Reborn in 1984, fishing and hunting in Jiangnan

Chapter 30

But he had a vague feeling in his heart.

My grandfather found the shipwreck back then, which means the location of the shipwreck is certain.

Later people couldn't find it, probably because the marked stone was buried in silt.

It's also possible that the shipwreck itself was moved by the current.

But no matter what, having a general range is better than finding a needle in a haystack.

At this moment, Chen Feng ran out of the house.

He was wearing an old cloth shirt today, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing a section of his thin arm.

His trousers were rolled up above his knees, and he wore a pair of canvas shoes with the laces tied tightly.

He ran to the cart, looked at the things on it, and asked, "Brother, are we going into the water today?"

"Let's not go down yet. Let's walk around on the shore and check out the terrain first."

"Oh." Chen Feng was a little disappointed, but didn't say anything.

He climbed onto the cart, sat down next to the bamboo pole, his legs dangling and swaying back and forth.

Zhang Cuihua brought out three bowls of cornmeal porridge from the kitchen and placed them on the stone table.

She then took out a few flatbreads from the kitchen, wrapped them in a cloth, and stuffed them into Chen Zheng's arms:

"Take it with you, eat it at noon. South Bay is far away, don't go hungry."

"Mom, don't always get up so early." Chen Zheng took the flatbread and put it in his pocket.

"I'm getting old, I need less sleep."

Zhang Cuihua wiped her hands on her apron, looked at the things on the cart, then at Chen Zheng, and her lips moved slightly.

In the end, he only said, "Be careful."

The three men sneaked out of the village in the dark.

As the first hint of dawn appeared on the horizon, the clouds in the east were tinged with a pale orange-red.

The dew was heavy, and the grass blades were covered in water droplets. After walking for a while, my trouser legs were mostly wet.

Chen Feng sat on the cart, being tossed about by the wheels, but he didn't complain of being tired. He held onto the sides of the cart with both hands, his buttocks firmly planted on it.

He was unusually quiet today, probably because he knew he wasn't going out to play, but to take care of serious business.

When we arrived at Nanwan, the sun was just rising.

A thin mist covered the lake, and the reeds were faintly visible in the mist, a large, dark expanse, rustling in the wind.

The three men boarded the boat. Chen Zheng rowed, Chen Rong sat at the bow with his eyes fixed on the water, and Chen Feng sat in the cabin with his hands on the gunwale, looking around.

The boat glided out from the shore, passed through a reed bed, and the water suddenly opened up.

Nanwan is the deepest part of Baiyang Lake. The lake is wide and the water is dark, unlike the clear green of the shallow water. It is a deep green.

Water chestnut seedlings floated on the water, patches of them, lush and green, with tiny white flowers. The oars parted the water plants, making a soft rustling sound.

Chen Zheng slowed down his paddling speed, letting the boat drift slowly.

He stood up and looked around. The reeds stretched to the west, dense and thick, like a green wall.

According to his father, the shipwreck was located near the reed marshes to the west, in the deepest part of the water, where there was a large rock at the bottom.

The problem is, this body of water covers at least several hundred acres, so where are we going to find that stone?

"Rongzi, bring the bamboo pole over here."

Chen Rong handed him a thin bamboo pole. Chen Zheng inserted the pole into the water, section by section, and lowered his hand down with it.

When the bamboo pole was inserted to a depth of about two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), it touched the bottom of the lake.

He gently lifted the bamboo pole and felt that the tip of the pole was not touching mud, but something hard.

He felt a pang of emotion, but quickly calmed down.

There are many underwater reefs in Nanwan, so encountering rocks is not uncommon.

He pulled the bamboo pole out, moved it to a different spot, and then stuck it back in.

This time, the bamboo pole touched soft mud and went in very deep.

When it was pulled out, the end of the bamboo pole was covered with a clump of black mud and had a fishy smell.

He tried each spot one by one, testing more than a dozen locations.

Most of the lakebed was silt, with only a few spots where hard objects were encountered.

He memorized the location where he hit the hard object and then looked up at the reference points on the shore.

There was a particularly tall reed in the reed bed, half a head taller than the surrounding reeds, with white fluff on top, swaying back and forth in the wind.

"Rongzi, do you see that tallest reed?"

Chen Rong followed his finger and nodded.

"Using that reed as a reference, head east and slightly south for about twenty zhang (approximately 33 meters). That's where I just bumped into the hard object. Remember that spot."

Chen Rong stared at the reed for a while, then looked at the location on the lake and nodded: "I've got it."

Chen Zheng rowed the boat directly above that area of ​​water and stopped.

He handed the bamboo pole to Chen Rong: "Try again and see if you can find the exact location of that hard object."

Chen Rong took the bamboo pole and, imitating Chen Zheng, inserted it into the water.

His technique was slower than Chen Zheng's, but more meticulous. After inserting the bamboo pole to the bottom, he would gently rotate it to feel the texture of the water.

When it hits a hard object, the bamboo pole tip will produce a crisp sensation, like hitting a stone.

When it encounters silt, the tip of the bamboo pole will sink in with a dull thud, and when it is pulled out, it will be accompanied by a suction force.

