Someone from the fishing crew shouted, "Where's the platform scale? Is it over two hundred jin? We'll know once we bring the scale over and weigh it!"
"It's in the cabin. I'll get it!"
Amid the commotion, someone quickly ran into the cabin and brought out the platform scale.
The Moonfish was simply too large; the platform scale looked tiny beside it.
With no other option, they first placed a basket on the scale. Several people planned to work together, lift the Moonfish in one go, set it atop the basket, and then weigh it.
But the moment several of them touched the fish, they all leaped backward as if struck by lightning.
Their faces looked as though they had seen a ghost, and they nearly spoke in unison:
"Wow, why is this fish warm?!"
"Fuck, this fish is warm! Why does it feel like a person?!"
"The fish is warm! Touch it if you don't believe me—it feels exactly like human skin."
They all looked as though they had seen a ghost.
The others instinctively backed away as well.
Zhong Honghai said helplessly, "No need to panic. That's just how it is. It's the only warm-blooded fish in the sea."
"A warm-blooded fish?" Everyone was greatly surprised.
It was Lu Ao's first time hearing of this fish too. He stood and walked over to it, gently touching it.
It was indeed warm to the touch, somewhat similar to human skin.
Seeing what he did, everyone followed suit. They got up one after another and lined up to touch the fish, including the crewmen.
Moonfish were extraordinarily rare. Many people were seeing one for the first time, and had only just heard its name.
After everyone had taken turns touching it, their faces all carried a dreamy expression.
Zhong Honghai