Chapter 57 The Tsunami Arrives Ahead of Schedule
On the train, the familiar 'clattering' continued slowly.
Luo Yin was lucky enough to be assigned to one of only two soft sleeper berths.
Because this private room contained only a few female members of the team, making it a total of four girls including her.
"My name is Shao Shilan, I'm 29 years old and majoring in archaeology. Hello."
"My name is Yuan Fang, I am 23 years old, and I am in charge of organizing books and materials."
"I am You Lizhu, I will turn 29 in two days. I have inherited my family's unique skills and ancestral craftsmanship. Hello!"
Luo Yin looked at the several people, some capable and domineering, some learned and scholarly, and some cute and innocent, before looking down at herself.
"Hello, sisters. I am Luo Yin. I am 17 years old today and I am a newcomer to the profession."
The scene was somewhat quiet, and even Yulizhu, who spoke last, stared at her in surprise.
"You're not even eighteen yet, little sister, you're quite something!"
Yulizhu has a pair of very beautiful fox eyes, which look very alluring when her eyebrows are raised, but her own aura is so domineering that she only appears domineering.
She spotted her as soon as she entered the private room. She could also guess who the other two were by their clothes and appearance; but this youngest sister, with her delicate features but natural poise and unpretentious manner, was more to her liking.
"Hehe, I'm no match for you three sisters. You all have your own strengths. I just run errands with my family and broaden my horizons." She didn't reveal her own situation but instead brought up Old Chen.
"I know you. You were pretty good in training. You're more skilled than me."
Yuan Fang smiled at her, her tone full of admiration.
The two older sisters, on the other hand, were each wondering whether they had received a letter or not.
After introducing themselves and chatting briefly, they quickly assigned bunk beds, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
Luo Yin chose the upper bunk, with Sister Shao lying on the lower bunk. Opposite her was Sister Xiao Fang, and Sister Li Zhu was in the bunk opposite her.
During the train journey, everyone either rested, read, or did their own thing.
Luo Yin didn't stay awake for long before falling asleep.
I slept soundly until dinner time and was woken up by someone.
"Xiao Luo, wake up and get up for dinner."
Yu Lizhu rolled out of bed and ran over, saying, "She's still sleeping? If she sleeps for so long, will she be able to sleep well at night?"
"I don't know, but she's so nice, she's perfectly fine, unlike me, I feel uncomfortable whether I'm sitting or lying down." Yuan Fang smiled bitterly, she really didn't expect to get carsick.
"Hmm, what's wrong?"
Luo Yin vaguely heard someone calling her, and when she opened her eyes, she saw three heads lying next to her.
"Oh, it's you guys..."
She snapped out of her daze and looked around to realize where she was.
"I slept for a long time?" After tidying up briefly and seeing them move aside, I slowly got out of bed.
Three pairs of eyes looked at her for a while, and Yuan Fang explained, "Yes, it's almost seven o'clock now. If you don't get up soon, there won't be any food left."
Luo Yin nodded, her gaze lingering on the lunchbox beside her.
"This is what we brought back for you; it's still warm."
Luo Yin thanked her three older sisters and said that she was going to get some water and would take theirs with her.
Outside the sleeper car, there were fewer people, and there were hardly any people all the way to the water room.
As darkness fell outside, Luo Yin put down her teacup and washed her face with water to clear her head.
There was a 'click' from next door, and someone came out.
The person who came in was backlit, but his muscular physique was exceptionally conspicuous.
Loin could clearly see the water droplets sliding down the surface and flowing into the depths;
Dark-skinned, muscular man. Luo Yin paused for several seconds, thinking, "Wait, why isn't this person wearing clothes?"
She zoomed in and saw a hand holding a basin of water, and a face that was both beautiful and indifferent.
Huo Sen secretly washed himself, but was discovered as soon as he opened the door.
The old man, dressed in a vest, shorts, and slippers, was too embarrassed to move.
Seeing that the girl was completely shameless and had been staring at him for so long, Huo Sen's face was burning red.
"Ahem, I'll go get some water."
