Chapter 239: The weather might change

Mei Yueqin nodded and said, "Alright, go on, go on."

"If you're going, pack up quickly; the sooner you go, the sooner you'll return."

"Sure." Wu Ping was overjoyed; don't think he's a native of Yu Village—he's hardly ever been out to sea by boat.

Although standing on the three-foot lecture platform every day is his favorite thing, thinking about going out to sea to fish still makes him feel some excitement and anticipation.

It's probably because everyone naturally longs for the sea; this longing is etched into our genes and bones.

Wu An saw Wu Ping pick up the box with the longline fishing gear and quickly said, "Brother, we're not setting the longline today; we'll just collect the crab pots."

Wu An saw Wu Ping pick up the box containing the Longline Fishing, and hurriedly said: "Brother, we won't go Longline Fishing today; let's just collect the Crab Pots."

"If everything goes smoothly, we can even make it back in time for lunch."

If everything goes smoothly, we could still make it back in time for lunch.

Wu Ping put down the box, jumped directly onto the tricycle, and sat beside A Qing.

Mei Yueqin went to open the iron gate and watched the motor tricycle ride away.

Duan Dajie called over the wall, "Yueqin, I heard Wu An is going out to sea?"

"Yes." Mei Yueqin replied.

"Tsk tsk, the weather's uncertain; it might wind and rain again."

"Duan Dajie, you'd better say less."

"I don't mean anything else..."

"I know, I know."

"Yueqin..." Duan Dajie wanted to say more, but hearing the door shut, she muttered under her breath, "Hmph, really just after money, not caring about life."

"Yueqin……" Duan Dajie still wanted to say something, but she heard the gate-closing sound, and muttered softly: "Hmph, really, money over life."

The three came to the town.

There were quite a few people on the dock, mostly just watching; even those going out to sea were all in trawlers of twenty to thirty meters.

Mainly because the weather is unstable; if it suddenly changes, big fishing boats can withstand the waves, but small ones would be dangerous.

They parked the vehicle, the three boarded the boat, did a quick check, and then started the engine.

Under the astonished gazes of the people on the dock, the fishing boat rumbled out to sea.

"How dare such a small fishing boat go out to sea?"

"Who is it, having such guts?"

"Looks like it's a Wu from Xixi Village."

"Oh, that kid; I know he's lucky, his catches are always especially big."

"No wonder he's rushing out to sea; he's afraid his luck will run out."

"Let's not just watch; are we going out or not?"

"We're not going, we're not going."

"Exactly, what nonsense; this weather is perfect for playing cards."

"Come on, let's go play cards."

People came and went on the dock; there weren't many fishing boats heading out to sea, and boats of similar size to Wu An's were virtually nonexistent.

The dock was bustling with people coming and going; there weren't many fishing boats heading out to sea, and fishing boats of a similar size to Wu An's were even rarer—practically none.

The sky was dim, and the sea seemed to turn the same color.

With no wind, the sea surface was calm as a mirror.

Wu An watched, his brows furrowed; this wasn't necessarily a good thing—perhaps the sea was holding in something bad.

But no matter what, today's sea outing is set.

They had gone halfway.

A Qing raised the binoculars and shouted, "Brother, there are two trawlers ahead."

Wu An held the helm and said, "No problem, we'll just detour a bit."

Wu Ping took the binoculars, looked, and said, "They belong to the Chen family."

A Qing cursed, "Damn, could they be deliberately blocking us?"

Wu An chuckled, "You're overthinking it."

"It's just a coincidence."

To say it's a case of enemies meeting on a narrow road is not an exaggeration; the sea is so vast, yet we still ran into each other midway.

Wu Ping, holding the binoculars, suddenly said, "They've also seen us and are pointing and commenting."

A Qing snorted, "They definitely didn't fart properly."

Wu An laughed heartily, "That saying is probably about right."

