Stardew Valley’s Farming Master

Chapter 30: The Return Voyage

The joy of harvesting was matched only by the mess of handling the catch.

These lively sardines and anchovies weren’t big, but each one was bursting with energy. As Leon hauled them out of the fishing net and tossed them into the tank, they thrashed and wriggled enough to make it a real struggle.

It took him and Willy over half an hour to get the last of them secured in the tank. By then, both men were drenched in seawater, their clothes clinging to them and covered in silver scales. Under the sunlight, the strong fishy smell radiating from them was so pungent it made their eyes water.

Still, when Leon saw the tank brimming with sardines and anchovies, he had no reason to complain. Such a bountiful haul was worth a little discomfort.

“I’ll split the catch with you fifty-fifty once I sort it out,” Willy said with a grin after estimating the quantity in the tank. “It’s a good haul, and right now the market for live anchovies and sardines is great. They’ll sell fast.”

“Half seems a bit much. I only provided some bait—your boat, your nets, and you found the school,” Leon replied, pleased but unwilling to be greedy. He would take what was his without hesitation, but never more, and he wasn’t about to jeopardize a good relationship with Willy over short-term profit.

“No, no. You’re not wrong, but don’t forget—you were on board. Without you, I couldn’t have pulled them in, let alone tossed them into the tank while they were still alive. Alone, I couldn’t do it. So you take half. You worked for it, and that’s how it’s done at sea.”

Willy shook his head, then laughed when he noticed Leon looked just as bedraggled as he did. “This might be your first time on a boat, but you handled yourself like an old sailor. If I didn’t know you were a farmer, I’d be asking you to join my crew and roam the seas with me.”

Leon thought privately, You want to be Pirate King too? but he kept his words polite. “It was the least I could do, especially with such a great opportunity. It’s been a whole new experience.”

“Hahaha! I like you more and more, Leon. You’ve got the quick thinking of youth, the imagination to dream big, and the maturity to stay humble. You’re going places, no matter what field you’re in.”Willy clapped him on the shoulder. “Alright, half each—it’s settled. Now, got any strength left? If you do, we’ve got a date with some halibut. Those are the real challenge.”

“Of course,” Leon answered without hesitation. He could tell Willy was sincere about splitting the profits, and it seemed Willy wasn’t really in it for the fish. What he cared about, Leon suspected, was the exact effect of those scallion grubs.

Once they’d agreed, the fishing boat set out again. This time Willy was even warmer toward Leon, not only swapping sea stories but also sharing tips on identifying different fish and their seasonal distributions.

Some of it was new knowledge to Leon. Other details he already knew, but hearing them again helped reinforce his memory. Their cheerful conversation continued until Willy anchored in a fresh stretch of open sea.

The routine was the same—strip the grubs from the scallions, set the nets, dump the grub-filled tank into the water, and wait for the fish to gather.

This time, though, the wait dragged on for half an hour before Willy called Leon over to haul in the nets.

As Leon cranked the winch, he noticed it was much easier than last time. That usually meant a smaller catch.

But when the net’s edge broke the surface, the winch suddenly refused to budge.

“Stuck?” Leon asked, careful not to strain the mechanism.

“No, it’s just too full,” Willy said, grinning. “Time to put your back into it. I told you this was a challenge.”

Leon nodded, and together they heaved in time with Willy’s chant. More of the net emerged from the water, revealing the scene inside.

Huge, flat fish—each as wide as a washbasin—flopped wildly, desperate to break free. Smaller fish were mixed in too, but compared to the bright orange flatfish and the even larger silver-gray ones, they were pitiful—most already stunned or killed by the bigger fish’s blows.

“Just a little more. Once the whole net’s out of the water, we’ve got them,” Willy encouraged.

Leon didn’t slacken. With one last push, they won the tug-of-war against the sea.

“Let’s see… big halibut, halibut, anchovies—oh! An eel! That’s a surprise.”

Leon collapsed onto the deck, breathing hard to recover his strength. Willy, winded but in better shape, bent over the net with a wide smile.

He quickly fetched a dip net from the cabin and scooped out the eel first. Its sharp teeth could shred the net, letting the rest of the catch escape.

The eel twisted and rolled furiously in the net, its head snapping at anything within reach. Even after Willy tossed it into a separate tank, it kept darting about, testing every corner of its new prison.

By then Leon had caught his breath and joined Willy in sorting the fish.

The halibut fascinated him. He’d eaten them before, but never seen a live one. He couldn’t help but wonder how such a flat-bodied creature’s organs were arranged.

But with the boat’s limited equipment and the higher value of live halibut, he set the idea of dissection aside. They separated the species into different tanks until Willy finally said:

“Time to head back. This was a great haul—we’ll have something to celebrate tonight.”