Chapter 426: Make a wish, I

The wind over the sea grew stronger and stronger, the waves grew more and more tumultuous, pushing the hull to sway left and right.

Pang Da Shen saw Lin Dongfan turn deathly pale with fright, smiled and comforted him: "This wave is only about two meters high—nothing at all. When an over‑ten‑meter‑high giant wave hits, that's truly scary."

"!!!"

Lin Dongfan was speechless on the spot.

A wave over ten meters high—is that scary? That's deadly! You think your rickety fishing boat is a national aircraft carrier? One wave could drown you!

Lin Dongfan clung tightly to the rail, not daring to let go.

Suddenly a huge wave slammed into the bow, spraying seawater; in an instant it drenched Lin Dongfan to the skin. His body also lost control from the violent rocking of the hull, and he couldn't even hold onto the rail.

Just as Lin Dongfan mournfully thought he would be buried in the sea this time,

A domineering voice suddenly came from behind: "Don't panic!" The next second, Pang Da Jie grabbed him with a big hand, hoisted him onto her shoulder like a sack of grain, and turned into the cabin.

Throughout, Lin Dongfan was like a helpless doll, completely in a state of being protected; in his panic he blurted, "Slow down! Slow down……"

"It's fine."

Pang Da Jie probably weighed over two hundred jin, her steps thudding with each stride.

The boat was rocking.

Yet she stood as steady as Mount Tai!

This must be the experience gained from drifting at sea.

She could step in time with the hull's rocking rhythm.

Just like people playing the swaying bridge at tourist spots, no matter how the bridge shakes, experienced folks never fall.

After entering the cabin,

Pang Da Jie had just set Lin Dongfan down.

Lin Dongfan instantly caught a hint of a happy smile from the dark‑skinned man.

Like a king mocking a novice in the beginner's village, even though he said nothing, an embarrassing sense of oppression permeated everything.

"What are you grinning at?" Pang Da Shen urged the dark‑skinned man: "Go check the weather forecast to see if a typhoon is coming."

"If there's a typhoon I'd still go out to sea? You're worrying for nothing."

The dark‑skinned man smiled at Lin Dongfan again, still saying nothing, turned and walked out of the cabin to check that everything on deck was secured, lest anything be thrown overboard.

Xiao Yu handed Lin Dongfan a towel: "Fan Ge, wipe the water off your face. It's fine, don't panic—encountering wind and waves at sea is perfectly normal."

It would have been better if she hadn't said "perfectly normal".

Upon hearing those three words, Lin Dongfan felt even more like an inexperienced chick that hadn't left the beginner's village, a laughingstock before everyone.

"Oh sea!"

"You're giving me no face at all!"

"I, Lin Dongfan, am at least a legendary official!"

"How could a single wave slam straight into my weak spot!"

"That hits home……"

Lin Dongfan, filled with regret and sorrow, directed his grateful gaze toward Pang Da Jie: "Ma'am, may I ask your surname? I don't know how to address you."

"My surname is Lin, and everyone calls me Lin Zi Niang."

Pang Jie is very open‑spoken, speaks straight to the point, and means what she says.

Lin Dongfan felt moved, never expecting Pang Da Jie to also bear the surname Lin—she's a clanswoman, which explains her familiar look.

His days in Haishan have been short.

But having lived there a while, often interacting with the fishing villagers, he also knew that "zi niang" is not Pang Da Jie's name but a local term of address for women.

Terms containing "niang" are beyond Lin Dongfan's ability to pronounce; his genes lack this folk culture.

Lin Dongfan said: "Lin Jie, just now I almost fell into the sea—you saved me. Make a wish; Mazu can't fulfill your worldly wishes, but perhaps I can help you achieve them."

"Make a wish?"

Pang Da Jie was a bit dazed, not knowing whether Lin Dongfan was joking or serious.

Lin Dongfan nodded: "Yeah, make a wish. A super‑rich tycoon's way of repaying kindness is just this simple and superficial. You state a wish, and I'll take care of making it happen."

