Chapter 39: First Voyage Out to Sea

As the first rays of dawn gently tore through the curtain of night, the seaside fishing village began to stir from its slumber.

The morning beach looked like a canvas meticulously wiped clean by nature, pure and filled with hope. The fine white sand shimmered with a faint silver glow under the soft light, and the waves kissed the shore tenderly, leaving behind trails of foam like lace, emitting a pleasant "swishing" sound as if whispering a morning melody for the sea.

The sea breeze, carrying the greetings of the ocean, swept over the swaying seaweed on the shore with a hint of chill, making the plants look like a troupe of dancers in green, gracefully swaying their bodies.

At this moment, the pier was already a scene of bustling activity.

Early in the morning, the villagers were like diligent bees, shuttling between the boats and the land, preparing for the day's voyage. In this small, underdeveloped fishing village, going to sea still followed the ancient tradition of leaving at dawn and returning at dusk.

Although some bolder souls occasionally ventured out for several days, most people dared not stray too far from land for long. Without televisions to forecast the weather, they feared the unpredictability of the open sea; once caught in a storm, their fragile wooden boats would be tossed like withered leaves, leaving their survival to fate.

Lin Yu hurried to the pier early, ready to head out with Wang Dachun.

Before even boarding, he saw Wang Dachun’s tall figure busy on the deck. He was expertly checking the fishing nets, the ropes moving like nimble snakes in his hands as he coiled them quickly and orderly.

A smile spread across Lin Yu's face as he called out, "Brother Dachun, I'm here!"

With a few steps, he leapt onto the boat, joining the preparations by helping move supplies and reinforcing the railings. These were tasks Lin Yu wasn't familiar with and required Wang Dachun’s guidance, but they weren't overly complicated, and Lin Yu managed them quite well.

"How is Nannan doing?" Wang Dachun asked with a smile while working.

"Much better. There was plenty of medicine left over from when Yaoyao was sick, so it came in handy. The child probably just wasn't used to the local water and soil; she had a low fever all night. My mother has been looking after her, and she’s fine now," Lin Yu replied.

"That’s a relief. Your mother is a careful person; Nannan will be back on her feet in no time. Let’s catch plenty of fish today, sell them, and buy something good for Nannan to help her recover." Mentioning the trip reminded Wang Dachun of Lin Yu's mother, Wang Yufen, and the worried look in her eyes last night when she grabbed his hand, pleading with him to look after Lin Yu.

Wang Dachun grinned and added, "Your mother is too nervous. The waters around here have very mild waves and rarely see typhoons; you should tell her to set her mind at ease."

"It's not that easy to just stop worrying, but she’ll get used to it as I go out to sea more often."

Just as they were chatting while working, Uncle and Aunt appeared.

Their boat was not far from Wang Dachun's. Aunt Liu Guilan had a sharp gaze; she spotted Lin Yu working over there and instantly blew up like a firecracker. "Lin Yu, you ungrateful wretch! You have your own family's boat, yet you run off to help an outsider—what are you thinking?"

Uncle Lin Qiang also stood on the pier with a livid expression. "Xiao Yu, heading out to sea? If you want to learn how to fish, why not come to your uncle? Come on, get on our boat. We’re family; your uncle wouldn't treat you unfairly."

Lin Yu rolled his eyes and refused without hesitation, "No need. I’ve already decided to go with Brother Dachun."

Ever since his father died, his uncle and aunt had treated them with the cold indifference of strangers. Back when they couldn't even afford a meal and were starving, the couple had never offered a hand, not even a single grain of rice, and had even tried to seize their land—did they ever treat them like family then? Now they were coming over to play the part of the benevolent relatives.

Who didn't know what they were really after? They couldn't handle the work on their boat alone; just last time, they had tried to force his mother, Wang Yufen, to go help them. The memory of what the aunt had said back then still made Lin Yu's blood boil.

Lin Qiang was infuriated by Lin Yu’s attitude. "You brat, you really are an ungrateful wolf. You don't know what's good for you. Can't your own uncle do better than an outsider?"

