Chapter 190: Ambergris (Extra Chapter 2 for Alliance Master Zao Hua Zhong Shen)

Li Li Laoer was already full of anger he hadn't vented, so he transferred his rage and shouted back, "Laozi is fishing for Laozi's own catch; what does it matter to you, kid? Is the sea your private property?"

As he spoke, he extended his long-handled scoop net, pretending to scoop, but in that short while, the floating object had drifted a bit farther from his boat; he stretched the long-handled net but could only just barely reach it.

But how could Ye's father let him succeed? They had discovered it first; why should he get to scoop it up? He was clearly causing trouble. People fight for a breath of air; even if it's trash, it cannot be yielded.

Although his scoop net's handle was too short to extend and knock the other man's net, he could paddle, accelerating the water flow to make that floating object drift faster, preventing Li Li Laoer from succeeding.

Li Li Laoer tried to scoop once; he had almost caught it, the edge of his scoop net had even touched it, just a tiny bit away, but the rising and falling waves carried it farther away.

Enraged, he cursed loudly, shifted his feet forward a bit, leaned his body even further out of the boat, and continued trying to scoop.

Ye's father, without stopping at all, paddled the water faster, making it impossible for him to reach.

Ye Yaodong instantly felt relieved; if they couldn't catch it, he wouldn't be able to either.

"No wonder your yellowfin tuna fell into the sea; you simply lack this financial luck by nature. Even when money is delivered right to your doorstep, you can't grasp it. Maybe you've been too wicked in your daily life, or perhaps you forgot to accumulate merit in a past life. Heaven itself can't stand to watch and won't let you show off."

He spoke a few vicious words with his sharp tongue; who else but him would pick a fight for no reason? Damn it, a piece of junk they discovered first, and he actually tried to cut in line and steal it.

"Cao ni ma, only you are wicked! Laozi won't let you succeed!"

Unable to scoop it, Li Li Laoer grew angry and slapped the water, paddling against the current so that the floating object wouldn't drift toward their boat.

But his plan was destined to fail; one was moving with the current, the other against it, so obviously the one with the current would prevail, especially since ocean waves were also pushing it along.

That floating object passed right over his scoop net and continued drifting forward...

Ye Yaodong, with his nimble lips, continued to mock, "A prime yellowfin tuna fell into the sea, you got angry and ashamed, beat your wife, and it still wasn't enough; you even took your anger out on others. Do you even qualify as a man? It's a pity that fish was actually caught by you; what a waste. That could have sold for several hundred yuan. If it were me, I'd be so angry I'd vomit blood, not stay so calm here fighting someone over a piece of rotten wood..."

Li Li Laoer, hearing him mention "yellowfin tuna" on the left and "pity on several hundred yuan" on the right, every word tearing open his scars and poking his heart, felt worse and worse; he was already regretful enough.

"Shut your damn mouth."

After paddling the water for a long time, he barely managed to let this floating object drift downstream, slowly coming toward them.

Ye's father, ignoring Li Li Laoer's muttering curses, waited for the right moment; as soon as he could just barely reach it, he strained his body forward and grabbed it with one hand, scooping it up.

"Got it!"

His face lit up with joy as he lifted the scoop net.

This was no longer about curiosity; it was about fighting for a breath of air.

Having scooped up the floating object, both father and son were beaming with joy, and Ye Yaodong stopped cursing.

Li Li Laoer, furious, slapped the water hard, feeling that nothing went right for him today; he turned and cursed at his wife again, "It's all because of you, this wasteful shrew! What bad luck! Nothing Laozi does goes smoothly..."

The woman glared at him in defiance but dared not retort; she had indeed been scared into silence by the beating just now.

Ye Yaodong was too lazy to listen to their arguing; all his attention focused on the floating object Ye's father had just scooped up.

It was a grayish-white waxy floating mass, emitting a strong, fishy, foul odor.

Ye's father frowned, "What is this? It feels a bit fishy and smelly."

Ye Yaodong put on gloves, reached into the net to take it out, but his hand suddenly felt heavy, nearly dropping it onto the boat.

He had thought it would be light, since it was floating on the water, so he hadn't used much force to lift it; he didn't expect it to feel heavy.

"Don't just look at it floating on the sea surface; it feels a bit heavy in the hand. Besides, it doesn't look like wood, nor does it look like stone."

"Hmm, I had no guard up; I thought it wouldn't be very heavy."

Ye Yaodong leaned in close and smelled that strong, fishy odor; he flipped the object in his hands back and forth, and his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Could it be that thing?

