Chapter Summaries

Weng Qian weighed the costs and potential rewards of developing the remote island but remained undecided. Back at Lu Ao’s mountain, the two went to catch a Lionhead Goose for dinner, with Old Chen pointing them toward the flock.

• Weng Qian considered the island’s beauty and private-use potential against the high cost and uncertain returns of development.
• Lu Ao brought Weng Qian home and suggested slaughtering a Lionhead Goose for dinner, prompting Weng Qian to join him in catching one.
• Lu Ao led Weng Qian to Haining Mountain, where they admired the thriving orchard and searched for the geese.
• Old Chen greeted Lu Ao and Weng Qian, told them where the Lionhead Geese were, and accepted Lu Ao’s invitation to dinner.

Lu Ao took Weng Qian down the mountain to see the Lionhead Geese, while Weng Qian tried to persuade him to build a hotel near the mountain and sea. When Weng Qian panicked at the geese and kicked at them, the flock surrounded him, and Lu Ao ordered them away.

• Lu Ao led Weng Qian down the mountain after promising to help slaughter the Lionhead Geese.
• Weng Qian teased Lu Ao about being possessive and proposed building a hotel near his mountain and Marine Ranch.
• Lu Ao rejected Weng Qian's plan, saying he did not want to use his land to build a hotel.
• Weng Qian spotted the enormous Lionhead Geese and panicked, then kicked at them despite Lu Ao trying to stop him.
• The Lionhead Geese surrounded Weng Qian, and Lu Ao ordered them to get away.

Weng Qian was chased around the mountain by Lu Ao’s unusually large flock of Lionhead Geese, then joined Lu Ao and Old Chen in preparing a huge goose for dinner. Song Zhou returned just as the meal was ready, and the guests helped set the table.

• Weng Qian fled from more than a hundred Lionhead Geese, while Lu Ao kept them from pecking him and Old Chen came down to help.
• After Weng Qian rested, he returned home with Lu Ao and Old Chen, and they prepared an enormous Lionhead Goose for dinner.
• Lu Ao waited for Song Zhou as the goose stewed, while Chubby and the guests eagerly watched for the meal.
• Song Zhou arrived late with a bag, greeted Weng Qian and Old Chen, and joined them as Lu Ao brought out dinner.

Lu Ao, Weng Qian, and Old Chen shared a meal featuring Lu Ao’s unusually delicious stewed goose and kelp. Weng Qian tried to buy the geese, but Lu Ao refused even as he raised his offer.

• Lu Ao served the stewed goose and other dishes, and everyone eagerly dug in.
• Lu Ao and Weng Qian were astonished by the goose’s rich flavor, while Weng Qian and Old Chen ate several bowls of rice.
• Weng Qian praised Lu Ao’s cooking and accepted his offer to take the leftover goose home to his parents.
• Weng Qian asked to buy several geese, but Lu Ao refused because he had raised them for his household.
• Weng Qian offered increasingly high prices, including twenty thousand per goose, and Lu Ao continued to refuse.

Lu Ao refused to sell his geese or kelp to Weng Qian, who later declined to invest in the proposed hotel because of its cost and risks. Lu Ao remained intent on developing a nearby island as a vacation destination where he and Song Zhou could also stay privately.

• Weng Qian asked Lu Ao to sell him geese, but Lu Ao refused and offered him goose eggs to hatch instead.
• Weng Qian praised Lu Ao's Marine Ranch kelp and proposed buying it under a long-term supply contract, but Lu Ao declined to harvest more than the sea cucumbers and abalones needed.
• After Old Chen left, Weng Qian told Lu Ao and Song Zhou he had decided against investing in the hotel because he could not justify its risks or secure support from his family.
• Lu Ao explained that he wanted a hotel or vacation island as a place for him and Song Zhou to stay, since living in the village made their absences noticeable.
• Lu Ao decided to develop a nearby island as a vacation island, leasing it to visitors when possible while keeping a private area for himself and Song Zhou.

Lu Ao proposed developing an island with Weng Qian’s hotel group managing the hotel, while explaining why the project suited his needs better than moving or renovating his family home. Later, Song Zhou sensed strange activity offshore and took Lu Ao to investigate, where they saw three silent ships and decided to observe from shore.

