Chapter 28

Old Master Song was stunned by the spectacle. So many big fish were surrounding them, yet they didn’t seem aggressive at all. Each one even had something in its mouth, as if delivering gifts to little Tianbao.

How incredible! He had often seen little Tianbao attracting birds and small animals, but he never imagined fish would also like his granddaughter so much that they’d bring her little fish as offerings.

Old Master Song went from being afraid to overjoyed. “Tianbao, you really are a lucky baby! Look at these big fish — they all like you!”

Song Tian’er said, “Grandpa, these little fish should be enough to go with your wine, right?”

Oceanic currency…

Suddenly, little Tianbao had a thought — wasn’t this her first bucket of gold coming to her?

She had previously considered making sweet potato products, but since the government was buying up sweet potatoes for emergency reserves, she hadn’t been able to pursue it. She also couldn’t do anything else due to being too young. But now it seemed like she could earn money through marine creatures.

Little Tianbao asked the big rooster telepathically, “At first, you said I couldn’t sell space-produced goods for money, but if I use skills granted by the space to make money, that’s okay, right?”

The big rooster said, “Of course that’s fine. For example, if you gained the world’s top culinary skill from a wish fruit and used it to earn money, that would count as money earned in this era. As long as you’re not selling materials directly from the space, it’s fine.”

That solved it! She could help marine creatures with things they couldn’t do themselves and earn rewards in return.

Little Tianbao declared, “I don’t want the ocean’s currency — I want ambergris. Any sea creature that finds ambergris can come to me for help — whether it’s feeding, revenge on predators, or removing barnacles.”

She then explained to the sea creatures what ambergris was. All the marine animals who heard her immediately sprang into action.

Word quickly spread through the sea: a human girl wanted that stinky stuff in exchange for barnacle removal!

Whales and sea turtles worked the hardest — they were most desperate to get barnacles off. Those things were such a nuisance.

Song Tian’er said, “Grandpa, let’s not eat these fish. Don’t rush to leave yet — some treasures are coming soon.”

Looking into her clear eyes, Old Master Song nodded. He trusted his little Tianbao completely.

He wondered what kind of good fortune she would receive this time — maybe a rare, unseen fish?

To humans, finding ambergris in the sea was like searching for a needle in a haystack — pure luck. But for marine creatures, it wasn’t that difficult. They really could find it.

Soon, orcas, large fish, sea turtles, and others showed up near Song Tian’er’s boat with items in their mouths, waiting for her help.

Some were tangled in fishing nets, some had barnacles to remove, and others had festering wounds. There were all kinds.

Old Master Song had never seen anything like it in his life. “Tianbao, what’s going on?”

“They need help,” Tianbao replied. “Grandpa, help remove the barnacles.”

She handed him a tool for removing barnacles. Old Master Song didn’t even ask where it came from — he was too stunned and dazed.

Grandpa and granddaughter each got to work. Soon, several chunks of ambergris were collected in the cabin. Old Master Song didn’t recognize it and was curious.

“Tianbao, this stuff smells weird and looks strange. What kind of treasure is this? Why are the fish bringing it to you?”

Tian’er answered, “Grandpa, this is precious ambergris. It just smells bad now because it’s wet. Once it dries, it becomes fragrant.”

What? Ambergris?

Anyone who grew up by the sea would know about ambergris. Old Master Song had even heard of someone in the village finding it when he was a child — it sold for a lot of silver.

Now, seeing all the chunks on the boat, he realized it really was ambergris.

“Oh my! Tianbao, are these all real? We’re going to be rich!”

No wonder she said treasures were coming — this was a fortune!

Tian’er explained, “Not all of it is real. Some brought poop, and others found pieces that haven’t fully formed yet. But we’ll keep it all for now and sort it later.”

Some creatures weren’t too bright and brought dung, and some brought incomplete ambergris. But most of it was the real deal.

Old Master Song nodded and worked even harder. This was their lucky day — marine creatures bringing silver to their doorstep!

Grandfather and granddaughter stopped talking and got busy collecting ambergris.

A large circle of sea creatures surrounded them. Each had its head poking out of the water, holding something in its mouth. The sight was absolutely magnificent.

When the Song brothers finally arrived by boat, they were all stunned.

Third brother Song Fugui said, “Oh no! These things are attacking Father and Tianbao!”

Second brother Song Fucai said, “The world’s gone mad! Usually, we catch fish — now they’re coming to catch us!”

Eldest brother Song Fusheng said, “Wait, no… this doesn’t look like an attack. Are those fish holding things in their mouths? I get it! Our Tianbao is a lucky star. They’re bringing her gifts!”

Fourth brother Song Futian had nearly gone crazy with worry for his daughter. From a distance, seeing her safe on deck, he finally relaxed.

“That’s right! Tianbao is our little lucky star — nothing bad will happen to her. Let’s get closer and ask what’s going on.”

The brothers quickly rowed their boat over and called out, “Father! Tianbao! What are you doing?”

“Are the fish giving you gifts?”

Tian’er thought to herself — nothing in this world comes for free; you have to work for it.

She replied, “Uncles, and Dad — I’ll explain later. Just take whatever is in the creatures’ mouths and put it on the boat, then help remove barnacles.”

Huh?

The brothers all looked at each other, confused.

Old Master Song said, “Stop standing around like fools. Don’t you know how to earn money? Just do what Tianbao says. We’ll explain later.”

Tianbao quickly instructed the sea creatures that needed help to line up by the other boat, so they wouldn’t all crowd in one place.

The brothers hurried to help with the barnacle removal. The treated sea creatures spread the word in the ocean:

“Hurry and find whale poop so someone can remove your barnacles!”

Passing ships witnessed the scene and were dumbfounded.

Under the blue sky and white clouds, two large sailboats floated side by side. A huge crowd of marine creatures poked their heads out of the water, forming a line that stretched for miles.

There were big fish, sea turtles, and all kinds of sea animals — as if they were enchanted or trained — quietly surrounding the boats as if waiting for something.

And on the boats, the people seemed to be… fixing the fish?

“Isn’t that the Song family and their little Tianbao?”

“It really is! What’s going on? Why are so many marine creatures surrounding them?”

People were amazed. They had never seen anything like this in their lives — it was truly unbelievable.