Chapter 1700

The bow of "Pioneer No. 1" looked like a miniature altar.

In the red lacquer tray in the center, a huge pig's head was offered, with the pig's tail in its mouth, representing "having a beginning and an end," implying that this voyage would be complete and smooth from beginning to end.

Beside it were bowls of sticky rice, pastries, and fruits.

A spirited big red rooster was carefully held by a crew member. Later, the blood from its comb would be dripped onto the bow, which is called consecration or dotting the eyes.

The incense burner was filled with swirling smoke from high incense, and the red candle flames flickered.

Ye Yaodong led the crew to finish bowing before picking up the first handful of steaming sticky rice and throwing it high toward the sea in front of the bow.

The snow-white rice grains drew an arc in the air, falling into the sea like broken jade.

He loudly recited the auspicious words passed down through generations:

"Sprinkle rice into the sea, may the hold be full of gold and silver! May the Sea God clear the way, and the Dragon King reward us with food!"

This action was essentially offering the most precious food to the ocean, an ancient form of "showing goodwill" and "trading," implying "I offer you the best food, praying that you reward me with a rich catch."

Immediately after, he picked up a bowl and filled it with clear, strong white liquor.

He didn't pour it out casually, but solemnly sprinkled the liquor slowly onto the sea on both sides of the bow.

This action was full of ritual; the first cup was to honor heaven and earth: thanking them for favorable weather and granting good weather for the voyage.

The second cup was to honor the Sea God (Mazu/Dragon King): praying for divine protection, a safe voyage, and avoiding all wind, waves, and reefs.

The third cup was to sacrifice to the four directions: honoring the "friends" and "passersby" in the sea, which was both a greeting and carried the meaning of "please make it convenient and don't make things difficult."

Strong liquor into the sea also had the meaning of "warding off evil," hoping to dispel all bad luck and misfortune.

Finally, he burned the paper offerings, watching the ashes drift toward the sea with the wind, meaning the ceremony was complete and his heart had reached the heavens.

Ye Yaodong clapped his hands, turned around, had people pour the offerings into the sea, and finally bowed again.

Only after everything was done did he shout in a loud voice: "Ceremony complete! Cast off! Set sail!"

Instantly, the roar of the engine replaced the previous silence, and the huge propeller churned the seawater.

Ye Yaodong also walked toward the cockpit.

Ye Chenghu jumped up, "Wait, wait... I haven't gotten off the ship yet, wait for me..."

"Why are you still here?"

"Didn't you say wait until I finished watching before leaving? Leaving right now."

Ye Yaodong's eyebrows were so furrowed they could pinch a fly to death.

"I have to get on this ship next month, so of course I have to participate in the worship. I'm getting off the ship now." He still had to nag a few words while walking.

Ye Yaodong walked straight toward the cockpit. During the ceremony just now, everything on the ship that needed to be checked had been checked, and everything that needed to be prepared had been prepared. Now they could set sail and leave immediately.

He entered the coordinates of the fishing ground near DYD, 123°28' East Longitude; they all called it the 123 fishing ground now.

After the fishing boat slowly sailed away from the shore, he had to use the satellite phone to contact the shore station headquarters again.

After stating his identity, the shore station headquarters also gave him a reply, saying that they had notified everyone yesterday and also reported the catch data of each fishing boat to him.

A long list, each fishing boat reported an approximate figure.

Ye Yaodong listened and had a count in his heart. Yesterday was just a simple test of the satellite phone, and by the way, letting them at sea know that his fresh-catch transport ship had arrived and had already set sail.

Sailing on the sea, compared to the surrounding traditional fishing boats of a dozen meters, its huge streamlined hull, towering wheelhouse, and advanced radar antenna group were like a mobile fortress on the sea, looking particularly eye-catching and extraordinary.

He held a thermos cup, his eyes scanning the row of electronic screens flashing with various data in front of him—GPS, radar, AIS (Automatic Identification System), fish finder; everything was under control.

Now his ships were being built larger and larger, and the quantity was increasing. Everything was at the forefront. Whenever there was good technology or good shipbuilding technology, he would update and improve with the times.

Otherwise, the price wouldn't be one thing when signing the contract and another when the ship was built. He followed national technology closely.

He was used to this route and was exceptionally familiar with it. Along the way, he could still teach people how to sail and use this technology with ease.

Practice is greater than theory. He kept sending people to the ship training center to learn, but that was just talk on paper. To truly master the technology, one had to rely on practice. Only by combining practice with theory could one master it more effectively.

Ye Yaodong guided several students like a mentor, explaining along the way. Fortunately, the cockpit was large enough to accommodate them.

Just as the fishing boat passed two-thirds of the way, the screen detected fishing boats dozens of nautical miles away, and that fishing boat took the initiative to contact them.

"Hey hey! The blue and white ship ahead, yes, that's the ship number Min Pioneer No. 1, showing Dongsheng Fishery. Are you a fresh-catch transport ship? Is it Mr. Ye's ship? I'm the Zhejiang Fu transport ship."

Ye Yaodong was slightly startled. The ship name sounded familiar, as if they had caught the little devils together. He picked up the microphone: "I am Ye Yaodong, I can hear you, please speak."

