Chapter 3: Work Points Buy Foresight

The morning mist over North Reef clung to the jagged coastline like a wet, cold shroud, refusing to lift. Zhao Shunfa's cigarette had burned down to his fingertips, the glowing ember scorching his rough skin, yet he didn’t even flinch. It was as if pain no longer registered. In the fading night, the light of the research station on the hill flickered, and the silhouette of the marine ecologist inside looked like a ghost looming through the glass. Now, Zhao Shunfa moved with purpose, clutching several sticky notes with names scrawled on them, his heavy footsteps echoing on the wet stone path as he cut straight toward the dock warehouse. Puddles on the flagstones reflected his distorted face, a cold, calculated smile tugging at his lips. In his mind, he was plotting how to use his meager administrative power to crush Lin Xi’s “rebellious” spark before it could bloom. He muttered under his breath, the sound so low it slithered into the ears like a viper’s hiss, making the air feel thick with the stench of rotting wood and sea brine. For Zhao Shunfa, any variable that might shift the balance of power in North Reef had to be erased before it could touch his control. He smoothed the collar of his yellowing shirt, the buttons straining against his flesh as his pace quickened. His leather shoes slapped against the puddles, a rhythmic thud-thud-thud that sounded like the ticking of a countdown clock, striking the fragile nerves of this isolated village.

On the dawn dock, the catch lay in heaps, reeking of salt and brine mixed with diesel and rust. Lin Xi crouched beside a pile of silver-scaled fish, her expression cold and focused. She was no ordinary fisherwoman; deep in the bottom of her eyes lay a near-ice rationality, as if she could see through the flow of the tides, or even the folds of time itself. Beside her, old captain Chen Haisheng rubbed a freshly gutted yellow croaker with his large, rough hands, his thumb tracing the scales. He frowned, marveling at how much firmer the flesh was than in previous years, a premonition of trouble tightening his brow. Lin Xi didn’t respond to his murmurs. Instead, she instantly pulled data on the tides and currents for the next seventy-two hours from her mental archive. The numbers flashed behind her retina like green code, pointing precisely to a fish aggregation point where currents had abnormally gathered after yesterday’s storm. It was this foresight that had allowed her to command the fleet to avoid the danger zones and intercept the high-yield schools with surgical precision. This "excess" catch wasn’t just hope for survival; it was a bargaining chip powerful enough to change fate. She took a deep breath, inhaling the mix of damp sea air and pungent diesel. The sea wind brushed through her hair. She knew the real test was only just beginning.

Lin Xi hauled the last basket of silver fish onto the scale at the village committee warehouse. Zhao Shunfa was already waiting in the shadows, his gaze sharp as a blade, cigarette ash falling from his lips to sizzle on the wooden floor. He glanced at the swinging scale, a sneer curling his lips, and casually pulled a yellowed ledger from his pocket. He pressed his thumb hard into the paper, leaving a deep red print. Lin Xi stood nearby, her fingers tightening on the basket’s edge, nails digging into her palms. A cold laugh echoed in her heart. She knew exactly what Zhao Shunfa was up to. The village party secretary had long since become the white glove for a smuggling ring. Any catch that exceeded the norm would fall into his clutches—either bought out at a lowball price or confiscated under the guise of "speculative trading." The wind whipped up scraps of paper on the ground—remnants of letters shredded last night—looking pitifully ironic in the dim light, like crushed hopes. Lin Xi didn’t flinch. She looked Zhao Shunfa dead in the eyes. Her gaze was clear yet deep, like a still pond concealing a vortex capable of swallowing everything. She knew that taking this step meant there was no turning back.

Zhao Shunfa turned the pages of his ledger slowly, his voice raspy like sandpaper scraping wood, each word grating with abrasive intent. He pointed at Lin Xi’s full baskets of catch, his face written with disdain, spittle flying in the yellowish light.

Zhao Shunfa tapped the table with a pencil stub: "This scale’s off. Cut it in half. I’ll count it as eighty percent of the standard."

Lin Xi rested her finger on the basket rim, looking back coldly: "Secretary Zhao, this is the new scale inspected by the County."

Zhao Shunfa narrowed his eyes, lowering his voice: "You don’t know the rules? This fish came from nowhere. Smells like smuggled goods."

The corner of Lin Xi’s mouth lifted, but her eyes remained cold: "Nowhere? It’s from the deep ocean currents. You wouldn’t understand."

Zhao Shunfa, stung, slammed the ledger onto the desk, shaking a cloud of dust into the air: "Fine, you’re tough! Then we’ll hold it. Wait for the Commune’s directive!"

Lin Xi mentally calculated the market price difference, ignoring his threats, and swiftly activated the Sea Chart Deduction function in her mind. She consumed a portion of her newly earned Fishery Work Credits. A virtual map of the seabed unfolded in her consciousness, blue lines weaving a net. At three hundred meters depth in the near waters, the location of the "Fu'an" wreck—missing for years—finally emerged in clear detail. The coordinates indicated not only un-retrieved silverware but also massive accumulations of unrecorded deep-sea specialties. A glint flashed in Lin Xi’s eyes, her fingers trembling slightly. She understood the root of Zhao Shunfa’s greed and had found the key to counterattack.

Lin Xi set down the catch, her voice calm but firm, breaking the stalemate in the room. The air around them seemed to freeze for a moment.

Lin Xi looked at Zhao Shunfa: "Secretary Zhao, I’m taking this batch to the County Supply and Marketing Cooperative."

