Chapter 206: Chapter 201: Job Seeking (Part 2)

They left the hotel.

The night air on the island was crisp and cool. A gentle breeze brushed against their faces, bringing with it a refreshing chill that invigorated the senses.

The waves lapped endlessly against the shore, sometimes fierce, sometimes gentle. It was as if they possessed a magical power, capable of calming the mind and bringing a sense of peace.

Alvin looked at Feng Mountain. "Boss, are we going to the River Beach or back to the cabin?"

"To see my boat, of course!" Feng Mountain replied without hesitation, turning to walk toward the Merchant Fishing Pier.

Among the group, besides Feng Mountain and Alvin, only Young Master Xu had ever seen the River Beach. Su Ziweng and Yves had only heard of it but had yet to lay eyes on it.

Bathed in moonlight, the entire island seemed to be veiled in a layer of mystery.

The River Beach was moored quietly at the pier, its massive hull like a silent giant in the darkness.

Silvery moonlight spilled over its hull, creating a hazy halo that made the ship’s lines appear even sharper, every detail looking exquisite.

The waves rhythmically struck the hull, making a SPLASHING sound.

"Holy crap!" Su Ziweng pointed at the River Beach, his face a mask of shock. His eyes were wide and his mouth was slightly agape. "Brother Feng, is this your boat?"

Feng Mountain nodded, his face beaming with pride.

"What do you think? Not bad, right?"

"’Not bad’ doesn’t even cover it! This is badass!" Su Ziweng hurried toward the River Beach, his eyes filled with excitement and curiosity.

But as he approached the River Beach, a burly crewman holding a shotgun appeared at the gunwale, glaring fiercely at Su Ziweng.

"Get lost! Stay away from my boat."

Startled by this sudden development, Su Ziweng stopped in his tracks and quickly raised his hands in surrender.

Things were different abroad than they were in China. No matter how rich you were, when faced with a situation like this, you had to back down. Otherwise, a single "truth-teller" could send you to the next life.

"Hey buddy, calm down! I’m friends with Feng."

"Sea Dog, he’s one of us!" Alvin quickly shouted, his voice echoing in the night air. He then turned to Feng Mountain to explain.

"Boss, someone’s been spreading rumors on the island that we were behind what happened to those five crabbing boats. Since then, strangers have been showing up near the River Beach in the middle of the night."

"The crew was worried those other captains might retaliate against the River Beach, so they organized a watch on their own, taking turns standing guard on the boat every day."

Hearing Alvin’s explanation, Feng Mountain felt a surge of emotion.

’These are what you call good crewmen. Whatever their motives, protecting their own livelihood is a commendable act.’

’I should reward these loyal crewmen with concrete actions.’

’It’s not just about acknowledging them; it’s also a way to motivate them and let them know their efforts are valued.’

"Take down the names of the crew members who volunteered for guard duty. Before we set sail, give each of them an extra bonus."

Meanwhile, the crewman called Sea Dog jumped down from the River Beach, shotgun in hand, and came onto the pier.

When he saw Feng Mountain was there, a look of pleasant surprise immediately crossed his face.

"Boss, you’re back!"

"You’ve worked hard. I’d like to come aboard now, if that’s alright," Feng Mountain said with a nod and a smile, his eyes full of appreciative approval.

"No problem." Sea Dog quickly stepped aside, making a welcoming gesture.

The boss’s appearance on Saint Paul Island meant the River Beach would be setting sail soon.

A thrill of excitement coursed through Sea Dog. It was as if he could already see the impending bountiful harvest and stacks of Franklins waving at him.

A half-month ago, they’d gone out for a week, and he had pocketed 400,000 US dollars in wages. That hefty income had turned his life completely upside down.

Not only had his status at home risen by several notches, but his wife had also become much more affectionate at night.

So when they heard someone might want to sabotage the River Beach, he and the other crewmen had wanted nothing more than to guard the boat day and night.

Feng Mountain led the others aboard the River Beach. As he stepped onto the familiar deck, a sense of belonging washed over him.

Out on the deck by the pilothouse, the sea wind howled, strong and powerful, carrying the distinct salty tang of the ocean.

The deck swayed slightly underfoot, letting out a soft CREAK, as if welcoming Feng Mountain’s return.

Feng Mountain placed both hands on the railing, feeling the cool, solid metal. "Alvin, are all the pre-departure preparations complete?"

