At that moment, I experienced an indescribable feeling. Since the incident at Yongling Zhiguo nearly half a year ago, during which some paid with their lives, I never expected it would all end up being futile like water poured into a bamboo basket.
After the Princess of Pingyuan and Wu Tianxian fell into the water, everyone was startled, rushing frantically towards the life raft.
In the scramble for the life raft, another bloodshed ensued. Bloodshed and death had become commonplace aboard the distant-sea fishing vessel Ji Yu 0825.
In the face of life and death, the ugliest aspect of human nature emerged.
Lao Jia was injured in the lower body, his legs spread apart as he walked, resembling a crab, unable to outpace others.
"Listen to me, I am the captain," he shouted hoarsely, but was overtaken by several subordinates. They tossed the life raft overboard, the "capsule" popping open. While waiting for it to inflate, Lao Jia rushed forward, swiftly stabbing one person down onto the deck with a fish knife.
Seeing this, the others, disregarding Lao Jia's status as captain, joined the melee, brandishing knives indiscriminately.
Amidst the chaos, as they grappled with each other, the life raft finished inflating. Seizing the opportunity, I leaped into it, severing the rope.
Glancing up, I saw Lao Jia facing me, his neck askew, his head barely attached by a layer of skin, blood spurting a foot high as he collapsed.
Simultaneously, Chef Lao Huang, covered in blood, smiled at me as he held a cleaver, then jumped down as well, but a wave came, and the life raft had already drifted away.
Lao Huang was an excellent swimmer and swam towards the life raft.
I paddled vigorously with the oar, but the life raft turned slowly, unable to move forward at all.
At this critical moment, a series of "moo" sounds came, hollow and ethereal, like being in the vast expanse of outer space, the sound emitted by the magnetic fields between planets, sending shivers down the spine.
I was momentarily bewildered; how could there be cows on the vast sea?
Upon careful consideration, I was suddenly horrified because the sound of sharks was very similar to that of cows.
The bloodthirsty sharks, attracted by days of carnage, formed a group surrounding Lao Huang. His face filled with terror, he swam desperately.
All I saw was splashing water, sharks leaping into the air, baring their sharp teeth, and one biting off Lao Huang's head.
Almost simultaneously, Lao Huang still managed to throw the cleaver towards me, attempting to puncture the life raft, using me as a decoy.
The scene was too terrifying, and I was petrified. If I didn't leave here quickly, the next one to be consumed by sharks would be me.
I paddled desperately, but to no avail.
"Come on, twenty years later, I'll be a hero again."
Exhausted, I threw away the oar, lying down, quietly awaiting death.
However, fate had other plans. As the waves collided back and forth, the life raft changed direction, drifting away.
Amidst the sound of the wind and waves, everything fell silent. The life raft bobbed up and down, erratic, giving one a feeling of out-of-body experience.
When I woke up, it was already the next day. As far as the eye could see, the water and sky merged, blending into one.
Thirsty beyond measure, but Wang Xiaoliang once told me that even if I died of thirst, I couldn't drink seawater. I didn't bring a fishing rod, and I couldn't fish to eat fish eyes.
Looking around, I found two English words, "food" and "water," containing fresh water and food.
Reading the instructions, it said not to use the life-saving fresh water for the first 24 hours unless injured or sick, with each person's allowance not to exceed 0.5 liters every 24 hours. As the fresh water approached depletion, each person's allowance should not exceed 0.1 liters every 24 hours.
It felt like doing drugs suddenly; fresh water seemed more precious than gold.
Drifting for a while longer, I saw a white dot ahead, conveniently drifting downstream. About an hour later, I finally saw clearly that it was a cargo ship, with a Taiji flag on the hull, a South Korean cargo ship.
Excited, I danced and gestured towards the cargo ship, and they spotted me, honking their horn in acknowledgment.
I was rescued aboard, and several Koreans kept saying "扣你几把, 扣你几把" to me for half a day, but I didn't understand a word.
After returning from Tianjin Port to Dagang Oilfield, I went to find Shi Jingxia. The landlord said she had already checked out. Then, I went to the pedestrian street and spent two thousand six to buy a new Motorola phone. I can't remember the model, but it was quite impressive at the time.
I immediately called Shi Jingxia. After waiting for about ten seconds, the call connected.
"Xiao Jing."
"Guangting, is that you?"
"Yes, it's me, Xiao Jing."
She cried, and when I asked her what happened, she said it was nothing. I hurriedly took a taxi to find her.
The sky darkened, and raindrops began to fall, like cicadas urinating. The driver overcharged me five yuan, citing the bad road conditions due to the rain. I cursed under my breath.
At that time, Shi Jingxia was watching people dance in the seaside park - rumba, cha-cha, tap dance. The park was shabby, but the atmosphere was lively. Men embraced other men's wives, and women danced with other men's husbands, all merry and harmonious.
Shaking my head, I thought to myself: How many Jiang Erwa and Lao Jia are among them?
"Xiao Jing."
I called out from behind.
Shi Jingxia turned around and threw herself into my arms, sobbing.
"I couldn't contact you for so many days, I was so worried."
"Don't cry, it's okay. I'm back now. By the way, why did you move?"
"I, those students, they make noise every night. I miss you..."
She didn't finish her sentence, blushing, and lowered her head in silence.
Suddenly, I was looking forward to nightfall.
"By the way, did Lao Duan come to see you?"
"No, did you not come back together?"
I quickly called Duan Huairen. The moment the call connected, I finally felt relieved.
Duan Huairen couldn't bring Wu Wentai's head with him, so he returned first.
Shi Jingxia and I made a special trip to the Dagukou Battery Site Museum, experiencing the history of the past and deeply feeling the strength of our motherland. We should remember history and uphold our national dignity.
The next day, Shi Jingxia and I bought train tickets back to Xijing.
"Lin Lao, I'm sorry I didn't bring the things out."
"Huairen has told me everything. It's already good enough to come back alive."
"But, I..."
"Alright, go wash up, change your clothes, and get ready for the feast."
Lin Canghai didn't blame me. Instead, he prepared a banquet in the reception hall to welcome me back.
Duan Huairen said Wang Xiaoliang didn't die either. They were both rescued by another squid fishing boat returning from the Hawaiian waters.
He also conveyed Wang Xiaoliang's message to me, saying that after taking care of his mother and seeing her off, he would come to work with me.
After a month apart, Zhang Ling greeted me with a smile. She raised her glass to toast me, and Shi Jingxia coughed beside her.
"Ling Jie, I'll be honest with you. Guangting and I, we've already..."