“Huh?”
“Just did a maintenance?”
“That can steal the protagonist’s opportunity too?”
Listening to the sudden system notification in his ear, Zheng Hao’s expression turned strange. Watching Mo Yurou’s hurried retreating figure, he rubbed his slick palms together, savoring the sensation from earlier.
“Honestly… Maybe I unexpectedly like the job of maintaining ships…”
…
At the same time.
[Shanhai Region · Zhou Family Branch].
“Thud~”
Zhou Hang, who was carrying cargo, suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest.
The crate in his hands fell to the deck. He stared blankly at the planks, feeling as if he had lost something important, leaving his heart hollow and empty.
“Young Master!”
“Young Master, are you alright?”
An old servant hurried forward, supporting Zhou Hang and anxiously examining his face.
“I… I’m fine… It just feels… like I’ve lost something… My heart aches badly…”
Zhou Hang waved his hand weakly, his expression filled with inexplicable melancholy.
“Sigh… It must be that the departure of Madam Yu is still hard for you to adjust to.”
“Young Master, when the Magic Sea Star sails into unknown waters, facing near-certain death is common. You must learn to let go…”
The old servant kept comforting him, thinking the young master was once again missing his mother.
“I… Sigh! Forget it! It’s only a bit of heartache! Right now… we’ve just arrived in the Shanhai Region. We need to establish ourselves!”
“Old Zhou, how did your information gathering go today?”
Pulling himself together, Zhou Hang quickly picked up the wooden crate from the ground.
Inside were the Blue Fish Fillets he had brought from the Zhou Family of the Canglan Region. Not only were they delicious, but they could slightly enhance a Ship Maiden’s attributes and strengthen a Navigator’s physique. They were a staple supply for upper-class families.
When fleeing the Zhou Family, Zhou Hang had been cautious and secured some Blue Fish inventory and supply channels.
He knew that in a small place like the Shanhai Region, goods like Blue Fish would not exist.
As long as he brought such a supply source here, he would surely make something of himself.
“Young Master… I checked today. The entire fish market in the Shanhai Region has been monopolized by the Zheng Family. Doing fish business here… will be difficult…”
The old servant looked discouraged.
After a moment of thought, Zhou Hang shifted his approach.
“Then… what about the fish vendors?”
“If we can’t sell fish directly, what about reselling to them?”
“Well… besides the Zheng Family, there’s also the Liu Family, the Academy, and the Yang Family.”
“The Zheng Family controls all fish trade single-handedly and holds the best southeastern sea resources. The other families have to beg them for fish.”
“The Liu Family is famous for their Smoke Ships. They handle delivery and sales and are close partners with the Zheng Family.”
“As for the Academy… that’s an official organization.”
“The Yang Family focuses mainly on cultivating Navigators and Ship Maidens. They rarely meddle in business.”
After hearing the explanation, Zhou Hang’s eyes narrowed.
“No wonder… no wonder that Zheng Hao has been clinging to Liu Ruyan since childhood… So there’s that layer of connection… What a pity… the Smoke Ship will belong to me, Zhou Hang. The Shanhai Region’s business will also belong to me. You people… are nothing more than stepping stones for my return to the Zhou Family…”
Gazing arrogantly at the surging sea, Zhou Hang looked full of ambition.
The old servant beside him felt a surge of excitement.
As expected of the Zhou Family’s bloodline!
Even as the child born from an accident with a C-grade Ship Maiden, Zhou Hang still carried the Zhou Family’s lineage.
Following him would surely lead to success.
Having made up his mind, the old servant cautiously asked, “Then… Young Master… what shall we do?”
“Heh~”
“It’s impossible to beg the Zheng Family for selling rights…”
“But… there are always corners that money can pry open…”
“You mean?”
“Tomorrow, bring 50 kilograms of Blue Fish Fillets. We’ll pay a visit to the Liu Family.”
“Understood!”
…
The next day.
[Shanhai Region · Liu Family].
The morning breeze stirred the sea, raising small waves.
Compared to the intimidating fleet of the Zheng Family, the Liu Family appeared far more modest.
In their waters, only a dozen Smoke Ships of varying sizes swayed gently.
