CHAPTER 357: CHAPTER 336: THERE’S A BOAT ON EAST ISLAND

Yao Wei went to the west to check on Luo Ping’s caravan, while Lu Xi’an went to the east to look at the sailboat floating on the sea.

At this moment, the west wind was blowing, and the sailboat was coming swiftly with the wind, likely to moor soon.

There were two people on the boat; they were too far away to see their faces clearly, but judging by their figures, one could tell they were Hu Xiaodong and Hu Dong.

The sailboat had undergone significant changes compared to before, indicating that the father and son had made considerable improvements during this time.

"Let’s go find them."

Seeing Yao Wei finish looking at the caravan and walking over from the west cliff, Lu Xi’an spoke.

"Okay."

Yao Wei agreed.

They went back to the car to fetch the commemorative medals and began walking down the mountain. During the past half month, they had retrieved all the medals stored in the collapsed temple and no longer needed to fetch them again.

As they headed down, they passed a pond and reached the East Sea coast, noticing that the coast was lower than the last time they came, confirming that the sea tide level was not constant.

Perhaps these water levels would gradually decrease, until one day they retreat behind the sea tide dam, and the seawater will never reach Caiyang Mountain again.

This was what Lu Xi’an thought.

He and Yao Wei waited for a short while, then the sailboat appeared on the horizon and quickly reached the shore.

When Hu Xiaodong and Hu Dong saw Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei, they couldn’t help but be surprised, mixed with a bit of joy and fear.

Facing two people whose power far surpassed theirs, who had mentally tormented them yet also brought them benefits by helping to build the sailboat, their emotions were understandably complicated.

However, seeing Lu Xi’an waving his arm to greet them, they raised their hands to respond as well.

Once ashore, Hu Xiaodong and Hu Dong jumped off the boat, pushed it onto the shore, and then felt at ease to talk to Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei.

Hu Xiaodong, being the father, cautiously asked, "Why have you two come again?!"

Lu Xi’an smiled and asked, "Why, can’t we come?"

Hu Xiaodong hurriedly replied, "You can definitely come. How could you not? I-I-I mean, is there anything you need us to do?"

His mind was indeed quick—though unnecessary.

Lu Xi’an didn’t scare them, he simply took out the commemorative medals and said, "We’ve gotten ahold of some medals again and want to trade for something."

These commemorative medals, whether whole or in fragments, were worth quite a bit to East Island.

Hu Xiaodong and his son’s eyes lit up at the sight of so much wealth, and Hu Xiaodong eagerly said, "Whatever you need, just say the word! Whatever you want, we’ll get it right away!"

Lu Xi’an said, "As usual, we need potatoes, sweet potatoes, and barley. Also, seeds.

"Apart from that, if your island has anything good, just mention it, in case we could use it, we’ll request it, and you can supply it, we’ll buy it."

Hu Xiaodong scratched his head and said, "As for food and seeds, it’s easy. We just need to bring the three items and some potato seeds.

"Sweet potatoes and barley can be directly used for planting, no need to bring more."

"Besides these, I can’t think of anything else from our island right now. I need to ask what you two want."

Lu Xi’an said, "If you ask me, I can’t think of anything immediately. How about you lead the way, and we pay you a guide fee?"

Hu Xiaodong glanced at Luo Ping’s hand but seemed hesitant, and Lu Xi’an could tell he seemed reluctant.

Was he reluctant to take Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei to East Island and let someone else earn the money?

Judging by his obsession with the pond business, it was quite possible.

Ha! Capitalism!

Lu Xi’an laughed internally, said nothing, and soon heard Hu Xiaodong say, "How about this?"

Did he have a good suggestion?

Lu Xi’an said, "Go ahead, we’re listening."

Hu Xiaodong said, "Underneath East Island, there’s another large ship, which is said to be the ship that brought our ancestors to the island.

"A long time ago, that large ship was always moored at the shore, and many places on it had been cleared out by our East Island ancestors, leaving nothing to see.

"But there are still many locked areas we can’t enter, who knows if there are good things inside.

"You two are Neo-Humans, strong enough to open those inaccessible places, and there might be good things inside.

"You give me more money, I guide you two, then for as long as you want to stay here, every time the tide comes in, we’ll bring you enough food and seeds. How about that?"

This guy was making good calculations, wanting to secure his profits first and earn more while reducing what others on the island could make.

Lu Xi’an laughed, saying, "You’ve got a good strategy. Originally, we agreed you’d take us to the island. Isn’t the ship moored on the island’s shore?

