anyway,' Karlos thought while checking the structure. The engine box also had enough space to store other items, like bags. Karlos could even keep his gun there so he wouldn't have to carry it every time they sailed.
Karlos and Brandon inspected the boat and nodded in approval. They didn't have many requirements. As long as it had more space and a faster engine, they were satisfied. Brandon recalled his time as a hired worker, whenever they had nothing to do, they slept in the bangka next to each other because of a lack of space. It was very cold at night, especially with the sea breeze.
"We will buy it. How much?" Karlos asked Dantes.
"You mean you want this boat?"
"Yeah, but we must test the engine first. I want to make sure it's working properly."
"Sir, this bangka already has an owner. I'm just showing you this as a model." The boat they were standing on needed repainting because the owner wanted a different color before receiving it.
"So you don't have a model like this for sale right now?" Karlos frowned slightly.
"Our shipyard works on a made-to-order basis. We won't build a boat without a down payment."
"How long will it take to build our boat if I pay a down payment today?"
"Our shipyard is currently in intense production for the upcoming tuna season, so I believe it will take four to five months before your boat is finished."
"That long?" Karlos and Brandon were surprised. They were expecting to buy a boat on the spot. As first-timers at a shipyard, they obviously hadn't considered the timeline or understood how long building a ship actually took. They had only decided to buy a bigger bangka four days ago, so they hadn't had much time to think it through.
"The boat wouldn't be finished until November then. We can't wait that long. Can't you make it faster?"
"Sir, that's the fastest we can go." Dantes shook his head. The current orders had already filled their schedule.
Karlos and Brandon looked at each other.
'Do we have to buy a second-hand bangka instead? Sure, it's cheaper, but having a brand new one is better since I'm looking for a newer, faster engine,' Karlos thought. He remembered Joseph saying that a second-hand bangka could cost at least 150,000 pesos.
The two men made eye contact.
'Seems like we have to go to another shipyard,' Brandon mentally said, and Karlos agreed. Waiting several months was too inconvenient.
"Well then, it's nice meeting you, Dantes. My partner and I will think about it first."
"W-Wait a minute, sir!" Dantes stopped them before they could walk away. He was afraid of losing potential customers. "I still haven't answered your other question. This eight-meter bangka with 75 horsepower costs 310,000 pesos."
"Alright... Thank you for reminding us." Karlos could use that as a baseline to compare prices at other shipyards. Una Town had two shipyards, though he recalled that the other one was slightly more expensive and focused on larger vessels.
Dantes watched their reactions and noted that neither man flinched when he announced the price.
'Does that mean they don't care about the price? Do they actually have 310,000 pesos to spend? Even the cross-eyed guy was calm.' Dantes grew excited. "Sir, this boat indeed has an owner, but we have another bangka that might interest you. It has almost the same specs as this boat, but it's slightly bigger."
"Size doesn't matter," Karlos said.
"Alright," Dantes grinned. "This way, please."
[Thank you guys for reaching this novel.]
The tricycle reached the parking lot outside the shipyard, the engine slowing down before falling silent. They stepped out and headed toward the entrance.
Just as they reached the gate, the sounds of hammers striking metal and the high-pitched roar of grinding reached their ears.
"Do you have a schedule?" another guard asked, eyeing them from head to toe. He was on guard as he looked at Brandon, the man's crossed eyes gave him a somewhat unsettling appearance.
"No, we are here to order a boat," Karlos replied.
"Please write your names here."
The two signed the logbook while the guard called for a manager or supervisor to handle the visitors.
"Hello, I'm Dantes, the manager of this shipyard. Our expertise is building bangkas, commercial trawler boats, and yachts." A middle-aged man greeted them with a professional smile, adjusting the ID hanging around his neck. Dantes looked at the two and assumed they were fishermen based on their humble appearance.
They headed inside. Karlos and Brandon looked around and found several unfinished bangkas in various stages of construction. In one area, sparks showered the floor as workers welded sections together, in another, men worked on woodwork, chiseling thick planks. The shipyard was massive, far larger than they had imagined.
They saw some bangkas sitting on wooden blocks and scaffolding to keep them steady while workers coated the hulls with thick layers of marine paint. Overall, the scene was unique and lively. This was their first time visiting a shipyard, and it left a strong impression.
"Can we see some mid-size bangkas?" Karlos asked as he looked around. He felt like a kid seeing something new. Even Brandon was having fun just by looking around.
