adminThe sailor turned back to look at his companions and exchanged a glance; the others behind him, armed with knives, began to close in. Zhang Haiyan counted the number of sailors—seven in total. For such a small boat, seven was a significant number, and he couldn’t afford to escalate the situation any further. If they were all killed, the entire boat wouldn’t be able to set sail, and he could end up changing many people’s lives.
However, it was clear that the sailors had no intention of letting him go and began to surround him in a fan shape. “Aren’t you afraid of being haunted by the plague god for killing a Chinese passenger?” Zhang Haiyan said with a smile.
Years ago, the sailors who had killed Chinese people at sea had gained a certain respect from the Chinese on this route, but as the murders decreased, their missions became fewer, and their reputation seemed to fade gradually.
“The plague god isn’t that well-informed. This person has no companions, and in this corner, no one will see him being killed,” the leading sailor, wearing a cloth band around his head, continued. “You probably won’t be any different. If you see it, just add another life to your tally.”
Zhang Haiyan realized why so many sailors were willing to commit murder in the restroom despite being part of a gang. It seemed his reputation still held some weight here. This young man must have boarded alone without any family, which made him a target.
He glanced at the ocean, thinking that although he was young, he seemed quite wealthy. The sailors surrounding him drew closer. These men had been on the water long enough to have some discernment; they noticed the young man was soaked through but remained calm, even appearing somewhat distracted, which made them hesitant to advance.
Zhang Haiyan calculated the time—soon, the police onshore would definitely board the ship to investigate. To be safe, he couldn’t let the situation spiral out of control any further and decided to resolve the issue quickly. He sneered and suddenly stepped forward, kneeling on both knees before the sailors, saying, “Please spare my life, sirs.”
The sailors were startled and took a step back. Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Haiyan pulled out a roll of money from his pocket and presented it with both hands. “This man is my cousin; our family only has the two of us left. If we both die, our family will be extinct. This money and these coins are for you gentlemen. We promise not to say a word; please spare our lives.”
The sailors exchanged glances, and Zhang Haiyan continued, “This isn’t money that you robbed; it’s our tribute to you. You don’t need to worry about the plague god knowing. The plague is rampant, and you wouldn’t want to face divine retribution, right? We’re all just trying to make a living.”
As he spoke, Zhang Haiyan’s eyes turned red. The leading sailor frowned, stepped forward to take the money, counted it, and smiled, “Little brother, you’re quite the talent! Unlike those who want money but don’t care about their lives, you know how to pay respects.”
Zhang Haiyan flattered him with a nod. The leading sailor signaled to the others; they didn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble by taking lives. The others released He Jianxi, who had been choked and was coughing continuously.
The sailor patted Zhang Haiyan on the shoulder. “My name is Er Erlong; you can call me Brother Long. I’ll take care of you on this boat. The money can go to the brothers.” He turned around and said, “Get them a private room, and let our girls pick from them as they please.”
The silver dollars had all been picked up, and the sailors were eager to retreat, seemingly wanting to divide the windfall. Zhang Haiyan let out a sigh of relief, his expression turning cold as he helped He Jianxi to his feet, saying, “It’s tragic, isn’t it? These people just don’t realize they’ve snatched back their lives. If they were just a bit tougher, their lives would be over—”
He Jianxi punched Zhang Haiyan in the face: “The silver dollars are mine! How can you just give my things to them? We can’t yield to people like this!” He was about to rush out to chase after the others when Zhang Haiyan grabbed him, gently pushing his head aside. He Jianxi’s head collided heavily with the wooden ship’s side, and he fell unconscious.
Zhang Haiyan touched his face: “You’ve got quite the temper.”
He Jianxi looked young and immature, and Zhang Haiyan easily lifted him up, carrying him on his back like a boy.
When He Jianxi woke up again, he found himself in a small private space that was essentially just a partitioned area in the cabin. It offered a bit of privacy, with no door, only a curtain. On the floor were two planks of wood that served as a bed, and his bedding had already been laid out on the boards. Zhang Haiyan was sitting on one of the boards, shirtless, smoking and watching him. Zhang Haiyan’s side was completely bare, devoid of any belongings.
