The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Guilty Conscience, Afraid of Being Found Out

’This Han Xiaorui is something else. She actually found the reconnaissance device again!’

’Once could be a coincidence, but twice?’

Wang Liang felt there was something fishy about this!

Also, just yesterday, his cousin Zhang Lili had come to his house again, endlessly badmouthing Han Xiaorui. She even claimed that Han Xiaorui had stolen all of the Yang Family’s money.

Ever since he learned the inside story last time, Wang Liang knew he couldn’t completely trust his cousin’s words.

Sure enough, after asking a classmate, he had found out the real situation.

’Thinking back, it was really inappropriate how rude I was last time, letting my personal feelings get in the way.’

However, seeing that Han Xiaorui didn’t seem to be deliberately targeting him this time, Wang Liang breathed a sigh of relief.

But now, seeing Han Xiaorui and Director Ye getting along so well, he worried that she was badmouthing him and feared his true identity would be exposed.

Everyone knew Director Ye was a formidable figure, transferred from the higher-ups specifically to oversee the work here. Wang Liang knew he had to be careful.

She had rendered meritorious service not long after arriving, and had specifically asked to see Director Ye. In the eyes of the leadership, this meant she had a good rapport with the masses.

”Wang Liang, what are you eavesdropping on?” another man, Zhou Yang, couldn’t help but ask, peering inside as well.

Wang Liang gave Zhou Yang a push. ”It’s nothing. I was just curious, seeing Director Ye laugh so happily when he’s usually so serious.”

Zhou Yang chuckled. ”You’ve got a point. My legs start to cramp whenever I’m in front of Director Ye.”

”He has such a powerful presence. After all, he’s a true veteran who’s seen battle,” Wang Liang said with an admiring expression, though inwardly he was panicking.

In any case, he didn’t dare be alone with Ye Feng right now. He was afraid his guilty conscience would cause him to act strangely and arouse suspicion.

Zhou Yang grew even more curious about the polite Han Xiaorui. ”Wang Liang,” he asked, ”that Comrade Han... a woman who dares to go out fishing at sea, she’s pretty amazing, isn’t she?”

”Of course she’s amazing. The other day we saw her haul in several hundred pounds of Big Yellow Fish with our own eyes.” Wang Liang lamented that he couldn’t earn that much money in an entire year. ”We’ll probably have to help her with some manual labor in a bit.”

As it turned out, Wang Liang was right on the money.

The sea’s surface looked calm, but the small boat bobbed up and down on it like a leaf.

Han Xiaorui skillfully steered, doing her best to keep the boat steady.

「About two hours later」

They arrived below the same reef as last time.

”Are we here?” Ye Feng asked, standing up and swaying a little.

Han Xiaorui nodded with a smile. ”We’re here. It’s right below us, about twenty meters down. Wait a moment while I change into my diving suit.”

When she was alone, she didn’t need a diving suit or an oxygen tank. But with others around, she had to put on an act.

Ye Feng and Zhou Yang went on deck to change. After checking their gear, they jumped into the sea.

Han Xiaorui led them around the seabed for a few minutes before gesturing for them to start digging with their hands.

The silt on the seabed had buried the object.

Ye Feng understood and began to dig rapidly.

Silt billowed up from the seabed, soon obscuring their vision of one another.

Fortunately, the layer of silt wasn’t thick; they hit something after digging about thirty centimeters.

They found it: a big, blue metal object, three meters long and about as wide as a bucket.

Han Xiaorui swam over to help. With Ye Feng and Zhou Yang holding the ends and Han Xiaorui in the middle, the three of them began to ascend.

They quickly surfaced. Wang Liang immediately threw down a rope from the boat and they tied it to both ends of the object.

Han Xiaorui climbed onto the boat. With Ye Feng and Zhou Yang pushing from below, the four of them worked together to haul the object aboard.

Han Xiaorui hurried to the cabin to change into dry clothes. ’It’s still pretty cold out. I’ll catch a cold if I don’t change quickly.’

Ye Feng and Zhou Yang did the same.