Finally realizing what was happening, Luo Yin looked away.
She stayed in the washroom for a full ten minutes, listening carefully until she heard no sound, before quietly going back inside.
Only when he heard the familiar footsteps did Hosen, who was lying on his side, feel at ease.
He remained hidden in the night, his eyes as resolute as ever.
After eating and drinking her fill, Luo Yin quickly adapted. She would occasionally stroll out and chat with Brother Xia along the way.
Several days later, they arrived at this location.
Taizhou, an ordinary coastal area at the southernmost tip of my country.
As soon as the group got off the bus, they felt the warm sea breeze. Fortunately, they had changed into summer clothes. The group split into two teams, with people in front and behind to make arrangements. Luo Yin followed the team and quickly got into a private car and left.
The bus drove into the distance, and she stared at the unfamiliar surroundings for a long time.
Everyone who came to the south for the first time on a business trip was chattering away with great interest.
The heavyweights in front seemed to be talking about something, and Luo Yin even heard Elder Xia's familiar voice.
I wonder if this trip will go smoothly?
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a very unfamiliar voice. She glanced at him and realized it was him.
Everyone present had changed into simple summer clothes, except for this person who wore long sleeves and trousers and had long, loose hair.
"Aren't you hot? It'll definitely be hot outside later, look at the temperature!"
She pointed to the bright sun outside, then pointed to him.
Ganda Gyatso gripped his bag tightly, his body stiffening as he didn't know what to do.
He was very uncomfortable and unaccustomed to this situation, but he had no choice but to agree to his uncle's request to come out for three years.
My hat is broken!
His tone was aggrieved and pitiful.
There was still a hint of anger and resentment; his hat hadn't been properly protected.
Luo Yin subconsciously glanced at the messy hair several times.
Remembering what Brother Xia said, this person seemed to be from the Tibetan region, "I have a comb and a hair tie here, you can tie it up first and then go outside to buy a hat, it's very inconvenient for you like this."
Ganda silently loosened his handbag and looked around warily.
"It's alright, everyone in this car is one of our own, don't worry, it won't get stolen."
The boy softened his attitude, thanked her, and began to comb his hair; those who overheard breathed a sigh of relief, finally relieved that they didn't have to worry. Heaven knows how much they wanted to say something, but it wasn't like no one had spoken up before.
The kid had a look on his face that said, "Who are you? Don't even think about getting close to me." They all fell silent as they were being looked at with suspicion.
Xia nudged her friend, "Hey, look how clever she is, she managed to persuade him so easily."
"But who exactly is it? Have you found out?"
Hosen's face stiffened, and he was unusually speechless.
He silently turned away, closed his eyes, and ignored them.
Xia Mingjiang curled his lip, thinking that this guy was boring and that it was more interesting to talk to young people. He turned to talk to Luo Yin and the others, and Yuan Fang joined in the conversation. The group quickly became familiar with each other.
We traveled all the way to the island, which led directly to the guesthouse.
Everyone got off the bus and looked at the slightly worn three-story building. They took their things and were assigned rooms.
Having given prior notice, everyone quickly settled into their own rooms. The girls' rooms were simple, while the men were quite busy. In the afternoon, the team gathered for their first meeting.
Several unfamiliar faces appeared in the conference room at that moment.
There were a few foreigners in particular who stood out.
"Hey, look, those eyes are blue."
"The man's skin is so fair, he's really tall, and his hair is blonde."
"Yeah, yeah, but what are they doing here?"
Luo Yin looked around curiously and found that the group consisted of unfamiliar people dressed as cadres. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced around the room and noticed that Huo Sen and the others were not inside. Her gaze then swept across the wooden door.
"Comrades who have come from afar, I am Fang Peng, the current director of the Guangdong Provincial Salvage Bureau. I believe you have all heard about the purpose of my visit. I would like to act as an intermediary and introduce the two sides."
He stood up and nodded. "These are Captain James of the Maria and his crew member Hatcher. These are some comrades from the National Archaeological Research Institute of the Flower Country: Elder Xia, Elder Yu, Elder Zhuang, and Elder Hu."