"Well… maybe not needed…" Pang Da Jie laughed embarrassedly: "Since you're on my boat, how could I just watch you fall into the sea? Anyone would lend a hand."

"One thing for one thing."

Lin Dongfan replied with a smile: "You saved me—that's your kindness and righteousness. Helping you fulfill a wish is my way of being grateful and returning the favor."

"I… can I really make a wish?"

Pang Da Jie's little heart thumped with nervous excitement; after all, she truly had several baskets' worth of regrets in life.

Xiao Yu teased: "Lin Zi Niang, don't hesitate—just boldly state your wish. Fan Ge always keeps his word."

"Or maybe Xiao Yu understands me."

Lin Dongfan happily extended his right hand, intending to give Xiao Yu a high‑five.

Unexpectedly a huge wave hit, the boat lurched sideways, and Lin Dongfan slid to one side just like the fish baskets in the cabin.

At the critical moment, quick‑eyed and quick‑handed Xiao Yu grabbed him: "Fan Ge, be careful!"

Her hand was really warm.

Lin Dongfan wondered aloud to the two heroines: "Do you have nails on your soles? Why don't you slide sideways?"

"What's there to explain?"

As for matters of experience, Pang Da Jie didn't know how to explain it either; it felt like an instinctive reaction, so she turned her gaze to the young Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu said: "Don't look at me—I don't know why either, but I can just stand firm."

"Then you'll be my sea‑stabilizing divine needle."

Lin Dongfan unceremoniously placed his right hand on Xiao Yu's shoulder.

He put his arm around her fragrant shoulders.

He put his arm around her fragrant shoulders.

Xiaoyu slipped his arm around Lin Dongfan's waist, smiling as he gazed at Lin Dongfan's profile: "Relax, I've got you, you'll be okay."

Translation: Xiao Yu casually put her arm around Lin Dongfan's waist, looking up at his side profile with a grin: "Don't worry, with me here, I'll keep you safe."

Need to keep quotes.

Cough, cough!

Translation: "Cough cough!"

Lin Dongfan cleared his throat twice, dismissing his wandering thoughts.

Translation: Lin Dongfan cleared his throat twice, dispelling his random thoughts.

He bluntly asked the big sister: "Sister Lin, you still haven't said your wish."

Translation: He directly asked Pang Dajie: "Sister Lin, you haven't stated your wish yet."

"If you really insist on helping me fulfill a wish, then I'll tell you." While chatting, the big sister hesitated, still testing whether Lin Dongfan was joking.

Translation: "If you insist on helping me fulfill a wish, then I'll say it." While chatting, Pang Dajie hesitated, still testing whether Lin Dongfan was joking.

Lin Dongfan looked determined: "Go ahead and say it."

Translation: Lin Dongfan's expression was resolute: "Just speak boldly."

"Any wish will do?" the big sister still found it hard to believe.

Translation: "Any wish is fine?" Pang Dajie still found it hard to believe.

Lin Dongfan nodded firmly: "As long as it's not illegal or against social order, any wish is fine."

Translation: Lin Dongfan nodded firmly: "As long as it's not illegal or against social public order, any wish is acceptable."

Upon hearing that, the big sister immediately perked up.

Translation: Upon hearing that, Pang Dajie immediately perked up.

She straightened her back.

Translation: She straightened her back.

She solemnly told Lin Dongfan: "My greatest wish is for my son to attend No. 1 High School, the city's key high school. Is that okay?"

Translation: She solemnly told Lin Dongfan: "My greatest wish is for my son to attend the No. 1 High School. It's the key high school in the city; can this wish be granted?"

Her husband, the dark-skinned man, had been eavesdropping outside the cabin.

Translation: Her husband, the dark-skinned man, had been eavesdropping outside the cabin.

Upon hearing this,

Translation: Upon hearing this,

The dark-skinned man couldn't help but resent: "You keep missing chances, you're as stupid as a pig!" He immediately put down the ship's rope and walked into the fishing boat.

