Chapter Sixty: Setting Sail

At the break of dawn, the village of South Sea was already bustling. Over a dozen fishing boats set out to sea at once, creating a most magnificent sight. The village chief had left his house early and had gone to visit the home of Lu Yu.

Lu Yu was a young man, three years older than Liu Lingshuang. When he was a child, his father perished in an accident at sea, and his mother, overcome with grief, fell ill and passed away less than a month later. At that time, he was only six years old, one of the youngest in the village. The village chief took him in, provided for his meals and lodging, and taught him the art of fishing.

Unexpectedly, Lu Yu proved to be both clever and eager to learn. Within a year, he was going out to sea with the fishing fleet, and in less than five years, he could venture out alone, earning enough silver to live comfortably. He moved out of the chief’s house, both to avoid being a burden and to live in his old home for sentimental reasons. At just eleven, he showed a maturity beyond his years.

In addition to his intelligence, he was hardworking. By the age of fifteen, he had saved enough to buy a small fishing boat of his own. He always seemed to choose the best times to fish, returning with plentiful catches. The villagers never envied his success, for Lu Yu was generous, sharing his bounty with others before selling the rest in town.

Over the years, Lu Yu’s fishing skills won the village’s admiration. Families sent their children to learn from him, hoping they would grow to be as skilled. Lu Yu was happy to teach them. Though he had lost his parents, the villagers treated him like family, and he never felt lonely.

He never forgot their kindness. With his savings, he purchased a large fishing vessel—one so grand that even wealthy families in the region had never dreamed of owning its like. Sturdy and swift, Lu Yu had reinforced it according to his own understanding of good ships. Now, the vessel was the pride of the village. When young people wanted to broaden their horizons, they would be placed on that boat, and with Lu Yu accompanying them to sea, their families were at ease.

At first light, Lu Yu was already at the harbor, preparing to set out. The village chief came to his house to find him, and, not seeing him there, hurried to the shore. From a distance, he saw Lu Yu’s boat about to depart and called out his name.

Lu Yu heard the call, poked his head out, and waved. “Father, what brings you here? The sea breeze is strong this morning—don’t catch a chill.”

“Yu’er, don’t be in such a hurry to set sail. Come ashore—there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Lu Yu disembarked and said, “Chief, whatever it is, you need only decide. No need to consult me. If you need my help, just tell me what to do, and I’ll see it done.”

The chief smiled, patting Lu Yu’s arm. “You are truly sensible, Yu’er. It’s nothing serious—I just need to borrow your boat to take a few guests to the Immortal Island of Square Inch.”

“Of course! I’ve heard the elders speak of that island, but have never seen it myself. I’ve always wanted to. Before, my boat was too small for such a journey, but now this one can surely weather the waves and bring the guests there safely.”

Meanwhile, in the chief’s house, Ye Sansi and the others had just awakened. Seeing the sunlight outside, they realized they’d overslept, but the chief was nowhere to be found. So, they washed up and went out to look for him.

All four set out together into the village. Liu Lingshuang said, “What should we do? Could the chief have gone to sea and forgotten about us?”

Nian’er covered her mouth and laughed. “How could he forget four living people? I think the chief promised to find us a big boat yesterday. Seeing us still asleep, he must have left quietly this morning. Why don’t we try the seaside?”

Lingshuang pouted and nodded. She had been here before and knew the way to the shore, so she led the others.

Outside the village, the scene was lively. The villagers busied themselves by the water, children played barefoot on the beach. Such prosperity and carefree happiness were a sight to behold. As they reached the edge of the village, they saw the large fishing vessel in the distance. Though the Liu family also owned hundreds of fishing boats for their trade, none so grand as this.

Drawing closer to Lu Yu and the chief, Lingshuang looked up at the vessel and laughed. “This boat is truly enormous. If I hadn’t seen it up close, I would have thought it was a merchant ship!”

Lu Yu, meeting the four for the first time, guessed immediately that these were the guests the chief had mentioned. He greeted them warmly: “This ship was built with many years of my savings. When it was constructed, I asked the craftsmen to make special modifications to my design. The hull is strong, and it sails swiftly, untroubled even by large waves.”

Ye Sansi exclaimed, “I thought all ships were the same. When we were at Tianhai, all I saw were small boats, so I imagined that was all there was. I never expected to find such a giant.”

Lingshuang laughed. “There are many things in this world yet to broaden your horizons. By the way, what is your honorable surname, brother?”

“No need for formalities—my surname is Lu. I often hear people in town say that. My name is Lu Yu. I’m a simple man, not much for polite words. Since you are guests of South Sea Village, I’ll help you however I can. Come, board the ship.”

Just as the four were about to follow Lu Yu, Sansi’s stomach grumbled loudly, reminding Lingshuang that they hadn’t eaten breakfast. Lu Yu chuckled. “You haven’t eaten yet?”