"Once on the island, we’ll see the ship sooner or later and go take a look. So why are you acting as if it’s two separate things?"

The faces of Hu Xiaodong and his son turned slightly pale.

Lu Xi’an didn’t mind much and waved his hand, saying, "However, we do need to stay on this mountain for quite some time, at least a year, so we can’t go to your island all the time either.

"Since you come every time the tide rises, why not make a long-term trade with you, what do you think?"

With this proposal, Hu Xiaodong and his son understood.

Hu Xiaodong’s eyes lit up and said, "You mean... you want us to supply you all year long?"

"Yes, that’s exactly what I mean."

Lu Xi’an replied.

Hu Xiaodong and Hu Dong nodded vigorously. Hu Xiaodong said, "Good! Good! That’s great!

"What about going to the island?"

This guy was obsessed with money and still didn’t want to give up the business of leading the way.

Lu Xi’an said, "There’s no rush for that, we have plenty of time. We should make preparations before we go."

He paused for a moment, thought it through, and then continued to Hu Xiaodong:

"Your boat is too small, having two people on it is already the limit, any more won’t work. We need to build another small boat."

"So, we’ll help you fetch water now, you can go back, and then bring us food and seeds, along with some materials for making sails.

"The materials on this island won’t do, the sails made from them might easily break.

"When you come, we’ll get the boat ready, and then you can teach us some rowing techniques. Once the next tide comes, when time is abundant, we’ll go with you.

"As for how much we should pay you then, it depends on what we find on East Island and the ship.

"If there’s not much to find, we’ll only be able to give you a little token of appreciation.

"How about it, no problem right?"

"No problem! No problem!"

Hu Xiaodong quickly agreed, and his son Hu Dong nodded repeatedly behind him.

Lu Xi’an had put it this way, so how could they dare to have any issues?

So Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei each grabbed an empty bucket from the boat and ran to the edge of the pond to fetch water.

When they took the buckets, Hu Xiaodong still modestly insisted on doing it himself, saying that they couldn’t go back today anyway and would have to wait until tomorrow to return. With nothing much to do in the meantime, fetching water would be a good idea.

By now it was already noon. But that’s not how time is calculated. They came riding the wind, but returning meant they would be going against it, which naturally took longer.

Moreover, after a busy day, their bodies would surely be tired, increasing the danger at sea.

Hu Xiaodong and his son Hu Dong, having lived off the sea for so long, cherished their lives and greatly respected the sea; for them, this was a must, based on experience.

But Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei refused to let them do it. Lu Xi’an said, "This is a piece of cake for us, just a small effort, no big deal.

"You guys should rest well, so you’ll be in good shape to set off tomorrow."

Hu Xiaodong and his son Hu Dong had no choice but to give up.

When Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei returned with the water, Hu Xiaodong and his son couldn’t help but sigh, "So fast! The Neo-Humans are truly amazing!"

This time, the two did not stay by the east coast to eat with Hu Xiaodong and his son.

The two could tell that after not seeing each other for some time, the father and son felt more unfamiliar and nervous in their presence.

Both felt there was no need for a particularly close relationship with the father and son, as long as business matters were in order.

So they went back to the mountain top, ate dinner by themselves, watched the starlight for a while, and lay down to rest.

"Starting tomorrow, we’ll begin boat building."

Lying in bed, Lu Xi’an said, "There shouldn’t be too much trouble with the small boat. Once it’s made, those two will bring the sails, and we’ll take a look at the island.

"And the ship they mentioned. Wonder what’s good on it?"

"There should be a bowl, right?"

Yao Wei said, "You’re still short of a bowl. With another one, it’d be much more convenient eating."

Indeed, when they were at the Tan Village Shelter, the bowls were all destroyed, so afterward, when eating, they either shared one bowl or used a common pot.

Though it seemed quite intimate, it was undeniably inconvenient. Having another bowl would indeed help a lot.

But...

"Is a bowl all you’re after?!"

Lu Xi’an couldn’t resist teasing.

Considering the ship was big enough to transport people for refuge, it must’ve been quite large and not low-spec. And yet, getting onboard just for a bowl?

That pursuit seemed a bit too low.

"So what do you want to find?"

Yao Wei asked back.

"Me?"

Lu Xi’an was slightly silent.

The screen in front of them was showing a pirated movie, and in the middle, an ad suddenly popped up for some kind of enhancement medicine.

Lu Xi’an thought he didn’t need that, after all, he was a Type A Neo-Human.

A thought struck him and he said, "A little umbrella."

Yao Wei suddenly glanced at Lu Xi’an.