He Huan stood atop, his frustration palpable as he shouted to everyone below, "How in the world are you all working? Today's wages are halved."
The crowd seethed with suppressed anger.
We toiled until late into the night, eating a simple meal of pickled vegetables and rice before retiring for sleep.
In the predawn hours, around four or five o'clock, I was awakened by the urge to relieve myself. Shivering, I ventured to the edge of the ship to urinate into the sea when I noticed a rope tethered to the ship's railing, taut and swaying from side to side. Soon after, the surface of the sea began bubbling.
There was someone below!
Quickly concealing my "weapon," I adjusted my trousers and found a hiding spot.
Two figures emerged from the captain's cabin – Old Jia and Chief Engineer Gou Tianming.
Gou Tianming was responsible for the mechanical and electrical systems aboard the ship, akin to a first mate and known as Old Gui.
The two of them descended the gangway in haste, hauling the person out of the water.
The individual discarded their diving equipment, and I immediately recognized him as the first mate, He Huan.
"What's the situation down there?" Gou Tianming inquired.
He Huan wiped the seawater from his face. "It's like fishing in a stocked pond down there."
A knowing glance passed between them, excitement evident in their expressions.
Old Jia declared, "I've instructed the chef to prepare food and drinks. Let's go, we'll chat in my cabin."
With just a few words, I surmised they had likely found the sunken ship and decided to follow to gather information.
Next to the helm tower was a massive floodlight, its glare disorienting. If I were to approach directly, I risked being thrown into the sea.
As I pondered my dilemma, I sensed someone standing behind me.
"Sneaking around, what are you up to?"
Startled, I turned to find Chef Lao Huang, holding a large plate of crabs.
"I-I'm here to buy cigarettes."
"Cigarettes?"
"Jiang Erwa only smokes Beidaihe brand. I heard the captain has them, and Lao Jiang gave me five yuan to run the errand."
"Oh, I see. Perfect timing then. Take these crabs up, my legs are acting up, and I can't climb stairs."
Accepting the plate from Chef Lao Huang, I couldn't help but wonder what was so appealing about these creatures. All shell, no meat – hardly a satisfying meal compared to a bowl of biangbiang noodles.
"Hurry up and take them. What are you waiting for? And don't you dare sneak a bite," Chef Lao Huang grumbled.
"I won't, I won't," I assured him.
With the plate of crabs in hand, I ascended the stairs.
In the captain's cabin, Gou Tianming sat with a teddy bear nestled in his arms. The bear perked up at the sight of the crabs, wagging its tail eagerly.
"Biscuit, go ahead."
Gou Tianming tossed a crab onto the floor, and Biscuit scampered outside with it.
Old Jia waved dismissively. "You're done here, now scram."
Inwardly, I muttered curses.
Seeing my hesitation, Old Jia asked, "Anything else?"
"I-I'm here to buy cigarettes."
Repeating the same excuse, Old Jia retrieved a cigarette from the bedside table and tossed it to me.
"One hundred."
Money exchanged for goods, I left the cabin and lingered outside to eavesdrop on their conversation.
He Huan explained that he had gone down to inspect and indeed, the second net had hooked a fully laden sunken ship. Emblazoned with the flag of the British Empire, it was likely a British warship.
"There's so much treasure down there, piled up like mountains," He Huan exclaimed, gesturing with his hands.
Upon hearing this, Gou Tianming was ecstatic, breaking a crab open and holding it aloft in excitement.
"Why wait? Let's get to work, retrieve the goods, along with whatever's in the hold. Then we'll settle in Japan for the rest of our lives, free from worry. First mate, you've always fancied those Japanese schoolteachers, haven't you? Just imagine…" he chuckled.
He Huan smiled, shaking his head. "We're just helping with transportation for those two items. Besides, Miss Bai has paid us. Wouldn't it be unethical?"
Gou Tianming placed the partially cracked crab back down, tapping the table. "Whether it's right or wrong, Miss Bai isn't someone to trifle with. We'll just say it fell into the sea. What can she do?"
Both men turned to the captain. Old Jia took a deep drag from his cigarette, exhaling smoke as he declared, "Man dies for wealth as birds perish for food. Let's do as Old Gui suggests."
Biscuit had nearly finished devouring a crab, and upon seeing me, he stood up, repeatedly bowing and emitting little grunts, as if inviting me to play.
From inside the cabin, Gou Tianming called out, "Biscuit, come in."
I hurried back to the dormitory.
Inside, the sounds of snoring filled the air, mingling with the pungent odor.
The next day, at dawn.
Carrying a food tray, I exchanged glances with Duan Huairen and the others, and we leisurely made our way to the deck.
I recounted the events.
Duan Huairen stuffed a shrimp into his mouth, chewing skin and flesh alike. "This is an opportunity. With no tigers in the mountains, monkeys reign as kings. It's the perfect time for us to take action."
Jiang Erwa nodded. "Exactly. Opportunity seldom knocks twice. Shouhou, what do you think?"
Wang Xiaoliang smiled faintly. "Brother Du, I'll follow your lead."
I nodded, using my chopsticks to point at the crane. "Shouhou, can you operate this thing?"
"I have, but I don't have a license."
Duan Huairen retorted impatiently, "As long as you can operate it, who cares about licenses? Are you daft?"
Wang Xiaoliang scratched his head and remained silent.
Jiang Erwa lit a cigarette, claiming it was the perfect post-meal indulgence.
The Beidaihe cigarettes, which usually cost two yuan and eight jiao per pack, were sold to me for a hundred yuan each by Old Jia. The thought still stung.
"Don't smoke. Have you contacted Xiao Jin?" Jiang Erwa pulled out his phone for me to see, but there was no signal.
Duan Huairen grew anxious, worrying, "What should we do? Even if our plan succeeds, we won't be able to ship it out."
Jiang Erwa leaned forward, lowering his voice. "If all else fails, we'll resort to piracy."
"Absolutely not," I quickly interjected. "Most of the crew are Old Jia's men. We wouldn't stand a chance."
Wang Xiaoliang pointed to a nearby raft. "We can use the life raft."
After breakfast, He Huan led a few men into the storage room, emerging with diving gear that they set up on the deck, one by one jumping into the sea.
And so, in broad daylight, in front of everyone, they brazenly began salvaging the antique treasures sunk beneath the sea.
"Shouhou, how long can you stay underwater in one dive?" I inquired.
"Dude, for regular folks, it's about half an hour, but they've all had professional training, so double that, maybe an hour."
"What about you?"
"I can manage about the same as them."
An hour later, Biscuit called out from the water's surface.
Looking closely, several plastic balls resembling ping-pong balls floated up. Old Jia immediately directed the crew to start pulling on the ropes.
Soon, a net made of fishing nets was hoisted up, filled with gleaming gold coins and bars.
As the net was brought aboard, burdened by the loss of buoyancy, it finally gave way with a tear, and hundreds of pounds of gold coins and bars rained down onto the deck like a deluge.
For those unaccustomed to such a sight, it was an eye-opener, to say the least.
Before long, bubbles began bubbling up again on the water's surface. He Huan and his team emerged, reporting that there was a veritable mountain of gold and silver below, and they were prepared to display the spirit of Yu Gong, the legendary figure who moved mountains.