Seeing his eyes shining, Ye's father thought he had recognized it, "Do you know what this is?"

After guessing what this thing was, Ye Yaodong turned his back to the neighboring boat so they couldn't see, and signaled to Ye's father to go into the cabin to discuss it.

Li Li Laoer had been leaning against the gunwale, watching the father and son; he felt their expressions were strange, sensing that the object was some kind of treasure?

They were actually going into the cabin?

He hurriedly called out to stop them, "Wait, what did you just scoop up?"

The father and son didn't even look at him.

Li Li Laoer, suppressing his frustration, asked, "Did you hear me speaking?"

He was ignored again.

This made Li Li Laoer feel even worse; was it some kind of treasure?

If it were trash, they would have thrown it away long ago, wouldn't they?

He strained his neck, trying to see, but could see nothing and hear nothing.

Once inside the cabin, Ye's father couldn't wait to ask, "What treasure is it that makes Lao San hide in the cabin to talk about it?"

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Ye Yaodong, beaming with joy, held the smelly waxy substance in his hands, flipping it over and over without stopping, sniffing it occasionally; after guessing it was that thing, he no longer thought the smell was fishy or foul.

This was a super huge treasure!

And it was light gray! Its value was second only to white.

His mouth stretched wide open; he whispered, "Dad, don't be shocked when I say this; this should be ambergris!"

Ye's father's mouth dropped open in shock, his pupils constricted; Ambergris?!

His hands trembled slightly as he reached out to hold this piece of ambergris, looking left and right, unable to believe it; they had actually picked up a piece of ambergris?

And such a huge piece!

Just now, it almost got snatched away by someone else!

What a close call...

Ambergris is actually the excrement of sperm whales. Sperm whales belong to the suborder Odontoceti, family Physeteridae; they are the largest species in the suborder Odontoceti. The maximum body length for males is 23 meters, and for females, 17 meters; their bodies are conical in shape.

In ancient times, ambergris was used in the imperial court as a fragrance or as medicine; it was something only royalty could enjoy. Ancient people believed this was the "dragon" in the sea drooling while sleeping; the drool would drip into the seawater, solidify, and after a long passage of time, become "ambergris."

Later, research revealed it was actually the excrement of sperm whales.

Ambergris discharged into the sea initially appears light black; under the influence of seawater, it gradually turns gray, then light gray, and finally becomes white.

The ambergris taken from the intestines of a freshly dead sperm whale is pale black and worthless; it must float and soak in seawater for several decades before attaining the status of Gao Ang.

It is a waxy substance, less dense than water, and will not sink.

Some chunks of ambergris soaked in seawater for over a hundred years will become the most valuable white ambergris.

The lowest value is the brown kind, because it has only soaked in seawater for about ten years.

What he had in his hands was pale gray leaning toward white — its quality could already be considered top-grade.

White ambergris is a priceless treasure.

This trip was full of ups and downs, but he really made a killing!

A new ship's maiden voyage — a red opening, thriving and prosperous.

Ye Fu paced back and forth in delight, cradling the ambergris. No wonder Ye Lao San hadn't said anything outside just now and had insisted on coming into the cabin.

"Dad, this one's pretty big, I reckon over twenty jin. How much do you think this thing could be worth?"

"Huh?"

This one really stumped Ye Fu!

He knew about ambergris, and he knew it was precious, but he had no real idea of the specific price. In his entire half-century of life he had never come across one — only heard of them.

Such a rare thing, and such a big chunk to boot — how would he know how much it could sell for? He had never sold one, never even seen one; otherwise he wouldn't have failed to recognize it.

"I don't know."

Ye Yaodong only knew the stuff was priced by the gram, with the price varying by quality — even the lowest grade was more expensive than gold — but with current prices, it was hard to estimate……

"Let's put it away first, we'll talk about it later. Dad, keep your mouth shut tight. When we get back, don't tell anyone — not even your wife. She's always so concerned about face and loves to blab. This thing is too valuable; if word gets out, the whole family won't have a moment's peace."

Selling it was out of the question — he'd keep it for now as a collectible.

The joy on Ye Fu's face vanished in an instant. He understood just how significant this thing was and said in a low voice, "I know. Take it back and hide it well. Tell your wife to keep her mouth shut too — best not to say what it is, just tell her not to go spreading the word."

Bringing such a big chunk home and trying to hide it from the person sharing his pillow was impossible — he could only not tell her what it was.

Ye Yaodong nodded. "Send those two outside on their way first, so they don't keep watching us."

"Mm, and there are still the remaining longline hooks that haven't been hauled in yet."