Chapter 5

Wuliangye has this advantage; even if you drink a lot, you won't have a headache the next day. After a hangover, I took a cold shower, and I felt refreshed. The four of us gradually went down to the living room.

The manager had been waiting there. According to yesterday's arrangements, they were to have breakfast at 11 a.m. and then go to the Sanya Port Authority Yacht Club, which had been established for just over a year. There, the group's luxurious yacht, the Ocean Heart, was waiting for them to have fun.

At the yacht club's dock, the manager pointed to a pure white yacht and said, "That's our Ocean Heart!"

Li Ziqiang glanced at it and muttered, "Isn't the Ocean Heart supposed to be blue?" Professor Jian also whispered, "It looks like Big Bird named it."

None of the four mentioned the topic of the wormhole from last night. After all, it was just talk over drinks, and friends wouldn't take it seriously.

After a while, the manager introduced them, saying that the yacht was personally named by their president and had just completed its break-in period. They were the first guests.

The yacht was about 20 meters long, 5 meters wide, and had a draft of about 3 meters. For more specific data, they would need to check the manual. From Sun Defa's perspective, the yacht was designed in the style of European and American leisure yachts.

The flowing lines of the yacht effortlessly brought the Ocean Heart to life, showcasing the fluidity and versatility of the design. The overall design emphasized the volume of the upper deck, and the geometric space design inside and outside highlighted its elegant and distinctive style. The pure white exterior, combined with the attention to detail, such as the large, oval portholes and the large windows in the living room, further bridged the gap with the sea. The external space was ample, equipped with a spacious flybridge and an ideal sea experience platform.

After the four of them took a tour, they all fell in love with it.

The interior was also impressive. It featured a VIP luxury KTV room, a card room equipped with an automatic mahjong table, a fully equipped kitchen with a standing refrigerator and microwave, a refreshing shower room, and a warm and comfortable master bedroom. The spacious living room was designed with double-row facing sofas and a bar table, highlighting its grand and luxurious atmosphere.

Sun Defa was more concerned about the specific data. The manager brought the manual, and he read it carefully.

The imported engine had a power of 440 kW, the auxiliary engine 100 kW, and the imported gearbox. The total length was 18.8 meters, the width 4.73 meters, the draft 2.88 meters, and the total tonnage 42 tons. The draft was 1.2 meters, and the maximum speed could reach 20 knots. It was equipped with an automatic identification system, GPS, a magnetic compass, a very high frequency (VHF) radio, a depth sounder, and other radio communication and navigation equipment. The air conditioning ducts and outlets were set on both sides of the cabin top.

Song Shida came over and said, "Fazi, I remember you have a small yacht driving license?"

Sun Defa, without lifting his head, said, "Yacht licenses are only divided into private and commercial, not by size."

"Is that so? How much does it cost to get one?"

"About 10,000 yuan... in total. What, are you interested?"

"A little. What about this yacht?"

"It won't be less than 8 million yuan."

"Then forget it."

The manager came over and said, "The president said you have excellent skills and can drive it alone. But for your safety, do you need a co-pilot?"

"No, I'll do it myself."

After the two hired female diving instructors boarded the yacht, the manager enthusiastically helped untie the mooring ropes. Sun Defa sounded the horn, indicating that they were leaving the dock. He skillfully put the yacht in reverse, slowly backing away from the berth, then slowly turned the rudder to the right, and the yacht headed out to sea.

Their destination was Wuzhizhou Island. After passing the southern part of Bai Pai, Sun Defa shouted to the guy who was chatting enthusiastically with the female instructors, "Anyone want to learn how to drive a yacht? Guaranteed to teach you!" Unfortunately, no one responded. Sun Defa shouted again, "I'm going to speed up, hold on tight!" He decisively increased the speed, gradually reaching 20 knots, then increased the throttle, eventually reaching 22 knots.

He hummed in satisfaction. As he had guessed, the manufacturer always understated the top speed to reduce the risk of repairs during the warranty period.

The Ocean Heart's potential was fully unleashed. The bow began to rise, cutting through the jade-like sea, leaving a trail of white foam on the blue ocean. The fiberglass hull gave it excellent maneuverability.

Sun Defa was a yacht enthusiast. Among his friends, he was the first to obtain a yacht license. From the license number he obtained from the Shenzhen Maritime Bureau, he should be among the top ten in Shenzhen.

