Chapter 318: Exploring the Shipwreck

The chef got busy as soon as he arrived. All the ingredients were already washed, so he just needed to cook. The village women helped out, eager to see what kinds of dishes could be made from such valuable fish.

Lunch was a casual affair; the main event was dinner.

Once everything was more or less ready, everyone took their offerings. Holding sticks of incense, they chatted and laughed as they made their way up the mountain to the village temple.

The village temple was much cleaner after being tidied up, but the dilapidated parts remained just as run-down.

The village temple and the ancestral hall had been around for a very long time, and at one point, they were even vandalized by outsiders.

The village had no money, and since both places belonged to the community, it was impossible for just one or two families to fund the repairs.

The village chief had considered organizing a collection for repairs, but in an era when no one was wealthy, raising the issue would only breed resentment.

Despite its dilapidated state, it didn’t stop everyone from praying with sincere devotion.

Yun Jiao’s masters and teachers also joined in on the festivities. They placed offerings, bouquets, floral wreaths, and some small, shell-made trinkets before the deity’s statue. Then, everyone lined up to burn incense.

For some reason, Yun Jiao was pushed to the very front of the line.

"Go on, Jiaojiao! Ask Mazu to watch over you."

’Alright, then.’ Holding the incense sticks, Yun Jiao followed the guidance of several of the village’s respected elders and became the first to kneel and pray.

’I’m very confident in my own abilities. I don’t need anyone’s protection out on the sea.’

But...

’Please, Mazu, watch over my family and keep them safe at sea.’

When she was finished, the others took their turns. Yun Jiao watched from the side.

She glanced at the temple, its roof riddled with holes, and pursed her lips.

’If I paid to have the village temple repaired, would Mazu like me a little more? Would she grant my wish then?’

’I’ll have to find some time to talk it over with my dads.’

After the lively worship ceremony, everyone moved on to the ancestral hall.

’Great. The ancestral hall is just as run-down.’

’Our village really is poor.’

Only after paying respects to both the immortals and their ancestors did everyone head back to Yun Jiao’s house, spirits high.

Dinner was served.

When the dishes made from the expensive ingredients were laid out on the tables, everyone was dazzled.

It was simple, really: the presentation was just too beautiful.

"Thanks to Jiaojiao, we finally get to experience how the old nobles used to dine."

"And there’s wine! Yun Linhai’s family is so generous. This isn’t half-bad, either."

"Let me try a piece of this tuna and see what all the fuss is about."

Yun Jiao’s masters, teachers, and senior apprentice-brothers had their own table set up inside the house.

It was just the right number of people to fill it.

"Jiaojiao caught all of this in the ocean?"

Wang Jianlin gazed at the seafood on the table. ’A meal like this would cost a fortune at a big city restaurant.’

"That’s right. That little girl is something else."

Yun Jiao giggled. "I had help from the killer whales."

Most of them knew that Yun Jiao could command killer whales—everyone except her teacher, Ancient, and his grandson.

Ancient’s grandson had heard that Yun Jiao invited his grandfather and had rushed over to join the festivities.

"You can really command killer whales? Jiaojiao, when can you take me to see them?"

Yun Jiao took a bite of tuna. It was fresh, tender, and melted in her mouth.

’It really is delicious.’

’And best of all, it’s packed with nutrients.’

’A big bite is so satisfying, and there’s not even a fishy smell.’

"Come by next time. It’s too late to go today."

Ancient smacked his grandson lightly. "All you think about all day is nonsense."

Gu Chen wanted to argue, but he caught his grandfather’s "I’m about to wallop you" look.

He shrank back. ’Never mind, then. I’ll just come on my own next time! Hmph!’

Everyone ate their fill, completely satisfied with the meal.

After the meal, the villagers didn’t leave right away. Instead, they all pitched in to wash the dishes and clean up before taking the tables and chairs they’d brought back to their own homes.

And so, the lively day came to a close.

But it was a meal everyone would likely remember for a long time to come.

They’d really made it in life—they had eaten tuna, lobster, and abalone!

Anyone else would have been loath to eat such expensive things.

That evening, after seeing off the guests from the county, Yun Jiao’s family washed up, bathed, and got ready for bed.

A few of the boats Yun Jiao had recovered belonged to other villages. The village chief went to the police station, and subsequently, three of the boats were returned to their owners.

The owners all came to Yun Jiao’s house bearing gifts to express their gratitude.

Yun Jiao’s family boat was gone, but that didn’t stop her from going out to sea.

She would read in the mornings, and after breakfast, she would head to the ocean for a relaxing swim.

Today, Yun Jiao went to the area where the Conches lived. She checked on the one she had performed "surgery" on before; it was still alive and well.

Yun Jiao patted the large giant clam’s shell, then went to find some food for it.

But the things these creatures liked to eat weren’t easy to catch. Conches subsist by filtering tiny zooplankton larvae and various types of algae from the water.

And though the algae covering a Conch’s shell might look dirty, it’s actually their primary source of food.

Once a large bivalve like a Conch settles in one spot, it will stay there for the rest of its life, barring any extraordinary circumstances.

’Poor things. They’re living creatures, but they’ve basically turned themselves into stationary plants.’

After feeding the large giant clam its fill, Yun Jiao turned her friendly gaze to the other Conches.

’Since this method works, I won’t hold back.’

’These guys seem to enjoy my singing, anyway. I’ll just sing to them a little more to make up for it. No big deal.’

’Besides, since I’m profiting from these Conches, it’s only right that I protect this whole patch of them from now on.’

Yun Jiao swam a lap around the Conches’ territory, picking up some trash before she left.

This time, she made her way to the shipwreck.

The ship’s interior was difficult to access. She had already taken home most of the usable items scattered outside, carrying them back bit by bit like a squirrel hoarding nuts.

But there wasn’t much that was salvageable. Much of the porcelain had shattered when the ship went down, and intact pieces were a rare find.

Other items that looked like tea leaves and bolts of cloth were completely ruined after soaking in seawater for so long.

Yun Jiao swam two laps around the shipwreck. Today, she planned to venture inside.

’The things inside must be even better. But I’m worried the ship’s timbers might collapse.’

’Once I’m in, no matter how fast I swim, I won’t be able to escape a collapse. I’ll get hurt.’

’And I’d really rather not get hurt if I can help it.’

Finally, she found a section where the structure looked relatively sound and the space was large enough, and she carefully slipped inside.

’The inside of this shipwreck is seriously creepy.’

Quite a few small fish were darting about inside.

Most importantly, there were several human skeletons.

It was unsettling, but Yun Jiao wasn’t afraid.

She even pried several gold, gem-inlaid rings from the fingers of one skeleton.

The rings were clearly for a man; he wore several on his fingers, and a thick gold chain still hung around his neck bones.

"I’m not just taking these for nothing," Yun Jiao said. "I’ll bring you up to the surface and give you a proper burial."

Her grandpa always said that people wish to return to their roots and rest in peace in the earth.

’Returning to his roots is impossible, but I can at least make sure he rests in peace.’