After Reincarnating as the Dragon King, I Made a Fortune with Seafood – CH32

Chapter 32: Fishing Boat

Lu Ao’s mind was still a little muddled. Before he could decide whether to refuse or not, Song Zhou gently held his wrist. The next moment, Lu Ao was already standing in his own courtyard.

Luwu Village was much cooler than Qianyong City. The wind blew against his clothes, making them flutter lightly.

The sound of the wind was quiet, and the village was quiet too.

After returning here, Lu Ao somehow relaxed a great deal. He froze for a moment, then turned and pushed open the door, going back inside.

The house carried his own scent, faint yet impossible to ignore. Sleepiness surged over him like waves, layer after layer, quickly drowning him.

Almost as if sleepwalking, he returned to his room, threw himself onto the bed, and kicked off his shoes.

Song Zhou picked up his shoes and placed them neatly by the bed.

Before falling into deep sleep, he vaguely saw Song Zhou standing by the bed. He could not help reaching out with his cool, slender fingers to lightly tug at Song Zhou’s clothes. A small mumble slipped from his throat. “There’s a guest room next door. Sleep here.”

Perhaps he was truly too exhausted. The end of his sentence rose slightly, soft and gentle.

Song Zhou stared at him for a long while before softly replying, “Alright.”

Lu Ao slept deeply through the night. When he woke again, it was already bright outside. Birds were chirping and hopping among the branches.

The bright yellow sunlight was like a huge piece of amber, wrapping everything inside it. Above him, the sky was deep blue, with clusters of white clouds floating across it.

Lu Ao stared at the sky, feeling happier than he had ever felt before.

He lifted the blanket and fished his phone out from beside his pillow. It was already 7:08.

It was no longer early. He hurriedly shoved his phone back beside the pillow and went to wash up and change.

After getting ready, he pushed the door open and went out, wanting to find Song Zhou. He had to return to that guesthouse in Qianyong City as soon as possible.

For some reason, even though he had not heard Song Zhou’s voice, Lu Ao instinctively felt that he was in the house.

As soon as he pushed open the door, Lu Ao smelled a fragrance in the morning breeze.

The fragrance came from the kitchen.

Lu Ao was dazed for a moment, then lifted his leg and walked over.

Tall and long-legged, Song Zhou was making breakfast.

Lu Ao stood at the doorway and looked at him.

Song Zhou raised his eyes. His eyes curved as he said gently, “Wait a moment. It’ll be ready soon.”

Lu Ao leaned against the doorframe. “I think I need to go back.”

“No one over there is looking for you for now. Eat breakfast first.” Song Zhou lifted his chin slightly and said, “You can also send them a message and tell them you’re going back to sleep for a while.”

“Alright, I’ll send it now.”

Lu Ao picked up his phone and sent Xiao Du a message, telling him that he was going back to sleep and might not wake up until after ten.

Xiao Du replied immediately: No problem. Rest well. When you wake up after ten, just come over.

Lu Ao turned off his phone. “Done.”

He went over to help, carrying breakfast out.

Song Zhou’s cooking was actually quite good, not inferior to breakfast shops outside.

Lu Ao ate until his eyes narrowed.

The two ate breakfast in the morning light. Lu Ao stretched lazily. “I don’t know why, but I was especially tired yesterday.”

“You searched in the sea for so long. Of course you were tired.” Song Zhou looked at him. “How long has it been since you last looked at your dragon form?”

“Hmm?” Only then did Lu Ao remember this question. “Not that long. Half a month or so.”

Song Zhou said, “I estimate that your dragon form has grown a little. Let’s find some time to take a look.”

“Do we need to look in the sea?”

Song Zhou smiled. “Theoretically, you could change back into your dragon form here too. But if it’s too big, you might damage the furniture and such.”

Lu Ao made a prompt decision. “Then let’s look in the sea. Once I’m done with the Public Security Bureau’s matters, I’ll come back tomorrow and look.”

After breakfast, the two chatted while washing the dishes together.

Song Zhou sent Lu Ao back to the guesthouse.

Lu Ao was rather reluctant to part. He looked back at him and said, “Why don’t we have late-night food again tonight?”

Song Zhou agreed. “Alright. I’ll come after work.”

Lu Ao’s eyes lit up at once. “No problem. We’ll call each other then.”

Song Zhou went to work. Lu Ao washed up again, his face still damp and refreshed, then went nearby to find a breakfast shop and casually ordered some food.

