The Crown Princess is busy fishing

This time, Lin Yuge didn't go to the rocky cliffs, but instead chose to go around the mangroves and enter the sea from here.

After swimming for a while, the sea in front of me became more open, so I guess I had swum out of the bay.

Continuing onward, Lin Yuge discovered a clearer body of water.

Here, she saw some beautiful coral reefs.

Colorful corals sway gracefully in the water, creating a dreamlike underwater garden.

Attracted by the beautiful scenery, I couldn't help but stop and admire it for a while.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up. On the other side of the coral reef, there were more than a dozen pearl oysters of various sizes attached to the rocks.

They clung tightly to the coral reef, their shells slightly open, as if breathing in the seawater.

Lin Yuge excitedly swam over and carefully observed the pearl oysters.

She discovered that the shells of these pearl oysters were obliquely square.

The surface is dark brown or grayish brown, with fine and obvious growth lines that are arranged radially from the top of the shell.

Through the slightly open gap, one can vaguely see the pearl layer with a faint luster on the inner surface of the shell.

Lin Yuge was overjoyed, for this should be a Pinctada martensii oyster capable of producing South Sea pearls.

I don't even know if there are any pearls inside.

Lin Yuge selected seven or eight seashells that might contain pearls and put them into the fish basket.

Those that are too small and haven't grown up yet, let them stay there.

After searching around the area, she discovered that this place might be a suitable habitat for pearl oysters.

Every now and then you'll find a group of them.

Lin Yuge excitedly collected the larger pearl oysters and put them into the fish basket.

As the number of pearl oysters in her fish basket increased, her excitement grew.

This sea area is like an undiscovered treasure trove, and she is the lucky discoverer.

She stopped fishing when the basket was half full.

She continued swimming forward, with groups of small fish swimming past her from time to time.

Just then, a strange noise came from under a reef.

She slowly approached and saw more than a dozen strangely shaped shellfish clinging tightly to the rocks.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a group of nine-hole snails.

Their shells are uniquely ear-shaped with delicate patterns on the surface, radiating a mysterious luster against the backdrop of the seawater.

This is another type of abalone, scientifically known as *Abalone argentea*.

These are things that would be protected in modern times.

Lin Yuge was filled with joy, but she did not take them all.

She selected only a few large abalone and carefully pried them off the rocks.

He turned and swam away.

Then they found two more variegated lobsters. Their pink antennae were particularly eye-catching in the deep sea, and Lin Yuge spotted them at a glance and took them in.

During that time, I also collected quite a few conches and scallops.

There are coconut snails with large shells and thick flesh, uniquely shaped penholder snails, and various sizes of fragrant snails, tower snails, red-mouthed snails, and comb-shaped scallops.

Seeing that the fish basket was completely full, Lin Yuge prepared to head home.

However, after swimming for a while, I suddenly felt that the water flow around me had changed.

Her heart tightened, and she stopped what she was doing.

Just then, a huge figure slowly approached.

Lin Yuge looked closely and realized that it was a small humpback whale.

Its slightly immature body swam in the water, yet it possessed a unique charm and agility.

The baby humpback whale seemed to be full of curiosity about Lin Yuge. It slowly approached her, its round eyes sparkling with innocent light.

Lin Yuge was pleasantly surprised by the appearance of this little guy, and her nervousness instantly dissipated.

She gently reached out and tried to touch the baby humpback whale.

The little humpback whale was not afraid and allowed her hand to touch it gently.

She whispered to the baby humpback whale, "Little one, why are you here all alone? Where is your mother?"

The baby humpback whale seemed to understand her words, swayed its tail, and let out a soft call.

Just then, an even larger surge of water flow came from afar, and Lin Yuge's heart stirred.

She knew that the baby humpback whale's mother might be about to appear.

Sure enough, a huge humpback whale soon came into view.

She stopped a short distance away, emitting continuous hissing.

Then, amidst the joyful calls of the baby humpback whale, it seemed they understood that Lin Yuge meant no harm.

It slowly approached, shielding the small humpback whale with its body, while also conveying a gentle warning to Lin Yuge.

Lin Yuge understood and slowly retreated.

But the little humpback whale followed closely behind.

It was as if he treated her as a playmate, following her all the way and refusing to leave.

As they approached the land, the mother whale let out a low cry, as if calling to her calf.

The little humpback whale reluctantly stopped its pursuit.

Lin Yuge stood in the shallow water, waved to the little humpback whale, and said goodbye to her newly met companion.

At its mother's repeated calls, it finally turned and swam into the deep sea.

Lin Yuge watched the humpback whale mother and calf gradually disappear into the distance, then turned and walked towards the shore.

When I got home, the sun was already setting.

Outside the house, Lin Fanghai and Lin Qingzhou were circling around a pile of logs.

"Dad, where did this wood come from?"

Hearing the voice, the two looked up. Lin Fanghai explained somewhat embarrassedly, "It was this afternoon when I was chatting with your Uncle Qiu, and he mentioned that you know how to build ships."

"So, he immediately took some men to the back mountain and cut down this pile of wood, saying it was for you to practice with."

Lin Yuge was surprised, not expecting her father to tell the story and the village chief to believe it.

She is indeed planning to build her own boat, partly out of personal interest.

Secondly, when she went to Da Wan Kou that day, she carefully observed the passing ships.

It was discovered that shipbuilding technology had already made initial progress here.

However, ordinary ships are only suitable for inland waterway and coastal navigation.

That's far from enough for ocean voyages.

Those ships capable of ocean voyages are beyond my reach for the time being.

However, it's too early to talk about these things now, but there are some things we can prepare in advance.

Thinking this, Lin Yuge squatted down and carefully examined the logs.

They are all common camphor and cedar wood, which can indeed be used for shipbuilding.

These are indeed usable if the boat is only used for near-shore fishing.

However, this crucial keel section is not strong enough for ocean voyages.

The ships built couldn't withstand very strong winds and waves.

It seems I'll have to find an opportunity to go to the back mountain and stock up on some timber.

Turning my head, I saw that my father and elder brother were both eager to try, as if the ship could be built immediately.

Lin Yuge quickly said, "Father, building a ship requires a lot of tools and materials, and it can't be done overnight."

The father and son then put their minds at ease.

Seeing that the two were somewhat disappointed, she continued, "I'll prepare some tools in a few days, and once you return from your sea voyage, we'll start working on it slowly."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingzhou jumped up and grabbed her hand.

She excitedly asked, "Little sister, can we really build a boat ourselves?"

Lin Yuge nodded, hesitated for a moment, and said, "It's worth a try!"

After all, she had only ever built steel behemoths before, and had only ever studied real wooden sailboats.

I visited and learned from those privately-owned shipyards, and made ship models several times.

After saying that, she ignored the two of them, got up and went into the house.

"Mother, look what I brought."

"Have you finished discussing those pieces of wood with your dad and the others?"

Xie Jingwan had heard the commotion outside long ago, but she didn't disturb them.

Lin Yuge smiled, quickly picked up the fish basket, and dumped it on the ground.

He said, as if showing off a treasure, "Mother, look!"

Xie Jingwan looked at the pile of hard shells on the ground.

Looking up blankly, she asked, "Daughter, what do you want me to see?"

"We've eaten all of these things these past few days, haven't we? It's just that they're a little different."