The three walked out of the side corridor.
Ning Cang slowed his pace, pointing out the various places to An Youyu along the way.
Under the western ring wall clustered the living cabins, while the water drawing platform stood built upon a steel frame adjacent to the water drawing area.
To the south lay the aquaculture area, where floating ropes marked out patches of black algae fields across the water, with aquaculture cabins suspended below the surface.
Clanging hammers echoed continuously from the north, where the repair dock and net workshop were located.
Past the two drawbridges to the east were the water gate, the salvage ship pier, and the fish weighing shed.
Surrounding the central clown head were the public warehouse, the water distribution platform, the Seven-Masts Maritime Affairs Office, and the commune monument.
Clown Float-Commune.
Ning Cang spoke as he walked.
“The water drawing platform over there only handles drawing from the spring; during the Wither Tide, it also has to filter salt.”
“To collect water, you have to line up at the water distribution platform.”
“The Maritime Affairs Office was set up by the Seven-Masts Anchorage Association. Errand assignments sent down from above, as well as commune notices looking for people or items, are all posted on the Maritime Affairs Board outside the door. If you want to take a job, just check the board.”
“When you return from a salvage run, the catch is brought to the fish weighing shed first to be weighed.”
“The public warehouse only takes in goods and distributes food—it's separate from these places.”
...
Further ahead was the water distribution platform.
Several main bridges were already packed with boatfolk carrying buckets, waiting for water.
Ning Cang walked ahead. As soon as An Youyu stepped onto the bridge behind him, a boatfolk near the railing recognized them.
The man intentionally bellowed out, “A'Man?”
At his shout, those queuing in front turned around one after another, while people behind stood on tiptoe to peek over.
“Ning Cang, your brother actually made it through?”
Ning Cang stopped in his tracks. “Don't shout nonsense. You all know he isn't A'Man.”
The boatfolk who had shouted first chuckled. “Yo, so you do know? For this past month, you gave him medicine and yielded your water, guarding him tighter than a real brother. I thought you'd taken him in as your own long ago.”
A few chuckles echoed across the bridge.
A boatfolk queued near the front sized An Youyu up from head to toe.
“Old Knobby said just a few days ago that he needed more rest. He can already walk on the ground today?”
“Being able to walk doesn't prove anything. Whether the black spots have completely cleared still needs to be tested.”
“That's why I brought him,” Ning Cang said. “We'll test him clearly in front of everyone, so you don't keep making blind guesses every day.”
In front of the water distribution platform, Lu Guizhou set down his water ladle and walked over with Old Knobby.
Old Knobby checked the symptoms according to the rules, dripped a drop of blood into the Black-Suppressing Saline, and finally checked his pulse to confirm.
“The blackwater has cleared completely.”
“To survive Blackwater Sickness, this kid is tough as nails.”
The people around them all breathed a sigh of relief.
The man who had first carried An Youyu off the salvage ship shifted his water bucket aside and gestured toward Zheng Azhu.
“Now that the sickness has been verified clear, your bucket should move up.”
The person next to him shifted their bucket as well, though cursing, “You move yours if you want, but don't act generous on everyone else's behalf.”
The man glanced at him.
“Complaining with your mouth, yet moving your bucket fast enough.”
A few playful scoldings broke out, easing the tense atmosphere that had hung over the bridge for a month.
Lu Guizhou turned his gaze back to An Youyu.
“What's your name?”
“An Youyu.”
“Which three characters?”
“An as in ping'an—peace, and Youyu as in having fish to eat.”
Someone in the crowd let out a chuckle.
“Good name! Our float-commune happens to be short on fish right now.”
A few more chuckles sounded on the bridge.
Lu Guizhou waited until everyone finished laughing before continuing, “Which float-commune did you drift from?”
"Zijing Sea" and "Salted Fish Float-Commune"—the two names reached the tip of An Youyu's tongue, but he swallowed them back down.
He had not yet grasped the full situation in the Salt-Bone Sea. If he revealed his true origin now and someone investigated those two names, it might very well lead back to his true identity.
Yet a simple “I can't remember” would not fool an old man who had spent decades living on the sea.
Having served as an interrogation officer for three years, An Youyu had seen far too many people feign amnesia.
Usually, within a few rounds of questioning, comparing their statements would expose flaws in the details they intentionally hid.
He did not intend to make such a mistake.
Two years ago, An Youyu had interrogated a water bandit from the Salt-Bone Sea. That man hailed from Green Awning Float-Commune, a home that had sunk into the sea six years prior. Its former residents were either dead or scattered, and even the missing person notices from back then had long been taken down.
In that confession, the man had happened to mention a youth around his age who was also named An Youyu.
By borrowing this background, every detail could match up perfectly.
“Green Awning Float-Commune.”
Lu Guizhou's brows twitched slightly. “The one in the southwest of Salt-Bone Sea?”
“Yes.”
An old boatfolk nearby interjected, “The one that sank six years ago?”
An Youyu nodded.
“Where were you when the float-commune sank?” Lu Guizhou asked.
“I had gone to sea with a salt ship. After Green Awning sank, I made a living aboard stray boats.”
“How did you fall into the sea this time?”
“We hit a whirlpool while crossing a tide path. I can't remember what happened after.”
An Youyu answered only what Lu Guizhou asked, not saying a single extra word.
This backstory had no immediate flaws, but there were also no living witnesses to vouch for him.
Lu Guizhou turned the few statements over in his mind, then turned to Ning Cang.
“Green Awning sank six years ago, so his background can't be verified right now. Are you still willing to attach a guarantor chain for him?”
Rate on N.U.