"It really is Mr. Ye. I'm Old Liu, do you remember me?"

Don't remember...

"Ah, Old Liu, what's the matter? Is that your ship? I was just thinking it's a coincidence that I could run into a fishing boat."

"Oh my, Mr. Ye! This is your new ship, right? And you even got a fresh-catch transport ship, too grand. So big, you've made a fortune again. I saw it with binoculars from far away, really envious!"

The other party's voice was enthusiastic and urgent, "Looking at your direction, you're going to DYD to collect fish, right?"

"Yes, I have a lot of fishing boats, and the fresh-catch transport ships aren't enough, so I have to get a big one. This is the first trip out."

"Then see if you want to collect the goods on my ship? I've been shouting all the way but didn't run into a fresh-catch transport ship. Several times they were already fully loaded and returning, too coincidental."

"Ah? You're already returning anyway, why don't you just dock and sell it, you can sell it for more money."

"Too troublesome, too time-consuming. When will I sell this ship of goods? I don't have the channels or connections like a fresh-catch transport ship. The time wasted in between is enough for me to fill the ship again. Since your ship is out, you need to collect goods, sell the goods on my ship to you."

Ye Yaodong said politely and regretfully: "I'm really sorry, Boss Liu. This ship of mine is specifically for collecting my own goods. I have 9 ships on my own sea surface, and they are basically full now, just waiting for this ship of mine to arrive to collect the goods."

"And I didn't bring any money. I don't have a penny on me, so I can't collect your goods. After all, this ship of mine only serves my own family, so I don't need to bring cash to sea."

The other party had no choice but to give up after hearing this. After all, they had only met once or twice. With a ship full of goods worth tens of thousands, he didn't dare to trust others so easily and hand them over.

After all, his fishing boat also had to continue fishing at sea. He didn't know when the next time he would dock would be. Going back to ask for debt in a month or so was too inconvenient, and the uncertainty was too high.

"Is that so? That's a pity. I was thinking that since our last cooperation was pleasant and we're acquaintances, I'd feel at ease selling the goods to you."

"It is a bit of a pity. I didn't bring money, otherwise, I would have wanted to help you. Then you should hurry back now, go back early to deal with the goods, and you can come out early."

"Okay, that's it, see you next time."

"Okay."

Ye Yaodong also felt a bit sorry, but he really knew many boat captains from the last cooperation, and some were still in the local fishing association.

If he really got a few fresh-catch transport ships, he could really contact many fishing boats, but high returns were accompanied by high risks.

Going to sea at least required carrying hundreds of thousands in cash, which was enough to buy dozens of lives. It was safer to collect his own goods.

He couldn't handle that many goods either. Going out to socialize, develop channels, and meet bosses to handle so many of his own goods would cost him his life.

Now it could be considered a one-stop shop from fishing to production to sales, which was very good. Leave a way for others to live.

After he cut off the communication, he continued to control the fishing boat forward.

Now they had reached the second turning point, the Kuroshio tributary, and it wasn't far from the destination. At most, it would take about 12 more hours to arrive.

The screen of the echo fish finder also showed signs of life in the sea below, and the color blocks of varying depths outlined the fish schools and the seabed terrain.

If there was any danger in the terrain, it was in this area. He stared at the screen intently.

After it got dark, he felt the distance should be enough to make contact. The target light spot was already displayed on the AIS.

He called via marine VHF, "Hey hey, I am Ye Yaodong, calling Dongsheng Fishery fishing boats, please answer if you hear me."

"Received, received, Ship No. 3 received. You arrived so fast, only two and a half days have passed."

"Ship No. 5 received. I heard your super-large fresh-catch transport ship set sail. It's fast, you're arriving so soon?"

"Ship No. 2 also received. You came just in time. If you didn't come, all our goods would have burst the warehouse and we would have had to return. That small fresh-catch transport ship can't collect many goods, and every time it can only collect the goods of two ships before it has to return."

Ye Yaodong responded: "Okay, you continue working, I'm almost there, it should take about the time of one trawl to arrive."

"Received."

"By the way, notify other fishing boats to prepare in advance. Expected to arrive in about 5 hours."

"Received."

"You ships should arrange the docking order yourselves later. Who is first, it's not that coincidental, I'll be fine waiting."

"Received."

After cutting off the communication, he picked up the microphone again to broadcast to everyone on the ship, "Expected to arrive in 5 hours. Personnel on duty should prepare for docking, others should rest, take turns according to the duty roster."

There was a stir on the deck, and someone shouted "received."

Ye Yaodong held a thermos cup and took a sip of tea to refresh himself, his eyes continuing to stare at the screen.

Finally, the target light spot on the AIS got closer and closer, the fishing boats could be seen in the field of view of the binoculars, and the walkie-talkie could also connect to the signal.

Ye Yaodong picked up the VHF walkie-talkie directly: "No. 3, I am Ye Yaodong, I see you. Have you hauled the net? Is it convenient to dock?"

"Already prepared, ready to dock at any time. Damn, this new ship feels even more awesome."

"Approach from the port side of your ship, prepare to dock!"

"Received!"