268: Setting off again for the South China Sea

The setting sail cut through the vast, boundless sea, like a spear piercing the deep ocean, with the setting sail itself as the spearhead.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the dark sky seemed to be gently lifted by someone, gradually transitioning from black to gray, then to the pale white of a fish's belly.

From that moment on, the eastern sky in the distance changed every moment, starting from the first ray of sunlight piercing through the clouds and shining on the sea, dyeing the clouds and the sea golden.

Those who haven't experienced it firsthand cannot truly understand the profound mood of that moment.

It was a cleansing of the soul.

Yao Shanshan stood at the bow of the ship, facing the rising sun, and couldn't help but spread her arms, bathing in the golden sunlight.

As the saying goes: "A thousand people drink tea, but taste it differently; ten thousand people walk the same path, but have different hearts."

Bai Xue, lying on a deck chair, took out her camera and snapped several photos of Yao Shanshan's back and profile.

Hearing the camera's click, Yao Shanshan turned around and looked over. Her smile clearly held a hint of strain, and Bai Xue even noticed tear stains at the corners of her good friend's eyes.

No one knew what she was thinking at that moment; perhaps she was missing her deceased relatives, or perhaps she was recalling the hardships she had endured along the way.

Bai Xue didn't say much; she just walked over and gently hugged her. At that moment, she felt her body trembling slightly and heard soft sobs.

Yao Shanshan softly said, "Thank you, Xiaoxue."

"Everything will be alright. You have me."

"Mm."

A moment later, the two returned to calm. They happily went to make breakfast.

In fact, life is like this; there is no strength without reason. Perhaps it's just a facade, a shell worn on the surface. And it's possible that this shell could be shattered in an instant at some point.

(Please forgive my rambling in this section, esteemed sirs, as I myself have had such an experience.

That time, watching the sunrise, at a certain moment, I unexpectedly recalled sad memories and instantly burst into tears. However, no one comforted me at the time; there were only a few rough old men around me.)

Back to the main topic!

"Husband, let's eat! Or else we can stop the boat for a bit."

Bai Xue came to the cockpit and said to Yang Qi.

"Alright, there's no rush now. How about we eat and then fish for a while?"

Yang Qi said with a smile.

"You decide, I'll listen to you."

"So obedient, let's eat first!"

On the deck, Yao Shanshan had already set the table. This morning's breakfast was a large clay pot of dried Large Yellow Croaker and tofu skin egg porridge, along with two stir-fried vegetables and steamed buns.

"Mmm! This dried Large Yellow Croaker is really fragrant, perfect for porridge," Yang Qi praised.

This dried Large Yellow Croaker was bought by Bai Xue; it was farmed Large Yellow Croaker, 160 yuan per jin.

"Indeed, existence is reasonable; the flavor is unique. I wonder what dried Large Yellow Croaker made from wild Large Yellow Croaker would taste like?"

"If wild Large Yellow Croaker were that big, the cost of the fish alone would be over 2,000 yuan per jin."

Bai Xue said.

"Then it would have to sell for 4,000 yuan per jin! I couldn't afford that! I'd rather eat it fresh!"

Yang Qi also shook his head upon hearing this.

"But every time you catch one, don't you always cook some to eat?"

Bai Xue said with a smile.

"You two actually kill and eat the Large Yellow Croaker you catch yourselves! That's really something."

Yao Shanshan looked at the two of them, somewhat speechless.

"Him! As long as he hasn't eaten it before, no matter how expensive, he has to try it first."

"Shanshan, for this fishing trip's harvest, I'll give you a 5% share. Don't think it's too little."

Yang Qi said, this share was decided by him and Bai Xue last night.

After all, she was Bai Xue's best friend and didn't have much money, so they would help her if they could.

"Ah! I just came along to see things; I don't want a share. And I know going to the South China Sea involves a lot of expenses."

Yao Shanshan quickly shook her head, refusing.

"Oh, come on! Don't be so wishy-washy, if I give it to you, just take it. Do you want to come on the boat and not work? Otherwise, I'll have to resort to severe punishment."

Bai Xue joked from the side, starting to tickle her armpit. The scene was too beautiful; Yang Qi couldn't even look directly.

"Alright then! Thank you, Yang Qi and Xiaoxue."

After some playful banter, Yao Shanshan nodded in agreement. She had no concept of how much a five percent share of the harvest would be; she simply felt it was wrong to take the money.

The three of them chatted and laughed, finishing their breakfast.

Seeing Bai Xue and the other go to the rest cabin to apply sunscreen and change clothes, Yang Qi also went to the cockpit to put on his sun-protective clothing, a fisherman's hat, and anti-puncture gloves.

By the time he emerged wearing a mask and sunglasses, he was fully equipped, his original appearance completely hidden.

Yang Qi pulled the bait box and went to the live bait compartment to scoop up some live shrimp. He also went to the freezer to get a box of frozen bait.

He picked up a wooden board, placed it on the gunwale, and began chopping fish pieces into a plastic bucket.

Bai Xue also came out with Yao Shanshan; both were fully equipped, not a patch of skin exposed.

This was normal; direct sunlight on the sea for a morning would cause exposed skin to peel, and in severe cases, even burn.

"Husband, we're here!"

Bai Xue pulled Yao Shanshan over.

"Let's assemble the fishing rods first. Shanshan has no fishing experience, so I'll teach her how to use the electric reel."

"Okay! You two go ahead!"

Bai Xue and the other came to the fishing spot and began hand-on teaching.

"Shanshan, look, this is where you plug in this wire, this shows the length of the fishing line in meters, this is the drag adjustment switch, and this is the line release and retrieve switch..."

The two quickly assembled two electric reels, attached live shrimp, and began fishing.

"Husband, do you want me to assemble an electric reel for you?"

Bai Xue asked Yang Qi.

"Not yet, I'll use the boat rock fishing rod first!"

Yang Qi saw that this area was over a hundred meters deep and had quite a few fish nearby, so he picked up a piece of fish, put it on the hook, and cast it into the sea.

The lead sinker quickly pulled the hook down. When it reached about a hundred meters, he stopped releasing the line.

Yang Qi inserted the fishing rod into the rod holder and began throwing some fish pieces near their fishing spots.

Then he returned to his fishing rod, gently moving it up and down to entice nearby fish to come and feed.

The first to catch a fish was Bai Xue, followed by Yao Shanshan. After the retrieve switch was pressed, both their electric reels began to automatically wind the line with a "zzzz" sound.

Yang Qi was quite helpless. When it came to luck, he could never beat Bai Xue, and now even Yao Shanshan was doing better than him.

"Wow, a double catch of Redtail Bird, 4,000 yuan in hand, a perfect start."

Bai Xue excitedly said to Yang Qi and Yao Shanshan.

"Very good, a nice auspicious start!"

Yang Qi gave Bai Xue a look that said, "You're amazing."

"Ah! This, is this really 4,000 yuan already?"

Yao Shanshan hadn't fully processed it.

"Hmm, Husband, you're idle anyway, you tell her, I'm very busy."