Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Interests
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The Fengyi is a ship with an owner. Although the old man and Zheng Yijie have been staying on the Yongyue for a while, it is their home and no one will forget about it in the corner.
The deck was clean and tidy, without any dirt. The guardrails and robotic arms were covered with a layer of ice, but it was only a thin layer, and it was obvious that someone came back to take care of them regularly.
Although no one had lived there for several months, the cabin was still clean, with the floor, coffee table and dining table spotless. However, it seemed a little deserted and eerie due to the lack of human presence.
Finally they are back, the Fengyi that Gu Mengran has been thinking about day and night, but unfortunately they cannot go back to the house to rest. They need to clean the oil tank immediately, wait for the Giant to deliver fuel, and reconnect the power.
Cleaning the oil tank is a big project, and equipment such as filters must be replaced. Although the engine of the Fengyi is designed to use a variety of fuels, the fuels cannot be mixed to prevent the diesel remaining in the tank from mixing with the heavy oil and causing mechanical failure.
Speaking of heavy oil, Gu Mengran has a lot of it stored in his space. This kind of oil is economical, has high combustion efficiency, and high energy density, and can meet the energy needs of long-term operation.
In short, burn-resistant.
One tank of diesel and one tank of heavy fuel oil, the heavy fuel oil is definitely used up slower.
Logically speaking, since heavy oil is so good, the Fengyi should have burned more of it before.
It's not that Gu Mengran has a lot of money, nor that he doesn't want to. Heavy oil is good in every way except that it produces a lot of smoke and its emissions contain harmful substances that will cause direct pollution to the environment and water quality. It has been completely banned in Huangjiang.
The work lasted from noon to dusk until the oil tank of the Wind Wing was completely cleaned. The long oil pipeline extended from the deck of the Giant to the deck of the Wind Wing, and it took nearly two hours to fill the Wind Wing with fuel.
The oil pipeline was recovered, the engine was preheated, and with a deep roar, after three months, the silent Wind Wing welcomed back her owner and restarted.
After not sleeping for nearly two days and one night, Gu Mengran was so tired that he began to doubt his life.
After seeing off the villagers and crew members who came to help, he returned to the cabin with his family. He collapsed directly on the sofa, not wanting to clean the house or take a bath.
With thick dark circles under his eyes and a tired face, it was really pitiful. However, the old man couldn't help but frowned when he saw his dirty cotton coat rubbing against the sofa, and reminded him in a gentle voice: "Bring out something to eat to fill your stomach, and go back to the room to take a shower and go to bed."
"No, I don't want to move. You can't just fall asleep whenever you want. I have to change the sheets and quilt covers. It's so troublesome." He was so sleepy that he didn't want to sleep that much. Gu Mengran collapsed on the sofa, motionless, and didn't even bother to lift his eyelids.
The old man laughed out loud, "Then grandpa will help you change it?"
"Not really, I just need to rest for a while."
The old man walked quickly to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and turned to Gu Mengran and said, "Go somewhere else to rest. You're so dirty and you're sitting on the sofa."
Before Gu Mengran could speak, Liang Zhao began to chime in: "It's okay, Grandpa. No one has lived here for so long, and the sofa is dirty. I'll take off the cover and wash it tomorrow."
"Don't spoil him too much." The old man shook his head helplessly and sat on the chair by himself.
Feeling hungry, Zheng Yiji joined in the fun for a while, went back to the kitchen to get a rag, and carefully wiped the table clean. Then he washed four sets of dishes and chopsticks and sat down next to the old man.
Imply, no, state it directly.
Although Gu Mengran was lying down, he saw his actions clearly and couldn't help laughing, "You're eating so blatantly like this? Without closing the curtains?"
"Hey, I'll be right here."
After closing the doors and windows, drawing the curtains, and turning on the air conditioner, the living room soon became warm. The sumptuous meal was placed on the table, and everyone picked up their chopsticks and ate heartily without saying a word.
The old man and Zheng Yijie were staying at the Yongyue, eating and living with the villagers these days. Although they had never gone hungry, the food was nothing like before.
Gu Mengran, who was also staying on someone else's boat, was also very greedy. He had the space, but with people coming and going on the boat, he had no chance to eat. At most, he could occasionally grab a piece of beef jerky to satisfy his craving.
It is said that food is the most important thing for people. There is a big difference between filling hunger and enjoying delicious food.
It truly demonstrated what it meant to concentrate on eating. After the food was seated at the table, the four of them didn't say a word to each other until there was not much food left on the table. As the meal was coming to an end, Zheng Yijie patted his belly with satisfaction.
"It feels good. I am finally alive. This is how people should live."
"How can you talk like that?" The old man glared at him and slapped the back of his hand. "They took us in out of kindness. Don't make it sound like they're mistreating us."
"I'm wrong, I'm wrong." Zheng Yijie apologized with a grin.
Perhaps to change the subject, he immediately picked up the drink cup at hand, turned his head and raised it to Gu Mengran and Liang Zhao, "Welcome home, Mengran, Liang Zhao, I really missed you so much."
"Do you miss us or the space?" Gu Mengran teased deliberately.
Zheng Yijie's face fell, "Do I look like someone without a conscience?"
"Just kidding." Gu Mengran put down his chopsticks and picked up the glass. The smile in his eyes gradually faded, and his tone changed from relaxed and casual to solemn. "Thank you, Zheng Yijie, thank you for helping us take care of grandpa, and thank you for taking the trouble to take care of the Fengyi."
