There is actually no fixed date for the Sea God Festival. For example, last year it was held in early summer, but this year it took place in early spring.
This timing variation has meaning because the prayers and wishes differ depending on when the festival is held.
Last year, being in summer, the prayers were mostly for calm seas and peaceful weather. At that time, there were no fish in Winthrop's waters, so fishermen had little need to go out to sea. It was simply a summer festival praying for safety and the absence of storms.
But this year is different. Although the fish population is still low, tourists have started coming. Even with fewer fish, the town wants to take visitors out to sea for recreation.
This also serves as a way to generate income. So, since the New Year, the town decided to hold the Sea God Festival in March, just as the fishing season begins.
Early that morning, all the residents who weren't busy gathered in the town square.
With Mayor Wallis's command, the Sea God Festival officially began. Jiang Hai joined in, helping to lift a huge fish tank.
The crowd erupted with cheers and shouts—it was truly impressive.
The music leader then took the lead, and the large procession set off, marching toward the beach with great vigor.
The most dazzling figure in the group was Jiang Hai, holding the fish tank. It was an honor, no doubt.
But holding the tank was also exhausting. It wasn't small — it could hold about ten kilograms of water. Adding the weight of the tank itself, it totaled about twenty-five pounds. It might not sound like much, but carrying that weight all the way to the beach was tiring. Long journeys are never light.
Mayor Wallis, being older, was allowed to adjust his grip and posture as needed—an accommodation for his age.
Jiang Hai, young and strong, felt too embarrassed to change his posture, so he held the tank steadily the entire time.
Unlike yesterday's rehearsal, the crowd was much larger today, so the procession moved slowly. Luckily, there were no other scheduled events to hurry them along.
After more than two hours of walking from the town to the beach, Jiang Hai and the group drew a large crowd—not only townsfolk but also many tourists, who were fascinated by the parade and followed along, filming it on their phones.
The Atlantic blue dragon inside the fish tank also caught their attention. But the town's people kept tourists at a distance. Although most visitors meant no harm, a few troublemakers could potentially damage the blue dragon or the tank.
Protecting the offering was paramount. So tourists were allowed to watch only from afar, which only increased their curiosity and caused the crowd to grow larger along the route.
Fortunately, Jiang Hai's arduous journey was nearing its end. After more than two hours, they reached the seaside.
Mayor Wallis read the prayer aloud, and Jiang Hai carefully released the fish tank into the sea. They all watched as the blue dragon inside swam away and disappeared beneath the waves.
Jiang Hai then lifted the empty tank high, prompting the townspeople to shout loudly—signaling that the Sea God had accepted their offering.
With that, the Sea God Festival was officially over.
After handing the empty tank to some townsfolk, Jiang Hai let out a relieved sigh and headed toward a tent nearby to rest. The tent had been specially prepared for him the day before, to ensure he had a place to recover after the exhausting ritual.
It had once belonged to Mayor Wallis but was now reserved for Jiang Hai.
The tent was spacious—not only could you sit comfortably inside, but two or three people could even lie down.
Because Mayor Wallis had held meetings here, the tent was sturdy and well-made. Its zipper allowed those inside to see out, but prevented outsiders from seeing in.
"How do you feel? Tired?" Qi Jie and the others approached with smiles. Robbins-Garcia and Edward Anderson were occupied and couldn't attend, but Qi Jie and the rest had come to enjoy the festival.
Jiang Hai shifted his arms and smiled. "I'm okay, just a little sore."
He hoped they might offer to massage his arms, but they seemed to either not hear or deliberately ignore the hint, laughing and chatting instead.
"Take a rest if you're tired—we're heading to the market," Qi Jie said with a smile, gathering Qi Ya, Darlene, and Marian as they set off. Azarina followed close behind to keep an eye on Jiang Hai, just in case.
Jiang Hai had wanted to visit the market too, but given how tired he was, he settled in to rest. Just as he was about to lie down, footsteps approached.
"Hi, Jiang!" a familiar voice called out.
