Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 87
Karlos pulled out a wine bottle from the backpack. His backpack was filled with baby essentials such as diapers, milk bottles, and milk formula. He meticulously hid the bottle inside the bag so that Maya wouldn't notice anything odd, especially since Maya had sharp eyes whenever something unusual was involved.
Joseph set up the table, snacks and ice included. As much as he wanted to light a cigarette, he controlled the urge because the twins might show up and Penelope would definitely scold him again for smoking indoors.
The two were not used to wine. They simply filled their glasses with ice and wine, completely unaware that wine enthusiasts would probably scream at such heresy. Nonetheless, both of them found the taste novel and high-class. A refreshing change from the cheap brandy and beer they usually consumed. The sweet-sour grape flavor mixed with a hint of alcohol lingered on their tongues longer than expected, making them nod in approval.
"I can only drink a glass. Anything more than that will be too much," Karlos said. They had to return to the villa later, and he needed to be sober all the way, especially with two toddlers in hand.
"Hm, I'll take you back using my sidecar later. I also won't drink too much," Joseph replied.
They clinked their glasses and drank again, enjoying the wine. The two men talked about life and serious topics. Karlos felt like the salmon season would end around the holidays, judging by the gradual decrease in their daily catch.
"Salmon are decreasing in price too," Joseph added. Being a buyer, he knew that salmon was becoming oversaturated in their region, hence the lower price. But the inland cities were different, the supply was lower, demand was stable, and profit margins were much higher. The price of salmon there was at least three times higher. Joseph had earned quite a large amount this month.
"What's your plan next year?" Joseph asked with genuine curiosity.
"Once the house is built, I'm thinking of buying a sidecar or a bigger bangka. It depends on the situation and how much money we manage to save."
"A sidecar is less expensive. I bought mine for 70,000 pesos, though prices might have risen since then."
"What's the brand of the motorcycle?"
"Honda. I bought the motorcycle for 50,000 pesos, then attached a sidecar that cost 20,000."
"I see." Karlos nodded, now having a clearer idea of the price. He was interested in buying a sidecar for transportation, especially for trips to the market, bank, central plaza, and fish port. Traveling with the twins on foot was exhausting. Their shops were in the central plaza and the fish port, making a reliable vehicle necessary.
As for why a sidecar instead of a car, Karlos didn't know how to drive a car. He knew how to drive a motorcycle, but a car was different. Furthermore, a sidecar was cheaper. The cheapest car cost around 400,000 pesos. He could afford it, but he didn't need something so expensive at the moment.
"What bangka are you looking for?"
"A mid-sized one. Ten meters long, big enough to handle deeper waters but still manageable for a small crew."
"Then you have to save at least 150,000 pesos. You can already buy a second-hand or third-hand bangka with that amount, though you need to check the hull carefully. Repairs are expensive."
"I'm looking for a new one with higher horsepower. At least 15 horsepower." Karlos wanted to upgrade. A ten-meter bangka could carry more fish, though it also used more fuel. It also required at least three people since managing it alone was impossible.
"Once you're serious about buying one, I can contact my friend. He works in a shipyard. He can help you find what you're looking for and maybe give you a slight discount."
"Thanks. Once I buy a bigger one, I'll return the small bangka to you."
"You don't have to do that. I gave the bangka to you. You don't need to return it. It's just going to rot at my place anyway. You can sell it or use it as backup when your new boat is under maintenance."
"I'm going to return it. You can use it whenever you want to try fishing at sea," Karlos insisted.
"Alright, if you say so. I won't argue with you anymore."
They had known each other for almost three years now. Karlos was stubborn once he made a decision. He didn't want to take advantage of his brother-in-law's goodwill. The small bangka was Joseph's property in the first place, and Karlos respected that deeply. He was already thankful that Joseph had given him the chance to earn money using it during a time when he had nothing else.
The two continued their conversation, eventually reaching taxes, an inevitable topic that soured the mood. Both men bitterly smiled as they spoke about the dreadful law that politicians forced on them. Taxes in Adobo Country were more like extortion, especially when corrupt officials were the ones benefiting while ordinary citizens struggled.
Instead of going toward public services such as road repairs, politicians stole the money, building mansions and funding their campaigns.
Last year, in April, Karlos had been safe from paying the highest income tax because his income bracket didn't surpass one million pesos. Still, they paid 20% of their overall income, which already felt heavy.
But now, Karlos' smooth sailing season had earned him more than one million pesos. He earned so much that he could spend money on building a proper house. He couldn't hide that from the taxman no matter how much he wished he could. The thought of paying 30% income tax felt painful, almost like throwing money straight into a pit. No wonder wealthy people did everything to evade taxes.
'Well, I can consider it as helping my country. Although I know for sure that my taxes will never achieve their real purpose. One way or another, someone from the government will steal our money.'
Karlos wasn't sure about the exact amount because Maya handled their funds, but he probably earned 3.5 million pesos this year… Definitely sad to see 30% of that disappear.
Even Joseph couldn't help but sigh. As a middleman, he earned a significant profit every trip, 50,000 to 80,000 pesos. Within a month, he would deliver fish about 20 times to the cities, working tirelessly to keep up with demand. The idea of paying taxes was painful to imagine.
"Mama! We are back!"
"Wow, Auntie, you're here! You also brought the twins!"
"They are so cute!"
Karlos and Joseph heard the commotion outside. Joseph and Penelope's two children had arrived from school. They saw Maya and the twins in the store.
"Change your clothes. Your Auntie brought gifts for you."
"Really!? Let's gooo!"
A young boy in his elementary uniform excitedly opened the door, followed by his older sister, Penelope, and Maya.
The young boy, Gavin, glanced at Joseph and Karlos before running upstairs to change.
However, the three females paused the moment they saw Karlos and Joseph drinking. The two men froze in guilt. The wine was on the table, along with fried fish and two glasses filled with alcohol.
Penelope and Maya glared at them.
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[This novel has 49 chapters on Patreon.]