He was originally from Cai Tian Village in Shenzhen. Thanks to the special economic zone, it became an urban village. His shrewd parents built two buildings for rent, so they didn't rely on him for income. After graduating and being assigned to a small state-owned enterprise, he resigned after a couple of years and returned home. After his parents passed away, he and his brother divided the property. He got one building with 36 rental units, and his brother got the other with the same number of units.

Sun Defa thus lived a carefree life. To him, life was all about leisure. Even marriage seemed too much of a hassle. He had girlfriends, but they always changed.

Professor Jian once privately calculated that his daily rental income should exceed 3,000 yuan. When they video chatted, Professor Jian said to Sun Defa, "Fazi, do you know how much you make me lose my drive?" But Sun Defa couldn't afford the yacht he wanted, so he joined a yacht club in Shenzhen and occasionally got to play.

The few people chatting in the living room clearly felt the change in speed. Li Ziqiang became interested and wobbled over.

"Fazi, is this the fastest? How many knots?"

"It's at its limit, 22 knots!"

"Wow, that's fast. I used to read about yachts going 30 or 40 knots, but I never realized how fast it would be. This 22 knots is already so fast!"

Professor Jian and Song Shida were a bit nervous and held onto the sofa, shouting, "Fazi, can you handle it? Safety first!"

The instructor named Xiaolin comforted them, "Don't worry, his driving skills are good." She smiled, used to such reactions. Another instructor named Xiaoli casually walked to the corner of the living room and got a drink from the fridge.

On the rocking yacht, chatting with beautiful young women was more emotional.

When the topic turned to income, Professor Jian said, "Your diving instructor income is not low, higher than my professor's salary." He was clearly impressed by their income.

Song Shida joked, "Even if you were a diving instructor, you wouldn't earn as much as they do. Look at their figures and looks—"

Song Shida's obvious flattery made the two female instructors giggle and say, "We provide private services, specifically for successful people like you."

Professor Jian sighed. Was he considered a successful person? His professor title blocked his path to advancement. His monthly income was less than 4,000 yuan, often making him feel depressed. If it weren't for his friends, he wouldn't have such a wonderful trip.

Friends knew each other well. Song Shida quickly changed the topic and asked Professor Jian, "Wuzhizhou Island is almost there, right? I want to see your swimming prowess. You haven't forgotten, have you?"

Professor Jian, once a member of the university swimming team, said, "How could I? Swimming and cycling are lifelong skills."

Wuzhizhou Island was in the north of Sanya and was still under development, not very crowded. This was why Sun Defa chose this place for their trip. Fewer people meant cleaner water.

Under the guidance of the female instructors, Sun Defa docked the Ocean Heart in a small bay. The water quality was excellent, with a depth of about 4 to 5 meters, perfect for leisure diving.

All four could swim, and Sun Defa and Professor Jian had some basic diving skills. Li Ziqiang and Song Shida were first-timers, so hiring instructors was necessary.

The diving suits on the yacht were American Eagle brand. They didn't see what was so special about them, but the female instructors' eyes showed envy.

Xiaolin marveled, "These are top-of-the-line snorkeling suits; I've only seen them in magazines." Xiaoli added, "They cost over 10,000 yuan and are only available by custom order."

Indeed, the four diving suits fit perfectly. Even Li Ziqiang and Professor Jian's masks were specially designed for nearsighted people. Big Bird was very thoughtful.

With Xiaolin's help, Song Shida easily put on the diving suit and laughed, "I was worried they wouldn't have my size."

The others almost laughed. A nearly 200-kilogram person in a tight diving suit looked like a giant penguin...

Li Ziqiang said, "Boss Song, you really need to lose weight."

Boss Song sighed, "I've tried many times."

Xiaolin and Xiaoli checked their equipment, found no issues, and quickly put on their own diving suits. They gracefully jumped into the sea from the sea experience platform.

Li Ziqiang was a bit uneasy and secretly asked Sun Defa, "Fazi, is the oxygen tank pure oxygen? Could we get oxygen poisoning?"

"Li Ziqiang, that's not an oxygen tank; it's a compressed air tank," Sun Defa reassured him. "Just remember what the instructor said, and it's safer than a swimming pool. Besides, I and Professor Jian are here."

