NOVEL NEXT Chapter 837: Uh... Me?
Zhu Yunque laughed cheerfully after hearing Zhang Yi's words.
"Mr. Zhang, I never expected you to be so reasonable!"
She tilted her head, her sparkling eyes fixed on Zhang Yi.
"My opinion of you has changed quite a bit now. In fact, I'm starting to like you a little."
Su Nuanxi chimed in from the side, "Though you've often done annoying things in the past, this time I have to look at you differently. Not bad!"
Zhang Yi smiled without responding and changed the subject.
"It's getting late. Everyone should go rest!"
He turned and walked away.
A profound glint flashed in Zhang Yi's eyes.
"Come over here if you have something to say."
Lu Dahai followed Zhang Yi outside, where a few people from the lower deck still lingered, including Lu Dahai's two brothers, Rong Lei and Yu Gang.
They had all realized the issue wasn't resolved and stayed behind to demand an explanation from Zhang Yi.
"Mr. Zhang!"
"Mr. Zhang!"
...
Zhang Yi approached them and asked calmly, "Everyone, why haven't you gone back yet? It's freezing out here—can you handle it?"
The sub-zero temperatures were indeed torturous. Unlike Zhang Yi, who wore top-tier cold-resistant gear, they had to endure the chill to fight for their meals.
Lu Dahai spoke up, "Mr. Zhang, the problem isn't solved! Those stowaways are staying—can we at least get more food supplies? Otherwise, it still won't be enough."
The group nodded vigorously in agreement.
Zhang Yi glanced at him and chuckled. "How much reserve food do you think the ship has?"
"We sailed here from the Huaxu Kingdom, a two-month journey. We didn't resupply at Rockflow Island, and now we're heading back immediately."
"You're a fisherman, right? You should know how little provisions are left under these conditions."
Lu Dahai's expression darkened instantly—his experience told him the ship's supplies were dangerously low.
Zhang Yi sighed. "I'm barely managing the ship's resources as it is. I never planned to take all of you back."
"But since I'm kind-hearted, I gritted my teeth and agreed to bring everyone."
"Food distribution must be strictly controlled, or we'll all starve in the end. Do you understand?"
Only then did the lower-deck passengers grasp Zhang Yi's predicament. The fishermen, especially, knew better than anyone the hardships of long voyages.
"Sorry, Mr. Zhang. We've caused you trouble."
"But... I've seen others on the ship eating pretty well!" Yu Gang muttered, then cautiously watched Zhang Yi's reaction.
Zhang Yi replied, "They're crew members—their rations take priority. In any case, there's nothing I can do. Your food is allocated based on the initial passenger count."
He paused, then emphasized heavily:
"It's calculated based on the most reasonable portion for the original number."
"Now that there are twenty-plus stowaways, everyone will have to tough it out. Show some solidarity!"
"Shared hunger is better than letting them die, no?"
A sudden realization dawned on Lu Dahai as he listened.
Zhang Yi patted his shoulder amiably. "Lu Dahai, right? You're a good man. I trust you understand my position."
"Food is limited. Extra mouths mean no easy solutions."
He sighed. "If only we'd controlled the boarding numbers earlier."
"Fewer people would've meant enough to eat."
With that, Zhang Yi turned and vanished into the night, leaving Lu Dahai standing there, deep in thought.
Rong Lei and Yu Gang approached. "Brother Lu, what did Mr. Zhang mean? Did he solve the food problem or not?"
Lu Dahai looked up at his two brothers and slowly said, "Figure it out."
Rong Lei and Yu Gang: "Huh? So is it solved or not?"
Lu Dahai exhaled deeply. "Think. Think harder."
A shadow crossed his gaze. Instinctively, he glanced at the vast, dark icy sea.
The ship felt like an isolated island, its passengers stranded survivors. But food shortages would inevitably spark conflict.
He vaguely sensed Zhang Yi was hinting at something—but missteps could be fatal.
"Let's head back. It's freezing out here." Rong Lei shivered, hugging himself.
Lu Dahai nodded and ushered his brothers toward the lower deck.
Meanwhile, as soon as Zhang Yi returned, Zhu Yunque intercepted him.
"Mr. Zhang, you left in quite a hurry."
Arms crossed, she studied him with a peculiar look.
"What's wrong? Is there still an unresolved issue?" Zhang Yi blinked, smiling.
Zhu Yunque uncrossed her arms. "Come with me. We need to talk about how to handle these late-boarding passengers."
She referred to the stowaways as "late-boarding passengers."
"It was my fault for not consulting you earlier. But now that you've accepted them, we must ensure their needs are met."
"So I hope you'll address their food situation. It's not right to keep the lower-deck passengers hungry."
Zhang Yi looked stunned, pointing at himself.
"Uh... Me?"
"No way, no way! Miss Zhu, you can't be serious."
He waved his hands dismissively.
"Don't tell me you brought them aboard without planning how to feed them?"
He shook his head firmly.
"That's impossible. Someone as sharp as you wouldn't make such a basic mistake. You're joking, right?"
"This isn't funny."
Zhu Yunque froze.
"I..."
Panic flickered across her face.
Truthfully, when she'd helped the stowaways board out of kindness, she hadn't considered their meals—just shoved them into the lower deck to live off the existing passengers.
As a privileged young lady of the Zhu family, when had she ever worried about food and supplies?
Author's Note