Chapter 1 I am Mengzi

I should say that I have a deep love for the sea, so for a full three years, I dedicated myself to it. Later, once again at sea, our fishing boat encountered a storm, and the merciless ocean sank our entire vessel. Including the owner, there were more than twenty people on board, and only two of us managed to escape by a stroke of luck, one of whom was me

Lao Chang is our boss. In his early years, he also worked as a "mighty man" for over ten years. Later, when he had some money, he retired from that line of work and started his own seafood business.

Old Chang saw that we were all ready and advised us, "Brothers, pay attention to safety and loyalty. Zhongyi, you take extra care; I will be waiting for you on the boat"

After my discharge from the military, I was assigned to a state-owned enterprise, and the benefits and treatment were relatively good. Initially, everything was fine, but after a few months, I could no longer tolerate the attitude of my superiors. Eventually, during a drinking gathering, I struck one of the leaders, causing significant injury that required over a month of hospitalization for recovery. As a result of this incident, I was dismissed from my position.

Amidst the persistent ringing of the alarm, I was jolted awake from my slumber. I opened my bleary eyes, reached for the cigarettes on the bedside table, lit one, and greedily took a few deep puffs, allowing the nicotine to circulate through my body, instantly revitalizing me.

In order to relieve my elderly parents from worry, I decided to venture out and pursue a career, thus I came alone to this unfamiliar coastal city, and I have stayed here for five years.

Shunzi and I were sitting closely together. During the entire dive, many small fish and plankton swam past me. To be honest, at the beginning of the dive, I felt truly excited, but as time went on, the novelty wore off, and it became no different from reading a book

People living by the sea used to have a "Méngzi" in every household years ago. Now, there are few who engage in this profession, as the work is not only arduous but also carries certain dangers. Therefore, those with some financial means have started their own businesses. For instance, Shunzi and I have been in this line of work for two years, which is relatively rare nowadays. Most of the old "Méngzi" have moved on to land; even if they are not running their own businesses, they will no longer pursue this line of work.

A few of us divers began our preparations. Including myself and Shunzi, there are a total of four divers. The other two are novices, having only been in this line of work for just over a month. I took off my jacket and started putting on my wetsuit. Since it is now spring, there is no need to wear a sweater underneath, making it more convenient.

Then a security company was hiring. I originally wanted to give it a try, but upon seeing the salary, it was truly pitiful. Living in this big city, after paying the rent, there is almost nothing left from that salary

His name is Shunzi, and we have known each other for four years. He is the sailor I personally trained, and he is the only one. Our relationship is quite nuanced; we are both friends and mentor and mentee. Most importantly, he is also one of the survivors who lived through that shipwreck with me. I believe that if we had not supported each other at that time, we might have become just a speck of dust in the sea.

When I started looking for a job, I encountered obstacles everywhere; it was either a requirement for a diploma or for experience. The skills I learned in the military are completely useless in society. Besides being able to work as a bodyguard, there was nothing suitable for me. However, I am unwilling to make a living on the edge of danger, so I abandoned that idea.

Once everything is ready at m.hetushu.com, we will begin to engage in some physical activities. The pressure underwater is quite intense; after diving, the wetsuit clings tightly to the body, almost as if in a vacuum, making movement very cumbersome. Even turning one's neck becomes exhausting

The remaining crew members all perished in the merciless sea. Another surviving sailor and I, relying on our immense endurance and a measure of luck, managed to wait for the rescue team to arrive. By the time we were rescued, we were on the verge of death.

Over the past five years, my life has not been very satisfactory, but it has been manageable. For someone like me, who lacks a diploma and skills, it is indeed quite difficult to achieve any success in this society

Diving during the peak season is truly life-threatening, so every year when October arrives, I start to have a headache; it is incredibly torturous. By the time December comes, I can emerge from the water with ice forming on my body

Later, I met a friend who introduced me to a job as a sailor. This is a deep-sea fishing vessel, primarily engaged in fishing at sea, with a high salary, earning over ten thousand yuan each month. Without a second thought, I agreed immediately, not only for the substantial salary but also because during my time in the military, I often went out to sea, making me quite familiar with the ocean.

If diving takes place in November, it is essential to wear a sweater under the wetsuit; otherwise, the underwater temperature can freeze a person to death. In fact, the peak season for sea cucumbers is from October to December each year, while other periods are considered off-peak.