• Lu Ao offered Weng Qian a role managing the hotel on an island that Lu Ao and Song Zhou would develop, and showed him the project proposal.
• Weng Qian questioned whether Lu Ao had planned the project before their discussion, and Lu Ao said he had only had a rough idea.
• Lu Ao decided that developing an island would give him and Song Zhou a suitable place to live near the Marine Ranch without altering his parents’ old house.
• Song Zhou woke Lu Ao and told him that he was going to check unusual activity at sea, and Lu Ao insisted on going with him.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou spotted three brightly lit ships offshore with no audible voices, and Song Zhou stopped Lu Ao from approaching while they watched.

Lu Ao and Song Zhou discovered three ships illegally fishing in Lu Ao’s Marine Ranch and learned the crew planned to capture Dolphins. They reached the ships underwater and overheard the poachers’ plans, while the Coast Guard was on its way.

• Lu Ao recognized the ships’ rhythmic hull-knocking as a method for driving fish into nets and suspected they were poaching in his Marine Ranch.
• Lu Ao called the Coast Guard, then hid his clothes and transformed into his Dragon Form while Song Zhou climbed onto his back.
• Lu Ao swam with Song Zhou toward the ships without making a visible disturbance.
• The pair overheard the crew discussing how they would capture Dolphins, keeping the adults for meat and the uninjured young ones for aquariums.
• Lu Ao spotted armed people at the ships’ bow as the crew prepared to hunt the Dolphins.

Lu Ao and Song Zhou intervened as poachers trapped a Dolphin near the shore. Song Zhou concealed them with mist while Lu Ao went to rescue it, and the poachers were left frightened by the unnatural darkness surrounding their boats.

• Lu Ao recognized that the boats were driving the Dolphin toward shore to trap it with fishing nets and wanted to attack them.
• Song Zhou stopped Lu Ao from rushing in while cameras filmed, but Lu Ao's tail slap sent a huge wave jolting the three boats.
• Lu Ao hid beneath the boats as Song Zhou spread thick mist across the sea, rendering the boats' instruments useless.
• Song Zhou cleared a passage through the mist, and Lu Ao swam toward shore to save the Dolphin.
• An unknown cry and unnatural darkness terrified the poachers, who retreated into the cabin as one young man saw the sea lying perfectly still.

Lu Ao and Song Zhou freed the Dolphins from poachers’ net and trapped the poachers’ boats in an unfamiliar stretch of sea. They waited for the Coast Guard near the reef, and Lu Ao suggested watching the sunrise with Song Zhou.

• The poachers’ navigation systems failed, and their three boats disappeared into an unfamiliar stretch of sea.
• Song Zhou explained that he had frightened the poachers in revenge for the Dolphins, and Lu Ao approved.
• Lu Ao tore apart the fishing net, and the grateful Dolphins swam free.
• Lu Ao decided to keep the poachers trapped until the Coast Guard arrived, then washed and changed on the reef.
• Lu Ao texted Weng Qian to let him know he was out, then asked Song Zhou if they could watch the sunrise together.

Song Zhou and Lu Ao watched the Dolphins retaliate against the poachers’ boats until the Coast Guard arrived and arrested them. The poachers confessed that an amusement park in New Luzhou wanted the Dolphins for shows, while Weng Qian asked Lu Ao to sell him Laver and Kelp from the Marine Ranch.

• Song Zhou released the poachers’ boats, and the Dolphins rammed them while Lu Ao watched.
• The Coast Guard arrived and took the poachers and their boats away.
• Little Du told Lu Ao that the poachers had confessed that an amusement park in New Luzhou wanted to buy Dolphins for performances.
• Lu Ao asked Little Du to keep him informed about what happened to the amusement park’s original Dolphins.
• Weng Qian asked Lu Ao to sell him Laver and Kelp and proposed setting aside part of the Marine Ranch to grow Kelp.

Lu Ao gave Weng Qian kelp to develop new dishes and discussed a possible long-term partnership. Weng Qian proposed splitting the profits equally, and Lu Ao was surprised by how generous the offer was.

