sbdcsierra Chapter 1889 Bad Luck
Chapter 1889 Bad Luck
Chapter 1889 Bad Luck
Ye Yaodong set off after lunch, and the workers arrived in town one after another. After he checked and confirmed that everything was in order, he set off directly.
However, even though he wasn't exposed to the wind while sitting in the cockpit, he sneezed several times.
Meanwhile, at sea, Ah Zheng was sitting in the cockpit, cursing him incessantly.
"Damn it, they've been gone for almost a month... I guess they're trying to copy me..."
"I'll write back again tomorrow and urge them relentlessly!"
Ye Yaodong rubbed his nose, adjusted the coordinates, and set off.
After arriving in Zhoushan, he did not go to sea immediately, but first dealt with matters at the factory and inquired about the Canton Fair.
Then I made another trip to Shanghai to book two more Pioneer ships for fresh seafood collection.
With the two Dongyu vessels expected to be delivered in a few months, we decided to renew the order.
He has plenty of liquid funds on hand right now, so he's not short of money!
While he was at home in Shanghai, he received another call from Ajiang.
"Third Uncle, I received another letter from Uncle Zheng. He's urging you again. The factory said you came back a couple of days ago, but you're going to Shanghai. You'll have to decide for yourself."
"Damn it, they keep urging me after I've only been gone a few days. Let them know that I'm going back tomorrow and they need to wait for me when they leave. I reckon they won't be able to unload until tomorrow."
"Yes, the letter was just delivered, and the ship docked in the evening. The cargo is still being unloaded at the pier."
"understood."
Lin Xiuqing stood close to him, and only asked after hanging up the phone, "Is A-Zheng in a hurry? Did something urgent happen at sea?"
"It's nothing to worry about. He's just worried that if I don't go to sea, there will be no one to suffer with him."
"There's no need to rush like this. You just got back and you're already traveling back and forth again. Why don't you wait for the next ship? Stay in Shanghai for a few more days, and then spend a couple of days at the factory when you get back?"
"Forget it, I've pretty much taken care of things at the factory the past couple of days, and I'm done here too. I'll go back tomorrow, otherwise there's nothing to do here."
"Ok."
Ye Xiaoxi chimed in from the side, "Dad, aren't you the boss? You don't even have the freedom of a regular job. You have to stay at sea every day. I haven't seen you go to sea in the past two years."
"The past two years are the past two years, but I'll stay here for a while this year. I shouldn't have to go to sea again next year. At most, I'll get through this busy year and then I should have the freedom to be my own boss next year."
"You'll be even freer the year after next. After your older brother graduates, have him take over your job at sea, and you'll be even more awesome."
"Let's talk about it later. He's not stupid anymore."
She covered her mouth and chuckled, "A generous reward will surely bring forth brave men. If you give him a raise, he'll definitely do it."
"Then shall I tell him your idea?"
"Then he should thank me properly."
Ye Yaodong shook his head with a smile, "Then he'll have to pull your braid."
"I'm not afraid of him at all."
The next day, after returning to Zhoushan from Shanghai, he boarded a supply ship, participated in resupply, and then headed directly to the high seas.
He kept sneezing on the way, not knowing whether it was from a cold or from being scolded, and it just so happened that it was close to the change of seasons from spring to summer.
But once he was able to establish contact with other fishing boats, he realized he had been insulted.
The moment the signal was connected, Ah Zheng's complaining voice came through the channel intermittently.
"...You've been gone for a whole month, and you still have the nerve to say that..."
"If you keep rambling on, I'll go back next time, but I won't come back."
"Damn it, I'm going back next time too, and I'm not coming back."
"Whatever. Anyway, your workers are still on my ship. You can pay your own wages. In a month or two, when your ship can be launched, you'll have to come running over here."
Ah Zheng was speechless, choked by his words.
He's the real beast of burden; the others are ship owners and factory owners.
"I estimate that I will arrive at my destination in about a day. You ships should gather the necessary supplies in advance, and also, calculate the time to prepare to collect the fish."
"understood."
