The Chef Rules the Last Days
Chapter 185 - 183: Spanish Galleon

Chapter 185: Chapter 183: Spanish Galleon

The old man stood up, his skin dark and his hair graying. His face bore deep wrinkles left by the years, and he looked to be about sixty.

"I am Yang Jianguo, you can call me Uncle Yang," Yang Jianguo said somewhat shyly, tidying up his patch-laden clothes to make himself look presentable.

Lu Chen nodded and walked over to the table to sit down, and soon someone brought several glasses of water over.

He took a sip and asked quietly, "What is in the sea?"

Su Mo walked to the large glass window at the side of the conference room, which provided a clear view of the sea, vast and ink-black.

Ah Bao sat down beside them, and as he got to the main point, his demeanor became serious. He took a file from a stack of documents on the table and said, "All marine life has mutated, every species we’ve encountered is in here."

Lu Chen took the file and opened it while Su Mo leaned in closer.

Each page detailed the characteristics of mutated fish species; the deeper Su Mo looked, the more furrowed her brow became, until Lu Chen stopped at a page with a drawing of a giant octopus.

Seeing him engrossed in the octopus, Yang Jianguo hurriedly said, "This creature was spotted by my grandson by the seaside; we’re not even sure if it really exists..."

Su Mo looked up at him and noticed the old man’s anxious expression, as if he worried they would not proceed. She couldn’t help but ask, "You are not young anymore, why join us on this voyage?"

Thinking she was concerned about his age, Yang Jianguo quickly rolled up his sleeves to reveal his still sturdy arms, "I’m one of the most experienced fishermen in Tanghai City; you can count on me."

Bao Yao cracked a smile, motioning him to calm down and then explained to Su Mo, "Everyone we select for the voyage volunteers, and they each have ample experience. Regardless of whether they return, we provide a huge compensation."

Su Mo looked at Yang Jianguo’s plain face and understood, "For your grandson?"

Yang Jianguo nodded and scratched his thinning hair, "My grandson’s parents died, it’s just my wife and I taking care of him now. We’re old and not much of contributors, so I volunteered."

Lu Chen closed the file and handed it back to Bao Yao, asking, "What compensation is needed from us?"

Bao Yao waved his hands and shook his head, showing his large yellow teeth as he chuckled, "The supplies Mr. Jiang sent last time are still ample; we can settle up after your return."

Although Bao Yao knew that these people would most likely not return, the patron behind them was a significant figure. By being generous now, he would also benefit later.

Lu Chen asked, "Is the boat ready?"

Bao Yao nodded, "Do you want to see it now? We’ve further improved the hull of the boat. It’s now outfitted with a hard alloy that can withstand attacks from regular mutated fish."

"Let’s take a look," Lu Chen stood up.

Bao Yao signaled to Yang Jianguo, who hurriedly led them down the building and ahead.

Once outside the high-rise, they took a vehicle to the seaside, guarded by local fishermen, since creatures from the sea might come ashore.

After reaching the beach, everyone got out of the car. Su Mo stepped on the soft sand, feeling somewhat surreal. She crouched down, grabbed a handful of soft sand, and watched it slip through her fingers, momentarily dazed.

It was funny; she had grown up but this was her first time seeing the ocean, yet it was nothing like the peaceful scenes she had seen on TV and in magazines.

"Su Mo?" Lu Chen stood next to her and offered his hand.

Su Mo came back to her senses, smiled, and placed her hand in his cool palm to stand up, "Let’s go."

Yang Jianguo led them to the edge of the sea, where the wind was strong and the salty smell profound. A massive sailboat was anchored, its anchor deeply embedded in the seafloor, firmly locking it in that area.

Jianxiong caught sight of that large ship immediately, his square face showing excitement, "This is the first time I’ve seen such an old ship."

You see, the ships they used for missions before were genuinely advanced technology vessels.

Su Mo gave Jianxiong a dark glance, and the latter sulkily shut his mouth and obediently followed behind.

Yang Jianguo explained, "This is a Spanish Galleon. The previous few ships had sunk due to accidents, and this is the last one left. We no longer have extra materials to create a better one, but all the sturdy materials have been reinforced onto the hull, so you can be assured."

Su Mo approached the hull, the two sails, like giant wings, gathered on the mainmast, with the black sea causing the boat to rise and fall in the water, much like a flat boat in the abyss’s gaping mouth.

After briefly scanning the area, Su Mo was attracted to another large dark ship not far from the beach, "Over there, are they your people too?"

Bao Yao looked over and then said, "Those are fishermen from the neighboring village; they serve Mr. Lu."

Everyone knew who this Mr. Lu was.

Lu Chen, leading Su Mo, turned around, "Let’s go back."

After inspecting the ship, the group returned to the high building where Bao Yao had prepared dinner for them in the large hall on the first floor, serving lumpy soup, and the soldiers took turns eating in an orderly manner.

Next to them, there were several strong-bodied fishermen who could also enjoy the lumpy soup.

Lu Chen was still discussing the navigation plans for the following day and some issues related to air pressure and weather with Yang Jianguo, while Su Mo sat alone on the second-floor steps, sipping the soup, when a little boy approached her.

He gazed eagerly at the soup in her hand but did not ask for it.

Su Mo put down the spoon and handed the bowl over, "Would you like some?"

The boy shook his head but asked cautiously, "Are you the one going out to sea with Grandpa tomorrow?"

Surprised, Su Mo then remembered Uncle Yang, "Are you his grandson?"

"Mmhmm," the boy nodded.

Su Mo ruffled his head and patted the step next to her softly, "Come sit over here, okay?"

The boy hesitated for a moment then nodded and sat beside her. Seeing the slenderness of his wrist peeking out from his sleeve, Su Mo handed the bowl back to him, "I’m full, so if you don’t want it, I’ll just throw it away."

"Thank you," the boy said gratefully, carefully starting to eat in small bites, restraining himself even though he was very hungry.

Su Mo propped her cheek in her hand and watched him eat, "Do you often go without meals?"

The boy nodded, swallowing the lump in his mouth before saying, "Grandpa and Grandma have no capacity to work, so we eat once every two days."

Taken aback, Su Mo’s eyes dimmed, she sighed. In this apocalypse, it was truly difficult for the weak to survive by clinging to the strong.

She just quietly watched him slowly finish the lumpy soup. The boy still seemed reluctant as he licked the bowl. Su Mo asked him, "Want more? I can go and get you some."

Startled, the boy’s eyes suddenly reddened, "Could... could I, I want to take some for Grandma to eat."

Su Mo softened, "Of course."

She stood up and stretched out her hand to the boy. He hesitated, rubbed his pitch-black little hand on his indistinguishable colored trousers and then took her hand.