Chapter 132: The Typhoon Returns
Chapter 132: The Typhoon Returns
In the distance, the returning fishing boats bobbed up and down amidst the towering waves, appearing and disappearing from view.
Jiang Xia witnessed with her own eyes a boat being swallowed by a massive wave, her heart leaping into her throat!
Fortunately, after a while, the boat resurfaced.
Jiang Xia gazed at the tumultuous sea, watching the struggling fishing boats attempting to dock amidst the rising and falling waves.
However, she couldn't find a single familiar boat.
Tea Caihua was deeply worried, "Oh no! It was fine this morning, how did the waves suddenly get so huge?"
Zhou Mu scolded, "Shut up! Shut your mouth!"
She hated it when Tea Caihua talked about life and death.
Tea Caihua fell silent.
Time passed slowly, and one by one, the fishing boats docked, each with a mix of danger and exhaustion.
The wind and waves grew stronger, and the entire wharf was engulfed by towering waves, making it impossible for anyone to stand. Jiang Xia kept retreating, but still, she couldn't spot her family's boat.
The sun had already set, and the sky was bathed in the golden afterglow of the sunset. The deep blue sea was covered in an orange hue, creating an eerie yet magnificent sight.
As darkness fell, the orange glow that had transformed the world's color gradually faded.
No other boats were visible on the vast sea, and all the village's fishing boats had returned, most of them sailing into the Shelter Alley.
Their boat had yet to come back.
"I'm going to the ancestral hall to pray!" Zhou Mu's heart was racing with anxiety, and she turned and ran in the direction of the hall.
Tea Caihua also ran, her face pale.
Jiang Xia stood there, her clothes fluttering in the howling wind, her braided pigtails flying, and dust swirling all around. She struggled to stand steady.
Her eyes stung with sand, turning red, and she dared not blink, fixated on the turbulent sea.
The waves crashed one after another, each higher than the last, blocking Jiang Xia's view.
Yet, she hoped to catch a glimpse through the brief gaps between the waves.
She knew Zhou Chenglei would be fine.
The male lead, what could possibly happen to him?
But she feared that her presence might alter his fate.
In moments of extreme terror, people tend to think irrationally, and Jiang Xia was no exception.
Even as she tried to stop herself, she couldn't help but think this way.
After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Xia finally spotted a swaying boat through the waves, floating and sinking in the giant swells.
Sometimes it was tossed high into the air, and sometimes it was submerged by the waves.
Jiang Xia's heart rose to her throat each time, and as the boat gradually approached and finally docked, she saw a familiar figure leap off.
Their gazes met in the air, and he smiled.
But the towering wave behind him swallowed his smile.
Zhou Chenglei quickly grabbed the pillar and wrapped the rope around it.
Zhou Mu knelt down, "Thank heavens! Thank you..."
Tea Caihua wiped away her tears.
The father and sons braved the wind and waves to unload bag after bag of abalone from the boat.
Only then did Jiang Xia truly understand that the fishermen's lives were constantly at the mercy of the wind and waves.
Every penny they earned came with immense risk.
That night, a storm raged outside.
Zhou Chenglei lay on the bed, and Jiang Xia helped apply medicinal wine to his wounds.
His entire back was bruised due to the fierce wind and waves. While steering the boat, a bucket blown by the strong wind had struck him.
Not only him, but Zhou Fu and Zhou Chengxin were also injured.
Jiang Xia poured some medicinal wine on his back and gently spread it evenly.
"It's too dangerous. Next time, if the weather forecast predicts a typhoon, don't go out to sea."
"Yeah, I'll stay ashore when there's a typhoon. This time, I didn't expect the typhoon to arrive so quickly," Zhou Chenglei promised, knowing her fears.
When he returned and saw her standing there alone, his heart felt like it had been pricked.
On their way home, he held her hand and could feel it trembling slightly.
The storm had been intense, and the net of fish they caught was lost to the wind and waves. If the abalone hadn't been in the live compartment, they would have lost everything.
The boat nearly capsized several times, and they almost fell into the sea.
Jiang Xia didn't say much. She gently applied the medicinal wine to his back, trying to let it penetrate while being careful not to hurt him. "Does it hurt?"
