Chapter 118: The Bridge Over the Sea, East Pole Islands

East Pole Island is not a very large place.

Some say that if you cannot make it to the North or South Pole, you should go to East Pole Island instead.

In promotional terms, East Pole Island is the easternmost island in mainland China. That alone gives it the allure of a destination one must visit at least once in a lifetime.

Strictly speaking, however, there is no true eastern or western pole on Earth. Apart from the North and South Poles, east and west simply form an endless circle.

Yet within the territory of mainland China, East Pole Island is said to be the place where one can witness the first rays of dawn in the new century. That has filled the island with a sense of anticipation.

Of course, East Pole Island is not actually a single island, but a cluster of them. The East Pole Archipelago, or the East Pole Islands, would be a more accurate name.

As Lin Shenlu knew, the East Pole Archipelago belonged to a town called East Pole in Putuo District, Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province. It lay to the east of the Zhoushan Archipelago.

Anyone wishing to visit East Pole Island had to take a boat from the Wugongzhi Wharf at Zhujiajian in Zhoushan.

The East Pole township consisted of 162 islands and reefs. Miaozi Lake Island, Dongfushan Island, Qingbang Island, and Huangxing Island were inhabited, and cruise ships traveled between all four.

According to An Muxi, the friends she had contacted had managed to uncover some information: Su Bao'er’s family had once lived on Miaozi Lake Island. They were local natives, but had moved away many years ago. The local police station would certainly have no way of finding where they had gone.

Regardless, taking Su Bao'er back to her hometown for a look could be considered the fulfillment of her wish.

As for where her family might be now, Lin Shenlu felt that they could only search slowly, one step at a time.

The drive from Lishui to Zhoushan was three hundred and seventy kilometers. Lin Shenlu drove relatively slowly, taking the opportunity to admire the scenery along the way, and the journey took a little over five hours.

As for their destination, East Pole Island, Lin Shenlu was actually filled with anticipation.

A remote island far from the mainland, surrounded by blue seas and skies, dazzling beneath the eastern sun, with sunsets melting into gold and the Milky Way spread across the heavens like a curtain…

What surprised Lin Shenlu most was the Jintang Cross-Sea Bridge on the Yongzhou Expressway.

It was a route that required driving straight ahead for thirty-seven kilometers, with nothing but an endless ocean stretching out on either side.

The driving experience was extraordinarily pleasant.

It was a truly remarkable road: after crossing the sea, it passed through two small islands before finally reaching Zhoushan along the expressway.

Only then did Lin Shenlu realize that Zhoushan was an excellent destination for travel.

Until now, he had never considered Zhoushan one of his travel destinations. But arriving there by car, the delight he felt far exceeded his expectations.

Scattered here and there across the sea, the islands were beautiful enough to belong in a painting.

Even Mount Putuo, reputed to be a sacred Buddhist mountain, and Peach Blossom Island, were both nearby.

If he had not been in such a hurry to reach East Pole Island, Lin Shenlu truly would have liked to stay and explore for several days.

There was also another place he regarded as an ideal destination:

Bird and Flower Island.

It, too, was an extraordinarily beautiful little island suspended upon the sea.

Once he had more free time, Lin Shenlu would certainly find an opportunity to take a journey among the islands, recording all those he explored throughout his life.

…

After arriving in Zhoushan, Lin Shenlu’s final destination was the Wugongzhi Wharf at Zhujiajian.

It had to be said that the scenery along the way through Zhoushan was wonderful. The island was lushly landscaped, with greenery everywhere, giving the entire place a vibrant, vigorous air.

As he continued driving, Lin Shenlu finally saw a mountain scattered with little black-and-white houses. That was the Wugongzhi Wharf, their destination.

The houses had been built along the mountainside in a pleasing, irregular pattern. From a distance, they resembled the Potala Palace.

There truly were not many people traveling to East Pole Island.

Compared with the tourist attractions in other major cities across the country, the crowds here were practically nonexistent.

Perhaps it was only after the island became a filming location for the movie *The Continent* several years ago that East Pole Island entered the public eye.

The next thing to do was contact the police station.

There was no problem for Lin Shenlu and An Muxi; they could simply purchase their tickets and board. But Su Bao'er had no identity card, which made boarding genuinely difficult.

Of course, Lin Shenlu thought they could look for private tour operators nearby. By paying a little more, they might be able to use an unofficial channel.

But considering Su Bao'er’s situation, it would be better to handle matters properly. After all, they had already made contact with the authorities.

While they waited, Lin Shenlu took An Muxi and Su Bao'er to a seafood restaurant nearby.

The seafood was exceptionally fresh.

Stir-fried sea melon seeds, poached shrimp, squid with green peppers, stewed mixed sea fish, and grilled oysters—the flavors were all delicious.

The stewed mixed fish was especially memorable. One of the fish on the plate had no bones at all, and its flesh was as tender as tofu. It practically dissolved on the tongue, without much of the usual fishy taste.

The three of them ate with great pleasure.

After the meal, Lin Shenlu took the other two to the seaside to enjoy the wind.

The sun had already set. The sea breeze had grown stronger, carrying a slight chill, while the sky was steeped in a profound blue.

Photographs taken at that hour seemed to come with a blue filter of their own. Blue stretched endlessly to the horizon, and it was truly beautiful.

When they returned that evening, someone from the police station came to inform them that a special certificate had been issued for Su Bao'er. They could travel to East Pole Island the next day.

…

Their boat was scheduled to depart at eight ten in the morning.

It was the first time Lin Shenlu had ever been on a boat.

An Muxi was in the same position.

As for Su Bao'er… she must have ridden on a boat when she was little, but she had been too young to remember. Otherwise, how could she have left East Pole Island and reached the mainland?

Their tickets had been booked in advance.

When the boat arrived at the wharf, there were not many people in the waiting hall, yet the crowd was still packed tightly together as everyone surged forward. Smiles lit every face, as though they could hardly wait to arrive on East Pole Island.

Lin Shenlu and An Muxi did not show much emotion, but Su Bao'er was somewhat nervous.

She was not foolish. On the contrary, she had more thoughts weighing on her than most.

Ahead lay the home of her childhood—the place where she had once lived.

For all these years, Su Bao'er’s greatest wish had been to find her home, to discover where she had come from.

Yet no one had ever truly helped her.

This time, Lin Shenlu was really taking her home.

Su Bao'er felt somewhat lost.

What was home?

She had never had any idea.

“Come on, Bao'er. We’re boarding.”

“Mm… Lu-wa… thank ya…”

Su Bao'er followed him onto the boat.

There were very few departures for East Pole Island each day—only two, in fact.

Perhaps this was also intended to limit the number of visitors.

The cruise ship was divided into upper, middle, and lower cabins.

Lin Shenlu, An Muxi, and Su Bao'er were in the middle cabin. It offered a view of the scenery outside while being less prone to seasickness.

The upper cabin was indeed more comfortable, but the swaying was stronger there as well.

The lower cabin was steady and caused little dizziness, but the view of the sea was obscured.

Of course, passengers from every cabin could go out onto the deck to admire the view. The boat rocked violently, and the sea wind blew fiercely…

Lin Shenlu had originally imagined blue skies and white clouds, with the sea breeze gently brushing against his cheeks—a scene of pure romance.

An Muxi had imagined the same.

But when the two of them went out onto the deck to take photographs, they found only powerful winds whipping across the sea, knocking people this way and that, while everyone’s hair was blown messily across their faces.

In the chaos, the person on the left vomited all over the person beside them. As that unfortunate passenger dodged away, their phone slipped from their hand and fell into the sea.