Chapter 235: Renting a Boat to Go Out to Sea

Knowing, Xiao Hu's second uncle made quite a bit of money from this news, but later no one bought it anymore, and everyone knew about it.

That damned Wang Defa—if it weren't for him, we could still catch a few more. Ye Cheng muttered.

There aren't any coconut crabs left there—why are you still going? Ye Guowei asked.

Go get some bird's nest.

Bird's nest? You actually found bird's nest? Ye Guowei exclaimed in shock, "After all these years, I haven't heard of anyone being able to get bird's nest."

Brother Guowei, last time I and Cheng brother got some, but we didn't have a ladder, so this time I brought the ladder. Xiao Hu pointed to the ladder on the boat.

I was wondering why you're bringing ladders—oh, it's for this. All right, I'm good at climbing walls, so when the time comes I'll climb with Xiao Hu, and A Cheng, you stay below to collect.

Ye Cheng didn't object either; for this kind of physical work, he truly couldn't match his older brother and Xiao Hu.

Ye Guowei piloted the boat smoothly to the coconut crab island.

After mooring the boat, the three jumped straight into the water and onto the shore, the sea turtle followed them swimming up—this guy is more perceptive than a dog.

Since the bird's nest cave was on the other side, Ye Cheng didn't plan to bring the sea turtle; he left it on the beach, and the three scattered to pick up some small fish and shrimp to leave for it, letting it stay on the beach by itself.

If it's willing to wait, we'll wait until Ye Cheng and the others return.

If it wants to go back to the sea, that's also a good thing.

After all, it's a wild sea turtle—the ocean is its home.

The three headed straight toward the coconut grove, Ye Cheng pointed at the still bare coconut trees and said,

Brother, look, they've taken all the coconuts, and the coconut crabs are gone too—we could have gotten a few to eat.

This time Ye Cheng learned his lesson, bringing plenty of food and water; if there were self-heating hot pots nowadays, he would definitely bring one to the island.

When passing the coconut grove, Ye Cheng also took a look; the traps he had set earlier had collapsed, and there were fresh footprints on the ground—it's hard to say whether any coconut crabs remain.

After passing through the coconut grove and reaching that previous cave, upon entering he felt an extraordinary coolness, with clear spring water—it truly is a paradise on earth.

Brother Guowei, look, it's right up here. Xiao Hu led Ye Guowei to begin describing his previous haul.

Ye Guowei looked and nodded repeatedly, "This place is not bad, A Cheng; it's not very high, our ladder should be sufficient."

As he spoke, he turned his head and glanced at Ye Cheng, instantly flashing a black line: "Damn! A Cheng, what are you doing?"

Ye Cheng brought over two stone slabs, set out cigarettes and drinks, and even pulled out a packet of melon seeds—looks like he came for a spring outing.

Ye Cheng chuckled, "Brother, since you and Xiao Hu are the ones climbing, I'm bored down here—I ought to find something to do."

Seeing his brother's shameless expression, Ye Guowei felt helpless.

Xiao Hu couldn't be bothered to say anything, just grabbed a handful of melon seeds and put them in his pocket; he knew that if he didn't keep some, Ye Cheng would eat them all himself.

Last time we searched relatively low spots; this time the ladder is long, about ten meters high, enough to reach the cave ceiling.

Xiao Hu and Ye Guowei each took a ladder, started looking for an angle; they needed to find a spot to brace the ladder's base, otherwise if it slipped they'd fall straight to their deaths.

Both worked efficiently, quickly found the angle, and began climbing up the ladder.

Brother, any? Ye Cheng cracked melon seeds below, holding a net; if there was any, he'd immediately extend the net to catch it.

There really is. Ye Guowei replied, prying a piece of bird's nest from the cave wall—yellowish-white, just like last time.

Ye Cheng carefully lifted the net up, letting Ye Guowei toss it into the net.

Just as this side finished collecting, Xiao Hu over there started shouting,

Brother, brother, I also found a piece.

Ye Cheng could only run over holding the net.

A Cheng, this way.

Brother, this way.

The two stood left and right up there, shouting back and forth; in the end Ye Cheng felt he was the most tired.

He tilted his head back, then raised the net—damn, I wish I had just climbed myself.

The worst part was Xiao Hu—seeing Ye Cheng struggling, he deliberately sat on the ladder and started eating melon seeds, even mocking,

"Brother, your stamina isn't enough either—you're already tired after just holding it a little while, that's no good."

"Get lost, you little brat without a wife—you don't know anything about holding or not holding."

Ye Cheng cursed, holding his painfully sore hand, went down to Xiao Hu, who this time had found three nests, feeling quite pleased.

Their efficiency was high; in just over an hour they basically finished the middle layer.

Now only part of the cave ceiling remains, but the ceiling is a bit dangerous, the ladder's angle is rather straight, so for safety we can only use one ladder.

Xiao Hu climbed the ladder while Ye Guowei stepped on it from below, and they took turns.

By noon, the harvesting work was basically done; the three sat down to start counting today's haul.

Last time we got over fifty nests; this time we also got a lot—over eighty nests in total, a good harvest.

After finishing, everyone was tired; they sat on the ground and ate some dry rations.

"A Cheng, we've finished the bird's nest—what else should we get?" Ye Guowei asked while chewing on a steamed bun, "We still have this afternoon; spending a few hundred to rent the boat and heading back now would be a loss."

Ye Cheng had wanted to go back, but then thought, returning now would just be letting Wang Defa off easy.

"Brother, why don't we go dig a couple of water holes on the beach? Anyway, it's just a side task." Xiao Hu suggested.

That suggestion is fine; last time I and Xiao Hu could dig them, and now with the older brother too, three of us will definitely be more efficient.

Ye Cheng is increasingly thinking he should buy a boat, then bring a pump or something, so he wouldn't have to bail water with a bucket.

Besides, he could openly set up two ladders and do whatever he wants.

Moreover, beach foraging has become difficult lately because there are so many people; these few times I've gone out with Xiao Hu by boat, buying a boat seems not bad either.

For now, not thinking about that, the three ate their fill, then carefully packed the bird's nest.

This time Ye Cheng specially brought a waterproof case, kind of like the ones used for deliveries in gangster movies, looking quite high-end.

Returning to that previous beach, Ye Cheng discovered the sea turtle was gone.

He called out twice, got no response, and guessed it had returned to the sea.

Although I had long known this would be the outcome, when they actually left, Ye Cheng still felt a bit disappointed.

The three walked along the Beach toward the other side, which was all large stretches of reef; last time, they had dug the water pits there.