It was no wonder the Tao siblings were so stunned; primarily because Gao Zhuang had just mentioned his ship was nearby, leading them to naturally assume this 'ship' would be something small, like a dinghy. However, upon arriving at the location, they realized there were no small sailboats at all—only a massive vessel.

At first, they hadn't grasped that this large ship was their destination, and they were still scanning the area next to it for a smaller craft. It was only when Gao Zhuang called out and someone immediately lowered a gangway for them to board that the realization dawned, hitting them with a mild sense of reality upheaval.

Of course, Tao Dou, being younger, processed things faster. He snapped out of his daze in an instant, grabbed Gao Zhuang’s thick arm, clinging to him in a desperate manner: "Big Brother, is this ship really yours?"

"Heh heh..."

Gao Zhuang smiled, his silence serving as confirmation, then gestured: "Everyone, come aboard."

"Liu Zi, prepare to set sail. Target: Langqi Island!"

Once on deck, Gao Zhuang's booming order instantly cemented his position as the ship's master. In moments, the crew, without questioning the destination, busied themselves with weighing anchor and setting sail, all working with practiced order.

Just a few minutes later, everyone felt the massive hull slowly pull away from the dock, heading toward Langqi Island. At the same time, Gao Zhuang invited them into the cabin for some rest and tea.

Wang Guan calmly sipped his tea, but Tao Dou was far from relaxed. His eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement, as if he had a thousand questions but didn't know where to begin, fidgeting restlessly.

The feeling was akin to the son of a regular neighbor suddenly becoming stupendously wealthy. As long-time friendly neighbors, they naturally wished the tycoon would help them escape their own predicament, yet they were keenly aware this might be an outrageous hope. They were just neighbors; what did his fortune have to do with them?

This internal tug-of-war—hope battling apprehension—left Tao Dou deeply conflicted and hesitant...

In contrast, Tao Li, after her initial shock, remained considerably calmer. She displayed neither excessive enthusiasm nor deliberate coolness, treating the situation matter-of-factly, which earned her a measure of respect. Tao Dou’s reaction was the norm for the vast majority of ordinary people, and nothing to fault, but Tao Li’s ability to maintain her composure and stick to her principles was genuinely praiseworthy.

Wang Guan continued his analysis while finishing his tea, and soon enough, the news arrived that they had reached Langqi Island.

The large ship eased to a slow stop against the shore. Wang Guan stepped out onto the deck, surveying the island before him. The first thing he noticed was a rustic expanse of wind-formed sand dunes bordered by a forest, standing like a green barrier by the sea. The ground was carpeted with lush, wild young grass, shaded by dense, towering, crisscrossing ancient trees.

The tranquil beach, jagged, peculiar rocks, numerous sea caves, and reefs pocked and scarred by the relentless surf, coupled with the sight of gulls playing in the sky and birds chasing one another, evoked a sense of returning to purity, a full return to nature.

Of course, as an island boasting such scenic beauty, Langqi Island had a distinct ambition: to become an international tourist destination. Even though it wasn't peak season, one could still spot numerous tourists around. However, a thriving tourism industry did not erase the presence of impoverished families on the island.

After landing, led by the Tao siblings, Wang Guan and Gao Zhuang slowly made their way to the Tao family home. It was situated in a relatively remote mountain village, close enough to the sea that in ancient times, they could subsist on fishing for a modest living. The problem was that modern sea fishing had developed massively, now dominated by large-scale corporate operations.

Small, independent families simply couldn't compete with massive companies. Those with resources headed out for deep-sea catches; the less fortunate were stuck netting small fish and shrimp near the coast—barely enough to cover fuel costs. Thus, in the fierce competition, many small-to-medium fishing boat owners had either gone bankrupt or wisely changed professions.

Tao Tao, the father of the Tao siblings, was among those bankrupt owners. This setback had plunged the Tao family from a relatively comfortable modest life right down to the brink of poverty. They weren't officially classified as destitute—it hadn't reached the point where they couldn't put food on the table—but they certainly had no spare money either.

It was a life of meager means: not quite despair-inducing, yet offering no clear path toward hope, leaving them adrift.

"Dad, we're back."

But that was the past. Now, stepping back into the village, Tao Dou felt his stride was incredibly light, bearing an almost uncontainable joy. Especially upon reaching the front door and seeing the dilapidated ancestral home, he suddenly found the ruined structure deeply endearing. The worse it looked, the better; how else could they showcase how pitiable their family was?

Thinking this, Tao Dou called out even more cheerfully: "Dad, come out quickly! We have guests!"

"What guests? Debt collectors?"

After a long pause, a rather aged voice drifted from the dilapidated house, and someone slowly shuffled out. He walked with a slight stagger, his hair mostly white, his face a roadmap of sallow wrinkles, his whole bearing radiating the imminence of final rest.

"Dad, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Tao Dou was slightly annoyed and quickly gestured: "Dad, look who's here!"