Zhao Shunfa’s face shifted instantly, his voice shrill: "Without my signature, you don’t think you can leave the village?"

Lin Xi gave a faint, chilling laugh: "Then why don’t you ask who is more afraid of having their work credit accounts audited?"

Zhao Shunfa froze, a flash of malice in his eyes, his fingers drumming involuntarily on the table as he forced down his anger: "Fine, go. But I’m watching your back."

Lin Xi nodded, turned, and left, her back straight as a gun barrel. Zhao Shunfa watched her go, a wave of cold dread washing over him. He realized that this seemingly fragile girl held far more power than just fish.

The moment Lin Xi crossed the village entrance, two battered tractors cut off her path, their wheels grinding刺耳ly over the gravel. Several thugs with vicious faces jumped off, the "legs" Zhao Shunfa usually kept around. They blocked the middle of the road, smiling without warmth as they tried to snatch the documents from Lin Xi’s hands, their fingernails scratching against the paper with a sound that set teeth on edge. Just as things looked dire, a black jeep screeched to a halt at the roadside, tires smoking, doors flying open. Zhou Ye stepped out in a crisp uniform of a demobilized cadre. His eyes were sharp, radiating the distinct killing aura of a soldier. His boots hit the ground with firm, authoritative thuds, instantly silencing the thugs.

Zhou Ye looked at the thugs, his voice low and questioning: "Who gave you the nerve to intercept cargo publicly?"

The head of the thugs shrank back, murmuring: "Zhou... Comrade Zhou, it’s a misunderstanding. We were just..."

Zhou Ye turned to Lin Xi, his gaze complex: "Lin Xi, do you need help?"

Lin Xi nodded, thanking him briefly: "Thanks. They have someone behind them."

Zhou Ye snorted coldly, looking at the group: "Go tell Zhao Shunfa that back alleys can’t hide filth."

The thugs slinked away, dejected. Zhou Ye didn’t leave; instead, he got into the jeep and silently followed Lin Xi, the low hum of the engine echoing on the empty road.

When they arrived at the County Supply and Marketing Cooperative, it was early afternoon. Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting dappled shadows on the warehouse floor. The old accountant, wearing his reading glasses, was carefully inspecting the fish Lin Xi brought and the few boxes of silver shards salvaged from the wreck, his brow furrowed. He noticed that some deep-sea fish had special marking traces, inconsistent with common near-shore fishing methods. His face grew serious, and the pen in his hand hovered in the air.

The old accountant took off his glasses and pointed at the fish boxes: "This batch, source unknown. We reject it."

Lin Xi explained calmly: "Director, this is from deep-sea treasure hunting, not fishing."

The old accountant frowned, questioning: "Do you have proof? Without paperwork, it’s illegal."

Lin Xi pulled out her notebook: "It’s recorded on the sea charts. Coordinates are accurate. You’re welcome to verify."

The old accountant paused, then looked at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative Director who had rushed in: "Don’t move anything yet. Wait for others to arrive."

When Wang Jianguo arrived, the atmosphere was tense. He listened to Lin Xi’s statement, his gaze lingering on the few silver artifacts from the wreck for a long time, his fingertips lightly touching the cold metal edges. These artifacts were valuable, and Lin Xi’s ability to locate them precisely suggested she had strong backing. Wang Jianguo looked composed on the outside, but inside, his heart was churning. He realized this wasn’t just a transaction; it was an opportunity.

Wang Jianguo tapped the table, testing the waters: "Miss Lin, the data you’re presenting... if it’s true..."

Lin Xi looked him straight in the eyes: "I can predict the weather for the next seven days. Do you trust me?"

Wang Jianguo was stunned, his mind reeling, unable to refute her. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.

Wang Jianguo took a deep breath, struggling to form the words: "This case... needs to be reported to the Province."

At that moment, Zhao Shunfa’s loud voice came from outside. He had trailed them here and was shouting rumors from the doorway, claiming Lin Xi was colluding with overseas forces to smuggle sea goods, trying to sabotage the deal, spitting as he yelled.

Zhao Shunfa shouted from outside: "Lin Xi! Smuggler! Stop right there!"

Wang Jianguo frowned, looking at Lin Xi: "You know the guy outside?"

Lin Xi sneered, her voice quiet but clear: "Know him well. He’s the one who fears me auditing his books the most."

Wang Jianguo nodded, signaling to Zhou Ye to handle it.

Zhou Ye stepped outside and threw the evidence of Zhao Shunfa’s long-standing embezzlement of work credits and hidden smuggled goods in his face. The papers flew through the air, and the situation reversed instantly. Zhao Shunfa’s face went pale, his whole body trembling, unable to form a word, his legs so weak he could barely stand.

Wang Jianguo returned inside, watching the terrified Zhao Shunfa being led away. He looked at Lin Xi and finally made his decision.

Wang Jianguo slapped the table: "We’ll buy this batch at a high price. Also, that weather data of yours... let me take a look?"

Lin Xi handed over her notebook. The data was so precise it was scandalous. After reviewing it, Wang Jianguo’s eyes were filled with shock. He finally understood why Zhao Shunfa was so afraid.

The deal was struck. Lin Xi got her first windfall; the thick stack of banknotes crackled in her hand, like the knock of fate at the door. On the way back, the weather turned, a thunderstorm approaching. Lin Xi watched the rolling black clouds on the horizon, mentally reciting the storm data she could predict through tides. In that moment, reality and deduction perfectly aligned. She knew this storm was only the beginning.