All the boats were notified to first check their diesel and ice reserves. Once the fishing boats were close, they would transfer supplies according to the situation of each boat. Ye Yaodong also returned to boat number 1.
"Have you gone to Shanghai to check on my ship? It's already past May, and the delivery date is fast approaching."
"I checked, it should be ready to submit around next month, if all goes well, by the middle of the month, if not by the end of the month."
"Holy crap, you actually went back to Shanghai? No wonder you've been gone for a month. Damn it, you said you were going back to your hometown, but you ended up in Shanghai. Are you trying to pay your dues?"
Ye Yaodong rolled his eyes at him, "I've ordered two more boats for collecting seafood, I'm afraid that won't be enough."
"Tsk tsk tsk, I see. You're so rich and powerful, you've really become a shipping magnate. No private individual has as many ships as you. Fortunately, the current policies encourage economic development and support individual businesses."
"Ah."
"Since my ship is almost ready, I'll take the workers back next month. Going back a few days earlier will allow me to rest and catch my breath."
"Well, you see for yourself, I'm not like you, who can't wait for someone to suffer with you."
Ah Zheng felt a little guilty. "I only wrote to ask what was going on and urge you on since you hadn't come back for a month."
"I don't believe you for a second. I left and you started writing and sending letters right after. I bet you started writing them in less than a week. Even if you time it right, it will take a week to sail back."
"No way, don't slander me. You should reflect on yourself. You actually forced an illiterate like me to write to you, saying you would come back as soon as you finished your business, but it's been more than a month since you went back."
"Don't be so fussy. It takes me half a month to travel by boat back and forth. I even looked after your boat for you. Don't be ungrateful."
“Then I’ll go back with the cargo ship at the end of the month to check on the situation in Shanghai. If I need the workers to return, I’ll let you know and you can arrange for them to be sent back. I don’t know the situation at the factory, so there’s no need to take the workers back so early.”
Ye Yaodong glanced at him and said, "Okay."
Ah Zheng was overjoyed, feeling as if he had been granted a vacation.
He shook his head. They're not smart at all; they've wasted all these years.
Ye Yaodong truly felt that without him, these childhood friends would still be drifting through life in their hometown, never having the houses, land, boats, and money they have now.
His merits are immeasurable.
The workers on deck were busy, moving fish and diesel fuel ice back and forth. Conversations could be heard over the walkie-talkie from time to time. The nets of the next boat had already been hauled in and were queuing up to be docked with the cargo ship.
After the docking work on the deck was completed, the two ships separated. Ah Zheng then piloted his fishing boat to continue searching for fish in the vicinity, preparing for the next fishing operation.
Working at sea is monotonous and tedious; barring unforeseen circumstances, it's all about repeating the same tasks over and over.
After Ye Yaodong arrived at Dongyu No. 1, he began to do nothing.
He's currently acting as a mascot on the ship.
When the end of the month arrived, A-Zheng happily went with the seafood collection boat, and Ye Yaodong then helped with the work again and took shifts with him.
In June, the high seas are unbearably hot. The sun beats down relentlessly, and the deck is so hot you could fry an egg on it.
Ye Yaodong, dressed in long sleeves and trousers, stood on the top of the wheelhouse, enjoying the breeze. The machines hummed and groaned, a monotonous sound.
At that moment, cargo was being collected on the deck. He waited until all the nets were brought up before entering the cockpit to continue the exploration.
This was quite an discovery; the sonar signals indicated a large school of fish, far larger than anyone could have imagined. He immediately sat up straight and continued his exploration.
I picked up the binoculars again and looked eastward. The color of the sea was indeed different. It had changed from deep blue to a greenish blue, and the boundary was clear, as if someone had drawn a line with a pen.
As I got a little closer, I could see some fish, scattered around the edges, jumping out of the binoculars, shimmering silver, like dumplings being dropped into a pot.
The school of fish was so large that it seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. The dense sardines crowded together two or three meters below the surface, changing the color of the seawater.
"Sardines..."
Fishing for sardines in the deep sea feels like a waste; a single catch of a school of fish is worth more than sardines. However, they can be processed into fishmeal.
