After breakfast, Xie Baolian went to handle the discharge procedures, while Murong Yanran helped Li Haochen pack his luggage.
Since Li Haochen didn't need to pay any fees, the discharge process was very quick, completed in less than five minutes. Returning to the ward, Murong Yanran had also finished packing. There wasn't much luggage, just two sets of clothes, and most of the rest were the snacks bought the previous night.
Xie Baolian took out a few green pomelo leaves from her pocket and handed them to Li Haochen, saying sternly, "Put these two pomelo leaves in your pocket. You can only take them out when you get home, understand?"
Li Haochen nodded earnestly, carefully placing the pomelo leaves into his pocket.
Although there was no scientific basis for such things, it was still important to maintain a sense of reverence. After all, there were too many coincidences in the world that made one think of supernatural explanations.
Xie Baolian sprinkled some rice, a few coins, and a few candies on the bed, then pulled Li Haochen out of the ward, repeatedly instructing, "Haochen, don't look back once you're out this door. Keep walking until you're out of the hospital."
Li Haochen wanted to help carry things but was refused by the two women. As they entered the elevator, Xie Baolian continued to sprinkle rice, money, and candy in the corner, murmuring to herself.
Upon reaching the hospital entrance, Xie Baolian smiled, "All ill fortune gone, returning home healthy."
"Let's go, we're going home."
Murong Yanran hailed a taxi, heading directly for Zhoushan Pier.
Arriving at the pier, Li Haochen went to the management office, inquired, and was led by a security guard to find his Starry Night.
"Mr. Li, our boss said that this berth will be your exclusive spot from now on, free of charge, forever."
"Uh..." Li Haochen was completely bewildered, unable to understand. "Please thank your boss for me!"
Carrying their belongings onto the boat, the two women went to clean the cabin, while Li Haochen inspected the vessel. The moment he opened the live well, he saw that the sea bream were still lively and kicking, and Li Haochen was overjoyed, "I can't believe they're okay, that's great! These fish are worth at least eight to ten thousand, hehe."
When he opened the icebox, a foul stench filled the air, almost suffocating Li Haochen. The ice had already melted, and the dozens of boxes of Antarctic shrimp had begun to rot and stink. He had to grab a large bag and wrap them all up securely. As he emerged, he saw Murong Yanran and the others heading down from the boat, "Yanran, Mom, where are you going?"
"Everything in the refrigerator has gone bad. We're taking it to throw away and will take a taxi to the market to buy some fresh ones."
"Uh, then buy a lot. The voyage back will be quite long, and we'll need to cook several meals at sea. Also, buy a few bottles of beer and peanuts, and be careful."
"Don't worry..."
Murong Yanran and the others left without looking back, waving goodbye.
Li Haochen took the rotting Antarctic shrimp into his spatial dimension and threw them into the sea to feed the fish. He then looked at the Chinese bayberries and mangosteens under the coconut trees, shaking his head with a wry smile.
"What a shame, such good things, all rotten."
After throwing these into the sea to feed the fish, Li Haochen emerged from the spatial dimension and began washing his beloved boat with a hose and a rag.
More than an hour later, the Starry Night looked brand new, shining brilliantly under the sunlight. Li Haochen nodded in satisfaction.
Seeing that the two women had not yet returned, Li Haochen went out of the pier and bought some fishing bait at a nearby tackle shop. He also bought two sets of sun protection gear, as he couldn't bear for the two fair and tender beauties to get sunburnt or tanned.
Upon returning to the pier, he encountered Murong Yanran and the others who had just returned from buying groceries. He didn't know where they had borrowed a cart from, but it was piled high with goods, like a small mountain, which made Li Haochen's mouth twitch.
"Are you two planning to live on the boat for thirty to fifty days?" Li Haochen quickly stepped forward and took the cart.
Looking at the mountain of food, the two women also felt a bit regretful, smiling sheepishly, "It just kept growing as we bought more, hehe!"
It took half an hour to move all the food onto the boat and store it properly, which showed how much there was, leaving Li Haochen exhausted, his tongue hanging out.
Xie Baolian returned the cart, and when she came back, she had an extra pack of Huazi cigarettes. Seeing that everything was ready and preparing to set sail, two security guards from the management office approached, holding a roll of firecrackers that sounded ten thousand times. "Mr. Li, this is our local custom, for a smooth and safe journey."
The firecrackers extended from the boat for more than ten meters. As they were lit, they crackled incessantly. After a few minutes, they ended with a loud explosion. Truth be told, the moment the firecrackers went off, Li Haochen felt a change in his whole being, though he wasn't sure if it was psychological.
Before Li Haochen could say anything, Murong Yanran walked over with two red envelopes and two packs of Huazi cigarettes. "Uncle, this is also a custom from our hometown, wishing everyone good health and smooth sailing."
The two security guards gladly accepted. "Mr. Li, have a safe voyage, and welcome back to Zhoushan."
On the boat, Li Haochen pinched Murong Yanran's cheek. "You're still the thoughtful one. Otherwise, we would have been impolite."
Xie Baolian was also very pleased with Murong Yanran's actions.
"Let's go, we're going home!"
"Home!"
Li Haochen pretended to pick up the walkie-talkie and said loudly and with a laugh to Murong Yanran and Xie Baolian, "Sailor Yanran, Sailor Xie Baolian, the Starry Night is heading home!"
"Captain Li Haochen, departure."
With a "beep" of the long horn, the Starry Night slowly set sail, its speed increasing, breaking through the waves and chasing the sun. Zhoushan Pier gradually became a small black dot. Li Haochen looked back in the direction of Zhoushan and shouted, "Zhoushan, goodbye!"
More than ten minutes later, Murong Yanran and Xie Baolian, wearing fishing hats, walked out of the cabin, laughing heartily.
"Where are you two going?"
"For a tan! With such good weather, it would be a waste not to soak up some sun, hehe!"
"Uh, be careful not to turn into a charcoal."
"Don't you know about sunscreen?"
"Yanran, don't mind him. Come on, let's go sunbathe, haha!"
The two women walked onto the deck and lay down on the small sloping panel below the cockpit, having evenly applied sunscreen to all their exposed skin. They lay there basking in the sun, their expressions showing their enjoyment.
However, after basking for only about ten minutes, they ran back into the cabin.
"Why didn't you sunbathe longer?"
"Still sunbathe? My bottom is practically cooked," Xie Baolian complained.
"Uh, then next time I'll buy two beach chairs for the boat."
Xie Baolian's eyes lit up at this suggestion. "Hahaha, that's a great idea. Remember that, we'll buy them when we get back."
It was getting late, approaching noon. Xie Baolian went down to the kitchen to prepare lunch, but Murong Yanran was shooed upstairs by Xie Baolian when she wanted to go down.
With nothing to do, Murong Yanran went over to Li Haochen, looking around and touching things with curiosity.
"Do you want to try driving?"