https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-22-A-Single-Net-Catching-Half-a-Year-s-Worth-of-Earnings/12811704/
Chapter 21: Setting Sail
Chapter 21: Setting Sail
Today was Zhou Chenglei’s turn to use the boat. The three of them had agreed on this during dinner yesterday: Zhou Chenglei would go out to sea today, Zhou Chengxin tomorrow, and their father the day after.
Zhou Chengxin probably felt guilty about living in the new house while Zhou Chenglei and their parents stayed in the old one, so he let Zhou Chenglei go first.
Zhou Chenglei carefully moved the small arm and long leg that were draped over him. However, just as he managed to free her arm, her leg wrapped around him even tighter.
He tried a few more times, but every time he moved her, she just held on again.
He was starting to sweat!
Zhou Chenglei whispered, "Jiang Xia, you need to let go of me. I have to get up and go out to sea."
"Jiang Xia, Jiang Xia."
He called her name three times before she finally stirred, mumbling, "Oh, are we getting up to sell vegetables?"
She sat up without even opening her eyes.
Zhou Chenglei was speechless. What was this about getting up to sell vegetables? Was she dreaming about selling vegetables?
"I’m going out to sea. You can keep sleeping."
The deep, soothing voice in her ear made Jiang Xia snap to attention, instantly awake.
She had been dreaming about sleeping with her grandmother.
Zhou Chenglei pulled back the mosquito net and got out of bed without turning on the light. "You can keep sleeping."
Jiang Xia was now fully awake. Remembering that he was going out to sea, she quickly got out of bed and fumbled to turn on the light. "I want to go with you. I’ve never been out to sea before and I’d love to see it. Is that okay?"
Life by the sea meant living off the sea, and Jiang Xia wanted to experience fishing firsthand. Who knew, maybe she’d have a chance to get her own fishing boat and go out to sea herself one day.
Zhou Chenglei was about to refuse. The sun was intense at sea, and she wouldn’t last long. But when he looked into her eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to say no.
In the dim light, her beautiful, large eyes sparkled like the sea at night, reflecting the moonlight. They were deep and captivating, filled with hope.
He nodded. "Okay."
After all, today was his turn to go out to sea, and any money he made would be his alone. It wouldn’t affect his brother. If she couldn’t handle it, she could always come back early. It would just mean a bit of wasted fuel.
Jiang Xia’s eyes lit up with a bright smile. "I’ll go get ready!"
If her eyes had been like the sea at night, reflecting the moonlight, they were now like the sea at dusk, reflecting the sun. They were dazzling and brilliant, like a star-studded sky.
Zhou Chenglei gave a light acknowledgment, then averted his gaze, grabbed his clothes, and left the room.
Since Zhou Chenglei was taking Jiang Xia out to sea, his mother pulled his father aside and quietly instructed him to be considerate and not get in the way of their son and daughter-in-law building a relationship. She wanted to see a grandchild as soon as possible!
His father was speechless. Did she think their boat was that big?
Hide on the side? He might as well jump into the sea!
The three of them walked to the pier together.
It was early August, and the seaside was bathed in moonlight and starlight just before dawn, with fishing lights dotting the horizon.
The sea breeze carried a faint, refreshing scent of the ocean.
Most of the villagers who went out to sea for fishing set off around this time, but they were a bit late today, and several boats had already sailed out.
Zhou Chenglei’s father wore a flashlight on his head to light the way, and he walked quickly.
Jiang Xia didn’t want to lag behind, so she jogged to keep up.
"No rush. My dad is going to buy some diesel first."
Jiang Xia slowed down her pace.
Zhou Chenglei held a flashlight to light her way, matching his steps to hers.
After about ten minutes, they reached the pier.
The pier was lined with fishing boats, their lights casting a hazy glow, and figures moved about.
Everyone was preparing to set sail.
Zhou Chenglei’s father had already bought the diesel and was loading it onto the boat.
When they saw the person with Zhou Chenglei wasn’t Zhou Chengxin but a woman, they couldn’t help but give her a curious look.
An elderly man, about the same age as Zhou Chenglei’s father, glanced at Jiang Xia and asked, "Ah Lei, is this your wife? You’re taking her out to sea?"
