Chapter 399: Run Further

They arrived at Xuan Ya Dao.

They encountered the Fan Clan father and son hauling up the crab pot.

They went over.

A Qing grabbed a loudspeaker and explained how Ma Weiqun and the others had been caught; hearing this, Fan Dali told Fan Lao Tou and Fan Xiao Zhu to keep working, then he went to Wu An's boat.

He looked curious: "Tell me in detail."

A Qing didn't mind talking and repeated the whole story.

Fan Dali laughed: "Good, they even had internal strife—even heaven can't stand it."

Wu An didn't dwell on it, asking: "How's the haul?"

Fan Dali smiled: "Pretty good."

"The resources around here are really good."

"We'll head back soon."

Wu An said: "The weather forecast says it's going to change again."

Fan Dali nodded and sighed, but didn't say anything.

"Changing weather is normal."

"Three days fishing, two days drying nets—it's not that they're lazy; sometimes the weather just doesn't cooperate."

They chatted for a while.

Fan Dali then left.

After returning, he told Fan Lao Tou and Fan Xiao Zhu about the situation.

Fan Lao Tou grunted twice: "If it weren't for internal strife, this would instead let Ma Weiqun turn the tables on us."

Fan Dali nodded.

Fan Lao Tou said: "This kid's luck is really good—he hit the jackpot; our haul today is definitely thanks to him."

Fan Dali's mind moved; seizing the moment, he said: "Dad, since you agree, let me discuss it with you—I plan to take out a ten percent share…"

Fan Lao Tou didn't let him finish, shouting: "Enough, I know what you want to say—no need to say it."

"Following him hasn't been bad."

"But this catch is something we worked hard to bring up."

"Boss, you don't have to be so upright; just getting by is enough."

Fan Xiao Zhu said: "Brother, don't listen to Dad—I'll listen to you."

Fan Dali hehe-laughed: "That works."

Fan Lao Tou shouted at the top of his lungs, but neither brother paid him any mind, which made the old man furious.

Fan Xiao Zhu asked: "Brother, then it looks like Ma Weiqun and his gang are headed for jail, right?"

Fan Dali nodded: "Probably."

"The crab pot isn't worth much, but the catch is."

"At the very least, they'll have to serve a few years."

Fan Xiao Zhu pursed his lips: "What a pity."

Fan Dali glared: "What do you want to do, kid?"

Fan Xiao Zhu smirked: "Brother, I can't manage to do anything I want."

"Everyone's been arrested."

"You want to give him a share, while I want to help him by taking Ma Weiqun's place."

Fan Dali poked him, glanced at Fan Lao Tou, and lowered his voice: "You kid… don't even think about it."

Don't let Fan Xiao Zhu's few words fool you—he seems introverted and really is—but Fan Dali knows that if push comes to shove, he can't match Fan Xiao Zhu.

When they were kids, they fought.

He usually doesn't call on Fan Xiao Zhu to fight; only when he can't handle someone himself does he summon Fan Xiao Zhu.

Fan Xiao Zhu always goes for the kill.

Thanks to this kid being skinny as a rail, he never caused a major incident; afterward, when investigated, Fan Xiao Zhu claimed he was just following orders, leaving Fan Dali rather speechless.

Fan Xiao Zhu said: "I don't think we can count on the police."

"I think Wu An is too soft, so I want to help him."

Fan Dali glared: "Wu An told us not to mess around; doing that isn't helping—it might even hurt him!"

Fan Xiao Zhu scratched his head: "Brother, you're right—I didn't think it through."

"Hearing you say Ma Weiqun got into trouble, I've been thinking: Wu An's earlier forbearance might not be softness; maybe he knew from the start that Ma Weiqun would have problems."

Fan Dali blinked: "No way?"

Fan Xiao Zhu: "Ma Weiqun has been fine for years, but after provoking Wu An, his underling turned around and reported him—you're saying… there's nothing fishy?"

Fan Dali fell silent, also pondering.

Fan Xiao Zhu continued: "Brother, I want to follow Wu An closely."

Fan Dali's eyes flashed: "You mean going onto his boat?"

Fan Xiao Zhu nodded.

Fan Dali took a deep breath and said: "I'll think it over; even if we're willing, Wu An might not want us."

Fan Xiao Zhu: "Brother, I'll do whatever you say."

……

Wu An's side also started working.

Hauling up the crab pot doesn't need many hands; the winch lifts it, and A Qing and Mei Wu can manage, though Wu An initially waited to lend a hand.

Result.

The catch was average.

Mantis Shrimp were the main catch; a row of Crab Pots weighed about sixty to seventy jin, and at current Mantis Shrimp prices, the guaranteed yield of that row was three to four thousand yuan.

Compared with other fishermen, this harvest was pretty good.

But compared with their earlier catches, it can only be called average.

Inside the Crab Pots, aside from Mantis Shrimp, there was basically nothing else.

That's normal.

When Mantis Shrimp swarm, there's basically no room for anything else.

Wu An, seeing the situation, thought A Qing and Mei Wu could handle it easily, so he simply returned to the boat canopy to chat with Lao Fu Tou, discussing where to head next.

Wu An looked and said, "How about heading east?"

Lao Fu Tou replied, "Sure."

"Our boat isn't big; we can go any direction."

"Right now near the middle line, there are many of our fishing boats; just be careful."

He wasn't referring to the median line of the exclusive economic zone under the international convention, but the so‑called Hai Xia Zhong Xian.

On the surface, both sides have always tacitly agreed, each fishing in its own waters, but in reality it's like footprints on a beach—when the tide comes, everything is erased.

Before, they were more timid here, but now once the sea opens, many fishing boats rush toward the middle line, bouncing around the "danger zone" near Wanwan, clustering in massive numbers, while the other side consoles themselves with "endure a moment of calm seas, step back and the sea is vast and the sky boundless."

No matter what happens behind the scenes, the surface can still maintain balance.

But as times change, this balance can no longer hold.

Wu An laughed, "Alright, then we'll head east."

Lao Fu Tou nodded, "Good."

At three thirty in the afternoon, all the Crab Pots were lowered back into the sea; Lao Fu Tou was just about to start the fishing boat when Wu An called out, "Lao Fu, in a moment, it looks like an Orca Pod."

A Qing looked through the telescope and exclaimed, "It really is an Orca Pod!"

"Brother, call them over."

"Let them lead us to a fish school."

Wu An took the telescope and said irritably, "You say that, if they're willing to help and we accept, how can we be so pushy?"

A Qing retorted, "Brother, what's so awkward about what you said?"

"You don't really think of the Killer Whale as a friend, do you?"

"Obviously!" Wu An kicked him aside with a foot, lest the Killer Whale hear the misunderstanding.

He shouted twice, and the Orca Pod responded with calls, seeming to answer. Then one Orca suddenly accelerated, swam beside the leading Orca, and called twice as if telling the leader it was going to find Wu An.

Immediately after, the Orca turned direction, leapt several times, and arrived beside the fishing boat.

Wu An greeted excitedly, "A Qing, bring some Mantis Shrimp over."

A Fish Basket of Mantis Shrimp fell, the Killer Whale ate it with a chirping sound; Wu An saw it eat joyfully and was pleased—this counted as his first ocean friend met in the sea.

"Killer Whale, want some more?"

"Chirp chirp chirp."

Wu An didn't understand, but felt the Killer Whale wanted more to eat.

"A Qing, why are you standing still? Bring another Fish Basket."