Love in the Courtyard: Starting with Engineers

The spring breeze of reform and opening up warmed the southeast coast. In a fishing village on the shore of the East China Sea, Gao Qiqiang stood beside his newly purchased fishing boat, "Qiqiang," gazing at the sparkling sea with eyes full of anticipation.

He bought the fishing boat with a loan, hoping to make a living from the sea. However, he encountered the fishing ban period, and recently the market price of fish has soared, almost tripling.

He was prepared to venture out to sea, hoping that with a few strokes of luck, he could pay off the loan.

"Brother, we can't go out to sea during the sea closure period, and the news lately says that the East China Sea is not peaceful, and Japan is making a lot of noise. We'd better not go." The younger brother, Gao Qisheng, came over with his schoolbag on his back, his face full of worry.

He enjoys watching the news and knows that the current international situation is tense, making going overseas like venturing into a dragon's den or a tiger's lair.

Gao Qiqiang patted his younger brother on the shoulder, grinned, and showed a set of teeth: "Xiao Sheng, you're still too young and don't understand the market."

"The fishing ban is great! Nobody's competing with us for the catch, and with such high prices, we can pay off most of our loan in one trip."

"The bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish! Fortune favors the bold, let's take the risk!"

Before Gao Qisheng could try to dissuade him again, Gao Qiqiang turned and called over crew member Lao Mo: "Lao Mo, get ready, we're setting sail tonight!"

Old Mo was a man of few words, with a cigarette always dangling from his lips.

Years ago, he offended someone and was slashed in an alley. It was Gao Qiqiang who risked his life to save him. From then on, he was convinced of Gao Qiqiang's loyalty and would obey him unconditionally no matter what decision Gao Qiqiang made.

At that moment, he simply nodded, took a deep drag on his cigarette, and amidst the swirling smoke, picked up the fishing net and began to tidy it up, his eyes showing no hesitation whatsoever.

As night fell, Gao Qiqiang quietly steered his fishing boat, "Qiqiang," away from the port and headed towards the depths of the East China Sea.

Gao Qisheng sat in the cabin, his heart pounding with anxiety, but seeing his brother's busy figure, he could only swallow back the words of advice that were about to come out.

As Gao Qiqiang predicted, the sea was exceptionally rich in catches during the fishing ban period.

As soon as the fishing boat reached the nearshore area, it cast its net and pulled it up with a full net of yellow croaker, ribbonfish, and a few rare groupers.

"Haha, I'm rich!"

Looking at the boat full of fish, Gao Qiqiang grinned from ear to ear. "Shengzi, see? I wasn't wrong, was I? We've made a fortune this time!"

Gao Qisheng looked at the catch before him and couldn't help but smile, but the worry in his heart still lingered. "Brother, that's enough for now. Let's hurry back to port; it wouldn't be good if we encountered any danger."

"What's the rush?"

"If there are so many fish in the nearshore waters, there must be even more valuable ones in the deep sea. Let's go a little further in and catch more expensive fish, then we can live a good life!"

After saying that, Gao Qiqiang stepped on the gas, and the fishing boat headed towards the deep sea.

Old Mo remained silent, smoking his cigarette, skillfully manipulating the fishing net, casting and hauling it in time and time again.

As the fishing boats ventured deeper into the water, they caught many valuable catches, such as grouper and wrasse, each of which could fetch a high price.

The cabin was soon overflowing, and Gao Qiqiang's smile grew brighter and brighter, as if he could already see the day when he could pay off the loan and build a new house.

"One last haul, then we'll head back!" Gao Qiqiang personally took the helm and cast the fishing net.

A few minutes later, he shouted a work song and pulled the fishing net with Old Mo.

The fishing net was unusually heavy, and Gao Qiqiang was secretly pleased. "Push harder! Give it your all!"

The fishing net was slowly pulled onto the boat, and sure enough, it was full of valuable catches, including several huge tuna.

"Haha, a successful haul!"

Gao Qiqiang laughed excitedly, patting his younger brother, who was covered in sweat, and said, "Shengzi, we've struck it rich this time!"

