Chapter 209: Salvaging a sunken ship—you gotta spend money

"Just kidding." Ye Cheng said, "Then, Young Master Cui, what do you need me to do?"

They started discussing the matter, and the atmosphere quieted down.

Cui Shuran still had that expression, speaking woodenly, "I want to ask you to help dive into the sea to find something."

Ye Cheng's hand holding food stopped in his mouth, he looked at Cui Shuran in surprise, "No, big brother, that's in the sea; you want me to find a necklace or ring or something—I couldn't find it even if I were beaten to death."

In his mind, the deepest impression of searching for something underwater was Jack and the meat silk pair; there was no way, Titanic was too popular back then.

So he subconsciously thought that Young Master Cui, being rich, wanted to go down again to look for jewelry.

Young Master Cui hadn't spoken yet when Xiao Rou interjected, "Who told you it's about finding a ring or necklace? It's about finding a boat."

A sunken ship, big enough, right?

"A sunken ship?" Ye Cheng opened his mouth wide, looking at Cui Shuran, then also at Zhao Zhiming.

A sunken ship, this project is a bit big.

"Oh man, brother, it's not the big ship you're thinking of, just a small boat with some historical documents on it; the higher-ups sent people to salvage it, then they found our Young Master Cui, and he thought to ask you to help."

Hearing the words "historical documents," Ye Cheng decisively stopped himself from continuing to ask; some things are better not inquired about.

"What do you need me to do?" Ye Cheng said calmly.

Cui Shuran looked at Ye Cheng and said, "Actually, this salvage team already has its own professional divers, but it's said that the salvage site might also have underwater caves, which are more dangerous; their divers might not be up to the task, so they want to ask you to help as well."

While listening to Cui Shuran speak, Ye Cheng picked up a piece of pork intestine, and after he finished speaking, Ye Cheng directly opened his mouth,

"How much money?"

After saying that, he stuffed the pork intestine into his mouth; the taste was still not bad.

"Money?" Cui Shuran looked at Ye Cheng with a stunned expression, as if he had never considered this issue before.

"You still want money? It's just diving down to take a look, not a big deal," Xiao Rou said.

"A Cheng, this time it's the state's people coming to salvage, all big shots; it's a rare chance to make connections, why are you talking about money?" Zhao Zhiming also advised.

Ye Cheng finished eating the pork intestine, looked at Zhao Zhiming, "Brother Zhao, I'm not interested in meeting big shots; I just want to get paid for work."

After saying that, he turned to Xiao Rou and said, "Beautiful lady, it's dangerous under the sea surface—there are sharks and undercurrents; plus, Young Master Cui just said there might be caves; what if some eight-legged giant monster shows up? I need some money to ensure my own safety."

Xiao Rou looked at Ye Cheng half-believing, half-doubting, her pink lips slightly pursed, squeezing out two cute dimples on her face, "You're fine in other ways, but you speak without any basis—where would an eight-legged monster come from?"

"Well, this thing here in the deep sea is the eight-legged giant monster."

Ye Cheng picked up a Watching Tide from the table and showed it off in front of Xiao Rou.

Xiao Rou said disdainfully, "Tch, how big can an octopus get? Look at how you're scared."

"Beautiful lady, when an octopus gets big it can be larger than a boat; a few tentacles reaching into the boat can sweep you away in an instant." Ye Cheng said while imitating an octopus's tentacles,

"Then it stuffs you into its mouth in one bite, and you can't escape."

Ye Cheng doesn't know whether an octopus can really be as big as a boat, but it's been shown in movies, and using it to scare a pretty girl still works.

Sure enough, Xiao Rou's face showed a hint of fear, her gaze at Ye Cheng also half-believing, half-doubting, not knowing whether to believe him.

This guy, when he talks about things, is always so vivid you can't tell truth from fiction.

The two were chatting nonsense, while Young Master Cui sat with a solemn expression, beginning to think.

He hadn't expected Ye Cheng to ask for money; actually, money wasn't a big deal for him.

Mainly, this mission came down from above, there's no budget for it, and Ye Cheng's attitude annoyed him a bit, as if he thought Ye Cheng was indispensable.

Ye Cheng also didn't look at Young Master Cui, just eating on his own.

If the state had asked me to do this, I would just go.

Now it's Young Master Cui asking me; the favor goes to the Cui family, I get no benefit, and if I don't take money and work for free, that's just stupid.

Besides, he really doesn't want to take this job; going into the sea is too dangerous.

Ideally, if Young Master Cui doesn't want to pay, we can just part ways; I'll go back to sea‑gathering to earn money, and I won't miss this bit.

"How much do you want?" Eventually Young Master Cui spoke up, wanting to see what Ye Cheng would ask for.

Hearing Young Master Cui speak, Ye Cheng furrowed his brows, "You really are asking that."

He thought for a moment, then held up two fingers,

"20,000, plus give me a set of professional diving gear."

"20,000?!" This time Xiao Rou and Zhao Zhiming shouted together.

They didn't expect Ye Cheng to open with such a high price.

Young Master Cui's face changed dramatically; this price is a bit high—if he said it out loud, people would think he's a sucker.

Seeing this, Zhao Zhiming felt something was off.

He quickly picked up his wine cup, "Come, let's all have a drink."

Ye Cheng drained his wine cup; Young Master Cui also raised his cup, but before drinking he said with a hint of resentment,

"Young Master Ye, your price is a bit high; I can't decide on my own, let's talk about it after we go back."

"Fine." Ye Cheng replied offhand.

That's just polite talk; basically they think Ye Cheng's price is too high, which works out because Ye Cheng himself doesn't want to take the job either.

They stopped talking business, drank a while longer then dispersed; however, Zhao Zhiming kept Ye Cheng behind alone for a while, drinking tea,

"A Cheng, such a good opportunity to meet the higher‑ups, you don't cherish it? Could it be because you don't take a liking to Young Master Cui?"

Since Young Master Cui wasn't there, Zhao Zhiming spoke more frankly.

Ye Cheng shook his head, "No, I just plain don't want to take this kind of work; I earn money sea‑gathering just as well, I don't want to risk it."

"Alright, Young Master Cui is still decent, he thought of you; you didn't give him face this time, you'll have to make it up next time."

Ye Cheng smiled and said nothing.

He isn't interested in that kind of officialdom stuff.

Seeing Ye Cheng not speak, Zhao Zhiming continued,

Actually this time, the higher-ups found it in the city, then the Cui family took it on, saying they would come to assist; speaking of which, this batch of data...

As soon as Zhao Zhiming was about to talk about the data, Ye Cheng hurriedly stopped him, "Brother, I don't want to hear what data it is; knowing too many secrets is not good."

"Damn! You're too clever for your own good." Zhao Zhiming laughed and scolded.

Not talking about business anymore, the two chatted about other topics, drinking tea until it was almost time for dinner in the afternoon, then Ye Cheng returned to the village.