Zhou Chenglei climbed onto the boat first and extended a hand to help Jiang Xia, worried she might lose her balance. "Yeah."
Jiang Xia glanced at his large hand before extending hers.
Zhou Chenglei helped her onto the boat and then let go.
The man turned to Zhou’s father, "Zhou Yongfu, are you inviting disaster by bringing a woman out to sea?"
Zhou’s father was untying the ropes and replied irritably, "Nonsense! I’m not as superstitious as you. I believe in nothing being forbidden!"
"Ha! Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Women have no bottom, and you dare bring them out to sea? You’re asking for trouble!"
Other villagers chimed in, "Chenglei, the sea isn’t a place for fooling around. Listen to your uncle and don’t bring your wife out! Women on boats bring bad luck, do you want to risk your life?"
Jiang Xia had never heard of these beliefs, and she didn’t believe them either. However, she wasn’t sure if Zhou Chenglei did.
She asked, "Is there a saying in the village that women can’t go out to sea?"
Zhou Chenglei didn’t like these superstitions and replied coolly, "Not in my family. We don’t need to follow others."
It was the era of reform and opening up, where women could hold their own, and even warships had female crew members. How could they be unlucky? He never thought women couldn’t do anything; some female soldiers were quite brave.
Zhou’s father steered the boat out to sea.
He didn’t believe these superstitions either. He had secretly taken his wife out to sea before, and they had lived a peaceful life together.
He only believed in the power of a united couple!
Seeing that they wouldn’t listen, the villagers all shook their heads, "Not heeding the elders’ advice will only lead to trouble."
"Truly fearless!"
"Just wait for the bad luck! Even if the boat doesn’t capsize, you won’t catch any fish."
"Why bother warning him? Just let them be..."
The engine hummed with a "dada" sound as the boat slowly made its way into the vast, dark sea, with the stars twinkling overhead.
The night sea had little to offer, only the occasional light from fishing boats.
She looked up at the summer night sky, where the stars shimmered.
"Are you cold?" Zhou Chenglei handed her a military-green jacket.
"A little."
The sea breeze was slightly cool, so Jiang Xia took the jacket and put it on.
It had a faint scent of soap, a familiar aroma from him.
Zhou Chenglei gave her the jacket and then went to steer the boat, letting his father rest.
As time passed, the stars gradually faded, and the sky began to brighten. A line of white light appeared on the eastern horizon, gradually spreading.
Jiang Xia prepared to watch the sunrise when she suddenly saw a flash of gold on the distant sea.
She asked curiously, "Zhou Chenglei, I saw a flash of gold on the water over there. Was it some kind of glowing fish?"
Zhou Chenglei was steering the boat, and the engine’s noise made it hard for him to hear. Zhou’s father looked in the direction Jiang Xia pointed but saw nothing.
"Some fish do glow," he said nonchalantly.
Seeing they had gone far enough, Zhou’s father went to take over steering and told Zhou Chenglei, "You go set the nets, I’ll steer."
Zhou Chenglei walked over to prepare the nets.
Jiang Xia faintly heard a "gagga" sound.
She asked, "Did you hear that gagga sound? Was it a seabird?"
"Gagga sound?" Zhou Chenglei paused, not setting the nets, and looked out to sea. "Which direction?"
Zhou’s father also looked at Jiang Xia. "What gagga sound?"
This wasn’t a sound a regular fish would make.
The sound stopped, but Jiang Xia pointed in a direction. "It seemed to come from over there."
Zhou’s father immediately steered the boat in the direction Jiang Xia pointed, his interest piqued.
"Gagga" sounds, could it be...
At that moment, the "gagga" sound rang out again.
Jiang Xia: "Listen, it’s happening again!"
As soon as she spoke, the gagga sound echoed again, and then again, like the croaking of frogs in early summer fields or the chirping of cicadas in trees.
"Gagga, gagga, gagga..."
The sound grew louder, like water boiling in a kettle, or the rush of wind through a pine forest.
"Gagga, gagga, gagga..."
The chorus of sounds rose and fell, loud and continuous.
(End of Chapter)
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