The entire back was already covered in scars, and now a large bruise had formed, leaving him unsure if his spine had been injured.
"It doesn't hurt, you can press harder, it'll help disperse the bruising faster." Her gentle touch was so soft that it made him feel as if his whole body was on fire.
Jiang Xia heard this and applied more pressure.
But her strength was too weak for Zhou Chenglei, and he didn't feel much pain. Instead, he felt as if his body was on fire! Zhou Chenglei endured it, and sweat formed on his forehead.
Jiang Xia noticed his apparent discomfort and stopped, a bit concerned. "Does it hurt a lot? Did you hurt your back?"
If her actions had aggravated a bone injury, she worried about causing further harm.
"No," Zhou Chenglei assured her, pulling her into his embrace and using his actions to prove that his back was uninjured.
The world had given him a tempest, and he returned the favor with a storm of his own, accompanied by the scent of medicinal wine.
In the middle of the night, Jiang Xia was startled awake by a loud thunderclap.
Zhou Chenglei held her close, soothing her.
The thunder was deafening, keeping Jiang Xia awake and worried about the roof tiles being blown away or leaks forming.
He kissed her, distracting her from her fears, and she eventually fell asleep from exhaustion.
Jiang Xia did indeed sleep soundly, and her worries dissipated.
As dawn approached, Zhou Chenglei woke up and remembered, but Jiang Xia was still asleep, holding onto him tightly.
He couldn't resist any longer.
When they woke up again, it was already noon.
Outside, heavy rain was pounding the roof, creating a rhythmic pitter-patter accompanied by the howling wind.
Jiang Xia stirred, her entire body aching as if every bone was sore.
The person beside her was gone, and the spot where he had lain was cold.
She endured the soreness and got up to change her clothes, feeling discomfort even when putting on her innerwear due to the bruises on her body.
Just as Jiang Xia finished changing, there was a knock on the door.
Zhou Chenglei wanted to enter, but when he pushed the door, he found it locked, realizing that Jiang Xia was awake. He knocked on the door.
Jiang Xia, dressed, walked over and opened the door, giving him a glare.
"..."
Zhou Chenglei was puzzled, wondering what he had done to upset her so early in the morning.
He closed the door and pulled her into his embrace, kissing her forehead gently. "What's wrong?"
Jiang Xia noticed the red mark on his neck, visible even with the top button of his collar fastened.
She recalled how she had bitten his shoulder the night before, seemingly unable to control herself.
It seemed she had drawn blood.
With this realization, she blushed, "I'm hungry."
Hearing this, Zhou Chenglei released her, concerned that she might be hungry. He had come to check if she was awake.
Jiang Xia went out to brush her teeth and wash her face,
and Zhou Chenglei followed, bringing her breakfast, which also served as lunch, to the table.
A large bowl of abalone, sea cucumber, and conpoy porridge, two soft-boiled eggs, a corn on the cob, a pan-fried tonguefish, and some leafy greens.
It was a nutritious meal.
Jiang Xia was indeed hungry and finished everything.
After eating, she went to help in the kitchen.
With the rain pouring down, Zhou Mu and Zhou Fu were in the kitchen, drying the abalone to prevent it from spoiling.
Jiang Xia saw them working up a sweat, their clothes drenched, and wanted to help with the fire. Zhou Mu smiled, "No need, no need. It's tricky to control the heat. We can handle it."
Drying abalone required careful attention to the fire. Any smoke would give the abalone a smoky flavor, reducing its value.
The fire couldn't be too strong, or the abalone would burn and become unsellable.
Zhou Mu was experienced in this task, often using this method to dry fish when the weather wasn't suitable for sun-drying. She could control the fire perfectly.
Zhou Fu waved Jiang Xia over, "Xia Xia, come here."
Jiang Xia thought he needed help and approached.
Zhou Chenglei held Jiang Xia back, "Dad, I'll do it."
How could Jiang Xia endure the heat from drying abalone for so long?
Zhou Fu was annoyed, "Get out of the way! I just want Xia Xia to touch these abalone!"
Could his rough hands compare to Jiang Xia's lucky touch?
Zhou Chenglei was speechless.
(End of Chapter)
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