”Are you decent?” Han Xiaorui called out. ’It would be awkward if they aren’t done changing,’ she thought.

”One second,” Ye Feng replied, buttoning his shirt.

About two minutes later, Ye Feng finished changing. ”All set!”

Han Xiaorui started the boat and moved to the other side of the reef, preparing to fish for Luo Duan.

She quickly baited her hook, switched to a heavy-duty rod and line meant for big fish, and put on a pair of gloves.

Ye Feng, drying his hair with a towel, asked in surprise, ”Aren’t we heading back now?”

Without turning her head, Han Xiaorui replied, ”It’s rare to come out this far. Give me half an hour. I just have a feeling my luck’s good today, and I can catch a big fish.”

Ye Feng was skeptical. ”Alright, half an hour. I won’t be able to rest easy until we get this thing back to shore. We could be in danger if someone comes looking for it.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Alright, I understand.”

The baited hook sank quickly. ’There are plenty of Luo Duan down there.’

’Just have to be patient and fish!’

Wang Liang also stood nearby. ”You all made such a commotion underwater just now. It’s impossible to catch any fish.”

That’s what he said, but inwardly he was praying, ’Hurry up and get here! If you don’t, they’re going to get away with this reconnaissance device again!’

Han Xiaorui just smiled. ”Well, it’s worth a try. You never know, I might just catch one.”

’I love watching people get proven wrong,’ she thought. ’It’s so much fun.’

Below, a fat Luo Duan caught the alluring scent and couldn’t help but swim out from the reef.

As Han Xiaorui’s body continued to recover, her Water Ability grew progressively stronger.

The bait she created had become significantly more potent as well.

A typically cunning fish like the Luo Duan was difficult to tempt with ordinary bait, but it stood no chance against what Han Xiaorui had prepared.

In less than five minutes, a massive Luo Duan shouldered the others aside and chomped down on the bait.

The instant the fish tasted the delicacy, Han Xiaorui felt it. The line went taut.

Wang Liang was stunned. ”A bite?”

Zhou Yang leaned in for a closer look. ”Whoa, that’s not a small one! It feels like at least fifty pounds.”

Ye Feng didn’t know much about fishing, but he had faith in Han Xiaorui’s good luck.

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Let’s hope you’re right!”

After fighting the fish for a while, Han Xiaorui began to slowly reel it in. When it finally broke the surface, the others were dumbfounded.

”My god, it’s a Luo Duan! This one must weigh a hundred and fifty pounds!” Zhou Yang exclaimed, rushing over with a landing net to help.

The landing net was one Han Xiaorui had specially commissioned to be reinforced. It was more than strong enough. They netted the huge Luo Duan and began to haul it up.

Ye Feng came over to help, and together they dragged it onto the boat and placed it in the livewell.

The massive Luo Duan took up an entire livewell by itself. It was in great condition and still very much alive.

Han Xiaorui removed the hook from the Luo Duan’s mouth, re-baited it, and cast her line back into the sea.

Wang Liang squatted beside the livewell, his expression dazed. ”This isn’t scientific!”

Zhou Yang laughed. ”I think Comrade Xiao Han is just like my grandpa used to say: she’s blessed by Mazu, born to make her living from the sea. We had an old-timer in my village who was a master fisherman.”

”When other people couldn’t catch a thing, his holds would be overflowing. Not only would his holds be full, but the deck would be piled high with fish too. Every single time, year after year. If you just call that ’experience,’ would you believe it? Is that scientific?”

’If you can’t explain it, don’t dwell on it. It’s not like she’s hurting anyone!’

Han Xiaorui overheard their conversation and just gave a faint smile. ’What’s the use of suspicion? They have no proof!’

’It’s all about being free and doing whatever I want!’

’This vast ocean is my personal warehouse.’

This time was even faster. Less than three minutes later, she had another fish on the line.

Not wanting to delay Ye Feng any further, Han Xiaorui quickly used her Water Ability to control the fish. The Luo Duan became docile and quickly floated to the surface.