Of course, he had left all his things on the South An, a kilometer away. Zhang Haiyan suspected he was cursed to live without a spring mattress.
He Jianxi sat up, feeling dizzy. After a moment, he recalled what had just happened.
“You—”
“Shut up.” Zhang Haiyan looked at him coldly.
“I don’t even know you! I need to get my money back. Ah.” He clutched his head where it had been struck, feeling a sharp pain.
“You are a passenger on this ship. If you go demand justice from others, then what? Will you just get off the ship? If you cause a scene, this ship won’t have room for you anymore,” Zhang Haiyan said.
“My money is hard-earned! They can’t just take away someone else’s hard work so easily.”
Zhang Haiyan pulled out He Jianxi’s belt and rummaged through it, pulling out the cash. He flipped through the bills, which were covered in writing: “Isn’t there still quite a bit left? For the people on this ship, you’re already among the fortunate. If you can survive, don’t plan on dying. Life is precious.”
He Jianxi panicked and hurriedly felt for his belt: “Give it back to me!”
Zhang Haiyan tossed the belt and money back: “Keep this money hidden on the ship. This ticket is a one-way ticket to the underworld, but those silver dollars you had earlier at least increase your chances of getting out of it. It’s worth it.”
He Jianxi immediately stuffed the cash back into his belt and fastened it.
“I have a question for you. Where is this ship headed?” Zhang Haiyan asked.
The earlier act of returning the money had made He Jianxi feel slightly reassured about Zhang Haiyan, and he had calmed down a bit. He replied, “San Francisco.”
“San Francisco? Can a small ship like this even reach San Francisco? As far as I know, ships like this would kill you all at sea and dump you overboard. It’s quite common.”
“Ever since the legend of the plague god came out, that hasn’t happened anymore,” He Jianxi said. “My brother went to San Francisco like that. Of course, the journey was tough, but I’m used to it.”
“Your quilt has been infused with traditional Chinese medicine; clearly, you’ve made ample preparations.” Zhang Haiyan took a puff of his cigarette, while He Jianxi covered his nose, making a very painful expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“Your smoke smells terrible.”
The cigarette was given to him by a sailor and happened to be the kind he loved to smoke back in the day. He switched to another brand because Zhang Haixia found it unpleasant, but now that Zhang Haixia wasn’t around, he took a puff to satisfy his craving, only to be rejected again.
Zhang Haiyan couldn’t help but smile wryly, thinking to himself, “I’ll suffocate you,” and deliberately took another puff. “Cousin, how about we discuss something? A little deal?”
“I’m not making a deal with you. You gave my money to someone else. Can someone like you even do business?”
“Hey, it’s related to your money. If I can get your money back before I disembark, can you help me with a favor?” Zhang Haiyan said.
He Jianxi was taken aback, unsure of what Zhang Haiyan was selling. Zhang Haiyan then said, “Take a look outside.”
He Jianxi leaned out to peek past the curtain and saw a lot of police officers in the cabin, checking on the passengers outside. Just as he was watching, Zhang Haiyan crawled over and curled up in his quilt.
“Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing?” He Jianxi exclaimed angrily; he hated it when others got into his quilt. He was very sensitive to smells and couldn’t sleep in a quilt that someone else had used.
Zhang Haiyan covered his head: “Remember, I’m your wife; you just slept with me and haven’t put on any clothes.” Saying this, Zhang Haiyan quickly unbuttoned He Jianxi’s collar, tousled his hair, then shrank back, pulling out a few gold needles from his inner pocket.
Before He Jianxi could figure out what was happening, Zhang Haiyan whispered, “Help me get through, and I’ll help you get your money back. Otherwise, I’ll say you’re my accomplice. We’ll die together.”
He Jianxi finally understood. The curtain had already been pulled back, and a police officer leaned in, looking at He Jianxi: “Who were you talking to? Get up; we need to see your face.”
He Jianxi couldn’t find the words to respond, his face turning beet red. Suddenly, he heard a melodious voice like a silver bell coming from his quilt: “Oh, who is it? I’m not wearing any clothes.”