"Who?" The old man lifted his head slightly.

Gao Zhuang stood outside the door, holding two large bags of gifts he had brought from the ship—fruits, health supplements, and some local specialties. Having traveled extensively by sea, he naturally picked up various presents along the way.

It was these gifts that brought the old man a measure of reassurance. After all, if they were debt collectors, they certainly wouldn't arrive bearing gifts. The old ways of 'courtesy before coercion' were long gone; now it was outright seizure...

The old man's gaze swept over the gifts, then slowly traveled upward. His clouded eyes were vacant as they settled on Gao Zhuang's face, meeting him with a blank expression; he clearly couldn't recall who Gao Zhuang was.

"Uncle Tao, you... how did you come to look like this?"

Gao Zhuang stepped forward softly, a trace of sadness in his voice: "Uncle Tao, it's me, Xiao Gao. Don't you remember me? Back at the (Hucheng) Fishery Company, you were the one who taught me how to sail."

"Xiao Gao? (Hucheng)..." Tao Tao paused, a flicker of recollection in his eyes. But after thinking hard for a long moment, while he remembered the (Hucheng) Fishery Company, his memory of Gao Zhuang remained hazy.

"Big Brother Gao, please don't take offense,"

At this point, Tao Dou quickly interjected: "A few years ago, Dad drank himself into a stupor almost every day, and with his age, his memory got much worse. Forget an apprentice from ten years ago; sometimes he doesn't even remember me, his own son..."

"Hmph."

Hearing this, Tao Tao was certainly a little annoyed but made no move to argue, seeming to tacitly accept the statement. After all, he had indeed taken on many apprentices at the (Hucheng) Fishery Company back then. But over time, he genuinely couldn't recall them all. It was rather embarrassing now to have an apprentice visit and not recall his name.

Just then, Tao Li noticed her father's discomfort and immediately stepped in: "Let's go inside and talk, Big Brother Gao."

"Yes, yes, Big Brother Gao, please come in." Tao Dou eagerly ushered them forward: "Big Brother Wang, you too..."

Following Tao Dou’s lead, Wang Guan and Gao Zhuang entered the house. Surprisingly, while the exterior looked quite dilapidated, the interior was remarkably clean and tidy, though cramped and sparsely furnished.

Stepping inside, Wang Guan could immediately tell the Tao family’s circumstances were poor, especially in the main room, which featured only one chair and a few low stools, making seating arrangements difficult.

What was called the living room was, in fact, a combination of the kitchen and dining area. One corner housed an array of stoves and tableware, alongside a small round table, serving as the kitchen and dining space. Another corner held a single chair and a few small stools, plus a small screen television, thus completing the living room.

Seeing this arrangement, Gao Zhuang couldn't help but frown, his sympathy evident.

Sympathy was good; the worst would have been indifference...

Tao Dou, who had been keenly watching Gao Zhuang's reaction, nearly burst with delight internally. He quickly pulled over a chair, saying earnestly, "Big Brother Gao, please sit. The environment is humble, please bear with us."

"Mm, thank you." Gao Zhuang nodded, then reached out to help steady Tao Tao, smiling: "Uncle Tao, please sit down and take your time thinking; you'll remember eventually."

In that instant, Tao Dou felt like slapping himself. Knowing Gao Zhuang was his father’s apprentice, he had completely overlooked that point, acting so unfilial—surely leaving a terrible impression?

Realizing this, Tao Dou quickly tried to make amends: "Dad, you and Big Brother Gao chat slowly; I’ll go make some tea..." However, looking around uncertainly, he helplessly asked, "Sister, where did you put the tea leaves?"

This single question clearly demonstrated Tao Dou’s unfamiliarity with his own home situation, and also explained why the house, despite its appearance, was so clean and organized—Tao Li had done all the cleaning. Before Tao Li could speak, Gao Zhuang dug into the gifts and handed over a box of high-quality tea: "Use this."

Though Gao Zhuang appeared rough, his mind was quite meticulous; he worried that if Tao Li had said they had no tea, the awkwardness would have deepened. Also, he was considering Wang Guan's palate, afraid that a coarse brew wouldn't suit him.

This thoughtfulness was likely only noticed by Wang Guan and Tao Li, who shared a similar subtlety. Tao Dou, however, didn't overthink it; he carelessly opened the tea box, grabbed a handful of leaves, and dumped them directly into the kettle to boil.

Gao Zhuang didn't correct him. Instead, he turned back to his host: "Uncle Tao, how is your health?"

"...It's alright."

A faint smile touched Tao Tao's face, and the air of his approaching end seemed to lessen slightly. Over these past few years, he had come to understand the fickleness of human kindness and the chill of the world. He knew the true state of affairs at home, and he understood that visitors who came calling under these conditions must possess genuine sincerity.

Even though he couldn't quite recall Gao Zhuang, Tao Tao felt his spirits lift, and he naturally offered a warm reception...