He had actually eaten his fill earlier. This time, he was mainly eating so the people at the Public Security Bureau would see it, and also to fill the gaps a little.

After eating, he went to the Public Security Bureau. Xiao Du and the others were already there.

When Xiao Du saw Song Zhou, he no longer cared about bragging and chatting with his colleagues. He quickly stood up and enthusiastically pushed a chair over, leading Lu Ao to his workstation. “Our great hero is here. Quick, quick, sit here.”

Lu Ao did not stand on ceremony with him. “What needs to be done today?”

“Nothing much. Mainly just making one final record. Once the experts confirm that the recovered laptop is fine, we can settle your wages. The higher-ups are also planning to give you a bonus.”

Lu Ao asked, “They still can’t confirm that the laptop is fine?”

“It’s basically already confirmed. I heard the experts even turned it on yesterday. They’re just doing one last confirmation.” Now that everything was finally coming to an end, and both the bonus and credit were there, Xiao Du was extraordinarily excited. “It’ll be quick. Don’t worry.”

While they were talking, Old Gao walked in leisurely with a tea mug in hand.

Seeing Lu Ao, Old Gao’s face was glowing. He stepped forward and greeted him in a loud voice, “Lu Ao’s here?”

“Mm, I just arrived.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Thanks to you, we finally don’t have to keep working overtime. Stay for another day or two? The director said that when everything is over, we should all go out for a meal together and properly reward you!”

Because of that laptop, the entire Qianyong City Maritime Navigation Public Security Bureau, from top to bottom, had been working overtime for more than a week.

During this past week, Old Gao went home in the early hours of the morning and left again before dawn. His little daughter had not seen her father for more than a week and had cried several times.

Every night, she sobbed and refused to sleep, insisting on waiting for her father. But she could never fight off sleepiness and always fell asleep first. When she woke up and found that she had not waited for him, she cried again.

Every time Old Gao went over to tuck his daughter in, he often saw her little face flushed from crying, her tiny fists clenched tightly beside her cheeks. Even in sleep, she looked wronged. Old Gao’s heart ached so badly that it nearly cramped, both sour and guilty.

Now that things were finally done, he had already ordered a cake and planned to go home early to coax his little daughter.

And the matter could be finished thanks to Lu Ao.

Old Gao did not say it out loud, but he was very grateful.

Hearing Old Gao’s invitation, Lu Ao said, “There’s no need for a meal. It wasn’t much.”

Old Gao said, “How can it not be much? Without you, who knows how much longer we’d be struggling? Whether the laptop could even be recovered was another question.”

Lu Ao said, “Not necessarily.”

Old Gao said, “Stop being modest. It’s settled. Tomorrow, we’ll have a meal together.”

Xiao Du also said, “Right, right. We’ve been busy for so long, Lu Ao, don’t refuse. Give us a proper excuse to have a gathering.”

Lu Ao could not refuse, so he had no choice but to agree.

Old Gao sat down in the chair opposite Lu Ao, took out his phone, and said with a smile, “Then let’s add each other as friends too? It’ll be convenient to contact each other in the future.”

“No problem.”

Lu Ao opened his personal QR code and let the other man scan it.

Xiao Du quickly said, “I want to add you too.”

Lu Ao passed the phone to him.

While sending the friend request, Old Gao said, “We really have you to thank this time. In the future, if you run into any difficulties related to maritime navigation, feel free to come to us. There are many things we can help you handle within the allowed procedures.”

Xiao Du said warmly, “Exactly, exactly. As long as it’s not illegal, we’ll make things as convenient as possible. We have pretty good relations with the subordinate units in Yandong County.”

Lu Ao actually did have something. He accepted the friend request and looked up. “Can you help with a fishery qualification certificate?”

“A fishery qualification certificate?” Old Gao had not expected him to ask that and quickly said, “You can just apply for that locally. It’s relatively easy. Usually, they won’t block it.”

Lu Ao said, “I already applied. The certificate just hasn’t come down yet. I want to get it sooner.”

“Oh, that.” Old Gao put down his tea mug and went to sit at his own workstation. He opened his computer and asked, “When did you apply?”

“Mid-last month.”

“Then it should already be made. Let me check for you.”