He tried a few times, then looked up and said, "Brother, that hard object isn't big, about this size." He gestured with his hand, indicating it was about the size of a washbasin.

Chen Zheng's eyes lit up.

The hard object, about the size of a washbasin, stuck in the silt at the bottom of the lake, is very likely that rock.

If it really is that rock, then the shipwreck should be nearby.

"Rongzi, try looking around the hard object again and see if there's anything even harder."

Chen Rong tried a few more times.

About ten feet away from the small hard object, the tip of the bamboo pole hit a much larger hard object.

When you insert the bamboo pole, you feel a springy sensation.

He pushed it down hard, the bamboo pole sank in a little, and then bounced back.

"Brother, this doesn't look like a stone." Chen Rong looked up, something flashing in his eyes.

Chen Zheng took the bamboo pole and tried it himself.

When the bamboo pole tip touched that hard object, it certainly didn't feel like a stone.

The stone is hard, and when the bamboo pole tip hits it, it feels like a hard-on-hard collision.

But this hard object is different; its surface is hard.

But when you insert it downwards, there is a slight elasticity, like pressing on wood that has been soaked in water.

wood.

Chen Zheng's heart skipped a beat.

Wood that has been soaked in water for fifty years will have a soft surface, but its interior will remain hard.

When you insert the bamboo pole, it first touches the softened outer layer, and then the hardened inner core.

You'll experience that "sinking in and bouncing back" sensation.

He pulled the bamboo pole out, moved it to a different spot, and tried again.

The same feel.

Even after changing positions, the same sensation remains.

This hard object was quite large, measuring at least two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) long from east to west and more than one zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) wide from south to north. This size was exactly the size of a cargo ship.

"Rongzi, remember this location," Chen Zheng said in a low voice.

Chen Rong nodded.

He looked up at the tallest reed, then at a crooked willow tree on the bank, and drew a line in his mind.

With two reference points and an intersecting line, the position is locked.

Chen Feng squatted in the cabin, looking at Chen Zheng and then at Chen Rong, and couldn't help but ask, "Brother, have you found it?"

"Not sure yet. We'll have to go into the water and check."

"Shall we go now?" Chen Feng's eyes lit up.

"No. Let's go back first. Going into the water requires proper preparation; it's not a joke."

Chen Zheng put away the bamboo pole and picked up the oar.

Chen Feng was a little disappointed, but didn't dare to say anything.

He could tell that his two older brothers had serious expressions on their faces, unlike their usual excited expressions when catching fish.

As the boat rowed back, Chen Zheng's mind raced with thoughts of what he needed to prepare for going into the water.

First, you need a helper.

It's too dangerous for him to go into the water alone; someone needs to be on the boat to help him.

Secondly, a long rope should be prepared, with one end tied to the waist and the other end tied to the boat, so that if something happens, the people on the boat can pull him up.

Third, you need to prepare a small iron hook to hook things.

Fourth, and most importantly, we need to wait for good weather.

The water in Nanwan is deep and the underwater light is dim. Visibility is only good on a sunny midday when the sun shines directly on the bottom.

As he rowed, he went over these things in his mind.

The boat docked, the three men tied it up, and headed back.

Chen Feng walked in the middle, unusually quiet.

After walking a few steps, he suddenly asked, "Brother, do you think there really is gold in that shipwreck?"

"It's hard to say."

"If it really exists, can we retrieve it?"

"Give it a try."

Chen Feng simply said "oh" and didn't ask any more questions.

But after walking a few steps, he said again, "Brother, if we manage to fish it out, what will we do with the gold?"

Chen Zheng glanced at him: "What do you want to do?"

"I want to...I want to buy my mother a new dress. All of her clothes are patched."

Chen Feng said in a very low voice.

Chen Zheng didn't say anything, but reached out and patted his head.

Chen Rong walked behind quietly, without saying a word.

But his hand gripped the thin bamboo pole tightly.

When I got home, the sun was already high in the sky.

Zhang Cuihua was hanging clothes to dry in the yard. One of them was a blue cloth shirt, faded from washing, with a patch on the collar sewn by herself with fine stitches.

She saw the three people return, wiped her hands on her apron, and said, "You're back? The food's in the pot, help yourselves."

Chen Zheng entered the kitchen and lifted the pot lid. Inside, there was a bowl of braised crucian carp, a plate of stir-fried vegetables, and a few cornbread pancakes.

He brought out the food, and the three of them squatted in the yard to eat.

After finishing his meal, Chen Zheng went to Liu the Bald's house.

Liu the Bald was squatting in the yard repairing a fishing net, the net spread out on his knees, and he was holding a net needle in his hand, mending it stitch by stitch.

His method of mending nets was different from his father's. His father used thick needles and large threads to mend nets, as long as they were sturdy. But Liu the Bald was meticulous in mending nets, with fine and dense stitches, making the mended nets look as good as new.

This is related to his education; he follows the rules in everything he does.

"Uncle Liu, may I borrow your long rope?"

Baldy Liu looked up at him and asked, "A long rope? What's it for?"

"We want to set up a deep-water net in South Bay, but the rope isn't long enough."