Professor Jian supported Song Shida, and Sun Defa supported Li Ziqiang, carefully helping them into the water. The instructors were there to guide them. Sun Defa watched for a while and saw that they were indeed very professional. He and Professor Jian then jumped in.

Wu Dapeng arrived at the Sanya airport in the evening. The manager of the Special Villa No. 3 met him with the group's dedicated car, a 2003 Maserati Quattroporte, which was grand and prestigious.

On the way, the manager reported on the reception of the four VIPs over the past two days. Wu Dapeng listened carefully and praised him with a straight face, "I am very satisfied with your work."

At the entrance of Special Villa No. 3, Wu Dapeng waved his hand, not letting the manager follow him in. He walked into the living room alone and saw the four guys lying on the sofa, groaning.

They had overestimated their abilities and had a great time. They spent over two hours diving, changing compressed air tanks three times. The strange corals and colorful tropical fish made it hard for first-time divers to stop. Just as they were about to finish, Sun Defa found four high-pressure spear guns in the storage, extending their playtime...

"What's wrong with you guys?" Wu Dapeng asked curiously.

"Your yacht did this," Song Shida lazily waved his hand. "But I'm going to book one tomorrow and get a license. Fazi said it's much easier than a car license."

"Exactly!" Wu Dapeng's cheerful laughter filled the living room. "I've been telling you to enjoy life. Buying an Ocean Heart isn't expensive."

"Damn!" The four didn't have the energy to respond.

They had already asked Sun Defa about the price of yachts. Small yachts ranged from tens of thousands to 2 million yuan, medium-sized yachts were over 2 million yuan, and large yachts were even more expensive. They were also fuel guzzlers, costing 300 yuan per hour, not to mention the significant costs of docking, maintenance, and other expenses.

Song Shida only wanted a small one, costing a few hundred thousand, which he could afford.

At a professional blind massage parlor in Sanya, the five of them lay side by side in the massage room, enduring the torture.

Wu Dapeng had severe cervical spondylosis, and the three-hour flight had made him uncomfortable. He lay there and said, "Ziqiang, how's your shoulder and elbow inflammation?" He used formal titles in front of others.

Li Ziqiang was gritting his teeth, enjoying the massage, and said, "It's getting worse."

Song Shida mainly had a sore bottom and asked the masseur to keep rubbing it. "Ziqiang, I'm not saying this to criticize you, but as a boss, why do you still operate the lathe yourself? It's so tiring; how can your shoulder get better?"

Professor Jian mainly had knee problems and sighed, "Life is tough when you reach middle age."

"Don't be so pessimistic. Our group is about to start a big project in the Philippines. Ziqiang, Shida, Fazi, and Professor Jian, all of you come help me. Staying in the university is boring... what's the point of a title?"

"Where in the Philippines? What use do I have as an agricultural expert?"

"Mindanao Island..."

The usually quiet Sun Defa said, "I've heard that place is very chaotic, a hotbed of Filipino rebel activities." Among the five, he was the shortest but the healthiest. The massage was just for relaxation.

"It's dangerous for others, but we... are safer. I was delayed this time because of negotiations with Filipinos."

Li Ziqiang bluntly said, "Dapeng, let's discuss it after dinner!"

The five fell silent for a moment, and the room was filled with their groans.

They had originally decided to have dinner at a seafood market, just like their first gathering. Li Ziqiang refused, saying, "Dapeng, it's not that I'm picky, but your place is more private. We have important things to discuss."

The others smiled inwardly except for Wu Dapeng.

During dinner, Big Bird showed his talent. He told jokes and made witty remarks, keeping the atmosphere lively and everyone happy. He never let anyone feel left out and managed to convey his thoughts.

It turned out that the group's powerful backers had decided to shift some of their focus to the Philippines. They had secretly made a deal with a political family in Mindanao to invest in the name of developing high-quality mineral resources. What the political family would gain in China or what benefits they would receive was not something he, as an agent, knew. However, he was fully responsible for the Philippine side.

Song Shida said, "Asset transfer? You're being kicked out of the capital and sent to the Philippines to open a branch for them?"

Wu Dapeng smiled bitterly, "Both. The direction for the next few years is uncertain. Their sense of smell has