"Captain Beidou isn't here? This..."
Kokomi couldn't help but feel anxious. Her original plan was that if Captain Beidou's "Cruz" fleet was docked nearby, she could purchase a batch of food to tide them over temporarily.
But Captain Beidou had already returned to Liyue. How much food could this lone merchant ship possibly have in reserve?
"First Mate, excuse me, but how much food do you have left on board?"
Hoping for a stroke of luck, Kokomi still voiced her question.
"So Miss Kokomi is here to buy food? We don't have a lot of provisions on board, but given your friendship with Big Sister Beidou, we can certainly spare some for you!"
The First Mate nodded. Their "Cruz" fleet had always maintained friendly trade with Watatsumi Island, and they had to show some respect.
"Oh? How much can you spare? To be frank, Watatsumi Island is in great need of food, and we're willing to discuss prices."
"We should have about 1000 jin of grain stored in the hold. I can discuss it with the captain, and we can likely spare about 600 jin for Miss Kokomi..."
The First Mate frowned in thought, considering the ship's crew's daily consumption, and gave an approximate amount.
"Can you spare a bit more? First Mate, Watatsumi Island is willing to pay a higher price!"
Kokomi did some quick calculations and sighed helplessly.
600 jin of grain sounded like a lot, but it was insignificant considering the consumption of thousands of soldiers on the front lines.
If the soldiers were to go hungry, how could they possibly fight?
Although it was a little embarrassing, it concerned the soldiers' livelihoods, and Kokomi still wanted more food.
"This... I can't make that decision, Miss Kokomi. Perhaps you should speak directly with our captain?"
The First Mate looked troubled. He patted his large belly, which protruded from his clothes, worrying that if he made an unauthorized decision, the captain might have him strung up.
Their ship's captain was no pushover and absolutely detested his subordinates making decisions without permission.
"Very well, please trouble the First Mate to introduce us."
Kokomi nodded. It was best to negotiate directly with the captain to secure as much food as possible.
The First Mate nodded and led the two towards the captain's cabin.
"Captain, Miss Kokomi of Watatsumi Island wishes to discuss an important matter with you!"
The First Mate knocked on the captain's cabin door.
"Come in!"
A groggy voice called out from the captain's cabin.
The voice was deep, and Feng Yi thought it sounded somewhat familiar.
"Miss Kokomi, please come in."
The First Mate, quite gentlemanly, opened the cabin door for Kokomi and let them in.
"Captain, I've come to discuss..."
Kokomi got straight to the point, informing the captain, who was seated behind a wooden table, about the matter of purchasing food.
However, the captain didn't even look at her. From the moment they entered, his eyes were fixed intently on Feng Yi.
"May I presume to ask, are you Mr. Feng Yi?"
The captain squinted, comparing the man before him to the image he had in his memory.
"And you are?"
Feng Yi did not deny it. He also felt a strong sense of familiarity with the bearded captain, as if he had met him somewhere before.
"It really is Mr. Feng Yi! Hahahaha, it's been a long time, Mr. Feng Yi. I'm Wu Wan. We met on Big Sister Beidou's ship, the Crux, during that party. I even toasted you, have you forgotten?"
Captain Wu Wan suddenly stood up. His movements were so abrupt that his knee hit the table, causing him to sink back into his seat in pain.
"Captain Wu Wan? I remember now. I didn't expect to meet you again here. Why didn't you return to Liyue with Beidou?"
Reminded by Wu Wan, Feng Yi instantly recalled.
When Beidou had hosted that boisterous party on the Crux, Feng Yi had coincidentally been present. He remembered that this scoundrel had kept plying him with drinks back then!
More than half a year had passed since that party.
Thanks to this scoundrel, Feng Yi had almost thrown up that time.
Kokomi, who was originally the main negotiator, suddenly froze, watching Feng Yi chat and laugh with Captain Wu Wan, feeling a sense of unreality.
It seemed that Captain Wu Wan was showing Feng Yi a great deal of respect.
What was going on? What was Feng Yi's identity?
Kokomi couldn't help but stand quietly behind Feng Yi, feeling that with Feng Yi present, this negotiation seemed much less difficult.
"I was also supposed to return to Liyue with Big Sister Beidou, but Big Sister Beidou insisted that someone remain behind to await Mr. Feng Yi. Then I drew the short straw. It seems some things are fated..."
"Speaking of which, Mr. Feng Yi, are you looking for me now because you want to return to Liyue?"
Wu Wan seemed to recall something and then asked.
"It's like this, I've joined Watatsumi Island. For certain reasons, Watatsumi Island is in urgent need of a batch of food. Captain Wu Wan, you see..."
Getting down to business, Feng Yi glanced at Kokomi sitting beside him.
Kokomi nodded at Feng Yi, a hint of a smile in her eyes, as if to say, you're in charge of this negotiation.
"Mr. Feng Yi, don't worry. Big Sister Beidou has instructed that your affairs are the affairs of our 'Cruz' fleet. You don't need to worry about food at all!"
Wu Wan slapped the wooden table and said earnestly.
"We have about 1000 jin of food left on the ship. After deducting the crew's daily consumption, we can give you 800 jin! Shall we stick to our usual trading prices?"
Wu Wan thought for a moment. If they ate sparingly, 200 jin should be enough until Big Sister Beidou returned.
For Feng Yi's sake, he had compressed the entire ship's food and drink consumption to the extreme.
"Thank you very much, Captain Wu Wan. You truly are a kind-hearted and selfless captain!"
Feng Yi smiled. This negotiation was much easier than he had anticipated.
"Mr. Feng Yi, you're too kind. Why don't you and Miss Kokomi stay for dinner before leaving? I'll have the chef prepare something good for you!"
Seeing that Feng Yi was about to leave after concluding the matter, Wu Wan quickly invited him to stay.
"Thank you for your kind offer, Captain Wu Wan. Kokomi and I have important matters to attend to. Next time, next time for sure!"
Feng Yi waved his hand, refusing, and led Kokomi out of the captain's cabin.
"Captain Wu Wan, I'll arrange for soldiers from the resistance to transport the food later..."
As they were about to disembark, Kokomi suddenly turned back and said to Captain Wu Wan.
"Miss Kokomi, for Mr. Feng Yi's sake, I'll see this through. I'll arrange for the crew to deliver the food to Watatsumi Island for you later!"
Wu Wan waved his hand and took on the task, relieving Kokomi of the trouble.
"Thank you again, Captain Wu Wan!"
Kokomi said with a happy smile.
After disembarking from the merchant ship, Kokomi's beautiful eyes kept glancing at Feng Yi, filled with curiosity and gratitude. She owed this entirely to him.