• Lu Ao refused to sign a supply contract but gave Weng Qian two baskets of kelp for free to develop dishes.
• Weng Qian accepted the kelp and said he would leave hotel construction to Lu Ao while offering to introduce suitable staff.
• Weng Qian successfully developed kelp dishes, including desserts, and asked Lu Ao for another supply.
• Lu Ao said he would be busy hosting a professor at Marine Ranch and suggested shipping the next batch by express delivery.
• Weng Qian proposed that Lu Ao provide ingredients and he provide culinary skills and distribution, with them splitting profits fifty-fifty.

Lu Ao finalized a partnership with Weng Qian and arranged to supply Kelp, then picked up Professor Huang Ningna to inspect his unusually successful Marine Ranch. Huang Ningna arrived eager to dive and see the ranch firsthand.

• Weng Qian recorded Lu Ao’s promise to give him partner treatment and agreed to settle Kelp sales batch by batch.
• Lu Ao replenished the Marine Ranch’s Kelp with vitality, causing it to grow unusually thick and lush.
• Lu Ao drove to the county train station and picked up Huang Ningna, who had arranged his university classes to visit and study Coral.
• On the drive, Lu Ao told Huang Ningna that the ranch’s algae and stocked sea life were thriving, with nearly seventy percent surviving and growing quickly.
• After arriving at Lu Ao’s home, Huang Ningna immediately asked to visit the Marine Ranch and agreed to dive there using his own wetsuit.

Lu Ao took Huang Ningna to inspect his Marine Ranch, where Huang Ningna found the sea life thriving and free of pests or disease. He praised it as a possible demonstration project, then questioned how Lu Ao kept his fish from escaping without protective nets.

• Lu Ao took Huang Ningna out to sea so he could inspect the Marine Ranch.
• Lu Ao checked the seabed first, then guided Huang Ningna on a dive while the Dolphins were away.
• Huang Ningna saw that the Coral, Sea Cucumbers, and Abalone were growing well in the clear water.
• After inspecting the ranch, Huang Ningna said it could be a demonstration project.
• Lu Ao explained that fish could come and go because the food was there, but Huang Ningna asked how he prevented them from escaping.

Lu Ao expanded his Marine Ranch after Huang Ningna reviewed it, while learning that authorities had arrested illegal trawlers and uncovered a poaching ring. Concerned about the sick Dolphins at a private zoo in New Luzhou, he called Song Zhou for help.

• Lu Ao explained to Huang Ningna that escaped Abalone and Sea Cucumber were watched by Dolphins and that the Marine Ranch could thrive as other fish and shrimp moved in.
• Huang Ningna recommended adding more kinds of Seaweed and fish, and Lu Ao bought more stock for the Marine Ranch.
• Little Du told Lu Ao that a poaching ring had confessed to selling Dolphins to people in New Luzhou and that illegal trawlers had been arrested.
• Little Du said the trawlers had used Electric Bottom Trawls and Wipeout Nets, caused more than thirty million in estimated environmental damage, and faced prison and compensation.
• Little Du told Lu Ao that a private zoo in New Luzhou had sought replacement Dolphins because its own Dolphins had fallen ill, and Lu Ao called Song Zhou after hanging up.

Lu Ao and Song Zhou went to a zoo in New Luzhou to investigate reports that its Dolphins were seriously ill, hoping to find a way to save them. At the aquarium, they saw a listless orca and suspected the zoo’s marine animals were suffering.

• Lu Ao told Song Zhou that the Dolphins belonging to the group that had tried to steal Dolphins from their Marine Ranch were sick, and Song Zhou agreed to help investigate.
• Lu Ao planned to visit the zoo and possibly buy the sick Dolphins, keeping them at the Marine Ranch while they recovered and adapted.
• Song Zhou teleported with Lu Ao to a park near the zoo, and they bought tickets and headed for the aquarium.
• Lu Ao saw an orca resting listlessly in its pool and remarked that the zoo’s marine creatures did not seem to be living well.