"Yes, sir," Dantes replied. He confirmed they were fishermen from that question alone, but his demeanor didn't change. He showed them respect because they were customers and potential spenders. On top of that, a mid-size bangka in their shipyard costs at least 250,000 pesos with the weakest engine. Every transaction was important for the business.
Dantes led them to the pier where boats were tied to mooring posts with thick ropes. They walked further until they reached the section where the bangkas were mostly docked.
"What are you looking for in a bangka?" Dantes asked, his hands clasped behind his back.
"I'm thinking of eight meters long with 75 horsepower," Karlos answered, already having a plan in mind. He had considered the needs of their future fishing operations.
"I see, I see." Dantes nodded slowly. "We have a model like that. Let me take you there."
It wasn't far, and they soon reached another docking station. Dantes pointed at a bangka painted in white and blue. "That's the boat you're looking for. It has 75 horsepower."
The three stepped onto the boat. It featured a roof to protect them from the sun, something Karlos's old bangka lacked. It was already a huge improvement. The rear of the boat housed the engine box, where the motor resided. The engine was much larger and much harder to detach than his old one.
'We can lock the box instead. It's very difficult to steal an engine this size anyway,' Karlos thought while checking the structure. The engine box also had enough space to store other items, like bags. Karlos could even keep his gun there so he wouldn't have to carry it every time they sailed.
Karlos and Brandon inspected the boat and nodded in approval. They didn't have many requirements. As long as it had more space and a faster engine, they were satisfied. Brandon recalled his time as a hired worker, whenever they had nothing to do, they slept in the bangka next to each other because of a lack of space. It was very cold at night, especially with the sea breeze.
"We will buy it. How much?" Karlos asked Dantes.
"You mean you want this boat?"
"Yeah, but we must test the engine first. I want to make sure it's working properly."
"Sir, this bangka already has an owner. I'm just showing you this as a model." The boat they were standing on needed repainting because the owner wanted a different color before receiving it.
"So you don't have a model like this for sale right now?" Karlos frowned slightly.
"Our shipyard works on a made-to-order basis. We won't build a boat without a down payment."
"How long will it take to build our boat if I pay a down payment today?"
"Our shipyard is currently in intense production for the upcoming tuna season, so I believe it will take four to five months before your boat is finished."
"That long?" Karlos and Brandon were surprised. They were expecting to buy a boat on the spot. As first-timers at a shipyard, they obviously hadn't considered the timeline or understood how long building a ship actually took. They had only decided to buy a bigger bangka four days ago, so they hadn't had much time to think it through.
"The boat wouldn't be finished until November then. We can't wait that long. Can't you make it faster?"
"Sir, that's the fastest we can go." Dantes shook his head. The current orders had already filled their schedule.
Karlos and Brandon looked at each other.
'Do we have to buy a second-hand bangka instead? Sure, it's cheaper, but having a brand new one is better since I'm looking for a newer, faster engine,' Karlos thought. He remembered Joseph saying that a second-hand bangka could cost at least 150,000 pesos.
The two men made eye contact.
'Seems like we have to go to another shipyard,' Brandon mentally said, and Karlos agreed. Waiting several months was too inconvenient.
"Well then, it's nice meeting you, Dantes. My partner and I will think about it first."
"W-Wait a minute, sir!" Dantes stopped them before they could walk away. He was afraid of losing potential customers. "I still haven't answered your other question. This eight-meter bangka with 75 horsepower costs 310,000 pesos."
"Alright... Thank you for reminding us." Karlos could use that as a baseline to compare prices at other shipyards. Una Town had two shipyards, though he recalled that the other one was slightly more expensive and focused on larger vessels.
Dantes watched their reactions and noted that neither man flinched when he announced the price.
'Does that mean they don't care about the price? Do they actually have 310,000 pesos to spend? Even the cross-eyed guy was calm.' Dantes grew excited. "Sir, this boat indeed has an owner, but we have another bangka that might interest you. It has almost the same specs as this boat, but it's slightly bigger."
"Size doesn't matter," Karlos said.
"Alright," Dantes grinned. "This way, please."
[Thank you guys for reaching this novel.]
Chapter 180
New
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
- Joined
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- Messages
- 1,373
- Likes received
- 23,131
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.]
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.]
Chapter 181
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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
"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