"Are you all finished talking? If you are, please leave. This isn't a tavern for your idle chatter," the woman in black, who had been standing by the doorway watching us laugh and talk, finally cut in.

"Hey! You, missy, you're quite a looker, but your mouth sure leaves something to be desired. Don't think just because you're some friend of a 'Xie' you can swagger around in front of Xiong-ye. Let me tell you..." Da Xiong blustered loudly.

Seeing him act like a ruffian, I quickly stopped him, saying, "This is someone else's home. What are you trying to do? Since the lady has asked us to leave, we have no reason to stay. Besides, this beautiful woman just saved one of my friends."

Hearing this, Da Xiong quieted down, though he still stared at the woman in black with wide, childlike eyes.

At that moment, I remembered Xiao Feiyang, so I turned to the woman and asked, "Right, may I go see my friend? If it's convenient, I'd like to take him with us."

The woman in black frowned slightly and asked, "Your friend? Didn't he leave just now?"

I asked in surprise, "Leave? I didn't see him go!"

The woman in black scoffed, "It seems you truly don't understand your friend. He merely disguised himself. After being around you for so long, you still didn't realize it."

With that, the woman in black gestured toward the table and said, "Take a look there, and you'll understand."

At first, I hadn't noticed anything specific on the table, but upon looking closely, I saw a [MASK] lying there.

Da Xiong snatched the [MASK] up first and held it against his face.

Indeed, I saw Xiao Feiyang's face!

It turned out that the taxi driver who had crossed the ocean with us was actually Xie Yuting in disguise!

But this didn't add up. First, for Xie Yuting to impersonate Xiao Feiyang, mimicking his personality so closely, was incredibly difficult. Moreover, the first time I took Xiao Feiyang's taxi, I happened to run into Xie Yuting inside the car. Could there really be two Xie Yutings in the world?

Then, a realization dawned on me, and I immediately understood. It was highly likely that Xie Yuting had released Xiao Feiyang before we boarded the ship and then assumed Xiao Feiyang's identity himself.

If that were the case, I couldn't help but admire Xie Yuting's mimicry skills; the man was truly extraordinary.

And his motive for impersonating Xiao Feiyang was simple: he wanted to trick Andre into taking us to Ruin Island. While he knew of the island's existence, he lacked precise coordinates and could only rely on Andre to guide us there.

What he did on Ruin Island, however, remained a mystery.

"Alright, I've told you everything I can. You can go now," the woman in black urged.

Since she said so, it was inappropriate for us to cling on shamefully. We quickly tidied up the remnants of our stay and stepped out the door.

Once on the street, Da Xiong asked me, "You arrived earlier than us, so you're half a host. Tell us, where are we heading now?"

Just as I was about to answer, [MASK] interjected, "I think we should check the harbor first. Xie Yuting might not have gone far. If we have a chance to intercept him..."

I nodded, deciding that was the plan.

So, we hurried down the dirt road toward the seaside.

The dirt path wasn't long; after about a li, the shimmering sea appeared before our eyes.

In the crescent-shaped harbor anchorage, besides the local fishing boats, there was indeed a high-tonnage merchant vessel.

However, before we even reached the shore, that ship let out a long blast of its horn and set sail.

Da Xiong immediately grew anxious and urgently asked [MASK], "Can you drive a boat?"

[MASK] shook his head. Then Da Xiong looked to Liang Qian, who also shook her head. Finally, Da Xiong looked at me, and then he shook his own head.

I felt resentful. Why the questioning tone for everyone else, but a direct shake of the head for me?

So I said, "Although I can't pilot a boat, I know people who can. And see that largest motorized fishing boat over there? That one belongs to him."

Da Xiong stamped his foot and said regretfully, "Then why didn't you say so sooner?"

I pouted and replied, "Because the old gentleman isn't home."

Da Xiong was speechless for a moment, then sighed, watching the merchant ship gradually disappear. "Fine. This time, we'll let that fellow off easy."

[MASK] and Liang Qian also wore expressions of helplessness.

After a moment, Liang Qian offered a slight smile and said, "Never mind. The scenery by the sea is quite beautiful. I really like it here—quiet, serene, it brings peace to the heart."

I turned to look at her. Bright sunlight bathed her face, the sea breeze caressed her, her hair fluttered, and her smile was captivating.

Fearing my own face would flush, I didn't stare long and told Da Xiong, "You guys must be craving something better than canned food after days on the ship. Come on, I'll take you somewhere."

With that, I led the three of them back toward town, arriving at the doorstep of Mayor Rabirovich's house.

Checking my phone, it was exactly twelve-ten, lunchtime.

Thinking about it, bringing so many Chinese people back from that trip—it was quite a harvest...