Ye Yaodong still issued the order to prepare to cast the nets for fishing.
You can first set up the net, and then continue to search for nearby schools of fish.
At night, the silvery-white sardines shimmer like tiny pieces of silver as they land on the sorting table, then are directly transported to the bottom warehouse for processing into fishmeal.
He received a message from the fishing boat two weeks later, instructing him to send Ah Zheng's workers back, as they were needed to start the fishing boat and cross into international waters.
By the time the boat gets here, it will probably be the end of July. What's the point of fishing then? They might not even be able to catch fish for many days before they have to go back to avoid the typhoon.
Even a small amount of money would cost a fortune in gas for the round trip.
We still lack experience. We should have taken the workers back with us so that the ship could have sailed over as soon as it was delivered.
It saves us from having to send the message to the sea and then wait for the workers to send it back, which would take half a month each way.
However, Ah Zheng had returned home early and was unaware of the shipyard's progress, which is understandable.
Ah Zheng himself didn't care much; he was always in high spirits when he sailed his boat to the high seas.
Regardless of how many days we can work, we've got the ship now, and we're about to start conquering the high seas. We'll work for a few days and earn money for a few days.
Sitting in the cockpit of your own fishing boat and controlling it is a completely different experience from controlling someone else's boat.
For several days in a row, he grinned and drove until he was sleepy before letting someone else take over.
Once he was able to get in touch, he couldn't wait to show off his new ship to Ye Yaodong.
"Dongzi, Dongzi, I've got my boat! Hahahaha~"
"congratulations."
"Watch me dominate the battlefield and make a fortune, hahaha..."
“It’s already August, brother. I didn’t know to let the workers go back with you.”
"It's alright, I've got the ship now. I notified you half a month in advance to help send the people back. It was the shipyard that postponed the delivery date, not that they were short of manpower."
"Ok."
"I'll be there in less than two days."
"it is good."
Perhaps he was just unlucky; just about 5 nautical miles from Ye Yaodong's location, the weather station broadcast a report that a typhoon eye was forming in the Pacific Ocean.
"Holy crap!" Ye Yaodong sat bolt upright, grabbed the walkie-talkie, and yelled, "Zheng, did you get the weather forecast?"
"Received it, just generated, still a long way off, what's there to be afraid of?" A-Zheng's nonchalant voice came through. "I just got my new ship, haven't even launched it yet, and you want me to turn back?"
He couldn't bear to part with it; the round trip cost a fortune in gas, and he couldn't just leave empty-handed.
"Do you want to make money or feed the fish?"
"Don't jinx it. It's still early. The route isn't even determined yet. Maybe it'll turn a corner and head south towards the Philippines?"
Ah Zheng had already put his hands together and began to pray to Mazu that the typhoon would move towards the Philippines.
I usually pray that the typhoon will pass and the weather will improve, but for my own benefit, I'd better go to the Philippines first.
"I just spotted a school of fish. I'll cast a net to test the waters first. If we really have to turn back, let me cast another net before we go back. Otherwise, it would be too unfair to have made a wasted trip."
Ye Yaodong frowned. Having been at sea for so many years, he knew all too well the temperament of typhoons. They looked far away, but they moved very fast and could change in an instant.
"Dongzi, you're too nervous." Other voices chimed in over the channel, "The weather station says it's still in the formation stage, and it will take at least two or three days before it affects this area. Let's work for another two days and observe for a while."
"Yes, the fishing is going well these past few days, it would be a shame to leave now."
Several captains started discussing it in the channel, and most of them felt that they could hold on for another day or two. After all, the eye of the storm was still forming, and they could return in time even if they returned tomorrow.
Ye Yaodong listened in silence, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the control panel.
He turned to look at the sea; the setting sun had dyed the water a dark red, like a vast expanse of flowing rust. The sky in the distance was tinged with yellow, and the clouds had thickened.
The weather doesn't look good.
But he also understood what everyone was thinking. It wasn't easy to come out; fuel, labor, and boat wear and tear all cost money.
He was reluctant to part with them; they were all his ships.