The chief said, “When I awoke, you were all still sound asleep, so I went to ask Yu’er about borrowing the boat first. I’ll go back now and make you something to eat.”

Lu Yu stopped him, smiling. “Father, I have food on board. If we go back to cook now, we might waste precious time. I don’t even know the route to the Immortal Island and, following the map, I can’t say if we’ll arrive before nightfall.”

“That’s true, Yu’er. But be careful this time. This isn’t just fishing—the journey is much longer, and the waves will be greater. Though your seamanship is nimble, you’re still young and less experienced in dealing with real dangers at sea…”

“Chief, don’t worry. The South Sea took my father’s life. Since I was a child, I swore to conquer the ocean. No matter how fierce the storms, I won’t be afraid.”

The chief stroked Lu Yu’s face. “Very well, Yu’er. When you return, come to my house. It’s been ages since you tasted my cooking. You were always such a glutton when you were little.”

After saying goodbye to the chief, Lu Yu led the four onto the boat. There was a cabin on board. Lu Yu showed them the way inside—the space was as spacious as any ordinary house. “Please, come in. The cabin is large. When I’m busy at sea, I sleep here. It’s quite comfortable.”

He pointed to a table, inviting the guests to sit, then went into another room, bringing out some jars and a piece of yellow paper. He placed the paper on the table and poured out some small dried fish from the jar. Ye Sansi tried a piece, nodding in approval and praising the taste. Lu Yu himself didn’t think it was anything special, but Sansi found it novel.

Seeing Sansi’s enjoyment, Lu Yu laughed. “These dried fish are a staple for us fishermen—dried and stored in jars, they last well and make for a good snack at sea. But among all the villagers, my dried fish is considered the best. The children are always after me for these treats, ha!”

In the blink of an eye, Sansi had eaten quite a lot, but he stopped and said, “This is delicious—I’ve never had anything like it. But you don’t have much. If we finish it, there’ll be none left for you.”

Lu Yu laughed heartily. “Don’t worry, guest. There’s little of everything at sea—except fish! If we run out, I can cast a net and catch a month’s worth. Still, dried fish can’t fill your stomach, and too much will make you thirsty. I have some other ingredients; I’ll go cook a proper meal and steam some buns. That should be enough.”

Lingshuang waved her hand. “Brother Lu, this is already more than enough. Rice and flour are treasures for fishermen—how can you spare them on us?”

Lu Yu smiled. “Please don’t worry—our fishermen in South Sea Village are blessed by the immortals. Every trip brings back a full catch. The town is near, and the city not far off. Business is easy, and we never lack for rice or flour. There’s no need to stand on ceremony.”

Taiyi added, “Master Lu, please, don’t call us ‘guests’—it sounds too distant. My name is Li Taiyi. Just call me Taiyi.”

The other three introduced themselves as well, and after a brief chat, Lu Yu excused himself to prepare their meal.

Lingshuang nodded, whispering to the others, “Brother Lu is truly a good man—so courteous, and though he speaks plainly, his heart is kind and his manners impeccable. Truly rare.”

Ye Sansi laughed. “How amusing! Who knew you could build a house on a boat? It sways gently, but it’s rather comfortable.”

Lin Nian’er suddenly realized something. “Wait, if the ship is already moving, but Master Lu is cooking, then who’s steering?”

Lingshuang, a little frightened, grabbed Nian’er. “Don’t scare me like that!”

Lu Yu came in, carrying two plates of fish and seafood, laughing. “Miss Lingshuang, there’s no need to be afraid. Do you think I can manage this whole ship alone? Some of the neighborhood boys wanted to help and learn fishing skills, so on this calm day, I let them take the helm.” With that, he disappeared into the back.

Soon, he returned with steamed buns piled in a basin and set out bowls and chopsticks. “Everything’s ready. I hope these dishes are to your taste—try them while they’re hot.”

Ye Sansi picked up a piece of fish, tasted it carefully, and smiled. “The fish is well-cooked and delicious, but to be honest, it’s still not quite as good as the chief’s.”

Lu Yu laughed. “That’s absolutely true! Even I can tell. I used to love the chief’s cooking as a child, but since I moved out, I’ve rarely had the chance—always too busy. When I get back, I’m going to eat my fill, ha!”

The four ate and chatted with Lu Yu, their laughter ringing out. Lu Yu was honest and open, which matched Ye Sansi’s temperament perfectly. In conversation, they seemed like old friends.

The ship sailed swiftly across the vast sea. Though there was some rocking, it was far more comfortable than most, and the vessel was well-stocked. Lu Yu himself enjoyed playing with gadgets—when at sea alone, he would buy amusements from town to pass the time.