"Hey, what are you doing?"
A compliment was suddenly put on his head, and Zheng Yijie's face turned red immediately. He felt that he had not made any contribution. He was embarrassed for a moment, hesitating for a long time, not knowing how to respond.
The old man who was picking up food beside him laughed, and stepped forward to help: "Why do you have to be so polite as a family? Let's not talk about this."
"Yes, yes, yes. We are family and shouldn't have different opinions. Don't be so serious. I'm not used to it!" Zheng Yiji reacted quickly and followed the old man's words.
A smile appeared on his brows again, and Gu Mengran and Liang Zhao raised their glasses together.
"That's the truth, but thank you anyway."
"Oh, you're so annoying. I won't say any more. Come on, let's go together."
"Grandpa, you come too."
"Come on, come on, let's have a drink instead of wine, let's go!"
With a crisp bang, four glasses collided with each other.
After eating and drinking, Zheng Yiji and Liang Zhao took the initiative to wash the dishes and collect the kitchen waste, while Gu Mengran and Meng Gaoyang slumped in their seats like old men, with satisfied looks on their faces.
After filling his stomach, sleepiness gradually came over him. Gu Mengran yawned and wanted to go back to his room to take a shower and sleep, but when he stood up, he suddenly thought of a question. With curiosity in his heart, he sat down again and called out "Grandpa".
The old man was picking his teeth with a toothpick. Hearing this, he raised his chin and said, "Speak."
"I'm a little curious, Grandpa. How much fuel do you think Uncle Ding and his crew have on their ship? It's too much of an exaggeration to say that it would take eight or ten years to use it, right?" Gu Mengran held his chin with both hands and looked at his grandfather eagerly.
The old man looked at him in surprise and said, "You've lived on someone else's boat for so long, and you don't know?"
"You've already said it, it's someone else's boat and I'm a guest. How could I have the nerve to ask around if they didn't tell me?" Gu Mengran said with a pout.
The old man nodded. "That's true. Your uncle Ding didn't tell me the exact amount of fuel, but he didn't hide it from me. After all, who is your grandfather? He just became a sailor when I was on the ship. He couldn't hide it from me even if he wanted to."
Gu Mengran patiently listened to his grandfather's bragging, then nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, my grandfather was the most powerful captain in the country. So, Captain, can you tell us how much fuel the Giant has?"
The old man threw the toothpick into the trash can and raised his hand with four fingers.
Gu Mengran tilted his head, "Forty thousand tons?"
"Are you a pig? Our Fengyi can carry 3,000 tons. What's the concept of a supertanker? It can only carry 40,000 tons? Do you think she has a big head and a small belly?" All the previous teachings were in vain. The old man glared at Gu Mengran with a look of disappointment.
There was no time to argue with the old man, so Gu Mengran silently counted on his fingers.
One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, one hundred thousand!
How much? Four hundred thousand tons?
The shocked expression said it all. The old man raised his eyebrows and knocked on the table and said, "Yes, the Giant should be able to reach 500,000 tons when fully loaded. Looking at the current waterline, excluding the equipment and supplies on board, it is conservatively estimated to be around 400,000 tons."
Gu Mengran's shoulders sank, his eyes dull, "No wonder he is so confident, I think Uncle Ding is too conservative, if we use it sparingly, it won't be a problem to last for 20 to 30 years."
"You're overthinking it." The old man shook his finger. "Although a giant can carry a lot of stuff, it can also consume a lot of fuel. A giant ship is notorious for consuming a lot of fuel. When it's sailing at full speed, it can burn 100 to 200 tons of fuel a day, which is equivalent to a gas station. It's different from our small boats."
"Speaking of fuel consumption..."
Gu Mengran pursed his lips and raised his eyes to meet the old man's gaze. "Grandpa, Uncle Ding promised to provide us with fuel in the future for your sake, but the boat is not his alone after all. If this continues for a long time...will the residents on the boat have any objections?"
"It's fine if we stay here and don't move. We don't use much fuel. But once the ships start moving, the Fengyi and Yongyue will consume a lot of fuel. It will be a huge expense for us to supply fuel for a long time."
"Haha!" The old man laughed out loud.
Gu Mengran was puzzled: "What are you laughing at?"
The old man smiled and waved his hands, "No, no. How should I put it? In front of the Giant, the fuel allocated to us is just a drop in the bucket. For example, you have 400,000 yuan, and I am a pauper. If we have a good relationship, I will ask you for a few dozen yuan every once in a while. Will you be willing to give it to me?"
"I understand, I understand what you mean," Gu Mengran frowned slightly and sighed helplessly, "Once or twice is fine, I have a lot of money, I don't feel bad about giving out dozens of dollars. But everything has a limit, no matter how good the relationship is, it can't withstand constant demands, I'm not a sucker."
The old man's smile deepened, and he nodded with satisfaction, "Right! That's the truth. Helping you once or twice is a favor, but if they keep pushing you, it'll be annoying. So, before they get annoyed with you and get rid of you as a burden, you have to let them see your value and take the initiative."
At this point, the old man paused, tapped the table, and emphasized to Gu Mengran, "Remember, the most solid relationship in the world must be a relationship of interest."
Gu Mengran realized it, and suddenly his mind was enlightened.
He stared at the old man with eyes full of admiration, and suddenly laughed out loud, "No wonder they say that having an old man in the family is like having a treasure, my grandpa is really a treasure! Thank you grandpa for taking the time out of your busy schedule to teach me a lesson, I know what to do now."
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