Chapter 3 Interesting People

Can I... ? ... But can I live to see that time... ? I have to wait a hundred years to meet them... ...

Are you Japanese

After decades of longing, the wish has finally been fulfilled today. With a sense of pride, Thomas decisively issued the command

Now, everything can be explained: it explains why there is this dilapidated cargo ship, why there are so many crew members on board, why... but why am I in the year 1911, when I clearly belong in...

A few minutes later, a faint flame flickered from the bonfire on the distant solitary island, resembling a torch. Through the telescope, it appeared that someone was running back and forth on the beach, waving that torch.

Despite still complaining verbally, Locas repeated the captain's orders. No crew member on the ship is allowed to question the captain's commands. Regardless of whether the captain's orders are right or wrong, they must be obeyed unconditionally. This has been a tradition and an unchanging law at sea for hundreds of years

Gazing at the faint glow of the campfire on the deserted island, Locas said with a sense of helplessness, "Is it really a campfire? One cannot discern it from a distance. Perhaps this is merely a glimmer that the captain has awaited for fifty years, and he can finally rescue a shipwrecked sailor, one who, like him, has been stranded on this lonely island.

At midnight, on the sea surface illuminated by countless stars, aboard the bridge of the cargo ship Edward, Captain Thomas Lee occasionally raised his binoculars to scan the dark waters. Some habits formed over the years are difficult to change. For Thomas Lee, the old captain who experienced a shipwreck in his youth and waited for six months on a deserted island before being rescued, it was always his habit to survey the sea with his binoculars.

The premise is that you can identify those individuals

Hmm, perhaps? Let the signalman give him a signal and see if there is any response

The excited Thomas put down the telescope in his hand, pointed at the distant book titled "Desolate Island," and shouted loudly at Rocks.

Thomas, who has had personal experience, knows that in the face of such circumstances, even a captain would feel a sense of despair; it only takes a few months to transform from a civilized person into a "savage." However, the person before him is clearly different from most.

Rox shrugged helplessly; his father had once told him how stubborn Captain Thomas was. Initially, he did not take it seriously, but after working on the Edward for six years, it was clear that his father was right.

Lox, look over there

Li, you are safe now. Rest assured, I will ensure your safe passage to the shore. You should know that I had a similar experience decades ago! ... ... Mr. Rocks!

Just accept it as it comes

Hearing these words, Li Zicheng felt a chill run down his spine, nearly breaking out in a cold sweat

The imminent return to the civilized world left Li Zicheng kneeling in the seawater, allowing the waves to crash against his body. After the initial excitement, Li Zicheng suddenly realized one issue: the treasure

1911

Captain! It seems you will be disappointed again today

Li, rest assured, no matter how long you are away from your family, as long as you return to their side

1911

Captain, that was a few months ago

Is it only you yourself

Look! Rocks, I told you...

In response to the chief mate's nagging, Thomas merely returned a smile

Despite Thomas's thick beard, anyone could see the smug expression on the captain's face at that moment. Thomas, almost beaming with pride, handed the telescope to Locas who was beside him

It is now October 4, 1911

As Li Zicheng answered their questions, a hint of faint sadness appeared on his face. He was the only one who survived the plane crash. Perhaps the subsequent overwhelming reports would label him as the luckiest person, having miraculously survived the disaster. However, he might still need to craft a perfect story, ensuring that they never find the plane. If they were to find the plane...

What!

What?

They must never know about all of this

A helpless bitter smile appeared on Li Zicheng's face, while Captain Thomas Li seemed to express his thoughtful concern.

Beep, beep ... ...

Just as Li Zicheng was pondering what kind of story he should concoct, the bearded captain Thomas suddenly gave him a hearty embrace

Surprised, calm, and then later, holding a drink, seemingly helplessly taking a sip, the brief change in expression caught Thomas's attention, immediately making him feel that this Oriental man was different from others. He exhibited neither ecstatic joy nor despair in the face of disaster and salvation, displaying such calmness. Having had a similar personal experience, Thomas vaguely sensed that this Oriental man might not be a mere crew member; at the very least, his future would not be that of a simple crew member.

After a hug, Thomas Li enthusiastically took Li Zicheng's hand

The storm occurred several months ago. Although reports in the newspapers indicated that several small boats went missing, in such a storm, there was not the slightest chance for the sailors who encountered maritime disasters to survive

Sir, do you need any assistance

As sailors, we must rescue all those who encounter maritime disasters during our voyages, must we not

Looking at the calendar, Li Zicheng finally recalled the sailors' somewhat peculiar attire. At first, he thought this was... Could it be that... Looking at the calendar, Li Zicheng felt as if his heart was trembling. God knows, this...! This isn't April Fool's Day, is it!

Look at me

Captain Thomas, may I ask what the date is today

Alright! Gentlemen, now heed my command https://m.hetushucom.com, set course to 256, and proceed at maximum speed...

When asking this question, Li Zicheng felt as if his heart had risen to his throat, but was it fear or anticipation? Or perhaps it was something else

Captain, it might just be a fire caused by lightning

Just as this thought arose in his mind, the distant sound of a whistle interrupted Li Zicheng's train of thought. Considering the need to conceal his possessions, Li Zicheng hurriedly ran towards the beach, directly wrapping the gold and several bonds in a blanket, even taking care to tie the blanket securely with a rope.