Translation: The dark-skinned man couldn't help but resent: "You seize the opportunity yet don't know how to grasp it, stupid as a pig!" He immediately put down the ship's rope he was holding and walked into the fishing boat.

Note: "fishing boat" maybe "fishing boat". We'll translate as "fishing boat". Keep punctuation.

Just then he heard Lin Dongfan nod and agree: "Of course, no problem."

Translation: Coincidentally, he heard Lin Dongfan nod and agree: "Of course, no problem."

The dark-skinned man quickly interjected: "Mr. Fan, that wish doesn't count; I have an objection. Can I make the wish on her behalf? I'm her husband."

Translation: The dark-skinned man quickly interjected: "President Fan, this wish doesn't count; I have an objection. Can I make the wish on her behalf? I'm her husband."

"What could be more important than your son going to a key high school? Don't speak nonsense if you don't understand." The big sister wanted to scold him but dared not, bound by a lifetime of male superiority thinking.

Translation: "What could be more important than your son attending a key high school? Don't speak nonsense if you don't understand." Pang Dajie wanted to scold him but dared not, bound by a lifetime of patriarchal thinking.

The dark-skinned man said: "You don't understand? You're the clueless one! You don't even know if your son is cut out for studies. Even if you send him to No. 1 High, he won't get into college; he's destined to be a fisherman from birth! You should make a wish like Xiao Yu did—for a large ocean-going fishing boat—so your son's future will be secure."

Translation: The dark-skinned man said: "You don't understand? It's you who doesn't! Do you even know whether your son is cut out for studies? Even if you send him to the No. 1 High School, he won't get into college; he was born to be a fisherman! You should make a wish, like Xiao Yu, for a large deep-sea fishing vessel—only then will your son's future be secure."

A large ocean-going fishing boat?

Translation: "A large deep-sea fishing vessel?"

Upon hearing that, the big sister's heart jumped into her throat.

Translation: Upon hearing that, Pang Dajie's heart leapt to her throat in shock.

She hastily pulled the dark-skinned man aside and whispered: "Is this a wish? You're clearly trying to rip me off! An ocean-going vessel costs tens of millions; you're asking for the moon! No way."

Translation: She hastily pulled the dark-skinned man aside and whispered: "Is this a wish? You're clearly trying to fleece someone! A large ocean-going vessel costs tens of millions; you're asking for the moon! No way."

This isn't your call; whether it works or not isn't up to you.

Translation: "This is none of your business; whether it's possible isn't up to you."

Come back!

Translation: "Come back!"

"Nosy!"

Translation: "How troublesome!"

Note: The line ends with an exclamation and no closing quote? We'll keep as is.

The dark-skinned man resolutely pushed aside the hesitant big sister and told Lin Dongfan: "We've discussed it; we want a large ocean-going fishing boat."

Translation: The dark-skinned man resolutely shoved aside the interfering Pang Dajie, then turned to Lin Dongfan and said: "We've already discussed it; we want a large deep-sea fishing vessel."

Lin Dongfan smiled calmly: "No problem."

Translation: Lin Dongfan smiled faintly: "No problem."

As soon as he spoke, the entire cabin fell silent, save for the sound of waves crashing outside.

Translation: As his words fell, the entire cabin fell into dead silence, save for the sound of waves crashing outside.

The sea kept roaring!

Translation: The sea kept roaring!

The big sister was genuinely frightened, not by the roaring sea but by her husband's greed; she never imagined he'd dare ask for so much.

Translation: Pang Dajie was genuinely frightened, but not by the roaring sea; she was also shocked by her greedy husband, never expecting him to dare ask for the moon.

Even more unexpected, Lin Dongfan agreed to that unreasonable request without a second thought.

Translation: Moreover, she never expected Lin Dongfan to agree to such an unreasonable demand without even thinking.

The tycoon's grandeur is terrifying!

Translation: The tycoon's grandeur is too intimidating!

Just then, a shout came from the neighboring cruise ship: Lao Ba's voice: "Old Master, we didn't find the bomb—did they send out false information?"