"Alright," he finally relented. "Let's observe tonight and check the weather forecast tomorrow. But if you can still haul in your nets, do so now. Don't cast any more nets. If anything seems amiss, head back immediately. That way, we'll be more mobile. Don't go too far now; stay within a safe distance where you can help each other. Ah Zheng, if you want to cast one net before heading back, then go faster."
"Got it!"
"Dongzi, you're just too cautious."
"It's better to be steady, it's better to be steady..."
The channel was lively for a while, then gradually quieted down.
Ye Yaodong stood outside the wheelhouse, watching A Zheng's new ship slowly approach. The white hull gleamed in the setting sun, brand new and truly beautiful.
Ah Zheng stood outside the cockpit waving at him, his face beaming with joy.
That idiot.
He waved and turned to enter the cabin.
At night, the sea conditions were relatively calm, and the fishing nets on his boat were all brought in. The workers on deck were sorting the fish and organizing the nets.
Ye Yaodong felt a little relieved and went back to his rest cabin to doze off for a while, but he still felt uneasy. He got up twice in the middle of the night to check the sonar and weather fax.
At three in the morning, when he got up again to pull up the weather map, his hand stopped.
The eye of the storm, which was originally blurry, now has a clear outline.
The central pressure is decreasing, the wind is strengthening, and most importantly, the line on the path prediction map has shifted slightly westward.
That's where the difference is huge.
He immediately turned on the radio and tuned to the weather channel.
After a hissing sound of electricity, the announcer's voice came through: "...It is expected to strengthen into a severe tropical storm within the next 24 hours, and its path is likely to continue to deviate westward. Vessels operating at sea are advised to pay close attention..."
Hold.
Without further hesitation, Ye Yaodong grabbed the walkie-talkie: "Attention everyone, attention everyone! Those who haven't closed the net yet, prepare to close it immediately. We'll leave at daybreak."
There was a few seconds of silence on the channel, then someone asked groggily, "What's wrong?"
"The typhoon's path has changed, and it's heading this way. If we don't pack up now, it might be too late by tomorrow afternoon."
"Is it that serious?"
"Dongzi, is it really that serious?"
"Listen to me!" Ye Yaodong's voice turned serious. "Hurry up and bring in your net. The other boats have almost finished bringing in their nets as well. The financial loss is a small matter; if something unexpected happens, you'll regret it."
"Okay, fine, alright, I can't afford to gamble on this."
Ah Zheng sighed, "Is it because I didn't have time to bring the Mazu statue on the boat? Damn, what bad luck, the first haul is ruined."
Ye Yaodong breathed a sigh of relief and then instructed, "After you finish collecting the nets, retreat to the southwest. The typhoon is coming from the southeast, so let's take shelter in the southwest for now. We'll decide on the next step after we determine the path, whether to take temporary shelter or return directly."
The ships responded and began to get busy.
At 5:30, just as dawn was breaking, all the boats had finished hauling in their nets.
"Set off."
At Ye Yaodong's command, the Dongyu No. 1 took the lead, turning around and heading southwest. The other boats followed one after another, forming a long queue on the sea.
Ah Zheng's boat was at the very back, moving slowly, as if unwilling to give up.
"Ah Zheng, hurry up." Ye Yaodong urged him.
"I know, I'm trying to go fast, but I feel like I can't pick up the speed." Ah Zheng himself frowned.
"what happened?"
"I don't know, I've already had someone check it."
"Report immediately."
The fleet sailed southwest.
At 10 a.m., the sea was relatively calm, with only the waves being slightly larger.
Ye Yaodong kept updating the weather information and saw that the eye of the storm had become clearer and its path had shifted slightly westward.
He cursed under his breath, then picked up the walkie-talkie again: "Speed up, don't skimp on fuel, get everything moving!"
At noon, the wind started to pick up.
The waves grew from two meters to three meters, and the ship began to rock noticeably, with the things secured on the deck rattling loudly.
Ye Yaodong let everyone into the cabin, while he and his boss stayed in the cockpit.
"Boss, Ah Zheng's ship behind us seems to be slowing down," the boss said, pointing to the radar.
