Chapter Summaries

Lu Ao discussed the challenges of developing a Marine Ranch with Song Zhou and decided to learn from established projects before proceeding. After contacting Huang Ningna, he quickly secured an introduction to a National Marine Ranch Demonstration Zone in Shannan Province, while he and Song Zhou planned to inspect the seaweed and coral.

• Lu Ao explained that building a Marine Ranch would require careful research because regulations and approvals had become stricter.
• Lu Ao told Song Zhou that he planned to ask Huang Ningna and Zhao Xingli for advice and potential contacts.
• Song Zhou reminded Lu Ao to inspect whether they could supply life force to the seaweed and coral on the seabed.
• Lu Ao called Huang Ningna, who offered to connect him with a friend managing a National Marine Ranch Demonstration Zone in Shannan Province.
• Huang Ningna agreed to send Lu Ao materials and ask his friend about visiting, and Song Zhou said Lu Ao's earlier help had earned him useful connections.

Lu Ao traveled to Shannan Province to visit Cao Zijun’s Marine Ranch and learn whether he should invest in one himself. Cao Zijun showed him the ranch’s facilities and explained that disease had nearly bankrupted the operation, leaving Lu Ao with a clearer sense of the risks.

• Lu Ao remembered Song Zhou’s money and accepted Huang Ningna’s friend’s invitation to visit a Marine Ranch.
• Lu Ao traveled by car, coach, and plane to Shannan Province, then arranged to meet Cao Zijun the next morning.
• Cao Zijun picked Lu Ao up and warned him that Marine Ranches required huge investments and often lost money.
• Cao Zijun showed Lu Ao the ranch’s plans and explained that only some of its facilities had been completed.
• Cao Zijun told Lu Ao that disease had killed many scallops and spread to the sea cucumbers, nearly bankrupting the ranch.

Lu Ao visited Cao Zijun’s marine ranch and learned about the risks, procedures, and costs of marine aquaculture. Despite the challenges, Lu Ao remained determined to build an integrated ranch that combined aquaculture with stock enhancement and release.

• Cao Zijun warned Lu Ao that marine aquaculture was risky, describing disease outbreaks in farmed salmon and the dangers of heavy investment.
• Lu Ao said he wanted to pursue aquaculture so people could eat trustworthy fish, and Cao Zijun outlined the need for sea-use rights, technical support, and substantial funding.
• Cao Zijun took Lu Ao by speedboat to the marine ranch and explained its island, facilities, and integrated operations.
• After touring the ranch, Lu Ao said he hoped to build an integrated marine ranch and devote some profits to stock enhancement and release.

Lu Ao visited Cao Zijun’s Marine Ranch and became more confident about starting his own, then discussed his plans with Song Zhou. They walked Chubby to Lin Family Village, where Ye Zhiying and Lin Manzhang told them officials were again persuading villagers to retire from fishing.

• Cao Zijun offered to provide technical support for Lu Ao’s public welfare plans, and Lu Ao noted the customized equipment he might order from him.
• Lu Ao told Song Zhou he believed their Marine Ranch could become profitable within one or two years and planned to research sites and development in the province.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou took Chubby out after dinner and visited Lin Manzhang and Ye Zhiying in Lin Family Village.
• Ye Zhiying said village officials had been visiting households to promote the fishing retirement program, while Lin Manzhang said people would not be forced to quit.

Lu Ao explored options for establishing a Marine Ranch and sought advice about suitable waters and potential partners. He had not chosen a site or species yet when Weng Qian offered to invest and sell his future seafood through the hotel’s fresh-food service.

• Ye Zhiying and Lin Manzhang discussed government incentives for fishermen to retire, then suggested a nearby former fish-raft site to Lu Ao.
• Lu Ao explained that he wanted a Marine Ranch large and deep enough to raise species such as sea cucumbers, abalone, and lobsters, and Lin Manzhang said he would ask around and contact Lin Dawu.
• Lu Ao searched online for Marine Ranch information, but Song Zhou sent him to bed when he stayed up too late.
• Weng Qian called Lu Ao, offered to invest in his Marine Ranch, and proposed selling its future seafood through the hotel’s fresh-food service.