I really like this feeling. Then I turned over, got out of bed, walked to the window, and opened it to look at the sea outside. The sunlight shone on me, feeling somewhat warm and very comfortable. Looking at this city that is both strange and familiar, I smiled. Today is another beautiful day

When I arrived at the port on my motorcycle, our small fishing boat was already docked there. From a distance, I saw a tall, thin boy waving his hand and greeting me loudly with a big smile, "Brother Yi, good morning!"

Shunzi is three years younger than I am, quite tall, standing at nearly 1.9 meters. In my view, he is a natural sailor, with a physique similar to that of a professional swimmer, his body is all muscle. Coupled with his bronze skin and a face that bears an innocent child's expression, he gives off a very sunny and handsome impression

I gestured slightly to indicate that everything was in order. Shunzi made a gesture back at me, and I nodded. Then, I flipped over and jumped into the water. Shortly after, I heard the sounds of the other three people falling into the water. Apart from the four of us, the only ones left on the boat were Lao Chang and his son. His son was a spendthrift, good for nothing but chasing girls, and he usually didn't have much to say to me.

From the day we were reborn, this big boy has liked to follow me. When I decided to do something bold, he resolutely followed along. In his words, wherever I go, he goes, and he feels safe wherever I am

I don't need to rely on Shunzi; even without wearing a wetsuit, I can still dive. Lead weights are a burden for us, quite heavy.

Since that day, I withdrew from the ranks of sailors, and I have not ventured out to sea again until now. Although the ocean is merciless, it has not instilled fear in me. After leaving the life of a sailor, I still choose to continue engaging with the ocean

I glanced at Shunzi; the kid was already dressed. He casually strapped a combat knife to his calf, looked up at me, and said, "Safety first"

I am currently a diver and have been working for two years. My main task is to harvest sea cucumbers. In our local jargon, we refer to this profession as 'Mengzi.' Although it is not as dangerous as being a deep-sea sailor, it is still quite a demanding job

After entering the water, Shunzi and I slowly descended, while the other two dived quickly. This diving itself consumes a lot of energy, and I couldn't understand why those two were in such a hurry

The fishing boat stopped after sailing for about 20 minutes. Lao Chang looked around and said, "Alright, this will do."

I glanced at the clock; it was already past eight in the morning. A new day had begun, and work must continue. I got dressed, casually picked up my keys, and walked out...

With a smile on his face, Shunzi nodded slightly. At this moment, Lao Chang shouted loudly, "Alright, now that everyone is here, let's set off. Today is a fine day, and we can expect a good catch." As he spoke, he started the engine, and the fishing boat slowly left the harbor, sailing into the distance

After I parked the motorcycle, I took a quick step onto the boat, patted him on the shoulder and said, "No one arrives earlier than you, right? You're the first one here again, aren't you?" This kid is particularly enthusiastic about everything he does, a typical case of excessive hormonal energy.

This can at least serve some purpose, as today's sea breeze is not strong, making it quite suitable for diving. If one encounters a strong wind, without lighting underwater, it is basically impossible to see anything; it becomes completely murky, which is truly frustrating.

I was born in Northeast China, raised near the He * Tu * Shu area of the Greater Khingan Range, and possess the typical characteristics of a Northeastern person. I am twenty-eight years old and was once a member of the Marine Corps. I served in the military for five years, and just when I thought I could achieve something significant, I caused the failure of my entire team during a mission. Ultimately, I was ordered to be discharged early, which was a considerable setback in my life.

After putting on my wetsuit, I donned my diving mask, with fins on my feet and two mesh bags hanging from my waist, which are used to hold sea cucumbers. Once I strapped on the oxygen tank, I was all set.

I nodded with a smile; this kid is always so attentive. This combat knife was given to him by me. The other two "Mongzi" are a bit more troublesome than Shunzi and me; they have to carry nearly thirty pounds of lead blocks on their backs. This added weight is necessary for diving. Many "Mongzi" have been doing this for over ten years and cannot do without this equipment

Because of this matter, my father scolded me quite a bit. After all, this is a lifelong livelihood that I have ruined. Later, the family tried to use connections and sought help, but they still could not arrange a suitable position for me

I chose this line of work for one crucial reason: the high salary. I am in dire need of money. For someone who is poor, the only way to live well in this coastal city is to find ways to earn more.

My name is Jin Zhongyi, originally named Aisin Gioro Zhongyi, a descendant of the Manchu royal family. My ancestors include Zaifeng, the regent during the late Qing Dynasty. After the establishment of the Republic of China, our family's fortunes began to decline. By the time of my grandfather, the situation worsened, and we had lost our former identity and status. After the founding of the People's Republic, by the time of my father, the once royal family had vanished without a trace, leaving only ordinary citizens behind. The past has become history.