Hearing the boss’s question, Alvin straightened up. His expression was one of excitement, and his eyes glinted with anticipation. "Boss, everything’s ready."

"I purchased a 1,000-ton quota for Emperor Crab from the Fish and Game Department. Ten thousand pounds of bait were delivered to the warehouse yesterday, the fuel has been topped off, and ship maintenance is complete. We’re just waiting for you to lead us to a big haul."

Feng Mountain nodded, his gaze still fixed on the sea horizon under the night sky.

"Then let’s make it a big haul!"

....

At the coast the next morning, Saint Paul Island was like a mysterious young maiden veiled in gauze, shrouded by a light morning fog.

The fog was light and ethereal, dancing in the air like a thin veil and adding a dreamlike quality to the entire island.

Wave after wave rolled in, crashing majestically against the coastal reefs with a thunderous ROAR, sending up tall plumes of white spray.

In the distance, the sea horizon appeared grey and hazy in the faint morning light. The sea and sky seemed to merge into one, their boundary indistinguishable.

Feng Mountain had just gotten out of bed when he heard a cacophony of noise from outside.

The sound was like a swarm of restless bees, a buzzing clamor that was unsettling to the heart.

He threw on some clothes and went downstairs, where he ran into Young Master Xu and Su Ziweng, who had also been woken by the noise.

The three of them exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and slight annoyance.

They then walked to the door together and pulled it open.

The first thing that hit them was a blast of cold air, like an icy blade against their cheeks, making all three of them shiver.

Outside the cabin’s fence, a massive crowd had gathered, and the noise surged toward them like a rising tide.

The crewmen from the River Beach stood with their arms outstretched, sweating profusely as they struggled to maintain order.

Alvin was facing the crowd, shouting something at them.

"What’s going on?" Feng Mountain asked as he walked forward.

Before Alvin could speak, the crowd outside the fence saw the owner of the River Beach appear. They instantly erupted. A torrent of voices surged toward Feng Mountain all at once.

"Sir, I have 30 years of crabbing experience! Please hire me!"

"I’m a hard worker and I’m strong! Can you give me a job?"

"Boss, I’ll work for just 70% of the pay!"

"Please give me a job, I have two kids to support."

Amidst the overlapping voices, the same simple request was repeated over and over. Everyone stared intently at Feng Mountain, hoping he would choose them from the crowd.

Feng Mountain knew these people were here for the high pay, but there was nothing he could do.

The River Beach was already fully staffed with 30 crewmen. New members would only be brought on if someone left.

He then spread his hands slightly and said loudly to the crowd.

"Everyone, please be quiet! I understand how you feel, but the River Beach’s crew is full. We have our own staffing arrangements, and there are no new positions available for you at this time."

As soon as he finished speaking, the expectant faces in the crowd turned to looks of disappointment.

After all, everyone present was an experienced, veteran crewman. They knew that positions on a crabbing boat were mostly fixed; unless someone made a mistake, a captain wouldn’t easily fire a crew member.

"However..." Feng Mountain’s tone shifted. The once-noisy crowd instantly grew a little quieter. Everyone pricked up their ears, including the River Beach crewmen who were maintaining order.

"In the near future, we might have some temporary shore-based work that requires extra hands. If you’re interested, you can leave your contact information. Once a suitable opportunity comes up, Alvin will give you priority consideration."

A low murmur of discussion started in the crowd. Some people’s faces showed disappointment; after all, compared to going out to sea for crab, the income from temporary shore work would definitely be much lower.

"Also..." Feng Mountain paused again.

This Chinese style of speaking was driving everyone a little crazy.

Someone in the crowd couldn’t help but start muttering under their breath.

"Boss, just say it all at once! Please stop keeping us in suspense."

Everyone’s eyes held both eager anticipation and a trace of impatience from being tormented by this speaking rhythm.

Every pause was like a heavy pluck on their already taut heartstrings of hope, making their emotions swing back and forth on the edge of hope and despair.

But Feng Mountain pretended not to hear these complaints. His gaze slowly swept over the crowd as if he were weighing some important matter.

After a brief silence, he slowly began to speak again.

"The River Beach doesn’t need any more hands for now. However, I have ordered several more large boats that will be delivered next year. By then, we’ll need a large number of crewmen. If you’re willing, you can register with Captain Alvin in advance."

Feng Mountain’s words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly sending ripples—no, waves—through the crowd.

.....