Lu Ao discussed future sales and investment for his marine ranch with Weng Qian, then asked Lin Dawu to help him find a suitable sea area. After they inspected thirteen locations, none met Lu Ao’s requirements, leaving the search unresolved.

• Lu Ao told Weng Qian they could discuss supply channels and contracts after the marine ranch was established, and declined his offer to invest because Song Zhou had money.
• Lu Ao visited Lin Dawu and Gui Yandan’s store and asked Lin Dawu for advice on choosing a site for the marine ranch.
• Lin Dawu agreed to take Lu Ao to nearby islands, and Gui Yandan offered to watch the store while they went out.
• Lu Ao and Lin Dawu inspected Seaheart Island, but Lu Ao found its shallow, sandy, murky waters unsuitable for a marine ranch.
• Lu Ao and Lin Dawu checked twelve more locations, found none suitable, and returned to town after nightfall.

Lu Ao searched for a suitable location to build a Marine Ranch, but after inspecting more than a hundred sites, he decided to lease the sea outside Haining Mountain. He called Little Du to ask about the procedures for leasing the sea and building the ranch.

• Lin Dawu suggested the deep, reef-filled sea outside Lu Family Village near Haining Mountain as a possible Marine Ranch site.
• Lu Ao told Song Zhou about the suggestion, and Song Zhou agreed that the area was suitable.
• Lu Ao asked friends from several circles for recommendations and spent a week inspecting over a hundred locations, but none suited him better.
• After consulting experts, Lu Ao decided to lease the sea outside Haining Mountain.
• Lu Ao called Little Du to ask how to apply for sea-use rights and what procedures were required to build a Marine Ranch.

Lu Ao’s application to build a marine ranch was rejected by Fisheries Bureau Director Hou Mingzhi, but Lu Ao chose to keep pursuing approval through proper channels rather than ask Song Zhou to use his influence. He went to meet Hou in person and was surprised when the director agreed to see him immediately.

• Little Du warned Lu Ao that Hou Mingzhi might reject his marine ranch application amid a crackdown on marine violations.
• Hou Mingzhi rejected Lu Ao’s initial application, and Lu Ao resubmitted it with additional materials and a research assessment.
• Moonlit Crabapple told Lu Ao that Hou had vowed not to approve the project, prompting Lu Ao to consider his options.
• Song Zhou offered to put in a word, but Lu Ao refused because he wanted to avoid using their non-human identities to influence human affairs.
• Lu Ao went directly to the city Fisheries Bureau the next day, where Hou Mingzhi unexpectedly agreed to meet him.

Lu Ao met with Hou Mingzhi to discuss his application for a large Marine Ranch, but Hou rejected it over concerns about its ecological risks and lack of scientific support. Lu Ao refused to give up and said he would visit again in a few days, while Hou resolved to stand firm.

• Hou Mingzhi welcomed Lu Ao, then told him he did not approve his Marine Ranch application.
• Lu Ao defended the project as necessary for developing fisheries, but Hou questioned whether a private organization could assess its ecological impact.
• Hou argued that Marine Ranches lacked the theories and research needed to ensure they would not damage marine ecosystems.
• Lu Ao said experimentation was needed and challenged Hou’s rejection as unfair and contrary to policies supporting Marine Ranches.
• Lu Ao left after saying he would return in a few days, and Hou decided to hold his ground despite expecting pressure from his superiors.

Lu Ao sought research materials to persuade the Fisheries Bureau to approve his Marine Ranch project, and Huang Ningna’s students and colleagues helped him gather a large collection. As Song Zhou drove him home, Lu Ao revealed that the materials were not about building a Marine Ranch.

• Lu Ao visited Huang Ningna’s institute and asked his students for recent research on the Qianming Waters and waters near Yandong County.
• Huang Ningna’s students searched their institute’s materials and contacted their academic network, collecting seven volumes of research for Lu Ao.
• Lu Ao explained to Huang Ningna that he needed evidence to persuade the Fisheries Bureau to approve the Marine Ranch, and Huang Ningna promised to send additional materials.
• Lu Ao thanked the students over lunch and went home carrying books, papers, notes, and USB drives gathered by Huang Ningna, his students, and their contacts.
• Song Zhou questioned why Lu Ao had collected so much research material, and Lu Ao told him it was not for building a Marine Ranch.