Watching the merchant ship approaching him, tears instantly streamed from Li Zicheng's eyes. It had been nearly three months since the plane crash, and he had been stranded on this deserted island for almost three months. Now... he was finally saved

A sailor standing on the deck saw that the person boarding the ship was actually an Asian man. Is he a savage? ... Looking again at his clothing, his shirt seemed to be quite well-made, and he was wearing a pair of worn-out ...! ... Hmm! Leather shoes. After observing more closely, Rocks opened his mouth to ask.

Rum? Before Li Zicheng could figure out the situation, he was forcibly pulled into the captain's cabin by Thomas. At that moment, the calendar hanging on the wall inadvertently caught Li Zicheng's attention.

I am Chinese, thank you for saving me

He downed the wine in the cup in one gulp, sighed, and a hint of joy appeared on Li Zicheng's face

One's own treasure

Rocks, you should know that a few months ago, a great storm occurred here, and several ships went missing. Perhaps some crew members escaped to a nearby island! Who knows?

He saw me, he saw me...

Fifty years ago, when Captain Thomas was still a trainee sailor, the ship he was on encountered a storm and sank in the ocean. In the end, only a dozen crew members washed up on a deserted island, and he was the only one who survived. For him, he may feel the need to repay God by saving others. It was God who allowed him to survive and be rescued by a passing merchant ship. Now, he might also believe that the reason God kept him alive was so that he could save others. He may feel the need to repay God by saving others. It was God who allowed him to survive and be rescued by a passing merchant ship. Now, he might also believe that the reason God kept him alive was so that he could save others.

At that moment, a small boat was lowered from the distant cargo ship

What is happening to them? Are Chinese people very strange?

Thomas, having set down the telescope, spoke in a voice that was barely a whisper, to which Rocks softly replied.

There seems to be a light on the deserted island, could it be ...? ... Is it a bonfire?

Just as he said in the past, "For Captain Thomas, the only salvation is to save a few crew members"

1911

After he finished that glass of wine, Thomas picked up the bottle and remarked, "This young man is quite interesting"

The captain's shout prompted Rocks to pick up the telescope for a closer look; it seemed that there really was ... ! ... a fire? ! Could it be that there are indeed people there?

The sailor's words left Li Zicheng momentarily stunned, and then he shouted loudly

How is this possible, impossible! This must be a joke, perhaps they just passed April Fool's Day, maybe Captain Thomas or someone among the sailors is playing a prank, perhaps... But their clothing, thinking of those outfits that only exist in historical photographs, for a moment, Li Zicheng did not know whether he should believe or... But their clothing, thinking of those outfits that only exist in historical photographs, for a moment, Li Zicheng did not know whether he should believe or...

Sir, we have arrived

Chinese people? Whether it was First Officer Rocks or Captain Thomas Li, a hint of confusion appeared on their faces upon hearing this response. Thomas then glanced at the Chinese man named "Li" before him, whose tattered clothes, dark skin, and rugged features reminded him of himself fifty years ago, after being rescued

The moving torch has clearly and unmistakably conveyed to Thomas a fact: there is indeed someone on that deserted island, a person in distress. It is an uninhabited small island, and he cannot even recall its name.

Li, I believe you must be a brave sailor, able to survive alone on a deserted island for such a long time. Well, I think there is nothing more suitable than a glass of rum to help one relax right now... Mr. Rocks, well then, let us sail along the predetermined course; I want to treat Mr. Li to a couple of good drinks.

Would you like another cup

Lox, what I said is that perhaps we will encounter it!

The talkative First Officer Lox always says this, of course on the surface. Privately, they might say, "Look! That old man is dreaming again!" Yet they also understand that for the Captain, perhaps the only thing he truly needs is to be able to save a single crew member from a shipwreck in this vast ocean

Li Zicheng, holding a wine glass and lost in thought, was unaware of what the captain was contemplating. What clothes, what leather shoes; the suitcase on the plane was filled with various types of clothing, and all that was needed was to find a few that fit well

October 4, 1911

Sitting in a small boat swaying with the waves, listening to the somewhat stilted English spoken by the sailor, Li Zicheng caught sight of an old cargo ship, rusted and worn, appearing in his line of vision, and that cargo ship was even still burning coal

Yes, sir, I am the only one who survived

While Rocks was complaining, Thomas merely shrugged his shoulders and continued to gaze through the telescope at the dark sea. Upon spotting the deserted island on the horizon, he even took a moment to examine it closely.

Li Zicheng's words made Thomas suddenly realize, as if he were speaking to himself. Having had a similar experience, how could he not know that after leaving the deserted island, what anyone would most want to know is probably the most accurate time

This Chinese man has now piqued his interest; is he a crew member? Upon closer inspection, although his clothes appear somewhat tattered, they are quite clean and well-made. Aside from a bit of sea sand, his leather shoes also seem to be quite clean. A person stranded on a deserted island who still pays attention to such details is certainly not an ordinary crew member