The two looked at each other, having already weighed their options in their minds, but their expressions remained friendly.
The researchers and their colleagues underground looked at each other in bewilderment. When did the Maria become associated with them?
Everyone was unaware and watched in shock and curiosity.
Seeing that the atmosphere was alright, Fang Peng took the opportunity to produce a paper contract. "Regarding the joint cooperation proposed earlier, we brought the specific terms and agreements this time. Once we confirm that everything is correct, we can sign it, and then we can set sail shortly."
Yu, who was appointed as the spokesperson, nodded, took the contract and checked it, finding it to be the same as the previous one. He handed the contract to the group, nodding at Ping He and the person opposite him.
Among Elder Xia, Elder Zhuang, and Elder Hu, Elder Zhuang and Elder Hu were the most surprised, but they quickly realized that the higher-ups were aware of the situation and wanted to reach a cooperation agreement, so they nodded in agreement.
James's team had already had professionals check and verify the information, and they found no problems, so they nodded to him.
Hatcher kept his eyes fixed on the faces of these people, trying to find something.
“No problem, we can sign, but I hope we can set off as soon as possible. The meteorological bureau predicts that there will be a strong tsunami and ocean current in that area within six months.” James stared at everyone seriously.
Fang Peng looked at the several bigwigs, and Yu Jingtong nodded.
"As long as the equipment and technology are fine, we can do it!"
"Looking forward to a pleasant collaboration."
"Everything went smoothly, and the cooperation was pleasant."
The two parties shook hands, and the cooperation was officially established!
A luxurious and imposing oil tanker is sailing in the waters off Nanchuan, with complete equipment around its hull.
Several large cranes and escape boats were ready, and the sails and decks were densely packed with equipment and supplies.
The two wings, originally used for sea fishing, are now occupied by more than a dozen people.
Everyone was talking with their heads down, occasionally gesturing with the instruments and making calculations; at the bow of the ship, four or five soldiers were catching and cleaning fish, and someone nearby saw that the basket was full and took it directly to the kitchen.
The place, originally intended for resting and sunbathing, now smells fishy.
Hatcher's face was a little pale as he looked at the Maria being surrounded by them, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
"Captain, is our decision alright?" He had a feeling that the Maria was about to change hands, or that they were willingly handing it over.
James was also holding back, his gaze fixed on what was behind him.
The familiar red national flag fluttered in the wind, and the densely packed naval soldiers seemed to be staring at him.
If anything happens to the Maria, they will not be able to escape.
"Believe in yourselves; we can only cooperate."
James knew that if they wanted to successfully salvage and take that ship away in the waters off Nanchuan, they could only turn to this country for help; compared to the greed and avarice of other Eastern countries, they were unusually conscientious.
James knew they didn't have much time left. The company sent several emails informing them that three other exploration and salvage vessels were heading their way; however, their previous operations prevented them from going back into the water, and there wouldn't be enough time to return on the return trip.
At that moment, James pictured the small fishing boat in his mind, and thus, the image of China (the land of flowers) appeared in his eyes.
Why not seek cooperation between the two sides, so they can work together?
They provide equipment and ships, and have instruments far more advanced than theirs; China, in turn, must guarantee that once this is over, it will cooperate with them to salvage the underwater treasure, and allow them to take it all away, with the Chinese navy providing security assistance during this period.
James thought it was feasible more and more, especially when he saw the ship full of soldiers behind him.
On long voyages, in unfamiliar seas and countries, even captains from the British Empire sometimes feel apprehensive.
This kind of thing is a matter of underlying strength. No matter how powerful the British Empire was, it knew that it couldn't reach everyone from afar.
Now things are much better. He prays that those people can quickly pinpoint the location and complete the archaeological work as soon as possible, so that their Maria can become famous at home and abroad and shock the world!
"Alright, Hatcher, tell your men to be polite to them; we still need them."
"Now that we've reached an agreement, we need to maintain the proper attitude. Remember, the people of this country are very principled. Anyone who is ungentlemanly and delays my plans shouldn't be going back!"