"Not necessarily." Wu Ping paused and said, "There's an old man on their ship sending flag signals."

"It's a reminder for us to give way."

"Well-intentioned."

Wu An was surprised, took the binoculars and looked; indeed, there was an old man sending flag signals.

"It's him." He didn't look long, mainly because he couldn't understand flag signals, fearing he'd miss information; after confirming who it was, he handed the binoculars back to Wu Ping.

"It's him." He didn't look much longer, mainly because he couldn't understand flag signals, fearing he might miss some information; once he saw clearly who it was, he handed the binoculars back to Wu Ping.

"I don't know him."

Wu An briefly explained: when the Chen family's two fishing boats had previously flanked him, it was this old man loudly shouting for him to get out of the way.

Wu Ping's face darkened: "I didn't expect there to be this."

Wu Ping's face darkened: "There actually is such a thing."

"Brother, it's enough that you know; don't go back and tell, lest dad and sister‑in‑law worry."

"Hmm." Wu Ping nodded.

Wu An asked curiously, "You haven't gone out to sea much, how do you still know flag signals?"

"I saw it in a book, thought it was interesting and memorized it," Wu Ping said, holding a telescope, "Huh," he let out, "This old man not only lets us give way, but also wants us to turn around."

A Qing pursed his lips, "Just eat radish and worry about nothing."

"Whether it's true or not, they're still well‑meaning," Wu Ping asked, "A An, what do you think?"

"I think, this old man probably isn't making us turn around for no reason," Wu An thought for a moment and said, "Old fishermen have a better grasp of the sea weather; perhaps the weather is about to change."

"Brother, if that person really noticed the weather is off, why is he still going out to sea with the Chen Family fishing boat?"

"He's still on the Chen Family fishing boat, urging us to turn around; could it be that he dislikes our boat for being small?"

"A Qing makes some sense; if the weather really changes, big ships and small ships are about the same before wind and waves."

Wu An nodded.

He was just guessing casually; who knows what that old man was thinking.

The fishing boat cleared a path for the two Trawlers at work and sped straight toward the Crab Pot sea area.

On the Chen Family fishing boat.

The old man using flag signals, helplessly lowered the flag, sighing, "Why won't they listen to the advice?"

The Chen Family members said cheerfully, "Lao Fu Tou, that kid is very bold; you can't scare him."

Lao Fu Tou shook his head, "I'm not trying to scare him."

"I told you, the weather is going to change."

"Once we set a net, we should hurry back to port."

The Chen Family members cursed, "Nonsense."

"Stop spreading alarmist talk here; if you dare say any more discouraging words, don't blame me for being impolite."

Bystanders also quickly tried to persuade.

"We've already gone out, at least we should earn some fuel money."

"Lao Fu Tou, say a few fewer words, please."

"We're just laborers; work is all there is, we follow the captain's orders."

The Chen Family members muttered curses, shoving Lao Fu.

"When we went out to sea you followed, not a word of complaint, and now that we're at sea you suddenly say the weather will change."

"What are you doing, stepping on the horse early?"

A familiar laborer spoke kindly for Lao Fu Tou, pulling him aside to work.

Lao Fu Tou was helpless.

His words were slight and weightless.

Moreover… he hadn't expected that upon arriving here, his rheumatic leg would finally react.

When the familiar laborer asked and learned of the situation, he was also speechless: "Who among us doesn't have rheumatism?"

"I have it too."

"Why aren't you as mysterious as that?"

Lao Fu Tou said, "I don't know either; anyway, my rheumatic leg is very spry."

"You better shut up quickly," the laborer pointed at him, saying, "Your mouth alone has caused so many problems."

Lao Fu Tou sighed ruefully, "All my life, even if I wanted to change, I couldn't."

The weather will definitely change today!

Just don't know what it'll become; hope this ship can hold up.

He lowered his head, muttering silently, "Goddess Mazu protect us."

"Also protect that ship."

"Sigh."