Ye Yaodong looked at the radar screen, and sure enough, the dot representing A Zheng's ship was gradually moving away.
"Zheng, Zheng, what's wrong with you? Speed up! What are you doing?"
A-Zheng's voice came through the walkie-talkie, sounding somewhat nervous: "Damn it, it seems like there's something wrong with the engine, the water temperature is a bit high, I've had them check it again."
"What?!" Ye Yaodong's blood pressure spiked instantly. "Your brand new ship's engine has a problem?"
"I don't know either. It was fine when I first drove it out. I don't know if I made a mistake or if something else affected it..."
Ye Yaodong took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down: "How many sections can you maintain right now?"
"At most... at most seven stops, any faster and the water temperature won't be controlled."
Seven sections? In this kind of weather, what's the difference between that and climbing?
Ye Yaodong looked out the window. The sky was overcast, and the wind and waves were intensifying, making it inconvenient to arrange for someone to inspect his ship.
"I'll call over the maintenance worker on my ship to talk to your workers and get in touch."
"Good good..."
Ye Yaodong immediately called over the chief engineer and another person who knew maintenance, gave them walkie-talkies, and let them communicate.
Their fishing boats continued heading southwest as usual, and the wind and waves lessened slightly as they went further.
Fortunately, they had already brought in all the fishing nets yesterday, and they noticed the eye of the storm as soon as it formed.
The only problem now is that Ah Zheng's fishing boat is a bit unpredictable, which is making people nervous.
Around 7 p.m., Ah Zheng cheered, "The engine is working, the water temperature is right!"
Ye Yaodong breathed a sigh of relief, "Then hurry up and catch up."
"immediately."
At midnight, the ships finally met up and slowly headed southwest.
The impact of the typhoon has gradually weakened, but this does not mean that the typhoon has disappeared. The typhoon is still moving and strengthening; it's just that they react quickly.
Ye Yaodong didn't sleep all night, staying in the cockpit, staring at the radar, the weather map, and the sea outside.
At 3 a.m., the weather station updated its report: the typhoon continues to move west-northwest and its wind force is gradually increasing. Its 72-hour trajectory is also moving towards the fishing sites ahead of them.
At six o'clock in the morning, the wind and waves began to gradually subside. At nine o'clock, a sliver of light appeared on the horizon. At ten o'clock, they finally sailed out of the typhoon's influence.
The sea returned to calm, and the sunlight shone down, as if nothing had happened.
Ah Zheng cheered happily, "We're out of the typhoon's reach!"
Ye Yaodong breathed a sigh of relief, "It's a close call, but we still need to hurry back. The typhoon is still moving and will continue to have an impact. I'll rest for two months when I get back."
"Damn it, what bad luck! I just got the new boat and just started sailing it."
“A small loss is a gain. Come back in a couple of months and make a big profit. Also, when you get back, take your boat to the shipyard for another inspection. Damn it, don’t rush the work and compromise on quality. That could cost lives at sea, dozens of lives on a single ship.”
"Yeah, I need to go back and settle accounts with the shipyard to see what happened. It scared the hell out of me. I had no idea what the problem was, but thankfully it was resolved on the spot."
Ah Zheng cursed and swore, he had been so panicked that he thought he was going to die.
Ye Yaodong was also a little scared. "While I have two months of rest, I need to take the ship to the shipyard and check it from start to finish. Also, when we get back, you need to send someone to learn how to repair ships or hire someone who knows how, otherwise we'll be helpless if we have to call on anyone in a pinch."
"Yes, I know."
"That was terrifying! Luckily, the fishing nets were all brought in early. You're just unlucky."
"Don't even mention it, damn it. I should have known better than to rush it out and let the shipyard give it a proper inspection."
"I don't know what happened to you, let's talk about it when we get back."
The ships continued their return journey along the same route as usual.
Fishing boats near DYD turned back immediately when the eye of the storm formed.
To put it bluntly, it wasn't their ship, so the losses wouldn't affect anyone else, and they wouldn't make any money out of it. They were just employees, so of course they would return home as soon as possible if there were any risks involved.
(End of this chapter)