Just then, Gao Qisheng suddenly pointed to the distant sea, his expression changing drastically: "Brother, look! What's that?"

Following his brother's gaze, Gao Qiqiang saw several huge black shadows appearing on the distant sea, rapidly approaching them.

"What is that?" He picked up the binoculars in confusion, took a closer look, and instantly gasped.

Those were several warships flying the Japanese flag, and their decks were covered with soldiers and weapons!

"It's the Japanese fleet!"

Gao Qisheng's voice trembled, "Brother, run!"

Gao Qiqiang also realized what was happening, and his face instantly turned pale.

Without a second thought, he immediately ordered, "Old Mo, turn around and head back at full speed! Quickly!"

Old Mo threw away his cigarette butt, pulled the control lever sharply, and the fishing boat changed course, fleeing towards Chinese waters at top speed.

But the fishing boat was no match for the Japanese destroyers. In just a few minutes, several destroyers caught up and formed an encirclement, trapping the "Qiqiang".

"Stop the ship! Surrender immediately!" the Japanese navy shouted through a loudspeaker, their tone arrogant and fierce.

Gao Qiqiang looked at the destroyers that were surrounding him and knew that escape was hopeless.

He turned to look at his younger brother, his eyes filled with guilt: "Shengzi, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have ignored your advice and brought you here."

Gao Qisheng's face showed no fear, but rather a resolute expression: "Brother, I don't blame you! We are Chinese, even if we die, we cannot surrender to the Japanese! We'll fight them to the death!"

Old Mo clenched his fists, silently walked to Gao Qiqiang's side, looked at him with firm eyes, and waited for his command.

The commander of the Japanese fleet looked at the Chinese fishing boats that refused to surrender, a cruel smile creeping onto his lips: "Since they don't know what's good for them, then let them serve as a sacrifice for our flag!"

He ordered, "Warning fire! If they still don't surrender, sink them!"

A shell landed on the sea next to the fishing boat, creating a huge column of water and splashing the boat with spray.

"Stop the ship and surrender! Otherwise, you will be killed without mercy!" the Japanese navy shouted again.

As Gao Qiqiang watched the destroyer getting closer and closer, a hint of madness flashed in his eyes.

He gripped the control stick tightly and yelled at Lao Mo, "Lao Mo, full speed ahead! Crash it! Even if we die, we'll take someone down with us!"

Without hesitation, Lao Mo stepped on the gas, and the "Qiqiang" fishing boat shot off like an arrow toward the nearest Japanese destroyer.

The Japanese commander, taken aback by the Chinese fishing boat's audacity to ram it, was initially stunned, then flew into a rage: "Baka! You're courting death! Open fire and sink it!"

The destroyer's main guns immediately opened fire, and a shell accurately hit the hull of the "Qiqiang".

Instantly, a violent explosion rang out, flames shot into the sky, the fishing boat was torn to pieces, and Gao Qiqiang, Gao Qisheng, and Lao Mo were engulfed by the raging fire and disappeared into the vast sea.

Just a second before the fishing boat was sunk, Gao Qiqiang used his last bit of strength to press the emergency radio transmitter on the boat.

The intermittent signal traveled across the waves and reached the public channel of the Chinese Navy: "The Japanese...are here! There's a fleet in the East China Sea."

In the command room of the East China Sea Fleet, the communications soldier suddenly received this urgent radio signal, and his expression changed drastically.

He immediately reported: "Commander! We've received an urgent signal from a fishing boat, saying the Japanese are coming, there's a fleet in the East China Sea!"

The commander was startled and immediately ordered, "Immediately locate the source of the signal! Simultaneously adjust the satellites to confirm the position of the Japanese fleet!"

Soon, news of the Japanese fleet sinking the Chinese fishing boat was sent to the world by Li Yu.

In an instant, the whole world knew that China and Japan were about to go to war, and that the Japanese army would fire first.

At this moment, on the East China Sea, the warships of the Chinese fleet started up one after another, the missile launchers slowly rose, and the carrier-based aircraft roared into the sky.

The call for revenge has officially sounded. A long-brewing naval battle has erupted because of a fishing boat.