Chapter 574: Swordfish Are Not to Be Messed With

Fu Yongning said: "It doesn't look like it's snagged on the bottom."

A Qing also said: "It's not snagged; could it be that the catch was too much and burst the net?"

"Holy shit, it's only been half an hour."

"Maybe we ran into a school of fish; bursting isn't impossible."

"That's true."

Mei Wu and the others also followed this line of thought and started chatting.

Fu Yongning hesitated a moment; he wanted to say it's unlikely by logic, but he held back his words—Wu An's luck really is hard to say.

Lao Fu Tou walked over, took a look, and said: "I'm afraid we've encountered a big haul."

He untied the net bag, spread it out, and said: "Look, these torn spots are all big holes, one after another."

Everyone bent down to look.

A Qing exclaimed in shock: "Really… I get it now—swordfish, definitely a swordfish school!"

Lao Fu Tou nodded: "Probably."

A Qing gritted his teeth and said: "It's definitely the swordfish school taking revenge on us."

Mei Wu said impatiently: "A Qing, don't scare people."

"Just happened to run into a swordfish school."

"That thing is the fastest in the sea; it just happened to smash the net."

"If swordfish are really taking revenge."

"To be fair."

"Actually, it's a pretty terrifying thing."

"Why?"

"Swordfish attack power shouldn't be underestimated; for their fishing boat, if they truly clashed head‑on with a swordfish school, it's uncertain whether the swordfish would be unharmed, but the boat definitely couldn't withstand it."

"The swordfish's upper jaw is extremely hard, capable of piercing a 55‑centimeter‑thick plank."

"Moreover, swordfish will actively attack, especially when hauled up by fishermen and sensing a deadly threat; they will fight to the death, causing many fishermen to perish."

"The last time they encountered swordfish, Wu An searched online for a lot of information; swordfish have repeatedly damaged human vessels and submarines, even piercing the hulls of subs made of steel and titanium alloy."

"This isn't alarmist talk."

"The more he read, the more frightened he became."

"Fortunately, he had earlier boosted his Luck Value, preventing the swordfish from a death‑throe counterattack; otherwise the consequences would be unthinkable."

"Swordfish are naturally combative, and as A Qing said, they actually have a strong vengeful streak; once they sense a threat, they fly into a rage and launch a deadly counterstrike."

"Even submarines can be pierced; his trawler certainly couldn't withstand the swordfish's long bill."

A Qing scratched his head, hehe‑laughing: "Right, right, right, Goddess Mazu bless us."

"Tell the swordfish we won't mess with them."

"It's all a misunderstanding."

Mei Wu also muttered a couple of sentences.

"Whether it helps or not, we're just seeking peace of mind."

Wu An said nothing from start to finish; everyone basically discussed the situation to a rough extent, looking at the torn trawler, merely feeling it a shame that so much Luck Value had been buffed.

"It was wasted for nothing."

"According to the previous catch, at a minimum they lost fifty to sixty thousand."

"There's nothing to be done about it."

"Luck Value is useful, but it's also a double‑edged sword."

"Once it attracts fierce big catches like swordfish, this sort of net‑ripping, fish‑escaping situation will occur."

"He can only try to improve the trawler, using better quality materials; that way, if they encounter swordfish, they might be able to haul them in."

Lao Fu Tou returned to the wheelhouse and stopped the fishing boat.

Fu Yongning called out: "Swordfish swim fast; they might already be gone by now."

"Let's hurry and put on a new net."

"As for changing the net, everyone isn't very familiar with it; they've hardly done it before, only Fu Yongning knows how, the others are still not proficient, so it's actually quite a hassle."

"After the net was changed and lowered again, it was already 4:30 p. m."

Lao Fu Tou also immediately started the boat, heading straight for the previously toxic‑filled little sea trench.

Watching the trawler go smoothly into the sea, Wu An let out a soft sigh; he had no Luck Value left, this haul was purely down to fate.

He still felt quite unsure in his heart.

"A cheat without a cheat is like midsummer with only big underwear on—you feel empty, and when the wind blows you get a chilly, uncomfortable feeling."

The third net yielded little; the torn net had only a few spiny pomfret hooked, which were freshest, so Fan Xiao Zhu tidied up and volunteered to cook.

He doesn't talk much and is rather honest.

His cooking skills are among the best on board; Wu An told him to make some fancy dishes, since this net will take two or three hours to pull up, there's plenty of time.

Everyone was resting in the lounge.

Fu Yongning saw Wu An's complexion wasn't good and proactively said: "A An, you're so eager to have us pull the net—do you have a feeling?"

Wu An shook his head: "I can't say for sure, just a kind of vague intuition."

Fu Yongning praised: "You're exactly the person meant to eat this bowl of rice."

"On the boat, experience matters, but actually intuition comes first."

"This is a talent many fishermen dream of."

Wu An smiled.

If cheating is a talent, then he truly could look down on all heroes; even the sea would have to offer him a cigarette upon seeing him.

A Qing then said, "Brother, you can sometimes restrain yourself; when you have free time, chat with Goddess Mazu, don't be too good to yourself."

Wu An: "Huh?"

A Qing said solemnly, "I just heard from Brother Yongning that normally swordfish operate near the sea surface and rarely go to the seabed."

"Do you know why the swordfish went to the seabed?"

Wu An countered, "You mean it's because of me?"

A Qing nodded, "What else then?"

"Goddess Mazu is helping you."

"It must be that they drove the swordfish down to the seabed, making them burrow into the trawl net."

Wu An gave him a kick.

"What nonsense, utterly baseless talk."

Everyone also laughed along.

After a commotion, Mei Wu came over and whispered, "A An, what A Qing said is a bit unreliable, but I think you can give it a try."

"What if it actually works?"

Wu An raised a middle finger: "You feel bad for the trawl net, right?"

This trawl net equipment is Mei Wu's responsibility; break one Mei Wu and you have to replace him.

Mei Wu shook his head, indicating that wasn't what he meant.

Wu An naturally knew he wasn't saying that; he said it just to shut A Qing up, to avoid that unreliable talk, and to prevent everyone from spouting nonsense, he sought Fan Dali and said, "Big Strength Brother, does your village have any childhood friends you get along well with your brothers?"

Fan Dali nodded: "There are a few."

"What are they like?"

"Anyway, they're all able to hang out with me and Xiao Zhu; my childhood friends all have wives and kids, only I and Xiao Zhu are still bachelors."

Wu An nodded; those with families are more steady, after all, having responsibilities makes them the ideal ox and horse.

He said, "You know, I've ordered another trawler."

"In the future, I also plan to get a larger ocean-going vessel; what we lack most now is manpower."

"If you have suitable people, bring them over for me to see."

Fan Dali's eyes lit up: "Really?"

Wu An nodded: "I trust you; work hard, and you'll have a chance to stand on your own later."

Fan Dali became excited.

"With such a big pie landing on one's head, who wouldn't be dazed."