Old Gao quickly logged into the internal system and searched Lu Ao’s name. Soon, he found the relevant information. “The certificate has passed review and has already been made. It just hasn’t entered the dispatch process yet. I’ll have someone expedite it for you. When you go back, you should be able to pick it up.”

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. It’s a small matter.”

Xiao Du asked curiously from the side, “Once you get the fishery qualification certificate, are you going out to sea to fish?”

“Probably. I’m not sure yet. I might also go offshore rock fishing.”

After what had happened with Old Wen and the others yesterday, Lu Ao did not want to dive and fish for the time being.

He had originally been looking for a new fishing spot too, but had not found a lead yet.

Now that he could get the certificate, he could consider whether to go offshore rock fishing or directly go fishing at sea.

Xiao Du said enviously, “Your luck is so good, and you’re so capable. If you go out to sea to fish, you’ll definitely return with a full load.”

Lu Ao was a little helpless. “We’ll see. I still haven’t taken my Certificate of Competency exam.”

Xiao Du said, “That one isn’t hard. Do more practice questions, and you can pass it in about a month.”

That was indeed not difficult. Lu Ao had looked at the questions for the Certificate of Competency before. If he practiced more, he would not even need a month. Half a month would be enough.

The Certificate of Competency was equivalent to a boat-driving license. As for that, Xiao Du and the others did not dare help.

What Xiao Du thought of was another matter. “Lu Ao, if you’re going out to sea, have you bought a fishing boat?”

“No. I’m still looking.”

Lu Ao had previously wanted to buy a speedboat-style fishing boat.

That kind of fishing boat was very small and not particularly good at withstanding risk, but it was cheap. The cheapest could be bought for sixteen or seventeen thousand, and for twenty or thirty thousand, one could get something quite decent.

Now that he had more savings, he wanted to buy a slightly larger one.

A speedboat-style fishing boat was only so big and could not hold that many fish in total. It might not suit him.

Hearing this, Xiao Du gave a couple of sly chuckles. “Then do you have any requirements for the fishing boat?”

Lu Ao could tell from his tone that he had some connections and immediately said his requirements. “A larger one is fine. It doesn’t need to be too large. A small-to-medium fishing boat, around ten to twenty-something meters, would work. As for type, either a fishing vessel or a transport vessel is fine.”

“What about the price?”

“Within eight hundred thousand.”

Old Gao listened from the side and already understood. Amused, he shook his head.

Xiao Du leaned on the partition of the cubicle and continued chattering, “Do you have any requirements about whether it’s new or old? For example, must it be a new boat, or are second-hand boats acceptable?”

“If it’s suitable, second-hand is fine too.”

“Then that makes it easier.” Xiao Du’s face turned rather mysterious. “Have you ever considered judicial auction boats?”

“Judicial auction boats?” Lu Ao had only vaguely heard of them before. After thinking for a moment, he asked, “Is that troublesome?”

“Not troublesome. You have us.” Xiao Du enthusiastically promoted the idea. “We have very complete internal information here. It’s all on the intranet. I’ll pull it up for you to take a look. A batch of pretty good boats was just added recently. If I had a need in the fishing industry, even I’d want to buy one and try it.”

Lu Ao was tempted by what he said, then asked, “If you show me this, is it a violation of discipline?”

Xiao Du had not expected him to ask this and froze.

Old Gao held his tea mug and waved his hand, laughing twice. “It’s a gray area. If it were an ordinary person, we definitely wouldn’t show them. If we did, and the leader saw it, we’d get scolded too. But since it’s you, just look without worry. I guarantee that even if the leader saw it, he’d probably pull up even more information for you.”

Xiao Du came back to his senses and pulled up the information. “Don’t worry and just look. Nothing will happen. These boats all have serial numbers. If you take a liking to one, you can write it down. When the time comes, I’ll give you the specific auction time. As long as nothing unexpected happens, you can usually win the bid. And the price will probably be about half cheaper than outside.”

Half cheaper could mean saving tens or even hundreds of thousands. Lu Ao did not stand on ceremony and sat at his workstation. “Then I’ll take a look first.”

“Sure.” Xiao Du said, “Take your time. I’ll go get you some fruit and dried squid.”

Old Gao also said, “I noticed a few good boats earlier. I’ll send you the serial numbers. You can pay special attention to them later. They’re all the kind that don’t look eye-catching, but have very high specifications.”

A smile appeared in Lu Ao’s eyes. “Alright. Sorry to trouble you.”