Lu Ao wrote a paper to answer Director Hou's concerns about the ocean ranch project, studying and revising it with Huang Ningna's help. The paper was accepted by a provincial journal, and Lu Ao celebrated its publication with Song Zhou.

• Lu Ao told Song Zhou that Director Hou had refused to approve the ocean ranch project because of unresolved concerns, so he planned to address them in an academic paper.
• Lu Ao stayed home to study and write, completing a rough first draft after about a week.
• Huang Ningna reviewed Lu Ao's draft, pointed out its weaknesses, and gave him additional materials and books to study.
• Lu Ao revised the paper in three days, and Huang Ningna praised it and offered to recommend it to a journal editor.
• On January 27, Huang Ningna's friend informed Lu Ao that the paper had been accepted for the end-of-month issue, and Lu Ao and Song Zhou read the published article together.

Lu Ao secured approval and a favorable sea-area lease for his Marine Ranch, leaving construction to begin after the New Year. He and Song Zhou planned a quiet holiday at home and prepared for it together.

• Song Zhou encouraged Lu Ao, and Lu Ao decided to bring his sample issue to Director Hou with Song Zhou accompanying him.
• Hou Mingzhi approved Lu Ao's application on the condition that expert inspections could halt the project if it seriously harmed the local ecology.
• The Fisheries Bureau approved the application, and Song Zhou arranged help that let Lu Ao obtain the sea-area development rights in one day at a discounted fifty-year lease price.
• Lu Ao ordered artificial reefs and monitoring equipment from Cao Zijun, who planned to bring the materials and workers after the New Year.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou decided to celebrate New Year at home and invite friends for hot pot.
• Lu Ao harvested and preserved vegetables from his fields, while village elders came to help him.

Lu Ao enjoyed the winter sunshine while tending his geese and planning to develop the mountain and sea he had leased. After Lin Gongshang invited him fishing, Lu Ao agreed to go and Lin Qiyan decided to join him, leaving Lu Ao to arrange a boat with Zhang Ge.

• Lu Ao watched Chubby herd his geese and planned to raise seafood in the leased waters and keep beehives on Haining Mountain.
• Lin Gongshang invited Lu Ao to go fishing the next morning with Lin Guixiao and Tan Junhao to earn extra money before New Year.
• Lu Ao decided he would borrow a boat or take his own big boat so he could fish separately.
• Lin Qiyan told Lu Ao he would join the trip to film a video, though village gossip and Tan Junhao's homophobia made him uncomfortable joining the others.
• Lu Ao told Lin Qiyan he would ask Zhang Ge for a boat and use his own if needed.

Lu Ao borrowed Lin Manzhang’s boat and began planning New Year visits and gifts with Song Zhou. After Song Zhou agreed to take time off, Lu Ao happily worked out how to distribute gifts to relatives, clients, and friends.

• Lin Manzhang lent Lu Ao his boat and told him to collect the key from his house.
• Lu Ao brought pastries to Lin Manzhang and Ye Zhiying, who gave him fresh rice cakes to try.
• Lu Ao returned home and asked Song Zhou about New Year leave; Song Zhou agreed to visit relatives with him.
• Lu Ao planned to catch more fish and prepare gifts for relatives, clients, and friends.
• Lu Ao sat down to plan the gift distribution, and Song Zhou asked what had made him so happy.

Lu Ao and Song Zhou shared a quiet New Year’s Eve moment and promised to cherish the years ahead. The next day, Lu Ao joined Lin Gongshang and the others for a fishing trip, where the men celebrated their improving fortunes and learned Lin Gongshang was expecting a child.

• Lu Ao recalled how their family-like holiday discussions reminded him of his childhood, and he and Song Zhou promised to spend each year together properly.
• Lu Ao left early to fish, prepared Lin Manzhang’s boat, and welcomed Lin Gongshang and the others at the dock.
• Lin Qiyan told Lu Ao that a recent production had gone well and that he had gained over three million followers and a much higher income.
• The group agreed to take turns treating one another to drinks, and Lu Ao asked to bring a family member.
• Lu Ao guessed that Lin Gongshang’s wife was pregnant, and Lin Gongshang confirmed it while asking them to keep the news private.
• The men set out to sea, spread their nets across separate areas, and stopped for lunch in the open water.

