Chapter 31  The Tide of the Times Is Unstoppable

“Zimo… What should we do?”

The boys were dumbfounded.

The girls were even more confused.

Ma Siyi, nervously clinging to her swimsuit, could only stay in the water.

“Let’s go, let’s get out. I brought extra clothes and towels!”

“You even prepared clothes for me?”

“No, but you can wear my jersey!”

“Where is it?”

“In the electric scooter. Hehe… luckily I came prepared!”

In truth, it was inside the system space.

The scooter’s trunk made a good cover.

“Heehee, thanks, Zimo. Bye, guys!”

“Wait, you’re just leaving us here…”

Xie Wanghe and the others stared blankly from the water.

Why are we the only unlucky ones?

Back on shore!

Bai Zimo and Ma Siyi quickly got dressed.

“We’re not leaving—just fishing here while watching you stay soaked!”

Ma Siyi obediently sat by the edge, waiting. That was pretty much how it had always been these past few years. She and Huazi always followed Bai Zimo’s lead. They did whatever they could to help out, even if just hyping up the mood.

“Bai Zimo, Bai Zimo, you’re fishing?! That’s too much!”

Xie Wanghe splashed the water in frustration!

“Not too much! This is called sharing the hardship—we’re waiting for you.”

“Whoa! Got a bite!”

Bai Zimo’s fishing skills had clearly improved!

Siyi exclaimed, holding the net.

“Wow, so pretty!”

[Ding! You caught a koi today. Reward: bait recipe unlocked!]

Nice!

It couldn’t be more tailor-made.

And bait could potentially make money too. They could come up with a plan based on demand later!

_____

Bai Zimo handed the fish to Siyi and cast his line again.

“Hey, you’re still casting? You actually caught one?”

“Obviously!”

“You’re not allowed to fish anymore!”

“What, is the canal owned by your family? You sure like to meddle.”

When Huazi was around, she spoke for Bai Zimo. When he wasn’t, Siyi could now talk back too.

The once quiet, timid Ma Siyi had changed. She might not evoke the same kind of pity anymore—But the sunny, cheerful version of her was even more likable.

Zhou Haikuo shouted, “I believe Huazi now! You guys really are in this together! Can’t you at least find us some clothes too?”

“Fine! You three noblemen underwater wait right there!

Siyi, go to the dock market and call Aunt Hong, Aunt Ling, and Uncle Zhou to bring some clothes.”

“Got it!”

Siyi grinned mischievously with Zimo and skipped off.

“Don’t go! Siyi, Siyi, please, I’m begging you!”

“My dear goddess, do you want us to be chased for two miles with bare bottoms?”

Right then, a cry for help cut off their playful bickering. Huazi came running back with clothes in hand.

“Huazi, what happened over there?”

“Looks like someone tried to take their own life!”

“Let’s go!”

Bai Zimo immediately packed up the fishing gear and rushed out!

Ma Siyi followed with the net. Bai Zimo got on his electric scooter, two energetic girls sitting behind him.

“Wait up! You three are the worst—riding off so fast!”

“What’s going on? Hurry up and get dressed—whose family is in trouble?”

Truthfully, everyone felt a chill in their hearts. All of their families relied on the riverbank to make a living. Nine out of ten lives are filled with hardship!

Sometimes, it only takes a tiny incident to break the camel’s back.

_____

Better safe than sorry. Everyone quickened their pace. By the time they reached the dock, the person had already been pulled from the water— But their fate was uncertain.

Judging by the looks, they probably hadn’t made it.

Xie Wanghe asked, “Mom, what happened?”

“Old Wu, the boatman. He jumped in—couldn’t pay back his debts.”

“Didn’t they just get a new boat? How’d they end up in debt? Gambling?”

Huazi’s mom shook her head.

“They borrowed money to buy that boat, but there’s been no work. Last month they tried hauling coal to recover the cost. But they overloaded the boat and got hit with a huge fine.”

Zhao Xingchi’s mom let out a sigh.

“More and more highways now—fewer and fewer boats on the canal.”

The mothers all looked troubled.

The tide of the times—In the end, it leaves its mark on everyone.

Seven years ago, the Beijing-Shanghai Expressway opened, spanning the Yellow River and leaping across the Yangtze. It massively boosted the economy along its path and the country as a whole.

Cars on the roads now move faster and faster. But those who make a living on water, their sense of honor and purpose grows thinner by the day. The business is shrinking. The profits are dropping.

Canal shipping may seem to move forward with this speeding world—But it’s actually heading in the opposite direction. Still, the canal spirit flows in the blood of canal people.

This new era has handed them a new set of challenges. This should be an adult’s burden—But even the children feel it.

Xie Wanghe stood there in a daze. The one who fell was the boatman, Old Wu. But his own father, Xie Tiancheng, was also a boatman. In fact, nearly every household in Huajie Alley was tied to the canal.

“What do we do now, Bai Zimo? Do you have any ideas?”

“If I really did have a way, how would you repay me?”

“Hey?”

“You’re not trying to mooch off me, are you? I’m the idea king of Huajie!”

“Hmph! What do you want? My only way to repay might be…”

“Stop! Don’t say ‘with my body.’ Be more practical.”

“Ugh! I’ll do your laundry for a month.”

“A year!”

“Two months!”

“Half a year!”

“Three months!”

“Deal!”