Back To the Small Fishing Village In 1982 - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Panic Floating in the Middle of the Sea

After everyone’s surprised looks subsided, he went inside, planning to take a quick shower and prepare his tools.

“Ah Qing, cook me a bowl of noodles, I need to leave early.”

“Oh.”

Lin Xiuqing immediately put down what she was doing to cook his noodles. He had mentioned it last night, she knew he was going to the isolated island to harvest from the sea, and she naturally supported and cooperated.

The other two sisters-in-law didn’t know he was eating early to go sea harvesting, and couldn’t help but roll their eyes when they heard this – they thought he had improved and knew to help with work, but then he immediately talks about eating early and heading out…

Mother Ye initially wanted to scold him, but seeing the couple – one willing to give and one willing to take – and that troublemaker had already disappeared into the house, she had to give up and swallowed her words, only muttering a few complaints.

After finishing his noodles, Ye Yaodong grabbed his bucket with tools, stuffed a sack in his pocket, and hurried toward the dock.

The women of the Ye family began their tasks – some washing rice, others picking vegetables. They needed to eat lunch early today before going sea harvesting. With house construction starting tomorrow, the daily food consumption would increase greatly, so they needed to dig more clams to reduce expenses.

Everyone was busy with their own work and nobody paid attention to Ye Yaodong, not knowing he had left with harvesting tools.

When Ye Yaodong arrived at the dock with his bucket, Xiao Xiao and Ah Zheng were already there.

“How did you get here so fast?”

“A man shouldn’t talk about being fast. We just arrived a moment ago, Ah Guang went to start the boat.”

“Wait a bit, I need to buy diesel.”

“We need to buy diesel? Ah Guang didn’t mention it, I didn’t bring money.”

Ah Zheng also patted his pockets, “I didn’t bring any either…”

Ye Yaodong smiled, “No worries, I brought some. Leave the bucket here, help me watch it while I go buy some.”

Ah Guang was quite considerate, not mentioning he paid to rent the boat himself, otherwise they would have definitely brought some money.

Near the dock there was a small shack that repaired boat engines and sold diesel. Since they weren’t going far, he only bought one yuan’s worth of diesel – enough for their needs, and any extra could be considered compensation for the boat owner.

Just as he finished buying the diesel, Xiao Xiao ran over saying: “Ready? Ah Guang brought the boat to shore, let’s get on if you’re done.”

“All set, let’s go.”

He carried a small container of oil, following behind them onto the boat. As his foot touched the deck, he felt it wasn’t so bad – just a bit of rocking, nothing he couldn’t handle. His heart settled somewhat.

Handing the diesel to Ah Guang, he said, “Pour the diesel in. It only takes about ten minutes to reach the small island, so I just bought one container. It’s enough for several round trips.”

“Mm, that’s enough. Let’s set off!”

Soon, the engine was making putting sounds, and the boat slowly left the shore. Everyone sat casually on small stools chatting, except for Ye Yaodong – the closer they got to the middle of the sea, the paler his face became.

Seeing water all around, with just a small boat swaying in the middle of the vast sea, he couldn’t help but recall being exhausted, helplessly letting seawater flood into his mouth and nose…

That suffocating feeling – he thought if he didn’t think about it, he’d be fine. But now in the middle of the sea, it was impossible not to remember.

The day before yesterday, when gathering oysters by the shore’s rocks, his focus was on the rocks, and even with his legs in seawater he wasn’t panicked. But now, floating on the sea made him anxious.

While everyone was chatting and laughing, Ah Zheng noticed him sitting quietly with an unwell look on his face, and exclaimed in surprise: “What’s wrong with you, Eastern? Holy crap, don’t tell me you’re seasick?”

“No way, you get seasick?”

“We’ve barely left shore, you’re being too dramatic! Already sick?”

The other two were also extremely surprised – a coastal person getting seasick, and so soon after setting out? People would laugh their teeth off hearing this.

Ye Yaodong wiped the sweat from his forehead, “I only rode my grandfather’s boat as a child, haven’t been on one for many years. Don’t laugh at me, when will we reach shore?”

Ah Guang looked at him with a mix of amusement and helplessness, now understanding why he didn’t dare go to sea directly with his father. “We’re heading to the isolated island opposite, should take about ten minutes. Bear with it, won’t be long.”

He nodded, his heart still pounding heavily.

The boat sped across the sea, creating rippling circles in the water. He dared not look at the sea surface, nor close his eyes, and could only fix his gaze on the distant mountains, but it didn’t help – his face remained deathly pale.

Ye Yaodong was frustrated – of all ways to die, why did it have to be drowning? How could he make a living from the sea as someone who lived by it?

Even as they approached the isolated island, his symptoms hadn’t improved at all. He gritted his teeth and made a bold decision…

“What are you doing? Why are you taking off your clothes?” Ah Guang looked at his actions in confusion, “Going swimming?”

“You want to swim a few laps?” Xiao Xiao’s eyes lit up, thinking it wasn’t a bad idea – on such a hot day, being in the water would be comfortable. “I’ll join you, we can swim to the shore together.”

Ah Zheng also excitedly said: “I want to get in too, let’s race to see who reaches shore first?”

Both started taking off their clothes, only Ah Guang regretfully had to keep steering the boat, “Once we reach the island, I want to swim a few laps too.”

Ye Yaodong watched their actions and felt reassured – with them swimming with him, he definitely wouldn’t drown. Fighting poison with poison – whether this would cure his fear of the sea would be determined now.

“Don’t swim too fast, remember to wait for me. If I get a cramp and drown, I’ll come find you all at midnight!”

Ah Zheng rolled his eyes, “Pretty boy is all looks and no substance!”

“Being a pretty boy is something you can’t achieve.” After saying this, seeing they were very close to shore, Ye Yaodong was the first to jump into the sea.

As soon as he entered the water, that familiar suffocating feeling instantly overwhelmed him. He suddenly forgot how to swim, his mind went blank, his limbs thrashed wildly, and his body began sinking to the bottom.

Xiao Xiao and Ah Zheng, still on the boat ready to jump, saw his abnormal movements and sinking body, and were shocked.

“Doesn’t Eastern know how to swim? What’s he doing?”

“Let’s pull him up and see!”

The two jumped in like dumplings dropping into water, swimming toward Ye Yaodong. Seeing him struggling with closed eyes but showing no signs of choking on water, they first brought him to the surface.

The sudden fresh air allowed him to breathe, and the feeling of being rescued was indescribably wonderful.

He opened his eyes, floating with their help, and after a moment found his rhythm and started moving on his own, the panic in his heart dissipating somewhat.

“What were you doing? Why did you sink? Really planning to meet the Sea Goddess?”

“I got a freaking cramp, right at the moment I jumped in, my leg suddenly cramped!”

Everyone: What a coincidence???

Prophetic???

Foreknowledge???