209: Return early

The fishing enthusiasts packed up their gear and returned it to the rest cabins. However, most of them had already slept for an entire day.

Lying down to sleep again now was out of the question.

So, everyone, by unspoken agreement, came to the rest hall to relax.

Yang Qi stood at the doorway and felt that the wind and waves seemed to have grown stronger. The fishing boat had already started its return journey; the captain's decisiveness was commendable.

Wang Jinxi and the other crewmen were busy securing some items along the ship's side, fearing they might be blown away if the wind picked up.

After they finished their work, their clothes flapped loudly in the sea breeze.

Waves crashed against the hull with a "whoosh" sound, and splashes of spray landed on the deck.

The dampness in the sea breeze finally turned into raindrops, pattering onto the deck.

Yang Qi followed the crewmen into the crowded rest hall.

Inside, all the entertainment options were occupied by many people.

He ended up getting a plastic stool and sitting behind Zhang Jun to watch them play cards.

"Yang Qi, shall we go play billiards?"

Lu Hua saw Yang Qi approaching and invited him.

"No, your skill is too poor. It's a guaranteed win for me, which is boring."

Yang Qi naturally refused.

"You..." Lu Hua was a little annoyed.

"'You' what? Just tell me if you've ever lost to me or not?"

Yang Qi said provocatively.

"This..."

Lu Hua was a bit speechless, secretly vowing in his heart:

"Hmph, when I get back, I'm definitely going to find a master and learn some proper skills. I must get my revenge."

At this moment, Liu Yao drew a card that scored big and, looking at Lu Hua next to him, said with a hint of disdain:

"A Hua, don't sit so close. You're affecting my performance."

"Uh... alright!"

Lu Hua moved aside a bit.

After a while, Liu Yao scored another big hand, and Zhang Jun's cards were all of one suit.

Liu Yao grumbled as he paid his chips, then suddenly saw Lu Hua's foot resting on his stool. He immediately cursed:

"Damn it, no wonder I scored so poorly! So it was A Hua stepping on me! Are you trying to step on my good fortune?"

"Brother Yao, don't talk nonsense! Don't accuse me! You lost, and I lost too!"

Lu Hua felt that Liu Yao was wronging him. It turned out they were partners.

It wasn't that they didn't have money; it was just that sometimes when friends played together, with too many people, they would pool some money to have a sense of participation.

The others, who had good luck, were grinning, enjoying the drama.

Just as everyone was chattering, the boat suddenly shook violently, scattering the card chips all over the floor.

The rest hall instantly fell silent, followed by an even more violent jolt. Someone exclaimed:

"Could we be in some danger?"

Everyone stood up anxiously, looking out the window, only to see strong winds raging, rain pouring down, and waves like small mountains constantly crashing against the hull.

The captain's voice came over the broadcast:

"Please do not panic, everyone. We have encountered a strong storm and are currently doing our best to cope."

"As long as we get through this, everything will be fine."

Hearing this, everyone's hearts tightened. Yang Qi frowned, thinking how quickly this storm had arrived.

After the fishing boat sailed at full speed for half an hour, the boat gradually stabilized, and the storm slowly weakened.

The captain's voice came over the broadcast again: "Everyone, we have passed through the storm area."

Looking out the window, the raindrops visibly diminished, and the wind also lessened considerably.

Everyone's anxious hearts finally settled. They returned to the rest hall, but their enthusiasm for playing cards was gone. They all began discussing the thrilling experience.

They praised the captain for his decisive decision at the time.

The fishing enthusiasts also returned to their rest cabins in the rain and lay on their beds. Yang Qi clearly felt a slight swaying.

Since he often went out to sea on the setting sail, he was already used to the swaying motion. Unconsciously, he fell asleep.

He slept soundly until he woke up at 9 AM.

Yang Qi saw that the other bunks were empty. After getting up and washing, he went to the rest hall.

He found many fishing enthusiasts eating. He found an empty seat and took a breakfast.

As he ate, he overheard several fishing enthusiasts nearby discussing last night's storm.

"That storm last night was terrifying. I've never seen such big waves in my life," a fishing enthusiast said with lingering fear.

"Yes, if it weren't for the captain's rich experience, who knows what would have happened to our boat," another fishing enthusiast echoed.

Yang Qi listened to their conversation and couldn't help but feel a little emotional; last night was indeed a close call.

Just then, Zhang Jun walked over with a tray and sat opposite Yang Qi.

"Brother Jun, how did you sleep?" Yang Qi asked.

"Alright, just a bit shaky. I walked around outside just now, and I feel much better now," Zhang Jun replied.

"Haha, it's good to get used to it," Yang Qi said with a smile.

After breakfast, the two decided to go for a walk on the deck. They put on their jackets and walked out of the rest hall.

After the wind and rain, the air outside was exceptionally fresh, and the sun shone on the sea, sparkling. The fishing boat was like a sharp sword, cutting through the calm sea.

Yang Qi took a deep breath, and his mood also became exceptionally pleasant.

As he slowly walked along the deck, he suddenly saw a black speck on the distant sea. He focused his gaze and it looked like an isolated island.

As the fishing boat approached, his heart stirred, and he used his ability to inspect it.

He discovered that this small island was surrounded by reefs, and its marine resources were incredibly rich, no less than those of Endless Island.

Yang Qi took out his phone, marked this place, named it "Treasure Island," and decided that next time he would come with the setting sail to explore it.

Zhang Jun watched from the side without speaking. After a while, he said to Yang Qi:

"Yang Qi, this time we caught nine Bluefin Tunas. I estimate it might be difficult for Tian Ming to handle them all by himself."

"Because I know the channels for Tuna are not his strong suit. And he might not be able to offer a very high price."

"Especially for Bluefin Tuna, which is a relatively special type of fish. Only certain specialized channels can create higher value."

Yang Qi wasn't really familiar with this aspect, so he simply said:

"Brother Jun, you decide!"

Zhang Jun nodded and said:

"This is what I've decided: Tian Ming will invite some Japanese restaurants to an auction, and the highest bidder wins."

"After all, only these Japanese restaurants can offer higher prices for Bluefin Tuna. Then we'll arrange for a few shills, you know."

"Tian Ming can get a commission. Let him handle everything; neither you nor I should show our faces."

Yang Qi nodded and said: "Okay, Brother Jun, I'll listen to you."

Yang Qi knew that Zhang Jun would definitely not personally contact these Japanese restaurants.

After all, at his status, he valued his reputation greatly.

Getting too close to these Japanese people would not bring any benefit to him personally or to the group.