Hatcher saw him get angry and knew this was his bottom line. "I know, Captain, you've said it many times already."
For a period of time afterward, the two actually got along quite well.
Time flew by, and several days later the group arrived at the reef island in the Nansha District. Based on Yang Anguo's account, Xia Lao and the others quickly pinpointed the location of the sunken ship. Combined with descriptions from James and others, they narrowed down the search area and obtained the latitude and longitude coordinates.
Life at sea was monotonous and dull, but Luo Yin gradually adapted and was full of energy every day.
She followed behind, carrying a notebook and pen like the others, but most people stayed with Blind Chen because the old man insisted that the boat was rocking and he felt uncomfortable.
The old man had a special status, and Xia Ming and Yu Jingtong treated him very politely.
It was at this time that Luo Yin learned that the man who was on par with Elder Xia was actually the director of the National Museum of China. Upon seeing this, she stepped forward and followed him like a guide dog.
But she often complained that Old Man Chen was probably just bored and wanted someone to talk to.
"Let me tell you, staying by my side is the real blessing. Those people up there are going to cause you a lot of trouble."
Lying under the parasol, Old Man Chen sipped his tea leisurely: "Don't say I didn't take care of you. This place is so nice, sheltered from the wind and rain. And those foreigners really know how to enjoy themselves."
Luo Yin leaned closer, already feeling unbearably hot.
She looked at everyone under the sun and felt a silent pang of sympathy; then she looked at the soldiers standing guard and protecting them, and couldn't help but agree that Old Chen was right.
As expected, she couldn't endure hardship. "Indeed!"
She lifted the lid of her teacup and took a sip of iced lemonade, which was a bit too sour.
"This is because life is good; they even have ice on the boat," Blind Chen said enviously.
Loin nodded. This Maria is really great. Its equipment, capacity, and internal facilities are so enviable that it makes one's eyes red.
As if to confirm Chen Suanzi's words, they went into the water for a week in a row without any success.
Old Yang and Chen Ping were so tired that their limbs felt weak, and they wanted to go down, but Old Xia and the others stopped them.
"Let's pause for a moment, see where the problem is, and sort things out before we go back into the water."
Oceanography expert Hu Wenhua has also been keeping busy these days.
The reason he joined was precisely this: although he wasn't an expert in underwater archaeology, he was quite knowledgeable about the dynamics of this marine life. Through his close observation and speculation over the past few days, he arrived at a startling conclusion.
The tsunami crisis, which was supposed to occur six months later, seems to have come earlier than expected.
"So that's why. No wonder we felt the underwater environment was more complex than before when we dived to more than 20 meters."
This time was clearly much more dangerous than the previous underwater adventure.
Hu Wenhua nodded, "According to your reports from several dives, the seabed sediment and silt began to change almost after reaching a depth of 19 meters, which is obviously due to frequent crustal movement."
Old Hu's face was grave. He glanced at the group and added, "And it's very likely to be a raised area, which means that if the shipwreck is located in an active crustal zone, our chances of salvaging it are even smaller."
"Oh no, how could this happen? This is so unlucky!"
"This has obviously made our work more difficult; it's not going to be easy." Old Xia's expression was serious; he knew they were facing a major problem.
Elder Zhuang and Elder Yu were equally stumped, so everyone quickly dispersed, leaving the four elders to discuss the matter.
At that very moment, inside the luxury suite, James pushed open the door with a look of anxiety on his face.
He cursed a few times, then led his men to knock on the door of the person in charge of the Chinese nation.
"Mr. Xia!"
The soldier on guard gestured for them to stop, and then went up to knock on the door himself.
After receiving permission, the group quickly went inside, but the door was not closed.
Old Chen on the deck suddenly stood up, and a gust of sea breeze blew the parasol on his head over his head.
With a loud crash, he managed to dodge in time.
Are you alright?
Luo Yin rushed over and only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he was safe.
"A storm is brewing!"
That night, the sea was far from calm.
The Maria encountered its biggest storm yet.
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