On the freezing Atlantic, the Titanic finally sank. The resulting whirlpool swallowed everything around it, and the three fully loaded lifeboats were now just above the water. Looking at the countless people aboard the ship, Liu Ren's expression turned grave.
As for why Liu Ren hadn't told Captain Edward the Titanic was about to hit an iceberg before it sank—no one would believe such a joke; they might even mock him. After all, he was just a Chinese laborer with no authority, and this ship was called the "Titanic!" In the face of facts people couldn't comprehend, they usually treated warnings as jokes, or as the ravings of a madman. That was why Liu Ren had watched the Titanic sink without saying a word. Respecting others' fates was important.
"Waaaaaah..." Piercing cries rang out, immediately drawing their attention. "Row toward eight o'clock!" Liu Ren called out loudly and took command. Hearing the boy ahead of them issuing orders, the people on the boat had no objections—after all, during the recent rescue they had already realized who the captain of these three makeshift lifeboats was.
As everyone rowed frantically forward, they saw an infant swaddled in heavy clothing crying loudly in a basin.
Looking at the poor child, Lauren picked him up and said, "He seems to have lost his parents, Liu!"
"Drop the 'seems to.'" Liu Ren looked at Lauren irritably, took the infant from his arms, and handed him to a woman behind them. "Please take care of him for a moment, ma'am!"
"No problem!" Seeing Liu Ren hand her the child, the woman quickly cradled him in her arms. As if sensing a touch of warmth, the crying infant gradually calmed down.
"Wah... wah wah... wah wah wah..." A shrill whistle rent the darkness. When people turned toward the distance, they saw a ship appear on the water.
"The rescue ship is here! The rescue ship is here!" "God, someone has finally come to save us!" "Wah wah wah!"
As the people on the boat wept, Liu Ren couldn't help but exhale in relief—this ship was very likely the Carpathia, the first to come to their rescue.
"Everyone, toward the rescue ship!" Liu Ren shouted to those around him and immediately began directing them. Hearing his words, the people on the boat all took up their oars and rowed.
Rowing with all their might beneath the Carpathia, the people on board saw the three lifeboats lashed together and were stunned. A single lifeboat could carry at most thirty people, yet these three tied together held over a hundred and thirty—pushing the buoyancy of three boats to the absolute limit. Any more weight and they would have sunk.
Watching people continually climb up the rope ladders, Liu Ren finally breathed a sigh of relief. As the last person to board the ship, Liu Ren had just come up when he was surrounded by many people. Stunned by the scene, he asked somewhat blankly, "What is this?"
"Buddy, thank you! You saved us!" A man, one of those rescued, stepped forward and hugged Liu Ren, patting his back to express his gratitude.
After the man left, others rushed forward one after another: "Sorry, I shouldn't have discriminated against Chinese people. You're a true hero!"
Watching the scene before him, Captain Arthur of the Carpathia asked in surprise, "What's going on here?"
"Captain, that Chinese kid saved over a hundred and thirty people! With just three lifeboats!" A sailor explained to the captain beside him and laughed.
"Oh, really? My God!" Looking at Liu Ren in surprise, Captain Arthur exclaimed in astonishment. Three lifeboats didn't have many seats, yet this kid had made full use of them, saving far more than their actual capacity—truly a clever fellow!
"Spicer, you're alive?" Looking at Spicer in surprise, Cal, already on board, grew excited upon seeing him.
"Young master!" Spicer rushed forward joyfully, looking delighted.
"Where's the Tear of the Ocean? Spicer! Did you kill those two bastards?" Cal asked Spicer, immediately growing angry. He still couldn't forget how that damn woman Rose had "set him up." Cal had originally thought she was coming to beg his forgiveness—who would have thought all she wanted was the Tear of the Ocean? Damn it!
"Sorry, young master, I messed things up! Miss Rose knocked me out—Liu saved me!" Spicer explained to Cal, a look of shame on his face.
Looking at Spicer in surprise, Cal was taken aback, then seemed to think of something. He patted Spicer's shoulder and said, "It's alright, as long as you're alive. But we should certainly thank that young man!"
Realizing Spicer had lost the Tear of the Ocean and hadn't taken revenge either, Cal couldn't help but sigh. Still, he didn't blame Spicer, knowing the butler had done his best and he shouldn't be too harsh on a loyal servant.
Watching Liu receive thanks from the crowd, Cal said immediately, "He seems different from ordinary Chinese people!"
"He's a kind man, young master!" Spicer explained to Cal beside him. He hadn't expected that, while he was unconscious, Liu Ren had carried him onto a lifeboat while everyone else was fleeing for their lives.
"You're right—after all, he saved you!" Cal smiled, showing the true grace of a wealthy man.
After the long rescue, no living people could be seen in the surrounding waters. Captain Arthur removed his hat and solemnly led a memorial; the people on board bowed their heads in prayer. Standing among them, Liu Ren's expression was very grave.
Because the place he was heading next was not heaven at all, but hell...
After three days of sailing, the Carpathia arrived at New York Harbor. Seeing nearly forty thousand people gathered at the port, Liu Ren couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath—New Yorkers really had nothing better to do.
Just as Liu Ren was thinking, a young man beside him stepped forward and said, "Buddy, you seem to be visiting New York for the first time?"
"Aren't you the same?" Looking at the dark-haired young man beside him, Liu Ren smiled. He could tell the other man was also a "new immigrant," though probably from Italy.
"Vito, Vito Antonio!" Extending his hand, Vito looked at Liu Ren with a smile all over his face, because he very much liked this Chinese man who had saved people at sea.
"Liu Ren—the benevolence of winning people over with virtue!" Shaking Vito's hand, Liu Ren introduced himself. Their eyes met, and both young men laughed.
But Liu Ren didn't know that after disembarking, this young man, due to an error by the immigration bureau, would have his surname Antonio changed to Corleone!
After getting off the ship, Liu Ren and the others quickly completed immigration. This was precisely because of his heroic rescue; the immigration officials didn't give them a hard time, because everyone knew what a great feat this Chinese boy had accomplished.
As Uncle Qiang and the others gathered, watching Liu Ren and wondering what to do next, a luxury car pulled up. Cal, now in a neat suit, stepped out of the car and looked at Liu Ren, saying, "Liu, listen, thank you for saving Spicer!"
After saying this, Cal took out a checkbook from his pocket and said, "If you ever need anything, come to me. The Hockley family doesn't forget its friends!"
Removing his hat in salute, Spicer standing behind Cal smiled and gestured to him. But after Cal left, Liu Ren looked at the check in his hand and his eyes widened instantly—it was for twenty thousand dollars!
Chapter 9