282: Chapter 282 Repairing the Fishing Net

"You all must stay safe!"

"Don't worry, honey, I'll be fine!"

"I'll miss you!"

"Me too."

The husbands and wives boarded different vehicles respectively.

The husbands arrived at a Fishing Port filled with the salty smell of the sea breeze; their task was...

To follow an old fisherman to learn basic skills for mending nets and sea fishing, then use their earnings—the seafood they caught or the symbolic "payment" from the Production Team—to prepare a gift for their wives.

The sea breeze carried a salty tang, and the sunlight made the pier scorching hot.

The four men sat on small folding stools, surrounding an old fisherman with dark skin and a face full of wrinkles, learning the most primitive survival skills.

Mending fishing nets.

Lin Han immediately got into the zone.

He sat with his back straight, as if he weren't on a small stool but in front of a director's chair.

The old fisherman slowly demonstrated weaving and knotting; Lin Han's eyes were sharp, and his fingers followed along nimbly, striving to replicate every movement with precision.

"Mr. Lin, you're learning so fast! Your hands are so steady!" The old fisherman couldn't help but give a thumbs up, praising him with a heavy accent.

Lin Han didn't even look up, still focused, and said in a deep voice, "The hands must be steady; the rhythm cannot be broken."

His tone was as certain and persuasive as when he directed actors.

On the other side, Zhao Dongliang's area was already a "disaster scene."

The fishing line seemed to have a mind of its own in his hands, tangling into a messy heap.

"Ouch! Master! Help! Why is this line so shy with strangers? It's tangling all over me! My hand! My hand is being held hostage by it!"

He held up his fingers entwined in fishing line, shouting between laughter and tears.

Beside him, Chen Yu couldn't help but laugh and quickly put down his work to help: "Brother Dongliang, don't pull so hard; it'll only get tighter. You have to do it like this, follow the tension and wind it out..."

Zhao Dongliang finally broke free and let out a long sigh of relief: "Thanks, brother! You're like a real brother to me! Hey, I say..."

He lowered his voice and gestured toward the corner with his chin: "Look at Director Zhou. He's so calm and composed, like he's in a meditative trance. What a level of mastery!"

Zhou Ming sat quietly in a corner, out of place with the surrounding noise.

His movements were neither hurried nor slow, even a bit leisurely, but every knot was tied with precision, exuding a sense of craftsmanship.

His gaze wasn't entirely focused on the net in his hands; he was more like a calm observer.

His eyes occasionally swept over the shimmering sea, the peeling paint on the old fishing boats, and the deep wrinkles etched on the old fisherman's face by time and the sea breeze, as if gathering nourishment for some future movie scene.

"Congratulations on completing the challenge; we can head out to sea now!"

The sea fishing was the highlight.

The small boat sailed toward the blue. As the nets were slowly pulled up, silver fish leaped within, filled with the joy of harvest.

Zhao Dongliang was as excited as a child on his first spring outing, shouting, "Wow! We're rich! My wife will be thrilled! We must have an extra dish tonight!"

He waved frantically at the cameraman following them, yelling at the top of his lungs, "Sisi! Did you see that? Your husband is a provider too! Stick with me, and you'll live the good life!"

In contrast, Lin Han was much more composed. He silently assisted in pulling the net, his eyes scanning the catch like a scanner.

Then he precisely picked out the fattest Grouper and explained succinctly to the camera, "Manning likes it steamed; this one is perfect."

Well, practical and thoughtful.

After returning to shore, it was time to exchange their earned "payment" for gifts.

Chen Yu picked carefully at the market, looking at one shell and then another, finally choosing some rare shells with a lustrous sheen and some lively large shrimp.

He smiled at the camera, his eyes full of love: "Su Su likes these little trinkets; they look good at home. She also loves shrimp, and these are very fresh."

Zhou Ming stopped for a long time in front of a stall filled with hand-carved items, finally settling on a wooden fish pendant with a simple shape and natural texture.

He picked it up, lightly stroking the rough wood grain with his fingertips, as if he could feel the warmth of the craftsman's hand, then exchanged it without hesitation.

This gift, full of natural essence and a unique aesthetic, perfectly matched Xu Wei's temperament.

...

Botanical Garden, Wives' Group.

In stark contrast to the masculinity and coarseness of the fishing village, the Botanical Garden was filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers. The temperature and humidity were just right, full of scent and leisure.

Lu Manning sat upright, elegantly selecting subtle Frangipani and hibiscus. The flower wreath she wove was exquisite and harmonious, with perfectly matched colors.

She smiled and said, "Brother Han isn't allergic to pollen, but he has a steady personality. If the colors are too vibrant, he might be too embarrassed to wear it. This elegant style suits his temperament better and is just right."

As she worked, she looked at the others kindly, exuding the aura of an elder sister.

Li Sisi was a different story. She energetically picked a large pile of extremely bright, high-contrast flowers, her hands moving fast and her mouth never stopping.

"For that guy Zhao Dongliang, I have to get something bright and eye-catching! Preferably with some fragrance to refresh the mind! It'll make his increasingly weathered old face look a bit younger! Hahaha!"

After saying that, she was the first to double over with laughter.

Su Lingyin's cheeks were slightly flushed. With a sweet mood, she carefully selected Anthuriums symbolizing love and Four-leaf clovers implying luck from among the flowers, her movements gentle.

She was a bit indecisive and softly asked Teacher Xu, who had been quiet and focused beside her: "Teacher Xu, do you think using this color as the main flower, paired with these green leaves, would look good with the light blue shirt Chen Yu is wearing today?"

Xu Wei, who had been immersed in her own world, looked up. Her gaze lingered on the flowers in Su Lingyin's hands for a moment, then she pulled a few light purple Forget-me-nots from the pile in front of her and said softly, "Yes, add a bit of this; the layers will be richer, and the colors will complement each other."

Her own wreath was already taking shape, showing a strong sense of design. The choice of materials and color coordination seemed precisely calculated yet appeared entirely natural, like an abstract modern painting standing out among the many wreaths.

Su Lingyin was both surprised and delighted: "Thank you, Teacher Xu! You're amazing!"

Li Sisi also leaned in to see the fun: "Oh, look at how thoughtful our Su Su is! That kid Chen Yu is lucky! Unlike my guy—if I gave him a wreath, he'd probably wear it like a collar!"

Her words brought another round of laughter, and even the corners of Xu Wei's mouth curved into a barely perceptible smile.

Amidst the fragrance, the ladies created while sharing their relaxed moods, their relationships drawing closer unconsciously through the laughter.

At the open-air restaurant by the sea, a gentle breeze blew, dispelling some of the midday heat.

The husbands returned carrying the scent of sunlight and the sea breeze. The wives were already waiting at the dining table, which was filled with local delicacies.

Before Zhao Dongliang even reached the table, his loud voice arrived first: "Wife! Beautiful ladies! We're back! See that? The return of the true beachcombers!"

He was the first to rush over, placing the large bag of still-flailing seafood on the table in front of Li Sisi with a "clatter" like he was presenting a treasure, his face practically screaming "praise me."

"Wife! See that? These are the spoils your husband caught with his own hands! Let's have the kitchen add them tonight!"