Chapter 435: Hu Zi: Quickly praise me

Wu An hesitated a moment, then shouted to Lao Fu Tou: "Lao Fu, start the fishing boat, we'll follow Hu Zi."

Lao Fu Tou nodded.

Start the fishing boat.

Hu Zi was very clever; noticing the fishing boat moving, he immediately swam toward the orca pod.

The fishing boat followed closely behind.

Mei Wu watched, uncertain: "What if we guessed wrong? Hu Zi might just be returning to the whale pod, not leading us to find fish."

Wu An also felt uneasy in his heart.

He didn't know either.

Although he could communicate with Hu Zi, it relied on Hu Zi's cleverness; he could only guess based on Hu Zi's reactions.

He said: "Even if we guessed wrong, it's no big deal."

"As long as we don't get too close to the orca pod, there shouldn't be a problem."

A Qing wore a confident look: "Don't worry."

"Hu Zi is definitely calling you."

"That look, aside from not being able to speak, is exactly like mine."

Mei Wu fell silent.

Actually, he still instinctively felt uneasy about orcas approaching fish schools.

The orcas are too big.

Moreover, they're too dangerous.

If they really went berserk, we'd be like ants, utterly unable to fight back.

But the fact that last time the orcas led them to find fish schools is also true.

Wu An was thinking along those lines too.

Becoming friends with Hu Zi has been enormously beneficial at sea.

He needs to try more.

He should try to communicate, interact, and understand Hu Zi as much as possible, ideally forming an unobstructed communication system.

Being wrong isn't a big deal.

In his heart, communicating with Hu Zi is important, even more so than the fishing operation.

After about ten minutes of driving, Hu Zi returned to the orca pod.

Lao Fu Tou reduced the boat's speed.

He didn't rashly approach.

Each person used a telescope to observe.

Previously there was only one telescope on board, and having several people take turns using it was inconvenient; after returning to town, Wu An bought several more telescopes according to headcount.

Hu Zi entered the whale pod and found the largest orca, likely his mother or grandmother.

Why say that?

Because orca pods are typical matriarchal societies; the group is led by elder females, who guide the whole pod with their rich knowledge and experience.

"Pa!"

Hu Zi was violently slammed by the lead orca, creating a huge splash.

Wu An and Mei Wu were startled.

A Qing, meanwhile, remained calm and explained: "A Wu Ge, bro, don't panic, this is normal."

Mei Wu, with a black line on his head: "How is this normal?"

A Qing said: "Before, when I went to play with my brother, my mom would also discipline me like this."

Wu An: "……"

Although he didn't want to admit it, A Qing seemed to make sense.

A Qing continued: "Just wait; soon the orca pod will lead us to find fish schools."

"Although my mom would discipline me, she'd still entertain my brother."

"I think Hu Zi's people will be just as hospitable as my mom."

The lead orca whipped Hu Zi's tail a few times.

Hu Zi let out a sharp cry, seeming to argue his point.

Not long after.

The orca pod that had been swimming in circles changed course and swam toward the fishing boat.

It was still that largest orca leading.

Hu Zi followed alongside.

Upon reaching the fishing boat's side, Hu Zi let out a cry; Wu An couldn't understand it, but he could sense a hint of pride and showing off in the sound.

It seemed as if he had done something good and was showing off to Wu An.

The tense Mei Wu saw the orca pod split to either side as they approached the fish school, with no aggressive move toward the fish, and he completely relaxed.

Lao Fu Tou opened the throttle to full, giving chase to the orca pod with all his might.

It's worth noting that the direction the orca pod headed was almost identical to the course Wu An had previously planned.

Wu An and Lao Fu Tou had discussed this at the dock.

As of now.

They currently have a fixed route: Huo Ming Dao to Xuan Ya Dao, but they've run it too many times; even if resources are rich, they can't keep exploiting it like that.

The two of them discussed and decided to set out from Shuangzi Dao, heading straight northeast toward the central line.

Wu An also had a small idea: to as much as possible clarify the sea conditions near the islands suspected of having bird nests, so as not to accidentally cross the border next time and be chased by the other side in a panic.

After following for half an hour, the orca pod showed no intention of stopping.

On the deck.

Mei Wu was somewhat worried: "I still worry that the orca pod isn't bringing us to find fish schools."

Hu Zi understands human nature.

Last time, the orca pod indeed brought them to find fish schools.

But Hu Zi is after all not human; last time it could have been a fluke.

Mei Wu still couldn't fully trust Hu Zi.

A Qing retorted: "If Hu Zi isn't bringing us to find fish, why is the orca pod coming to find us?"

Mei Wu said: "They might just think it's fun."

A Qing scratched his head: "If you say that, then it's also possible."

Wu An didn't speak.

We still have to see the outcome.

Lao Fu Tou shouted.

Wu An walked over.

Lao Fu Tou said: "I see the orca pod has no intention of stopping; at this speed, it will reach the rocky beach on the midline in about two hours."

Wu An thought for a moment and said: "No problem, follow!"

"This time, with Hu Zi following, if the other side blindly comes looking for trouble..."

"... then let them know who is the big and little king."

"Although last time we damaged one of their fishing boats, after all we were still driven off by them, and Wu An still held back a fire he couldn't vent."

Lao Fu Tou took out a cigarette, lit it, and nodded with a smile.

With Hu Zi following, we're indeed not panicking.

We've been following for over an hour, adding up to almost two hours total; the sky has fully brightened, it's already just after six in the morning.

Mei Wu came to ask, should we still follow?

He was already feeling a bit restless.

Normally, a fishing boat their size operates within a two- to three-hour range from shore, but they've already sailed out from the dock for over four hours.

Round trip would take eight hours.

He felt the orca pod either wasn't bringing them to find fish schools, but was leading them around to scare them off at sea.

A Qing's analysis might be quite correct.

But the orca itself is basically a sea slick.

Wu An felt his words made sense, so he let Lao Fu Tou continue following, and he prepared to make breakfast.

"Hungry?"

"Brother, I'm hungry."

"Let's just have something simple for breakfast, how about some rice noodles?"

Boil water.

Soak the rice noodles, then put them in the pot.

Fish them out, then use pickled vegetables as topping.

While eating, we looked at the distant reef cluster.

After Wu An finished eating, he went to relieve Lao Fu Tou; Lao Fu Tou had just taken two steps when he suddenly picked up the binoculars: "There's a fish school!"

"The orca pod is no longer swimming forward, but started to circle."

"At last we've caught up."

A Qing came over with a bowl of rice noodles: "Lao Fu, eat first."

Lao Fu Tou took the bowl, then set it aside: "A An, make way quickly."

"I'll go over."

"You guys go prepare the cast net."

Wu An frowned: "You're not eating?"

Lao Fu Tou glared: "What's there to eat?"

"I'm not hungry."

"Don't dawdle."

Wu An quickly made way.

Lao Fu Tou took the helm, slightly adjusted the course, and the fishing boat angled in.

Mei Wu and A Qing tidied up the cast net.

Wu An wasn't idle either; he gave the fishing boat a luck boost, so the boat could gather the fish school and prevent it from scattering quickly.

The fishing boat had just approached the fish school.

Wu An stood by the sea holding the cast net, before he could throw the first net, a killer whale's big head surfaced and called out twice at him.

Mei Wu saw this and said: "What does this mean?"

A Qing casually remarked: "Can't you see it?"

"He's brought us to find the fish school."

"I was just hoping Brother would praise me."

Wu An happily patted Hu Zi's head: "Well done."