Liu the Bald inserted the net needle into the fishing net, stood up, and went into the house.

After a while, he took out a bundle of hemp rope, as thick as a finger and at least several dozen feet long.

The rope was new, hadn't been in water yet, and smelled of tung oil.

"Take it. Return it to me when you're done."

"Thank you, Uncle Liu."

Liu the Bald waved his hand and squatted down again to mend the net.

After giving him two more injections, he said without looking up, "Zhengwa, the water is deep and there are many hidden ditches over in Nanwan."

Be careful when you set up the deep-water net.

Chen Zheng responded and left with the rope.

He returned home, put the hemp rope in the yard, and checked the things he would need for tomorrow one last time.

Long rope, iron hook, net, bamboo pole.

The iron hook was used by his father when he was young. It was specially used to hook things from the bottom of the water. The hook tip was curved and there was a ring on the hook shank to tie a rope.

The iron hook was a bit rusty, so he sanded it with sandpaper until the hook tip was shiny.

Chen Rong squatted down beside him, tied one end of the long rope to the ring on the iron hook, made a sailor's knot, and tugged at it, but it didn't budge.

He then made a loop with the other end of the rope, put it on his arm to test it, and it fit perfectly.

"Brother, I'm going into the water tomorrow," Chen Rong said.

Chen Zheng glanced at him: "Can you swim?"

"Yes. I practiced in the South Bay shallow water this spring and can hold my breath for a minute."

"One minute is not enough. In the deep waters of South Bay, the water is cold at the bottom, which will shorten the time you can hold your breath."

Moreover, there are undercurrents underwater. If you go down and get caught in one, the people on the boat won't be able to pull you out.

Chen Rong was silent for a moment, then said, "Then you get off. I'll hold the rope on the boat."

"OK."

At this moment, Chen Laosan came out of the house.

He squatted on the threshold, lit a pipe, and took a puff.

He glanced at the long rope and iron hook in the yard, but said nothing.

After finishing his pipe, he tapped the bowl on the sole of his shoe, stood up, and went inside.

After a while, he took out a roll of tape measure and handed it to Chen Zheng.

"This was left by your grandfather. He used this measuring tape when he went into the water to salvage the sunken ship."

Chen Zheng took the measuring tape.

The measuring tape is made of cowhide. Over time, the leather has hardened and the edges are somewhat worn, but the markings on it are still legible.

A small lead weight was attached to one end of the measuring tape to sink it to the bottom.

He pulled out the measuring tape, and a musty smell of aged leather wafted out, mixed with the scent left by his grandfather.

"Your grandfather said that before going into the water, you should first measure the water depth with a tape measure."

Once you know how deep the water is, you'll be more confident.

After getting into the water, I felt my way forward along the bottom of the boat, and I wasn't panicked.

Chen Zheng carefully put the measuring tape away and tucked it into his pocket.

During dinner, the family gathered around the table.

Zhang Cuihua made a pot of fish head and tofu soup today. The fish head was caught by Chen Rong in Dongwan yesterday. It was a silver carp, weighing more than three catties. The fish head took up almost half of the soup. It was stewed with tofu until it turned milky white.

She brought the soup over and served a bowl to everyone.

Old Chen picked up his bowl, took a sip of soup, and put it down. "What time are we going tomorrow?"

"Noon. When the sun is directly overhead, the underwater light is at its best."

Chen Laosan nodded and remained silent.

Chen Feng, picking at the rice grains in his bowl, suddenly blurted out:

"Dad, if we manage to salvage the gold from that sunken ship, will it be ours?"

Chen Laosan glanced at him and said, "Your grandfather once said something."

He said that whoever retrieves something from Baiyang Lake owns it.

But there's one thing: once it's fished out, we have to burn incense for the Dragon King.

Why?

"Because it was a gift from the Dragon King. If you don't burn incense, he won't give you any next time."

Chen Feng nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

After the meal, Chen Zheng helped Zhang Cuihua clear the dishes.

Zhang Cuihua was washing dishes by the stove, while he was wiping them beside her. The bowls were coarse porcelain bowls with several chips on the rim, so he had to be careful while wiping them to avoid cutting his hand.

"Zhengwa, wear an extra layer of clothing when you go into the water tomorrow. It's cold down there," Zhang Cuihua said softly.

"Okay, Mother."

Zhang Cuihua handed him the washed bowl, wiped her hands on her apron, looked at him, her lips moved, and finally she only said, "Be careful."

Chen Zheng wiped the bowls dry and stacked them in the cupboard. He left the kitchen and went into the yard.

The moon rose, hanging like a sickle in the eastern sky, cold and clear.

The black cat in the yard was squatting on the edge of the water tank, licking its paws.

Chen Rong sat on the threshold, holding the thin bamboo pole in his hand, and sanding the tip of the pole with sandpaper.

He sharpened the end of the bamboo pole to a point, like a chopstick.

"Rongzi, go to sleep. Get up early tomorrow."

Chen Rong responded, leaned the bamboo pole against the wall, and went inside.

Chen Zheng stood in the courtyard for a while.

He looked up at the moon, which was surrounded by a faint halo.