Lu Ao and Lin Qiyan joined the others in watching a school of Manta Rays leap from the sea, and Lin Qiyan recorded the spectacle. Afterward, they returned to haul in their nets, where Lu Ao found shrimp and a huge Flower Crab.

• Lin Guixiao joked with the others about wanting a considerate partner, and Lu Ao offered to introduce him to a husband.
• Lin Qiyan spotted distant shapes over the water, and Lu Ao identified them as Manta Rays before leading the group closer to watch.
• The group watched the Manta Rays leap for more than half an hour while Lin Qiyan filmed them from a distance.
• The group returned to their nets after the afternoon wind had scattered them, and everyone hurried to haul in their own catch.
• Lu Ao pulled up his first net and found shrimp and a Flower Crab more than thirty centimeters across, which he tied and placed in the live well.

Lu Ao hauled in an abundant catch, then spotted a recently dead Miiuy Croaker floating nearby and brought the enormous fish aboard. The chapter left Lin Qiyan filming the fresh catch as they examined it on the crowded boat.

• Lu Ao filled his boat with more than a hundred jin of seafood from his nets.
• Lu Ao and Lin Qiyan discussed the difficulties facing fishermen and the need for many to transition to other work.
• Lu Ao spotted a black object in the distance, left the other boats to investigate, and discovered it was a large Miiuy Croaker.
• Lu Ao hauled the Miiuy Croaker aboard while Lin Qiyan steadied the boat and filmed.
• Lu Ao checked the fish's clear eye and bright red gills, confirming it had died only recently.

Lu Ao found a huge, fresh Miiuy Croaker at sea, and his crewmates marveled at his luck as they returned to shore. After Lu Ao posted the catch for sale, dozens of messages arrived, especially from Weng Qian.

• Lu Ao loaded the huge Miiuy Croaker with ice, and Lin Qiyan estimated it could sell for close to a hundred thousand.
• Lin Gongshang and the others inspected the fish and compared Lu Ao’s extraordinary catch with their own modest haul.
• Lin Guixiao, Tan Junhao, and Lin Qiyan joked that they would pray to Lu Ao for luck fishing, while Lu Ao told them they were overdoing it.
• Lu Ao said they could keep the fish and use its swim bladder for fish maw if no local dealer could afford it.
• Lu Ao posted the fish on Moments, then headed back to shore with the others.
• Lu Ao found dozens of messages on his phone after returning, with Weng Qian urging him to reply.

Lu Ao weighed competing offers for his dead Miiuy Croaker while he and Song Zhou cooked dinner. Weng Qian eventually won the bidding with an offer of three hundred sixty thousand.

• Lu Ao introduced his Miiuy Croaker in the auction and boat captains' groups, where buyers began bidding on the fish.
• Lu Ao declined private offers and told the groups he would wait to see which offered more.
• Lin Gongshang and the others left to sell their catch, while Lu Ao and Lin Qiyan carried their fish back to Lu Ao's home.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou prepared a seafood dinner as bids for the Miiuy Croaker continued to rise.
• Weng Qian won the fish with a bid of three hundred sixty thousand, and Lu Ao told the boat captains' group about the sale.

After winning the bid for the Miiuy Croaker, Lu Ao arranged with Weng Qian to turn its swim bladder into dried fish maw and its flesh into fish balls. Lu Ao and Song Zhou began processing the fish, with Song Zhou carefully preparing the swim bladder for drying.

• Lu Ao agreed to catch Weng Qian a Mouse Grouper for New Year and discussed how to handle the Miiuy Croaker Weng Qian had bought.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou took the frozen Miiuy Croaker out and weighed it at 93.6 jin.
• Lu Ao sent Weng Qian the fish's weight and agreed to air-dry its swim bladder and make fish balls from its flesh.
• When Lu Ao hesitated to cut open the fish, Song Zhou took the knife and removed its organs.
• Song Zhou stripped the membrane from the swim bladder while Lu Ao stayed beside him and kept Chubby away from the fish organs.