Jiang Hai turned and saw her. A flicker of embarrassment crossed his face briefly, but he quickly masked it with a forced smile. The woman standing there was someone he wasn't exactly sure how to deal with.
"What? Don't recognize me?" The girl sat beside him confidently and smiled.
Jiang Hai scratched his head. How could he not recognize her?
"Of course I do—Kelly, it's been a while," he said.
It was Kelly Soren, the woman involved in that awkward incident with him and Delia George in the bathroom on the second floor of Hodge Selsey's house. Jiang Hai and Delia had sorted things out, but he hadn't resolved anything with Kelly.
Delia had a boyfriend, so Jiang Hai could dismiss things easily with her. But Kelly didn't have that, which left him uncertain.
Kelly didn't seem fazed by their past. She occasionally sent messages but hadn't contacted him much. Her sudden appearance caught him off guard.
"So, what's new? I'm looking for a job. My dad wants me to help at the flower shop, but I feel too young for that. If I don't go out and try my luck, I'll regret it," Kelly shrugged.
What she didn't explain was that American kids tend to be a bit rebellious after turning 18. Most don't want to live or work under their parents, especially if it means less pay and more hassle.
So Kelly preferred trying to find a job elsewhere, which is why she was searching.
"Have you thought about staying in school, maybe graduate studies?" Jiang Hai hesitated but asked.
He knew she was job hunting, but now that they were friends, he felt he could help.
"Graduate school? Haha, Jiang, don't be ridiculous. I might pass the entrance exams, but my major isn't very promising. No projects want me," Kelly said helplessly.
Graduate school in the U.S. wasn't easy—beyond exams, you needed to join research projects and work under professors. In China, it was more about passing tests; in Boston, real research ability was required.
"Leave that to me," Jiang Hai said with a smile.
He believed in helping friends, especially after what had happened between them. He took out his phone and dialed a number.
After a few rings, an excited voice answered.
"Hey Jiang! You must have heard about our research progress—great news!" the man said enthusiastically.
Jiang Hai paused. Research progress? What did that mean?
"Slow down, Professor Baker-Gerald. I don't know the details yet," Jiang Hai replied.
He had invested a lot of money in the institute and wanted to be sure it was paying off. Originally, it was meant to cover up his manor, but having real research benefits was a bonus.
"Ha! We crossbred your cattle with the North American bison from Yellowstone Park. There's no reproductive isolation between the two species. The calves are smarter, about the same size as bison, but have the temperament of Angus cattle. We're still studying if they're suitable for breeding," Baker-Gerald said, clearly excited.
Jiang Hai raised his eyebrows. A hybrid of Angus cattle and bison? Interesting.
But whether it was viable for farming was another question. He'd leave that to the professor.
After congratulating him, Jiang Hai grew more serious.
"So why did you call me?" Baker-Gerald asked, sensing Jiang Hai had another purpose.
"I have a friend who's a student at your university, preparing for graduate school. She's struggling to find a job and wants to apply. I wanted to ask if you have openings for graduate students," Jiang Hai explained cautiously.
He was wary of seeming suspicious or causing trouble, but in the U.S., trust was key. Investors like Jiang Hai kept watch on money and patents, but trusted the researchers.
"No problem—tell her to apply to my graduate program," Baker-Gerald said confidently.
Jiang Hai breathed a sigh of relief and gave Kelly a thumbs-up. After a few more words, he hung up.
"Really? You helped me find a professor?" Kelly's eyes sparkled.
"Yes, Professor Baker-Gerald is the ecology and evolution expert at Boston University. He's working on cattle and pasture quality projects. You should meet him soon, study hard, and pass the exam," Jiang Hai said with a smile.
Kelly's excitement burst out—she rushed over and kissed him deeply.
She had come to complain about her job situation, but Jiang Hai had solved it for her instead. That made her ecstatic.
"Jiang, I owe you so much... Are you staying in the tent by the beach?" Kelly asked, her eyes shining with genuine interest.
It was clear she really liked Jiang Hai.