Lin Yu sneered and retorted, "Give it a rest. If you truly considered us family, would you have watched us starve and freeze after my father died? Brother Dachun, on the other hand, brought us food time and again. Now you want to throw your weight around as my uncle? Do you think I care for that?"

The words hit Lin Qiang like a slap across the face, leaving him red with rage.

Flustered and embarrassed, he pointed at Lin Yu’s nose and cursed, "Wang Dachun is just a half-baked fisherman. What could you possibly learn from him? When you come back empty-handed, you'll be the one begging me!"

"That's none of your concern!" Lin Yu couldn't be bothered with them, rolled his eyes again, and turned back to his work.

Lin Qiang and Liu Guilan were shaking with anger, struggling to even perform the basic tasks on their own boat.

As the preparations neared an end, the morning sun broke through the horizon like a burning golden orb, casting its brilliant light across the earth and sea.

The fishing boats slowly pulled away from the pier amidst the shimmering waves, and Lin Yu and Wang Dachun set sail. Standing at the bow, facing the sea breeze and looking into the distance, this was Lin Yu's first time fishing, and his heart was filled with anticipation.

Lin Qiang stood on the shore, stomping his feet in frustration as he watched the boat sail away. Liu Guilan fanned the flames at his side, "Don't worry. They won't catch any fish, and they'll be begging us soon enough. Even though that Wang Dachun was the eldest brother's apprentice, he’s too dim-witted and only learned half the trade. Bringing a novice like Lin Yu along—they’d be lucky to catch anything. In the end, they’ll have to come begging you, their uncle."

Hearing this, Lin Qiang’s temper finally cooled.

After Liu Guilan disembarked, Lin Qiang followed Lin Yu and Wang Dachun, heading out to sea.

By now, many fishing boats were setting sail in succession, greeting the morning sun. The sunlight pierced through the sails, making the textures of the canvas clearly visible. Interwoven with light and shadow, the sails looked as if they were draped in dreamy golden gauze.

As the boats drifted further away, their silhouettes swayed gracefully on the sparkling surface. Some formed a line like a fleet embarking on a mission; others moved in small groups, looking out for one another as they braved the ocean together.

The sea breeze carried the shouts of the fishermen and the rhythm of the crashing waves, composing a heroic symphony of departure. This melody accompanied the boats as they sailed toward the horizon, until they became nothing more than tiny, hopeful black dots, merging into the vast expanse of sea and sky.

Wang Dachun’s boat was a traditional wooden vessel.

It was barely over ten meters long, built from local, sturdy old oak. The grain of the wood was rugged, running like deep ravines. Upon closer inspection, the mortise and tenon joints were clearly visible; despite the battering of wind and rain, they remained tightly locked without the slightest sign of loosening, a testament to the master craftsmanship of the shipwrights from years ago.

The gunwales reached about to an adult's waist, curving slightly outward like a natural shield gifted by time. A gentle touch revealed a rough, sandpaper-like texture—the marks left by years of relentless sea breezes and salt erosion. As fingers traced the surface, one could even feel tiny, sand-like salt crystals that sparkled with a faint, resilient light under the sun, like delicate treasures gifted by the ocean.

This boat was left behind by Wang Dachun's parents.

They had been local fishermen, but a severe illness claimed them both. Wang Dachun was only eleven or twelve at the time. With no one left to lean on, Lin Yu's father, Lin Xiang, had taken him onto his boat and raised him like his own son.

It was his father who had helped repair this very boat back then.

The bow of the boat was sharp and pointed, jutting high into the air like a hawk ready to soar, charging bravely into the depths of the sea. The front boards were heavily worn, covered in dents and scratches from countless violent collisions with waves and near-misses with hidden reefs. Some parts of the wood had even split, but Wang Dachun had repeatedly patched them with thick hemp twine and tung oil, giving the vessel a primitive, tenacious vitality.

The sail was a heavy, aged piece of canvas, a mix of dark brown and dull yellow, covered in layers of patches. Usually, it hung listlessly, but as the sea breeze caught it, it instantly puffed up with spirit, flapping noisily as if eager to break free and carry the boat forward.

Wang Dachun stood at the stern, hands on the tiller, his expression focused and earnest as he began to teach Lin Yu the essentials of steering the boat.