Chapter 78: Force Majeure

By this time the tide had already risen.

Because of the wind and rain, the tidal flats had become a vast expanse of water.

With the headlamp on, actually nothing could be seen.

The night by the sea was actually very dark.

Saying that sounds like nonsense, but it's not; even on a night with a high moon, if you don't turn on a light ten or so meters away on the beach, you basically can't see anything.

Why?

Wu An couldn't figure it out even after two lifetimes; maybe it's because the sea absorbs light?

Compared to a high moon, he preferred the weather of a glittering river of stars.

In that weather, lying on the sand, gazing at the full sky of stars, daring nothing, thinking nothing, just looking—it was extremely comfortable.

In such windy and rainy weather, Wu An couldn't help but let his thoughts wander.

People.

Only when lost does one realize that what was once easily obtainable is actually so precious.

Reborn and returned.

Wu An dare not say anything else, but he is quite adept at self-criticism.

"I examine myself three times daily… reviewing the old to know the new—Confucius truly does not deceive me."

He muttered.

He dared not repeat the mistakes of his previous life; he feared he would fall again into an inescapable mire.

Facing the rocky beach submerged by the tide, Wu An hesitated about entering the mire.

He wanted to check the tidal flats for blue crabs to verify whether the "blue crab crossing" actually existed—this was his shortcut to quickly accumulate initial capital.

But such a shortcut wasn't that easy to take.

Wanting to be first to eat crab, paying some danger, seemed quite reasonable.

Wu An questioned himself: "Can't just wait by a stump for a rabbit, sitting and hoping for heaven-sent wealth?"

"Go."

"If you don't even dare to take this little risk, how can you change your life?"

"A certain unnamed fish‑lover once said, the bigger the waves, the more valuable the fish."

In his previous life, he was always getting something for nothing, fantasizing that one day a heavenly pie would hit him, and ended up messing up his days.

At this moment.

The rain grew heavier and the wind began to pick up.

Wu An took a deep breath and started walking down.

But he walked very slowly.

Fortunately the tide here wasn't too turbulent, so he could barely move.

He intended to go to the place where he had previously found blue crabs, which was a crab nest; if a "blue crab crossing" occurred, there would surely be signs there.

After walking just two steps, he heard a sound behind him, shouts mixed in the wind.

He turned his head to look.

There was a flashing light.

Wu An's steps halted; he stood at the water's edge, dazedly watching the light flash and approach through the windy, rainy darkness.

"Brother, brother, brother, is that you?"

"Brother, it's you!"

"What are you doing?"

"Come up quickly!"

"Brother!!!"

It was A Qing.

This guy was running and shouting.

When A Qing drew near, Wu An hurriedly explained: "I intended to go down to have a look."

A Qing hurriedly went into the water to pull him: "Brother, you don't want to live!"

"It's blowing a gale, pouring rain, and the tide is rising!"

"I don't even know if today is a spring tide."

"Hurry up and come up."

A Qing grabbed him with his hands, but he himself couldn't keep his footing, was knocked over by a wave that had just reached his thigh, and ended up sitting in the seawater.

Wu An quickly hoisted him up and walked toward the beach.

Walking on, after a while they still hadn't gotten ashore; once they emerged from the water, A Qing shouted anxiously: "Brother, look, how fast the tide is rising!"

Wu An looked back; in this slightly damp, chilly night rain, sweat actually appeared on his forehead.

What was he just doing?

Was he possessed?

Maybe.

His mind was full of "blue crab crossing" and "I want to change," to the point he forgot what the sea even was.

At this moment, Wu An's heart was in turmoil, and he was filled with lingering fear.

He wiped the water from his face, not knowing whether it was sweat or rain, perhaps both; A Qing kept chattering on, but he couldn't hear, so he directly hugged A Qing tightly.

A Qing opened his mouth, his body stiffened.

"Good brother, thank goodness you're here!" Wu An patted A Qing's back hard and said: "You saved my life; I will surely make you rich and prosperous for life, and I will arrange for you whatever I have."

A Qing grinned foolishly.

Brother said it, so he definitely believes it.

The two walked toward the village, seeing the scattered lights in the distance, their heavy hearts felt as if a shackle had been lifted, and they felt extremely relaxed for a moment.

In his previous life, he was muddled and inept, disappointing everyone.

Now.

Having obtained a great fortune to be reborn, he was overjoyed yet extremely fearful, each step taken tremblingly, dreading to repeat past mistakes.

Actually, he had overcorrected.

He already possessed foresight far beyond anyone's, and he remembered many things from Father's notebook; as long as he walked forward steadily, he could live a life unattainable in his previous life.

"Ahahaha… cough cough cough…"

Wu An threw his head back and laughed loudly, then suddenly coughed, choked by the rain.

A Qing looked doubtful.

Brother, what's wrong?

Upon reaching Lao Wu, he saw the light inside was on.

Wu An hurried over.

Entering, he saw it was Elder Brother Wu Ping.

Wu Ping saw him and A Qing come in, anxiously asking: "Where did you two go?"

"You didn't even bring your phone."

"Why is A Qing covered in mud?"

Wu An didn't answer him, but asked: "Brother, how did you come?"

Wu Ping pointed to the clothes at the foot of the bed: "These past few days it's been raining on and off; your sister-in-law said seeing your washed clothes still wet from the rain, you might have no clean clothes to change, so I brought over the clothes you left at home."

"By the way, let's see how your place is."

Wu An then had A Qing change his clothes first, and asked: "A Qing, how did you come too?"

A Qing pointed to the porcelain bowl on the table: "My mother made smoked fish."

Wu An thought he could get away with that, but Wu Ping still asked him why he went out running in the wind and rain.

Wu An had no choice but to say vaguely: "Brother, don't be so nervous."

"This wind and rain isn't that strong."

"I'm going to check the tidal flats; the bigger the wind and waves, the more valuable the fish, maybe there'll be some unexpected gain."

Wu Ping glared: "Nonsense!"

"No wonder Dad hasn't come home yet; it's because of people like you."

"No."

"I'm afraid you'll run out again; come live with me at home."

Wu An felt a headache.

Just as he was about to refuse, a gust of wind blew in, the windows and doors clattered, and rain poured in; he hurriedly braced them with something.

"You see, this place is uninhabitable; what if the wind and rain get worse tonight?" Wu Ping added: "Dad called back, saying he's on duty, staying at the Village Committee; if there's any news in town, he can respond immediately."

Wu An nodded: "Alright."

He had planned to return home in glory, but facing unavoidable circumstances, he could only be more flexible.