HLM – Chapter 950 Blue-Spotted Mackerel

Li Xing’s words drew a murmur from the group. Although most of them weren’t particularly successful, “not bad” was relative—everyone was still doing okay, with most earning at least a five-figure monthly income.

Seeing their expressions, Li Xing laughed loudly: “What the hell is with those looks? Feeling sorry for me? Working on construction isn’t bad at all! I followed a master carpenter and make about eighteen thousand a month.”

“Besides, I’ve thought it through. Once I’ve mastered the craft and saved some money, I’ll apprentice under a master woodcarver and specialize in this path. Sounds pretty good, right?”

Zhou Haojie poured him a cup of tea and said, “Your plan sounds solid. That’s a good path.”

Hou Haibo excitedly said, “Yeah, and I remember, Wang Bo, isn’t there a master woodcarver in your town? That guy from…uh, Yugoslavia?”

“It’s Serbia, actually,” Wang Bo laughed. “Indeed, if Xing thinks it’s feasible, apprenticing with me later won’t be a problem—but you’ll need to improve your English.”

“Besides that, Xing, do you have any other ideas? Old classmates can see if we can help push things along for you,” Fan Dong asked.

Li Xing shook his head. “After joining the military, I focused on physical training and strategic tactics courses, leaving behind all our major courses. Later, I went to Pakistan, then Iraq… I only know how to shoot and survive in the wild. Back home…”

He shook his head again.

Fan Dong clapped his hands. “Those are impressive skills! A few classmates chip in some money, and you could open a real-life CS (combat simulation) base or a Boy Scout-style military training camp—you’d make a killing!”

Li Xing sighed. “I used to work as a mercenary abroad. All that information is controlled in China and recorded in my files. I can’t do that. Even buying a kitchen knife would get the local police calling me in for a chat.”

“That’s really damn frustrating!”

“I’ve thought about doing it, and I’m not short on money. Mercenary pay isn’t high, but I’ve saved up quite a bit—four or five hundred thousand—but I still can’t do it.”

Wang Bo pondered. “Hmm, why don’t you come with me to New Zealand? I have a training ground in my town. I’ve been thinking of setting up a base for tourists. Interested? And if you want to continue woodworking and carving, there are teachers there too.”

“New Zealand?” Li Xing was stunned.

Hou Haibo grinned. “Didn’t I just say? Wang Bo is now the mayor, running a town in New Zealand.”

Li Xing exclaimed in surprise, “Well, well…how should I put this? I’m impressed! You went into politics?”

Wang Bo said, “Not exactly. It’s complicated. I’m basically a landowner there, responding to the New Zealand government’s call and setting up a new town.”

The others didn’t know much about this, so the topic quickly shifted to Wang Bo. Everyone started asking in a jumble:

“How did you manage to get so much land? How did you get to New Zealand?”

“What’s your plan? Climb the political ladder? Mayor, city council, city leader, prime minister?”

“How is the town planned? Any good business opportunities for us?”

Wang Bo took out his phone to show them, but then realized he hadn’t saved the materials on it—leaving him helpless.

As they ate and drank, he made up a story about how he acquired the land: he saved an old foreign man, took care of him in the capital for a while, and inherited his estate.

Then he detailed Sunset Town, including its development plans.

Time flew while hanging out with old classmates. Wang Bo glanced at his watch—it was almost midnight.

He stopped his introduction and clapped his hands. “Alright, I understand old classmates are happy to meet, but let’s call it a day. Let Zhou go to the bridal chamber—the bride must be waiting.”

Zhou Haojie chuckled. “It’s fine. My wife is probably asleep anyway.”

“She may be asleep, but she’ll have to wake up. Newlywed night, wedding chamber, prime time for making babies.”

“We already have a kid. We got married because of pregnancy,” Zhou Haojie said proudly. “This is the dangerous period—I’ve been a monk all this time.”

“Scoundrel!” “Shameless!” “Moral decay!” “Ethics lost!”

A bunch of middle fingers were raised.

It wasn’t yet the holiday season. Classmates would all return to work the next day.

Li Xing found Wang Bo and handed him a cigarette. Wang Bo shook his head. “I don’t smoke. Don’t you know me yet?”

“Heh, I do know you—but politeness is necessary.”

“Why be polite with me? What I said last night was serious. If you can go abroad, come to my place. I need someone like you as an instructor.”

Li Xing lit his cigarette and exhaled smoke. “Haven’t seen each other for years. I’m still a mercenary abroad. Aren’t you worried about trouble? Or maybe I’m just a troublemaker?”

Wang Bo laughed. “This is my turf. What do I have to fear? Most importantly, you knew Zhou was getting married and came to this wedding no matter what. I refuse to believe you’re a disaster.”

Li Xing smiled. “I came back because I’m tired of being abroad. I don’t want to be a mercenary. You never know when you might get stabbed.”

“If I come to your place to be an instructor for combat simulation, that’s fine. I just want stability back home. I don’t have much tying me down in China…just you old classmates.”

Wang Bo hadn’t yet used the training ground, but the battlefield simulation experience was popular in Sunset Town, especially since the training facility had been upgraded to level two—very attractive to tourists.

Usually, Uncle Bing would occasionally serve as instructor, but there wasn’t a full-time instructor. Meeting Li Xing now seemed perfect.

At first, Wang Bo hesitated, but after interacting last night, he realized that although Li Xing had changed since college, he was still a friend worth knowing.

Most importantly, Wang Bo wasn’t worried about Li Xing causing chaos in his town. With the sandbox in hand, Wang Bo was the god of Sunset Town.

They agreed that Wang Bo would have him contact Qingyang and fly back together.

Li Xing needed to arrange a few things—neighbors and some old classmates helped him a lot on this trip back, so he wanted to thank everyone over the holidays.

Wang Bo appreciated this even more.

Back home, Wang Bo’s parents were preparing to go out to sea. Wang Bo checked the weather. “It’s okay these days, but since I’ve finally come back, maybe don’t go?”

His father said, “This time, we’re going to catch big fish. It’s the only chance before the New Year. Of course, you’re coming?”

Wang Bo realized, “Oh…you’re going to catch big mackerel?”

The mackerel is a type of Spanish mackerel, scientifically called the blue-spotted mackerel, with sharp teeth and a preference for schooling.

In this case, nets are ideal, but nearshore fish are sparse. Large mackerel are rare in the schools. Using machines to net them is costly and unprofitable. Old fishermen prefer fishing with hooks.