The Liu Family, in essence, was a Smoke Ship family. They had risen to wealth through the high-speed sailing capabilities of Smoke Ships.
On the broad deck of a cargo ship, Liu Piaoxu stood facing the rising sun, reviewing account books.
“Mm…”
“This month’s profit is decent. As long as we take over future shipping for the Zheng Family and siphon off a little cargo…”
“Our Liu Family can begin cultivating outstanding Navigators…”
“Even recruiting talented men as live-in sons-in-law isn’t out of the question…”
Her slender eyes flickered with ambition. Liu Piaoxu wanted the Liu Family to become a great clan like the Zheng Family. If possible, she even wanted the Smoke Ship lineage to rival the Purple-Green Sword Ship family.
But…
For now, it was only ambition.
“Tap tap tap~”
A light figure approached from behind.
Without turning, Liu Piaoxu knew who it was.
“Ruyan? No school today?”
“Mm~”
“Today is Sea Rest Day, so no…”
“Besides, the basic theory classes are finished. For us Ship Maidens, attendance doesn’t really matter now. We’re just waiting for the Awakening Ceremony…”
Yawning, Liu Ruyan wore only a thin gauze dress at home.
The morning sunlight illuminated her slender, curving figure.
Liu Ruyan resembled her younger self too much.
With striking beauty and a decent hull, she could use them to make men fight over her, then choose the one worthy.
She had done the same. Her daughter would too.
“The Awakening Ceremony?”
“Oh right, I heard Zheng Hao gave you an attitude yesterday?”
Closing the account book, Liu Piaoxu looked at her daughter seriously.
She had always cared about her daughter’s relationship with Zheng Hao.
If Liu Ruyan could keep Zheng Hao tightly wrapped around her finger, Liu Piaoxu could skim profits from Zheng Family business. Zheng Yunlong, seeing them as future in-laws, would likely turn a blind eye.
At the mention of Zheng Hao, Liu Ruyan’s lazy expression stiffened.
“Him?”
“That spineless creep! I don’t know if he took the wrong medicine yesterday. Not only did he refuse to pay for me, he even brought a yellow-haired girl home just to spite me!”
“Mom! Do you think he’s that desperate? He’ll eat anything?”
Her eyes were full of mockery and disdain.
Thinking back calmly, Liu Ruyan concluded Zheng Hao was merely putting on an act these few days.
When it came time to contract a Ship Maiden, she refused to believe he would truly reject her.
In the entire Shanhai Region, she was the only A-grade ship.
As the sole A-grade Ship Maiden, Liu Ruyan knew it was not men choosing her, but her choosing men.
“Oh?”
“He found another Ship Maiden?”
Liu Piaoxu’s eyelid twitched, a hint of unease appearing.
“Sigh~”
“Just an E-grade Ship Maiden!”
“Mom, do you really think he’d contract an E-grade Ship Maiden?”
“That’s true…”
“He’s probably just angry at you these days, playing around with other Ship Maidens. Listen to me. After a few days, when his anger fades, give him a little benefit. Let him touch your handrail. That spineless fool will go back to licking you like before…”
“With men… you must treat them like flying kites. Sometimes close, sometimes distant…”
“Let him touch me?”
“If he doesn’t apologize to me publicly, I won’t say another word to him for the rest of my life!”
“Besides, Mom! If someone awakens an SS-grade talent at the Awakening Ceremony, won’t I have options?”
“Well…”
“You’d better keep Zheng Hao hooked. The family is at a critical stage…”
Liu Piaoxu’s eyes were cold. She had never truly valued Zheng Hao.
To her, Zheng Hao was nothing more than a fool for the Liu Family to drain.
If he awakened an SS-grade talent, marrying her daughter to him wouldn’t be bad. If he failed and was surpassed by others, then the Zheng Family being drained dry would be their own fault.
“Alright…”
“Don’t worry. In a few days I’ll let him hold my hand once, and he’ll be spinning in place with joy!”
“The Zheng Family? They’re nothing special…”
Leaning lazily against the railing, Liu Ruyan suddenly froze.
In the distance, on the sea, a rather luxurious medium-sized ship appeared abruptly and sailed straight toward them…