Before pushing open the courtyard gate, I warned Da Xiong, "This family is extremely hospitable, and the hostess's cooking is first-rate. But the elderly couple is getting on in years, and their son is often away. So, since we are eating and living under their roof, we cannot simply enjoy ourselves. If the hosts have any requests, you must fulfill them, even if it means working like an ox or a horse, understand?"

Da Xiong bristled with anger and pointed at my nose. "What's the meaning of this? Am I the only one freeloading? Why aren't you two working like oxen and horses? Why only target me? This is so unfair! We live in a new socialist society now; how can you treat us poor peasants like this?"

Seeing him dredging up old issues, I sighed, pushed the door open, and walked in, muttering, "I thought your awareness was high, but now you're negotiating with me... Alas... People rely on their own conscience."

Da Xiong looked wronged and muttered nonsensically, "I... How am I not conscious? Hey? Wait, don't walk away, finish what you were saying."

I ignored him. [MASK] chuckled, clapped Da Xiong on the shoulder, and said, "Xiao Chuan means you should cut back on the weight a bit; he's doing it for your own good." Then he followed me inside.

Finally, Da Xiong looked at Liang Qian, feigning tears, and grabbed her arm, saying, "Look at them, they always bully me! Is it a crime that I'm a bit more generously built, tall and majestic?"

Liang Qian slapped his hand away—his 'salty pig hand'—thought for a moment, and said, "You..."

Da Xiong looked at Liang Qian with hopeful eyes, expecting her to speak a word of justice, but after struggling internally for a long time, Liang Qian finally said, "Keep going! You can do it!"

Da Xiong froze, dumbfounded, watching Liang Qian follow us into the courtyard.

After a long moment, he shouted from behind, "Hey! Don't be like that! Save some food for me, hey!"

Da Xiong followed us into the courtyard, and the first thing he saw were the grapes growing against the distant wall.

Then his mischievous streak surfaced. Seizing the moment when we weren't paying attention, he swallowed, crept toward the trellis, and tiptoed under it.

In reality, I had seen it all long ago but had no intention of stopping him.

Da Xiong reached under the trellis, grinned wickedly, picked two grapes, and popped them into his mouth.

Then I heard a Pah! and Da Xiong burst out cursing, "What kind of grapes are these? So sour! Can you even eat this?"

I cursed back, "Hey, there's an old saying: a thief never leaves empty-handed. They might be a bit tart, but pick a few more. Have one before bed tonight; I guarantee it works better than coffee."

Da Xiong spat out a few more mouthfuls and said, "I'm not picking anymore. Let's eat lunch first; good food and plenty of it are waiting for us."

He then took the lead, pushing open the door to the main hall.

Then I heard him say, "Hello, Grandma. I'm Nie Chuan's friend. I've come to freeload a meal, and maybe a bed for the night too. What do you think?"

Da Xiong looked wronged, and muttered nonsensically, "I... How am I not conscious? Hey? Wait, don't walk away, finish what you were saying."

I ignored him, while [MASK] chuckled, patted Da Xiong on the shoulder, and said, "Xiao Chuan means you should cut back on the weight a bit; he's doing it for your own good." Then he followed me inside.

Finally, Da Xiong looked at Liang Qian, feigning tears, and grabbed her arm, saying, "Look at them, they always bully me! Is it a crime that I'm a bit more generously built, tall and majestic?"

Liang Qian slapped his hand away—his 'salty pig hand'—thought for a moment, and said, "You..."

Da Xiong looked at Liang Qian with hopeful eyes, expecting her to speak a word of justice, but after struggling internally for a long time, Liang Qian finally said, "Keep going! You can do it!"

Da Xiong froze, dumbfounded, watching Liang Qian follow us into the courtyard.

After a long moment, he shouted from behind, "Hey! Don't be like that! Save some food for me, hey!"

Da Xiong followed us into the courtyard, and the first thing he saw were the grapes growing against the distant wall.

Then his mischievous streak surfaced. Seizing the moment when we weren't paying attention, he swallowed, crept toward the trellis, and tiptoed under it.

In reality, I had seen it all long ago but had no intention of stopping him.

Da Xiong reached under the trellis, grinned wickedly, picked two grapes, and popped them into his mouth.

Then I heard a Pah! and Da Xiong burst out cursing, "What kind of grapes are these? So sour! Can you even eat this?"

I cursed back, "Hey, there's an old saying: a thief never leaves empty-handed. They might be a bit tart, but pick a few more. Have one before bed tonight; I guarantee it works better than coffee."

Da Xiong spat out a few more mouthfuls and said, "I'm not picking anymore. Let's eat lunch first; good food and plenty of it are waiting for us."

He then took the lead, pushing open the door to the main hall.

Then I heard him say, "Hello, Grandma. I'm Nie Chuan's friend. I've come to freeload a meal, and maybe a bed for the night too. What do you think?"