98: The sea is open

The group bid farewell to Zhang Long and exited the Maritime Safety Administration's main entrance. Yang Qi and the others then arrived at Dapan Bay pier. The boat owner kept exclaiming on the way:

"I really didn't expect it! The transfer was completed in just over two hours. Before, it took me almost a month to get all these documents, including the application time!"

"It really is easier to get things done when you have connections!"

Yang Qi found it awkward to respond to that, so he simply transferred the remaining 508,000 yuan as the final payment to the boat owner.

After receiving the final payment, the boat owner offered his blessings to everyone, then bid them farewell and left.

Now, only Yang Qi could drive back to Qingshan Town. Bai Dahai had a boat license and could pilot this 18-meter fishing boat.

He would take Yang Dad back by boat.

This had all been confirmed in advance; otherwise, if they didn't have fishing boat licenses, they would only be able to buy a small boat under 7 meters.

Yang Qi's A1F license was a yacht license, and he truly couldn't operate this fishing boat.

Yang Qi drove the minivan back to Qingshan Town. On the way, he had already called Zhang Fei, stating that he wanted to rent another berth.

Upon learning that Yang Qi had bought another fishing boat, Zhang Fei first offered his congratulations, then found him a berth. The rent remained 5,000 yuan per month.

Yang Qi called his dad, explaining that he had already rented a berth at the training center and told them to dock the boat there directly.

By the time he drove to the training center's pier, he found Bai Xue and others already waiting there.

Yang Qi went to find Zhang Fei, and a staff member immediately came over to handle the procedures for him.

Yang Qi also noticed Bai Xue holding a KT board with engraved words, and Bai Lang carrying four or five cans of spray paint.

This was something Yang Qi had asked them to do in advance. Because after the boat was transferred, it would definitely need a new name.

When the boat was registered at the Maritime Safety Administration, it had already been renamed.

"harvest" was a name Yang Qi, being terrible at naming things, had racked his brain to come up with.

The group stood on the pier, waiting anxiously, and finally, the fishing boat slowly entered the pier.

Under Yang Qi's command, the fishing boat steadily docked at the berth.

Everyone eagerly boarded the boat to look around. Bai Xue and her brother immediately began spraying the boat's name.

The three large characters "harvest" were sprayed on both sides of the bow and both sides of the cockpit.

Originally, the entire boat needed a fresh coat of paint, but the fishing season was starting in a few days. There wasn't enough time.

Everyone unanimously decided to do it during the boat's overhaul; for now, they would use it as is, as making money was the priority.

The family first gave Yang Qi 150,000 yuan, with Yang Qi fronting the rest. They would prioritize paying him back once they started earning money.

Yang Qi readily agreed and even jokingly teased his dad,

"Dad, are you under any pressure? Otherwise, I'll pay for it."

Yang Dad rolled his eyes: "I am under pressure, but your mom isn't. She's been saving money for your marriage, you know?"

So, Yang Qi called the oil vendor, asking him to bring the fuel truck over and explaining that two boats needed fuel.

Afterward, the group boarded harvest to check if any equipment needed to be added.

Finally, Yang Dad was left alone to wait for the fuel truck, while the other women, taking a reluctant Bai Lang with them, went to purchase daily necessities for harvest.

Yang Qi, meanwhile, took Bai Dahai back home and lent him the tricycle that hadn't been used in a long time.

The two went to the fishing tackle shop to stock up on equipment. harvest added 5 baskets of longline hooks, 200 crab pots, and two sets of 500-meter large-mesh gillnets.

setting sail would primarily focus on fishing with hooks, and there wouldn't be too many people, as Yang Qi had decided early on. This time, he ordered two baskets of longline hooks and 50 crab pots. He also bought a hand-throwing net.

The two returned to the training center pier. The fuel truck was already fueling the two boats, and everyone helped move the goods onto the decks of both boats and arranged them.

They would rest for one day tomorrow, and after the fishing season opened the day after, both boats would go out to sea together. The local fishing moratorium was from 12:00 AM on May 1st to 12:00 AM on August 15th each year.

Bai Dahai began marking the buoys. In reality, these were just measures to deter gentlemen, not scoundrels.

If someone truly wanted to steal from you, no matter how obvious the markings, it would be useless.

Both boats were fully fueled. setting sail, with its larger fuel tank, had some fuel left from its morning return, and this time it was filled for 29,000 yuan.

harvest, which had little fuel left and a smaller tank, was filled for 13,000 yuan.

The two families returned to Yang Qi's house and had a big meal to celebrate.

During the meal, Bai Dahai mentioned hiring another captain. Yang Qi, of course, knew that such a large trawler definitely couldn't be managed by just two people.

Later, he would definitely need to hire crewmen, and he didn't want his dad to be too tired.

With his ability to find fish, harvest would surely have a bountiful harvest.

So he thought for a moment and then said, "Let's hire another Ship worker. Otherwise, you won't be able to handle it."

"This... maybe not for now! A captain alone costs a lot in wages. As for crewmen, let's wait and see. We'll manage ourselves for now."

Bai Dahai was a bit reluctant to spend the money.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Bai Dahai came over and called Yang Dad to leave together. The two went to harvest and carefully checked all the equipment again.

When Yang Qi arrived at the scene, he also saw a man in his forties. The group was talking there.

"That must be the captain they talked about last night!" Yang Qi thought to himself.

Indeed, seeing Yang Qi approach, Bai Dahai introduced him. This person was Chen Zhongwei, Chen Lanying's cousin, an old fisherman who had served as a captain. He used to go fishing with him and was honest.

"Uncle Chen, we'll be bothering you from now on!"

Yang Qi and the other man smiled and shook hands.

"Not at all, not at all. I will do my best in my duties, rest assured. Dahai knows me well."

Chen Zhongwei was clearly an honest fisherman, not a man of many words, but his face was full of sincerity.

"Alright! You all chat for a bit and see if there's anything else that needs to be prepared. We'll have lunch together later."

Yang Qi bid farewell to the group and left the pier.

At noon, everyone had lunch together at Yang Qi's house, then started to identify and address any deficiencies, going to purchase items needed for going out to sea tomorrow. This included offerings for tomorrow's worship of Mazu. Yang Qi, not understanding any of it, did not participate at all.

Early the next morning, both families, along with Captain Chen Zhongwei, rushed to the pier.

Today was the opening of the fishing season, which meant that nets could be used, implying increasing competition at sea, and trawlers could also operate.

The pier was bustling with people. Besides local fishermen, many tourists from other areas came to participate in the fishing season opening festival organized by the local government.

The Mazu Temple was crowded with people. Yang Qi and the others found Mother Yang and the others who were arranging offerings.

At 8 o'clock sharp, the event began. First, there was a speech by the leader, who prattled on and on. Yang Qi didn't listen to a single word. The group boarded the boat and waited.