Lu Ao and Song Zhou visited an aquarium, where Lu Ao communicated with a distressed orca and learned that the dolphins were absent. He tried to buy the aquarium’s marine animals to release them, but the owner refused, leaving Lu Ao warning that the orca was dangerous and in poor condition.

• Lu Ao sensed the orca’s distress, communicated with it, and left saddened by its confinement.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou searched the aquarium and found no dolphins or staff at the performance area.
• Lu Ao asked the manager to contact the owner about buying the marine animals so he could release them.
• The owner refused to sell, and Lu Ao left with Song Zhou after predicting the owner would change his mind.
• Lu Ao warned the manager to keep away from the orca, whose worsening behavior had already nearly injured its keepers.

Lu Ao and Song Zhou sought another way to help the sick Dolphins at Everlasting Prosperity Zoo after the manager refused to sell them. With You Li's help, they arranged a meeting with the zoo owner, where Lu Ao said the Dolphins were his friends.

• Lu Ao warned the zoo manager that the Orca's condition had worsened, but the manager would not agree to sell the animals.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou returned to the Anomalous Personnel Affairs Regulatory Agency, where You Li offered to contact his friend about the zoo owner.
• You Li arranged an introduction, and Lu Ao set a meeting with the owner at New Land Tower for eight that evening.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou met the zoo owner, and Lu Ao told him the Dolphins he wanted to buy were his friends.

Lu Ao and Song Zhou forced Boss Liu to sell his sick Dolphins, Orca, and Belugas, then arranged their transfer to the Marine Ranch in Luo. The animals arrived safely a week later.

• Lu Ao demanded to buy the sick marine animals, and Song Zhou helped frighten Boss Liu by making everyone around them disappear.
• Boss Liu agreed to sell five Dolphins, one Orca, and two Belugas at twenty percent off after admitting the Belugas also had lung disease.
• Lu Ao warned Boss Liu about mistreating the animals, then let him leave when the surrounding voices and warmth returned.
• Lu Ao arranged qualified help and transport, while Song Zhou said he would put in a word to make the transfer easier.
• After several days of preparations, the Dolphins, Orca, and Belugas settled into the Marine Ranch in Luo.

Lu Ao cared for the newly rescued Dolphins, Orcas, and Belugas at his Marine Ranch while Huang Ningna arranged a visit with Feng Jinhao, a Coconut Crab farmer. Lu Ao welcomed them to his home and accepted two Coconut Crabs Feng Jinhao had brought as a gift.

• Lu Ao fed and comforted the timid marine animals, which stayed close to him as they recovered.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou continued caring for the animals, while Lu Ao kept tourists away and welcomed visiting experts.
• Huang Ningna called Lu Ao to ask whether she and Feng Jinhao could visit his Dolphins and Orcas, and he agreed to pick them up.
• Huang Ningna introduced Feng Jinhao to Lu Ao, and the three headed toward Lu Ao's village.
• Feng Jinhao gave Lu Ao two Coconut Crabs from his farm, and Lu Ao accepted them after initially refusing.

Feng Jinhao visited Lu Ao’s Marine Ranch and proposed trading Coconut Crab fry for Lionhead Goose goslings. Lu Ao rejected his initial terms and argued over the value of the breeding animals, leaving their negotiations unresolved.

• Lu Ao showed Feng Jinhao and Huang Ningna his Marine Ranch, where the orcas greeted them, and Huang Ningna suggested writing a paper about the orca’s recovery.
• Lu Ao took Feng Jinhao and Huang Ningna home, then slaughtered and stewed geese with Feng Jinhao’s help.
• After tasting the goose, Feng Jinhao proposed trading Coconut Crab fry for Lionhead Goose goslings.
• Lu Ao rejected Feng Jinhao’s offer of one crab fry for ten goslings, arguing that his geese were just as valuable and scarcer.
• Lu Ao suggested exchanging a pair of top-quality breeding Coconut Crabs for a pair of top-quality breeding Lionhead Geese, but Feng Jinhao questioned whether the trade was fair.
• Lu Ao countered that Lionhead Geese commanded a high market price and were easy for him to sell, while Coconut Crabs were precious but not rare.