Nanwan Dock, a small harbor in the southeastern coastal town of Haiying within the Rabbit Nation, was a humble port. Aside from the occasional medium-sized cargo ship passing through, the dock was predominantly filled with fishing boats, as Haiying Town boasted a flourishing fishing industry, with many of the locals making their living as fishermen.
Yet, while most of these boats were medium-sized vessels, Nie Yun's small, single-handed fishing boat had become a rare sight. The advent of industrialization had ushered in a cluster effect—both the efficiency and profits of large and medium-sized fishing boats far surpassed those of Nie Yun's modest vessel.
Despite his remarkable fishing skills and expertise, Nie Yun had received several offers from other boats. However, he was unwilling to part with his cherished Sea Wolf and thus continued to eke out a precarious, hand-to-mouth existence in solitude.
The sun tilted toward the horizon, heralding the arrival of dusk, as fishing boats trickled back to the dock, their crews loudly exchanging tales of the day's haul. In a remote corner near the dock, a beautiful young woman in a white dress stood motionless, gazing out at the distant sea like a tranquil statue.
The sea breeze lifted the hem of her white dress and brushed her hair from her face, revealing a delicate and serene visage. Her quiet grace was starkly out of place among the mud-splattered fishermen, who instinctively kept their distance, seemingly afraid to disturb the peaceful and picturesque scene.
Not far away, a few younger boys shyly stole glances at the girl, hesitating repeatedly, yet none dared to approach. It was as though they belonged to two different worlds, tantalizingly close yet unattainable.
"Oh, look! It's the Sea Wolf! Something's wrong!" A fisherman's raspy shout shattered the tranquil atmosphere, prompting everyone to glare at him in irritation before turning to where he was pointing.
The dilapidated little fishing boat was trailing a plume of black smoke from its stern. The sail had been lowered, and its speed was akin to that of a tortoise, with a figure on board frantically bailing out water, clearly indicating a leak.
It was indeed Nie Yun's Sea Wolf. After more than two hours of relentless efforts to keep the boat afloat, he had finally, with the last of his fuel, brought it close to Nanwan Dock.
A nearby medium-sized fishing boat drew closer, and a mocking voice from aboard rang out, "Oh, look, isn't that our 'Captain' Nie Yun? Tsk tsk! Did he run into pirates or catch a monster fish? Ah ha ha!"
Nie Yun looked up to see a sailor with a black headscarf and a weathered face laughing heartily at the sight of the Sea Wolf.
"Baldy, cut the sarcasm and give me a hand!" Nie Yun shot him an irritated glance and shouted.
This sailor, Liu Xiaoniu, was two years older than Nie Yun and had developed an early baldness due to a childhood illness, earning him the nickname "Baldy," a moniker given by Nie Yun in their youth. Despite their longstanding rivalry, they were also inseparable friends whose bond had withstood over a decade of challenges.
Though Liu Xiaoniu seemed to be mocking Nie Yun, he quickly tossed a rope and began assisting, clearly having intended to help all along. Nie Yun took the rope and began securing it to the boat's bow.
"Thump!" "Ouch!" Liu Xiaoniu, still amused by Nie Yun's predicament, suddenly received a sharp knock on the head. Behind him, a deep, gravelly voice boomed.
"You rascal, get down there and help!"
A burly man with a large beard appeared, holding a pipe and addressing Nie Yun. "Yun, you alright?"