《As a Fisherman, My Fish Can Level Up》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Aquatic Products Atlas (New Book, Please Collect) Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Aquatic Products Atlas (New Book, Please Collect) Okay, see you tonight! After hanging up the phone, Chu Mingcheng looked at the time with a beaming smile. There were still about ten minutes until the end of the workday, so he immediately began packing up his things, ready to leave work. Just then, his superior, a middle-aged man who could only avoid the tigress at home by working overtime, came over with a document in his hand. He tossed the document onto the table and ordered, Ah Cheng, you need to work overtime tonight to revise a proposal. The client is in a hurry to have it. At twenty-eight, soon to hit the big three-oh, Chu Mingcheng looked quite troubled. They couldnt have brought it earlier or later, but just had to bring it when it was almost time to leave work. Isnt this just making life difficult for people! President Chen, you should let the person who wrote this proposal revise it. I have a blind date this evening! Chen Jie was slightly startled, then said earnestly, Im asking you to revise it because I trust in your abilities. This is also a time to prove your strength. This deal is important. If the client is satisfied, Ill give you a bonus. Youve been with the company for several years now, and youre more than capable. Next year Ill promote you and give you a raise. Nowadays, young girls are very realistic. Will you still need to go on blind dates by then? Make sure you revise the proposal well; dont let me down! I Chu Mingcheng was about to say something else, but Chen Jie didnt give him a chance and turned back to his office. Looking at the proposal, he felt like throwing it back in the other persons face to show that he wouldnt do it. Unfortunately, jobs were hard to come by, and he wasnt a rich second-generation, so he could only take out his phone to explain the situation to his blind dateovertime! This Boss Chen is going too far. He gives you the proposal to revise just when its time to leave. Isnt this tormenting! said a male colleague sitting next to Chu Mingcheng, speaking out against the unfairness on his behalf after Chen Jie left. He just smiled and didnt answer, certain that if he expressed any dissatisfaction, Boss Chen would soon find out he had been badmouthing him and was unhappy with his work. After that, he would be forced into overtime every day for a while, along with all kinds of errands lying in wait for him. With the bosss temperament, the office atmosphere naturally wasnt great either. And as for overtime pay, its a merit that the company values you, so why bring up overtime pay? This resulted in everyone being unwilling to do overtime, which naturally led to them trying to get someone else to take it on! It wasnt until ten oclock at night that Chu Mingcheng finally finished revising the proposal. He stretched and looked around the empty office, cursing Boss Chen under his breath before packing up to go home and sleep. But as soon as he picked up his phone, he saw a message from the blind date and opened it, causing his expression to change abruptly. Im looking for someone who can be with me often. You must have to work overtime frequently, right? If we were together, you wouldnt be able to be by my side. Youre not the kind of person Im looking for. Lets just leave it at that Slowly putting down his phone, Chu Mingcheng sat on the chair, staring blankly for a long time, drained. It wasnt so much because he was sad about being rejected by the blind date; after all, the two had only exchanged photos and chatted for three days, never having met in person. He was just wondering if this was really the life he wanted. His monthly salary was just seven thousand, yet he often had to work overtime without conditions. In the county town, life was indeed not too bad, but he was in a coastal city in the south. Even in the county town, the cost of living was not lower than in some provincial capitals in the northwest region. So, after he bought a car worth a hundred thousand in cash the year before last, he didnt have much left. Because of work, his girlfriend had left him. Because of work, he had lost three potential matches from blind dates. All of a sudden, Chu Mingcheng felt that life like this was so meaningless. Sadly, to survive, he couldnt throw these proposals back in his face, and even if he was manipulated in all sorts of ways, he could only bear it. Rubbing his face, he took a deep breath, pressing down all kinds of emotions deep inside his heart, ready to go to the seaside to clear his mind. Although it was quite late, at this moment, he needed to vent all the negative emotions in his heart. Chu Mingcheng had always had this habit. When he was tired, uncomfortable, or unhappy, he would go to the seaside alone. If there was no one around, he would even shout out loud. The seaside was open and spacious, unlike the cramped office, and this environment made him feel particularly relaxed. The place Chu Mingcheng went to was actually his hometown. His hometown was on a small island located in the southern part of Zhe Province. Initially, Chus father had purchased a house in town specifically so his son could attend school there, after which the entire family had moved to live in the town. As for the old house back home, it usually remained empty, though they would occasionally return for a few days during holidays to play. Chu Mingcheng himself didnt live at home, either. Traveling from town to the county city company by bus would take nearly an hour, so he simply rented a place near the company. Having bought a car the year before last, he chose not to move back home, but having the car did make it convenient for him to visit his old home to have fun. After all, being an island, there were plenty of activities like boat fishing, beachcombing, angling, and camping that men never seemed to tire of. About an hour later, after crossing the sea bridge that connected the island with the town, Chu Mingcheng finally arrived at the beach he frequently visited. On a normal day, if it happened to be low tide at eleven oclock at night, one might occasionally see one or two people beachcombing. But today, the beach was bustling with a crowd of people constantly picking up things, leaving Chu Mingcheng dumbfoundedwhat was going on? Upon reaching the beach, the scent of the ocean hit him, and under the glow of the flashlight from a nearby beachcomber, a sandy beach teeming with lively mud shrimp caught his eye. Tss No wonder the beach was full of people; who wouldnt take part in picking up money when the opportunity presented itself! Not just that, but even fishmongers had been drawn to the scene, conducting transactions right on the spot. Without a second thought, Chu Mingcheng immediately drove back to his old house, grabbed all the buckets he could find, and hurried back to the beach to join the money-picking frenzy. Just as he picked up a fresh mud shrimp that was fifteen centimeters long, not counting its claws and tail, a data panel suddenly appeared in his mind. [Aquatic Bestiary (Level 0)] [Current Experience: (1/50)] [Unlocked capturing tools: Hand, Fishing Gear] [Maximum Aquatic Level: 50] [Aquatic Species: Mud shrimp] [Special Abilities: None] [Note: All functions of the Aquatic Bestiary are only effective on wild aquatic creatures!] Chu Mingcheng blinked; was this the Golden Finger, and its only effective on wild aquatic creatures? Aquaculture: Who are you looking down on? But how come theres no introduction feature? He examined it up and down for a while, and this so-called Aquatic Bestiary didnt contain any other information, except for the words Mud shrimp, which were highlighted in bluewas that the key point? He tentatively clicked on Mud shrimp and, unexpectedly, the data panel changed. [Mud shrimp, also known as Prawn (Level 0)] [Current Experience: 1/10] [Size +0% (Larger fish of the same species are more likely to bite, influenced by a percentage chance)] [Tastiness +0% (Fish with higher fat content and better quality meat are more likely to bite, influenced by a percentage chance)] [Catching Probability +0%] Seeing this data panel, Chu Mingcheng had a bit of an epiphany. Friends who have played games would understand this data panel almost immediately; judging from the current experience of 1/10, that 1 must be the number of mud shrimps he had just caught. The 10 that follows is likely the number of mud shrimps he needs to catch to level up, after which the (Level 0) next to mud shrimp would probably change to (Level 1). If thats the case, the previous data panel showing a maximum level of 50 indicates that the mud shrimps level cap is 50. As for all the 0% values, those are probably attributes that would increase upon leveling up. But as to how much the attributes would increase, he would only know once he caught ten mud shrimps. With the beach full of mud shrimp, he wasnt worried about not being able to level up. As for the experience value of the Aquatic Bestiary, it might be related to the number of species unlocked. Maybe if he caught other creatures later, he would find out. But for now, the most important thing was to keep picking up money; such opportunities were rare indeed. Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Picking up Money Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Picking up Money ` Chu Mingcheng guessed that the typhoon had swept the mud shrimp onto the shore as it passed by their sea area during the day and turned northward. He had already inquired with the fishmongers who had come to buy, and they only wanted ones larger than twelve centimeters, and they had to be plump. The purchase price for those over 12 centimeters was 12 yuan each, and the Red Mother Shrimp over 20 centimeters was quite expensive, selling for 40 yuan per jin. This price was a bit exaggerated, almost half less than the retail price in the market, but it wasnt strange to have prices pushed down under such special circumstances. Chu Mingcheng initially wanted to notify his family and friends to come and help collect, unfortunately, it was too late and his parents were already asleep, and his friend had an important business deal tonight, so couldnt come. Since that was the case, he could only pick up the money himself! Thus, he quickly picked out the live mud shrimp that met the size requirement, throwing them into the bucket and sorting them roughly by size. In just one hour, his two buckets were full. He decided to sell these first. There were hardly any Red Mother Shrimp; after half an hour of collecting, he had only found three that were over 20 centimeters, so he hadnt sold them yet. The other two buckets of mud shrimp, totaling 47 jin, sold for 564 yuan, transferred directly to his mobile phone. Did he just earn the equivalent of two and a half days wages in one hour? The negative emotions in Chu Mingchengs heart instantly vanished completely. Indeed, the most stress-relieving method was picking up money! The data panel for the mud shrimp in his mind also changed. [Mud shrimp, also known as pipi shrimp (Level 11)] [Current Experience: 48/120] [Size +11] [Deliciousness +11] [Catching Probability +11] Level 11, just like that? Chu Mingcheng was astonished, had he leveled up so quickly? He calculated the experience value and discovered that each level required an additional 10 points of experience, which meant that reaching level 10 would only need 550 mud shrimp. Now at level 11 with 48 experience points, he had caught 708 shrimp in one hour, which averaged out to be almost 15 shrimp per jin. Unfortunately, this was a special occasion. Normally, with the marine animal guide only unlocking hands and fishing gear as methods of capture, leveling up was not so fast. Moreover, to reach the full level required catching more than ten thousand mud shrimps, which would take a very long time with any method other than using a fishing net. Having a general understanding of the leveling patterns of the Golden Finger, Chu Mingcheng continued to pick up money. He didnt know if it was because he had leveled up, but he found that he encountered big mud shrimp at a higher rate than before. Theoretically, since everyone had been catching for so long, most of the remaining ones should be smaller. He kept busy until about two in the morning, by which time all the larger mud shrimp had been almost completely collected. The small ones left over, as well as those that had recently died, actually had buyers too, as there were farms along the coast that could use them as feed. But these fishmongers werent buying those, and Chu Mingcheng, who had come to make money, naturally didnt bother picking them up anymore. During this time, he sold another three buckets, a total of 66 jin, for 792 yuan. He had caught a total of 13 Red Mother Shrimp over 20 centimeters, with each one weighing about four taels. Unfortunately, the mud shrimp could only grow so big. If it had been the Spiny Mantis Shrimp, then one reaching the size of a forearm would be considered normal, weighing in at eight or nine taels, or even one jin. The 13 shrimp he had added up to 5.6 jin, and at 40 yuan per jin, he sold them for 224 yuan. So, after working for several hours, his total earnings were precisely 1580 yuan, almost a weeks wages for him. The mud shrimp had also reached level 17, with an experience value of 168/180. ` Chu Mingcheng saw this and casually grabbed twelve mud shrimps in an attempt to round up to a whole number, and advance to Level 18. However, his experience only increased slightly, reaching 169. What was going on? Chu Mingcheng was puzzled; he checked the mud shrimps in his bucket and discovered that only one was alive, while the rest were dead. With some understanding, he dumped the mud shrimps from his bucket, including the live one. Seeing that his experience was still at 169 and hadnt changed, he spent some more time finding eleven alive ones. Seeing his level successfully rise to 18, Chu Mingcheng finally grasped the leveling up pattern. Simply put, only live catches could increase his experience points; the dead ones were useless. And now, the mud shrimps on the beach had probably been stranded for quite a while, and were mostly dead. It had taken him several minutes just to catch those eleven live ones, without even considering their size. Based on this efficiency, even if he went back to get a shovel to scoop them into boxes, he estimated he wouldnt be able to level up much. It was already past two in the morning, and Chu Mingcheng, who had effortlessly made one thousand and five hundred, naturally had no interest, so he directly returned to his rented room in the city, took a bath, and hurried to sleep. He arrived back to his rental close to four in the morning, but work started at eight. The moment his phone alarm went off, Chu Mingcheng struggled between continuing to sleep in and the penalty for being late. But thinking about why his hard-earned money should be taken away by Boss Chen, he sat up immediately and then squinted his eyes while heading to the restroom to freshen up. Ever since his awakening of the Golden Finger last night, Chu Mingcheng had been considering resigning. It was indeed not easy to make money with the Golden Finger in the early stages, but once the levels of most of the seafood improved, it wouldnt make a fortune, but it would certainly be much better than now. The most important thing was freedom, not having someone lording over him. Yet even if he resigned, he did not want Boss Chen to find an excuse to take advantage of him. Today was the twenty-ninth of September, and the day after tomorrow was the National Day holiday. Chu Mingcheng planned to resign after finishing work tomorrow. The small company he worked for didnt even have the Five Insurances and One Housing Fund benefit, and upon resignation, one could basically leave at any time. His salary would be deposited into his account on the tenth, and Boss Chen didnt dare to withhold it. Before, there was an employee whose business capabilities were weak, and Boss Chen forcibly terminated him. That person was honest and didnt make a fuss about being fired. But Boss Chen still held on to the salary with no intention of paying. This immediately angered the honest man. After a trip to the labor bureau, the company was fined, and Boss Chen also had to compensate an extra months salary. According to the labor law, if one has been employed for more than six months but less than a year, they are entitled to compensation of one months salary. Although the honest man ended up with an extra months wages, in this county town, he was unable to find similar work. Boss Chens company wasnt large, but he had decent connections. After word got out, the honest man was rejected by several companies and eventually had to leave dejectedly. This also was why Chu Mingcheng had always refrained from clashing with Boss Chenhis hometown was near, and without switching professions, he really couldnt afford to offend him. As for changing companies, they were all pretty much the same and it only made a difference if one moved to a big city to find a company with overtime pay. While the salary might be higher in a big city, the cost of living was also high, so after calculations, it didnt really make a difference. Moreover, having worked at the company for four years, even if he simply worked regular hours without overtime, Boss Chen wouldnt be foolish enough to dismiss him. Chu Mingcheng also didnt want to continue working at this company where he was unhappy, so resigning himself was the best choice. He arrived at the office right at eight oclock, and Boss Chen was standing right at the entrance of the office. Seeing Chu Mingcheng clocking in just in time, he glanced at his watch with a sly grin and said, Ah Cheng, you are a bit late today, remember to come earlier next time. Dont worry, there wont be a next time! Chu Mingcheng replied and went straight to his seat. Boss Chen didnt catch the implication and, seeing that it was time, he instructed the receptionist to record all the latecomers and report them to finance later on. Then he leisurely returned to his office, brewed tea, and continued with todays health-conscious lifestyle. As for yesterdays urgent project, it suddenly wasnt such a hurry anymore. Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Resignation Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Resignation Although he was going to resign, Chu Mingcheng still took his work seriously today. Seeing that it was almost time to finish, he picked up the proposal he had completed during overtime last night and handed it to Boss Chen, who was watching a movie in the office. President Chen, this is the proposal you assigned to me yesterday. Boss Chen picked it up, flipped through it briefly, and then tossed it back: This proposal still wont do, revise it again. Alright, Ill revise it tomorrow. He flipped through it, and thats it? And he still wants me to revise it? He didnt mention the proposal all day, nor did he seem in any hurry about it! But remembering that he was going to submit his resignation tomorrow, Chu Mingcheng suppressed the urge to retort and picked up the proposal to leave. However, Boss Chen, who had heard tomorrow, was not willing to wait: Hey, hey, hey, not tomorrow. Work overtime tonight, the customer is in a hurry! Chu Mingcheng felt confident and shook his head in refusal: I have plans tonight and wont do overtime! Boss Chen straightened up upon hearing the refusal and continued with his spiel: Ah Cheng, how can you be so thoughtless! Old Ma has said, 996 is a blessing, you should appreciate the opportunity! 996 a blessing? Thats just another capitalist brainwashing exploitation tactic! Chu Mingcheng couldnt help but laugh bitterly, even if 996 were really a blessing, it should come with overtime pay! According to labor law regulations, working beyond 8 hours counts as overtime, and the pay should not be less than 150% of my regular wages. I dont mind working overtime if you provide the overtime pay. Dont bother with talk about learning opportunities and chances; Im here to earn money, not to listen to your grand principles. Also, once I finish tomorrow, I wont be coming back. Remember to transfer my salary to my card on the tenth of next month, otherwise, Ill see you at the labor bureau. Argue and reason? Chu Mingcheng wasnt interested. He had intended to leave on good terms, but Boss Chen kept finding ways to make him stay for overtime, which was just asking for trouble. You Boss Chen was momentarily dumbfounded and his face darkened once he realized what was happening, Youre resigning too? The company has a policy that resignation must be submitted one month in advance. You cant just leave on a whim, or youll be treated as absent without leave. Chu Mingcheng chuckled and shook his head: Your company hasnt signed a labor contract, and most employees dont have benefits like social insurance and housing fund. If this really becomes a dispute, its you, not me, who will suffer. Seeing he wasnt intimidated, Chen Jie narrowed his eyes and said threateningly, I remember youre a local, arent you? Arent you afraid you wont find a job around here if you do this? Thats none of your concern. I had planned to work until tomorrow so we could part on good terms. But given the current situation I wont be coming in tomorrow. How about you just transfer the money for the 29 days of work to my card tomorrow? With that said, Chu Mingcheng ignored Chen Jies displeased expression, returned to his desk, packed his things, and left. Colleagues in the office noticed something was amiss. His desk neighbor wanted to ask, but the sight of Chen Jies dark expression scared them off. After leaving the company, Chu Mingcheng felt a sense of relief. Resigning sure felt fantastic, and he didnt need to worry about finding a job. The only trouble was explaining it to his family; he had to keep it a secret for now. If it came down to it, he would just move away, convincing them he found a good job elsewhere. Back at his rental, Chu Mingcheng called the landlord to terminate the lease. He had rented the place on the third of the month, and since it wasnt far from the third now, he wasnt at a loss. He paid a deposit of one thousand, and after deducting the utilities for this month, he had 854 yuan left. Mainly because of the hot weather, he used the air conditioning a lot, which cost quite a bit of electricity. That night, Chu Mingcheng packed all his belongings in the car, returned to his old house, and planned to spend the National Day holiday there. ` Whether he needed to leave for another place or not, he couldnt possibly leave during the National Day holiday period. High-speed train and plane tickets were probably all gone by now, and driving himself there was a big chance of getting stuck on the highway, so it was better to wait until the rush was over. Chu Mingchengs old family home was located halfway up a hill, with a twenty-plus meter path in the backyard that just allowed a car to pass through. At the other end of the path was the road up the mountain, so moving didnt require passing by the neighbors doors; he could just park the car directly in the backyard. There were hardly any young people living on the island, as most of them had gone out to make their way in the world, seeing little financial prospects by staying on the island. Therefore, the ones who stayed were mostly the elderly. His father was alright, but Chu Mingcheng was particularly afraid of the gossiping aunts in the area. If he encountered them, they would nab him and prattle on and on. But do you think they really wanted to chat with you? No, they just came to show off their younger relatives who were doing well, comparing them to you. Once they had put you down, they felt better inside. Especially since Chu Mingcheng was approaching thirty and still unmarried, he was exactly the kind of subject they loved to gossip about. Returning home, he took out his keys and opened the door, then started moving his luggage inside. The old house looked old from the outside, but inside it had been freshly renovated the year before last. In addition, he and his family often came to stay for short periods, so inside the house was not dirty. The old house had two floors; entering from the back door led to a corridor that went straight to the front door living room. On the left was a large kitchen, and under the stairs that led upstairs on the right, there was a bathroom. Following the corridor to the front was the living room, where they usually dined. Next to the living room was a room that used to be his grandparents bedroom, but since they had passed away over a decade ago, the room was now used as a storage space, filled with all sorts of items. Stepping out of the living room led to the front yard, which was not small, almost as big as the house itself, about seventy to eighty square meters. On the left side of the yard was a well and a laundry platform. Carrying his luggage, Chu Mingcheng moved up to the second floor, where the layout was very simple: just two bedrooms and one bathroom. Originally, there were three bedrooms, but the one connected to the bathroom was very small, leaving little space after fitting in a 1.2-meter wide bedit was his room when he was a child. Now that no one lived there, during the renovation, they knocked down the walls and specially made a shower room complete with a bathtub. As for Chu Mingchengs room, it was of course not one of the two larger bedrooms at the front; he moved his luggage into the small attic. He particularly liked silence when sleeping, as any little noise would disturb his rest. He used to sleep in one of the larger bedrooms at the front, but the old ladies in the neighborhood couldnt sleep well due to their age and would gather early in the morning to chatter It was like Tang Seng reciting scriptures. Unable to sleep well, Chu Mingchengs temper grew increasingly irritable. In the end, there was no choice; during the renovation, he made a quiet attic that finally solved the problem. In the attic, as long as he pulled the curtains and closed the door, he could sleep until the next afternoon and still doubt whether it had dawned, enjoying very good sleep quality. Entering the attic, Chu Mingcheng took out the quilts and mats that had been aired out and laid them down, making do for the night, planning to air them again tomorrow. He put the clothes into the wardrobe, the laptop on the desk, and some things would be sorted out after getting up tomorrow. After washing up and lying in bed, Chu Mingcheng calculated his current savings. He had earned 1,580 yesterday, and a deposit of 854 was returned today, now having a bit over twenty-three thousand. He guessed that Boss Chen wouldnt hold back his salary, so with an additional six thousand seven hundred due on the tenth, he would have nearly thirty thousand available. This was enough for now, and he hoped that Golden Finger could help him ensure he wouldnt starve to death. As for the future, he wasnt worried about not making money. Just by upgrading the grades of certain common and abundant aquatic products, he might be able to ensure his living standards were decent. ` Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 4 First Fishing Attempt Chapter 4: Chapter 4 First Fishing Attempt As for what to do next, Chu Mingcheng hadnt figured it out momentarily. He temporarily couldnt travel far, and the only tools available for fishing in the marine life guide he unlocked were his hands and fishing gear. This indicated he could go tide pooling and fishing, but renting a boat to fish was out of the question for now. Perhaps, he could start by buying a fishing rod. As an office worker, Chu Mingcheng had time for tide pooling and going out to sea during his holidays, but he had never tried fishing. Mainly because this entertainment was addictive, he was worried that he might not be able to control himself after getting involved, so he had never tried it. Now that he had resigned, fishing would probably become his main occupation. But lacking experience was also troublesome. After looking up plenty of basic fishing knowledge at night, Chu decided to start with freshwater fishing. Mainly because sea fishing was costly, and as a newbie, he might not get the hang of it; it was better to start with freshwater fish to practice. The next day, not having to work, Chu Mingcheng slept until he woke up naturally and picked up his phone to see it was just after nine in the morning. He usually got up at eight thirty for work, so it seemed he was accustomed to waking up around this time. Not lingering in bed, he got up and washed, only to realize there was nothing to eat at home. Ah, it looks like I really need to go tide pooling to gather some food, he sighed. Income from freelance work was unstable, especially tough at the beginning, so Chu decided to save wherever possible. Later, when his income became somewhat stable, he wouldnt need to be so careful. Leaving through the back door, he drove to breakfast. His home was located more inland, far from the sea-crossing bridge, and it was surrounded primarily by older residents, so there were no breakfast places nearby. For breakfast, he had to drive for about fifteen minutes to get near the bridge. Near the beach on the island, there were many guesthouses and hotels, hence plenty of breakfast spots. A serving of glutinous rice and a bottle of fresh milk would cost him eight fifty, money was indeed hard to come by nowadays. After eating, Chu Mingcheng went to a fishing supply store to purchase fishing gear. There was a suitable fishing spot on the island, a reservoir on the hilltop not leased out by anyone, he decided to fish there. Today, he planned to catch some Crucian Carp and later buy a bottle of beer to make a beer fish dish. For Crucian Carp fishing, depending on the season, the fishing line setup differed. Like now in early autumn when the temperature was still high, the line setup was typically a 0.6 sub-line and a 1.0 main line, using size 3~4 hooks. When the temperature dropped, it could be set up with a 0.4 sub-line and a 0.8 main line, with size 2~3 hooks. Of course, the size of the Crucian Carp and whether it was in a farm pond or the wild also made a difference. The fish in the reservoir were generally stocked, and no one specifically leased Yanmen Islands reservoirs for breeding as people here didnt much like freshwater fish, so the fish were all wild. Chu Mingcheng wasnt sure about the size of the Crucian Carp there, so he bought a box each of 0.8 and 1.0 sub-line and main line, along with 1.2 main line, four boxes in total. Each box contained eight rolls, each roll 4.5 meters. As for hooks, he bought sizes 3~4, which were sufficient. For bait, he bought the old three varieties: wild blue Crucian, 918 wild battle, and quick attack 2, which could also be said to be the best bait for beginners. Since the temperature was still high, he chose the yellow-scented 918. The fishing supply store had a complete range of baits, and with the owners recommendation, he also bought two bottles of sake rice and a bag of corn for bait prep. Having purchased his items, he spent over a hundred bucks. Chu Mingcheng couldnt help but click his tongue, even freshwater fishing was costly, let alone sea fishing which was certainly not affordable for the average person. Boss, recommend some auxiliary rods, I am going to the hilltop reservoir for Crucian Carp. A 4.5-meter one would suffice, something affordable, he requested. After a night of researching basic fishing knowledge, Chu Mingcheng was able to get a rough idea about which fishing rods and lines should be used for specific types of fish. Were fishing for Crucian Carps at the mountain reservoir! the shop owner pondered then took out a dark blue fishing rod, This is the Han Top fourth generation 28-tune fishing rod, moderately flexible, more suitable for you to fish for Crucian Carp and other small to medium-sized fish in the reservoir. The price isnt expensive, just 150, quite suitable for a beginner. Chu Mingcheng picked it up and immediately liked it. Can you make it cheaper, boss, how about 130? Oh, this price is already very low, Im not making much profit from it. How about this? Ill throw in a bobber and a safety rope for free, and you stop talking about the price. Males, in general, are not as good as women in bargaining, so when the owner said that, Chu Mingcheng felt embarrassed to continue haggling. As a result, he took his purchases back to the car, pulled out his phone to check online, and suddenly slapped his thigh in annoyance, Damn, got ripped off! The same fishing rod only cost 130 online, he had been fooled out of twenty yuan, a huge loss. However, since the shop owner gave him a bobber and a safety rope, he felt awkward about going back to discuss this issue, and considering online purchases would take at least two days, the time cost was higher, so he let it go. He went to the market to buy some vegetables and rice, then headed home to make lunch. These days, a man without good cooking skills is embarrassed to talk about dating. He quickly whipped up two dishes for lunch, Chu Mingcheng didnt immediately go fishing; instead, he took out the quilt to air and simultaneously began cleaning. It wasnt until around three in the afternoon that he roughly cleaned the house, and then he began preparing the bait. Getting the mixture right was important, Wild Blue Crucian and 918 each composed 40%, and Speed Attack 2 only needed 20%. Its tricky to say the exact ratio of water, generally between 0.8 and 1.1. Speed Attack 2 should be added last to absorb the water. In theory, this was indeed correct, but as Chu Mingcheng looked at the overly watery bait, he could only emotionlessly continue to add more bait, only stopping when the slurry thickened. After letting the prepared bait sit for five minutes, he grabbed his fishing gear and bucket and set off. The reservoir wasnt far, located at the mountain peak, just about twenty minutes by car. By the time he arrived, a few people were already fishing at the reservoir, though it wasnt crowded. It made sense, though, being on Yanmen Island, why would anyone fish for freshwater fish! When he had bought the fishing rods in the morning, he had seen quite a lot of people standing on the rocks fishing for Sea Bass, and their ferociousness in fishing was unbeatably thrilling compared to freshwater fishing. Moreover, there were many aquaculture ponds in the town by the sea, among them some abandoned ones still harbored many Sea Bass and Mullet, the knowledgeable ones all ran there to fish. Chu Mingcheng didnt go for sea fishing because he wasnt sure if his rod was suitable. Being just a beginner, improper handling might break the line or unhook the bait, and a broken rod would mean a troublesome trip back to the fishing gear shop for a replacement. He just wanted to get a feel of fishing by starting with Crucian Carps. After parking the car, Chu Mingcheng, with his equipment, casually found a secluded spot near the water where he could vaguely see traces of underwater plants, a hiding spot favored by fish. The reservoir was large and not crowded, making it easy to find a good spot. If you want to catch fish, you trade with grains. Chu Mingchengs purchased sake rice and corn finally came into play as he grabbed a handful of sake rice and scattered it on the water surface about five meters away. His fishing rod was only 4.5 meters; this distance was just perfect. After setting the nest, he would typically need to wait about half an hour for it to take effect, but he didnt want to wait. He tied the fishing line and hook, set up the stand, and arranged the bucket and folding stool he brought from home. Following the strategies he had read about, he adjusted the float to show four marks above the water surface, though he was just giving it a try. As for finding the bottom before adjusting the float, understanding half-water depth and such, he currently couldnt grasp these, so he just went with it! He pinched out a bit of bait, rolled it into the size of a peanut, and split it into two pieces before hooking them onto the hook. With a fishing rod, no casting was needed; you simply had to lift the rod, release the fishing line he was holding, and the weight naturally carried the hook towards the water surface above, then he just needed to time the entry of the hook into the water correctly. Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 5 The Fish Thief Chapter 5: Chapter 5 The Fish Thief ` After waiting for about fifteen minutes, Chu Mingcheng felt that the baited spot should be effective, so he let the fish hook sink into the water. When the float resurfaced, there were roughly two eyes visible, which was almost the same as what the strategy guide had described. As someone who had swum in this reservoir many times, Chu Mingcheng had a rough idea of its depth. At this spot, about four to five meters from the shore, the water depth was around three metersquite suitable for fishing. Fishing required patience. Chu Mingcheng placed the fishing rod on the support, his right hand resting on the rod to detect any movement instantly, while his other hand picked up his smartphone and started reading a novel. Just waiting around was too boring; reading a novel could at least pass the time. After reading two chapters, which took about three minutes, there was still no movement from the fishing rod. Chu Mingcheng was inclined to wait, but he worried that the bait might have been eaten, so he lifted the rod to check. The previously plump bait had now partially dissolved, exposing a bit of the hook because it hadnt been properly molded. It looked like no fish had taken the bait yet, but the bait was no longer usable and needed to be changed. Since he had prepared plenty of bait for the day, there was no shortage. He scraped off the old bait, rebaited the hook, and cast it back into the water. Read two chapters, check the bait; during this process, he changed bait three times. It seemed that the baiting finally took effect. Right after replacing the bait and throwing it back in, he had only read half a chapter when he felt a slight tremor on the fishing rod. He immediately put his phone into his pocket and looked towards the water, only to see the float sink halfway before bobbing back up. Chu Mingchengs eyes brightenedthere was a fish nibbling at the bait. He did not hurry and instead tightened his grip on the rod, waiting. The fish was merely nibbling at the bait, and if he were to reel in now, he would likely come up empty. Suddenly, the float tilted sharply, almost getting dragged entirely under the water, while a moderate tug traveled through the fishing rod. Then the float zipped entirely out of sight beneath the surfacethe opportunity had arrived! Seeing the float disappear, Chu Mingcheng swiftly lifted the rod, and sure enough, felt light vibrationsa fish was thrashing its tail, struggling in the water. Chu Mingcheng easily pulled the fish out of the water. It was a crucian carp, slightly larger than his palm, weighing about seven or eight taelsquite a big one. He reeled in the fish and checked under its jaw; there were no barbels, confirming it was indeed a crucian carp. Crucian carp look very similar to carps; for those who are not familiar, the presence of two small barbels under the chin is enough to differentiate them as carps. Just as Chu Mingcheng dropped the crucian carp into the bucket, the data panel in his mind underwent some changes. [Aquatic Catalog (Level 0)] [Current Experience: (2/50)] [Unlocked Capturing Tools: Hand, Fishing Gear] [Maximum Level for Aquatic Species: 50] [Aquatic Species: Mud shrimp, Crucian Carp] [Special Abilities: None] As expected, the variety of aquatic species equated to experience pointseach new species added one point. He was quite curious about when he would gain a special ability. [Crucian Carp (Level 0)] [Current Experience: 1/10] [Size Increase: +0%] [Deliciousness: +0%] [Catching Chance: +0%] He had just started fishing for crucian carp, with no bonuses yet. He imagined that as the level increased, he might attract bigger crucian carps when fishing. After placing the crucian carp into the bucket, Chu Mingcheng continued fishing. Half an hour had passed since he first baited the spot, and it seemed the bait mix was taking effect; the bites were quite frequent thereafter. He could catch a fish every three to five minutes, fishing until five in the afternoon. Chu Mingcheng unlocked two more fish species: whitebait and carp. He caught seven whitebait, and although the carps werent large, he managed to catch five. As for crucian carps, adding the first one he caught, he had just managed to catch ten, which leveled him up. ` [Crucian Carp (Level 1)] [Current Experience: 0/20] [Body Size +1%] [Deliciousness +1%] [Catch Probability +1%] Chu Mingcheng found that fishing was quite simple on his first try today. However, these freshwater fishes probably werent worth much. He still had to check out the seaside tomorrow. There were many more varied creatures by the seaside than in the reservoir, not only increasing the species count in his aquatic handbook but also bringing in more money. But now it was already five in the afternoon, about time to head back. He hadnt prepared night floats or a headlamp today, and there might be poisonous snakes around the reservoir at night. Without proper preparations, it wasnt safe. Besides, his quilt was still out in the yard; he had to hurry and bring it in. So he released all the Whitebait and Carps in the bucket. He didnt like eating Whitebait, and the Carps were too small and had a strong muddy smell. He gained experience points for every fish caught, and releasing them wouldnt decrease it; there was no pressure. As for freshwater fish, he only liked eating Crucian Carps, Blackfish, and Grass Carp. As for the rest, forget about them. There were a total of ten Crucian Carps, somewhat numerous. Chu Mingcheng released the smaller ones and kept the five that were over half a pound each. After fishing the whole afternoon, he had caught only one Crucian Carp, estimating it to be about one pound. Since he had resigned, he would have to rely on coastal fishing to make money, which currently seemed challenging. Fortunately, a higher level would increase his chances of catching fish, including bigger ones. It was just the initial struggle that wasnt a big deal. However, he still had to take the chance to fish for sea fish, which were more valuable and abundant. After packing up his tools and loading them on the car, Chu Mingcheng drove back to the backyard. He left the fishing gear in the car to avoid moving it back and forth. He carried the bucket of fish to the well in the front yard to kill them, to avoid getting fish scales all over the kitchen and having a mess to clean up. Setting down the bucket, he went back to the kitchen to grab a knife and cutting board. However, just as he left the room, a small head popped up above the wall of the yard. Chu Mingchengs old home was built leaning against the mountain, so the entire left side of the house connected directly with the mountain, with the water well in the front yard situated along this side. At this moment, on the sloped terrain by the mountain, a cat with a gray pattern on its body was peering curiously at the fish inside the bucket below. It didnt jump down immediately but looked around with its head raised. After noticing that there was no one around, it leapt into the yard with a bound. Then it quickly approached the bucket, its front paws resting on the rim, and its head diving in to sniff around, seemingly contemplating which fish to snatch. When Chu Mingcheng came out with the knife and cutting board, this was the scene he saw. Damn! Stealing my fish! His intention was to yell and scare off the wild cat, but instead of running away, the cat shrank its neck, hooked a fish with its paw, pulled it out, bit it, and took off running. Chu Mingcheng was stunned; this wild cat was audacious, wasnt it? Oh no, my big Crucian Carp! The next moment, he snapped to his senses and started to chase. That cat was clever, stealing his biggest Crucian Carp right away. By the time he caught up, the wild cat, with the struggling Crucian Carp in its mouth, had already made it to someone elses yard. With that speeding cat, there was no hope of catching up. Chu Mingcheng stopped helplessly but then saw the wild cat put down the fish, look back at him for a while, and even make a purring sound. Was it amusement or fear? But he thought it must be pleasure; after all, the cat had stolen such a big fish. Chu Mingcheng was quite fond of cats and dogs and wasnt angry that the fish was stolen; he was just bemused. As the cat had already left, he returned to his task of cleaning fish, killing all four that were over half a pound. Two would become beer-battered fish, and the other two would be made into Crucian Carp tofu soup for tomorrow. Tomorrow, he wouldnt plan to come back home at noon from sea foraging. He had a thermos at home to keep food and soup warm. Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter 6: The Limitations of the Golden Finger Chapter 6: Chapter 6: The Limitations of the Golden Finger The Beer Fish recipe is actually quite simple, you score the Crucian Carp, then fry it until both sides are golden brown. Then come the seasonings, namely scallions, ginger, garlic, dried chili, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, as well as salt, white sugar, and broad bean paste, all mixed together in a big bowl. Finally, pour in some nearly expired beer from 82, stir it evenly, and then add the seasoned sauce into the pot to cook with the Crucian Carp for about ten minutes and its done. Those who like some extra ingredients might also add shredded tofu skin and enoki mushrooms. But since Chu Mingcheng was dining alone, he didnt need the extra ingredients; two fishes were enough for him. Aiyo, my cooking skills are still so awesome! Ten minutes later, after tasting his creation, he proudly complimented himself. In this life, he didnt have many hobbies. Aside from liking beauties, the rest was all about eating. However, while eating, he noticed a problemthe earthy smell of the Crucian Carps he caught from the reservoir wasnt strong, just a slight hint. It wasnt that the strong seasonings had masked it; he had occasionally eaten this dish before, but the fish were bought from the market. The purchased fish had an earthy smell that couldnt be covered up no matter what, which he now assumed must have come from pond-reared ones. Those Crucian Carps were around US$ 10, quite cheap. Thinking of this, Chu Mingcheng took out his phone to look up the price of wild Crucian Carp. When he saw that wild Crucian Carp was priced at US$ 30 a pound, he immediately slapped his thigh in painful realizationthose darn cats had stolen at least thirty Big Coins from him! And the larger the Crucian Carp, the more valuable they are, wouldnt one weighing a pound cost forty? Heartache to the point of breathlessness! Next time, he had to prepare a couple of smaller ones, losing the big ones to theft was just too painful. Chu Mingcheng transformed his grief into appetite and polished off two big bowls of rice. Hed cooked extra rice this evening so that all of it could be used for making egg fried rice in the morning. Not only would breakfast be sorted, but hed also have lunch ready. After cleaning up and having a bath post-dinner, Chu Mingcheng didnt go out for a stroll but returned to the bedroom, hugging his laptop and continuing to research some basic knowledge about fishing. After watching some videos for a bit, he realized that with his current savings, he could actually afford to engage in low-cost sea fishing. Chu Mingcheng thought it over. Having seen the prices of wild Crucian Carp today, he felt he could consider focusing on catching and selling Crucian Carp for money, while collecting Sea Snails to increase the variety of marine species in his album. The next day, he woke up naturally again. Life without work had become a bit lax. Chu Mingcheng made some egg fried rice, cooked a pot of Crucian Carp and tofu soup, and then put on waterproof boots, taking a clam rake and two buckets to set out. Today was the sixth day of the lunar month, and the low tide in this area was roughly around noon. To go shellfishing, he would have to wait until after one oclock in the afternoon, so he first went to the reservoir for fishing. Still not many people around, he chose the same spot as yesterday. First, he scattered a few handfuls of wine-soaked rice and cornaccording to the guides, this is called feeding the spot, though it also required consistency in timing. He couldnt guarantee he would always come to this spot to fish, but for the time being, he would stick to the current schedule for baiting and fishing. After baiting the fishing spot, he then took out his gear and started to prepare the bait. With the experience from yesterday, everything seemed to be in good order today. Today, Chu Mingcheng tried to prepare the bait differently, but unfortunately, he failed. The bait didnt have the springy texture when pulled apart. He wasnt in a hurry now; he could take his time to learn. He used double hooks again today, and just as Chu Mingcheng was about to take out his phone after casting his line, the water that had been calm for just a dozen seconds came alive, and the bobber reactedit was a big, solid dip. Hey, starting off with a big one today? It seemed his luck was good today; perhaps he could make a hundred or two hundred from selling Crucian Carp. But when he lifted the rod, it felt light, with no weight whatsoever. Did the fish come off the hook? Chu Mingcheng felt frustrated. So much for a lucky start; it seemed more like an unlucky opening! However, when the hook emerged fully from the water, he saw a tiny fish hanging from it. On closer inspection, it was a small brown fish with a hint of transparency. Chu Mingcheng didnt recognize it at first; it kind of looked like a goby, which lived in saltwater, but this one was in freshwater. Moreover, what left him even more perplexed was the fact that the hook was intended for Crucian Carphow had such a small fish managed to bite, and to cause the bobber to dip so dramatically? With a bit of confusion, Chu Mingcheng reviewed the data panel that appeared in his mind. [Sand Goby, also known as Ground Tiger (Level 0)] [Current Experience: 1/10] [Size Increase +0%] [Deliciousness +0%] [Catch Rate +0%] Ground Tiger? Chu Mingcheng suddenly rememberedhadnt he often caught this kind of fish as a child? His family used to raise chickens and ducks, and he would often go catch these fish with his friends. Ground Tigers were slow and very easy to catch. After catching them, he would feed them to the chickens and ducks, which loved eating them. This stuff is quite tasty when prepared well, and it seems some people specifically buy it to eat, but not many know its value, so its not easy to sell. However, that was over a decade ago, and I have no idea what the situation is now. Chu Mingcheng took out his smartphone to check the price and when he saw it was even more expensive than wild Crucian Carp, his eyes lit up instantly. But the next moment, he lost interest in the fish. Primarily because the ground tiger was hard to sell here. You couldnt even find this fish in the local markets. Secondly, the fish was too small. Despite being able to sell for over sixty Big Coins currently, the time spent to catch a pound of ground tiger would yield a bucket of Crucian Carp. It clearly wasnt worth it. At the moment, fishing was mainly about making money rather than entertainment for him, and the efficiency in fishing for ground tigers was just too low. Still, he didnt release it. Instead, he threw the ground tiger into a bucket of water. There was a fish thief at home now, he wondered if it would come by today. If it did show up, he would feed it the ground tiger as a snack; if not, hed give it to the neighbors ducks. He continued fishing afterward, and this time the catch on the hook was no longer a ground tiger but a Crucian Carp weighing over half a pound. With his catch secured, Chu Mingcheng was motivated. The awakened Golden Finger was related to the liver. He needed to level up the Crucian Carp liver to ten within the week. Based on his experience with catching Mud shrimp, he guessed that a one or two percent attribute wouldnt make much of a difference. He would need to reach at least ten percent to feel the Golden Fingers effect. Having limited time in the morning, Chu Mingcheng only fished for two hours before packing up his fishing rod. In those two hours, he caught just four Crucian Carp, three whitebait, and five ground tigers. The bite was average, and the efficiency was not as high as yesterdays. He suspected that catching so many ground tigers today had something to do with dumping the bait into this fishing spot last night. Fortunately, ground tigers were not that numerous here; otherwise, attracting a swarm of them would be bothersome. He took out his thermos cup to eat, and after eating, he drove to find a suitable spot for scouring the sea. Catching fish at noon is tough even for deities, not just rookies but even people who dont fish know this. There is no need to waste any more time here; he could always come back when the tide rose in the afternoon. Due to the cross-sea bridge and the beaches, Yanmen Islands southeast is currently attempting to develop tourism. Theres hardly anything to catch in the reef areas of the beach there, so Chu Mingcheng drove to the northwest side. There were no sandy beaches on this side, but the rocks jutted out prominently. Because it was so far away, even during the October National Day holiday, hardly anyone would come here. When Chu Mingcheng arrived, the vast reef area was devoid of any people. Perhaps everyone went out to play during the holiday. Carrying another bucket, he began searching every nook for any catchable marine life. Upon finding a pool of water, he immediately spotted several opponent crabs hiding inside. These small crabs were unpopular for eating and were now in abundance along the coast. Chu Mingcheng, quick as lightning, pressed down and managed to catch two, while the other two were startled and scurried away in an instant. He threw the two caught opponent crabs in the bucket, then checked the marine life identification guide on his phone. ??? The marine life identification guide had no reaction whatsoever. The unlockable catching tools included his hands, which didnt make any sense! Without any explanation, Chu Mingcheng was somewhat puzzled. Conveniently, there were some spicy snails by the pool, so he gathered a few and threw them into the bucket to see what would happen. At this moment, the marine life identification guide finally responded. [Marine Life Identification Guide (Level 0)] [Current Experience: (6/50)] [Unlockable Catching Tools: Hands, Fishing Gear] [Highest Marine Life Level: 50] [Unlocked Species: Mud Shrimp, Crucian Carp, Whitebait, Carp, Ground Tiger, Spicy Snail] [Special Abilities: None] [Warted Litchi Snail, also known as Spicy Snail, Bitter Snail (Level 0)] [Current Experience: 3/10] [Size+0] [Deliciousness+0] [Catch Probability+0] Huh, so the spicy snail works, whats going on? Chu Mingcheng was a bit confused about what was happening with his Golden Finger. The opponent crab didnt work, but the spicy snail did. If comparing the two, the difference was one was unwanted, while the other could sell for over US$30 in the market. So thats how it is! Chu Mingcheng suddenly understood. It was a Marine Life Identification Guide, not an Aquatic Life Identification Guide, which meant the marine life he caught had to have economic value. If there was no economic value, then the Marine Life Identification Guide wouldnt unlock and record it. This obviously made leveling up the Marine Life Identification Guide much more challenging. Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Rapid Upgrade (Please Favorite and Follow) Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Rapid Upgrade (Please Favorite and Follow) Chu Mingcheng took a stroll around the reef area and found that there werent any fish or green crabs around, but there were plenty of spicy snails and small oysters. Some rocks also had barnacles on them, but there werent many, and he didnt have the tools to prise them off. So, today he planned to pick up more spicy snails and sell them at the dock around five in the afternoon. As an island, Yanmen Island naturally had its fishermen. Now, with the nearshore resources dwindling, the fishermen with means had pooled their money to buy boats and fish in the Far Sea. Those who couldnt afford it still sailed their rickety boats in the coastal waters to scavenge good stuff. Ever since the cross-sea bridge was opened, a group of food aficionados from the city, eager to eat the freshest seafood, would often drive the distance to the docks here, waiting for the fishing boats to return so they could buy seafood directly from the fishermen. This led to a steady increase in the price of some of the seafood at the docks, sometimes even double what it would cost at the market. It also meant that the income of the local fishermen had significantly increased, with many making upwards of a hundred thousand yuan a year. However, fishing was too grueling, and most young people couldnt handle it. But this was good news for Chu Mingcheng, at least he didnt have to worry about selling the aquatic products he caught. Carrying a bucket, he searched and picked up snails, but it wasnt long before he felt a soreness in his waist. Sitting in the office all year round had deteriorated his physical fitness significantly. The six pack he had when he graduated had now turned into a single pack. Fortunately, he hadnt gained weight yet and was still maintaining his handsome appearance. Chu Mingcheng straightened up and rubbed his waist, suddenly feeling that this kind of life was rather nice. Fishing could become a hobby, and foraging the sea could improve his fitness. After collecting spicy snails for half an hour, he estimated that he had gathered dozens of them and checked his data panel. [Warted Litchi Snail, also known as spicy snail, bitter snail (Level 2)] [Current Experience: 13/30] [Size Increase +2%] [Deliciousness +2%] [Capture Rate +2%] The capture rate and size data were quite interesting. Did this mean that with a higher rate, he could just walk along the beach and find larger spicy snails? It was a pity that he didnt buy the tongs for foraging; otherwise, he could have pulled out many spicy snails that were wedged in the cracks. He would have to wait for the next chance. The calm period after the tide went out lasted for about two hours, which meant that around three oclock, the water would start to rise. Chu Mingcheng had no choice but to move back towards the shore, and by three-thirty, he had to leave the beach. While collecting, he didnt discriminate between small and big snails, picking them all up. However, when selling, he had to release those that were only the size of a thumbnail. Looking at a handful of small spicy snails in his hand, Chu Mingcheng wondered if he released them and then caught them again, would he continue to gain experience, or could he exploit this bug? So, he found an easily recognizable tide pool and let the snails go into it. Then he picked one up again and placed it in his bucket; naturally, the experience on the data panel remained unchanged. Chu Mingcheng shrugged. It was just a simple attempt, and it was normal not to be able to exploit a bug. It seems that in the future, he shouldnt release the fish he caught in the reservoir casually; he would have to release them further away. It was now close to four oclock, and there were bound to be people waiting at the docks to buy seafood. The level of the spicy snails had risen to level 6, which, according to the experience, meant he had caught more than two hundred. But after releasing a small handful, he figured that he had about one hundred and sixty or seventy left, all of quite a large size C he estimated there were more than two taels, mostly because of the shells weight. He drove to the road above the dock where there were some parking spaces, parked the car, and then carried his bucket down to the dock below. The dock here was small, with two available routes down. One was a flight of stairs that one could only walk down, and the other was a ramp that allowed vehicles to drive down. But with many people coming to buy seafood at this time, it was definitely congested below, so generally those who knew the situation would not drive down. Chu Mingcheng took a shortcut and arrived at the dock after about ten minutes. The dock was bustling by then, with some boats already back. Carrying a bucket, he went down and immediately, some people crowded around to see what was in his bucket. Hey, did you catch these spicy snails yourself? Are you selling them? Just this little amount? Chu Mingcheng looked at the few people who had gathered around and then grabbed a handful of spicy snails, Ive just picked these from the seashore, they are all decent sized. I reckon theres more than two catties here. If any of you want them, take them for sixty. Sixty? Make it cheaper, Ill take them for fifty! Hearing there was a bargain to be had, a middle-aged woman grabbed a handful to inspect and immediately started to haggle. Seeing a purse slung around her waist, Chu Mingcheng immediately realized she must be a fish seller. If she bought from him, she could turn around and sell them for thirty-five yuan a catty, and he had more than two catties in his bucket, reckoning he could earn an extra ten or twenty yuan. A man nearby seemed to have specifically come to buy seafood and heard Chu Mingcheng would sell for sixty, he quickly said, Ill take them for sixty, I can transfer the money to you with my phone. With that, he pulled out his phone, ready to pay first. Sixty it is then, Ill take them. Seeing someone beat her to it, the middle-aged woman became anxious. Forgetting to haggle, she hastily took out cash from her purse. Auntie, this brother looks like he came to try some fresh seafood. Ive only got two catties of spicy snails here. You wont make much profit, so dont compete with him. Chu Mingcheng said with a smile, as he pushed back the money offered by the middle-aged woman and took out his phone to receive the payment. Fine, fine! The profit was only about ten yuan or so, the middle-aged woman seemed easy-going, smiled, and did not mind. Seeing that he wouldnt sell to her, she turned to wait for someone elses goods. The man paid, found a bag in his car, and transferred all the spicy snails into it. Chu Mingcheng then carried his empty bucket back and drove to the fishing gear store to buy luminous floats and a headlamp. He had intended to buy insect repellent elsewhere, but the store owner had everything, including snake repellent. It was not unusual for someone fishing at night to have snakes for company, and catching water snakes was common as well, so he shouldnt skimp on such small expenses. He also bought an oxygen pump for a hundred yuan, to keep the fish he caught alive till the morning. After purchasing his items, he went to a local seafood noodle shop nearby. Entering, it seemed a bit early as the noodle shop wasnt very busy. The signature dish here was probably the seafood noodles, which generally contained clams, shrimp, and Little Huang. A bowl was priced at eighteen yuan. Just as Chu Mingcheng was about to order a bowl, he saw the sign for crab noodles with earthworm soup. Crab here referred to green crabs, a local term and also an ancient designation for green crabs. Earthworms were locally known as sea earthworms or black earthworms, and some places called them mud worms. Scientifically named Delicious Ge Nang Star Worm, it is a sea creature that looks frightening but tastewise is quite exquisite. Boss, you still have crab noodles? How much does that cost? For the crab, you have to choose it yourself. The earthworm soup noodles are eighty yuan a bowl now. Sea earthworms have become expensive; theres no helping it. If you had come two months earlier, it would have only cost sixty yuan a bowl. This noodle shop was run by a couple, and upon hearing Chu Mingcheng asking about prices, the shop owners wife hurried out of the kitchen. So, how much are you selling the crabs for? Crabs are expensive now too, a hundred and fifty yuan a catty. They are raised by my husbands younger brother. We kill them fresh when ordered, ensuring every one of them is full of roe and fleshy. If you find any skinny ones, Ill compensate threefold. As she spoke, the shop owners wife pulled out a plastic basket full of green crabs tied with red strings. Seeing the red strings indicating that the crabs weighed at least two to three taels each, Chu Mingchengs eyelid twitched, and he instantly gave up on the idea of eating a bowl. However, he was quite interested in the earthworm soup noodles. Although he thought about saving money, he still ended up ordering a bowl for the sake of tasting it. Sea earthworms were definitely one of the marine products, and after a hard days work, a lot could be caught. Perhaps when the level-up speed for the spicy snails slowed down, he could go to the tidal flats to shovel sea earthworms. Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Invasive Species Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Invasive Species However, Chu Mingcheng wasnt quite sure where to dig for sea earthworms, but fortunately, he had a friend he could ask. After a bowl of very fresh and delicious earthworm soup noodles, his energy levels had significantly increased. Chu Mingcheng paid for his meal and got back into his car, took out his phone, found a number, and dialed it. Soon, the call was picked up, and a young voice came from the phone. Ah Cheng, whats up, calling so late? Nothing much, just wanted to know if you know where to dig for sea earthworms? Sea earthworms? Youre planning to dig for those things? Yeah, just have nothing better to do, figured Id experience life a bit! Experience life, huh? Those things arent easy to dig. East Yue Beach has plenty, but getting them out is quite a strain on the back Theres some at Dongyue? Alright, got it. Chu Mingcheng was about to hang up the phone, but then he remembered that this guy was also a fishing enthusiast, who had taken on the world with nothing but a lure rod and no money. Fishing alone was a bit boring, so why not invite him over to keep him company? Ah Wei, Ive been staying in my hometown recently, been fishing at the reservoir up in the mountains these past few days. Theres a lot of Crucian Carp. Wanna come? No way, youve taken up fishing too? Why didnt you say so earlier? Ive been fishing outside these last few days and havent caught a single thing. Ill find some time to come over. Great, its a date then. After hanging up the phone, Chu Mingcheng had intended to head directly to the reservoir, but the memory of last nights fish thief suddenly popped into his mind. After a moments hesitation, he decided to drive back home first. He scooped up Whitebait and Ground Tiger and brought them to the front yard. Looking around and seeing no sign of the fish thief, he placed the fish near the well and then left, without paying any more attention to them. The domestic dogs and tabby cats of Huaxia are breeds that have survived natural selection over thousands of years, possessing strong survival abilities and not lacking in intelligence. What Chu Mingcheng did not know was that the fish thief from last night had already appeared near his house before he returned, and had found a secluded spot to lie down and rest while simultaneously keeping watch over the front yard. The scene of him placing the fish by the well was entirely witnessed by the tabby cat. The tabby cat, though clever, did not understand why Chu Mingcheng would leave food by the well; it only knew that it wouldnt need to hunt for its own food today. After waiting for some time after he left, the tabby cat finally got up and climbed to the top of the wall to survey its surroundings. Feeling no danger, it finally took a leap and, picking up the largest Whitebait at the edge of the well, bolted off. Arriving at a place it deemed safe, the cat, still carrying the fish, looked around once more, and, feeling no danger, started to enjoy its catch. After finishing off a Whitebait, it licked its mouth clean with its tongue, still feeling peckish, and so it headed back towards the yard for more. Chu Mingcheng, upon returning to the reservoir, was feeling a bit down since there was no one else night fishing there that evening. It was still fine now, with the sun not completely set. Come nightfall, the entire reservoir would become eerily cold, which felt quite terrifying. He hesitated for a moment on whether he really wanted to fish at night, as he had watched his fair share of horror movies since he was a child, and it was especially easy to let his imagination run wild in this kind of environment. Yet, after checking the aquatic produce in his mental directory, he ultimately decided to go night fishing. He was almost thirty, and he had quit his job. Now that he had his cheat activated, it would be too late if he didnt put in the effort now. Is a ghost more important than making money? Chu Mingcheng first baited his fishing spot, then sprinkled some snake repellent powder around his fishing area, took out his fishing rod, tied on a glowing float for night fishing, and placed his headlamp beside him, ready for use. The bait from the morning was a bit dry, so to save it, he poured some water over it and kneaded it a bit. ` It was only six oclock in the evening, the time when fish come out to feed and are most active. He had just cast his bait into the water, and before even half a minute passed, a fish took a bite. Chu Mingcheng saw the float dip and was about to lift the rod when a strong force suddenly struck. The slightly bent rod tip bent as if pressed down by a heavy weight, and the tip even submerged into the water. The fishing rod kept trembling, obviously, he had hooked a big fish. Chu Mingcheng quickly gripped the rod with both hands to steady it but was very surprised in his heart. The hook he was using was meant for medium and small-sized freshwater fish; fierce carnivorous species wouldnt normally take the bait, and even if they did, they should be able to easily shake off the hook. What was going on now? Based on the strength coming from his hands, the fish he had hooked shouldnt be small, but neither should it be too large. But fearing his fishing rod might break, he dared not exert too much force and awkwardly began to pull and tug, hoping to tire out the fishs strength first. There was no need to tug when fishing for Crucian Carp and Whitebait; lifting them directly out of the water was sufficient, only the big Crucian Carp from yesterday took a little more effort. This led to his lack of experience in playing fish, only knowing to pull the rod back and forth and not daring to use too much strength. Five or six minutes later, the fish still hadnt shaken off the hook, but he had managed to pull it to the surface of the water. What is this At first, when he saw it was about forty centimeters, he was quite happy, even if it was a Carp, it was good, and if it was a grass carp, it would be even better. But at the next moment, when he saw the fishs wide-open mouth, like that of a crocodile, all his excitement was quenched with an icy chill. Damn, it was an Alligator Gar! How could there be an Alligator Gar here? Which son of a turtle released it? Chu Mingcheng wore a solemn expression; just recently, many places across the country had been in an uproar over this invasive species. Now, he didnt know how many Alligator Gars were in the reservoir or how long they had been released. If they had already begun to reproduce, then it would indeed be quite troublesome, as the other fish in the reservoir would have no room to survive. Originally, Chu Mingcheng was indifferent about whether the fish got off the hook; his main concern was ensuring that his fishing rod didnt break. Now that he had hooked an Alligator Gar, he definitely needed to prioritize reeling it in. Chu Mingcheng, who hadnt put much effort until now, began to pull with a bit more force. The Alligator Gar, in pain and unable to bear it, struggled violently again on the surface of the water. The fishing rod emitted a squeaking sound, as if it was at its breaking point. Seeing this, Chu Mingcheng had to ease up his strength a bit and continue the battle of endurance with the Alligator Gar. Fishing was a physically demanding job, something he hadnt realized before. But now, after struggling with the Alligator Gar for three or four minutes, he understood that the fish he had caught before were too gentle. This Alligator Gar weighed at most two or three pounds, yet it took him so much time. Another three or four minutes passed, and the Alligator Gars strength was finally depleted and he pulled it ashore. Chu Mingcheng finally took a breath and relaxed. The past ten minutes felt like he had gone on a slow run for one thousand meters, his entire body warmed up, and droplets of sweat even formed on his forehead. As he took a closer look, he finally understood why the Alligator Gar couldnt shake off the hook. The bait he had prepared actually had no attraction for Alligator Gars, but the bait ground he had laid attracted many fish which in turn drew the Alligator Gar. The initial bite was from a small Crucian Carp, but it only struggled for a moment before the Alligator Gar bit it and swallowed it. This caused the hook to be swallowed into its stomach too, and just so happened to hook onto its internal organs, making it unable to spit out the hook. Just as Chu Mingcheng was considering how to physically dispose of the Alligator Gar, the aquatic fish guide in his mind suddenly underwent a new change. ` Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Life Transformation Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Life Transformation [The Fish Encyclopedias ecological rescue function has been activated. Please, host, eradicate the species that are destroying the ecological environment as soon as possible.] [Alligator Gar (Invasive Species)] [Ecological Destruction Index: 5 stars] [Alligator Gars Eliminated: 0] [Hooking Probability: +0%] [Scan Detection: 3/day] [Life Conversion: 0 times (Convert the life energy of the Alligator Gar to enhance the hosts physique)] Oh man, I didnt expect the Fish Encyclopedia to have this feature! Chu Mingcheng never imagined that by accidentally fishing an Alligator Gar, he would unlock a new function in the Fish Encyclopedia. The Alligator Gar had no economic value, and he initially thought it was useless to catch it, but unexpectedly, there was also a data panel with a body enhancement ability, which was pretty darn cool. If he caught more, would he not need to soak goji berries anymore? And what does this scan detection mean? Chu Mingcheng didnt quite understand the last item, but seeing that it could be used three times a day, he tried using it once. Instantly, the Fish Encyclopedia popped up with a message. [Reservoir detected, beginning scan] [Scan complete. There are five Alligator Gars in the reservoir, the largest weighing 4.73 jin. Please, host, fish them out and physically eliminate them as soon as possible to protect the reservoirs ecology.] Sheesh, theres so many! Chu Mingcheng gasped when he saw the number. If left unchecked, would there be any other fish left in the reservoir after these multiplied? Fortunately, after the scan, the Fish Encyclopedia provided the positions of all the Alligator Gars, enabling him to target them specifically for fishing. Its just that his current fishing rod wouldnt do the job, so that would have to wait until the next day. He couldnt do anything about the Alligator Gars in the reservoir for now, but he could deal with the one he had caught, just in time to see what changes would occur on the data panel after killing one. Chu Mingcheng immediately found a large rock and was ready to smash it when his phone in his pocket rang. He tossed the rock aside and took out his cell phone first. Seeing the call was from Ah Wei, he picked up, puzzled, Whats up, Ah Wei? Hurry up and come night fishing at the reservoir, Im almost at that reservoir you mentioned! Chu Mingcheng was speechless about Ah Weis impulsive actions but was used to them by now. It was just as well that he had decided to go night fishing; otherwise, he would have had to leave home now. Im already at the reservoir, hurry over! With that said, Chu Mingcheng picked up his headlamp and walked towards the road outside to meet him. As soon as he reached the roadside, he saw a Wuling minivan coming from a distance and stopping behind his car. The door opened, and a tall, slender, somewhat handsome young man stepped out, his skin color almost matching Principal Hei Gus. Ah Cheng, have you fallen into the trap? I cant believe youre here night fishing. I couldnt believe it when I heard you over the phone, Zhang Wei greeted Chu Mingcheng with a chuckle, playfully punching his chest with his little fists. Of course, after this, Im never going back on the path of fishing, Chu Mingcheng knew his own affairs; others fished as a hobby, but he fished purely because of the Golden Finger. Well, looks like Ill have company on future fishing trips! Zhang Wei took out his lure rod, and together they headed to the reservoir, Caught many fish? Ive just arrived this evening, but someone released Alligator Gar in this reservoir, and I just fished one out, Chu Mingcheng said as he lifted the still alive Alligator Gar by the fishing line. Damn! Theres Alligator Gar here? Zhang Wei looked at the little Alligator Gar in shock, then showed a look of regret, Its a pity, you caught it here. Chu Mingcheng didnt quite understand, What do you mean? You wouldnt know since youve been at work, but several parks with man-made lakes in our county have had Alligator Gars released in them. Those parks are offering a reward, one thousand yuan for each Alligator Gar. These days, every Fishing Man has been going to the parks to fish for Alligator Gar, so its crowded. Zhang Wei himself had been fishing for Alligator Gar there the past couple of days, but unfortunately had not caught any. He had heard that Chu Mingcheng was now starting to fish, and that too in the reservoir near them, so he had quickly packed up his gear and headed over. Upon hearing one thousand yuan per fish, Chu Mingchengs eyes instantly turned into little dollar signs. Since he could make money fishing for Alligator Gar, he would go buy a decent fishing rod tomorrow. You could directly fish for Alligator Gar, not only to make money but also to enhance your physique. Its just that the fishing gear shop is closed now, otherwise he would definitely go buy a sea rod and fish out all the Alligator Gar in the reservoir. Zhang Wei took his lure rod to a nearby spot to start casting, while Chu Mingcheng picked up a rock to kill the Alligator Gar. This thing is a menace alive, better to turn it into fertilizer dead! Soon, the Alligator Gar was killed, and a few changes were noticed on the data panel in Chu Mingchengs mind. [Alligator Gar (Invasive Species)] [Ecological Destruction Index: 5 stars] [Elimination of Alligator Gar: 1] [Hooking Chance: +10%] [Scanning Detection: 3/day] [Life Conversion: 1 time] Just one could increase the hooking chance by 10%, then it wouldnt be long before he became an Alligator Gar assassin. In the future, if he encountered another bounty for Alligator Gar, he could actually make some extra cash and enhance his physique with this. Seeing the life conversion turn to one time, he immediately clicked to use it. Then he felt a slight warmth in his body ??? Thats it? Was that even a second? Chu Mingcheng was speechless, but after feeling his body, he found that the soreness in his back from picking spicy snails in the afternoon was lessened; it seemed this was a task where little by little adds up! The night sky was enchanting tonight, and the water seemed like it could produce a ghost at any moment. But neither of the two fishing men were scared, one occasionally casting the rod to exercise his Qilin arm, the other occasionally pulling up a couple of Crucian Carps and chuckling as he tossed them into the bucket. Damn, all the fish in this reservoir couldnt have been devoured by Alligator Gar, could they? Ive been fishing for three hours, and I havent seen a single fish. Zhang Wei, tired from casting, decided to take a break and came over to complain to Chu Mingcheng. No way, Ive got more than half a bucket here! Chu Mingcheng pointed to the half bucket full of Crucian Carps and felt a bit strange himself. His spot was good, yielding a fish every three to four minutes. The half bucket he had was after he had thrown away Whitebait and ground tiger, keeping only the Crucian Carps; otherwise, he would have had even more. Damn, all the good spots are on your side, I should have gone farther away, Zhang Wei cursed after seeing the half bucket of Crucian Carps, and then his expression turned ingratiating. Brother Chu, why dont you let me have a go? Ive been skunked all day, I cant just go back like this! Alright, you fish for a while and then well head back, its getting late. After all, he was still a novice, Chu Mingcheng didnt plan to fish all night. He handed his rod over to Zhang Wei and went to check their catch for the night. [Crucian Carp (Level 2)] [Current Experience: 7/30] [Size Increase: +2%] [Deliciousness: +2%] [Catch Rate: +2%] Not counting the four from the day, Chu Mingcheng had caught a total of 23 Crucian Carps in three hours. The bite was indeed great at night, many times he caught two at once, and there should be over ten pounds of Crucian Carp in the bucket. Considering thirty yuan each, he should be able to sell them for at least three hundred yuan tomorrow, not bad at all. As for Whitebait and ground tiger, he had caught some of those too, which had now reached level 1. But these two kinds of seafood didnt hold much value for him at the moment, so he just treated leveling up like playing a game! Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Hanfu Beauties Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Hanfu Beauties The M-tuned lure rod had a moderate flexibility, suitable for baits weighing 7~20 grams C the specifications were all marked on the rod itself, and the fishing line typically paired with it was between 1.0~1.5 PE line. As far as Chu Mingcheng knew, Zhang Weis lure rod was ML-tuned with a medium-soft stiffness, a bit softer than his own rod, yet it was already capable of catching most fish. The fishing gear store owners recommended rod wasnt too expensive, with a total set-up costing one thousand two hundred dollars, which wouldnt pose a big problem for fish up to five pounds. But hearing that it could only handle that weight made Chu Mingcheng a bit apprehensive. After all, the largest Alligator Gar he had scanned in the reservoir the night before was nearly five pounds, and this rod was not the particularly expensive or high-quality kind. Based on his online research, there was still a risk of the rod breaking. Therefore, Chu Mingcheng thought it over and bought another MH-tuned lure rod. This set was a bit nicer, costing him two thousand eight hundred dollars, which meant catching a ten-pound fish wouldnt be a problem. As a newbie with no one to teach him, he wasnt aware that with the right technique, this two thousand eight hundred dollar rod could not just land ten pounds but even fifty pounds, provided the fishing line didnt break. Lure rods are actually divided into seawater and freshwater varieties, and the type Chu Mingcheng bought belonged to the freshwater category, also known as a light lure rod. Of course, it could be used for sea fishing. As long as one doesnt fish in the Far Sea, there wont be fifteen or twenty-pound behemoths to catch, even landing a five-pound sea bass would be cause for celebration. However, if he wanted to fish for truly fierce large marine species in the future, he would still need to prepare a sea rod. Having spent four thousand dollars, he had put all the money C more than two thousand dollars C he earned in two days into it, and still had to pay an additional two thousand. Becoming a qualified Fishing Man was indeed not easy! Chu Mingcheng, under the fishing gear store owners beaming gaze, carried his newly purchased fishing gear back to his car and then drove home. Arriving upstairs with breakfast, he overheard a group of elder women chattering away in the front yard. Zhang Wei, however, was still sleeping like a log. Get up, theres a girl in black stockings downstairs! Slurp~ Zhang Wei instantly opened his eyes with a gulp, quickly running to the balcony, Where are the black stockings? Do you see those ladies over there? Their granddaughter is putting them on right now! Wheres their granddaughter then? How would I know? Damn! Zhang Wei uninterestedly returned to his room, noticing that breakfast was already laid out on the coffee table and immediately reached for it. Chu Mingcheng slapped his hand away and said irritably, Scram, not even washing your face or brushing your teeth, what the hell! Zhang Wei wasnt offended and chuckled as he ran into the washroom, adeptly taking out his previously used cup and a new toothbrush from the cabinet. After breakfast, Chu Mingcheng took out the two lure rods he had just bought that morning to get the spinning reels and lines ready. Wow, you bought lure rods? And you got two at once? Zhang Wei immediately touched them upon seeing them, not hiding the delight in his eyes. Arent we going to the park today? I planned to check if there are any Alligator Gars, so I bought two lure rods. Even if there arent any Alligator Gars there, Ill go fishing for sea bass at the seaside or abandoned farms in the future. Tsk tsk tsk, looking at how prepared you are, you really intend to become a Fishing Man, huh? Not planning on getting married anymore? Well see. I still have two years until Im thirty, I can still have fun for a bit longer. During their casual conversation, the two of them got the fishing lines and other things ready and then drove to the county town. There were several parks in the county town, and the parks currently offering a reward for Alligator Gars were Qingping Park, Central Park, and Upper River Park, mainly because these three parks were managed by someone. First, Chu Mingcheng drove to the closest one, Central Park, which was inside the county town and was the smallest in scale among the three, with the smallest artificial lake as well. Most visitors were local elders and children, with not many young people coming. Chu Mingcheng arrived at the park carrying his lure rod around nine in the morning, but there were already quite a few people fishing C a quick glance showed there were at least twenty people. It seemed the reward for the Alligator Gar was quite enticing! Next to the artificial lake, there were also several security guards on patrol, most likely to prevent Fishing Man from catching other fish and taking them away. Chu Mingcheng immediately activated his scanner to check if there were any Alligator Gar in the artificial lake. [Artificial lake detected, scanning commencing] [Scan complete, there are three Alligator Gars in the reservoir, the largest weighing 6.43 pounds. Please physically eliminate them as soon as possible to protect the aquatic ecological environment.] Unexpectedly, there really were three of them, and this artificial lakes fish population must have been preyed upon quite a bit! Its just that this spot Chu Mingcheng had a strange look on his face. All three Alligator Gars were clustered in a corner on the southwest side of the artificial lakea rather secluded spot that didnt seem very appealing, and also one that no one had gone to fish at. Even the smallest artificial lake couldnt be fully occupied by just over twenty Fishing Men. In fact, the twenty-some Fishing Men only took up a small portion of the space. However, Alligator Gars have a particularly large appetite; wherever they settle down, other fish are sure to be scared away. Without food intake, their whereabouts are indeed hard to discern; what might be found in the east today could likely be in the west by night. And an artificial lake, no matter how small, would not be trivial to cover; catching them all indeed poses a certain difficulty. Ah Wei, Im planning to go over there, do you want to join me? Seeing Zhang Wei had found a spacious spot and was ready to start fishing, Chu Mingcheng quickly caught hold of him and asked. Zhang Wei glanced at the spot pointed out by Chu Mingcheng, and seeing how far it was, his enthusiasm was immediately dampened: Why go somewhere so out of the way? Ill just fish here! Alright then! Chu Mingcheng, seeing that he was unwilling, did not insist. Taking his own equipment, he slowly made his way to that corner. Halfway along the route, a sound like the tinkling of spring water reached his ears from not too far away. Eh, this sounds like Guzheng music. Chu Mingcheng was somewhat surprised. He didnt understand musical instruments, but being a Huaxia person, he could still make out a bit. The sound was coming from the pavilion up ahead. As he approached the pavilion, Chu Mingcheng discovered a group of people. Out of curiosity, he moved closer and saw a girl dressed in pink and white Hanfu seated on one side, playing the Guzheng. Pure and untouched, her simplicity radiating. Her eyebrows like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn waters. Gentle and enchanting, with fragrant charms that intoxicate. Holy shit, those hands are so skillful! In the center of the courtyard was another girl, clad in an emerald green Hanfu dress, dancing gracefully. Such beauty in the southern lands, light and supple in her dance; at an autumn evening banquet, her movements swift as if cutting through clouds and rain Holy shit, her legs are so white! There was also a woman with a ponytail, looking efficient, holding a camera and filming; it seemed that these three were shooting a video. Chu Mingcheng hadnt expected such an exciting spectacle at this location and felt pity for Zhang Wei who missed out; there were beautiful women here, yet he couldnt see them. Unfortunately, the pretty dancers performance lasted just over a minute. After filming, they gathered to review the footage. Chu Mingcheng was there to fish, not to watch beautiful women, so he continued past the pavilion on the back path, arriving at the Alligator Gars temporary resting spot. Overseas, Alligator Gar fishing usually involves rock fishing with baits such as Carp and Crucian Carp. Lure fishing could easily catch them too, as long as one locates the right spots. The guidebook scan revealed the exact sizes of these three Alligator Gars; the heaviest currently being over six pounds and the smallest also over four pounds. Chu Mingcheng placed his fishing gear on the ground next to him and then took out the MH-power lure rod. Luckily he had prudently purchased the stiffer rod; otherwise, these Alligator Gars really wouldnt be easy to catch. Fortunately, one could tell at a glance that these Alligator Gars had not been released long ago; if theyd been there longer and grown to several dozen pounds, hed be out of luck for the time being. Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 12: 3000 Yuan in Hand Chapter 12: Chapter 12: 3000 Yuan in Hand Tying on a sinking minnow, Ah Cheng adjusted the drag of the spinning reel, then with his left hand, he cast the fishing rod, and the minnow drew an arc before landing with a thunk near the three alligator gars. After allowing the minnow to sink to the bottom, Chu Mingcheng raised the fishing rod slightly and began to reel in with his right hand on the spinning reels handle, occasionally twitching the tip of the rod. This technique is called jerking, which makes the minnow dart frantically like a frightened little fish, attracting the attention of carnivorous species more easily. Soon, Chu Mingcheng retrieved the minnow and cast it out again. Lure fishing is just like this, constantly casting and reeling in, unlike pole fishing where one simply waits for a bite after baiting. The constant casting and jerk reeling of the minnow, along with a 10% catching chance, quickly caught the attention of the nearby alligator gars. Chu Mingcheng had practiced casting several times and became more skilled, casting again, and the minnow landed just right on the water surface about twenty or so meters ahead, closer to the position of the alligator gar scanned by the pictorial guide. Seeing someone fishing here, some of the passersby who had been watching the beauty dance, as well as the temporary security guards specially hired by the park, all gathered around. Of course, the beauties who had finished their shoot and noticed the crowd shifting this way also followed out of curiosity. However, before they could react, there was a splash and the water suddenly churned, revealing a ferocious-looking fish to everyones view. Damn, an alligator gar! Awesome, so many people have fished for two days and didnt catch one, but this guy managed to do it in just a moment. Actually, some people caught two earlier, thought there were none left, didnt expect there were still some hidden over here. One thousand yuan appeared before their eyes, stirring up discussion among the crowd, some envious, after all, that money came easily! Chu Mingcheng couldnt care less about them, he hurriedly braced the fishing rod with his right hand and began the side pull, starting to tug with the alligator gar. Lure rods are light, and the feeling of pulling is completely different from pole fishing, it felt like pulling the fish with his bare hands. But a fish weighing four or five jin isnt so easy to catch, especially a fierce alligator gar, Chu Mingcheng could only tug back and forth, waiting for it to tire before reeling in quickly. The lure rod was stiff enough, not bending full circle, only emitting a squeaking sound from the tension. Fortunately, the alligator gar wasnt far from shore, just over twenty meters away, and given the significant mismatch in strength, it was pulled to the shore in just five or six minutes. An enthusiastic onlooker immediately picked up the landing net Chu Mingcheng had placed on the ground and scooped up the struggling alligator gar. If Chu Mingcheng had to do it by himself, he probably would have to play the fish for a few more minutes until it got tired, but with help, it saved him a lot of effort and time. Thank you! No problem at all, its my first time seeing this thing, really curious, said the friendly older man, waving his hand and placing the alligator gar on the lawn. Chu Mingcheng put down the fishing rod and took out a bleeding dagger from the toolkit and stabbed toward its forehead. However, with a hiss, the dagger only left a white scratch on its forehead. Not only did it not harm the fish, but the piercing also caused it to struggle and thrash furiously, opening and closing its large mouth as if threatening the crowd not to come close. Shit, its forehead is really tough! Ive seen a video before; foreigners have to use a cutting grinder to open up the scales of an alligator gar. No wonder they cant be released; black fish and the like are mere minions in comparison! The beauty who was playing the zither just now blinked her big eyes and pulled the beauty who had been dancing, saying, Sister Luoluo, is this an Alligator Gar? It looks so fierce, and its mouth is like a crocodiles. Yeah! Some people are really unethical. The Alligator Gar has no natural predators in these lakes. If we dont get rid of them, I bet it wont be long before there are no other fish in this lake. The beauty called Luoluo looked furious, obviously knowing quite a bit about Alligator Gars. What? All the fish in the lake would be eaten up? Thats a bit too exaggerated, isnt it? The zither-playing beauty seemed very surprised. At this point, Chu Mingcheng, who had to move because of the Alligator Gars thrashing, happened to face them, and she just glanced over subconsciously. But with that one glance, she was hooked; this man was more than just a little handsome! She automatically ignored the one with the net, her mouth slightly agape, staring blankly at him. It wasnt just her; her two companions werent faring much better either. Chu Mingcheng seized the opportunity, held down the Alligator Gar with his left hand, then stabbed into its eye with a dagger. But the Alligator Gar struggled fiercely, and its body was very slippery, so it took him several attempts to successfully kill it. He wiped the splashes of water from his face with his arm and unexpectedly discovered that quite a few women around him were staring at him, including two great beauties. One skilled with her hands, the other with fair legs, whom he had just seen, so he greeted them with a nod and a smile, full of charm. Not bad, Ah Cheng, you actually managed to catch one. Just as the two great beauties were slightly embarrassed and shifted their gaze away, Zhang Wei, who had noticed the commotion long ago, finally arrived. Picking up the dead Alligator Gar felt like holding a thousand yuan, making him extraordinarily excited. Take this one to the person in charge to exchange for money, and bring someone here while youre at it. Ill continue fishing; I saw two more just now. Zhang Weis arrival was timely; Ah Cheng had been thinking about calling someone! Got it, Im on it. Zhang Wei was decisive and immediately went with the security guard next to him to the person in charge for the money. As for whether the person would refuse to pay, he wasnt worried. There were originally more than three Alligator Gars in this artificial lake, and the people who had caught them before had all been paid. He had been fishing here all day and had seen it happen. Chu Mingcheng continued to fish, and a few of the Fishing Men, seeing his success, started fishing nearby as well, about twenty meters away. He didnt say anything when he saw this, as the chance of catching after killing the second Alligator Gar had increased to 20%, and the remaining two Alligator Gars would naturally bite his hook first. Sure enough, by the time Zhang Wei returned with the person in charge, Chu Mingcheng had already caught the remaining two Alligator Gars. Once you find the right spot, hooking these creatures really isnt difficult. No need to mention using lures or live bait, even using pig kidneys or liver as bait would get them on the hook quickly. After dealing with the three Alligator Gars and successfully obtaining three thousand yuan, Chu Mingcheng immediately changed his destination and headed for Upper River Park. Before leaving, he made a point of looking around at the crowd and noticed the two great beauties had left; he felt somewhat regretfulwhy dont modern beautiful girls know how to take the initiative? Wouldnt love come knocking if they did? Ever since his first breakup, Chu Mingcheng had actually met quite a few girls. Perhaps his first girlfriend had set his standards high with her beauty, turning him into someone fixated on looks. So, he had been set up on a few blind dates since then, and many girls, seeing how handsome he was, approached him on their own initiative, but sadly there was no spark. Yet, today he had encountered two he felt a connection with, especially the dancing beauty, who surely had many moves and poses up her sleeve. Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Continue the Music, Continue the Dance Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Continue the Music, Continue the Dance Chu Mingcheng soon arrived at Upper River Park, where there were many stalls and vendors, especially lively because of the National Holiday. However, there werent many fishermen; through inquiring, he found out that someone had caught two Alligator Gars consecutively yesterday and, since then, no traces of Alligator Gar had appeared, making everyone think the area had been cleaned out. Chu Mingcheng frowned slightly, feeling slightly regretful, as two thousand yuan had slipped away. But whether there were any still left would only be determined after scanning. [Detected an artificial lake, starting scan] [Scan complete, no invasive species Alligator Gar detected.] Seems like there really are none left! Chu Mingcheng felt some disappointment, Lets go, it seems this place has been fished out, lets check out Qingping Park. Oh, we should have gone there earlier, Ah Cheng youre so handsome, itd be such a waste not to show your face there! The reason I befriend you is because I value your honesty! As the two were heading to Qingping Park, two beautiful women who had been staring blankly at Chu Mingcheng were now giggling and playing in the car. Jiayi, did you lose your soul just now, feeling a bit flirty? Not at all~ Zhou Jiayis face turned red with embarrassment, but she didnt forget to retort, I think youre the one longing for a man, Luoluo. If I hadnt reminded you, youd still be staring! Jiang Luoluo felt a bit embarrassed to be called out, but she couldnt admit it aloud, I was clearly looking at that Alligator Gar. Oh~ You were clearly staring at his face! I was not, you little liar, see my Nine Yin White Bone Claw Hahaha Stop It tickles Luoluo, dont randomly touch The photographer driving the car looked at the two women playing together, smiling helplessly, Okay, you two, were almost at Qingping Park, tidy up your clothes. Jiang Luoluo and Zhou Jiayi then stopped their frolicking and began straightening out their Hanfu. The two had known each other for nearly eight years. Jiang Luoluo had transferred to a school in Treasure Island for high school, coincidentally ending up in the same class as Zhou Jiayi. Later, they accidentally ended up at the same university, though one majored in classical dance performance and the other in guzheng. Jiang Luoluos family encountered business problems after she started university, so she planned to make some dance videos to post online to see if she could earn some living expenses. Thanks to her exquisite dance skills and spiritual choreography, she quickly became a somewhat famous Bilibili video host. Although she didnt earn much, her living expenses during university were no longer dependent on her family. After graduation, Jiang Luoluo specifically collaborated with Zhou Jiayi for a video, which unexpectedly went viral, gaining five hundred thousand followers in a week and significantly increasing the views on her previous videos, and naturally, her income multiplied. However, she declined all offers from influencer companies, instead specifically hiring a photographer and upgrading her filming equipment. Jiang Luoluo was well aware of the risks of capital investment; although it could earn more money in a short period, what was lost wasnt just freedom, as future outcomes were unpredictable. She would rather earn less, and at worst, run a training class when older, than become a capital-manipulated influencer. This trip was actually specially planned by Jiang Luoluo, inviting Zhou Jiayi to join. Zhou Jiayi, coming from Treasure Island, was very keen on exploring the mainland, so she had invited her friend to come play, filming videos along the way. This county town was their first stop. They came to Le City because it hosted a Five-A scenic spot, Yanshan, but having just arrived in the town yesterday, they planned to explore around the town first. Filming in the park was Zhou Jiayis idea, to which Jiang Luoluo was more than happy to cooperate. Qingping Park was considered the largest park in the county with the best environment, its lake being natural, not man-made. With its mountain-side location and numerous water activities, the park was also a popular camping spot, attracting many young women. Chu Mingcheng and another person arrived only to encounter a problem, there was a traffic jam. Lets just find a place to park outside and walk in, Zhang Wei suggested. The only road leading to the park was merely 300 meters long, but it was packed with cars, forcing pedestrians to take the grass beside the road. It would take at least two hours to drive through, as the traffic was almost at a standstill. Even if they forced their way in, theyd still have a long wait to get out, so naturally, Chu Mingcheng wasnt foolish enough to drive in. The duo simply went to have lunch first and then took a rest before coming back. After parking the car outside, they carried their fishing gear and walked in. It took them about fifteen minutes to reach the small lake. The Southern National Day holiday wasnt cool at all, the temperature was still above 28 degrees today. Many young ladies in cool swimsuits were playing water games by the lake, and some girls in life jackets showed their white thighs while playing on jet skis in the middle of the lake. The area around the lake was filled with numerous LSP, from Damn grandpas to little kids holding water guns. At this moment, age wasnt a barrier, everyone there shared the same passion. Chu Mingcheng appreciated a few pairs of long, white legs and then used his last scanning function of the day. [Detecting small lake, beginning scan] [Scan complete, there are seven alligator gars in the reservoir, the largest weighs 11.26 kilograms. Please catch and physically eliminate them soon to protect the aquatic environment.] This big, can my lure rod handle it? Chu Mingcheng furrowed his brow. Theoretically, his MH hardness lure rod could handle the 11-kilogram alligator gar, but if it broke, that would be expensive! He checked the positions of the alligator gars again and noticed they werent clustered together like at Central Park, but were all spread out. Everyone looked like they were having great fun with the water activities here, but in slightly quieter spots, many fishermen were fishing. Three of the alligator gars were within the range of these fishermen, and it was estimated that they would be caught soon, including the largest one. The other four were in another area. Although they were scattered, there were no fishermen in sight there. The smaller ones weighed just over three kilograms, and the largest was just eight kilograms, so his lure rod would have no problem handling them, totaling four thousand yuan he couldnt miss out. Ah Wei, Im going to fish over there, what about you? Im here looking no, Ill play for a while and then come over to you. Alright. Seeing how flexible Zhang Wei was, Chu Mingcheng decided not to disturb his fun. Carrying his fishing gear, he walked alone to a distant spot. Qingping Park was much larger than Central Park; it took him about twenty minutes to get to the first fishing spot. Just as he was about to pull out his lure rod to fish, a familiar guzheng music started playing. It cant be such a coincidence, right? A thought stirred in Chu Mingchengs mind, and he curiously slung his fishing gear back on to follow the sound. Cutting through a bamboo forest, he saw three familiar people in front of a cluster of flowers. Since the location was secluded and filming had just started, there were no spectators around them, which made Chu Mingchengs sudden appearance very noticeable. The first to see him was Jiang Luoluo. For some reason, her heart fluttered with embarrassment when she saw him approaching, and she stopped dancing. When she stopped, so did Zhou Jiayi, who was playing the guzheng, and Zhang Chumei, who was filming. Following Jiang Luoluos gaze, they also noticed Chu Mingcheng behind them. The ladies suddenly stopped and all looked at him simultaneously, but Chu Mingcheng didnt feel awkward at all and instead waved his hands signaling them to continue. Dont stop, keep playing the music, keep dancing, Im just watching! Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14: A Straight Mans Perspective is Based on People Chapter 14: Chapter 14: A Straight Mans Perspective is Based on People Do you think youre Uncle Liu or something? Jiang Luoluo immediately rolled her eyes and retorted without a hint of embarrassment. Dont slander people, I dont follow Uncle Liu! Chu Mingcheng declared seriously, defending his honor. As a good youth of the society with sound principles, how could he possibly mingle with Uncle Liu? Isnt this like admitting you have hidden silver here? Jiang Luoluo was somewhat speechless but found this handsome man rather amusing. However, their conversation left the sweet girl from Treasure Island a bit confused. Zhou Jiayi blinked her large eyes, puzzled, What exactly are you talking about? Isnt Uncle Liu, Liu Bei? What does he have to do with him? But Jiang Luoluo knew she was from Treasure Island and might not get some of the mainland jokes, so she went over and quietly explained to her. Chu Mingcheng, however, was unaware of this. He just felt that the girl with the big eyes spoke in a coquettish manner, seemingly pretending to be naive, which somewhat lowered his impression of her, but that had nothing to do with him anyway. Seeing there were no long beautiful legs to watch, he decided to go back to fishing. I wont disturb you guys anymore; you continue filming your video. As he was leaving, Jiang Luoluo quickly asked, Hey, are you a local? Yeah, what about it? Can you be our guide then? We want to go to Yanshan tomorrow, but there are three places, Nanyan Mountain, Zhongyan Mountain, and Beiyanshan, and we dont know which is more fun. We will treat you to a meal. Be a guide? Chu Mingcheng wasnt very interested. After fishing for Alligator Gar today, he still needed to continue catching Crucian Carp tomorrow, and even dig up sea earthworms. He planned to earn more money, upgrade all his equipment, and then get a boat for sea fishing. Being a local, he was already tired of Yanshan and wasnt interested in visiting at all. Ill pass on being a guide; I have plans tomorrow and cant make it. Yanshan isnt that great anyway, and its crowded during the national holiday. If you really want to go, I personally recommend Nanyan Mountain or Beiyanshan; Zhongyan Mountain is the most boring, so you might as well skip it. Okay, thanks a lot! Although Jiang Luoluo was a bit disappointed that Chu Mingcheng refused to be their guide, she still politely thanked him for his useful advice. Zhongyan Mountain was closest to Le City, and they initially planned to visit there first. Now they clearly didnt need to go there and could choose between Nanyan Mountain and Beiyanshan instead. After Chu Mingcheng left, Zhou Jiayi, with a hint of teasing, smiled and said, Luoluo, do you really have a crush on that handsome guy? What? Ive only met him twice; how could I possibly have a crush? I dont even know what kind of person he is. I just wanted to get to know him because its not easy to meet someone that handsome, Jiang Luoluo explained exasperatedly. Zhou Jiayi nodded in understanding, knowing her straightforward best friend didnt like beating around the bush, and that those were her true feelings. Not just Jiang Luoluo; even she had the idea of getting to know him, but since her best friend got there first, she suppressed that thought. Its normal; just as a man would want to get to know a beautiful woman upon meeting one, the reverse was also true for women. Chu Mingcheng returned to his original spot, took out his lure rod, and resumed fishing. As for the graceful fingers and long beautiful legs, he had already cast them out of his mind. No matter how skillful the hands, he wouldnt need them today; no matter how white the legs, he couldnt touch them today, but four thousand Big Coins were within easy reach, and it was a no-brainer to know which to choose. This morning, he caught three Alligator Gars, and with the one from the reservoir earlier, his catch rate had now increased to 40%. Although it wasnt over half, it was indeed not low. In the morning, it took him over twenty casts to catch the first fish, but this time, he had cast less than ten times before the alligator gar nearby bit. Chu Mingcheng reeled in the line, his movements much smoother than in the morning. This alligator gar was the smallest, just over three pounds, and he pulled it to the shore in a few minutes. With one hand holding the fishing rod, he was just about to pick up the landing net on the ground when a pair of delicate, beautiful hands quickly helped him by picking up the net and handing it to him. Looking at Jiang Luoluos charming and cheerful smile, Chu Mingcheng was slightly stunned before he smilingly took the landing net and scooped up the alligator gar. Thanks. Werent you guys filming a video, though Why did you come over? Weve finished filming. We just shot a short segment here as backup. We mainly want to shoot at Yanshan. Sculpting Gods was filmed there, right? Im thinking of dancing to Unparalleled Under Heaven as background music! Chu Mingcheng looked at Jiang Luoluo in surprise. The girl, dressed in Hanfu and beautiful, indeed seemed a bit ethereal. If she dressed up as Xiaolongnu PfftI cant think about it, cant think. Sculpting Gods is a traumatic childhood memory for me; that shouldnt be remembered. That sounds nice. I see you dance very well. Did you specifically learn classical dance? Chu Mingcheng asked as he took a knife to bleed the alligator gar. Yes! Lets make acquaintances. My name is Jiang Luoluo, a video producer for Bilibili, and this is my best friend, Zhou Jiayi. This is also my cameraperson, Zhang Ruomei. Zhou Jiayi and Zhang Ruomei each gave Chu Mingcheng a smile and stood by without speaking. Hello, Im Chu Mingcheng, a professional freelance fisherman! Seeing Jiang Luoluos hand extended, Chu Mingcheng did not reach out to shake it but opened his hands to show they were a bit dirty. Fishing? So thats what you do! Jiang Luoluo suddenly understood why he was so skilled at fishing. Many people were fishing for alligator gar, but only he made it seem particularly easy. However, one thing puzzled her. I see that people who stay by the sea all year round tend to have darker and rougher skin. How do you maintain yours? Its so good. Exactly, how do you maintain it? This question also intrigued Jiayi, as they usually spent a lot on skin care. It would obviously be great to learn some skincare tips. You might have misunderstood. I had just quit my job before National Day. I used to sit in an office, so my skin is still quite fair. But it will naturally darken after staying by the sea for a longer period. Chu Mingcheng couldnt help but smile wryly; indeed, beauty was what women cared about most. After he had killed the alligator gar, he packed up his fishing rod and placed the alligator gar in the landing net, moving toward the next fishing spot. Jiang Luoluo and the others, slightly disappointed at not obtaining any skincare tips, saw Chu Mingcheng packing up his things and hurriedly asked, Are you not fishing anymore? No, I just noticed traces of alligator gar ahead; Im planning to try my luck there. He explained to make sure they didnt think he was avoiding them intentionally. Though Chu Mingcheng wasnt planning to play guide, he wouldnt act indifferent with beautiful women reaching out to him. Whether men are straightforward or women are aloof depends on the person they are dealing with. Jiang Luoluo finally understood. However, they had finished shooting for the day and were planning to go shopping and eat in the afternoon. She had come over just now because she was about to leave and happened to see Chu Mingcheng. How about we exchange contact information? Since youre a local, I could ask you about nice spots in Yanshan. If you dont mind, could you follow my account on Bilibili to help increase my views? Chu Mingcheng chuckled, Turns out youre gathering followers on the spot, huh? No problem. However, he was used to girls asking for his contact information and smoothly added it to his phone. Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Sorting out all Alligator Gars Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Sorting out all Alligator Gars After saying goodbye to Jiang Luoluo and the others, Chu Mingcheng arrived at the next fishing spot. He had just cast a few lines when he saw Zhang Wei hurrying over. Ah Cheng, Ah Cheng, guess what I just found? What did you find? Chu Mingcheng asked casually. I saw two beautiful women, dressed in Hanfu, one voluptuous and the other gentle and graceful. They were absolutely stunning. Chu Mingcheng, who had just cast a minnow, trembled in his hand almost causing the reel to explode with lines. He couldnt help but laugh and cry at the absurdity of it all. Twice he had allowed this guy to come with him, but both times he hadnt shown up, missing the chance to meet Jiang Luoluo and the others. He had gotten their contact information, and here was this guy, all excited, babbling about encountering beautiful women which left him at a loss for words. Zhang Wei did not notice the odd look on Chu Mingchengs face and continued, Its a pity, by the time I noticed them they were already getting into a car and leaving. I dont know if Ill have the chance to meet them again. Chocking back laughter, Chu Mingcheng said, Meeting them is easy. Just go to Yanshan tomorrow and you can see them. Why would I meet them at Yanshan? Zhang Wei was surprised, then quickly realized and exclaimed in shock, You know them? Chu Mingchengs face wore a hint of mockery, Just met them. I encountered them this morning while fishing, and then you came over just as they had left. Came here again to fish and met them once more, and once they left, here you are again. I Zhang Wei mentally cursed with eight hundred sentences in his local dialect but couldnt utter them, was he really missing out on millions? Seeing him like this, Chu Mingcheng decided not to tease any further, No worries, therell be other chances. Ive added them on social media. Zhang Weis eyes lit up, Good brother, Ive set you up with a rich lady, dont forget about me! For two beautiful women, youve got to give me at least one contact, right? What are you thinking? At the most, when Im more acquainted with them, I can bring you along for a meeting. He wasnt looking for a sugar mommythese beautiful acquaintances were high-level resources. The best he could do was invite them out and bring him along. Whether sparks would fly depended on his own charm. As for Chu Mingcheng, for now, he didnt have any immediate plans. Normally, given the choice between making money and finding a girlfriend, most men would prioritize making money, and he was no exception. Of course, if a girl took the initiative, he wasnt the kind to deliberately push her away. With Zhang Weis help, the remaining three Alligator Gars were quickly caught. With four thousand yuan in hand, he also heard that the biggest Alligator Gar had recently been caught, but the other two were still in the lake. After all this time, the Alligator Gars had probably moved locations, making the previous scan inaccurate. And Chu Mingcheng had used all his scans for the day, so he wouldnt be able to locate the Alligator Gar any longer. But with an 80% capture rate, he was still able to comfortably catch the remaining Alligator Gars, netting another two thousand yuan. Today, he had caught a total of nine Alligator Gars, bringing in nine thousand yuan. After deducting the four thousand spent on buying the lure rod, plus the four hundred from selling Crucian Carp, his pure income for the day was over five thousand four hundred yuan. Oh, and he had added two hundred yuan for gas todaythis had to be deducted as well. But five thousand yuan could equal the monthly salary of many people. It was too bad that such quick-earning opportunities were rare; he could only wait and see if more would come along. Ah Cheng, you made so much today, youve got to treat, Zhang Wei said. Zhang Wei couldnt help but be envious of his good friends earnings, but he didnt have any ulterior motives; he simply wanted to enjoy a good meal at his expense. Even without him saying so, Chu Mingcheng would have offered to treat, Call Chen Yang and see if hes free. Their relationship was solid, and they would often treat each other to meals, never leaving anyone out. After Zhang Wei made the call, however, they learned that Chen Yang was off to the airport to pick up his parents and wouldnt be available that evening. Seeing this, Chu Mingcheng could only shrug in disappointment, Looks like itll have to be next time. Zhang Wei felt slightly bored, but he found another way to have fun, Alright, next time then! I wont go back with you, Ive got a date with a rich lady for a drink tonight. Im planning to dig for sea earthworms tomorrow. Arent you coming? Ah, digging for sea earthworms tomorrow wont stop me from drinking tonight; Ill come find you then. Fine! Zhang Wei insisted on going out to have fun, so Chu Mingcheng naturally wouldnt say much more. Actually, the rich women he mentioned were just a group of women who liked to have fun and had a bit of money; they werent really wealthy older ladies. The two parted ways, and Chu Mingcheng drove back home. However, on the way, his mother called to ask when he would come home for the vacation, and she also inquired about the matchmaking. It seemed that the womans side hadnt mentioned his rejection. Although he was handsome, that only added a few points to his appeal in the matchmaking market; being rejected wasnt surprising. After a few matchmaking attempts, he realized that when marriage was considered, not only men but also women were realisticeconomic conditions were always the top priority. Now that his family was asking, Chu Mingcheng could only tell them the truth. Chus mother was somewhat disappointed, but she didnt say much, probably planning to arrange more matches. By the way, Ah Cheng, your grandma wants us to stay on Dongting Island for a few days. Do you want to join us? Dongting Island was far from the coastline, already within our countrys exclusive economic zone. The scenery on the island was indeed better than Yanmen Island, and the waters around the island were mostly deeper, which many Fishing Men liked to sail to for deep sea fish. But this was too soon for Chu Mingcheng, and since he was going to dig for sea earthworms tomorrow, he declined straight away. Mom, you and Dad go ahead and have a good time during the National Day holiday. Ill stay around my hometown for a few days. Your grandma says she misses you. Are you sure you dont want to visit? Ill go at the end of the year. Its boring to go now without a companion. Alright then! Chus mother didnt insist; after instructing him on a few things, she hung up the phone. More than an hour later, Chu Mingcheng didnt go straight home. Instead, he took a detour to the reservoir and, in a burst of energy, fished out and physically exterminated all the alligator gars he could catch. Five plus nine, he had dealt with a total of fourteen alligator gars today, and his data panel was completely refreshed. [Alligator Gar (Invasive Species)] [Ecological Destruction Index: 5 stars] [Alligator Gars Eliminated: 15] [Hooking Probability: +100] [Scanning Detection: 0/day] [Life Transformation: 14 times] After catching fifteen, the highest hooking probability was at 100%. Now he truly was the alligator gar killer; anywhere there was an alligator gar, he was certain to catch it. As for whether he could actually reel it in, that would depend on the fishing rod and his fishing skills. Life transformation had reached 14 times, and Chu Mingcheng immediately used it four times. After using it once yesterday, he only felt a slight warmth in his body, and that was it. This time, after using it four times in a row, he felt a warm current appear out of nowhere inside him, spreading to all his limbs and throughout his body. Although it lasted only a brief moment, it made him feel extremely comfortable all over. Any slight tiredness he had felt completely vanished. He lifted his shirt to check his stomach, which still sported a six-pack. He clenched his fist but didnt feel any significant increase in strength; it seemed that the number of transformations was still too few. Chu Mingcheng didnt temporarily see much use for life transformation, but it could eliminate fatigue. Therefore, he decided to save the remaining ten instances for now. He could use life transformation to relieve tiredness when digging for sea earthworms the next day. Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Do you eat? Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Do you eat? Today, Chu Mingcheng didnt go grocery shopping and decided to catch a fish to solve the dinner issue. So he switched to a rod with M hardness and tied on a 2.5-gram lure. Actually, such a small lure should be used with a thinner fishing line and a softer rod, but he didnt have one, so he made do with what he had. Moreover, he was eating dinner alone tonight, so there was no need to catch a big fish. After adjusting the drag of the spinning reel, with a swish, the lure suddenly flew out more than ten meters before being reeled back in with a flutter. If he had switched to a softer rod, throwing an extra ten meters probably wouldnt be a problem. According to online videos, lure fishing should involve casting the lure out and then directly hooking a fish. But in reality, after Chu Mingcheng, who had just casually caught an alligator gar, cast his line over and over for about thirty times, there was still no sign of anything. Now he clearly understood the use of the Golden Finger. Without a chance of catching a fish, he was just like any other fishing man; he could lure-fish all day long and end up with a sore back and no fish at all. After casting for another fifteen minutes and with the sun setting, Chu Mingcheng sighed and prepared to make a trip to the vegetable market. Just as the lure was almost back to the shore, suddenly a fish took the bait. It was the first time Chu Mingcheng had used the M hardness rod that day, and it indeed felt different from the MH rod. With the rod softened, its sensitivity was heightened. The fish on the hook was floundering on the surface of the water, and while it didnt look big, the force it exerted was not insignificant. However, the fish was only five or six meters away from the shore. Chu Mingcheng pulled and reeled, and soon the fish was brought close. He squatted down and picked up the landing net. The fish was effortlessly scooped up. Taking the fish out of the net, he discovered that he didnt recognize it. The color of this fish wasnt much different from that of a wild crucian carp, but its body was laterally compressed, taller in the middle, and slightly diamond-shaped. The head was very small, and so was the mouth. It was only because he had chosen a lure small enough that the fish was able to swallow it. Any larger, and it would have been impossible. Luckily, its body wasnt small. Chu Mingcheng estimated its weight to be about a pound and a half, maybe even two pounds, but he wasnt sure if it would taste good. Since he couldnt recognize it himself, he decided to check if it was listed in the fish identification guide. [Fish Identification Guide (Level 0)] [Current Experience: (7/50)] [Unlocked Catching Tools: Hands, Fishing Gear] [Maximum Fish Level: 50] [Unlocked Fish Species: Mud shrimp, Crucian Carp, Whitebait, Carp, Ground Tiger, Spicy Snail, Bian fish] [Special Abilities: None] So this is called Bian fish. Now that he knew what the fish was called, it would be easy to handle. Chu Mingcheng took out his phone and looked it up. He found out that its flesh was very delicious and suitable for braising or steaming. With this, dinner was settled. As night fell and hunger set in, and now with ingredients at hand, he promptly packed up his fishing gear and carried the fish home. Upon arriving home, he put on the rice to cook, and then took the knife and cutting board out to the front yard. Just then, Chu Mingcheng suddenly slapped his thigh, realizing he had forgotten to prepare a fish for the cat. He had made a point of checking the front courtyard when he got home yesterday and noticed that the fish by the well were gone. He figured that tabby cat must have visited. He stood up and looked around but didnt find any trace of the cat. Could it be that it came late today and has already left? Chu Mingcheng wasnt very sure and decided to go prepare the fish first. Picking up the knife, he used the back of it to knock the Bian fish on the head, which immediately calmed the still flapping fish. Meow~ Just as he was scaling the fish, a cats meow suddenly came from above. Chu Mingcheng looked up and saw that the tabby cat had arrived. So you were hiding up there, no wonder I couldnt find you. He had always wanted to keep cats and dogs, but his previous job didnt allow him to take care of them, so the idea was abandoned. This was also why he was so attentive to this tabby cat after coming back to his old home. Chu Mingcheng glanced at the fish, and after pondering, he finished scaling it, chopped off the head and tail, gutted it, and then took the remaining fish meat away from the well. The tabby cat watched him the entire time, and after seeing him walk away, it stared at him for a short while before leaping down with a graceful jump. It sniffed the fish head, tail, and guts that had been left behind, then looked up at him and meowed softly as if to thank him before starting to eat. Seeing this, Chu Mingcheng smiled, and only after the cat had finished eating and left did he take the fish into the kitchen to start preparing dinner. The remaining bian fish was cut horizontally into pieces, arranged in a circle on a plate, sprinkled with chopped green onion and a few slices of ginger, with some chopped chili peppers added on top, before being placed in the steamer. The fish was cut into small pieces and didnt need much steaming time at all; five minutes after the water boiled would do. The steamed fish was ready, and so was the rice. Chu Mingcheng, feeling the weather was nice, wiped down a folding table and set it up in the front yard. He then returned to drizzle the fish with seafood soy sauce, followed by hot oil, and the freshly steamed fish was ready to be served. Having served himself a bowl of rice and carried the fish outside, Chu Mingcheng sat in the front yard to enjoy his evening meal. After tasting the fish, he found it smooth and tender without any excess fishy smell, and indeed the flavor was not much different from sea bass, except for the lack of that distinct ocean freshness. But just as he had barely taken a couple of bites of rice, Chu Mingcheng noticed the tabby cat had returned. And this time, it hadnt come empty-handed; it was holding a large mouse in its mouth that weighed at least one pound. It didnt eat its fill? Chu Mingcheng was astonished. Then, he watched as the tabby cat approached not far from him, and he heard the crunching sound of bones being crushed as well as the dying squeals of the mouse. After a short while, once the mouses spine and skull were crushed and it couldnt escape, the tabby cat brought it over to Chu Mingcheng, laid it down, and meowed. It seemed to be asking, Do you want some? Chu Mingchengs eye twitched as he forced a smile, Thank you, but you should eat it, I dont need any. After saying this, he also picked up his bowl of rice and the fish to show he was fine. The tabby cat seemed to understand his gesture, picked up the mouse again, and returned to where it had eaten the fish before, crunching down on the mouses head with a crunch crunch and the distinctive smacking sounds of a cat eating. Chu Mingcheng clearly saw the mouses blood flowing down and its head being eaten first by the cat. Ugh~ Suddenly, Chu Mingcheng felt nauseous, and his previously good appetite disappeared in an instant. What a sin! He could only carry his rice and fish back inside the house to eat, out of sight, out of mind. Unfortunately, his appetite was gone, and he barely ate any rice or touched the fish with his chopsticks. Chu Mingcheng had no choice but to take the fish and rice back to the kitchen, pour the rice back into the rice cooker, and wrap the fish with cling film and put it in the fridge. After cleaning up the kitchen, he went to the front yard to bring in the table, only to find the tabby cat frolicking with the half-eaten remains of the mouse, with pieces like the mouses kidneys scattered all over the ground. Ground Tiger, I tell you, I really want to curse you, but you sure as hell cant understand, how aggravating! Now that he hadnt eaten, he didnt feel that disgusted, it was just an innate aversion to mice as creatures. But it must be said, this tabby cat was a good cat. No wonder it looked plump and sleek despite being a stray; it turned out to be a regular mouse hunter. In the city, it would probably have struggled for food. Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 17: The Special "Sea Earthworm Chapter 17: Chapter 17: The Special Sea Earthworm The tabby played around for a while before it picked up the half corpse of the mouse and left leisurely, less wary of Chu Mingcheng now. However, it left behind traces of mouse blood and some organs, which he had to clean up himself. Chu Mingcheng felt slightly helpless the cat wasnt even his, yet he had already become its cleaner. After cleaning up the front courtyard, he took a shower and returned to the bedroom, where he continued to learn about fishing and the crucial maintenance of fishing rods. His recent fishing experiences had taught him that there was much to learn in this field. As a beginner wanting to quickly become an expert, all he could do was watch and learn more! After studying for two hours, Chu Mingcheng shut down his computer and lay in bed, ready to sleep, when he suddenly remembered Jiang Luoluo asking him to help increase her video views. Driven by curiosity, he pulled out his phone, opened Bilibili, and searched for Yue Yao. The profile picture was of a beautiful female dressed in Hanfu, heavily made up and with a beautifying filter, but Chu Mingcheng could barely recognize that it was indeed Jiang Luoluo. After clicking in, Chu Mingcheng found that there were many videos posted, arranged in a long list and categorized. One of the categories was labeled as original treasure dance, which piqued his curiosity and he clicked on it. The first video had only been posted a day ago, showed a run time of just over fifty seconds, and was titled: Gossamer Lights, Moon In Tow. The background music was Xian Yao. The video was quite short; he looked at the length of some subsequent videos and realized that this was actually a preview. Chu Mingcheng wasnt very familiar with ancient-style songs, he was only familiar with the golden age of Huaxia music. After its decline, he seldom listened to new songs. Having watched Jiang Luoluo dance during the day, which differed from the slow-paced classical dance he had imagined, her movements integrated strength and softness, and the dance naturally flowed with the music, pleasing to the eye. Some of the moves were actually quite difficult and could not be gracefully executed by a non-professional dancer. Curious about the content of the videos, he clicked on the first video. [As if Yue Yao brought the moon with her] [Filling the void of earthly heartbeats] In the moonlit dance of light gossamer, that moment of ethereal grace had Chu Mingcheng instinctively clutching his skipped heartbeat. What happened to filling the void of earthly heartbeats? It had taken his heart away completely, making him fall helplessly in love. In gossamer fine and beauty divine, Yue Yao born of lotus steps. During the day, Jiang Luoluo was just a stunningly beautiful woman with a graceful figure, but the video elevated her charm by several notches. The gossamer in her hands seemed alive, her dance moves enchanting. In a blink, a brief fifty seconds passed. After coming back to his senses, Chu Mingcheng quietly clicked on the three dots at the top right of the video, then set the playlist to repeat this single song. Yes, he was hooked! Damn, its already ten oclock! The next day, Chu Mingcheng unsurprisingly overslept. Last night, he didnt even know when he had fallen asleep, only that he had dozed off while the video was still playing. He pulled up Jiang Luoluos WeChat and sent her a message: I was increasing your video views last night and ended up oversleeping this morning. I think you owe me a little something. After waiting a minute or two with no reply, Chu Mingcheng got out of bed, freshened up, and drove to East Yue to dig for sea earthworms. Collecting sea earthworms didnt require any special equipment, just a short-handled hoe would do. Wild sea earthworms arent as abundant as before, but they are now massively farmed domestically. However, Zhe and Fu provinces are rich in sea earthworms, and with some diligence, one can still gather many wild ones. Seeing that it was nearly eleven oclock after crossing the sea bridge, Chu Mingcheng simply stopped at a fast food restaurant and ordered braised pork, having an early lunch. Today was manual labor, and he had to eat some meat in the morning or he was afraid he wouldnt have the strength in the afternoon. Moreover, he even bought a sandwich and a bottle of date milk, fearing he might get hungry later. It was during lunch that Jiang Luoluo finally replied to the messages. Sorry, I didnt check my phone this morning. Did you watch my video? How was it? Give me some feedback! Also, how do you want me to make it up to you? She replied to three messages in a row, and Chu Mingcheng felt that her fondness for him was still pretty high. She had probably gone to Yanshan in the morning and wasnt deliberately leaving him hanging without a reply. Isnt oversleeping the best compliment I could give your video? Its no fun if you let me decide the compensation. Shouldnt it be you who takes the initiative? Far away in Yanshan, sitting in a farmhouse and waiting for the meal, Jiang Luoluo read the reply and couldnt help but smirk. If her video led to him oversleeping, didnt that mean she had captured his interest? However, thinking of compensation, Jiang Luoluo felt a bit troubled and pursed her lips. Then her eyes twinkled, and she replied. How about I treat you to a meal when I get back from Yanshan? Seeing this message, Chu Mingcheng smiled. Most women possess a skill: they turn men they just met into their obedient followers, serving their needs. If he agreed outright now, he would fall into an inferior position. Perhaps some women are straightforward and less convoluted, but this is also a passive skill; if men voluntarily act submissive, they wouldnt mind an extra follower. So, when the other person is not yet a girlfriend, interact with her as one would with a man: refuse when necessary, be busy when required. Meal depends on my schedule. You know Im quite occupied right now, might not have the time. Well see when you get back from Yanshan. He neither agreed nor refused outright but postponed the matter to see how things would unfold. After chatting a bit more, Chu Mingcheng took the initiative to end the conversation and went to eat lunch before driving to East Yue Beach. The car couldnt go further in; so, he parked outside, donned a conical hat, sun-proof clothing, and changed into waterproof boots. Then, he took the bag with the sandwich and date milk from the trunk, added a bottle of mineral water to it, and began walking towards the beach with a short-handled hoe and bucket in hand. It was not a short walk; it took him over twenty minutes to reach where one could dig for sea earthworms. This being Chu Mingchengs first visit, he did not know where to find sea earthworms, but since people were there every day, following them would lead him to the right spots. Digging for sea earthworms was tough; it wasnt a job for those unaccustomed to physical labor. Yet, those capable of doing it actually made a good amount of money. With years of saving, one could have amassed a couple of million. Zhang Weis father had been doing this for years, and Chu Mingcheng learned from him that his family had saved over a million, intended for Zhang Weis wedding and house purchase. Chu Mingcheng randomly picked a spot near the water, found some small holes, placed his bucket beside him, and began digging with his right hand wielding the short-handled hoe. He turned over a clump of soil to check C nothing. He dug deeper. Initially, one could dig vigorously to remove the soil, and then gently follow the holes to excavate more carefully. When digging, one must use finesse. The hoe should be inserted slightly, then pulled back to turn over the soil lumps; otherwise, digging too deep might directly harm the sea earthworms, leading to a loss. Finding sea earthworms mainly involved looking for matchstick-sized holes. Chu Mingcheng was grateful for the information era. Without online resources, his spontaneous digging trip would have likely ended with nothing but physical strain. His chosen spot turned out to be quite good. Following the holes, he quickly uncovered a sea earthworm the size of his index finger. The sea earthworm looked intriguing C half as thick as a finger, and the other half much thinner, almost like a matchstick. However, after a while, he unexpectedly dug up an unusually long sea earthworm. A sea earthworm nearly 20 centimeters long? Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Show Your Skills Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Show Your Skills The sea earthworm is very short; he didnt believe it could grow to 20 centimeters. So he looked at the marine life atlas and only then did he realize that this creature is called a sandworm, with the scientific name Square Grid Star Worm, a different species from the sea earthworm. The conditions for the growth environment of sandworms are very demanding, and he hadnt expected them to be found in the sand at the beach here. Dried sandworms sell for a price ranging from 500 to 1000 yuan per half kilogram. Previously, some people sold these sea earthworms as the precious sandworms, cheating many who didnt know better. Mainly because sandworms look very much like these sea earthworms, resembling little intestines but commonly reaching 10 to 20 centimeters in length. They are mostly distributed around the Yue Xi area, but now the wild ones are rare, unlike sea earthworms which can still be abundantly dug up. Finding precious sandworms here, Chu Mingcheng immediately gave up digging for sea earthworms and started digging for sandworms. As a result, he wasted a lot of time and energy, but only dug up three relatively large sandworms. Alright, its better to dig for sea earthworms instead, at least there would be a harvest whenever he found a small pit and shoveled into it. After continuing to dig for an hour and a half, he was getting a bit tired. He took a sip of mineral water, massaged his waist, and used Life Transformation once. Instantly, the heat and fatigue faded significantly, making him feel a lot more comfortable. But the soreness in his back didnt completely disappear; it was only alleviated by a great deal, so he had to use Life Transformation one more time to completely recover. Once he felt better, he naturally got his energy back. Currently, the sea earthworms had completely covered the bottom of the bucket, but he estimated that there was barely over half a kilogram. The experience points in the marine life atlas had increased to 8, and the data panel for the sea earthworms had risen to level 4. [Delicious Ge Nang Star Worm, also known as sea earthworm, Earthworm, etc. (Level 4)] [Current experience: 11/50] [Size increase +4%] [Tastiness +4%] [Capture rate +4%] Based on experience, he caught 111 sea earthworms in an hour and a half, but in reality, there werent that many in his bucket. The main reason was that he caught them regardless of size, but he threw back the smaller ones after they provided experience points. In this respect, many places abroad do quite well; undersized marine products have to be released. If caught, there would be hefty fines, which ensures sustainable development of marine life. Unfortunately, there are still no such regulations in China, leading many marine species to near extinction in the wild and compelling the development of aquaculture. For now, he couldnt do much about others; he could only start with himself. Chu Mingcheng continued to dig along the water channels, using Life Transformation two more times, until he finished at five oclock. Mainly because he saw merchants coming to buy the sea earthworms and seeing others ready to sell, he lost the urge to dig further. [Delicious Ge Nang Star Worm, also known as sea earthworm, Earthworm, etc. (Level 8)] [Current experience: 46/90] [Size increase +8%] [Tastiness +8%] [Capture rate +8%] Although the level had risen to 8, Chu Mingcheng only dug up a little over three kilograms that afternoon. For a newcomer, this efficiency was acceptable. Generally, a seasoned digger would harvest about the same on a bad day, and on a good day, they might dig up to around ten kilograms. Chu Mingcheng first went to the waters edge to wash his boots and hoe, took out the sandworms separately and placed them into a bag; he waited until nearly everyone else had sold theirs before going to sell his catch. Whats the buying price over here? When the vendor saw that the sea earthworms in his bucket were all similar in size, he looked slightly surprised, but he didnt say anything and seemed even happier. Youve got some big ones here; how about I give you 35 yuan per jin? Was he thinking of taking advantage of him because he looked like an easy target? This price was still okay in the summer months, where the market rate was probably around 45 to 50 yuan per jin, but now it was October, and the prices had risen quite a bit. He had specifically inquired and found out they were selling for over 60 yuan now; any purchasing price has to be at least 45 yuan per jin. Forget it, I dont have much here, so Im not selling. Chu Mingcheng thought it over. He wouldnt always come to dig for sea earthworms, so he decided to sell them himself. The owner of the place where he had eaten the Earthworm Soup Noodles might buy them. If not, he could take them to the vegetable market or slowly sell them at the docks. Hey, hey, hey, we can talk about the price. How about I give you 40 yuan per jin, which is higher than what others are offering. No, no, I plan on eating them myself. Chu Mingcheng politely waved his hand to decline and carried his bucket with his tools and headed back. He drove straight to the noodle shop, where it was a bit late today, and the shop seemed to be doing well as all the seats were filled. Chu Mingcheng went straight to the back kitchen with his bucket and digital scale, surprising the owner and his wife when they saw him come in. Boss, do you buy these sea earthworms? I dug them up myself this afternoon. The noodle shop owner handed the noodle boiling task over to his wife and then crouched down to sift through the sea earthworms in the bucket, noticing that each one was plump and largeuniform-sized items like these were not easy to find in the market. Usually, the market mixed in some smaller ones, but the price difference wasnt much less. How much are you selling these for? I just have some free time recently to dig and make some pocket money. If you want them, Ill sell them to you for 55 yuan per jin. Before the owner could reply, the lady boss spoke up first, 55 yuan per jin is a bit expensive. Well take it for 50 yuan per jin. I wont sell for 50 yuan per jin. I will be digging for a while, and if you want them, I can deliver more tomorrow. If not, then Ill sell them at the market or the docks. Theyre going for over 60 on the market now; Id just be spending a bit more time at most. Currently, the grades of various seafood were too low. Chu Mingcheng wanted to take the time to level up and was not willing to waste time, otherwise, why would he allow others to profit at his expense? Okay, if the quality is always like this, then Ill take it at 55 yuan per jin from now on. The boss knew he was getting a bit of a bargain; he usually bought his supply from fish vendors at the same price the market offered, with no discounts. After all, others need to make a profit too and wouldnt foolishly offer him a lower price; the best he could do was pick out the better-looking ones first. Chu Mingcheng was selling to him at a slightly cheaper rate than market price; only a fool would say no. Both parties had a digital scale, and after weighing twice, the results were the same C a total of 3.26 jin, which came to 179.3 yuan. After a busy afternoon, he earned less than 200 yuan, which was even less than what he made from fishing for Crucian Carp and was more tiring, but Chu Mingcheng didnt mind. After all, digging for sea earthworms leveled him up quickly, and while he was earning less than fishing for Crucian Carp right now, it might not be the case in a few days. Besides, he had already planned to dig for sea earthworms during the day and fish for Crucian Carp at night, without skipping either. Boss, make me a bowl of Three Delicacies Noodles. He hadnt eaten dinner yet, so he decided to settle for a meal here, only paying 160 yuan as the boss added some extra ingredients. On the way back after dinner, Zhang Weis phone call suddenly came through, and thats when he realized why he felt like something was missingit was this guy. Ah Cheng, come and pick me up quickly. Im out of drinks, and if you dont come get me, next year youll only be able to chat with me by my grave. No, no, it wont come to that. If you really cant manage, just show off your skills. Im at home now and wont be coming over. Chu Mingcheng couldnt be bothered to go pick someone up now. He didnt wait to see what else Zhang Wei had to say and just hung up the phone. Once back home, he specially went to the front yard to check on the calico cat, finding it lying in the corner under the eaves resting. Leftovers from a mouse, just a couple of severed legs, and a round pinkish ballpossibly the mouses bladder? It seemed to have eaten already that night, so he left it alone. The calico cat didnt run away when it saw him now, but Chu Mingcheng didnt rush over to touch it, as it was still a wild cat. Better to continue building a good rapport before getting closer. Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Maintenance Worker Zhang Wei Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Maintenance Worker Zhang Wei Just looking at it lying forlornly in a corner under the eaves, Chu Mingcheng thought for a moment, went back into the house, and found a cardboard box, cutting a hole in its side with scissors. He then found an old blanket used for summer and spread it inside, and a makeshift little nest was ready. Afterwards, he headed to the front courtyard and slowly approached the tabby cat. Noticing Chu Mingchengs approach, the cat remained vigilant and stood up, but did not leave. Ive made a nest for you, you can rest here from now on! Chu Mingcheng said with a smile as he placed the little nest beside it, then stood up and backed away. The tabby cat stared at him for a while and then curiously nudged the little nest. Upon discovering the small hole, it first peeked inside to check for any danger, and only after sticking its head in to sniff around and feel safe, did it confidently walk in. The tabby cat seemed to like the little nest very much, and soon lay down to rest. Seeing this, Chu Mingcheng smiled with satisfaction and then left the front courtyard to drive to the reservoir for night fishing. The path to success was now laid out in front of him, unlike work where he could see no future; he had to work hard or it would be a waste. Perhaps the ghost in the reservoir had taken a liking to the help he had specifically provided, or maybe the bait nest he had cultivated paid off, because tonight, Chu Mingchengs catch exploded. Originally, he had planned to set up his rod and stand aside to lure fish with artificial bait. But the rod was getting bites nearly every minute, leaving him no time to use the lure. Before, the Crucian Carps experience was at level 2 (7/30), but now it had jumped straight to level 4. [Crucian Carp (Level 4)] [Current Experience: 21/50] [Size +4%] [Tastiness +4%] [Catch Rate +4%] That is, he caught a total of 84, with 23 + 40 + 21; his fishing container would have burst if he hadnt bought a plastic box to hold his catch. However, Chu Mingcheng released all the ones he estimated were under half a pound to the other side, and even so, there were still 63 Crucian Carps. Back at home, he took out three Crucian Carps and kept them in a bucket; these three would be the cats meal for tomorrow. The remaining 60 Crucian Carps were also separated into another bucket and aerated with oxygen. Once finished, Chu Mingcheng checked his phone, found no one had contacted him, and went to wash up and sleep. The next day upon waking, the first thing he intended to do was to turn sandworms into dried goods. Nowadays, most of the sandworms available in the market are dried products. If he found a place where sandworms are abundant, he could dig up more. For now, these three would be dried and used as seasoning. Dried Sand Worm has the effects of nourishing the yin to lower fire, clearing the lungs to replenish vacuity, and strengthening the kidneys to fortify yang; eating more of it can benefit the body, but the downside is its high cost. He took the sandworms out of the bag and rinsed them twice, then used chopsticks to flip them over and wash the sand out from the inside. This step had to be done carefully, to avoid breaking the sandworms. Next was boiling water, as soon as the water was boiled, he put the cleaned sandworms in it briefly, scalding them until they turned white all over before fishing them out and using kitchen paper to dry off the moisture. If drying was the goal, it was best to prick the cooked sandworms with a small needle. But Chu Mingcheng lived by the seaside, and today the weather was sunny and warm with a brisk sea breeze, perfect for drying goods. He took the sandworms up to the second-floor balcony to dry. Just going downstairs to wash his face and brush his teeth, upon his return, the sandworms had already dried to thirty or forty percent. Seeing this, Chu Mingcheng simply went to the market for a visit, had breakfast, bought some groceries, and came back to prepare lunch for himself. After he had prepared his lunch, the sandworms were almost fully dried, taking up less than two hours in total. Chu Mingcheng packed up the three dried sandworms and stored them in a cool, ventilated, and dry place before starting his car to head to the market to sell fish. It was still the same fish seller as before, still 25 yuan per half kilogram, but today he had a larger haul, totaling 36.4 half-kilograms, or 910 yuan, and the ten yuan of change was expectedly rounded down. But Chu Mingcheng didnt mind about the ten yuan, as he wasnt going to sell crucian carp for much longer. He figured that in a few days, he wouldnt go fishing in the reservoir anymore, to avoid affecting the population of crucian carp with his high efficiency. He was about to go dig sea earthworms next, but then Zhang Wei called again, asking for a pick-up, saying he was already at the towns bus station. If it were to the county town, Chu Mingcheng definitely would not pick him up, as it was too far. Going back and forth would not only be a waste of time but also a waste of fuel, and who could afford the gas prices nowadays! After he arrived at the station to pick up Zhang Wei, he couldnt help but burst into laughter, May I ask, dear brother, what caused you to look so thin within a single day? Zhang Weis face was full of resentfulness, Miscalculated. I ran into a powerful juicer the night before last, must have been a long time since it had maintenance. As soon as I put it in gear, it went way over, and in the end, I barely managed to adjust the gear speed to normal with my tools after working on it for two nights, leaving me with little sleep. Hiss~ Chu Mingcheng drew a sharp breath and quickly went on to delete the numbers he had saved, as this puzzle was too difficult, and he simply couldnt solve it. Are you going to my place to sleep for a bit, or are you going to join me in digging sea earthworms at East Yue Beach? Zhang Wei thought for a moment, Ill join you. If I get tired, Ill just sleep in your car. Alright then, Chu Mingcheng had no objections and drove him to purchase a short-handled hoe and waterproof boots before heading to East Yue Beach. Once they arrived, he grabbed his bucket and went straight to work. He handed the car keys to Zhang Wei so he could sleep if he grew tired and assured him he would take care of lunch himself. Today, he spent an extra two hours digging and managed to get somewhat more sea earthworms than before, about five half-kilograms in total, and his level also increased to 14. [Delicious Ge Nang Star Worm, also known as sea earthworm, Earthworm, etc. (Level 14)] [Current experience: 113/150] [Size +14%] [Tastiness +14%] [Capture rate +14%] It might not seem much, as he only gathered a couple hundred more earthworms than yesterday, but once he passed level 10, he clearly noticed that the probability of digging up bigger sea earthworms was higher than this morning and yesterday. It was from that point on that Chu Mingcheng began to have a stable income. The only pity was that of the five remaining life conversion opportunities, only two were left now. He may not have felt it yesterday, but today he certainly felt the changes in his physical condition, indeed stronger than before. Zhang Wei also dug a bit, but due to the exhausting repair work from the night before and yesterday, he didnt even gather half a kilogram before giving up and driving to an internet cafe, only coming back when he called him to pick someone up. As Chu Mingcheng was about to take the sea earthworms to sell, he suddenly received a message from Jiang Luoluo. Are you free? I have returned from Yanshan. Didnt I say I would make it up to you? Would you like to come out for a meal? Chu Mingcheng felt it wasnt right to leave Zhang Wei alone, so he tactfully declined, Well a friend of mine came to visit me today, and we are about to go out to eat. Oh, then bring your friend along! You know I also have two friends here, and I was just worrying that you might feel awkward coming alone! Ill ask my friend then. Yeah, ask quickly! Chu Mingcheng said hed ask, but of course, it was just an excuse; with the prospect of beautiful women, Zhang Wei would go even if he was completely drained. Remember those two beauties you saw yesterday? One of them invited me to dinner, wanna go? Go, of course we must go! Indeed, just as he expected, Zhang Wei immediately agreed, eyes shining. Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 21: The Routine of Sea Foraging Chapter 21: Chapter 21: The Routine of Sea Foraging At three oclock in the morning, the alarm clock went off precisely on time, and getting up at this hour was truly no easy task. Although Chu Mingcheng was woken up by the alarm, the drowsiness made it utterly impossible for him to get out of bed. In the end, his brain issued a command, using Life Conversion for once, and he instantly became much more alert. Sitting up, Chu Mingcheng looked at the Life Conversion, now down to its last use, and remarked, This thing is just like a stimulant, thankfully without any side effects. He got dressed, washed up, and drove off without calling Zhang Wei. He had woken up this early specifically to prepare for the days seashore foraging. The abundant hauls in every seaside foraging video were actually ninety percent fake. Right now, he intended to visit the seafood market to purchase seafood, to fabricate a bit of reality, so the girls could experience the joy of a successful seaside foraging, an act of painstaking effort in its own right. Le City had a late-night seafood market; at this time, stall owners would go there to stock up, so prices were lower, more like wholesale rates, and there was a greater, fresher variety of seafood available. As he entered the seafood market, a smell of the ocean mixed with a strong stench hit him, causing Chu Mingcheng to frown. He took out the mask he had prepared earlier and put it on, which made things a lot more comfortable. Even he, who grew up by the sea, couldnt stand this kind of fishy smell. Only fishermen and fishmongers who dealt with seafood every day could tolerate it, or rather, they were accustomed to it. Chu Mingcheng had a clear goal in mind: no fish, as he had other plans for today and didnt need sea fish. He went straight to a shop selling crabs and lobsters, where he spent five hundred yuan to buy five Green Lobsters. Better to skip the Jinxiu Lobsters; though the ones sold here were farmed, the wild ones were protected species, and it would be troublesome to be caught and misunderstood. No need to buy swimming crabs or Green Crabs either, as they would likely be available during the foraging. He bought some Big Scallops and Sea Snails for three hundred yuan. With these purchases, he was nearly set, but just as he was about to head back, he suddenly spotted a stall selling Green Crabs. However, his Green Crabs were particularly large, each one looking to be at least two jins, with some even reaching three or four jins. These were Sri Lanka Green Crabs, likely farmed. Boss, how much are you selling these Sri Lanka Green Crabs for? The smaller ones are two hundred yuan a jin, the big ones like these are two hundred sixty a jin. Chu Mingcheng clicked his tongue, that was a really steep price. Are these meat crabs or butter crabs? All meat crabs. The butter crabs arent tasty right now, while meat crabs are delicious, the flesh is very sweet. Upon hearing they were meat crabs, Chu Mingcheng decided to buy some. Aside from Butter Crabs, meat crabs taste better than butter crabs, whose roe cant compare to that of the hairy crabs. Additionally, there are seasonal periods for farmed Green Crabs. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the crab roe increasingly turns bitter, so those wishing to enjoy roe crabs are better off waiting until after the Qingming festival next April. Thats when the winter crabs are caught, big ones with full ripe roe taste the best. Chu Mingcheng knew how to judge the plumpness of Green Crabs: first, by looking at the shell, but Sri Lanka Green Crabs have thick shells, making it hard to tell. So he picked up a few of the big ones and turned them over to check, keeping those with protruding navels and bushy claws. Finally, he turned them over on the ground, belly up, to assess their liveliness. As long as he didnt forcefully press on their navel eyes, the owner allowed people to pick at their leisure. Soon, Chu Mingcheng selected a fat and large Sri Lanka Green Crab that weighed four jins and three taels, priced at one thousand one yuan. After leaving the seafood market, he didnt carry much, but he had almost spent two thousand Big Coins. At that moment, Chu Mingcheng couldnt help but consider the idea of farming Sri Lanka Green Crabs; they were damn expensive. ` But it was just a thought, he couldnt stand getting up at 3 a.m. every day to work during the crab season. Now, the life of fishing and collecting seafood was pretty good, he was earning much more than when he was employed, and he had a lot more freedom. On his way home, Chu Mingcheng deliberately got some seawater to keep lobsters alive, and supplied them with oxygen before going back to sleep for a bit longer. He didnt get up again until 7:30 in the morning. This time, he even kicked awake Zhang Wei, who slept like a log, and took the seafood they bought in the morning, heading straight to the place where they had picked spicy snails last time. Zhang Wei only realized the presence of lobsters, Sri Lanka green crabs, and scallops amongst the seafood after he woke up, which left him dumbfounded. Whats the situation? What do we have around these seas? Cant we experience the joy of collecting seafood without faking it? Youre right. But youre quite into this, arent you! Zhang Wei stroked his chin, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth as he thoughtfully looked at Chu Mingcheng. Since Ive invited others to come and have fun, I must make sure they enjoy themselves. Thats how you treat guests. Then Im a guest too, right? Why dont I get anything? Youre not a woman! I could go to Elephant Country~ Regarding shamelessness, Chu Mingcheng felt he would never be able to outdo Zhang Wei. They arrived at their destination, and the tide had already receded. It would be close to eleven before the tide would start coming in again. He handed over the seafood he had bought at dawn to Zhang Wei, asked him to find a few holes to stash them in, and to keep an eye out, while he drove to the hotel to pick up Jiang Luoluo and the others. The agreed time was eight oclock. When Chu Mingcheng arrived at the hotel, Jiang Luoluo and Zhou Jiayi were already dressed for collecting seafood and waiting for him downstairs. Being on time greatly improved his impression of them. It was rare for little fairies to be punctualhe had thought he would have to wait at least an hour. But a big beauty standing downstairs is quite eye-catching. He had just arrived when he saw a man, presumably a National Day holiday visitor, hitting on them, asking for their contact information. Chu Mingcheng honked the horn to draw their attention and then opened the window, The tide has gone out, get in the car! Jiang Luoluo, who had been rather cold-looking initially, immediately smiled upon seeing him, then she and Zhou Jiayi got into the Volkswagen that cost about one hundred thousand yuan, under the envious and jealous gaze of other men. Why is it just the two of you? Wheres your photographer? Shes not feeling well in her stomach, resting at the hotel. Lets go back to pick her up before dinner! Alright! Chu Mingcheng felt sorry for Zhang Ruomei; if she was suffering from a stomach ache, she might miss todays seafood feast. Thanks for just now; that guy was so annoying, he had been pestering us for quite a while. No need to thank me. Attractive people like us get hit on wherever we go. You need to learn how to refuse and get used to it. True, the troubles of people like us are not understood by ordinary folks! You guys are so full of yourselves~ Zhou Jiayi couldnt hold back her disdain, and blurted out a taunt. Haha~ Chu Mingcheng and Jiang Luoluo laughed together. By the way, wheres Zhang Wei? Realizing a bit too late that someone was missing, Jiang Luoluo asked. Hes at the beach waiting for us. I suppose he should have found some treasure by now! Chu Mingcheng couldnt mention their seafood purchase and the pretense involved, so he chose to fudge the truth for the time being. Soon, they arrived at their destination for that days seafaring adventure. Once out of the car, Jiang Luoluo excitedly pulled Zhou Jiayi by the hand and ran towards the rocky area, while Chu Mingcheng followed behind, carrying a bucket filled with various tools for collecting seafood. Zhang Wei had already placed the seafood in different holes, making sure they couldnt crawl out. The only cause for anxiety was the Sri Lanka green crabthe only one capable of escaping from the small hole. However, since he stood by their side, the green crab hiding in the crevice naturally wouldnt come out. ` Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Old Six Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Old Six Chu Mingcheng handed the tongs to Jiang Luoluo and Zhou Jiayi, and, along with Zhang Wei, started leading them to search for edible seafood in the rocky reef area. At first, they did not take them to the fake tide pools, so the catch was meager. However, Jiang Luoluo and Zhou Jiayi seemed very excited, and would scream and shout upon seeing a tiny stone crab, rushing to catch it. Unconsciously, Zhou Jiayi followed behind Zhang Wei, while Jiang Luoluo stuck close to Chu Mingcheng. Wow, theres a huge oyster here! Jiang Luoluo truly had sharp eyes, as she managed to discover a very large oyster inside a crevice on the side of a rock. Come on, heres the shovel. Pry it off, Chu Mingcheng immediately handed her the tool. Without any hesitation, she took the shovel and went to work, prying the big oyster off after a few forceful shovels. Picking up the oyster, Jiang Luoluo seemed overjoyed, Haha, we finally got something today. Seeing her happiness, Chu Mingcheng subtly suggested, I think you should open the oyster to check, as seaside oysters are generally not this big. There might be nothing inside. Empty? Jiang Luoluo took the bloodletting dagger with some confusion, then attempted to open the oyster. Upon opening the oysters shell, a large chunk of slightly greenish oyster meat was immediately exposed. The oyster was indeed large and its belly was plump, rivaling those sold in barbecue shops. Haha, theres an oyster inside, and its so big too! Let me see Chu Mingcheng leaned in and, while Jiang Luoluo wasnt paying attention, suddenly grabbed the oyster meat and slurped it into his mouth, not forgetting to make a quick getaway. Ahhh, my oyster, Chu Mingcheng, you thief! Even the best temper would explode at this, and Jiang Luoluo was no exception, furiously throwing the oyster shell at him, her temper flaring like a little cats. Hahaha This oyster is a bit too salty from the seawater! Having dodged the bomb attack, Chu Mingcheng stopped to laugh nonstop, undoubtedly finding stolen goods to be the tastiest. Knowing that, you still ate it without worrying about the dirt! Jiang Luoluo rolled her eyes unamusedly, her tone tinged with a hint of annoyance. Hehe, come on, lets see whats in the tide pools. Usually, during low tide, some creatures cant make it back in time and get trapped. With your luck in finding such a big oyster, maybe there will be other discoveries today. Is that really true? Its all about luck! Time had mostly passed, and fearing something would happen to the seafood he had purchased, Chu Mingcheng started guiding Jiang Luoluo towards those tide pools. Wow, such a big scallop! Unexpectedly, Zhang Wei was faster and had already led Zhou Jiayi to the spot with the scallops and sea snails. Where, where? Jiang Luoluo was instantly attracted to it. Just passing a few small pools, she suddenly noticed something amiss, looked down to find a bunch of lobsters huddled in a tide pool at her feet, their antennae waving conspicuously. Ah!!! A soprano suddenly rang out beside him, and Chu Mingcheng complained without words, Are you girls like Pokmon or what? Always attacking with a screech? Lobsters, so many lobsters! Jiang Luoluo couldnt care less about his mockery, as she pointed at the tide pool and excitedly slapped his arm. Sss~ They say you hit the jackpot on your first fishing trip, and now youve hit the jackpot on your first sea foraging too! Even though the deception was so blatant, Chu Mingcheng still put on a bit of an act, forcing a surprised look on his face. Quick, use the tongs to pick them up and put them in the bucket, weve got our feast today. Oh, oh, oh Jiang Luoluo hastily used the pliers in her hand to grab, but she didnt have enough strength. Every time she clamped down, the lobster would break free, making her so anxious that she threw the pliers aside and reached out to catch it with her hands. Haha, so many lobsters! Yeah, youve caught the whole family in one go. Hee hee~ After capturing all the lobsters and placing them in a bucket, the girl smiled until her eyes disappeared, turning into crescent moons. Zhang Wei saw that she caught the lobsters and seized the opportunity to guide Zhou Jiayi to catch the Sri Lanka Green Crab. But Green Crabs are so fierce, let alone the big ones weighing three or four pounds, even the ones weighing half a pound are too intimidating for most girls to try catching! Chu Mingcheng only heard the girls scared, wanting to catch yet afraid to do so. In the end, he had to take matters into his own hands, catching the big critter, and then he picked up the scallops and sea snails one by one. It was still early, and with so many catches, Jiang Luoluo and Zhou Jiayi were full of energy. However, the reality of sea foraging, coupled with their inexperience, meant that by the time the tide came in at eleven oclock, they hadnt found much else. Lets go, weve been lucky to catch so much this morning. Well eat something simple for lunch; Ill take you out to sea in the afternoon. Out to sea? You have a boat? Jiang Luoluo asked in surprise. Chu Mingcheng explained, I havent bought one yet, but we can rent a boat! Theres a group of fishermen on this island who make a living fishing. They lower the nets and then rent the boat to others. When the time is right, theyll take those who rented the boat to collect the nets, and whatever is caught, no matter its value, belongs to the person who rented the boat. Jiang Luoluo nodded in understanding, I see. So, is it common to make a profit or a loss when renting a boat? Chu Mingcheng let out a wry smile, Of course, the losses are greater. The fishermen arent that foolish. They wont rent out boats during the first month after the fishing ban is lifted, when catches are plentiful because its easy to lose money by renting then. They start renting out boats after a month has passed, with different prices for different times. For example, renting in the morning or at noon would cost two thousand for one trip. In the evening, it would only cost one thousand five hundred. Hearing about the frequent losses, Jiang Luoluo frowned and said, Then lets not do that; we shouldnt engage in something thats bound to be a loss! Haha, for us, renting a boat is actually a recreational activity. The main point is to experience how fishermen catch fish and the joy of a good haul. Besides, you two are so lucky today, maybe well have a big catch this afternoon? Seeing that Jiang Luoluo was about to say something, Zhou Jiayi pulled her sleeve and whispered into her ear, Luoluo, since hes planned it, lets just go along! If we end up losing a lot, we can help cover some of the costs. Okay! Jiang Luoluo, feeling that made sense, didnt try to persuade further. They went to a noodle shop for lunch and had a bowl of seafood noodles each, then Chu Mingcheng took them back home to drop off their things. On the way, he also fed the small miscellaneous fish he had found specially in a puddle to the tabby cat. Having a cute pet at home surely made the place more attractive to girls. Unfortunately, the tabby cat was highly alert and, except for Chu Mingcheng, didnt let anyone else near, it would hiss and run away. Therefore, Jiang Luoluo and Zhou Jiayi could only watch it eat fish from a distance, yearning to pet the cat but without the chance. After feeding the cat, they set off again and arrived at the pier. Neither Chu Mingcheng nor Zhang Wei brought fishing rods, as they had no intention to fish. The area around the island was full of fishing nets, leaving virtually no good spots for fishing. This was why most Fishing Men, as long as they had the time, would go to Dongting Island instead. There, the fishermen partnered up for deep-sea fishing, and the fish resources around the island were still decent. Those who came to Yanmen Island for sea fishing were generally people with not much time and who didnt want to go to too much trouble, with most only able to catch stone fish, or even returning empty-handed. Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Yellow Croaker? [Added Chapter, Please Follow] Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Yellow Croaker? [Added Chapter, Please Follow] The pier wasnt too crowded at noon, mostly fishermen preparing to set out to sea and a group of tourists ready to charter a boat. Chu Mingchengs family had moved to the town so many years ago that he didnt have any fisherman acquaintances among his neighbors and friends. Therefore, without any familiar faces around for the boat charter, he had to ask around one by one. The fishing boats were moored at the shoreline, but the pier here wasnt large, with only a few docked along the edge. The rest of the boats were moored side by side; one could board the first fishing boat and walk across to the others. Chu Mingcheng asked Jiang Luoluo and the others to wait on the pier, while he boarded the fishing boat to look for a suitable boat owner. He chose not to approach the older men, as they were usually quite cunning, with many tricks up their sleeves. If they had a big catch that day, any disagreement over the catch could spoil the mood. Of course, there were honest old men, but he didnt want to take the risk. After passing several boats, he suddenly saw a bald man cleaning a fishing boat and his eyes lit up. Hey, Brother Zhao Jun, what a coincidence! The man called Zhao Jun turned his head upon hearing his name and was surprised to see Chu Mingcheng, exclaiming, Ah Cheng, what are you doing here? I brought some friends over to have fun. Were planning to charter a boat and head out this afternoon. I didnt expect to run into you. Werent you working out of town? What brings you here? Chu Mingcheng was also quite surprised to see Zhao Jun. After all, Zhao Jun spent most of his time away from home, and since they used to play together as kids and meet for drinks at years end, they maintained a pretty good relationship. Business is tough out of town! sighed Zhao Jun, not wanting to dwell on the subject, but instead asked, You said youre here to charter a boat with friends? No need to charter, Ill take you out to sea for fun. If we net anything good, you can just take it. That wont do, the charter fee has to be paid to you. And only if we charter the boat will my friends find it fun to play. Business is business. Seeing that Zhao Jun had returned to become a fisherman, Chu Mingcheng figured his days must be tough. Naturally, the money had to be paid, and it wasnt like he was short of it. After paying, Chu Mingcheng went to get the three people from the pier. Seeing Jiang Luoluo and Zhou Jiayis attractiveness, Zhao Jun was suddenly enlightened and covertly came over to pull him aside and whispered, You lad, youre doing well, both girls are so pretty. Which one is your girlfriend? Just met two days ago. They treated me to a big meal last night, so I had to reciprocate, right? You were treated to a meal? Then its just a matter of time! Zhao Jun wasnt able to obtain any gossip but wasnt bothered as any issues would become apparent eventually. However, since there were girls involved, he took a sunshade cloth from the storage and said, Ah Cheng, help me with this, lets set up this awning to block the sun. Sure thing! Chu Mingcheng replied, pulling Zhang Wei along to help. Zhao Juns boat had a canopy with a small resting space above the engine, so the person steering at the back wouldnt be exposed to the sun. But when hauling in the nets, they would need to go to the front deck, and in the summer the sun was too harsh. Even the seasoned old fishermen couldnt stand it for long and would peel from prolonged exposure, so the local fishermen all had a piece of sunshade cloth. Stretching from the rest cabin to the front tip of the boat, it could cover the entire front deck. After setting up the sunshade, Zhao Jun started the fishing boat and left the pier to head to his fishing spot. Chu Mingcheng noted that Zhao Juns small boat was quite new and knew at a glance that it was freshly purchased. Since he also fancied the idea of going out to fish, he started to inquire about the price of the fishing boat. Brother Zhao Jun, your boats really new, how much did it cost? This boat was 120,000 on the water, thirteen meters long, its not cheap, said Zhao Jun. The mention of the price made him feel a bit somber. When he went to buy the boat and found out the price, he had quite a shock, never imagining that a small wooden fishing boat could cost so much. Ah, this Chu Mingcheng was momentarily stunned; he had assumed that wooden boats would be cheaper and hadnt expected their price to be not much different from that of ten-meter-plus fishing boats. ` Since the prices are so high, he might as well take his time and save up to buy a class two fishing boat directly. What, do you also want to buy a boat to fish? Not really, the fish resources are too poor around here. Fishing in the coastal waters isnt very interesting. Sigh, just getting by day by day, but its still enough to provide for the family, Zhao Jun sighed. He had turned to fishing when his business outside couldnt go on, because even if fishing wasnt great, it could still make him a hundred thousand or so a year, albeit with hard work. But when it comes to providing for the family, whats a bit of hard labor? Chu Mingcheng, hearing how expensive the boats were, had already begun considering other options. He decided to first exploit the resources on shore as much as possible, then spend some time each day sea fishing, to slightly level up the common fish species of the East Sea, before considering the strategy of renting a boat spot to go out to sea to fish. He didnt need too high a level, level 5 would suffice. Even though the significant effects only start from level 10, a 5% increase in attributes actually has some effect, as long as it doesnt result in a loss. As Zhao Juns boat stopped, Chu Mingchengs thoughts were also pulled back. Here we are, its not time yet, lets wait a bit longer! Brother Zhao Jun, how long has your net been in the water? Almost four hours now. Why, you want to haul in the net already? Lets do it. I need to prepare a big meal this afternoon; its going to take quite some time. Alright, youve chartered the boat, so youre the boss. It wasnt much different from the usual timing, so since Chu Mingcheng requested it, Zhao Jun naturally had no objections. Pulling up all six nets would take a lot of time, and once back to process the catch, it would probably be three oclock in the afternoon, so Chu Mingcheng didnt plan to wait any longer. Luoluo, you and Jiayi stand back a bit, were going to haul in the net. Do you need any help? No need, just pick out the crabs and big fish from the catch later. Mhm, got it. Jiang Luoluo quickly led Zhou Jiayi towards the cockpit, leaving enough space on the foredeck. The boat approached the foam buoy of the first net, and Chu Mingcheng, with gloves on, lifted the buoy onboard and then passed the rope of the fishing net to Zhao Jun as he came over. He took it and tied the rope to the winch, then started it up. As the winch turned, the underwater fishing net was gradually pulled up. After the net was fully hauled in, Zhao Jun went to grab the opening of the net and, pulling hard, placed it on the gunwale. Seeing him struggle, Chu Mingcheng instructed Zhang Wei to don gloves, and the two helped together. The type of net that Zhao Jun used spread out completely in the water; the rope would draw the net together when pulled, concentrating the catch in the tail end as the net was brought aboard. The net rope was thick, and the entire net needed to be hauled onboard to dump all the catch onto the deck, unlike gillnets. Though it was trouble to pull, it wasnt prone to tangling like gillnets, allowing the catch to be dumped on the deck and the net to be immediately cast back for more fishing. As the net was pulled up, it was entangled with many dead goby fish, most of which were small and wouldnt be cleaned; leaving them on the net could attract other predatory creatures. Jiang Luoluo and Zhou Jiayi stood at the stern, intently watching the fishing net in the water, but as the tail end of the net also emerged, she suddenly exclaimed with surprise, Yellow, yellow, theres a big yellow croaker! ` Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Mile-level Cod Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Mile-level Cod Where is it? Where is it? Damn, there really is a yellow one. No way, are we that lucky? The other three men were all startled, and Chu Mingcheng and Zhang Wei hurriedly moved to the stern to see the catch that was gradually being pulled up. Indeed, there was yellow, but it was just a bit small. When they saw what it was, Chu Mingchengs face darkened, Is there a possibility that yellow croakers have juniors too? Zhang Wei sighed speechlessly and went back to help pull the net. Zhao Jun was the calmest, knowing that the chances of netting a big yellow croaker here were very slim. Even if they did catch one, it was probably one that had escaped from a yellow croaker farm around Dongting Island, and it wouldnt fetch a high price. Jiang Luoluo noticed the change in their expressions and realized she had made a big blunder. She awkwardly said, So these were little yellow croakers! Yes, but wild little yellow croakers are not bad either. Lets take a few back and fry them for dinner; theyre really tasty. Chu Mingcheng checked the catch, not many little yellow croakers, a few big swimming crabs, the rest were poorly valued fish likely only sellable as feed. The first haul was a loss for sure. Soon, the fishing net was completely pulled up, Zhao Jun untied the rope tied at the end and dumped the catch out. The swimming crabs and other small crabs that were still alive suddenly started struggling desperately, and some that lacked vitality were buried under the pile of fish. The fun part of picking fishes started, Chu Mingcheng handed the tongs to the two girls, You sit here and pick out all the big and valuable fishes. Like this red shrimp, the bigger ones can also be sold. There are quite a few small cuttlefish, they go for thirty-five a pound, pick those out too, people around here really like them. Ill get you a few plastic boxes, sort everything you pick. Mmm, leave it to us, Jiang Luoluo took the tongs and nodded eagerly, interested in the task. Looking at the pile of small fish in front of her, she felt like she was searching for treasures. The two girls sat on the small stools and started selecting the valuable fish, while Zhao Jun lowered the fishing net back into the water and continued sailing to the next nets location. When the net was pulled up, Jiang Luoluo and Zhou Jiayi simultaneously stood up and moved closer to continue examining the catch. Although they knew the catch would eventually be dumped on the deck, they just couldnt help feeling excited, hoping the net was full of big fish, allowing them to discover surprises in advance. Unfortunately, the second haul was similar to the first, not a single big fish. Interestingly, it remained the same up to the fifth net as well. Jiang Luoluo looked at the small mountain of fish scraps, there werent many valuable catches, and she started to feel a bit unhappy. Zhao Jun was pulling up the sixth net, so she secretly pulled Chu Mingcheng to the stern, Are we taking a big loss here, five nets and not a single big fish? Due to the loud noise of the ships engine, Jiang Luoluo had to speak very close to him, the scent of a girl and the accidental touches of softness made him a bit distracted. Its not too bad, we wont lose much. Dont look at the catch being small cuttlefish, red shrimp, swimming crabs, little changyu, and little yellow croakers, but the quantity from five nets was also significant. Together with the pile of fish scraps, those could sell for twenty yuan a plastic box, which could cover about two hundred yuan overall. Overall, we might lose about one thousand yuan. Jiang Luoluo was about to propose covering half of the charter fee herself when she suddenly heard Zhang Wei shouting excitedly, Shit, what a huge fish, come and see, weve netted a big one. Really? Chu Mingchengs attention was instantly drawn, and he hurried over. They saw a mile-level cod struggling within the net, a catch frequently found in the Far Sea but rarely seen around Yanmen Island in recent years. Haha, Ah Cheng, youre quite lucky today, this cod must weigh about twenty pounds, youve made your money back today! Although the fish wasnt his, Zhao Jun was also quite happy. If todays harvest remained this dismal, he would feel somewhat embarrassed about taking the two thousand yuan from Chu Mingcheng. Brother Zhao Jun, can this fish cover the cost? In Chu Mingchengs recollection, cod wasnt expensive, with market prices around ten yuan per jin. Even if it weighed twenty jin, and considering it was freshly caught which might raise the price a bit, he guessed it could sell for at most four to five hundred yuan! Mile-level cod can sell for at least eighty-one yuan per jin, such a big fish is rare around here, maybe someone will want it and offer a higher price later. Why is it so expensive? Isnt it only around ten yuan per jin at the market? Chu Mingcheng was astonished, no wonder Zhao Jun said it could cover the cost. This one has fish maw, if the fish maw is good and you process it yourself, perhaps you could earn more. But thats too much trouble, better to just sell it directly. Right, it has fish maw, how could I forget that. Jiang Luoluo felt relieved upon hearing that the cod could cover the cost. As the entire fishing net was pulled up, they discovered other good catches in the net. Among them were two thirty-centimeter fish, entirely red. Zhao Jun couldnt recognize what kind of fish they were, it was Chu Mingcheng who found out from an online search, they were called Purple Bream, a top-notch red meat sashimi fish from the East Sea. These fish spend their juvenile period near the coast, and swim back to the continental shelf as they grow, normally only found in the Far Sea. The normal size for this type of fish is around forty to fifty centimeters, these thirty-centimeter ones might have just been heading back to the continental shelf when they were caught by Zhao Juns fishing net. Chu Mingcheng had originally hoped to catch a Stone Fish, but catching Purple Bream instead was also not bad. In the end, he and Zhang Wei, Jiang Luoluo, and the others discussed and took five small yellow croakers, two Purple Bream, and five very fat swimming crabs, and sold the rest. After the fishing boat returned, the appearance of mile-level cod indeed attracted a crowd of onlookers. The belly of this cod was very plump, and the fish maw was likely to be very good and large. Fishmongers and bosses who came to buy seafood immediately started bidding, and in the end, it was bought by a boss from Wen City. The fish weighed 18.7 jin and sold for two thousand three hundred yuan, averaging over one hundred twenty yuan per jin. Besides what they kept for themselves, the other catches also sold for over seven hundred yuan, and they even made a profit of one thousand yuan from the boat rental today, which Chu Mingcheng had not expected. The only regret was that these net catches wouldnt count towards the experience points in the seafood atlas. Brother Zhao Jun, how about coming over for a drink tonight? No, no, I have things to do tonight, maybe next time! Zhao Jun didnt intend to join in on the fun, but if it were just Chu Mingcheng and him, he would definitely go. Alright, then next time. Well be going then. Chu Mingcheng wasnt insistent and after saying goodbye, he carried his stuff and left. By now, it was past three in the afternoon, and he dropped Jiang Luoluo and the others off at their homes. He was supposed to pick up Zhang Ruomei as well, but she had her period. To avoid seeing a seafood feast she couldnt enjoy, she had called Jiang Luoluo early to tell her she wouldnt come to the dinner and for them not to bother picking her up, so they began to prepare the dinner. The Sri Lanka Green Crab was simply steamed to preserve its original flavor, enhancing its freshness and sweetness. Since Chu Mingchengs family home didnt have an oven but did have a grill, Zhang Wei took the lobsters and scallops out to grill them. The two Purple Bream were made into sashimi, and their heads and innards were all given to a tabby cat. Being seafood, the preparation was convenient and simple; around five oclock, all the seafood was already set on the table. Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25 New Goals Chapter 25: Chapter 25 New Goals Mmm, this Purple Bream sashimi is much tastier than the sea bream sashimi we had at the Japanese restaurant yesterday. Zhang Wei commented after taking a bite of the fresh Purple Bream flesh. Of course, the Purple Bream costs over a hundred yuan per half kilogram, whereas what we ate yesterday was probably Black Sea Bream, only costing tens of yuan per half kilogram, no comparison! Chu Mingcheng said with a laugh. These two ingredients werent on the same level, and the Purple Bream was also a specialized sashimi fish, so its taste was naturally much different. As for Jiang Luoluo and Zhou Jiayi, they were each holding a Green Crab claw bigger than their own hands, their mouths full of crab meat with no room to talk. This brought a knowing smile to Chu Mingcheng, the hosts, face; both girls had the looks of online beauties even post beautification, yet they lacked the various issues common among such online personas, which made them quite comfortable to be around. Only, not going fishing last night and not digging for sea earthworms today had left him feeling somewhat restless. Fortunately, both of them would be leaving tomorrow, and thereafter, nothing would hinder him from grinding. After eating for a while, Jiang Luoluo, who was stealthily observing Chu Mingcheng sipping his soup, pondered for a moment before asking tentatively, Hey, Mingcheng, have you ever thought about recording your fishing and sea foraging experiences, editing them into videos, and posting them online? You mean doing social media? Chu Mingchengs expression paused as he glanced at Jiang Luoluo, who kept staring at him; it seemed like he understood somewhatthis girl wanted him to be more ambitious! But, with the Golden Finger that ensured success as long as he kept grinding away, how could he not be ambitious? He might even become the king of competition in the fishing world someday. Nevertheless, realistically speaking, being a social media content creator could at least be considered a career, which sounded respectable when spoken of. Sea foraging and fishing, on the other hand, could give off the impression of being unreliable, and he doubted any parents would agree to let their daughter marry such a manunless he was hitting them with money. Yeah, doing social media is actually quite good. You could make videos on foraging and even on going far out to sea to fish; there are quite a lot of people who like watching this kind of stuff. This way, youll also have a stable income in the future, which I personally think would be better than what youre doing now, Jiang Luoluo blurted out a lot, and the suggestion she made was pretty good too. Regarding what she had in mind, Zhou Jiayi, as her best friend, could guess some of it. Being single all these years, it was rare to meet someone she was attracted to; naturally, she wanted more interaction. It was just that concern over professions could give one pause, deterring one from going further. What you said makes sense; making videos could indeed offer the chance of becoming a stable career. Its just that Im also new to foraging and fishing, not familiar enough with them, I might consider making some videos after I become familiar with these things in the future. Its like your dance videos; its because youre professional enough that you can perform dances that everyone likes, right? Chu Mingcheng also thought making videos was a pretty good idea; once he had a boat and went offshore to catch big fish, recording it would not only document his sea fishing experiences but also help him make some money on the side. Importantly, releasing videos wasnt like live streaming, which required constant interaction with viewers; he just needed to post once a week or even less frequently, and if he didnt want to interact with viewers, there was no need to bother at all, so there werent many constraints. Seeing that Chu Mingcheng was receptive to her suggestion, Jiang Luoluo felt delighted, Right, your way of thinking is correct. Remember to let me know when you start posting videos; I want to be the first to watch! They chatted and laughed, and the meal wasnt over until after seven in the evening. The two girls even helped clean up together and wash the dishes, showing themselves to be quite capable. After sending them back to the hotel, Chu Mingcheng went home and began researching rock fishing rods and the technique of rock fishing online. As he browsed, his eyes suddenly lit up; he had a new goal! The next morning at eight oclock, Jiang Luoluo sent a message to bid farewell to Chu Mingcheng. They were setting off for their next stop, Jia City, to continue filming their video and to enjoy a roasted whole lamb along the way. Chu Mingcheng briefly chatted with her before taking Zhang Wei to the fishing gear shop, where he bought a number 3 surf rod, along with matching fishing line and sinkers, among other things. With the number 3 surf rod suitable for catching small to medium-sized fish, he didnt go for anything expensive and spent a total of only six hundred yuan. Zhang Wei, seeing this, felt the urge to try his own hand and picked out a surf rod as well, albeit a cheaper one. Ah Cheng, are you going to start sea fishing now? As they left the fishing gear shop and got into the car, Zhang Wei took the opportunity to ask. Yeah, I want to get some practice first. You know theres a water channel where they dig for sea earthworms, right? We cant dig for sea earthworms when the tide hasnt gone out, so might as well go fishing instead! After saying that, Chu Mingcheng drove first to the local market where he bought a pound of shrimp, which he kept on ice, and after wandering around the market, he finally spotted his target fish and stepped forward to ask. Boss, how do you sell these Crab Tigers? Why is one kind a lighter color, while the other is so dark? The boss replied, The lighter ones are wild, two hundred yuan a pound. The ones with black spots are farmed, eighty yuan a pound. Chu Mingcheng said, Farmed ones are eighty yuan? Thats so expensive, forget it, I cant afford it! The boss: Having understood the prices, Chu Mingcheng, and Zhang Wei, who was trying not to laugh, left the market. Ah Cheng, so you bought a surf rod to fish for Crab Tigers! Why didnt you tell me earlier? I have a way that you wouldnt need a surf rod at all to catch Crab Tigers. With chopsticks? Damn, how did you know? The videos all say its an exclusive secret recipe, why wouldnt I know about it? But the place where we dig for sea earthworms isnt suited for that method. Surf rods and hand lines are actually better for fishing there. Fishing for Crab Tigers wasnt really difficult; they loved to eat shrimp the most. From October onwards, the two hours just before sunset were their peak feeding times, when they were most aggressive with the bait. However, conditions like the tide and wind direction could also affect the fishs behavior, but such complexities were too much for a novice like Chu Mingcheng to grasp. So hed just fish the way he knew how, and with more experience, he would slowly learn. The duo arrived at East Yue Beach during low tide, Chu Mingcheng with bucket in hand and a short-handled hoe to start digging. The level of his sea earthworm digging had reached 14, so the chances of finding large ones had increased significantly. As they had eaten enough in the morning, Chu Mingcheng dug energetically until two in the afternoon, when the rising tide had submerged the mudflats. Other earthworm diggers had no choice but to move to areas not yet covered by the sea. Earthworms could still be found in these spots, but they were much fewer in number. Having dug up over five pounds and reaching level 17, Chu Mingcheng decided not to continue. Zhang Wei was someone who couldnt sit still, and he didnt enjoy the hard work of digging for sea earthworms, so he had gone off to fish earlier. He used a lure rod, and as expected, came back empty-handed. Chu Mingcheng carried the bucket back, planning to grab something to eat first. However, Zhang Wei had just returned in his car, bringing him a serving of fried rice. After eating, the two took out their surf rods, along with the shrimp they bought that morning, and returned to the mudflats, ready to fish for Crab Tigers. Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Finally Caught One Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Finally Caught One He removed the shrimp head, hung the tail on the hook, and was careful about the placement of the hook. It was best to drop it by the waters edge, preferably near some rocks where it could hide. Chu Mingcheng and Zhang Wei were about ten meters apart, not interfering with each other. The Crab Tiger Fish was currently at level 0, and it wasnt their peak feeding time. In the beginning, no fish bit Chu Mingchengs bait for five or six minutes after he cast it. But this was normal, and having fished for several days, he was not at all impatient. Suddenly, there was a pulling force on the fishing rodhe had a bite. However, the feel was a bit odd. The Crab Tiger Fish was similar to the ground tiger, not only in appearance, but their manner of eating bait should be similar too. They both swallowed it in one gulp, eating deep into the hook, so there was no need to worry about them coming off the hook. But the feeling from the rod now did not feel like the fish was struggling hard. Instead, it felt like something was playing tug-of-war with him, almost as if it was snagged on the bottom. Could the hook have gotten caught in a crevice? The water was flowing, so it wasnt strange for the hook to be pushed into a crevice. Chu Mingcheng pulled lightly and found that he could move it, but the more he pulled, the tighter it felt. He tried loosening it a bit, then pulled again, and it moved again. Not expecting this to work, Chu Mingcheng began to loosen and pull alternately, slowly reeling in the line. Soon, the hook emerged from the water, along with a snake head? Chu Mingcheng was so frightened that he almost threw his rod, but upon closer inspection, he was overjoyed to find it was a sea eel. The sea eel did not struggle much, and once it was fully pulled out of its hole, it was like a lamb to the slaughter, easily pulled to the shore. Its yellow-patterned body was coiled around the fishing line just like a snake. Zhang Wei had noticed Chu Mingchengs catch and turned to look, immediately exclaiming, Holy shit, as goosebumps broke out all over him. He then showed a look of envy. After all, it was a sea eel, wild, and not cheap in the market. Moreover, this one did not look small, probably about half a meter long. However, Chu Mingcheng looked at the fierce sea eel with a distressed expression. The creature was so vicious, he did not seem to have an easy time removing the hook! Moreover, he did not have anti-slip gloves. He had intended to grab the sea eel, but unfortunately, its body was too slippery to hold. Having no choice, he could only cut the leader line with scissors, then replace it with a new one and equip a new hook. The hook in the stomach of the sea eel would have to remain there for nowif it came to it, it could be discarded. Fortunately, all these were consumables, and Chu Mingcheng had prepared plenty. The experience points in the Seafood Guide reached 10 points, still 40 points away from ascending to level one. It seemed that in addition to making sure he earned money, he would also have to explore some new species. After re-baiting with shrimp, Chu Mingcheng changed locations. Since there had been a sea eel in the previous spot, no Crab Tiger Fish, regardless of how fierce, was likely to be there. This time, he also got a bite within five or six minutes, but the feel from the rod indicated it still was not a Crab Tiger Fish. Instead, it felt similar to before, like it was snagged on the bottom. Chu Mingcheng had a strange expression. Could today be the day he stumbled into a nest of sea eels? Using the same method, he soon pulled the hooked creature out of the water, and it was a large Green Crab. When lifted out of the water, one of its large pincers firmly clamped onto the shrimp bait and would not let go. Seeing this, Chu Mingcheng quickly flung it onto the shore, fearing it would release its grip. Sure enough, it let go of the pincer while still in midair, but by then it was too late. With the force Chu Mingcheng threw, it didnt fall back into the water but was instead thrown to the shore. The Green Crab, flung with its eight legs towards the sky, struggled a few times and promptly used its pincers to flip itself over. Sensing someone approaching, it raised its pincers in a threatening manner. Its legs slowly crawled towards the edge of the bucket, seemingly feeling safer this way. Chu Mingcheng scooped up some mud and slapped it onto the Green Crab, immobilizing it, and then grabbed it. Checking the Green Crabs underside, he found it was a female and its belly was full, indicating it was very plump. Chu Mingcheng was very pleased, as it seemed his luck was quite good today. Although he hadnt caught a Crab Tiger Fish, both the sea eel and the Green Crab were great finds. He plucked some seaweed from the shore and put it in the bucket before tossing the Green Crab in. This was to prevent the Green Crab from wildly biting and damaging the other fish in the bucket. As for the shrimp bait and fish hook held by the Green Crab, they were no longer usable. The shrimp bait had mostly come off when he threw the Green Crab, and the fish hook was deformed from the crimp, so it was time to change it! Unbeknownst to him, half an hour had passed. Zhang Wei saw a fish take the bait, laughed aloud, and lifted the rod. A dark brown small fish struggled as it was pulled out of the waterhis fifth Crab Tiger Fish caught today. Moreover, his luck wasnt bad. Out of the five, three were about three taels each, and the remaining two were about two taels, all good enough to sell. He was just about to show off to Chu Mingcheng when he realized that the latter had unknowingly moved about fifty meters away, currently dealing with a sea eel tangled around his fishing line. Really off the charts, how can there be so many sea eels here? Chu Mingcheng found it unbelievable himself. He had come to fish for Crab Tiger Fish, yet in this period, after changing spots five times, he had caught three sea eels and two sea bass weighing between eight taels to a pound. He reviewed the marine life guide in his mind over and over, yet found no special BUFF. The sea eels level was still zero, so how did he end up dealing with them so frequently? Not quite understanding, Chu Mingcheng just continued to fish, cut the leader line with scissors, and threw the sea eel into the bucket. Luckily, he had plenty of fish hooks. He had bought a box with fifty of each type and had brought them along in his car, otherwise, he would have run out due to these circumstances. This time, Chu Mingcheng found a spot with lots of aquatic plants and threw the bait right into a gap in the weeds. Now, he didnt really care about the Crab Tiger, anything that bit was fair game. But sometimes its just like that, when you want it, it doesnt come, and when you dont want it, it just happens to show up. After waiting two or three minutes, he felt some slight movement from the rod, as if something was nibbling his bait. Shortly after, the movement stopped. Lifting the rod, he saw that the shrimp bait was goneit seemed the critter below was quite clever! Chu Mingcheng became quite intrigued. The cat at home had stolen his fish and was now his, and this fish that ate his bait also wanted to escape? He replaced the shrimp bait and continued casting the hook into the gap of the aquatic plants. Having tasted the sweetness just now, barely ten seconds after he cast the bait, the tip of the rod moved again. Perhaps the creature below had let its guard down, this time it swallowed the bait hook, line, and sinker. As it swallowed the shrimp bait, the hook firmly embedded in its mouth. The rod tip vibrated nonstop, and Chu Mingcheng chuckled, lifted the rod sharply, and a dark brown Crab Tiger Fish was pulled out, struggling and flapping its tail in the air. He grabbed the Crab Tiger Fish, removing the fish hook along with the swallowed shrimp bait. Thinking about having my second baitwishful thinking. Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Adding a New Family Member Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Adding a New Family Member This Crab Tiger Fish was not small, it probably weighed about four taels, and the biggest Crab Tiger Fish weigh just over half a catty, while wild ones are generally between two to three taels or even smaller. However, Crab Tiger Fish generally like to gather together, so as long as this patch of seaweed has Crab Tiger Fish, they just needed to continue fishing here. The sun gradually set in the west, and the sea breeze was a bit stronger than in the afternoon, time unknowingly came to the most active period for Crab Tiger Fish. Plus, this area hadnt been disturbed by other fishermen, Chu Mingcheng and Zhang Wei thoroughly enjoyed their fishing. Even without the Golden Fingers enhanced catch rate, during the peak period he still caught more than twenty Crab Tiger Fish weighing over two taels each, and that was after releasing many smaller ones. So Chu Mingcheng looked at the changes in his Marine Field Guide. Marine Field Guide (Level 0) Current Experience: (13/50) Unlock Capture Tools: Hand, Fishing Gear Maximum Level for Marine Produce: 50 Unlocked Marine Produce: Mud shrimp, Crucian Carp, Whitebait, Carp Special Abilities: None Today, they caught sea eels, Green Crabs, sea bass, and Crab Tiger Fish, adding four experience points, bringing the total to thirteen. Black Pond Perch, also known as Crab Tiger Fish (Level 2) Current Experience: 13/30 Size +2% Taste +2% Catch Rate +2% Chu Mingcheng counted the Crab Tiger Fish in the bucket, totaling 22, but he had actually caught 43. This wasnt strange, wild Crab Tiger Fish arent that big, and these werent farmed. Ah Cheng, its gotten dark, lets go! At this moment, tired from fishing, Zhang Wei also came over cheerfully carrying the bucket, his haul for the day was also pretty good. There were quite a few Crab Tiger Fish in the bucket as well, probably about twenty, weighing about four to five catties in total. Sure, lets go have dinner first. It was now past seven in the evening, and Chu Mingcheng was already quite hungry. As for the Crab Tiger Fish, they could only be stored overnight. Whether it was the sea eels, Green Crabs, or Crab Tiger Fish, as long as they were kept moist, leaving them overnight was not an issue at all. The two sea basses were a bit listless, but they hadnt died, and they would be fine once they put them back in the fish container in the car and supplied them with oxygen. Todays catch was good, both of them had around four to five catties of Crab Tiger Fish each, which could probably sell for over eight hundred yuan. So Zhang Wei grandly offered to treat them to barbecue. Considering that the scent of barbecue would stick to them, they decided to eat first without showering. While waiting, Jiang Luoluo playfully sent him a photo of herself with a whole roasted lamb, with Zhou Jiayi also in the picture giving a thumbs up. Chu Mingcheng looked at the radiant her and unconsciously smiled. Where did you run off to eat roasted lamb? Of course, its at Ridge House, near Jia City, this place is famous for its roasted lamb, right? Thats right. Did you go sea fishing again today? Yeah! After replying, Chu Mingcheng thought for a moment, then went to the car to take a picture of the Crab Tiger Fish and sent it over. As he expected, Jiang Luoluo indeed asked. What fish is this? It looks like flying fish but much bigger. This is called Black Pond Perch, also known as Crab Tiger Fish, very expensive, costing two hundred per half a kilogram. Thats why Zhang Wei was willing to treat me to barbecue today, mainly because he made a fortune, Ah Cheng explained. The selling price of two hundred per half a kilogram for such an unattractive-looking fish absolutely astonished Jiang Luoluo. Later, she heard that Chu Mingcheng had caught four to five kilograms of it, along with sea eels and the like, and she finally understood why he preferred fishing over going to workit made money much faster! Chu Mingcheng chatted with her for a while but focused on the food as soon as the skewers arrived. Because he had to drive, he didnt drink beer, which made the barbecue a bit less flavorful. After a satisfying meal, when they returned home, Zhang Wei had to say goodbye. Ah Cheng, could you help me sell this fish tomorrow? Just transfer the money to me afterward. The vacation days are almost over, and I need to stay at home for a few days. Sure, lets go fishing together again when youre free! Haha, definitely! Afterward, Zhang Wei drove away in his Wuling mini. The departure of his friend left Chu Mingcheng feeling a bit hollow inside. Fortunately, he still had a tabby cat to keep him company. Realizing he hadnt fed it today, he picked up a flashlight and went to the front yard to check on things. First, he checked on the cat, which was curled up in its nest. It looked alert and kept staring outside, but relaxed and meowed softly when it saw him. Chu Mingcheng checked around the well, saw no remnants of mice, and wondered if it had eaten at all. He then returned to the house, took all six two-tael Crab Tiger Fish from his bucket, and went back outside. When he threw the fish to the tabby cat, it skillfully bit into the fish head right away. Now familiar with Chu Mingcheng, it no longer hid to eat but started gnawing at the fish right by his feet. The small two-tael fish was quickly devoured, and the cat, looking unfulfilled, raised its head and meowed softly, the sound sweet and coaxing, as if pleading for more fish. Chu Mingcheng continued throwing fish to it, but this time he squatted down and tried to pet it while it was eating. Just as he touched its back, the tabby cat instinctively shrank, looked up at Chu Mingcheng, and relaxed once it saw it was him touching her, the alertness in its eyes disappearing. Seeing this, Chu Mingcheng, happily, threw all the fish to it. The tabby cat, overwhelmed by the quantity, killed each fish before slowly starting to eat, making purring sounds. The fur of this tabby cat was very smooth and looked clean, Chu Mingcheng enjoyed petting it so much that he found it hard to stop. Once they had built a bit more of a relationship, he planned to take it to the vet for a check-up, deworming, and vaccinations. After the tabby cat finished the fish, Chu Mingcheng picked it up and noticed it was a female. Since it was a female, he decided to name it Mimi! Mimi was a common name. When Chu Mingcheng was a child, his grandmother had a tabby cat similar to this one named Mimi. Unfortunately, it was later killed by a group of teenagers with stones. His grandfather was suffering from intestinal cancer at the time and was told by doctors he could live a few more years with rest. But the incident agitated him so much that his condition worsened dramatically, and he only lasted another three months. After that, his grandmother, who had always loved keeping small animals, never kept any again. When Chu Mingcheng wanted to keep cats and dogs as a child, his mother rejected the idea outright. Now, by naming this tabby cat Mimi, he was somehow commemorating that gentle big cat from his past. He stroked the obedient Mimi sitting by his feet, then took out his phone to search online for a cat bed. After all, it was part of the family and shouldnt have to sleep in an outdoor cardboard box every day. Once they went to the vet, he would give it a bath and let it live inside the house. Now it was October, and by November the temperature would dropit would be too cold outside. Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Entering the High-Income Group Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Entering the High-Income Group Another day had passed, and National Day was just a few days away. Today, Chu Mingcheng was going to sell fish first; he moved all of yesterdays catch onto his truck and then headed to the dock. Fishermen had to lift their nets early in the morning, so fishmongers would be at the docks early waiting, followed by gourmets who came on purpose. You have to trust the gourmets of Wen City, they would definitely make a special trip early in the morning to buy fish. From his last experience selling spicy snails, Chu Mingcheng thought that if he wanted to quickly sell his catch at a high price, he still needed to find elegantly dressed gourmets. Fishmongers, who dealt with their catches all day long, couldnt possibly come in nice clothes. So he carried two buckets down without making a fuss, but first observed the people on the dock. There were six clean-dressed middle-aged men and two middle-aged women in skirts and sunglasses. Chu Mingcheng, carrying the buckets, walked towards the middle-aged man closest to him, and directly ignored the two women. It wasnt out of disrespect, but because women naturally love to bargain, and he preferred to sell to straightforward men. Of course, that didnt exclude the chance of encountering men who were also nitpicky. Boss, do you want wild Crab Tiger, Green Crab, sea eel, and sea bass? The middle-aged man, who was already curious about what was inside Chu Mingchengs buckets, immediately became interested upon hearing about the Crab Tiger and sea eel. Brother, did you catch these yourself? Yes, I fished all night and brought them over to see if anyone wanted them. Chu Mingcheng intentionally came down with his fishing gear to make everything sell well. This gave people the illusion that the catches in his bucket were all fished up, purely wild. Nowadays, with better living conditions, people have become more particular about their food; they would definitely opt for wild over farmed. People come to the dock for fish just for that taste, right? However, these gourmets were not easy to fool; if he tried to pass off farmed as wild, getting scolded on the spot would be considered mild. Chu Mingcheng set down the buckets and let the middle-aged man take a look for himself; since they were genuinely wild, he naturally didnt need to worry about anything. After looking, the middle-aged man decided to take everything. This scene immediately caught the attention of others; those two women came over and upon seeing the goods, immediately said, Ah Qing, there are so many Crab Tigers here, share some with us! Chu Mingcheng was astonished by this and didnt expect that the two women knew the middle-aged man. The man called Ah Qing immediately refused, Ah, I barely have enough for myself; itll be gone in one sitting with friends over drinks. Maybe next time, Ill let you have some if theres anything good. The two women wouldnt give up and insisted on buying some, making it impossible for Chu Mingcheng to do business for a while. Feeling helpless, he finally said, I still have four or five pounds of sea earthworms on my truck; if you want them, Ill go get them for you? The two womens eyes lit up: You have sea earthworms? Yes, I dug them up yesterday. I was going to sell them somewhere else, but if you want them, Ill sell to you first. Definitely, we want them! The middle-aged man wanted some too, and this time, it was his turn to let the women share. How exactly the three of them divided everything, Chu Mingcheng didnt know; after all, he sold all of yesterdays seafood, and at market price too. And the gourmets at the dock all added his contact information, asking him to notify them whenever he had good stuff in the future. Chu Mingcheng simply created a group and added the three people who bought seafood from him today. As for the other few, lets just leave them for now, since he had not dealt with them before and didnt know how decisive they were in purchasing. Indecisive buyers were not the kind he felt like entertaining. Back in the car, Chu Mingcheng calculated yesterdays earnings. Three sea eels, totaling 4.3 pounds, priced at 100 per pound, sold for 430. Two sea bass, both not very large, just over two pounds, rounded down to two pounds, sold for 80. One Green Crab, sold for 90. A total of 5.6 pounds of sea earthworms. Chu Mingcheng hadnt expected there to be so much, given he had spent three hours less digging than before, yet the amount he dug up was about the same as previous times. The original price for the noodle shop owner was 55 per pound, but he managed to sell it here for 60 per pound, making a total of 336 yuan. Lastly, the Crab Tiger Fish, he had fed over a pound to his cat Xiao Mi, leaving 16 fish weighing 5.2 pounds. This thing was expensive, at two hundred per pound, sold for 1040. Zhang Wei had a little more than him, selling for 1280 yuan. After transferring this money to him, Chu Mingchengs own earnings for yesterday totaled 1976. Since it was a mobile transfer, there were no discrepancies with small change, which indeed felt good when selling to these wealthy folks. He believed these people didnt bargain, also wanting him to consider them first when he had good items to sell. Besides, his pricing was fair, unlike at the docks where they knew people liked fresh tastes and overcharged accordingly. During this period, he had spent nearly five thousand on fishing rods. Although he made money chartering the boat yesterday, he actually ended up spending an extra one thousand. In the past few days, he earned nine thousand fishing for Alligator Gar, plus two thousand today, and including the sporadic fish sales before, nearly two thousand. As a result, his current savings had reached thirty thousand, and this didnt even include the seven thousand salary due on the tenth. Twenty-eight years old with a savings of thirty-seven thousand, his life seemed somewhat unsuccessful! Chu Mingcheng immediately drove to buy shrimp bait, then continued to Dongyue. Fishing Crab Tiger was so profitable; although sea earthworms didnt earn much, they at least provided steady incomebetter to exploit this area completely before moving on. Time passed quickly, and it was almost October 8 when he had to go back to work. During the remaining days of the National Holidays, Chu Mingcheng spent all day at Dongyue digging sea earthworms and fishing for Crab Tiger. Yet that wasnt enough; at night, he would head to the reservoir to continue fishing, causing his daily income to be at least two thousand, and on better days even reaching three thousand. Not including the salary, his savings had just surpassed forty thousand, still far from buying a boat, but at least it was increasing constantly. However, Chu Mingcheng didnt plan to come here anymore starting tomorrow. The main reason was that though the Crab Tiger was increasing in grade, the size of the fish caught was getting smaller, with fewer large ones left. The grade of the Crab Tiger Fish had now risen to level nine. Unfortunately, Golden Finger isnt useful in a place devoid of fish. Crucian Carp had also reached level twelve, but he did not plan to continue fishing at the reservoir either; maybe he could reconsider if he felt like it in the future! The sea earthworm had the highest grade, reaching level twenty-eight, the highest among all his aquatic products. The effect of digging sea earthworms was indeed much more noticeable than at the beginning; every day he only needed to dig for four to five hours to get around five to six pounds, sometimes even reaching up to ten pounds with good luck. Today his parents returned from Dongting Island. Chu Mingcheng didnt continue fishing in the evening, but brought home two large Green Crabs that he was lucky to catch, as well as half a pound of sea earthworms. He first fed Xiao Mi the Crucian Carp he caught yesterday, then locked the door and drove back to his place in town. The moment he entered, An Xiuwen immediately noticed her son, but as soon as she saw him clearly, her original smile was replaced by astonishment. Son, where have you been this past week? Why have you gotten so much darker? Darker a lot? Chu Mingcheng looked at himself and realized he had only gotten slightly darker, a healthier shade actually, and somewhat speechlessly replied, Ive just been going to the sea for fishing. Its not as exaggerated as you say! Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Eternal Support Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Eternal Support Going to the sea to fish? Not only was An Xiuwen surprised, but Chu Yongxin in the kitchen making dinner was also shocked. Yes, look, these are what I caught. Chu Mingcheng lifted the Green Crab and sea earthworm in his hand, Dad, Ill leave these to you. Oh wow, these two Green Crabs look impressive just by their appearance, and sea earthworms too? Did you go digging for these things? It seems you had a nice time this National Day! Chu Yongxin took the Green Crabs and sea earthworms, joking continuously. An Xiuwen also smiled and said, Going to the sea and fishing is better than staying at home every day. You really should go out more; it looks like its made you much healthier. Chu Mingcheng pulled a face; parents were always like this. As a child, when he was naughty and liked to go out to play, they couldnt wait for him to stay quietly at home. When he grew up and became a homebody, they couldnt wait for him to go out every day, just so he wouldnt be underfoot at home. After a while, dinner was ready, and the family sat down at the dining table to eat. Chu Yongxin had been a chef before, so naturally, his cooking skills needed no explanationevery dish was full of color and aroma. Chu Mingchengs culinary skills were all learned from his father, though his mind wasnt really in it, and he probably only grasped about thirty percent of it. Even so, his cooking skills were sufficient for making everyday meals. Having not tasted his dads cooking for a long time, Chu Mingcheng thoroughly enjoyed his meal, and only after he was about sixty percent full did he slow down. Seeing this, An Xiuwen put down her chopsticks, took out her phone, and showed him a photo of a girl: Ah Cheng, your grandma has introduced a girl to you; take a look. Chu Mingcheng glanced curiously but soon lost interest, Mom, Im only twenty-eight. I havent had enough fun yet; I dont want to drag an honest person into this. An Xiuwen couldnt help but laugh and cry, Its because shes a gentle and obedient girl, and good with housework, that your grandma specially asked me to show you. The young lady is also quite pretty; she looks really good when dressed up. Yes, choosing a wife for her virtues. Why dont you chat with her and meet her? Chu Yongxin, who had been eager for a grandchild for a while, urged along with his wife. Ah~ Chu Mingcheng sighed. As someone focused on appearances, he was truly sorry. It seemed he needed to divert their attention. Dad, Mom, let me tell you something. I quit my job! Chu Yongxin and An Xiuwen were both stunned. Why did you quit just like that? What are your plans next? A company where overtime doesnt pay, theres no point in continuing. I plan to go to the sea to fish and then make videos for social media. As expected, An Xiuwen opposed this. No way; going to the sea to fish is just too unreliable. Its okay that you quit; you can always just find another job. Chu Mingcheng knew she would oppose; thus he chuckled and dropped a little bombshell: Mom, this National Day week, I earned about seventeen thousand, not counting the six or seven thousand spent on fishing gear and living expenses. How much?! An Xiuwens voice suddenly rose! Chu Yongxin also dug in his ears, suspecting he heard wrong. I made in these seven days what I earned in the previous three months by going to the sea and fishing. Chu Yongxin and An Xiuwen were at a loss for words. As for whether this was a bluff, they naturally trusted their son. What did you do these days to make so much? Chu Yongxin knew much more about going to the sea than An Xiuwen. Making twenty thousand in seven days just didnt seem right. If making money from the sea was so lucrative, why would anyone work in a factory screwing bolts! Actually, a while back, Le City had several parks offering rewards for catching Alligator Gar, an invasive species. Catch one, get one thousand, and I caught nine. Then during this period, Ive been digging sea earthworms in Dongyue during the day and catching Crab Tiger Fish by the side, and at night going to the reservoir up Yanmen Island to fish for Crucian Carp. I could make at least fifteen hundred a day. Chu Yongxin suddenly realized there had been a bounty. Even so, his son was making a good amount of money. Digging sea earthworms is hard work, can you handle it? Digging sea earthworms was naturally tiring, but it coincided with his toughest time when he had just experienced a transformation of life, which helped him adapt successfully. Its okay, I got used to it. Thats secondary, though, soon Ill start a social media channel, post videos online, and the income will stabilize, so you dont have to worry! Anyway, its only a few months until the end of the year, why dont you let me try this, and if it doesnt work, Ill get a job next year? With his son putting it that way and also really making some money, although Chu Yongxin and An Xiuwen still felt it was unreliable, it was just a few months, so letting their son give it a try seemed fine. Son, if youre not happy with your job, its okay to quit. Dont worry, your dad has everything prepared for your future wife, house purchase, and the dowry. Go ahead and do what you want to do! An Xiuwen also nodded repeatedly, Yeah, a job that pays seven thousand a month but requires daily overtime isnt worth the trouble. Dont even mention sea fishing; even if you were to pull a rickshaw, I wouldnt mind as long as you find a daughter-in-law for me. Chu Mingcheng was touched yet found it amusingwhat would he do driving a rickshaw? With a car already, shouldnt he consider driving for rideshare services? But having convinced his parents, Chu Mingcheng felt completely relieved. After spending a night at home, the next day, he drove back to Yanmen Island, picked up Little Mimi, and headed to the pet hospital in Le City for a check-up. After the deworming and vaccines were done, the morning just flew by. Luckily, Little Mimi was very healthy. According to the vet, the cat was very well taken care of, prompting a visit to the pet store to buy some canned food and catnip. Little Mimi, who had been quietly lying on the back seat, then saw Chu Mingcheng get a mischievous idea and tossed her a catnip, and by the time they got home, she was as limp as a noodle, her little tongue sticking out of her mouth. After lunch, he even managed to take a rare nap, not waking up until three in the afternoon. By then, Little Mimi had returned to normal, lazily lying in the yard basking in the sun, which Chu Mingcheng ignored as he drove to the fishing gear store. The shop owner was very enthusiastic to see him! But hearing that he wanted to buy two sea rods, including one for catching big fish of good quality, puzzled the store owner. He had a store on the island, so naturally, all the fishing rods he sold were of mid to low quality. There were sources for high-quality rods, but with no demand, he didnt bother to stock them. Chu Mingcheng was buying two sea rods to prepare for sea fishing, planning to spend fifteen thousand on them. Especially for the big fish rod, he budgeted ten thousand. But the fishing gear store owner didnt have such good quality rods, so out of options, he had to look elsewhere, only to be persuaded by the store owner. Ah Cheng, I can order the sea rod you want, but itll take a few days. Dont worry about the price though, it definitely wont be expensive. The prices for fishing rods are all transparent now, a quick check and youll know. But if youre going to sea fish, I think you should start by buying a 7.2-meter hand rod from here for practicing on big freshwater fish like Green Crab, grass carp, and Lianyong. Get used to it beforehand, so you wont be caught off guard when facing big fish in the sea; catching big fish takes a lot of effort. Chu Mingcheng looked at the fishing gear store owner, suspecting he wanted to sell an extra rod, but had no proof. However, his charter for sea fishing wasnt finalized yet, so waiting a few days was no big deal, and buying a hand rod for some initial practice on Green Crab would do. Thus, under the owners influencial sales pitch, he spent fifteen hundred on a 7.2-meter hand rod. This time, the owner was generous, throwing in the fishing line and hooks for free. Not only that, but also a support stand, a large landing net, bait, and nesting material were all provided for free. The price he paid was an extra five thousand yuan as a deposit for ordering the two sea rods. Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Targeting Large Fish Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Targeting Large Fish Chu Mingcheng never thought he would one day be so willing to spend money on equipment, but now that he had the new gear, he just wanted to find a place to go fishing as soon as possible. As for the fishing spot, the mountain reservoir was definitely stocked with plenty of fish, but having fished there daily for a while, he had grown somewhat tired of it, so he decided to change locations. In the vicinity of Le City, suitable fishing spots were actually quite limited. Most of the rivers were very dirty and, despite some efforts to clean them up in recent years, they hadnt improved much. Since he sold the fish he caught, he was embarrassed to sell fish from these rivers; it just didnt sit right with him. Therefore, his target was the small rivers of Zhe Province, where there were many rivers flowing near Le City, including Qing River to the north and Ou River to the south. Chu Mingcheng checked his phones map and found that Qing River was over thirty kilometers away and the roads were in poor condition. But the Ou River was only thirteen kilometers away, directly accessible via National Highway 228. Was there even a choice? It was clearly the Ou River. He went home, picked up Xiao Mi, and Chu Mingcheng drove off. He hadnt brought it along before because they werent very close. Now that Xiao Mi had begun to act more affectionate towards him and allowed him to pet it freely, it had gradually taken on the appearance of a house cat, so naturally, he could take it out to accompany him while fishing. Twenty or so minutes later, Chu Mingcheng arrived at his destination. The location off National Highway 228 was where the Ou River flowed into the sea, and he could see a few people fishing around. Many people also came here to fish for sea bass, and with some luck, the catch could be quite good. This year, Zhe Province implemented its first fishing ban in the eight major basins, including the Ou River. From March first to June thirtieth was the closed season, during which no fishing activities were allowed. However, it was now late October, well past the closed season. Chu Mingcheng didnt fish at the estuary; instead, he drove upstream a bit, aiming for large freshwater fish like Qing fish, grass carp, and Lianyong. He found a secluded spot with few people, took all his equipment out of the car, and after a couple of trips, Xiao Mi followed him and then jumped onto a small stool and lay flat. Chu Mingcheng just kept busy with his tasks. Ever since the cat had been with him, it had become quite lazy, not at all the active type expected of a tabby cat, although it still occasionally caught mice. First, he set up the stand, a 6+4 line setup, and used a size 10 Japanese hook, which was suitable for catching fish under 20 pounds. However, other smaller fish such as Qiao Zui could also be hooked. Once everything was in place, he placed the fishing rod on the stand then Chu Mingcheng took out a basin. He then took out the Wild Attack Milk Fragrance Universal Edition ground bait, opened it, and poured it into the basin; the shop owner had given this to him, and had also provided two bags. He poured in rice wine, which the shop owner had also gifted him two bags of. After adding water and stirring evenly, he formed the mixture into fist-sized balls, making a total of six, and threw them into the water not far in front of him. After baiting the spot, he had to wait an hour. Waiting an hour was actually quite boring, so Chu Mingcheng took out a lure rod to see if he could catch something for Xiao Mis dinner. He took out a lure, choosing a seven-gram spinner. The water temperature still hadnt dropped, so fish like Qiao Zui were more active, moving in the upper and middle layers. Swoosh~ Chu Mingcheng flicked his wrist, and the spinner soared high, landing in the water about twenty meters away. As he reeled in, the spinner moved horizontally and swished its tail, making a rather striking display on the waters surface, though the first cast naturally yielded no catch. In our country, the fishing resources are quite abundant, and its rare to come up totally empty-handed when shore fishing. However, lure fishing resources were relatively scarce. Pole fishing doesnt require a specific region, but lure fishing demands that the fishing area must host predatory fish species. Such as Qiao Zui, black fish, crucian carp, sea bass, and so on. And the numbers of these kinds of fish were far less than those suitable for pole fishing like crucian carp and carp, so lure fishers often went home empty-handed, unlike pole fishers. Chu Mingcheng cast his line over twenty times with no fish biting at all. Although this was normal, he still felt that lure fishing was not quite suitable for beginners; a beginners enthusiasm would have vanished long before. However, more than half an hour had passed, and the baiting might have started to take effect. This time, Chu Mingcheng cast his lure toward the baited spot, but unfortunately, the wind plus the spinning reels lack of precision meant that he missed the exact spot multiple times. Fortunately, this didnt affect the fishing. As long as there were fish at the baited spot, they would be attracted to the lure he had cast nearby. Sure enough, as he reeled the line in, and the lure tumbled, it suddenly disappeared from sight, followed immediately by the tip of the rod bending sharply as it was yanked down. At last, there was a fish, and Chu Mingcheng suddenly felt energized. Today, he was using an M-hardness lure rod, and the fish on the line was quite fierce; the rod almost bent into a reverse U-shape. Chu Mingcheng pulled the rod to the side, steering the fish toward the right. The fishing line was taut, occasionally making a beautiful slicing sound through the water. After a back-and-forth tussle for about two or three minutes, the fish totally ran out of energy and floated belly up to the surfacea Qiao Zui. Seeing this, Chu Mingcheng quickly reeled in the line, grabbing the fishing line directly without needing a net to lift it up. He then picked up the hook remover, gripped it on the fishs lip to pry its mouth wide open, first removed the lure, and then checked the weight of the Qiao Zui. Not bad, it was 1563 grams, just over three pounds. Meow~ Little Mimi couldnt stay still after seeing the fish; it hadnt eaten dinner yet! It jumped down from the little stool and even rubbed against his leg, letting out a delicate meow. Here you go, hang on a second! Chu Mingcheng couldnt help but smile wryly, having thought he had a high-spirited cat, only to find out it was a cuddly food-lover. Throwing the Qiao Zui on the ground, Little Mimi dashed over and bit directly into the fishs head. But a three-pound Qiao Zui was a bit large for it. After a few flicks of the fishs tail, it could no longer keep its hold and had to let go to find another opportunity. Seeing this Chu Mingcheng rummaged through his tool bag, pulled out a bleeding knife, and quickly pinned the Qiao Zui down to mercifully kill it. Little Mimi was now content, moved forward to bite into the fishs head and began eating, making purring and lip-smacking sounds. Chu Mingcheng, seeing it eat so happily, couldnt help but smile, then he checked the timeit had been about forty minutes since he baited the spot. Although he was supposed to wait an hour for the bait to take effect, this wasnt exactly necessary, so he took out two bags of fishing bait, one fragrant and one fishy. He poured both types into a basin, using less of the fishy one, then added water in a ratio of approximately 1:0.9. He kneaded the fishing bait into a large ball, then pinched off a few dumpling-sized pieces, took one of them, hooked it onto the fishing hook, and cast it to the baited spot with the rod. He then tied the slipknot to his wrist, and all that was left was to wait for the float to sink. Turning his head to continue watching Little Mimi eat the fish, Chu Mingcheng, inspired, took out his phone and captured the moment of the cat eating the fish. He took shots from the side, the front, close-ups, and long shots, only stopping when Little Mimi cleaned the blood off its mouth after finishing its meal. In the future, he would definitely film videos of sea fishing, but for now, footage of Little Mimi eating fish and mice could be useful for practice editing. The Qiao Zui was eaten more than halfway, and Chu Mingcheng took the remaining half and threw it back into the river, offering it to an unknown future lucky one. Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Female Fishing Companion Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Female Fishing Companion Off to fish~ After finishing her meal and grooming, Xiao Mi jumped directly onto Chu Mingchengs legs to lie down. Just then, a lively female voice suddenly came from not too far away. Chu Mingcheng and Xiao Mi turned their heads to look, only to see a woman wearing a camera on her head and dressed in a fishing outfit, energetically trotting toward them with a tackle box in tow. It was only when she got closer that she realized there was already someone by the shore; her voice suddenly stopped. Especially since Chu Mingchengs handsomeness made her stare in amazement for a moment, though she quickly regained her composure. She then smiled sheepishly, adopting a shy demeanor, and quietly set up her fishing spot about twenty meters away from Chu Mingcheng. Female anglers are quite rare! Given the camera strapped to her head, it seemed she was also a social media personality. In the next while, Chu Mingchengs fishing rod remained quiet, yet he occasionally stroked Xiao Mi and teased her, which kept him from feeling bored. The female angler on the other side was preparing her bait and organizing her tools. But Chu Mingcheng could feel her stealing glances at him from time to time, estimating about seventy percent of her attention on him and the remaining thirty on Xiao Mi. Seeming to wait for the bait to take effect and having nothing else to do at the moment, the female angler finally couldnt resist coming over to start a conversation. Hey handsome, your cat is so cute, can I pet it? Chu Mingcheng looked at Xiao Mi and couldnt help but laugh, realizing that bringing out a cat indeed made it easier to strike up conversationsit provided an excellent excuse. My cat is a bit particular about people, but you can try to see if it lets you pet it. As he spoke, he picked up Xiao Mi and set her on the ground, while the female angler took the opportunity to sneak a peek at his profile before squatting down to try and pet Xiao Mi. Meow~ Unexpectedly, Xiao Mi immediately bristled and issued a strong warning from her mouth, telling this strange woman not to come closer. Uh The female angler quickly withdrew her hand, somewhat at a loss for words. Seeing this, Chu Mingcheng had no choice but to pick up Xiao Mi again and place her on his lap, apologizing, Im sorry, Xiao Mi was a stray cat before she met me; shes still got a wild streak in her, so its better if you dont touch her. A stray cat? the female angler said in surprise, Then how did she come to Its kind of fate, one time she stole a big carp from me, after that I started feeding her fish daily, and as I kept feeding, she became my cat. The female angler appeared to wear little makeup, but she was quite attractive and importantly, had a great figure. Thus, Chu Mingcheng found himself interested in chatting with her a bit more. Haha, thats pretty cool, the female angler smiled heartily, extending her hand to Chu Mingcheng, Nice to meet you, Im Yao Xin, and I often come here to fish. Chu Mingcheng gently shook her hand, Im Chu Mingcheng, I dont have a fixed spot for fishing, as long as theres water, youll find me nearby. Ha, you make it sound like youre a Fishing Man! Not bad, not bad! Hey, lets exchange contact info. Im in a fishing group; Ill add you. Seeing Chu Mingcheng hesitating, Yao Xin continued to persuade, The group is full of like-minded anglers. Sometimes, when theres a good spot or a big run of fish, everyone shares it out. Its way more fun to fish together than doing it alone! Chu Mingcheng was indifferent initially but became interested upon hearing about fish runs. To have a successful sea fishing trip, information is crucial. Fishing is not just about having a fishing rod; different fish require different setups, including rods, line combinations, and baits. Knowing where the fish are running helps prepare the right gear to avoid coming back empty-handed from a trip to sea. After adding the contact details, he joined the fishing chat group. Chu Mingcheng immediately set his messages to do not disturb mode, as he preferred to lurk quietly. But perhaps because a girl pulled him in, the group suddenly burst into excitement, urging the new member to share a photo. If the newcomer didnt want to share a photo, then Yao Xin could do it instead. Dont mind them, theyre just LSPs. Ill introduce you to a few friends when we get a chance. Yao Xin didnt bother with the group and directly exited the chat interface. Sure! Chu Mingcheng smiled at those asking for a photo. Its normal for guys to have hobbies. Yao Xin, who had stumbled upon a handsome guy she fancied, couldnt bear to leave just yet. Just as she wanted to know more about him, the fishing rod beside Chu Mingcheng finally showed some action. The float on the distant water surface zipped and vanished, indicating a fish had bit the hook. Chu Mingcheng was quick to react and immediately grabbed the fishing rod. But the great pull from the fishing rod caught him off guard, almost slipping from his hands. At that moment, he couldnt worry about the cat on his lap, so he stood up, gripping the fishing rod with both hands. Cats are good at balancing, and sensing Chu Mingchengs movement, Cat Fist prepared itself and firmly pressed its paws on the ground. The fish on the hook was not small, and Chu Mingcheng found he couldnt reel it in right away. So he started moving to the right side, guiding and wearing out the big fish in the water. The fishing rod was bent into a full moon, looking as if it was about to break at any moment. But Chu Mingcheng knew it was hard to break the front part of the rod. If it were to break, it would be just above where his hands gripped the handle, which was the weakest point. Huff puff~ Within just five minutes, he didnt know if the fish was tired, but he felt quite exhausted. No wonder the fishing store owner had told him to start with big freshwater fish first. If he had started with sea fishing directly, he might not have been able to handle it without experience, and losing the fish due to the hook slipping off would have been likely. Just hang on a bit longer, this fish will run out of energy soon. Yao Xin cheered him on from the side, already holding a landing net, ready to help scoop up the fish once Chu Mingcheng brought it to shore. The fish struggled on the water surface, creating splashing noises, and the fishing line was so taut, it seemed like it could break at any moment, yet it held strong against the fishs struggling. Chu Mingcheng felt the fishs strength waning, and immediately put more force with his hands, pulling the fish toward the shore. The distance of over ten meters quickly closed a bit, but the fish hadnt exhausted all its energy and started to pull on the line again. A new round of struggle began, and this time, Chu Mingcheng pulled to the left side, continuing to wear out its strength. Another five or six minutes passed, and Chu Mingchengs breathing became heavier, indicating his significant energy expenditure. Seeing this, Yao Xin couldnt resist stepping forward and asking, Do you need help? No need, this fish just weighs about twenty pounds, Ive got this. He joked, not willing to let go of such a big catch on his first try. Time slowly passed, and it was only after several more minutes that the fish finally flipped belly-up, clearly exhausted. This time, Chu Mingcheng pulled the fishing rod backward, easily bringing the fish to shore. Yao Xin quickly scooped it up with the large landing net and placed it on the shoreit was a big grass carp. Youre pretty lucky, I rarely encounter such big grass carp usually. With the Ou River so vast, how could I not catch something big! Its not a stocked pond, catching big fish is all about luck. Just then, the grass carp seemed to regain a bit of strength, thrashing its tail in the landing net. Cat Fist, who had been sniffing around, saw it move and immediately papapapapa unleashed several Cat Fist punches, leaving Chu Mingcheng and Yao Xin laughing heartily. Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Three Days and Three Nights of Poor Sleep Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Three Days and Three Nights of Poor Sleep ` After chatting for a while, Yao Xin said shed call him next time they went out to sea, and then she went back to her spot to tie the line and hook, starting her prep work. Chu Mingcheng continued fishing with bait on his hook, and casually ordered some takeout and two fruit teas. This pretty female angler probably had quite a network. If they got on well, maybe shed really invite him when she went fishing at seawho would pass up a free ride? Another half an hour passed, and during this time Chu Mingcheng didnt catch any big fishonly a carp weighing around three or four pounds and a Qiao Zui of five or six pounds took the bait. Yao Xin had been baiting her area for about an hour now, and she also started fishing. The takeout had just arrived, and Chu Mingcheng decided to take a break to eat dinner and brought over the fruit tea: Sister Yao, I got you a Clear Qi lemon. Thanks, Ah Cheng, havent you had your dinner yet? Yao Xin took a sip of the fruit tea and said with a smile. She was three years older than Chu Mingcheng, and their calls had naturally grown closer as they became familiar. Just bought the rod, so I ran here to try it out straight away! Haha, that makes sense. I wouldnt be able to wait either. As they were speaking, Yao Xin also got a bite. Whoa, got a fish, got a fish. Yao Xin immediately lifted the rod but found it feather-light, and a small fish promptly leapt out of the water. Seeing how small the fish was, she couldnt help but laugh: Hahaha, this fish is so tiny. As she said this, she brought the fish close to the shore, but before she could reach out to catch it, the fish wriggled a few times on the surface of the water and then suddenly vanished. Oh my god, its gone Yao Xin naturally noticed something was wrong, but before she could react, the fish had already slipped the hook and escaped, which annoyed her greatly. Its gone! The Redtail! Its over, its over, my starting fish escaped, and suddenly, I have an ominous foreboding. Chu Mingcheng, watching from the side, was speechless and tried to console her: No, no, that cant be. The next one will be better. Ha, Ill take your word for it. Yao Xin chuckled heartily and carried on with her bait. This time, it wasnt even two minutes after she threw in the bait that the float sank again. Yao Xin was delighted, beaming broadly: Haha, lucky me, getting bites back-to-back! Chu Mingcheng took a sip of his fruit tea to moisten his throat and smiled, See? No worries about the one that got awaythere are millions more fish out there! Absolutely! Yao Xin was feeling a bit proud of herself for catching a fish this time, though it wasnt a big onea Qiao Zui about forty to fifty centimeters long. She chuckled and held onto the line with the dangling Qiao Zui swinging to and fro. Ooh hoo hoo hoo, hee hee hee hee Just as Yao Xin was about to grab the line to catch the fish, the Qiao Zui suddenly struggled violently, scaring her into yelling, Oh no, its gone! Sure enough, the Qiao Zui spat out the hook within a moment and plopit fell back into the water. Pfft Chu Mingcheng suddenly spat out a mouthful of fruit tea, finding Yao Xins luck today to be jinxed! This The two looked at each other, speechless for a moment. After a little while, Yao Xin collected herself, rebaited the hook, cast it back into the water, and then took out her net, declaring determinedly, Even if its just a two-pound fish, Ill scoop it up. I refuse to believe the fish can still leap out. Chu Mingcheng opened his mouth to say something but didnt get the chance to speak. Now that the flag was set, wouldnt it be really embarrassing if the fish didnt jump? As expected, she caught a carp about three pounds on the third cast, and just as she carefully scooped it up with the net, before the net was completely lifted, the carp jumped and got away again. ` At this moment, Chu Mingcheng even began to wonder if his presence was somehow affecting the feng shui and causing all the bad luck; it was just too bizarre. Sister Yao, Ill go back to continue fishing now. Take your time and dont rush, youll definitely catch something, he said. Not waiting for Yao Xin to reply, he slipped away like a streak of smoke. Returning to his fishing spot, Chu Mingcheng switched to a luminous float as it was getting dark, estimating that it would be completely dark in another half hour. The spot hed baited was still attracting fish, and within minutes of casting his line, he hooked another big one. It was too dark to see what it was, but it fought just as hard as the black carp earlier. Chu Mingcheng heaved and puffed for another twenty or so minutes before finally dragging the fish to the shore, where he realized it was a Lianyong, also known as a bighead carp. The fishs body wasnt tasty, being bony, but its head could be made into a spicy fish head dish. In the meantime, he kept hearing Yao Xins frustrated shouts. He always felt this woman was jinxed, having never heard of someone constantly losing their catch from the hook like her. Just as he was about to use the landing net, a fragrant breeze drifted by, and the net was taken by someone elseit was Yao Xin. Sister Yao, what are you doing here? Ive stopped fishing. Im really down on my luck today, hooked six times and lost them all, Yao Xin said, clearly vexed. Who wouldnt be frustrated? Six losses in a row would be enough to give someone sleepless nights for days. This Chu Mingcheng chuckled awkwardly, well, Ive been pretty lucky today. How about thisIll give you whichever one you want. Really? Really! Then give me the black carp and this Lianyong, she said. No problem, just take them, he readily agreed without hesitation. He wasnt coveting Yao Xins figure, it was just that these fish were too cheap. Forty pounds for two fish would probably fetch about four to five hundred yuan. A few hundred yuan wasnt a big deal to him now, especially since the fish he caught werent purchased but fished by himself, so he cared even less. Yao Xin felt slightly better upon hearing how readily Chu Mingcheng agreed. Hey, Im just teasing you. I really do need these two fish, but Ill pay for them, she said. Sister Yao, its just two fish! Theres no need! I have a customer who wants them. I came to fish today for him, so its not my money. Just take it! With that, Yao Xin transferred eight hundred yuan to him right after the Lianyong was netted. Sister Yao, youve transferred too much. The black carp went for about ten yuan a pound at market price, Lianyong was a bit more expensive, maybe fifteen to twenty yuan, but eight hundred was definitely excessive. Enough already, my friend paid eight hundred, and its not out of my pocket. Just take it, she insisted. Well then thank you! No need for thanks. Ah Cheng, help me carry the fish to my car. Ill go ahead and deliver the fish, so I wont be staying to fish with you, she said. Okay. Chu Mingcheng quickly took hold of the two fish and placed them in Yao Xins fish box, then carried the box to the trunk of her car. Thanks, Ah Cheng. Next time Ill take you out to fish at Far Sea; remember to get one or two sea fishing rods, she offered. Sure, Ill wait for your message. Chu Mingcheng had been waiting for just that invitation. If before it was mere politeness, now there was a touch of sincerity to it. He was so eager to build goodwill, not because he wanted a free ride on the boat, but rather to learn about finding fishing spots and sea fishing knowledge! Finding the right fishing spots is crucial for sea fishing. Many Fishing Men have their secret spots, all found through experience. The reason why Chu Mingcheng was planning to charter a boat for sea fishing, instead of buying his own tens-of-thousands-of-yuan small boat, was because as a novice, he was afraid of not finding the right spots and coming home empty-handed day after day. Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33: The New Data Panel Chapter 33: Chapter 33: The New Data Panel After Yao Xin had left, Chu Mingcheng hooked another big fish, this one pulling even harder than the previous two. But luck wasnt on his side this time. Halfway through the struggle, there was a splash on the water surface, and the fish broke free from the hook and escaped. Chu Mingcheng, panting heavily, felt somewhat helpless; the fish was too big, and even if it hadnt escaped, his line might not have withstood the force. Catching three big fish today made him realize that his physical fitness was still somewhat lacking. The dozens of life conversions he had before had long been used up, with the last one spent on digging for sea earthworms. He could feel that his energy had improved compared to before, but it was still somewhat inadequate. Chu Mingcheng decided to start running tomorrow to get in shape, and to perform a few more life conversions while he was at it. Alligator Gar is an invasive species that can harm aquatic ecosystems. But there are other invasive species besides Alligator Gar that also threaten aquatic ecosystems, and he could look for those tomorrow. Chu Mingcheng was no longer much interested in continuing to fish. He released the Carp back into the water, kept the Qiao Zui for Xiao Mis meal, and then packed up and drove home. Once home, after taking a shower, he turned on his computer and uploaded the videos he had shot with his phone today. Then he started to look into video editing. His lifestyle videos did not require high editing skills; he just needed to cut out the boring, poorly shot, and repetitive footage. As it was his first time editing, Chu Mingcheng was somewhat unfamiliar with the process. It took him two hours to cut the original video of over eight minutes down to three, and he even added a few subtitle overlays. After watching it twice and feeling there were no issues, he saved it and then sent it to Jiang Luoluo. However, there was no response. She was likely out capturing night scenes for her dancing or practicing her dance. In this period, Chu Mingcheng had come to understand that Jiang Luoluo was a very hardworking person. An original two-to-three-minute dance routine required her to practice for upwards of ten hours a day, consistently for a week. She didnt have a team specifically tailored for her, only a cameraman. So, designing dance moves, selecting costumes and propseverything needed to be decided by her, which was far busier than Chu Mingchengs schedule. Early the next morning, dressed in sportswear, Chu Mingcheng went out for a run. Jogging along, he reached the breakfast shop area, where he slowed down to walk a stretch, giving himself time to catch his breath before getting breakfast and then walked back home. As a man, he might have the strength for fishing, but what he lacked was endurance, a side effect of years spent sitting in an office. Back home, he tossed the Qiao Zui to Xiao Mi. Since he was going to look for invasive species today, he wouldnt be bringing it along. Speaking of the most common invasive species, Fushouluo definitely ranked first, followed by the Scavenger and tilapia, much loathed by the Fishing Man. Farmed tilapia actually tastes quite good, but he would pass on the ones from the river. Many of our rivers and lakes are severely polluted, and wild tilapia not only harbor many parasites but those growing in such polluted environments also have very high mercury levels. Thus, wild tilapia are not recommended for consumption, though farmed ones are edible. Chu Mingcheng first decided to look for Fushouluo because they are the easiest to findin abandoned ponds, small rivers, and even rice paddies, they can easily be spotted. He drove along the coastal road, and before long, he arrived at a very desolate area. This was an uninhabited wasteland with a large abandoned pond. He had played here as a child. Back then, he didnt know that the pink granules were eggs of Fushouluo, simply enjoying the act of scraping them off and stepping on them for fun. Now, more than a decade later, the place remained unchanged, only more desolate than before. Fushouluo lay their eggs mainly during May and June, as well as from August to October. Although it was past October, in places where Fushouluo lived, their eggs could still be found everywhere. Approaching the big pond, one could see pink objects on many weeds; those were the eggs of Fushouluo. Chu Mingcheng went over and broke off the weeds, habitually crushing the eggs on them, when suddenly, a new data panel appeared in his mind. [Fushouluo (Eggs) (Invasive Species)] [Ecological Destruction Index: 3 stars] [Elimination of Fushouluo (Eggs): 1 piece (one whole clump of Fushouluo eggs is equal to one Fushouluo)] [Tracking: 1/day (Upon use, it can automatically help the host find an area with Fushouluo)] [Life Transformation: 0 times (1/100) For every one hundred Fushouluo eliminated, one transformation is possible] Interesting, this data panel has quite a few differences compared to the Alligator Gars, the life transformation requires the elimination of one hundred Fushouluo to be possible, thankfully one whole clump of eggs counts as one, otherwise the difficulty would be significantly increased. The scanning function of the Alligator Gar has turned into a tracking function, so now he wouldnt need to search aimlessly for places with Fushouluo. Track once a day, just take some time to handle the Fushouluo. Next, Chu Mingcheng began to collect the Fushouluo, starting with their eggs. Most of them are laid on the stems of weeds, just pull the weeds off. For those laid on rocks, he pried them off with a dagger. Before long, a heap had been collected on the empty ground beside him, and quite a few Fushouluo by the pond were collected along the way as well. When there were no more pink eggs in sight, he took out a net from the car and began to gather them in the large pond. The large pond had almost become the domain of the Fushouluo, with Chu Mingcheng almost catching one or two, sometimes even several Fushouluo with every scoop, they were truly proliferating unchecked. But as he was catching, suddenly something in the net began to struggle violently. With a puzzled face, Chu Mingcheng lifted the mucky net out of the water, only to see a turtle at the bottom trying to escape by flapping its short legs. Damn, theres even this thing here? He wouldnt have thought that just casually scooping for Fushouluo, he would also catch a turtle. The pond might look dirty, but there was no industrial pollution, and the aquatic life that thrived within was far from scarce, its not surprising to find a turtle here. However, nowadays too many animals are protected in the country, and whenever encountering any wild one, its necessary to be careful, thus Chu Mingcheng checked his data panel first. [Chinese Turtle (Level 0)] [Current Experience: 1/10] [Size Increase +0%] [Deliciousness +0%] [Capture Probability +0%] Turns out this was a Chinese Turtle, he quickly took out his phone and searched online whether wild Chinese Turtle was a protected animal. Then he found out that there are mainly three types of turtles in the country, besides the Chinese Turtle, there is the second-class protected Mountain Turtle and the first-class protected Banded Turtle. However, there was no need to worry about encountering the Banded Turtle, because it wouldnt happen. Known to the world, there are only three Banded Turtles left, what he needed to watch out for was the Mountain Turtle, which looks very similar to the Chinese Turtle. So, its okay to catch wild turtles, but you must be careful not to get yourself caught up in trouble. Having caught a wild turtle, Chu Mingcheng walked happily with the net towards the car. The price of wild turtles was too high, at least two hundred yuan per pound in the market, and they were extremely rare, as most are farmed. His turtle was not small, weighing at least three pounds. Not focusing on his regular job these past days, he had made over five hundred yuan, truly fortunes turn when one hits thirty! Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34 A Big Harvest from the Abandoned Pond Chapter 34: Chapter 34 A Big Harvest from the Abandoned Pond A single turtle couldnt satisfy Chu Mingcheng; knowing there were turtles here, he definitely wanted to try fishing for them. He hadnt planned on fishing today, so he hadnt prepared any bait. Luckily, he had his car and could go directly to the market to buy some. After placing the caught turtle in the fish box in the trunk, Chu Mingcheng started the car and left. Turtles only eat meat, so buying some animal offal would do the trick, with pig liver as the top choice, so he bought five pounds of it. Four pounds of bait were to make a loose bed on the bottom, which he had the shopkeeper mince into shreds with a machine; one pound for turtle fishing was cut into small pieces by the shopkeeper, and on leaving the market, he didnt forget to buy two lighters from a small store nearby. After the purchase, Chu Mingcheng saw a tiny fishing gear shop on the way back by car, which was timely as he was just wondering what size hook to use for turtle fishing. He parked the car on the road ahead and then went to buy a small box of turtle hooks at the fishing gear store. The turtle hooks were sufficiently thick and sturdy, not only suitable for turtle fishing but also capable of handling catfish and black fish if they were to bite. Returning to the abandoned pond, the initially clustered Fushouluo had scattered all over the place. Chu Mingcheng picked them up and took them back to be burned directly later. First, he prepared for fishing; he had a lure rod, a rock fishing rod, and a hand rod, all suitable for turtle fishing. After some thought, he chose the hand rod in the end, so he could set it aside and continue exterminating the Fushouluo. He took out his 7.2-meter hand rod, set up the stand, fearing that the softer hand rod wouldnt be up to the task if a black fish or catfish hooked on. So he rigged it with a 6+4 line group, which was a bit of overkill to prevent any mishaps, as who knew what ancient creatures might inhabit this pond that had been deserted for so many years. He threw two pounds of pig liver into the pond first, then tied a turtle hook with pig liver bait, placed the fishing rod on the stand, and tied the slip line to a large rock that he had intentionally brought to prevent the rod from being pulled into the water; for now, he would leave it alone. Chu Mingcheng continued scooping up Fushouluo with a net along the edge of the pond and picked them up by hand if they were on the edge. But while he was busy, he didnt stray too far from the fishing rod and kept an eye on the float occasionally. The bed had just been made and probably needed some more time, so there was no need to rush. After clearing most of the visible Fushouluo near the fishing rod, Chu Mingcheng found some dry grass and dry wood and piled them up beside the Fushouluo. He lit the fire, and only after the wood started burning did he toss the Fushouluo and their eggs into the flames. No sooner had they been thrown in than a crackling sound immediately rang out, and the numbers on the data panel began to jump. Once everything was burned, Chu Mingcheng checked the number, only 76, not a single life transformation, he still had to continue the effort! However, the bait had been in the water for quite a while now, so he picked up the rod to check the situation, only to find when he lifted it that the turtle hook was empty; the bait had already been eaten. As expected, trying to catch Fushouluo while fishing for turtles just didnt work. If that was the case, he would fish for turtles first. After eating lunch, when the temperature was higher, he would deal with Fushouluo again! Chu Mingcheng re-baited the hook, and then took a lure rod out of the car as well. However, he didnt use a fake bait but also tied a turtle hook with pig liver, and cast it randomly in any direction. After the bait sank to the bottom and the fishing line ceased to release, he reeled in a couple of turns of the line, tightening it up. Just then, the float in the distance suddenly dipped below the surface; it was a bite. Chu Mingcheng was stunned for a moment but quickly handed the lure rod to his left hand and picked up the hand rod with his right, jerking it upwards to set the hook. But at the same moment, there was also movement on the lure rod; both rods had a catch at the same time. Chu Mingcheng was a bit flustered for a moment; he was just a beginner and didnt know what to do when both rods caught fish at the same time. He was so anxious! At last, feeling that the force transmitted through the rod wasnt very strong, he stood the rod up straight and tucked it into his embrace, leaving it be. With his free right hand, he took the lure rod and, after hooking a stabbing fish, his left hand quickly grasped the reel to wind it in. The fish caught by the lure rod must be a fish, given the strong resistance it exerted. The waters surface was occasionally disturbed by the splashes of its struggles, but for the moment, it wasnt clear what kind of fish it was. Worried the hand rods hook might come loose, he resorted to brute force to lift and pull on the rod. The fish in the water resisted a few times at first but was then pulled to the surface and rapidly hauled to the shore. Now Chu Mingcheng could finally see what fish it was, a black fish, a popular choice for the main ingredient in sauerkraut fish. He personally wasnt very fond of boiled fish, but had a particular preference for sauerkraut fish. This black fish should weigh around two to three pounds, so it seemed Mr. Chu would get a chance to showcase his culinary skills that evening. The black fish was quickly pulled ashore. Chu Mingcheng didnt even bother to unhook it; he just threw it into the fish box and left it there, setting aside the lure rod. Then he grabbed the hand rod with both hands and lifted it straight up. A softshell turtle, which would easily blur in videos due to its extending neck, immediately broke the waters surface. Seeing its size, Chu Mingcheng couldnt help but laugh; it was almost as big as the one he had caught earlier. He hadnt expected that this abandoned pond would still be such a treasure trove. It was only nine oclock in the morning now, and both the softshell turtles and the black fish were quite active at this time. Throwing two pounds of pig liver into this neglected pond had an excellent effect in attracting fish. Just as Chu Mingcheng re-baited the hand rod and let it down, he hadnt even removed the hook on the lure rod when he got another bite. Consecutive catches were always joyful. The point of increasing the number of rods was to have more chances of catching fish, and back-to-back catches made it even more relaxing to use just one rod. Lifting the hand rod, a black fish was pulled out without even a chance to struggle; it was the same two to three pounds as the others. Chu Mingcheng changed direction and lifted the fish to the shore first before going over to grab the fishing line and place the fish into the fish box. In the following two hours, using just the hand rod, he caught seven black fish, three softshell turtles, and two catfish. In the fish box, the largest black fish weighed around five pounds, and the smallest over two pounds. The softshell turtles all weighed more than three pounds. He had thought the one hed caught earlier was quite large, but to his surprise, they just got bigger and bigger. Moreover, he checked and saw they were not bitten by mosquitoes. The turtles could agilely flip themselves back over when turned upside down, with swift movements, all of them were top-quality. By then, Chu Mingcheng could be sure that this pond had been untouched by fishermen for a very long time, otherwise how could there be so many and such large black fish and softshell turtles. He released the two catfish back into the pond and left with the remaining catch. Catfish really werent worth much, and it was probably hard to sell them in this area, so he couldnt be bothered with them. He drove straight to the town market, entered, and upon reaching a stall that sold black fish, asked, Boss, how much are you selling these black fish for? Black fish, 18 yuan a pound. 18 yuan? These are farmed, right? Do you have any wild ones, and how much are they? Wild ones are rare these days and expensive, lately going for about 40 yuan a pound! Actually, the farmed ones taste good too, you should buy one and try. Ive got friends coming over, and I was planning to buy a wild black fish to make sauerkraut fish. If you dont have any, never mind, Ill look elsewhere. After getting the information he needed, Chu Mingcheng turned and left, leaving the vendor looking helpless. However, he didnt leave right away but continued to inquire about the prices of softshell turtles. The price of aquatic products often changes every few days and rarely remains the same for long. He needed to know the current prices to sell his catch at a fair rate. If the price was too high, buyers wouldnt be interested; if it was too low, hed be at a loss. Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35 The Old Turtle Chapter 35: Chapter 35 The Old Turtle Currently, farmed turtles are priced at around 30 yuan per 500 grams, and even at their most expensive, theyre only 50 yuan; these are old turtles raised in paddy fields. But the price of wild ones is at least five to six times higher, a two-kilogram turtle can be sold for about 200 yuan, and the price for one weighing more than three kilograms starts at 350 yuan and goes up, the larger, the more expensive. As for the specific price, it all comes down to whether someone is willing to buy. The prices are indeed high, but in Le City, its just like that, the prices for wild treasures are always a bit inflated, significantly more expensive than other places. The main reason is that they are almost nonexistent on the market, and there are many gourmands in Wen City who are willing to spend that money. Chu Mingcheng didnt plan on selling them in the market; instead, he first sent a message in a group chat to ask if any of the three wealthy members were interested. Ah, wild turtles, in Wen City, a place relatively lacking in natural resources, are always in high demand. There were five turtles in total; Chu Mingcheng kept one for himself, and the remaining four were eagerly claimed by three people, with a meeting arranged for five oclock in the afternoon at the Yanmen Island wharf. The one he kept was naturally for taking home; calling it pampering his parents would show high EQ, calling it craving would show low EQ. They each also took a black fish; although wild black fish are good too, they werent as attractive to them. After having a quick lunch outside, Chu Mingcheng went back to work at the abandoned pond, catching Fushouluo. He casually called home to let his parents know hed be home for dinner and told them not to bother buying groceries since he had some. By three in the afternoon, he had nearly cleared out all the visible Fushouluo and eggs from the abandoned pond, throwing them all into a fire to burn them to death. [Invasive Species: Fushouluo (Eggs)] [Ecological Destruction Index: 3 stars] [Eliminate Fushouluo (Eggs): 267 (one clump of Fushouluo eggs counts as one Fushouluo)] [Tracking: 1/Day (After use, it can automatically help the host find an area with Fushouluo)] [Life Conversion: 2 times (67/100) For every hundred Fushouluo eliminated, one conversion can be made] Life conversion was now available twice, and after catching two big fish yesterday, Chu Mingcheng understood the importance of this function. Therefore, he was planning to save it up for use at a critical time. Especially when fishing for large fish, a life conversion when running out of strength could bring in a Great White Shark as long as it didnt unhook. With over an hour before the agreed time, Chu Mingcheng took out some pig liver and threw in the remaining two kilograms to bait, continuing to fish for a while. You never know, he might catch another turtle; the three connoisseurs in the group had said they would take as many wild turtles as he could provide. However, his luck seemed off that afternoon; he caught several black fish in a row but no turtles. Checking the time, it was already half-past four; Chu Mingcheng needed to be at the wharf by five, so he reluctantly decided to pack up and leave. The moment he lifted the fishing rod, it sank heavily, far more than usual. Snagged? Chu Mingcheng sighed in frustration, wondering how his last cast ended up snagging the bottom. But the next moment, the tip of the fishing rod started shaking as if something was pulling on it. Chu Mingchengs eyes brightened; he recognized the sensation, as catching a turtle in the morning had felt exactly like this, only not as heavy. Could it be that there was a huge turtle at the end of the line? He thought he might have hooked an old turtle! Finding an old turtle in this abandoned pond didnt surprise him, considering the number of turtles he had already caught. If it werent for the concern of damaging the ecosystem by draining the pond, he would definitely bring in a few water pumps tomorrow to start draining. Chu Mingcheng pulled hard on the rod, and a massive turtle broke the surface, hanging in the air spread-eagle, looking somewhat comical. But his expression was serious, and he carefully adjusted the direction of the fishing rod, moving the position of the old turtle also trying his best to keep the rod steady. The turtle didnt struggle as violently as the black fish; it could only flail its short limbs, with its head stretched straight out because of the weight of its body. When a small turtle was caught, its head could still retract and extend, and if a video was posted online, it would have to be pixelated. This big old turtle was powerless; the weight of its body was too much for its neck to bear. Upon successfully getting the old turtle to shore, Chu Mingchengs face lit up, and he immediately ran over to grab it as it tried to flip over and escape. Picking it up felt quite heavy, at least above ten poundshe was going to make a profit today! Just to be safe, he checked the data panel. The experience value for the Chinese Turtle section had reached six, His fish box was nearly full, with more than a dozen black fish and five turtles. There was no room for the old turtle, so in the end, he had to put the fish box on the back seat and the old turtle in the trunk; washing the car after selling it wouldnt be a big deal. However, before going back, he took a photo of the old turtle, using the trunk of his car for scale; the size of the old turtle was instantly highlighted. He carefully saved the photoit was a trophy, capital for showing off to his fishing buddies in the future. He first stopped by his home in town, selecting a black fish and a turtle each about three pounds, and carried them into his house. Mom, look what Ive brought you! An Xiuwen was a housewife who usually stayed at home. Mr. Chu hadnt retired yet and hadnt come back from work at that time. She was watching TV when she heard her sons voice and hurried out to see him. Surprised to see the black fish and turtle, she exclaimed, Did you catch these yourself? Yes, I did. Well make sour cabbage fish when Dad comes home; he can cook the turtle. I have a lot more in the car to sell, Ill be back later. Wait, Ah Cheng, these wild turtles are too expensive. You sell them; just keep the black fish for sour cabbage fish tonight. I have several more turtles in the car, lets just keep this one for ourselves! Mom, turtles are good for nourishing yin and tonifying the kidneys. The borders have a rich collagen thats great for beauty. I specifically got it for you; wouldnt you feel bad selling it? Alright, alright, just hurry up and sell the fish, then come back for dinner! An Xiuwen was very pleased with her sons filial piety and, after instructing him, took the black fish and turtle from him. After leaving home, Chu Mingcheng headed straight for the Yanmen Island pier, sending a message to them on the way, telling them to wait for him on the road above. Black fish dont sell well at the pier, so he decided not to go down. When his car reached the road above the pier, the three buyers from the group were already waiting by the roadside. As he got out of the car, they immediately gathered around. One man and two womenthe man was Chen Qing. The women, one plump, one slim; the plump one was Zhao Xia, and the slim one was Wang Hong. Greeting them, Chu Mingcheng lifted the fish box out and also opened the trunk of the car. They had thought there were just four wild turtles, but to their surprise, there was also an old turtle, which left them all very excited. Chen Qing: Little brother, youre amazing, snagging such a big old turtle! Chu Mingcheng: Just lucky, just lucky. I was about to come here when I lifted the fishing rod and found this old turtle hooked. Zhao Xia wasnt concerned about how the old turtle was caught; she wanted it at all costs and immediately said, Let me have this old turtle, Ill remember this favor. The three knew each other and all had businesses. With Zhao Xia saying so, the others instantly understood the reasonshe wanted to use the old turtle for a business deal! Its normal to have a meal when discussing business, but presenting such a rare and exceptional item showed sincerity and naturally greatly increased the chances of closing a deal. Therefore, Chen Qing and Wang Hong didnt compete with Zhao Xia for the old turtle, instead they divided the four turtles among themselves. Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Making over Ten Thousand a Day [Extra Chapter, Please Follow] Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Making over Ten Thousand a Day [Extra Chapter, Please Follow] The old softshell turtle weighed thirteen jin and eight taels, and softshell turtles over ten jin are rarely found in the market, so its hard to set a price. In the end, the price was set by Zhao Xia herself, a lump sum of eight thousand. Chu Mingcheng had no objections; he was very satisfied with the price. In some parts of the market, wild softshell turtles over five jin could sell for six hundred fifty yuan per jin, but there had to be willing buyers. The other four turtles each weighed between three and four jin, priced at three hundred fifty yuan per jin, bringing in a total of five thousand. From the five turtles, Chu Mingcheng earned thirteen thousand, and he suddenly felt making money was so easy. But he immediately shook his head, dismissing such unrealistic thoughts. Wild softshell turtles were rare, and his catch today was only because he took advantage of the abandoned pond that no one else was using. The three Black fish were claimed by three people, totaling eight jin and seven taels, forty-one jin which would normally cost three hundred fifty. But Chu Mingcheng had earned over ten thousand today and was in a great mood, so he just gave them to these three wealthy customers. He still had eleven Black fish left, weighing around forty jin, which could also bring in over one thousand five hundred. Chu Mingcheng then bought two large fish boxes from the fishing gear store, brought them to his parents house, and put all the Black fish in them to keep, planning to sell them tomorrow. Additionally, Black fish are hardy and he didnt need to provide oxygen. Little Mi didnt need to be fed today, as a five to six jin Qiao Zui was enough for it. Once home, Chu Mingcheng moved all the fishing gear out of the car, took the opportunity to shower, then drove his car to a nearby car wash in town and had it thoroughly cleaned inside and out before walking home for dinner. Back home, Mr. Chu was busy in the kitchen. Usually, Mr. Chu didnt cook much; it was An Xiuwen who did most of it. But ever since Chu Mingcheng went to high school and boarded there, things at home had changed. Every time he came home, Mr. Chu would definitely cook once. The Black fish had already been sliced, and An Xiuwen had even painstakingly removed all the bones from the fish meat with tweezers. The softshell turtles were kept in a water bucket, seemingly not planned to be cooked today. Chu Mingcheng was puzzled, Dad, arent you going to butcher the turtles? Where did you fish these turtles from? Chu Yongxin countered. An abandoned pond. Whats wrong? An abandoned pond? No big problem then. Lets keep them in the water for a couple of days so they can expel the dirt inside them, and theyll taste better, Expel dirt? Does that mean the turtles are not clean? Wild softshell turtles depend on where theyre fished from. You cant eat ones from industrial waters, and those from dirty ditches need to be purified for about ten days. Those from an abandoned pond like yours are fine after two or three days, This is just like wild tilapia. For instance, tilapia fished from the Ou River are edible, but its best not to eat those caught in the county rivers. What about the Black fish? Dont they need to be purged? Black fish dont have that issue. Its okay to keep them in clean water, but its also fine if you dont. So, Chu Mingcheng quickly took out his phone and sent a message in the group, informing the three about where he had caught the turtles and suggesting they keep them in clean water for two or three days before eating. After seeing the message, Chen Qing and the others immediately replied, expressing their thanks. But subconsciously, their impression of Chu Mingcheng had improved. He was an honest man, not out to cheat anyone. Mr. Chu was serious about dinner tonight too, making sour fish with added pork intestines, which tasted so good that Chu Mingcheng had two bowls of rice. The dinner was a bit heavy, so he had no choice but to walk around the living room to aid digestion. Only then did he pick up his phone and realize Jiang Luoluo had actually replied to him that morning, but he hadnt noticed. The conversation was nothing more than about how cute Mimi looked while eating, and how much she wanted to pet it. Then she explained that she went to bed late last night because she was designing new dance moves and hadnt noticed her phone. Then you must take good care of your health, you can always make money, and your fans who like you are willing to wait for your work, but your body is yours, dont wear it out. Chu Mingcheng said this out of concern for his friend, with no other implication. Although he enjoyed chatting with Jiang Luoluo, after some rational thought, he realized he wasnt keen on long-distance relationships, thereby temporarily putting out any thoughts of further development with Jiang Luoluo. It was mealtime, and not more than a minute after he sent his message, Jiang Luoluo replied. [Smiling face]Yeah, I understand. I usually take good care of my rest, its just that I suddenly got inspired last night, and after I finished, I didnt even realize it was so late. Inspiration, Chu Mingcheng could relate to that. After a little while, seeing that he hadnt replied, Jiang Luoluo sent another message. Now that you are freelancing, have you considered when you might come to Xiamen for a visit? Ill take you around. Jiang Luoluo was not from Xiamen; she was born in Hang City, with her ancestral roots in Su City. They say Suzhou and Hangzhou produce beauties, and she possessed attributes of both, indeed she was beautiful. During university, she had a bit of fame in the school, and having quite a few fans, she occasionally received some commercial performance offers. Thats why she rented in Xiamen, because it was close to Treasure Island. Since she had obtained multiple entry permits to Taiwan, entering Taiwan wasnt limited within the year and wasnt too troublesome. Okay, okay, Ill cling tightly to the big legs of you, the little rich lady, when the time comes. Im not a rich lady, Im just a poor worker. Secretly telling you, Jiayi is the real little rich lady, she has many suitors. Hearing this, Chu Mingcheng chuckled and didnt take the comment seriously. After chatting for a while, feeling a bit more comfortable in his stomach, he returned to his room to go online and watch fishing videos to learn from others fishing experiences. Since resigning, Chu Mingchengs daily routine had also changed. Having worked all day, he used to treasure the remainder of his evening, unwilling to go to bed before midnight. Were it not for having to be at the company by eight the next morning, he guessed he could have stayed up until one or two at night. But now that all the time was his to control, Chu Mingcheng tended to go to bed earlier, even last night he was in bed by ten, and consequently up at six in the morning. He went out for a run, grabbed breakfast, and picked up something for his still-sleeping parents as well. By the time he returned home, both parents had gotten up; seeing their son brought breakfast, An Xiuwen expressed, Suddenly, I feel like my son quitting his job might actually be a good thing. Not only does he know to bring good things home, but hes also taking care of his health in the mornings and even brings us breakfast. If I had known my son would change like this, I wouldnt have let him work from the start. Chu Yongxin smiled and revealed the truth, If our son had no income at all now, I see whether you could sit still. An Xiuwen, seeing her husband undermine her, was slightly annoyed, What do you mean I couldnt sit still? If worst comes to worst, Id support our son for a lifetime. How would you support him when youre eighty? You Lets not go there, Mom. It hasnt come to that. You both just enjoy life peacefully, I should be the one to support you when youre old. Chu Mingcheng didnt want to watch anymore and quickly intervened to stop them from continuing their discussion to avoid an argument. Both were around fifty years old but sometimes acted like children, bickering daily. Despite being male, Chu Yongxin was sharp-tongued, never losing a verbal battle. That was all he never lost! Hearing their son say this, they both calmed down from the verge of losing their tempers. Chu Yongxin felt a bit regretful and thought, Cool it, Ive inadvertently dissed my wife again. Coming back from work tonight is going to be tough! Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Continue Fishing for Softshell Turtles Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Continue Fishing for Softshell Turtles He left home and went to fetch the car from the car wash. Chu Mingcheng returned to his family home on Yanmen Island, took out the fishing equipment again, and loaded it into the car. All the black fish he had kept overnight were packed into a fish box for the car, but he left the smallest black fish for Xiao Mi. The Qiao Zui fish from yesterday was nowhere to be seen; he didnt know if it had hidden itself away. He drove to the towns vegetable market where today he planned to try selling the fish himself. If it sold well, he could sell the fish he caught at sea this way in the future; if not, he would have to sell to a stall owner at a low price. Chu Mingcheng bought some bags, then carried the fish box and digital scale to set up his stall on a small road next to the back door of the vegetable market. It was strictly controlled at the front door where casual vending was not allowed, but there were no issues at the back door, where some people would set up to sell their goods. There were quite a few people shopping for groceries early in the morning, and the foot traffic at the back door was not low. Seeing him selling black fish, a few people came over to ask, but upon hearing forty yuan per pound, they walked away without looking back, deeming it too expensive. Indeed, one black fish weighing three pounds would cost one hundred and twenty yuan, which could buy quite a lot of pork. After trying to sell for a while, Chu Mingcheng felt that the black fish were not selling well, so he planned to take them into the vegetable market to see if the fish stall owners were interested in buying them at a discount. Just then, a middle-aged man who was passing by curiously came over to look and asked, Brother, how are you selling these fish? Thirty-five yuan per pound, they are wild, said Chu Mingcheng. His confidence was somewhat undermined after about a dozen people commented on the high price, so he thought hed lower the price a bit to see how it went. Can I take a look? Of course. The middle-aged man squatted down and reached out to pick up a black fish to look at it. However, the black fish struggled fiercely; it not only broke free from his grasp but also splashed water everywhere, causing Chu Mingcheng to keep a good distance while he was attempting to catch the fish. Having witnessed this scene the night before and that morning, he knew that the black fish would resist violently the moment it was grasped. The middle-aged man also dodged when the fish slipped from his hands, but he still got splashed somewhat, though he didnt mind. He now knew for certain that these black fish were wild, caught with a fishing rod, so he asked further, Brother, where did you catch these fish? They were caught in an abandoned pond. They were kept overnight, but the water is still pretty clean, so theyre safe to eat, replied Chu Mingcheng, remembering what Chu Yongxin had warned him about the previous day, and he spoke truthfully to address the middle-aged mans concerns. Okay, give me the biggest one, the middle-aged man said, pointing to the largest fish in the box. Then he took out his phone and started making a call. Ah Hai, Ive found some wild black fish at the market, very clean. Do you want one? If so, Ill bring you one. Yeah, how big do they get? The smallest one here looks to be about three pounds. Okay, okay, Ill see you soon. After the first call, he made two more calls before finally hanging up and putting away his phone. Then he turned to Chu Mingcheng and asked, Can you weigh three more black fish, each about three pounds? Absolutely! Finally getting a good sale and selling four at once, Chu Mingcheng felt genuinely motivated. Aside from the one just weighed at five pounds and three taels, the remaining three weighed two pounds and nine taels, three pounds and three taels, and three pounds and six taels, totaling 528.5 yuan. Chu Mingcheng rounded it down to 525 yuan. Selling is strange like that, as long as someone starts buying, the business naturally picks up. After the middle-aged man left with the fish, it wasnt long before a young couple came by. Mainly it was the young wife who craved sour fish soup. Hearing it was wild black fish, she immediately bought one. By the time all the fish had sold, it was already nine in the morning, and he had spent over two hours. Chu Mingcheng calculated the accounts, a total of forty-six jin and three taels, and he had received 1610 yuan, rounding off the fractions and ending up 21 yuan short. If he considered thirty-one jins sold to the fish stall owner, that would be 1398 yuan, a shortfall of 212. Earning an extra two hundred yuan for just over two hours of work was still worthwhile. After packing up his belongings back in the car, Chu Mingcheng went into the market to buy five jin of pork liver. Now that he knew the price of wild turtles was so high and they sold easily, it made no sense to do anything else! He might have finished fishing in the abandoned pond, but he could still go to the reservoir. It was such a large body of water, it was hard to believe there werent any turtles there. However, the Fushouluo still needed burning. There wasnt a lot of burnable wood left by the abandoned pond, and most of what was easy to burn had been used up yesterday, so today he specifically bought some charcoal to bring along in his car. Arriving again at the abandoned pond, Chu Mingcheng first threw two jin of pork liver to prepare the spot, then attached the fish hooks, baited them, and set up the stands; after he finished setting up, he left it alone for now and started scooping up Fushouluo with a net. He had almost cleared out all the Fushouluo by the pondside yesterday, but overnight, a few had appeared again, just not as many as before. He scooped and picked through them, and after half an hour, the spot he prepared should have taken effect, and Chu Mingcheng then began fishing for turtles in earnest. The pond was only so large, wherever there was food, the aquatic life naturally gathered; the effect of preparing the spot was much better than that of the reservoir since it was smaller. Yesterday morning, in just two hours, he had caught five turtles; today, starting from ten, Chu Mingcheng caught only one large turtle of about four jin, one Black fish, and three Catfish. He planned to see how it would go after the temperature dropped in the afternoon; if there wasnt much caught, then there was no need to come back to this pond next time. Lunch was still solved outdoors, and in the afternoon, he continued to burn Fushouluo. This time, until three oclock, did Chu Mingcheng use the remaining two jin of pork liver to prepare the spot and then poured water to extinguish the fire. The Fushouluo he burned today were far fewer than yesterday, totaling 343, having undergone three life transformations. The afternoon of fishing took quite a while, stretching until past seven in the evening, and once again, the harvest was pleasing. The smallest wild turtle weighed two jin, the largest five jin, and together with this mornings, he had a total of seven turtles, one more than yesterday. It made sense as the pond wasnt small, and yesterday he even caught one weighing over ten jin. For wild turtles to grow to over ten jins, they must be at least ten years old, one of the reasons why they fetched such a high price of eight thousand; it was incredibly rare. If they were farm-raised, he estimated they could grow to ten jins in two or three years. Having a turtle over ten years old indicated that the turtles in the pond had been breeding continuously. Even if the pond was low on food, it wasnt enough to deplete six or seven turtles by fishing them out. However, he caught quite a lot of Catfish today too, all of which he released back. In total, he had caught only five Black fish, and for the time being, he didnt plan to sell them, choosing instead to keep them at home and perhaps sell them when he had time. Packing up and heading back, he returned once again to his old home on Yanmen Island tonight. He placed the turtles in one fish box, filling it with fresh water to keep them, and poured the Black fish into another box. Chu Mingcheng then checked on Little Mi, who now behaved very affectionately whenever she saw him, always approaching him on her own initiative. After petting the cat for a while, he took a bath and lay down on the bed in the attic, stretching leisurely. Indeed, nothing beat the comfort of sleeping here. Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Fishing in the Mountain Pool Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Fishing in the Mountain Pool For the next two days, Chu Mingcheng continued to fish for softshell turtles in the abandoned pond, but the catch dwindled, netting only eight turtles in two days, three of which were under four pounds and were released by him, leaving only five. Together with the seven he caught the day before yesterday, he now has twelve wild softshell turtles at home. The smallest is just over two pounds, with the largest weighing five pounds. Chen Qing and the others will be coming to the island this afternoon, and all twelve turtles are spoken for by the three of them. They cant eat them all themselves, so they can also give some away. Today, as usual, he went for a run. There had been rain last night, leaving the air on the island exceptionally fresh, which made Chu Mingchengs running feel even better today. He returned from breakfast just around six-thirty and began to get ready to fish for softshell turtles at the reservoir. Just as he was about to leave with Xiao Mi, Yao Xin, a female fishing buddy he had met a few days before, sent him a message. Little bro, today a few of us are going to fish for stream rockfish. Are you coming? Stream rockfish? It was another fish species he was unfamiliar with, and naturally, Chu Mingcheng was intrigued. Why else would he have made a point to build good relationships and join the group? This was precisely the reason! Being guided by someone in fishing is certainly better than groping alone. Of course, Ill come. Send me the address. Sure thing! Oh, and you just need to bring a 4.5-meter pole, preferably a carbon one, light enough. The line configuration should be 1+0.6, with a size 3 barbed hook. You dont need to bring bait, Ive got a secret concoction here. Ill give you some when you get here. Commercial bait doesnt really attract stream rockfish, they dont bite. OK, Ill get ready and head out. Yao Xin must go fishing often since she seemed to know the terrain very well, so there was no need for him to bring several rods to match the locations conditions randomly. Moreover, he had a 4.5-meter carbon rod, which was exactly what he had bought at the beginning, usually used for fishing for Crucian Carp. Now it could be used for other fish as well. Still, he made a trip to the fishing store. The owner thought he was there to inquire about the two sea rods he had ordered. Little bro, your rods havent arrived yet. I specially leveraged a connection to order them from abroad for you. The quality is definitely better than the domestically outsourced ones. Just wait a little longer. Ill call you when the rods arrive. No rush, no rush. Im here today to fish for stream rockfish; I need to buy some line and hooks, Chu Mingcheng explained his purpose for the visit. He had been happily fishing for softshell turtles lately and hadnt yet contemplated sea fishing. Purchasing the rods was just about being prepared in advance. After buying the line and hooks, Yao Xin also sent over the location, a place called Stone Town. Chu Mingcheng had never been there; he only knew it was across the river from Wen City, and that there were many mountains around. The trip there was quite a drive, taking about forty-five to fifty minutes by car. Around 7:20, Chu Mingcheng arrived next to a supermarket called Sunlight Supermarket in Stone Town, which was the location Yao Xin had sent him. Since he was fishing with others today, he didnt bring Xiao Mi along. Just as he was about to get out of the car and look for Yasun, the co-drivers window of the nearby Toyota Land Cruiser rolled down, revealing Sister Yaos face. Chu Mingcheng quickly rolled down his window and greeted her, Sister Yao! Sister Yao smiled at him and said, Follow this car in a moment; were setting off now. Got it. The Toyota started and began to lead the way, with Chu Mingcheng following behind, making mental notes of the route. If the place they were going to turned out to be a good fishing spot, he could come back on his own next time or bring Zhang Wei along. Soon, they arrived at the foot of a hill next to a stream. The Toyota Land Cruiser stopped in an open area, and three people got out of the car. Besides Sister Yao, the other two were men. The driver was a man who looked to be about the same age as Yao Xin, and he was somewhat handsome. The man who got out of the backseat was dark-skinned but quite charming, and older than the rest of them, probably over forty. However, when Chu Mingcheng got out, both men were momentarily taken aback. The older man didnt seem to mind, but the younger one started to feel uneasy. In terms of looks, physique, and height, he didnt seem to have the advantage. The only advantage he might have was financial strength, after all, the other guys car wasnt much to look at. Yet seeing Yao Xins enthusiasm for this person, his sense of crisis only increased. Times have changed, women dont place much importance on certain aspects anymore. When they meet a handsome guy, even if they dont consider a relationship, they definitely wouldnt mind something happening, because they dont feel like theyre losing out, especially women who are over thirty. Ah Cheng, let me introduce you. This is He Zheng, Brother He, and Brother He has a boat, you know! Hello Brother He, Im Chu Mingcheng. You can just call me Ah Cheng. When he heard He Zheng had a boat, the smile on Chu Mingchengs face became a few degrees more sincere. He Zheng was outgoing and slapped Chu Mingcheng on the shoulder, joking, Kid, are you sure you chose the right hobby? With that face of yours, wouldnt fishing bury your talents? Just trying to raise the average attractiveness of us fishermen! Haha, how interesting! Then Yao Xin introduced him to the younger man beside them, whose name was Xu Fang. When Chu Mingcheng greeted him, he could feel that Xu Fang was polite on the surface, but somewhat distant in reality. However, he didnt mind, assuming that after today, this chance encounter would mean they wouldnt see each other again. It didnt matter. He Zheng naturally noticed this scene, but he turned around to fetch his fishing box from the car, as if he hadnt seen anything. Yao Xin understood what was going on but didnt show anything. Then, the group all picked up their own fishing boxes and walked along the creek up the mountain. Chu Mingcheng then realized why Xu Fang volunteered to carry Yao Xins fishing boxit dawned on him what was going on. This guy was a little fish in the pond! The destination wasnt too far; after about twenty minutes, they arrived. Chu Mingcheng hadnt expected the small stream he saw at the foot of the mountain to become so wide after climbing, with a large pool as well. But this wasnt a stagnant water area; after last nights rain, the stream was flowing quite quickly today. Yao Xin then asked, Ah Cheng, have you ever fished for stream rockfish before? Chu Mingcheng shook his head: Sister Yao, I just got into it during the National Day break. I dont even know what stream rockfish are, so how could I have fished for them! So, there are stream rockfish in this pool? How do you catch them? Seeing that he really didnt know, Yao Xin started to explain. When fishing, we first need to understand the habits of our target fish. Stream rockfish, also known as light-lipped fish, require a lot of oxygen, so they like to live in flowing mountain waters. At the same time, they are very alert and cautious fish, usually preferring to hide under rocks or in crevices. If you catch a stream rockfish in clear water, the others nearby will scatter and no longer bite. Thats why weve chosen this pool, because the current is neither too fast nor too slow, and the water is murkyperfect for the stream rockfish to hide. Additionally, there are specific times for fishing stream rockfish, with early summer in May and June and late fall being the best times. Mornings to midday are the prime time to catch them. After midday, when the water temperature rises, stream rockfish will swim to deeper waters, and theyre not as easy to catch. Chu Mingcheng listened intently, gaining a deeper understanding of the habits of stream rockfish through Yao Xins explanation. Earlier you mentioned not to buy commercial bait, does this fish have specific requirements for bait too? Yao Xin nodded: Thats right. The best bait for stream rockfish is river shrimp from this stream, followed by rockworms found under stones. However, these baits are not easy to obtain, so I got a homemade bait recipe from some experienced people. Its also very attractive to stream rockfish. If youre interested, I can send you the recipe later. Chu Mingcheng replied with a shy smile, That would be really kind of you! Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Leave Two Jin (Extra Chapter, Please Follow) Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Leave Two Jin (Extra Chapter, Please Follow) After looking at the secret fishing bait Yao Xin sent, Jiang Luoluo found that the preparation of this bait was quite troublesome. The main ingredient was oatmeal, which had to be steamed until cooked, and then peanut powder and potato starch had to be added with a certain ratio, roughly 4:1:0.5. Then, the mixture would be seasoned with egg milk essence and orchid fragrance, needing to emit a faint scent of egg and milk before it was suitable. Next, the mix was to be steamed again and then laid out for a period of time to allow the oats to ferment until they acquired a mildly sour sweet taste, the stronger the smell, the greater the attraction for the stream rockfish. Sister Yao, since its so troublesome to make, why dont we just not fish for this species? Yao Xin shook her head and smiled, Let me put it this way, I have a group, all gourmands. Some people want to eat a certain type of fish, theyll specifically ask me to go fishing for it, and the money they offer is quite good. I love fishing, and this allows me to both fish and earn money, so of course Im in! Chu Mingcheng suddenly understood why the fishing for stream rockfish was so complex, and why she had specially made the trip here. At this point, He Zheng and Xu Fang were already prepared to start fishing, and Yao Xin stopped explaining and began tying the fishing lines and hooks to get ready for fishing, meanwhile she gave some of the secret bait to Chu Mingcheng. Fishing for stream rockfish wasnt just about the challenges of climate, time, habit, and bait, but the technique was also important. For fishing in this pond, the muddy water technique was used, which was in fact the tight-line fishing method, a type of bottom fishing specifically targeting fast-flowing waters. Yao Xin had already informed him of the fishing rods and line setup, Chu Mingcheng added a weight, but didnt attach a float, made a bait nest, and started using the secret oat bait directly. He rolled the bait into mung bean-sized balls and hung them on the hook, just exposing the tip of the hook. Then Chu Mingcheng cast his line into a slow-moving, sandy bottomed part of the stream. After casting, he would rely on the fishing line and rod tip to judge whether a fish was biting, and if the line suddenly tightened and then relaxed, or if it twitched, he needed to immediately lift the rod. This was Chu Mingchengs first time fishing for this kind of fish, and he was more focused on it than Yao Xin and the others who were more relaxed. After ten days of learning, he had gradually come to enjoy fishing as a leisure activity. While waiting for a fish to bite, he wouldnt pull out his cellphone to read novels like he did initially, but would wait patiently because he found that the period of waiting for a fish to bite was in itself a kind of anticipation and pleasure. The pond was not small, and there was a sizable distance between the four of them. At that moment, He Zheng suddenly jerked his rod and pulled a small fish that broke the water surface. The fish wasnt large, about the size of ten centimeters or so, but the smile on his face suggested it was indeed a stream rockfish. One would have thought Xu Fang, who had started earlier, would be the second to catch one, but it was Chu Mingcheng who got lucky. Seeing that the fishing line had suddenly tensed up, he immediately raised the rod and saw a small fish in the air flicking its tail so quickly that he couldnt clearly make out what it looked like. He lifted the fishing rod high to let the fish come near with inertia, then reached out to grab it. This fish didnt seem to have anything special about it, and its mouth didnt appear to glow, so he didnt know why it was called a light-lipped fish. However, there were six vertical black stripes on its flanks, perhaps it was this feature combined with its delicious taste that earned it the title of stone fish. Seeing that Chu Mingcheng had so quickly caught a fish, Yao Xin shouted out, Ah Cheng, is it a stream rockfish, does it have black stripes on its flank? It has black stripes, its a stream rockfish! Chu Mingcheng shouted back after placing some stream water into a fish container and tossing the fish in. Good, catch more, whether or not I can complete todays task depends on you guys. Yao Xin had already made it clear that if the amount of fish they caught wasnt enough, she would buy some from them. She offered one hundred yuan per tael, and Chu Mingcheng was naturally willing to sell. One fish was around two to three taels, and it generally took three to five fish to make a tael, so he had to work hard! Chu Mingcheng re-baited his hook and continued fishing, simultaneously rolling the oat bait into little pellets to save time later. Unfortunately, the stream rockfish were currently at level 0, with no property enhancements, and relying solely on Yao Xins bait, it seemed impossible to achieve a constant bite effect; it took about three to five minutes to catch a stream rockfish. During this period, there were also other miscellaneous fish that the aquatic guidebook didnt even display. He exactly reached 20 experience points, meaning he had now caught twenty different kinds of aquatic creatures. The only thing that made Chu Mingcheng feel somewhat dissatisfied was that his fishing rod wasnt quite up to par. He should have prepared a softer carbon fiber rod. With a better sensitivity, he would more acutely notice whether a fish had bitten. Fortunately, todays catch was rather good, but of Yao Xins trio, only He Zheng was more efficient. The other two had worse luck, and switching spots several times didnt yield much improvement. They fished until noon, and Chu Mingchengs fish box was now one third full, packed tightly with stream rockfish, though they were all fairly small, none reaching twenty centimeters. By now, the temperature had risen, and he hadnt had a bite for about ten minutes. Yao Xin put away her fishing rod and came over, Not bad, not bad. Thankfully we called you over today, otherwise just relying on Brother He, we wouldnt have been able to complete the task! As long as I can be of help, Chu Mingcheng smiled and put away his fishing rod. The four of them packed up and descended the mountain together. Yao Xin took an electronic scale out of her car and weighed the fish on the spot to pay them. Chu Mingcheng had a total of seven jin and three taels, amounting to seven hundred and thirty yuan. But since this was his first time catching these fish, and having heard that the flesh of the stream rockfish was tender and delicious, he wanted to try it himself. So he asked, Sister Yao, how much do you need to make it worthwhile? As much as youve got, though at least twenty jin. Why do you ask? Well, Ive never eaten this type of fish before and was thinking of keeping two jin to let my parents try it. The three of you together have about sixteen or seventeen jin, which should be enough. Just leave me two jin! Tsk, I was wondering what it was! Sure, Ill leave you two jin. Thank you then! Dont mention it. I should be the one thanking you. Youve really helped me out big time! Earning five hundred and thirty yuan for the morning was not too bad, and Chu Mingcheng declined Yao Xins invitation for lunch. Mainly because whenever Xu Fang conversed with Yao Xin, his glances towards Chu Mingcheng made him feel uncomfortable, so he chose not to join them. Watching Chu Mingcheng drive away, He Zheng commented with a laugh, That young brother is quite discerning. Yao Xin knew what he meant, and was slightly speechless, while Xu Fang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Chu Mingchengs appearance really put a lot of pressure on him. On the road, Chu Mingcheng was thinking about inviting Zhang Wei and Chen Yang for fishing and camping here next time. Trying to make money from fishing stream rockfish wasnt really promising, but coming here to play, bringing along a barbecue grill, and grilling freshly caught fish would certainly be interesting. He had plenty of time, he could come at the end of this month or early next month when the temperature would be suitable and the fish wouldnt be hard to catch. Suddenly, the smiling face of Jiang Luoluo came to mind. Camping with her would definitely be fun. What a pity~ Long-distance relationships were too hard, and he didnt want to tie Jiang Luoluo down to this small place, nor did he want to be too far from his parents. Given that he was their only child, they probably wouldnt agree to let him stay in a different place for a long time. He found a place to eat lunch since the afternoon wasnt a good time for fishing. Chu Mingcheng then used the tracking feature on the Fushouluo pane that he hadnt had the chance to use before. Once he used the feature, the aquatic guidebook gave him a specific route directly in his head, which allowed him to find his destination with almost no effortan unharvested rice paddy. Entering someone elses rice paddy recklessly was not good, but on the bank of the adjacent irrigation ditch, he could see some Fushouluo. Chu Mingcheng got a bag from his car; it was left over from the last time he sold black fish and still had plenty. Then, he started picking up Fushouluo and their eggs along the ditch with the bag in hand. The density was not very high, clearly these pests that ate rice were regularly cleared, but unfortunately, they couldnt be completely eradicated. Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Live Eating Show Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Live Eating Show Hey, young man, young man, these are not edible snails, you cant eat them! Just as Chu Mingcheng was collecting Fushouluo snails, an old man wearing a bamboo hat hurried over to stop him. Sir, I am not picking these up to eat, I am going to use them for bait. Unable to explain the collection of Fushouluo snails for life conversion, Chu Mingcheng had to tell a white lie. As for using the flesh of Fushouluo for fishing? He wouldnt do such a thing, those creatures have too many parasites. If the fish swallowed it, should he sell the fish or not? Just thinking about it made him feel queasy. Fishing, huh! The old man was relieved to hear that it wasnt for eating and nodded without further concern. Chu Mingcheng continued picking. Although the Fushouluo snails werent dense on the irrigation channel, the area here was large enough that he ended up filling two bags by the time he walked from one end to the other. Checking the time, it was already past two. There were several more channels he hadnt searched yet, so hed have to come back another time. After securing the bags and placing them in the car, Chu Mingcheng didnt immediately start the vehicle to go home. Instead, he checked to see if Boss Chen had deposited his wages into his bank account. It was already the twelfth of October. By rights, he should have been paid on the tenth, but he had forgotten about it the past couple of days, and he had turned off the message notifications for his bank card. Today, he remembered to log into his mobile banking to check. When he saw the 6,700 and some yuan in his account, Chu Mingcheng couldnt help but purse his lips. Boss Chens arrogance was only because he knew the employees needed to support their families. If any of the employees really stood up to him, he wouldnt dare to be so cocky. But the deductions were real. If one had a proper labor contract and social security handled, there wouldnt be so many worries. However, none of that was his concern anymore. After transferring the money, he started the car and made a trip back to his mothers place in town, gave her the stream rockfish, declined an invitation to stay for dinner, and continued on to Yanmen Island. Today he was supposed to trade some wild Stone Fish. If he wanted to eat stream rockfish another time, he could just make plans with Zhang Wei to go fishing. Entering the house, Chu Mingcheng immediately went to look for Xiao Mi. But he searched every nook and cranny, and the cat was nowhere to be found. Today, Chu Mingcheng hadnt fed Xiao Mi any fish, only cat food and canned cat food. Seeing that Xiao Mi wasnt around, he checked the cat food and found that what hed left for it today was all gone. Could it have gone out to find food? Chu Mingcheng wondered. These past few days, he felt that Xiao Mis appetite had noticeably increased, but he wasnt sure what was causing this change. Just then, a muffled meow came from the front yard. He hurried out and sure enough, found Xiao Mi returning with a mouse in its mouth. Chu Mingcheng was surprised. Was it so hungry that it went out hunting on its own? Xiao Mi, seeing him too, meowed again with the mouse in its mouth. Chu Mingcheng did not disturb it while it ate, but thought of something interesting to do. He took out his phone and sent a video call invitation to Jiang Luoluo. It took a while for the video to connect, and Jiang Luoluos lovely face appeared on the screen. She seemed to have just finished some vigorous exercise, her face flushed and forehead sweaty, with some strands of hair sticking to her temples. Chu Mingcheng paused, What have you been doing, all sweaty like that! I was practicing my dance. This is my dance studio, replied Jiang Luoluo, as she showed him around the studio with her phone, then asked, By the way, what do you need? Her dance studio appeared to be a converted room, not very big, but it seemed sufficient for her use alone. The interior looked just like any other dance studio, one wall covered with mirrors, equipped with air conditioning and wooden floors, very simplistic. Nothing much, go ahead and continue with your dance. I dont want to interrupt you, he said, ready to end the call when he heard she was busy practicing. Just then, the sound of bones crunching and Xiao Mis meow transmitted through the phone. Jiang Luoluo curiously asked upon hearing it, What are you doing over there? It sounds like Xiao Mi is meowing. I was about to give you a little eating show, but didnt realize Id interrupt your dance practice. An eating show? Jiang Luoluos eyes lit up, suddenly interested, I want to see, I want to see, I just finished dance practice and could use a break. Sure? Chu Mingchengs mouth corners revealed a hint of a mischievous smile. Oh come on, stop dawdling and hurry up. You might regret this Chu Mingcheng turned the camera, capturing the scene where the cat was now biting a mouses head, complete with a close-up. Ahh~ As expected, a scream came from the phone. Hahaha Seeing her scared expression, Chu Mingcheng burst into laughter, the picture of someone whose prank had succeeded. Little did he know, the next moment Jiang Luoluo collected herself from the feigned panic and put on a pitiful look, Mice are so cute, why eat them? Go, little mouse, a fatal wound is nothing, I believe you can get back up. Even without a head, you still have your limbs! Chu Mingcheng: By now he realized that Jiang Luoluo had been pretending to be scared just now. Look at her, staring intently at the cat eating, without a trace of fear, he had clearly been played! It wasnt until the cat had finished off the mouse that she smacked her lips with an air of longing, So thats how cats eat mice. Little Mimi is still so cute, wuwu, I really want to pet it. Jiang Luoluo hadnt put on makeup because she was practicing dance, her skin was in great condition, looking even more innocent than usual. Now acting cute on purpose, Chu Mingcheng admitted he found her quite adorable. If you like it so much, why not get a cat for yourself? Hearing this suggestion, Jiang Luoluo seriously considered it before ultimately shaking her head in dejection, Sometimes Im too busy to take care of one, better not. After saying that, she suddenly remembered the commercial performance she had declined the day before. Initially, she hadnt planned to take the job because the pay was too low, but after seeing Little Mimi today and recalling the memorable seashore foraging and seafood feast, she felt tempted to visit Chu Mingchengs place for a day or two. Right, Ill be going to Wen City for a commercial performance in a few days. Ill come to see you when Im done, is it okay for me to pet Little Mimi? Youre coming over to my place? Yeah, you wouldnt mind, would you? Of course not, Id be very happy to. Ill come and pick you up when its time. Great! After making their plans, they chatted for a while longer before ending the video call. As for the commercial performance, Jiang Luoluo still had no intention of accepting it; mentioning it was just a convenient excuse to come over for a visit. Chu Mingcheng went to the front yard to light a fire and burn the Fushouluo, turning them all to charcoal. When that was done, he left them to cool down before eventually shoveling it all up to spread under the mango tree by the door. Then he took a shower and waited at home for Chen Qing to arrive. Today it was just Chen Qing coming over as the other two were busy. So, he asked Chen Qing to come directly to the old house for the goods, meaning Chu Mingcheng wouldnt need to deliver them to the dock anymore. They had agreed on five oclock, but once he had finished showering and was ready to play some games, Chen Qing sent a text saying he was already on Yanmen Island. In that case, Chu Mingcheng asked him to send his location and directed him to come right over. Soon, a Mercedes stopped on the road behind his house, with Chu Mingcheng already waiting nearby. Chen Qing saw him and immediately turned off the cars engine, stepping out. Your place has a nice environment, living here must be pretty relaxing, huh? Its okay, lifes pace isnt fast, and theres none of the noise you find in the city. Chu Mingcheng was quite content with his current lifestyle, earning a good daily income while enjoying his freedom. How much are houses here? It would be quite nice to come and live here for a while when resting. That, I honestly dont know. You might need to ask around, but its definitely not comparable to the city prices. Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41 The Docks Fishing Season Chapter 41: Chapter 41 The Docks Fishing Season Chen Qing walked into Chu Mingchengs house and although the decor was pretty average to him, he grew fonder of the place as he looked around, feeling like it gave off the aura of a small farmhouse. Do you live here alone? Just by myself for now, my parents live in the town. Im always running around, so its more comfortable to live here. Makes sense. After a cursory look around the house, Chu Mingcheng led him to the kitchen to check out the softshell turtles. Although he had bought some once before, Chen Qing still checked them over, finding that they were all healthy and energetic wild-caught turtles, which greatly pleased him. At that moment, he noticed another fish box in the kitchen and asked, What have you got in there? Got five Black fish in there, caught along with the turtles. I havent gone to the vegetable market the past couple of days, so I just kept them here for now. Chu Mingcheng went up and dragged the box with the Black fish over, informing him as he did so. Seeing that there were just five, Chen Qing decided to take them all. Ill take them all then, my friend really enjoys eating Black fish. Alright, if you want them, theyre yours. Chu Mingcheng brought over the digital scale and began weighing them. The five Black fish weighed exactly sixteen pounds. He sold them this time for thirty-five yuan per pound, which was the same rate he had charged at the vegetable market before. Chen Qing was decisive in his shopping, and Chu Mingcheng didnt want to swindle an acquaintance, so the total came to five hundred and sixty yuan. There were three sizes of softshell turtles, ones between two and three pounds went for two hundred yuan per pound, totaling four turtles and eight pounds and five taels, which amounted to one thousand seven hundred yuan. The ones under five pounds were priced at 350 yuan per pound, with the most number, totaling seven turtles and twenty-six pounds and two taels, costing nine thousand three hundred and ten yuan. There was only one turtle that was over five pounds, exactly five pounds and two taels, priced at four hundred yuan per pound, selling for two thousand and eighty yuan. All added up, the total came to thirteen thousand six hundred and fifty yuan, and with no change needed, there was no need to round down the amount. After paying, Chen Qing instructed Chu Mingcheng to remember to contact him if there were any good catches in the future, before carrying his purchases and leaving. Chu Mingcheng sat on the stool and started to account for his earnings, calculating how much he had made since buying the sea rod. Eight hundred from Yao Xin, the first day of catching turtles earned him thirteen thousand, plus roughly one thousand five hundred for the Black fish. Then came five hundred and thirty for the stream rockfish, adding to todays sales of over thirteen thousand six hundred, his total income for these few days was about thirty thousand. His current savings stood at sixty-seven thousand and more, with ten thousand of that being the final payment for the sea rod, leaving him with fifty-seven thousand in savings. Discounting his expenses, in twelve days, his savings went from thirty thousand to fifty-seven thousand, an undoubtedly swift rate of earning money. Unfortunately, wild softshell turtles were hard to come by, and he didnt know when hed next find a deserted pond like a feng shui treasure spot. In the evening, just as Chu Mingcheng was planning to find a place to eat, Zhang Wei called him. Ah Cheng, I heard theres a big school of Mackerel at Yanmen Islands pier, and loads of Fishing Men have gathered. Is it true? Mackerel? Chu Mingcheng was stunned, I have no idea! He hadnt gone to the pier today, so he was indeed unaware of the situation. Damn, then you better hurry up and check it out, and call me immediately if there are any. Ill come straight over. Alright, Ill go have a look right now. After hanging up, Chu Mingcheng immediately went out to drive to the pier, with all his equipment already in the car, which saved quite a bit of time. A few minutes later, he arrived at the road above the pier, by then nearly both sides of which were full of parked cars. From above, one could indeed see lots of Fishing Men by the pier fishing and even some fishermen casting nets directly from their boats. There were also some people on the rocky area beside the pier, and judging from their rod-lifting motions, it seemed like they were having a good catch as well. Seeing this, Chu Mingcheng immediately took out his M-hardness lure rod, the matching fishing line, and a box of lures. As he took the tackle box and fish cooler down, he didnt forget to call Zhang Wei, telling him to come over immediately. Then he made another call to Zhao Jun, Brother Zhao, are you at the dock? Yeah, Im casting nets from the boat, are you here too? Zhao Jun would obviously know if there were fish at the dock since this group of local fishermen would be the first to know. Im here to fish, Brother Zhao, do you have room on your boat? If there was no room at the dock, then why not create a good fishing spot? Going over to the rocks was a bit off, not easy to get up and down, and he guessed the catch wouldnt compare to what he might find near the dock. Upon hearing this, Zhao Jun immediately agreed cheerfully. By the time Chu Mingcheng got down to the dock stairs, Zhao Jun was already waiting for him with a basket of Mackerel on board, clearly just netted. Damn, Brother Zhao, how long have you been casting? You got a basketful so quickly? Been at it for almost half an hour. Lets hurry up, once it gets dark the school of fish might disperse. Alright! Chu Mingcheng took this time to look up the habits of Mackerel on his phone. Mackerel are incredibly cheap sea fish in China, easy to catch in autumn, and the average size is about twenty to thirty centimeters, over two taels. For Mackerel, this size is quite significant, almost always over two taels. Even if the price is cheap, quantity can change the quality. Large Mackerel generally swim in deeper waters, while medium to small ones are mostly at the surface. Catching the small ones is not interesting, so Chu Mingcheng decided to start by trying for the bigger Mackerel in the deeper waters and took out a seven-centimeter sinking minnow. By the time he got his lure rod ready, Zhao Jun had already stopped the boat at the bow and continued casting his net. Seeing this, Chu Mingcheng came to the side of the boat, cast the minnow close by to let it sink and test the water depth. The small dock at Yanmen Island doesnt accommodate large fishing boats, and the water depth he measured was about twelve meters. With this in mind, he started reeling in, lightly tapping the rod tip and intermittently jerking the line. As the minnow swam along the bottom, it also jumped continuously. This was actually the lure sinking and jumping fishing technique. Simply put, its about making the minnow move to attract the attention of fish. In freshwater, this would likely attract the annoying little fish Whitebait, but the sea is different. Fish in the sea are generally very aggressive, most with a strong propensity to attack, rushing up to bite at any movement. Chu Mingcheng reeled in while flicking the fishing rod; as he did sohey, he couldnt flick it anymore. No way, was it that easy to catch? Hooking a fish on the first cast with a lure was a new experience for Chu Mingcheng, and the strength of the fish gave him the illusion that he might be fishing for Black fish. He lifted the rod and reeled in the line, and soon, he caught a fish with a pattern of blue spots on its back, about thirty centimeters in length and round-bellied, weighing around two taelshe could tell it was fatty. He tossed the fish into the fish box and continued fishing. This time the minnow had barely hit the water before he hooked another fish, not even allowing it to sink to the bottom. Chu Mingcheng realized the terror of fishing over a school of fish. It wasnt just about catching them one after another; they wouldnt even let the bait sink. But this time, the fish that took the bait was much smaller and skinnier, likely weighing around four taels. About twenty minutes later, Zhang Weis call came through. Ive arrived, where are you? Im on a friends boat, its not convenient to fetch you. You can find a spot on the dock to fish, or you can swim over if you like. Damn~ Zhang Wei immediately hung up, found a vacant spot for himself, and squeezed in with others to fish. Any frustrations were put aside for nowas catching fish was the priority. Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Mackerel Isnt Valuable Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Mackerel Isnt Valuable The fishing season brought more and more people to the wharf, where anglers fished and net casters spread their nets, creating a lively scene. Zhao Jun could only net the small mackerel that swam in the upper layer; they werent very large, each measuring roughly fifteen centimeters. Chu Mingcheng fished for the bigger mackerel in the deeper waters, which were also plentiful, but every single one was over twenty-five centimeters with large, fat bellies. Within just twenty or so minutes, he had already caught nineteen, nearly one every minute. The fish were biting incredibly fast. There was still at least forty or fifty minutes left before the sun would completely set, and the schools of mackerel werent going to leave during this time. This meant that if his luck held and he kept getting continuous bites, he could reel in at least thirty kilograms. Of course, such a large number of mackerel not only attracted the attention of humans but also more predatory creatures living in the sea. Large fish occasionally appeared near the wharf since the area was prone to gathering small fish, attracting them to come and hunt. Right then, in the lower water level invisible to the people above, several large fish had appeared. Despite the size of the mackerel in lower waters, these predators could swallow them in a blink, biting half the body of a mackerel over twenty centimeters and then gulping down the rest in another swift motion. There were also some smaller predators that couldnt swallow such big mackerel, so they swam to the mid and upper layers to hunt for smaller ones. Chu Mingcheng was oblivious to the commotion beneath the water; his sinking minnow was enticing fish to bite as it swayed gently along the seabed! Originally, he had hoped to attract mackerel, but the movement at that moment caught the attention of a large grouper nearby. It was drawn by the mackerel, but they were quick swimmers, and it wasnt easy for the grouper to catch them. However, the current speed of the sinking minnow was slow, which made it an immediate target for the grouper. Standing on the boat, Chu Mingcheng lightly shook the fishing rod and turned the handle with his right hand, winding in the line slowly. Whoosh~ The fishing line suddenly tensed, and Chu Mingcheng instinctively lifted the rod to set the hook, as the line zipped across the water surface, creating a pleasant slicing sound. Ei, ei, ei~ The force this time was unlike any before, nearly pulling the unprepared Chu Mingcheng off the boat; fortunately, his timely reaction and foot braced against the gunwale steadied him. Whats going on? Whats going on? Zhao Jun, noting the commotion, hurried over to ask. Nothing, Ive hooked a big one! Chu Mingcheng replied while grappling with the fish in the water. Line from the spinning reel was intermittently being pulled out, but he dared not exert too much force, for fear of either breaking the line or exploding the rod. From the moment he regained his composure, he knew he had caught a big fish, one that was exerting more force than the twenty-kilogram green spot lianyong he had fished for before. This put Chu Mingcheng on edge; as a fishing novice, he only knew that bigger fish required sturdier rods and thicker lines. He had no confidence in catching big fish with a light rodnot because it was impossible but because it required skill and understanding of the fishs movements, both of which demanded ample experience! But now, like a duck forced onto a perch, Chu Mingcheng had no choice but to do his best. The tight fishing line continued to convey heart-pounding strength, and the reel kept letting out line. The rod was now curved into a full moon shape, making him anxious yet exhilarated. Hold steady, take it slow! Zhao Jun, who had stopped casting his net, stood beside him, barely daring to breathe loudly, looking even more tense than Chu Mingcheng. Squeak, squeak, squeak~ Woo~ Squeak, squeak, squeak~ After five or six minutes, as the force of the fish in the water grew weaker, Chu Mingcheng started to pull back the rod and then turn the handle to wind in the line. The fishs initial burst of strength had passed, easing the tension in his heart slightly. Although the fishs power had taken him by surprise at the start, by now, Chu Mingcheng realized that the fish he had hooked might not be as big as he had imagined. As long as you pay attention, you should be able to reel it in, Ah Cheng thought. The angle of the fishing line, originally slanting downwards, was now gradually becoming parallel, indicating that the fish had been pulled up from the lower layers to the upper surface of the water. With a splash, a huge wave arose on the sea surface twenty-some meters away, attracting the attention of many people on the shore. Darn, theres still a big fish? Hurry up and change the rod and line, stop fishing for mackerels! Some of the seasoned Fishing Men, equipped with full gear, immediately switched their targets upon seeing the big fish and brought out their equipment for landing big catches. Chu Mingcheng naturally saw the huge splash and the fleeting glimpse of a brown shape, and a smile of surprise spread across his face. But now was not the time to be happy, the fish hadnt been reeled in yet! For safetys sake, Chu Mingcheng didnt rush to bring the fish back in. The fish was still putting up a strong fight, so he chose to keep walking it. After about fifteen minutes, the big fish was finally walked near the fishing boat. The two people on the boat could now clearly see what kind of fish it was, a speckled grouper, also known as green spot. Haha, Ah Cheng, your luck is spot on. You said you came for mackerels, but what do you get? A grouper, Zhao Jun swiftly clamped the fish gripper accurately onto the green spots big mouth and then exerted strength to lift the fish onto the boat. Since Chu Mingcheng hadnt expected a big fish, and for mackerel you could just lift the rod, he hadnt brought up a landing net. Luckily the fish gripper was small and portable, so they kept it directly in the tackle box. Not bad, this green spot weighs thirteen jin three taels. The green spot seemed to be about sixty centimeters long, with a round belly. Zhao Jun weighed the fish with the gripper and sounded a bit envious. Wild green spots could sell for eighty yuan a jin, making this one over one thousand yuan. He had just spread his net for so long, nearly filling two baskets with mackerels, totaling about one hundred jin. He had no idea if it could sell for even half the price of this single fish. Haha, I didnt expect to be this lucky! Chu Mingcheng felt pretty good catching a big grouper for the first time, and now he was suddenly looking forward to his new sea rod. Fishing for these big fish with a lure rod made him somewhat jittery, fearing that any wrong move might cause the line to snap or the rod to blow up. Upon removing the sinking minnow from the groupers mouth and seeing the heavily worn leader line, Chu Mingcheng broke out in cold sweat. It really was lucky to have landed this green spot, if it had been dragged on for a few more minutes, not only the rod but also the line would have snapped. Chu Mingcheng decided that when he got back in the evening, he would look up online which kind of fishing line was durable and abrasion-resistant, as it would be a shame to finally catch a big fish and then have the line not hold up. The green spot was temporarily stored by Zhao Jun in the fish box on the boat, at least ensuring it would still be alive when sold. Chu Mingcheng changed the leader line without wasting time and continued fishing for mackerels. In the following period, some people onshore were also lucky enough to catch big fish, including groupers and other predatory species. But there were also a few who had less luck and blew up their rods. It continued until the sun set, and the school of mackerels moved away. Zhao Jun could hardly catch a few with his net, and Chu Mingcheng also had several strikes without catches. The school has dispersed; lets go back and sell the fish! Okay! Chu Mingcheng had no objections. He estimated that he had caught about fifty jin of mackerels. They were all quite big, with the smallest being around twenty centimeters, mostly above twenty-five centimeters. He had specifically set aside those mackerels with particularly big bellies, nine in total, which weighed about fifteen or sixteen jin. He planned to try some himself and give the rest away. Back onshore, many vendors were buying fish. Chu Mingcheng inquired around and learned that the medium- and small-sized mackerels that Zhao Jun had netted were only going for four yuan a jin, which was too cheap. However, they needed to be frozen for sale in the market for about ten yuan or so; the low price wasnt surprising. For his larger-sized catch, the price wasnt much better, at eight yuan a jin. It was outrageously low. Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Overnight Dried Fish Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Overnight Dried Fish Upon learning the price was so cheap, Chu Mingcheng immediately began to pick out all the Mackerel over 35 centimeters from his basket. Eighty yuan for ten jin, I may as well keep some more to make small dried fish to tease my cat. Having selected all the bigger ones, he sold off all the rest. Then he took out his green spot, and the fishmongers eyes immediately lit up. But their highest offer was only forty yuan per jin, which clearly was not a good deal for him. Actually, this buying price was normal; the fishmongers bought from the fishermen and then sold to the stores. The stores then sold to customers, and that was the market price, which was eighty yuan per jin. Chu Mingcheng originally wanted to ask the big spenders in the group chat if they were interested, but then a passerby who was just watching the commotion wanted it and bought it for one thousand and fifty yuan, which worked out to be about eighty-one yuan per jin. In the end, for this period of time in the evening, he made over 1,200 yuanwasnt this more comfortable than going to work? Carrying his fish and fishing gear, and after bidding farewell to Zhao Jun, Chu Mingcheng squeezed out of the pier and took out his phone to call Zhang Wei. Where are you, whats your location? Im at the pier, over by the railings. Chu Mingcheng looked around and finally spotted Zhang Wei, who was still casting his line, not ready to leave. He went over to check out Zhang Weis catch and estimated that it was only half of what he had caught, and they were all small fish. Still fishing? The fish have long since gone, what are you still trying to catch? I was waiting for you! Zhang Wei said, glancing at Chu Mingchengs catch, and when he saw that all the fish Chu Mingcheng held were large, he was slightly surprised, You found such a good spot that you got all big fish? I used a sinking minnow to fish at the bottom; the bigger Mackerel are in the lower layer, so naturally, the ones I caught were all big. Not bad, youve only been fishing for a few days and already know so much! Zhang Wei said as he reeled in his line, then looked over to the nearby fishmonger and asked, Arent you going to sell them? When it came to the price, Chu Mingcheng was somewhat speechless; this mustve been the cheapest fish hed ever come across. The small ones go for four yuan per jin, the big ones just eight. Im not going to bother selling them. Ill keep the fatty ones for myself to eat, and I plan to make fish jerky out of the skinny ones; I can eat those myself or give them to the cat as snacks. Haha, cheap is cheap, I had my fun fishing anyway, Zhang Wei said, not caring about the pricehe wasnt fishing for a living. However, after comparing his own catch to what Chu Mingcheng had, he displayed a sly smile. Ah Cheng, all the fish I got are so small, they probably dont taste that great. Yours are so big, why dont you give me a couple to try? Sure thing! Chu Mingcheng had been willing to give away the green spot and Lianyong before, but that was with a purpose. Zhang Wei, on the other hand, was an old friend; a few Mackerel were nothing to feel reluctant about giving away. If it had been Zhang Wei who wanted the green spot before, Chu Mingcheng would definitely not have asked for money. But a true friend wouldnt let him suffer a loss, so Zhang Wei wouldnt suggest such a thing, and with something cheap like Mackerel, it didnt matter. You go sell your fish first, its still some money at least. After youre done selling, Ill pick a couple of fat ones for you. Alright. Zhang Wei nodded and went to sell his fish first. After a little while, he came back cursing under his breath. Damn, I thought it would be more, but it didnt even add up to one hundred. Chu Mingcheng struggled not to laugh: How much did you sell them for? Ninety-five yuan and seven cents, that crook wouldnt even give me the 70 cents, just rounded it down. Alright, lets head to my place first! Later, Ill tell Chen Yang that Ill treat him to a late-night snack. Wow, a late-night snack, not bad, not bad. Both of them drove back separately. When Chu Mingcheng got home, he checked the weather forecast and, knowing that the weather would be good for the next couple of days, decided to separate the Mackerel that needed to be dried into fish jerky, keeping only those nine especially fat ones in the freezer, including the two he intended to give to Zhang Wei. He also made some ice water, so that when he brought the fish for the late-night snack later, it wouldnt be without ice and start to smell. Mackerel is a type of fish that spoils and deteriorates easily, so you either eat it quickly or make it into fish jerky. Ah Wei, come over and help me kill the fish. Im going to air-dry them tonight. Zhang Wei had already messaged Chen Yang, and was amusing the kitten with a Mackerel at that moment! However, the kitten was well-fed tonight and lost interest after sniffing the Mackerel. Hearing Chu Mingcheng asking for help, Zhang Wei didnt refuse and went to the kitchen to start working with a knife in hand. The kitchen was well-stocked with knives, and Chu Mingcheng was already handling the fish guts with a cleaver. Instead of slicing open the belly, he cut into the fish from the back, splitting the Mackerel into two halves, but leaving the belly untouched, so the fish was still whole. He removed the innards and gills, then threw it into a basin to work on the next one, and quickly, the two of them processed the sixteen fish. Chu Mingcheng washed the fish clean with water and then used paper towels to dry them as thoroughly as possible. He didnt intend to make the fish jerky too salty, so he rubbed the fish lightly with coarse salt and let it sit for three minutes. Then he prepared a basin of saltwater, adding a bit of white liquor, which has a sterilizing effect and removes any fishy smell. The white liquor was a gift from relatives and friends during the New Year; his family didnt drink much, so it just sat at home. Not just at the old house here, but at home in town, they had even more bottles of white and red wine. After soaking for half an hour, he picked the fish up, used paper towels again to absorb the moisture, then strung them up with a rope and took them to the second-floor balcony to let the night sea breeze dry them out. His drying method was called overnight drying, different from the traditional sun-drying method, and the fish jerky produced this way was usually not too hard. The Mackerel needed to be air-dried for 16 hours, and if you wanted it a bit softer, you would just air-dry it for a shorter time. Chu Mingcheng didnt plan on drying them too long; he purposely soaked them in salt water so that later he could add some seasoning and bake them in the oven, which would make them very tasty. Once the kitchen was cleaned up, Chen Yang arrived by car. Chu Mingcheng was a bit surprised to see him: Ah Yang, what brings you here? Just idling at home, might as well come hang out for a bit. I heard from Ah Wei that you quit your job; how about coming to help me out? Chen Yang wasnt particularly handsome, just average-looking. But he was about the same height as Chu Mingcheng, with a slightly baby-faced look that made him seem tender, and with a bit of family wealth, he always lived comfortably. Chu Mingcheng did not reply to the question. Instead, he smiled mysteriously, Do you know how much money Ive made from fishing and sea foraging this past half month? How much can you make from fishing and sea foraging? Ah Wei told me you made nine thousand with the Alligator Gar, but that was just luck, right? Chen Yang couldnt imagine how much one could earn from sea foraging and fishing. When prompted to guess the income, he immediately thought of what Zhang Wei told him about catching the Alligator Gar. Besides the nine thousand from the Alligator Gar, guess again! This Chen Yang, rubbing his chin, hesitated, thinking that Chu Mingcheng must have made quite a bit based on his demeanor. Being conservative, he voiced what he thought was a high amount, Five thousand? Zhang Wei scoffed at the guess: Are you silly? Ah Cheng makes about that much just from digging sea earthworms every day. Not to mention fishing at night and other stuff, I think it could be eight thousand. Eight thousand that much? Chen Yang was astounded. If it was eight thousand in half a month, thats over sixteen thousand! Even if the income was unstable, following this trend, making over ten thousand a month definitely wasnt a problem. He couldnt offer such a high salary, and the thought of having Chu Mingcheng help him promptly fizzled out. Actually, his store wasnt short of people; he just felt like it was good to pull a brother up. Once Chu Mingcheng became familiar with his products and built up some customer base, he could actually go independent, and Chen Yang could offer him business. Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Shore Fishing: Targeting Black Sea Bream Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Shore Fishing: Targeting Black Sea Bream Heh, eight thousand? Chu Mingcheng scoffed and pulled out his phone to show the photo of the large tortoise he had caught. Everyone, take a look. How much do you think this thing is worth? Holy shit! X2 Zhang Wei and Chen Yang cursed in unison upon seeing the photo. It wasnt their fault they couldnt contain themselves; such a large tortoise was indeed rare. Did you sell this thing? Ah Cheng, where did you catch it? Are there more? Take me with you tomorrow night! The latter part was naturally said by Zhang Wei, as the tortoise was almost as attractive to fishermen as large grouper. You think these old tortoises are just everywhere? Try fishing at the reservoir with some pork liver tomorrow night, there might be some, retorted Chu Mingcheng with a roll of his eyes, then he added to Chen Yang, Sold it, just for eight thousand. After hearing this, Chen Yang wore a look of regret: Ah, what a pity. Next time you get ahold of something good, give me a shout. My family is big, and we like to eat rare stuff. Alright, next time I get something good, Ill show you first. If you want it, its yours; if not, Ill sell it to someone else, Chu Mingcheng readily agreed. Chen Yang wasnt short of money, and he wouldnt shortchange him. Besides, as they were good friends for many years, Chu Mingcheng was naturally willing to sell to him. The three of them chatted for a while longer and didnt leave for their late-night snack until ten oclock. Chu Mingcheng also took out four fish to share with the two, asking them to drive them home first to store in the fridge. The location for their late-night meal wasnt far, just an old and well-known food stall in town. They had some stir-fried dishes and drinks, and afterward, Chu Mingcheng called a designated driver to take him back to Yanmen Island. The other two lived nearby, so they had walked there. Back at home, Chu Mingcheng suddenly remembered the Fushouluo he had burnt earlier in the front yard. He went to the front yard where the charcoal had completely cooled down. Taking a shovel from the storehouse, he smashed the charred Fushouluo and shoveled it up to pile under the mango tree. After finishing, he yawned and went back inside to wash up and go to sleep. Since he had drunk quite a bit the previous night, Chu Mingcheng slept until past nine oclock, missing his morning run. But it was only this once, so it was no big deal. He got up and got rid of the alcohol piled up in his stomach, then brushed his teeth and washed his face before heading to the kitchen to boil some water. This was a hangover from drinking beer and eating late at night. It didnt give him a headache, but he was especially thirsty in the morning. He poured some cat food for Mimi but didnt give her the canned cat food; hed give her some fish later. He went upstairs to check on the mackerel that had been drying overnight and found it was almost dry, slightly soft, but he preferred that texture. So, he bagged them all and stored them in the fridge. Then he took out a frozen mackerel, as it was getting late. Time to prepare lunch! He cooked the rice, then began to work on the fish, First, he deboned the fish, setting the flesh aside on a plate. When the rice was almost done, hed steam the fish flesh in a pot. He put the fish head and bones back in the fridge. When he had gathered more, he could take them out all at once, cook them soft in a pressure cooker, then dry and grind them to a powder to feed the cats. Recently, Chu Mingcheng had also read up on quite a few tips about caring for cats. Even though calico cats could handle eating raw fish and micethey naturally werent as delicate as pet catsit was still important to be cautious about parasites, especially since he often petted the household cat, and this was also a matter of being responsible for himself. Of course, occasionally feeding it one or two fish was okay. This mackerel had quite a lot of meat. He let half of it cool down a bit without seasoning and gave it to Mimi. Watching her eat delightfully, making smacking noises, Chu Mingcheng couldnt help but smile contentedly and took another video of her. He now had three videos. Maybe when he had some free time, he could look into getting a head-mounted camera to start recording his fishing adventures. With the other half of the fish, he added some seafood soy sauce and poured hot oil over it to eat himself. Picking up a piece of fish and putting it into his mouth, Chu Mingchengs eyebrows raisedso fragrant and unexpectedly delicious, very rich in fats. The fatter the fish, the tastier it is, but he had not expected such cheap mackerel to taste so good, with its tender and smooth flesh devoid of any fishy smell. Generally, for fish like mackerel and saury, grilling is the most common method, especially in Japanese cuisine. The Japanese cuisine Jiang Luoluo had treated them to previously included a dish of grilled flower fish, but its flesh was rather dry, and the fish was lean and tasted mediocreit was definitely wild. It is said that flower fish and squid, when farmed, taste better than their wild counterparts due to their thicker fat, and the prices of the farmed ones are also several times more expensive. But the one he caught now was not inferior to the farmed ones. Chu Mingcheng decided that he should buy a small barbecue grill when he returned in the afternoon as it would be a waste not to grill such a fatty mackerel. In fact, the flower fish eaten in Japanese cuisine is actually mackerel, also known as white-bellied mackerel, which, according to the Japanese, is the true mackerel. This kind of mackerel prefers cold water and is mostly caught in northern regions. The one caught by Chu Mingcheng was called Australian mackerel, which prefers warm water and is more commonly found in the south. After lunch, the remaining three mackerels were taken away by Chu Mingcheng, with two sent for his parents to try. Mom, I caught a few mackerels at the dock yesterday. They are fatty and taste very good; you can just steam them directly. An Xiuwen happily took the fish and laughed, Ever since you resigned, I dont even need to buy vegetables. Haha, thats to save you some money, how great is that? Yes, yes, remember to bring more home in the future. Come inside, why are you standing out there? Not now, I plan to go fishing by the sea this afternoon, and Ah Wei will join me later tonight. Ah Wei will be with you too? Your dad said the turtle can be eaten now; why dont you invite Ah Wei and Ah Yang over for dinner tonight as well? Its been a long time since those boys came over. When Chu Mingcheng and the others were children, they often went to each others houses for meals, and their families knew each other well, so An Xiuwen invited Zhang Wei over upon hearing that he would be with her son tonight. In fact, Zhang Wei and Chen Yang loved to mooch meals at his house because Mr. Chu was a good cook. Sure, Ill tell them later to come over for dinner. Great, Ill go buy a chicken and let your dad cook a Hero Farewell. Chu Mingcheng left home, bought a charcoal grill, put it in his car, and then drove back to Yanmen Island, heading towards the other side of the island. That area was less populated, and since fishermen didnt cast their nets there, it might have better fish resources. It had been several days since he bought a rock fishing rod, but he hadnt really used it. Today, Chu Mingcheng was determined to find a cliff for fishing. For this, he specially went to a fishing gear shop to buy a telescopic landing net, which is specifically used for rock fishing by the sea, and he also didnt forget to buy shrimp bricks for baiting. He didnt need to buy bait since even if marine resources were depleted, there would still be shellfish and sea snails. After parking, carrying a fishing rod, and toting one large and one small fishing box, Chu Mingcheng started searching for a suitable fishing spot along the coast. The smaller fishing box held tools like fishing lines and hooks, which could also be used as a stool. The larger fishing box contained some ice blocks he had frozen the day before to store his catch. Soon, he found a suitable fishing spot and took out the shrimp brick to let it gradually thaw before testing the water depth. Chu Mingcheng was a novice, and unable to gauge the depth by the color of the sea water, he had to use his fishing rod for that purpose. After measuring, the spot was about seven to eight meters deepa very good fishing spot. Then he took out a bleeding knife, intending to collect some small sea oysters, but as soon as he flipped a rock, he saw a cluster of mussels densely packed together. The mussels were small, but they were perfect for bait. He went back and dug out a bag from the fishing box. This bag, previously used for selling black fish, had been specially stored in the smaller box, and he had not expected to use it again today. Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Hooked the Blue Star Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Hooked the Blue Star After prying off a small bag of mussels, he had enough bait for the day and brought it back to place beside the Shrimp Brick. Using the baiting spoon, he pressed on the Shrimp Brick, which had mostly dissolved by now, and then scooped up three spoonfuls and tossed them into the water ahead. Then Chu Mingcheng took out his own No. 3 rock fishing rod, initially purchased for fishing on the rocks, so he went for a 5.4-meter one. A 3000 model spinning reel, 3+2 line set up, teamed with a No. 2 Qianyou hook. He took a mussel, opened it with a dagger, and since the mussel was not large, he used the dagger to vertically slice it into two halves. Picking up the mussel meat, he hung it on the fish hook, leaving just a bit of the hooks point exposed. Then he cast the fish hook toward the spot where he had baited, and it quickly sank to the bottom along with the lead sinker. It was now high tide, and the waves continuously crashed against the rocks with a whoosh and roar. Although he was standing in direct sunlight, wearing sun protective clothing and a hat, there was also a brisk sea breeze, so he did not feel overly hot. What Chu Mingcheng did not know was that his hook was subtly shifting positions along the ocean floor due to the sea currents, and soon it became snagged in a crevice of a rock. On the shore, Chu Mingcheng saw the fishing line tighten and thought he had caught a fish, so he immediately raised the rod to set the hook. But as he lifted the rod, he sensed something was amissthis felt a bit heavy! Chu Mingcheng lifted the rod again, and the tight sensation confirmed that he had caught a stonefish instead. He had caught heavy things before, like that old softshell turtle. Even the old softshell turtle would exhibit some movement, unlike now where it seemed impossible to lift at all. What a bad start! Chu Mingcheng sighed. Realizing he couldnt haul it up by force, he had no choice but to cut the line. After retying the line and hook and attaching a new sinker, he cast his rod again, but this time he was a bit more cautious. After the sinker hit the bottom, he reeled in two turns of the line. This time, he did not let the bait sink to the bottom, keeping it just off the seabed instead. The high tide, combined with the right temperature, and the proximity to the rocks, which Black Sea Bream loved, had already attracted five or six black sea bream to the area. Compared to Shrimp Brick, the mussels naturally occurring around the rocky area were more appealing to them. One of the black sea bream noticed the mussel meat and abandoned the shrimp brick, swimming over to the mussel meat and gently touching it with its mouth, as if sniffing it. In the next moment, it opened its small mouth and swallowed the mussel meat whole. But the sudden sharp pain in its mouth made it realize it had been tricked. The pain caused a panic, and it instinctively started to look for a hiding place by swimming frantically. But an unknown great force pulled even harder, causing pain in its mouth to worsen, and it could not resist being drawn involuntarily toward the surface of the water. It could only desperately thrash its tail in struggle, resisting the pulling force. But all its efforts were in vain as it was brought to the surface. Chu Mingcheng on the shore smiled when he saw the fish. It seemed his luck had turned around after catching a stonefish earlier. Hed landed a black sea bream that was not small, looking to be about a pound or two. He didnt dare pull it up directly, fearing the fish might drop, so he used an extendable net to scoop it out of the water. Chu Mingcheng was over six feet tall, and his hands were not small. The black sea bream was somewhat larger than his palm, robust in back, and plump in belly, perhaps indeed weighing two pounds. After removing the fish hook, he threw the fish into his fishing box, dissipating much of the gloom from the earlier stonefish incident. With a catch, the enthusiasm for fishing soared. Chu Mingcheng continued to bait his hook with mussel meat and cast it to the baited spot. About five or six minutes later, he caught another one, but this one was much smaller, weighing only about eight taels. After unhooking, he threw the fish into his fishing box and scooped up another spoonful of Shrimp Brick to throw down. Catching black sea bream required a consistent baiting method to ensure they kept gathering under the water. But while the Shrimp Brick could attract black sea bream, it could also attract other species of fish. Chu Mingcheng saw the tip of the rod tremble fiercely, then suddenly bend downward. With quick eyes and hands, he stabbed the fish, and the tip of the rod instantly made a whoosh sound as it cut through the air. As soon as he got a grip, his face was filled with excitement. This ones pull was quite strong! Although it was much less than the Stone Fish from yesterday, it was definitely a big fish. It seemed the fish resources of Yanmen Island were not as bad as he had thought. Chu Mingcheng grabbed the rod with his left hand and tried to reel in with his right, but the fish underwater kept running, making it impossible to turn the handle. Seeing that the main line was about to hit a reef sticking out of the water, he hastily let go of the handle and pulled the rod in the opposite direction to avoid it. The big fish, which had been darting outwards in the water, abruptly stalled, and Chu Mingcheng immediately turned the handle to reel in two loops of line, pulling the fish back a bit. But the fishs burst phase wasnt over yet, and in the next moment, it turned and darted to the other side. Chu Mingcheng repeated his technique, gripping the fishing rod with both hands to wrestle with the fish. However, with a swoosh sound, the tip of the rod snapped back fiercely, and he staggered, then a wry smile appeared on his facethe line had broken. He felt so heartbroken it was suffocatingthe big fish was gone! Sigh~ After sighing, Chu Mingcheng checked where the line had broken. It was the leader that had snapped, probably because it had hit some obstacle underwater, most likely the reef. Chu Mingcheng was not surprised by this; in such rocky areas, one would need to pull the fish to the surface to avoid snags, but unfortunately, he hadnt managed to pull it up. Fortunately, his target fish was the Black Sea Bream, which he estimated to be no more than two or three pounds in this area, so it didnt require much tiring out. One afternoon, during the rising tide, he caught a lot of Black Sea Bream, but as it reached a calm period, Chu Mingcheng found that Black Sea Bream stopped biting, giving way to other fish species. For instance, small mullet, small sea bass, and some other miscellaneous fish showed up, with even the Red Armor joining the commotion. As the tide ebbed to about a third, Black Sea Bream started biting again and continued until the tide was completely out. By now the sun had already moved to the west, and seeing that it was four in the afternoon, Chu Mingcheng quickly made a call to Zhang Wei, asking him to bring Chen Yang over to his house for dinner that evening. After hanging up the phone, he started to pack up the rod to head back. Though he had a fair catch through the afternoon, the fishing line had broken five times and snagged three. He ran out of sinkers and ended up tying small stones as makeshift weights, at least that wouldnt hurt as much when lost. It seemed he would have to search online later for how to avoid snagging while bottom fishing. After packing up the rod, he checked the catch in his fishing box. There were seven Black Sea Bream, each weighing over one pound, with the largest at three pounds. There were two sea bass, both over two pounds. A large Red Armor, weighing around eight taels, was put in a bag to prevent it from injuring the other fish. Of course, he had caught more than these, but all fish under one pound, including two mullet and sea bass just over a pound, were released. Chu Mingcheng actually thought that domestic regulations should follow those abroad, where fish under a certain size must be released, or else a heavy fine would be imposed. Perhaps in a few decades, the coastal resources could recover somewhat, allowing those without money to go out to sea to experience the pleasure of catching big fish. After packing all his gear, Chu Mingcheng drove to the dock, carrying his fishing box and electronic scale to a spot and called out, Fresh Black Sea Bream and sea bass I caught this afternoon, anyone interested? People had already taken notice when he arrived with the fish box, and his call quickly drew a crowd around him. In almost no time, the catch in the fishing box was sold out. Black Sea Bream, US$ 50 per pound, seven fish totaling fourteen pounds and seven taels, sold for $735. Two sea bass, weighing over four pounds and six taels, sold at forty yuan per pound, for a total of $184. The Red Armor, less expensive, was taken by the person who bought two sea bass for twenty yuan. Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Night Fishing By The Stream, Actually Caught A Barrage Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Night Fishing By The Stream, Actually Caught A Barrage By the time he finished selling, it was already late. Chu Mingcheng hurried home to feed Xiao Mi, who had, besides cat food, a steamed mackerel that was ready for dinner. Chu Mingcheng carefully stripped the fish flesh, cut off and discarded the small bones on the spine, and then cut the remaining spine into sections to feed to Xiao Mi along with the fish flesh and head. Xiao Mi ate voraciously. Perhaps because it grew up outdoors, it wasnt picky like some other pets. After petting twice, Chu Mingcheng gently touched its belly and felt that it seemed to be getting bigger. This worried him a bit, so he decided not to go fishing tomorrow and instead take Xiao Mi to the hospital for a checkup. When he drove back to town and just got home, he saw Mr. Chu, with a bang, chop the neck of a soft-shelled turtle. Chu Mingcheng grinned. That was indeed fast, fierce, and accurate. An Xiuwen was helping out, processing a black chicken. Seeing him return, she asked, Where are Ah Wei and Ah Yang? They finish work at five, theyll get here around half past. Chu Mingcheng had also felt a bit tired from fishing all afternoon, especially his hands. He felt that his biceps were getting more defined lately, and even a four-pack was beginning to show on his abdomen. Since there was still some time before dinner, Chu Mingcheng lay on the sofa and started looking up issues about getting snagged while fishing in the rocky areas on his phone. He hadnt expected to experience so many snags and getting stuck on the bottom today. The financial loss didnt matter much, but it was a real shame to have lost that big fish. The first thing he found was the inverted hook technique, which meant changing the hook to an inverted one. There was also the Awa-shima method, which had detailed explanations in the videos. The key was still to find the bottom, and he could buy a few bottom-searching sinkers specifically designed for the task. Having found a solution, Chu Mingcheng noted down the details of these two fishing methods on his phone, especially the items he needed to buy. He just didnt understand why, in the videos, others also frequently got snagged while rock fishing but never seemed to get stuck on the bottom. Were those parts edited out? By the time he had finished researching, Mr. Chus Farewell My Concubine dish was also ready, coincidentally just as Zhang Wei and Chen Yang arrived. Uncle Chu, Aunt An, were here! It smells so good. Uncle Chus cooking skills are still so amazing, the smell alone is making my mouth water. Zhang Wei, being a bit more exuberant, talked nonstop as soon as he entered. Chen Yang, more composed, simply greeted everyone quietly. Youve arrived just in time, I was about to ask Acheng here to check when youd be here. All the dishes are ready, go wash your hands and lets eat, said An Xiuwen, welcoming them as they arrived. Mr. Chu simply nodded with a smile. Alrighty~ Zhang Wei wasnt the least bit shy and went straight for the food after washing his hands, but he served rice for everyone else as well. Chen Yang helped carry the dishes. They used to divide tasks like this often and were used to it by now. Chu Mingcheng wasnt idle either; he had chopsticks to distribute. During the dinner, a three-pound soft-shelled turtle and a three-pound black chicken were devoured completely, leaving hardly any soup behind. Ever since Chu Mingchengs constitution had gradually improved, his appetite had increased a lot, and he could almost keep up with the big eaters. After eating, the three men walked slowly around the downstairs community area to aid digestion. Zhang Wei rubbed his belly, let out a satisfied burp, So satisfying. Uncle Chus cooking is still unbeatable. The taste of the wild soft-shelled turtle is truly awesome. Didnt you say you were going to fish for soft-shelled turtles? How about we head to Yanmen Islands reservoir on the mountain now? Chu Mingcheng also wasnt ready to stop, as wild soft-shelled turtles were good for nourishing yin and reinforcing the kidneysit wouldnt hurt to eat more. Speaking of fishing for soft-shelled turtles, Chen Yang suddenly remembered something, Speaking of fishing, one of my clients gave me a secret fishing spot. He himself went night fishing there the day before yesterday and filled his keepnet in just three hours. How about we check it out tonight? Filled the keepnet? Chu Mingcheng and Zhang Wei, the two fishing enthusiasts, were immediately interested. Fishing for soft-shelled turtles in the reservoir could wait; they could first check out that secret spot tonight. Zhang Wei hurriedly said, Then what are we waiting for, lets get going, I have a fish keeper in my car, lets see if your client has been bullshitting or if there really will be a big catch. So the three of them scurried off in the car to the so-called secret fishing spot. It was only after they arrived that they realized it was a small river, filled with aquatic plants and looking not too dirty. But whether they could actually land a massive haul here, Zhang Wei and Chu Mingcheng were both quite skeptical. Since they were there already, naturally, they had to give it a try. Chen Yang usually didnt fish, but since both his buddies were doing it tonight, he would have been bored alone, so he borrowed a hand rod from Chu Mingcheng to play around with. Bait, groundbait, and even mineral water were all available in the car; he just had to mix them himself. The other two felt that there might be black fish in the little river, so they started lure fishing. As Zhang Wei was reeling in, his fishing rod was the first to dip, and he laughed, Ah Yang, your client wasnt lying. There are lots of fish here. I got a bite on my first cast with the lure, and in all my time of fishing, Ive never come across such good fortune Before he could finish, a beverage bottle appeared in everyones sight and started papapa slapping his face. Chen Yang and Chu Mingcheng fell silent for a moment and then burst into laughter. Hahaha, even a beverage bottle is a catch. Congratulations, congratulations! Dont panic, maybe Ill get a beverage too Chu Mingchengs playful words were also cut short, as he felt his rod dip as well, but without the sensation of a fish struggling, which gave him a bad feeling. Indeed, as he reeled in the line, another beverage bottle appeared in everyones sight. Chu Mingchengs mood for enjoyment instantly turned to resignation, Another beverage bottle. People these days just litter too much. Fishing, well, isnt it just that you dont catch fish, but everything else? Zhang Wei chuckled as he pulled up the beverage bottle and put it into the fish keeper, Bring yours over too, well put it in the keeper and take it away later. Okay. Chu Mingcheng nodded and placed the beverage bottle into the keeper. On Chen Yangs end, the effect of the groundbait wasnt apparent yet, but since he was just tagging along, he baited the hook and let it down into the water. And in less than half a minute, the float started to move. Haha, looks like Im the first to catch a fish tonight. With no fishing experience, he didnt wait for the float to fully submerge before lifting his rod, luckily managing to haul up a fish by accident. Seeing the small whitebait not even two fingers wide, Zhang Wei teased, Wow, what a huge fish! No matter how small, its still a fish. If its too tiny, it can be a little snack for Achengs houses cat. Chen Yang didnt mind the size of the fish and happily unhooked it, took the tackle box from Chu Mingchengs car, and tossed it inside. Just then, Chu Mingcheng pulled up another beverage bottle, Whats up with this river, why are there so many bottles? I have no idea! Zhang Wei shook his head, also retrieving a mineral water bottle. The two looked at each other, feeling something off about this fishing spot, so they moved away separately to try different spots, leaving Chen Yang alone to fish for his small whitebait. Two hours later, Chu Mingcheng and Zhang Wei were certain that Chen Yangs client hadnt liedthey had indeed filled the fish keeper. Zhang Wei looked at the keeper full of bottles speechlessly and said, How are we going to take these away? Chen Yang sighed and said, Ill drive and find a garbage collector to come over! Chu Mingcheng, however, was in good spirits, taking out his phone to snap pictures of the evenings haul. Filling a fish keeper with bottles, this kind of experience is also bound to be unforgettable, worth recording. Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Getting the Fishing Rod, Planning to Charter a Boat Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Getting the Fishing Rod, Planning to Charter a Boat What! Pregnant? Chu Mingchengs face was full of shock when he learned from the vet why little Mimis belly was so big. Who had harmed my little Mimi? Yes, and she has been pregnant for more than a month now. The mother cat is very healthy and will give birth between eighteen and twenty-three days. If she gives birth before eighteen days, that would be preterm. Over a month already? Well, thats a relief, at least it didnt happen after she became my cat. This means little Mimi was already pregnant when she met me; I simply took over the responsibility. Perhaps she stole the fish because there were babies in her belly and she needed more food? Leaving the pet hospital, Chu Mingcheng looked at little Mimi lying lazily on the passenger seat with a complicated expression. Having one cat was okay, but more than that, he worried he wouldnt be able to take care of them all. After all, he often went fishing and didnt even have time to find a girlfriend, let alone care for kittens. Luckily, there were only three kittens in little Mimis belly, which wasnt too many; she could take care of them herself when they were born. If there had been five, six, seven, or eight kittens, then that would have been a real hassle, and he definitely would have had to give some away once they grew a bit. On the way back, Chu Mingcheng stopped to buy a wearable action camera, spending 3,000 yuan. He tested the recording quality and felt it was okay, so he decided to start using it. After getting home and barely starting to eat lunch, the owner of the fishing gear store called to say that the two sea rods had arrived. Hearing that the sea rods had arrived, Chu Mingcheng hurriedly finished his meal in a few bites, locked up his house, and immediately drove to the fishing gear store. The owner of the fishing gear shop smiled and brought out the rods he had ordered when he saw Chu Mingcheng come in. The two rods were not very long, one was two meters and the other was two meters and seventy centimeters. The sea rods he bought were actually boat rods, intended primarily for use on sea fishing trips. The five-thousand-yuan rod was a thirty-number boat rod, two meters long. The ten-thousand-yuan rod was an eighty-number boat rod. This type of stiff rod was used to catch big fish and was generally not needed for everyday use. In the future, when going to the Far Sea and running into big catches like red snappers, it might be necessary to buy an electric reel to do some night fishing for deep sea fish as well. Considering that, a dedicated sea fishing enthusiasts gear could add up to the price of a decent car. And Chu Mingcheng was resolutely walking down that path. Both boat rods were fine, and after he paid the ten-thousand-yuan balance, the fishing gear shop owner brought out a large bag of fishing line with a smile. I got you these two rods and also brought you some good stuff to check out. Chu Mingcheng curiously took out a box of fishing line and noticed that it was a brand called Sufix832. Is there something special about this fishing line? The fishing gear shop owner explained, Let me start with the downsides of this line. It tends to absorb water and expand, the color fades quickly, its less smooth compared to YGK, and its casting performance is also not as good as YGK. After mentioning four drawbacks, the owner saw Chu Mingchengs silent reaction and felt a bit disinterested, but continued nonetheless. But its knot strength is the best in its price range and diameter, and its abrasion resistance is also the best in its price range and diameter. Plus, its very cost-effective, 300 yards of 832 for less than two hundred. This 6LB is equivalent to YGKs 0.8 diameter, and with the M-tuned lure rod you bought from me, you can easily handle fish over ten pounds, like the Qiao Zui. 20LB is equivalent to YGKs 2.0 diameter, and with your MH lure rod, you can catch wild fish over thirty pounds, and if your technique is good, even sixty pounds isnt out of the question. Chu Mingcheng was noncommittal about the fishing gear shop owners statements. Before, he had, in fact, handled a thirteen-pound green spot with an MH-strength lure rod. Sea fish cannot be compared with freshwater fish; the strength of this thirteen-pound grouper in the water is probably much more powerful than that of three Qiao Zui of the same weight combined. This green spot also made him realize that with good fish-playing techniques, its entirely possible to catch big fish with light rods and fine lines. However, his two lure rods were mainly designed for casting from the shore, and the 2.4-meter boat rod was a bit too long for boat fishing; it was not quite so handy. So he said to the shop owner, Ill take two spools of this fishing line to try first, and also give me an iron plate rod. Alright~ The fishing gear shop owner, having achieved his goal, agreed and took out several iron plate rod models suitable for Chu Mingcheng and introduced them one by one. In the end, he spent five hundred and bought a straight-handle iron plate rod, 2.03 meters long, with FF action, ML stiffness, and weighing only 103.5 grams, even lighter than the other two lure rods. This was a versatile straight-handle rod that could handle the vast majority of fish during a sea fishing trip, even relatively easily dealing with larger fish. Of course, while thats the saying, the main target fish for this iron plate rod were sea bass and some sea bream, and maybe mackerel or mackerel if luck was on his side. Now Chu Mingcheng was not just a game character who only knew how to use basic attacks. If he encountered a big fish, he wouldnt be as nervous as at the beginning, afraid that the rod would explode. If possible, play the fish; if not, then it wouldnt be a big deal to cut the line if the rod blew or the hook was lost. Add a spinning reel and fishing line and the whole set would cost another thousand yuan. It was only because he was making money quickly now that he could afford it. With the fishing rod in hand, of course, he wanted to try out the feel. But todays rods were all for boat fishing, so he needed to take a boat out to sea. Joining a shared boat was a good idea, but if possible, he still wanted to ask Zhang Wei and Chen Yang if they wanted to come. If they were to come, they could directly charter a small boat to go out to sea. Hey, Ah Wei, my boat fishing rod has arrived. Im planning to go out to sea to test the rod. Do you want to come along? Damn, arent you afraid of getting blown up like last night? But of course, Im in for sea fishing. When do you plan to go out to sea? Any fishing man cannot resist the temptation of sea fishing, and Zhang Wei didnt even consider whether he had a boat fishing rod or not; he just agreed. Sea fishing is said to be over when the green spot appears in Huaxia. As for timing, Ill go ask about the chartering situation and get back to you. Oh, and ask Ah Yang if he wants to come, too. Ill lend him a rod. Okay, Ill ask him for you, and you can send me a message once youve got the timing down. After hanging up, Chu Mingcheng thought about the chartering situation. There wasnt a sea fishing charter service on Yanmen Island; he would have to go to the docks in Wen City, which was a bit of a hassle. Just then, as he was driving past a yard, he noticed two people mending nets inside, and his eyes lit up. Thats Zhao Jun and his wife; maybe he could solve the chartering issue! He parked his car by the side of the road and then walked into the yard. Zhao Jun felt someone approaching, looked up, and saw Chu Mingcheng, looking somewhat surprised: Ah Cheng? Sister-in-law, Chu Mingcheng greeted Zhao Juns wife first, then said to him, Brother Zhao Jun, you didnt go out to sea today? With the neap tide coming in, I just pulled in the nets to mend and dry them with your sister-in-law, Zhao Jun said with a smile, lifting the fishing net in his hand. Chu Mingcheng suddenly understood, calculating the dates, the neap tide did indeed start today. But this fitted his plans perfectly. With no plans to go out to sea due to the neap tide, it would be easier for him to charter the boat. Otherwise, he would have felt awkward to even ask. Brother Zhao Jun, does that mean your boat is just sitting idle? The boat is indeed free. Why, you want to use it? Yeah, Im thinking of chartering your boat, from two oclock this afternoon to ten oclock at night, how about 1,500 yuan? Were not going far, just to that abandoned pier near the Yanmen Island Bridge. But come evening, Ill have two more friends joining. Chu Mingcheng had a general idea of the chartering prices; for four hours of sea fishing, it usually costs about eight hundred yuan per person, and the boats are quite small, with only four spaces available. However, the boat owner is responsible for finding the fishing spots. Underneath the Yanmen Island Bridge is a great spot, and the proximity made the deal of 1,500 yuan quite beneficial for Zhao Jun. Of course, it was a good deal for Chu Mingcheng too, given the length of time involved. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Testing the Waters with an Iron Rod Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Testing the Waters with an Iron Rod Tsk, whats money between us? If you ever want to go fishing at sea, just tell me, and Ill take you, Brother Zhao Jun immediately refused, feeling too embarrassed to take money for such a short trip. However, he failed to notice that his wifes expression seemed a bit off. Chu Mingcheng, of course, took note of this. Even if the bridge was close by, fuel was still needed, and he would have to leave his work to go, which could cause delays. But if money was offered, the nature of the event changed, turning Zhao Juns boating into a paying job, so his wife wouldnt have any reason to complain about the delay in household chores. And it would also set a precedent for future occasions, making things easier for everyone. If no money was taken, Chu Mingcheng would feel too embarrassed to ask him for another favor in the future. Brother Zhao Jun, you must take the money. I definitely plan to go fishing more than once or twice, and if you dont take it, next time Ill have to find someone else. Any other person would take the money anyway, so it wouldnt be fair to you, Chu Mingcheng insisted. After a moment of silence, Zhao Jun broke into an embarrassed smile, Alright, well do it your way, but what about dinner? Are you going to eat on the boat, or come back to shore? If we decide to cook on the boat, Ill bring the stove. We can make porridge or noodles there. Sure thing, then Ill trouble you with that, Brother Zhao Jun. Tonight well eat the fish we catch ourselves, and Ill have a friend bring some cooked food over, Chu Mingcheng replied. There was still some time left before 2 p.m., but he needed to make some preparations. Todays fishing target was sea bass which he intended to catch with a jigging rod, but he still needed to prepare some alternative baits just in case. Sea bass can normally be caught with Sand Worm, loaches, or even pig liver. Of course, shrimp could also be used, which work well but cost a bit more. The store owner had prepared some Sand Worm and small loaches since many people come to Yanmen Island to catch sea bream, stone fish, and sea bass, so Chu Mingcheng didnt need to go anywhere else to buy them. Small loaches cost ten yuan for a bottle of about a hundred, which was more than enough. Although theres no explicit legal prohibition against using live loaches for fishing in many places, one could still face administrative penalties if caught. Fishing with live loaches is highly efficient and falls under the category of commercial fishing. This was why Chu Mingcheng bought the loaches only after hiring Zhao Juns boat, as he had a valid fishing license. Using live loaches onboard could be considered taking advantage of a loophole. Furthermore, local regulations werent stringent at the moment, and there were no penalties for selling fish caught using live loaches or shrimp. If he were to go fishing elsewhere in the future, he would have to be more cautious. The tackle shop owner only dared to sell them because of this specific context, and Chu Mingcheng felt confident buying them. However, Chu Mingcheng might not even need to use the live loaches. Because fish particularly like to gather around bridge piers, which is a natural fish-gathering area. After buying everything, Chu Mingcheng moved the fishing rods from his car when he got home, keeping only two tackle boxes in the vehicle. With an increasing number of rods, he barely had room for them in the car, so he decided to clear out an area in the storage room on the first floor to store his fishing rods. But when Chu Mingcheng brought all the rods inside, he realized a serious problem: where was the rod rack? Nevermind, better just put them aside for now. The storage room wasnt organized yet, and there was nowhere to properly set up the rack. Today, for the boat fishing trip, Chu Mingcheng decided to bring three rods: the newly purchased jigging rod, a number 30 boat fishing rod, and an MH power spinning rod for lure fishing. This spinning rod was for Chen Yang to use; whether he would catch any fish was up to his luck. Once ready, Chu Mingcheng fed his cat, Xiao Mi, before leaving the house. He had initially wanted to bring it along, but since it was pregnant, it needed to stay quietly at home. Before setting off to Zhao Juns place, Chu Mingcheng put on his head-mounted camera and started filming. He was already going out to sea with multiple fishing rods at home, so it was about time to start releasing videos. Making and releasing videos was not only a source of website traffic for him but, more importantly, he found that the fishmongers purchasing prices were too low. By filming videos, he might accumulate some direct customers, making it easier to sell fish in the future. He wouldnt always stay at Yanmen Island, where the fish resources were limited. In the future, he aimed to venture out to the Far Sea. With the convenience of modern express delivery, while live fish are hard to ship, fresh, chilled fish can still be sent within a short time frame. Therefore, developing some customers in advance was crucial; he could just add them to a group chat. Upon arriving at Zhao Juns place, he was already prepared. Chu Mingcheng saw that he was also carrying a fishing rod and was a bit surprised, Brother Zhao Jun, you know how to fish too! Zhao Jun laughed, I got the itch the day before yesterday after seeing you catch a green spot, so I went and bought a boat fishing rod. Now, I can go fishing even when I dont cast the net. Thats great, fishing is not only recreational but can also be a profession, adding some income and reducing pressure is good. But Brother Zhao Jun, dont get too caught up in it. Serious sea fishing involves a lot of expensive equipment, which is not something that everyone can afford. Chu Mingcheng felt it was good to find time for fishing, especially since Zhao Jun was a fisherman already, and could earn extra income when the small tide made net fishing impossible. Im aware of that, this whole set cost me just three hundred, and I dont plan to buy anymore, Zhao Jun said with a smile. He had two kids, the younger one in kindergarten and the older in primary school, not to mention the annual expenses werent small. Under such pressure, how could he afford to be a hobbyist? Did he still want to take care of his wife and children? Chu Mingcheng nodded, greeted his sister-in-law, and then the two headed to the pier. Today, nobody was heading out to sea, and the fishing boats were densely gathered at the pier, with not many people around. They moved the fishing box, as well as the stove and other equipment needed to cook to the boat, and then set off for the abandoned pier first. Chu Mingcheng sent a message to Zhang Wei, asking him to buy some ready-made food and drinks after work and come directly to the pier, and to call him when they arrived. The abandoned pier near the bridge was close, and it took the boat just about fifteen minutes to reach it. There were no Fishing Men around the pier, and this was the advantage of hiring Zhao Juns boat for the trip. Fishing Men who charter boats for sea fishing wouldnt come here, and those without boats couldnt possibly fish near the pier. The fishermen on Yanmen Island were accustomed to catching fish, and mostly older, so they wouldnt bother to take a boat out fishing during their downtime. There were steel bars protruding from the pier, Zhao Jun tied a rope around them, and the boat was secured. Chu Mingcheng went to the stern, which was to the right of the pier, and left the space on the left for Zhao Jun. He picked up the iron rod and hung a minnow to test the waters. When fishing under the pier, there was no need to cast the rod, just lift the rod slightly, and the inertia would swing the minnow near the pier. The fish were swimming around the few piers nearby, as well as under the large bridge not far away; casting farther out was foolish! As the minnow sank, Chu Mingcheng silently counted to ten in his head, opening the spool to let out line while he counted. Sea bass were surface feeders, so the minnow didnt need to sink too deep. When the time was right, Chu Mingcheng gently lifted the rod to make the minnow hop a little. The jerking motion of the rod was slower, lifting it up while the right hand reeled in the line, and stopping reeling when the rod tip was lowered, allowing the rising minnow to halt and start sinking again.Update by n0vgo. co If the sinking process abruptly stopped, it meant a fish had taken a bite; the fish liked to strike just as it descended. As long as one found where the fish were, lure fishing wouldnt always come up empty. Chu Mingcheng did this repeatedly, not reeling the minnow all the way up but letting it sink again when it was about half a meter from the surface, then beginning the stop-and-go process anew. On the third attempt, during the instant the minnow descended, a fish finally struck. The iron rod was thin, bending significantly the moment the fish bit. Chu Mingcheng set the hook and then lifted the rod to reel in the line; the fish wasnt big, so it was relatively easy to pull in. In a short while, a sea bass weighing about two pounds was brought to the surface. Seeing that the minnow had been completely swallowed, he reached out with his cut-resistant gloves and grabbed the line, pulling the fish aboard. He lifted the fish directly like this based on the situation; the minnow wasnt always swallowed whole. Sometimes it just hooked at the edge of the fishs mouth, or even just the nose or the backusing a landing net was a better choice under such circumstances, to avoid stimulating the fish into struggling and potentially losing the catch. Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Teaching Fishing Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Teaching Fishing Ah Cheng, when it comes to fishing, youre the best. Youve already caught a sea bass so quickly, this one probably weighs about eighty catties, Zhao Jun said, growing eager to fish himself. He was a tender newcomer, who had just started to tie his line and hook while Chu Mingcheng was already fishing, his movements awkward and slow. Its not that Im good at fishing; its just that the fish under the pier are abundant. Anyone could make a catch here. Chu Mingcheng smiled, tossing the minnow near the pier to continue fishing. Although he had just caught a sea bass, it didnt mean he understood the situation at the bottom. This time, he let the minnow sink for twenty seconds, reaching a deeper location. Sea bass may like to swim near the surface, but there is a common situation in the fishing world: the bigger fish of the same species usually swim in deeper waters. If there are bigger fish in the deeper spots and the fish are biting well, he would definitely choose to fish in the middle to lower layers. The process was the same as before, but his luck wasnt as good. Just as the minnow ascended to the surface and Chu Mingcheng prepared to let it dive again, a sea bass intercepted it. This one was even smaller than the previous catch, just over half a catty. He released such small fish back into the water. Zhao Jun was astonished to see this: Ah Cheng, why did you release the fish? I dont have any financial pressures in life. The fish is too small. Its better to let it grow. Brother Zhao Jun, just focus on your own fishing; dont worry about me. Chu Mingcheng had decided to do this on his own, and it was not right to impose his choice on others. Zhao Jun had the pressure of supporting a family, and it was understandable for him to keep whatever he caught. Now seeing Chu Mingcheng release the small fish, if Zhao Jun caught excessively small fish and decided to release them, that would be great, but no one else had the right to demand what he should do. The fishing conditions under the pier were indeed good. They couldnt see it, but if they were to dive, they would see groups of fish swimming back and forth beneath the abandoned pier and the bridge. In deeper locations, there were many big fish schooling together. Fishermen rarely caught big fish; it seemed they all hid over here. Zhao Jun baited his hook with a red shrimp he had previously caught and kept in his home freezer. Not long after casting, he hooked a three-catty sea bass. With a catch worth a hundred and twenty, Zhao Jun couldnt help but grin from ear to ear. Chu Mingcheng was still testing the fishing conditions in deeper waters. After five or six minutes, his rod suddenly felt a tremendous pull, jerking his hand with its strength. This pulling force! Chu Mingcheng swiftly lifted his rod, and the newly bought iron-board rod instantly bent into a full moon, looking as if it could break at any moment. The rod trembled continuously, and the fishing line was pulled from the reel, emitting a ziiiing sound. Chu Mingcheng was in no rush to reel in the line, holding the rod and watching the handle turn slowly. The drag had been set to maximum, with each second swiftly depleting the fishs energy. He also adjusted his position to capture a close-up shot of the line being pulled out with his head-mounted camera. After three or four minutes, when the fishing line stopped pulling, Chu Mingcheng started to reel in the line and lift the rod. The fish was clearly exhausted. He had deliberately let it run initially, and the fish hadnt gone far, just about thirty meters. Now that the fish started to rest, not reeling it in would mean it could actually escape. However, as soon as he began to reel in the line, the fish, agitated, started to run even faster and fiercely. Chu Mingcheng could previously control the fish with one hand on the rod, but now one hand was insufficient; he needed both hands to maintain control. The iron-board rod was strung with the fishing line recommended by the shop owner, an 832 with a diameter of 0.8. Whether it was as good as the shop owner had claimed would become clear after todays catch. The fish under the water was strong, though it couldnt compare with the green spot, or the big fish that had snapped the line last time while rock fishing, but currently it was the third strongest in terms of pulling power for sea fishing. The solid rod couldnt directly pull the fish back but had to exhaust its energy by playing it. After seven or eight minutes, the fish at the bottom was finally pulled to the surface, lying on its side and resting, completely out of energy. A large sea bass, over half a meter long. Chu Mingcheng pulled it to the side of the boat and then used a fish grip to clamp its lower lip and lift it. Plop plop~ As the sea bass was lifted, its tail thrashed wildly, splashing water all over him, but this was normal for a fishing man like Chu Mingcheng, and he didnt mind. He checked the weight shown on the fish grip, a little over three kilograms, not bad, a sea bass weighing more than six Jin could sell for over two hundred RMB. The sea bass caught after autumn was the best to fish for, also when they were at their fattest and most delicious. If he could catch six or seven more of this size, he would break even. The water conditions were now mostly understood, and there was no need to use live bait since minnows could be caught naturally. In just half an hour, Chu Mingcheng caught another two sea bass, one three Jin and the other seven Jin. The fish were biting well for him, but Zhao Jun was having some trouble. He had lost his hook three consecutive times, frantically sweating profusely. Brother Zhao Jun, is there some problem on your end? Chu Mingcheng had actually noticed his hook coming off early on. The first time he thought it was just a beginners lack of experience, and losing the hook is quite normal for novice fishermen, so he hadnt paid it much attention. For the next two times, he was busy playing the seven Jin sea bass and didnt have time to care for it. There is a bit of a problem; maybe my hook is too small. The fish bites, and I dont get to reel in much before the hook comes out, Zhao Jun hurried to reel in his line and showed Chu Mingcheng the hook when he came over. Chu Mingcheng looked at the hook; it was a size five thousand again, perfectly fine for fishing bass, so it must be a technical issue. So he took the fishing rod and said, Let me try fishing for a bit. Zhao Jun stood aside, watching his technique closely. Brother Zhao Jun, your fishing rod is quite good, you could fish deeper. Fishing too shallow might attract only small fish that arent good at taking the bait. Zhao Jun tied a small sinker to the end of the main line. Chu Mingcheng opened the north line and observed the speed at which the fishing line was unspooling, getting a rough idea in his mind. The descent was a bit faster than with the minnow. He silently counted to ten in his head before shutting off the spool and stopping the line from unspooling further. After a short wait, Chu Mingchengs rod dipped, and he immediately lifted it up sharply, the tip of the rod making a whoosh sound as the line tightened. Zhao Jun saw this and his eyes lit up, Ah Cheng, is there some trick to that move? Thats called setting the hook. Sea fish strike hard and usually swallow the hook whole. But at that moment, the hook actually isnt buried deep. We lift the rod to drive the hook deeper so that its harder for the fish to spit it out through coughing gills. Of course, when were fishing we must always put pressure on the fish. When it makes its first burst of speed trying to escape, we dont need to fight it too hard. Just pulling and tugging with the rod to exhaust its strength is enough. When you feel the fish stop and rest through the rod, thats when you lift the rod to bring the fish closer and reel in the line. Actually, the 16-character strategic principle used in ancient warfare can also apply to fishing, of course referring to when weve caught big fish. For small fish, theres no need for that, just pull them up directly. Chu Mingcheng explained, all while his hands never stopped. The fish that had taken the bait wasnt small, and felt heavy to reel in. He was using Zhao Juns rod, not his own, so he couldnt fully let loose and had to slowly play the fish to avoid any issues with the rod. As a result, it took more than ten minutes to pull the fish to the surface. The moment he saw it, Chu Mingcheng was a bit surprised; he hadnt expected there to be such a large sea bream in these waters. Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: 50 Song Diao Side Stove Chapter 50: 50 Song Diao Side Stove ` The sea breams body was like it had been smeared with oil, all pitch black, with a length of about seventy centimeters. The body length of the sea bream wasnt as slender as that of the sea bass, so this particular sea bream made quite the impression, like a small door plank. What a huge ironing lady, its a pity this fish isnt priced very high. Zhao Jun was both surprised and regretful when he saw the fish, This ironing lady only costs fifteen yuan per jin, the price could be slightly higher during the fishing ban period, but it wont get much higher than that. The fish referred to as ironing lady are actually quite numerous, but those that resemble sea bream generally refer to Song Diao. Chu Mingcheng didnt care at all whether the Song Diao was expensive or not, what interested him more was knocking on the fish scales, which emitted a pop pop pop sound, indicating just how hard the scales were. Interesting, I havent had this fish before, Brother Zhao Jun, lets have this one tonight! Zhao Jun was taken aback, This fish must weigh at least twelve or thirteen jin, even with your friend coming, can you really eat all of it? The same length of sea bass probably weighs around seven or eight jin, but the Song Diao, like a door plank, has a broad and thick back, so its not surprising its four or five jin heavier than the sea bass. We can eat it, we dont need to fuss tonight, well just have hot pot. Its best if its enough, if not, well add some glass noodles. Previously Chu Mingcheng still intended to cook seafood porridge in the evening, but after catching the Song Diao, he immediately changed his mind. Cheap as the Song Diao may be, its flesh is actually delicious. Moreover, this one is a live fish, not frozen or cold-stored, so the taste is definitely fresher and sweeter. Zhao Jun saw his insistence and naturally had no objections; after all, it was his catch, he could deal with it however he wanted. With Chu Mingchengs hands-on teaching, Zhao Jun learned how to deal with stab fish, and afterwards, he hardly lost any bait from his hook. And with the reminder, he also started catching large fish in the middle layer. From two oclock in the afternoon until five thirty in the evening, he caught a total of five sea bass, the smallest weighing about a jin and a half, the largest four jin. He also caught three black sea bream, each weighing over two jin. The most abundant catch was stone fish, which could be found almost everywhere, its a pity that they were generally only two to three taels each, same price as the sea bass. Even so, a harvest of around seven to eight hundred yuan in a little over three hours made Zhao Jun very satisfied. But now this was extra income, and they could continue fishing in the evening. Along with the boat fee, he might not make this amount in a day of net fishing. Naturally, Chu Mingcheng caught even more than him, eleven sea bass, apart from the first one that was a bit smaller, the rest were all over three jin, with the largest being seven jin. And the other types of fish, besides black sea bream and stone fish, he also caught two relatively rare stone bream, each weighing three jin. One jin of this fish could sell for over one hundred and fifty yuan, catching them around Yanmen Island really was a matter of good fortune, indeed the bridge columns are treasure fishing spots. After fishing all afternoon, Chu Mingchengs wrist also felt a bit sore. Looking at the time, he guessed Zhang Wei and Chen Yang would arrive in another twenty or thirty minutes, so he put away his fishing rod, ready to prepare the fish for dinner. He first made a call to Zhang Wei to find out when they would arrive, and upon learning they were on their way, he instructed them to buy some small green peppers and other ingredients, as they couldnt do without dipping sauces for the hot pot that evening. After making the call, he then said to Zhao Jun, Brother Zhao Jun, can you take the boat to the dock? My friends will be arriving soon. Ill get the fish ready first, well eat and rest a bit, and then continue in the evening. Alright. Zhao Jun nodded, also packing up his fishing rod, then untied the rope from the bridge column and headed back. Of course, the bridge column they were at now was not the same one they started from. In the afternoon, they had moved three times in total, basically shifting locations whenever there was no more activity in the water, planning to fish under the bridge columns at the bottom of the big bridge in the evening. With the bridge being so long, there were many columns underneath, and certainly plenty of fish. ` Chu Mingcheng pulled the Song Diao out of his tackle box, which had quite a few ice cubes in it, as he had intended to use them for some of the fish that couldnt be kept alive. It turned out he could keep the caught fish temporarily in the fish hold of the boat, so he tied the tails of his fish with green nylon ropes, and Zhao Jun used red nylon ropes so that they wouldnt get mixed up. The Song Diao that was meant for dinner was iced in Chu Mingchengs tackle box so that it would be asleep, making it easier to handle when it was time to eat it later. After tapping the Song Diao with his finger again, he thought about it and decided to pick up the manual scaler, guessing that the electric one probably couldnt handle the scales of this fish. Sure enough, as soon as he got to work, the hard scales not only flew everywhere but were also particularly tough to scrape off. After dealing with one fish, Chu Mingchengs arm was sore, which felt more strenuous than catching a fifty-pound sea bass. Fortunately, once the scales were off, the rest was easy; he used scissors to open up the belly. Inside the fishs innards, plenty of white fat could be seen, indicating that the fish was well-fed. Additionally, its stomach was bulging and emitted a foul smell. Chu Mingcheng, disgusted, held his breath as he cleaned out the Song Diaos guts and set them aside to be thrown back into the sea later that night as bait to attract other fish. He rinsed the fish clean of blood with the purified water he brought along, and then picked up the knife Zhao Jun had given him to chop off the fishs head. Perhaps due to the frequency of fish preparation in his household, the knife he brought was very sharp; Chu Mingcheng easily severed the head and chopped through the bones with a little effort. This knife was so useful, it didnt look like a kitchen knife, but more like a dagger specifically designed for cutting sashimi. Chu Mingcheng immediately took a liking to it. Brother Zhao Jun, where did you buy this knife, and how much was it? I want to get one too. I bought this knife from a friend, its quite expensive, cost six hundred. Then Brother Zhao Jun, can you help me buy one too? Ill give you the money. Sure, Ill ask my friend to sharpen it for you as well, just as he did mine. Its been a year, and its still as good as new. After sealing the deal on the fish knife, Chu Mingcheng continued to slice off the fish fillets from both sides. The cuts were very clean, without any bits of meat being mashed. If it were the knife from his own home, it would definitely have left mangled bits of flesh, which made him like this knife even more. He chopped the bones into small pieces and cut off the belly part, throwing it into the pot along with the fish head. He added some green onions and ginger and started to simmer the soup. For hotpot, the base is usually chicken soup, but they didnt have that luxury now; making do with fish heads and bones was just as good and even more authentic in taste. He then sliced the remaining fish into individual pieces and arranged them on a plate, just as Zhang Wei and his group arrived at the dock, he had finished slicing. Zhang Wei brought a big bag of things with him and went up to the boat with Chen Yang. Seeing the fish fillets fully arranged on the plate, he raised his eyebrows and said, Wow, what fish is this? I didnt even see you processing it. Its a Song Diao, over ten pounds, the biggest fish I caught this afternoon. You guys are in luck, said Chu Mingcheng, who had recorded the entire process and even taken photos. As soon as the two men came over, he immediately showed off the pictures with pride. After looking at the photo, Zhang Wei voiced his surprise, Wow, we have such big fish here? Zhao Jun laughed and said, Certainly, there are. Remember the meter-long cod you guys encountered when you chartered the boat before? Last time when the mackerel school came to the dock, Ah Cheng also caught a thirteen-pound green spot. And plenty of people onshore have caught big fish too, so its not unusual. When he used nets, he occasionally caught large fish too, just not as visibly and frequently as with fishing. The seafood mainly caught with nets were Changyu, swimming crabs, and small yellow croakers. Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: 51 The Benefits of Getting a Fishing License Chapter 51: 51 The Benefits of Getting a Fishing License Seeing others catch big fish, he too felt an itch to fish, hoping hed also catch a big one, and that was exactly what Zhang Wei was thinking at this moment. Especially those two Stone Bream in the fish hold had really caught his eye, because everyone knew that was the real good stuff, much rarer than sea bass or Black Sea Bream. Chen Yang even reserved those two fish on the spot, insisting he would buy them no matter what. Chu Mingcheng had no objections; if he wanted them, he would sell them to him. Who he sold to didnt matter! Once the two got on board, Zhao Jun moved the boat to the side of a bridge pier they hadnt been to before, secured the boat with a rope, and then the four men started to have their meal around the stove. Chu Mingcheng put some fish slices in a strainer and then blanched them in the boiling soup. Ten seconds later, just as he lifted it, three pairs of chopsticks suddenly appeared above the strainer In just two seconds, the blanched fish inside was all gone, not even a trace of it was left. Zhang Wei dipped his fish slice into the prepared dipping sauce, relishing it as he popped it into his mouth. Not bad, the fish is free of any fishy smell, firm and chewy, delicious. Zhao Jun also nodded in agreement, Dont look down on Song Diao because its cheap and inconspicuous; its taste is really second to none. Plus, pan-fried fillets are also really good. You guys should try it when you have the chance. As for Chen Yang, he had grabbed the most just now, busily eating without wanting to waste time on talking. When it came to eating seafood, he could out-eat anyone present. From time to time, he would buy a slab of Bluefin Tuna to sample, or when feeling good, throw an Emperor Crab into the hot pot. His way of eating was unparalleled, but his love for seafood was indeed genuine. Chu Mingcheng, watching them, didnt know whether to laugh or cry and simply added more fish slices into the pot. Fresh sea fish hotpot was indeed delightful. A fish weighing about twelve or thirteen pounds was polished off by the group, even the cooked food that Zhang Wei and the others had brought was significantly diminished. All the trash was collected into trash bags to be taken ashore later. Zhao Jun patted his belly and let out a satisfied burp, and then remembered the live loaches he had seen Chu Mingcheng getting from the tackle box earlier, and asked, Ah Cheng, are you planning to become a professional angler in the future? Chu Mingcheng nodded, If I can play and make money at the same time, I dont see anything wrong with that profession. In that case, I suggest you buy a small boat and get a fishing license. The live loaches you bought today cannot be used for fishing in many places; you need a fishing license for that. We havent enforced it here yet, but based on this years fishing ban on the Ou River, I expect fishery management here will become stricter over time. Having a fishing license will make fishing and selling fish much easier for you, Zhao Jun continued. Zhao Juns advice made a lot of sense, and Chu Mingcheng had previously thought about earning more money to buy a bigger boat right away. But from the current situation, while he had earned quite a bit, it was mostly invested in fishing rods, and he still only had about fifty or sixty thousand on hand. With that money, he could buy a small boat to operate along the coast and come here to the bridge piers to fish. In fine weather, he might even go fishing near his grandmothers place. But the moment the wind got a bit stronger, a small boat wouldnt be suitable for going out to sea. Moreover, he didnt plan to stay here all the time; he definitely wanted to visit places like the Southern East Sea and Hainan where there are more varieties of fish. Whilst Chu Mingcheng was still hesitating, Zhang Weis eyes lit up when he heard this. Ah Cheng, I think Brother Zhao Juns suggestion makes sense. Its more convenient to have our own boat for going out to sea. If you dont have enough money, Ill contribute too. Im definitely going to join you often at sea, Zhang Wei said. Chen Yang only fished occasionally with the two brothers, but he too did not hesitate to offer, If youre short on cash, Ill lend it to you. Seeing this, Zhao Jun felt envious. He was older than the other three, yet he didnt have such good brothers and friends. With Zhang Wei and Chen Yang saying so, Chu Mingcheng no longer hesitated; he decided to borrow money to buy a boat himself. This was, after all, his hometown, and no matter how long he went out to roam, there would always be a time to return. Buying a boat would definitely not be a waste. It was time to move to another place, and he could let Zhang Wei rent out his boat to make money. The boat rental industry was actually quite profitable, he just needed to help find three or four secret fishing spots. Of course, he could also directly sail to other provinces and apply for a new fishing license valid in the area, which would just take some time and was not troublesome. (Fishing boats have corresponding area restrictions for fishing, and medium to large fishing boats generally can only operate in B or C class fishing zones. Some of the regulations in this book will be omitted later on, as its a hassle to explain and doesnt have much to do with the plot.) Having decided to buy a boat, the four of them began to discuss what kind of boat to purchase. They needed to consider whether they wanted a fishing boat or a pleasure fishing boat, as well as the size of it. Chu Mingcheng didnt plan on net fishing most of the time since he was alone. Occasional net fishing was okay, but doing it every day was too much for him. It was hard work, and nowhere near as leisurely as fishing. If the purpose of buying a fishing boat was to facilitate net fishing but he didnt plan on doing that, then naturally, a pleasure fishing boat would be the first choice. However, no matter how much they discussed, they would have to visit the boatyard to make a decision. Chu Mingcheng had set a budget between one hundred to one hundred and fifty thousand, and as for the boat, anything above 8 meters that was functional would do. They had rested enough, so each person took up their fishing rod, ready to fish at night. Chu Mingcheng looked at his live loaches, thought for a moment, but ultimately didnt use them. Instead, he exchanged them for some frozen shrimp bait from Zhao Jun. Since he had a fishing license, it was fine to use them. The iron pole he tried in the afternoon proved to be very effective. At night, the big fish were probably hiding under the bridge piers. He took out his 30-number boat fishing rod, ready to bottom fish and see if he could catch a big one. As for Chen Yang, giving him a lure rod was enough. He told him to go learn how to use it from Zhang Wei, not expecting him to catch any fish. Add a big sinker, let the hook touch the bottom and then reel the line back about a meter or so. The hook needs to be a meter off the bottom for the fish to detect the bait.Upd@te by n0vgo .c0 Chu Mingcheng was trying fishing at this depth just to test it out, but if it didnt work, he would continue to fish at a mid-water depth. But just half a minute after he adjusted his position, the tip of his rod abruptly bent downward. The moment he lifted the rod to hook the fish, he almost thought he had caught another Blue Star. The rod was already bent, and even with the reel locked, the line was rapidly being pulled out with a whizzing sound. Chu Mingcheng, unable to reel in, could only try to keep lifting the rod, hoping to prevent the fish from getting too far away. With such force, even a twenty-pound green fish or Lianyong would have to step aside, and they were nowhere near as challenging as the green spot that had given him a lot of pressure. Lucky that he was using a boat fishing rod equipped with a spinner reel to help dissipate the force, otherwise if he had used a hand pole, he probably would have been dragged around by the fish by now. Fishing with a hand rod for big fish is indeed thrilling, but there have been many incidents where anglers got pulled into the water by fish. Chu Mingcheng couldnt control the fish with his hands, so he was forced to brace the end of the fishing rod against his belly. This allowed him to exert more force. But because he wasnt wearing a belly support belt, his stomach ached from the pressure of the rod. He was also at the back of the boat, and with the cabin in the way, Zhang Wei and the others were unaware of the situation. He had no choice but to take a deep breath and shout, Ah Wei, can someone come over and give me a hand? Ive hooked a big one! Im coming, Im coming! Upon hearing big fish, Chen Yang immediately packed up his rod and ran over, followed closely by Zhang Wei who also hadnt caught anything. Only Zhao Jun didnt want to waste time and continued to fish. Wheres the fish? Chen Yang asked as he arrived. Its not up yet, my stomach aches from the pressure of the rod. Theres a belly support belt in my tackle box. Help me put it on, Chu Mingcheng said. Okay, okay. Chen Yang quickly took out the belt and helped him strap it on, providing much-needed relief for Chu Mingcheng. Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52 One More 3888 [Additional Updates Requested for More Reading] Chapter 52: Chapter 52 One More 3888 [Additional Updates Requested for More Reading] Fishing is really a physical activity. If a Fishing Man wants a wife, he doesnt just need money but also a strong back. In the daytime, he struggles with fish, and at night, he has to continue to be an electric motor at home, otherwise, neighbors with the surname Wang will pop up excessively. Chu Mingcheng was bent over due to the strong pull of the big fish; he grabbed the fishing rod with both hands and lifted it, which was the only way he could reel in a few coils of line. Seeing Zhang Wei and the others still standing behind him, he quickly said, Get away from me. Im worried the line might snap and hit you. If the line really did snap, the backlash would be no joke. Hearing this, Zhang Wei and the others immediately moved to the front deck and then peered out together from behind the cockpit to watch the situation. Reassured by their departure, Chu Mingcheng fished comfortably. With a bellyband for support, he could rely on his waist to exert force, which was much easier than before. The fish was the strongest he had ever encountered, but he was still able to handle it. Now, he was trying to lift the rod as much as possible, eager to pull the fish to the surface soon. The fish was fierce, once more exerting its strength and bending the rod even more. Chu Mingcheng grew somewhat worried that the rod might break, so he adjusted the height slightly, allowing the rod tip to dip into the water, which eased the bending. Each time he lifted the rod, he could reel in quite a few coils of line. After at least half an hour, waters splashed violently. Finally, Chu Mingcheng brought the fish to the surface. Using a No. 30 fishing rod, getting the fish up took more time and carried a significant risk of snapping the rod or the line. If he had switched to his No. 80 fishing rod with a high-powered line, assuming he had enough strength, he might have brought it up in twenty minutes or even less. Zhang Wei, shining his flashlight, suddenly bent down and cursed, Shit, grandpa. Shit, its a huge sea bass! Shit, it definitely measures in meters! Shit, I never knew there were such big sea bass around here. Ive never seen one! Stop cursing. Come and help! Chen Yang tugged at the corner of his mouth, quickly picked up the landing net, and returned to Chu Mingchengs side. Zhang Wei, realizing what was needed, also went to grab the fish controller to help. Using a net to catch big fish often leads to failure, which is frequent on the internet; one must be doubly prepared, or else a lost fish could cause a cardiac arrest. When the sea bass was pulled to the surface, its fate was already sealed. Chu Mingcheng wiped the sweat that was about to drip from his forehead, then cranked the handle to pull the upside-down sea bass closer. Chen Yang was a bit nervous, missing the fishs head several times and getting drenched by the struggling fish. Fortunately, the bait was swallowed properly, the hook was lodged deep, and Chu Mingchengs maneuvering of the rod helped him scoop more effectively. This time, Chen Yang finally managed to scoop the fishs head, but the sea bass was too big, and the net could only cover half of its body. He didnt try to lift it but swished the net back and forth in the water, pulling it towards the side of the boat. Seeing this, Zhang Wei quickly used the fish controller and clamped it onto the fishs lower lip through the net. Chu Mingcheng put down the rod and grabbed the fishs tail, Come on, one, two, three, lift! With the combined effort of the three men, the sea bass, over a meter long, was finally lifted into the cabin. Seeing such a big fish, Brother Zhao Jun could not remain seated. He searched in his sleeping area in the cockpit and pulled out a tape measure. Come on, let me see how big this fish is! Ive seen a few meter-long cod in my fishing career, but never a sea bass this big. The other three stepped aside, each taking out their phones to take pictures. If I dont snap a photo and show it off, am I even a qualified Fishing Man? Zhang Wei joked, Ah Cheng, why dont we take it to the town and then put it on the back of my bike? We could show it off around the town for a bit. Chu Mingcheng couldnt help laughing and crying, Stop kidding, instead of showing off, we might as well fish some more here. While they were talking, Zhao Jun had already measured the fish, One meter twenty-six, I estimate this sea bass weighs about thirty kilograms. However, Zhang Wei shook his head, That cant be right. Last year, someone in Taishi caught a sea bass that was over one meter thirty and weighed forty-five kilograms. It sold for five thousand. This one, even if it isnt forty kilograms, cant be far off and could be worth four thousand. Whether its worth four thousand also depends on if anyone wants it. Normally, the market price for sea bass here is about forty-one per kilogram, and it doesnt fluctuate much. But at over a meter, the price could jump to one hundred and ten per kilogram. The meat might get a little tough when the fish is this big, but some people just like them big. Unfortunately, there was no scale on the boat, so they had to wait until they got ashore to weigh it. Chen Yang took a few photos of the fish, squatted down beside it, and had Zhang Wei help him take a few shots, then said to Chu Mingcheng, Ah Cheng, Ill send these photos to a few clients and see if they want it. Its a pity its not a Stone Fish; if it was, Id take it even for ten to twenty thousand. Chu Mingcheng initially wanted to post it in the group, but hearing him say this, he nodded and smiled, Go ahead, you ask them first. Clearly, Huaxia people are mostly interested in rare things. Seeing such a big sea bass, three of his clients were interested in buying, and they asked about the weight and price. I have a customer who wants it, how much are you planning to sell it for? Chu Mingcheng thought for a moment, then said, How about this, tell them we havent weighed it yet, but its definitely over thirty kilograms. The fixed price is 3888, they can come pick it up themselves or have it delivered, but delivery doesnt include postage; they have to pay for that themselves. Alright. Chen Yang replied according to his words, and eventually, a boss from Mingzhou bought it. He was coming here tomorrow, so he would pick it up himself. Brother Zhao Jun, I have to trouble you to drop me off at home. I need to get the fish home and pump some oxygen into it to keep it alive as long as possible. No need for such trouble, Ill teach you a technique that can make the fish live longer. Zhao Jun brought a long nylon rope, completely opened the fishs gills, and threaded the nylon rope through them, then out from the other side. He then tied the tail up, grabbed the excess rope at both ends, and gave it a tough pull, forcibly bending the bass into a bow shape before finally tying the two ends of the rope together. This action left the other three looking quite perplexed. Zhang Wei couldnt help but ask, Brother Zhao Jun, is there a particular reason for tying it up like this? Zhao Jun chuckled and explained, This is called Bow-fishing Technique, I learned it from a friend. Tying it up like this can make the fish live longer, normally it can last a day or two. But I havent tried it with a sea bass before. Well pump it with oxygen later, and it should definitely last a day. Zhang Wei suddenly understood, then another question popped up, Then why dont fishermen tie their catch like this? Wouldnt it sell better if its alive? Zhao Jun shrugged, Not all fish can be tied like this, and besides, fish can be kept alive in the fishing hold for a while, so its not necessary. Plus, ocean fishermen catch so many fish at once, its not possible to tie them all up. Bow-fishing Technique was a good method for preserving fish in ancient times, but modern technology has basically rendered it obsolete. I dont have an oxygen pump on my boat, and the fish hold is too small, otherwise I wouldnt need to bother with this. After hearing this, the three nodded in understanding, indeed, if you have an oxygen pump, what need is there for Bow-fishing Technique! But they still inquired carefully about the key points of tying with the Bow-fishing Technique. Its always good to learn a new skill, just like now, you never know when it might come in handy, right? Today, Chu Mingcheng had made enough to cover the boat expenses, earning over two thousand from just this sea bass, not to mention the fish caught in the afternoon. Now that he was planning to buy a boat, though, the pressure was really mounting, and he felt he couldnt be as laissez-faire as before. Thus, after catching the bass, he didnt rest but chose to continue fishing. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53 The effect of deliciousness Chapter 53: Chapter 53 The effect of deliciousness ` Perhaps it was the sea bass king that had used up all of Chu Mingchengs luck earlier, because after that, he didnt come across any big fish. The largest he could catch were sea bass weighing two or three jins, and this was the case at two different spots. Zhao Jun also had a decent catch. Although there were no large fish, he should still bring in two or three hundred yuan that evening. However, Zhang Wei and Chen Yang had not lured many fishjust two or three small onesso they still felt unsatisfied when it was time to head back. Chu Mingchengs two stone breams were bought by Chen Yang at one hundred and fifty yuan per jin, which was a bit cheaper than the market price. The total weight was six jins and six taels, but he only charged nine hundred yuan. In fact, he had intended to give them away for free, as Chen Yang was prepared to lend him money to buy a boat, at least fifty thousand yuan. He wasnt going to charge interest, so giving him the two fish to eat was no big deal! It was just that Chen Yang adamantly refused to freeload, so Chu Mingcheng reluctantly accepted the nine hundred yuan. As for the other fish, he originally planned to take them home to keep for a bit, and then sell them at the market the next day. However, Zhao Jun had a group of customers too, quite a few actually, and he had arranged for them to come over at nine oclock the next morning to buy fish. In that case, he wouldnt need to go to the market and could just sell them at the dock. Heading back home, Chu Mingcheng divided some of the fish from his fishing kit into another box, then added oxygen and closed the kitchen door to prevent Xiao Mi from sneaking in at night to steal fish. It wasnt that he forbade eating fish, but he was worried it would bite indiscriminately. Plus, he had caught about ten stone fish today, which have poisonous fins, and it would be bad if one got stung. In the end, he weighed the large sea bass, which came to thirty-eight jins and six taels, nearly reaching forty jins. If sold for 3,888 yuan, Chen Yangs customer wouldnt be at a loss. One night passed When Chu Mingcheng woke up to the alarm clock in the early morning, he felt sore all over. The aftereffects of last nights fishing were kicking in, probably due mainly to the large sea bass. This condition made running and exercise painful, and it was only after using Life Conversion once that he felt much better. After getting up for a run and having breakfast, Chu Mingcheng fed Xiao Mi. Then he transferred the fish into his fishing kit, took the oxygen pump and headed out to the dock. Before he arrived, someone in the group chat @d him. He opened the chat to see that it was Zhao Xia who had bought that old turtle from him. Ah Cheng, where did you get those sea earthworms you sold me before? They taste fresher than others. Yesterday, I bought some from another person, and not only were they small, but they also had a muddy, fishy smell. I could have accepted that mud-fishiness, but after having the sea earthworms I got from you, I just cant swallow any others. So tell me, how should we resolve this issue? Reading these messages, Chu Mingcheng was taken abackhis sea earthworms tasted better? He then looked at his attribute panel and saw that the sea earthworms were level 28 now, with a 28% increase in deliciousness. No wonder Zhao Xia would say that. He himself had only eaten them once and hadnt noticed this issue. It seemed that this deliciousness attribute wasnt entirely useless; at least it made regular customers more likely. As for the issue of deliciousness, he wasnt worried. Small and skinny fish from a single net have a very different taste and texture compared to bigger ones, with the latter naturally tasting better. Even within the same species, there are differences. It wasnt strange to people that his caught or farmed seafood tasted better. This would only make others think that what they buy from him is of high quality. So he calmly replied, Sister Zhao, just tell me how many jins you need, and Ill go dig them up when I have time these next few days. Zhao Xia: Haha, you really get me. I need ten jins for the day after tomorrow, is that okay? Chu Mingchengs eyebrows raisedso much? Given his current efficiency, that would take at least an entire afternoon! Then two other people in the group piped up. Chen Qing: I also want ten jins, but theres no rush. Take your time, Ah Cheng. ` Wang Hong: Then Ill also take ten pounds. Ah Cheng, the sea earthworms you dug up really taste better than the ones I bought before. Chu Mingcheng was speechless; he was too busy nowwho had the time to go to the mudflats every day? Fishing was more lucrative and relaxing. Everyone, Im now a professional fisherman and am planning to buy a fishing boat to go out to sea soon. I probably only have time to dig up sea earthworms for a bit longer, and its highly unlikely that I can supply them in large quantities in the future. Please understand, folks! Ah Cheng is buying a boat? Congratulations! Make sure to let Sister have a first look at any good catch. Zhao Xia and Wang Hong were a bit surprised upon hearing this but simply expressed their congratulations. Chen Qing, however, was intrigued: Ah Cheng is into fishing now, huh? Do you rent out the boat? Im not considering renting out the boat for now; Ill talk about it when I find a few good fishing spots. Brother Chen, if you want to go out to sea, just come to me anytime. After chatting for a bit in the group, Chu Mingcheng also arrived at the dock. There was still more than half an hour until nine oclock, but Zhao Jun had already turned up with his tricycle, and there were a few other people nearby. He put away his phone, parked the car, and got out, and Zhao Jun and the others were already surrounding him. Today, Chu Mingcheng only brought sea bass and Black Sea Bream; he left the stone fish at home. The fish werent big, just over three pounds; he planned to take it home for lunch to treat his parents to some fresh seafood. In terms of taste, stone fish were more delicious than sea bass and Black Sea Bream, but their only flaw was that they were too small. He caught the most sea bass yesterday, a total of fifteen, with even the smallest ones weighing one pound and five taels, and the largest weighing seven pounds, for a total of fifty-three pounds and eight taels. All were sold to Zhao Juns customers, at market price, and he received a total of 2135 yuan. A little short of the totalten or so yuan were shaved off here and there because it wasnt a single person buying. There werent many Black Sea Bream, just three, selling for a total of 240 yuan. After getting the money and saying goodbye to Zhao Jun, Chu Mingcheng headed back home, picked up the sea bass and stone fish, and went to town. First, he stopped by Chen Yangs place. His parents were out of town, so Chen Yang was leading a very carefree life, sleeping until noon before going to work at the shop with Zhang Wei. Chu Mingcheng confidently took the elevator up to the fourth floor, then walked into Chen Yangs bedroom. Hrrr snore~ It was past nine, and the guy was still sound asleep, snoring away. Seeing this, the corners of Chu Mingchengs mouth curled into a mischievous smile. He didnt disturb Chen Yang, but tiptoed back out, then went to the kitchen to open the freezer. Inside were top-quality steaks, fish fillets, a variety of ice creams, and even three boxes of Moutai ice cream. He picked up a box of ice cream but hesitated, feeling that melted ice cream wouldnt taste good, so he put it back and opened the fresh-keeping compartment. The fresh-keeping compartment was full of neatly placed beverages, with all sorts of juices, several bottles of mineral water, and cola. Chu Mingcheng thoughtfully grabbed a bottle of mineral water for Chen Yang in case he was thirsty when he woke up. He closed the fridge, took the mineral water, and headed back into the room Ahhh~~~~ A bloodcurdling scream rang out, followed by Chen Yangs frantic voice, Damn, I can deal with the ice, but did you really have to put it inside my pajamas and press it down on me? Chu Mingcheng was already sitting on the floor, laughing so hard his stomach hurt. He could laugh for a year at that three-second transformation from shivering, to confused, to horrified. Chen Yang, hair a mess, sat on the bed glaring fiercely at Chu Mingcheng, next to the bottle of mineral water that had instantly woken him up. Ill remember this. Youd better not let me catch you because next time, Ill definitely use something big! Anytime, welcome! Chu Mingcheng wasnt the least bit scared; his home didnt have a password lock, and besides, he wasnt one to oversleep anymore. Chen Yangs eye twitched. For now, he really couldnt get back at Chu Mingcheng and could only ask irritably, Alright, out with it. What did you come here for? Chu Mingcheng spread his hands: Im here to deliver fish. Isnt your customer supposed to pick it up today? Damn it, I wouldnt have referred a customer to you if I knew! Chen Yangs face was full of regret and he cursed his luck! Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Unearthed a Small Guanyin Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Unearthed a Small Guanyin Chu Mingcheng left Chen Yangs house with a good mood, after all, theres a saying that goes, Happiness is built on the pain of others. But what he didnt know was that just after he left, Chen Yang then went to Zhang Weis house. After a burst of screams, Chen Yang felt all the resentment and irritation from getting out of bed vanish, leaving him refreshed and invigorated. Now, the only one with a heart full of resentment was Zhang Wei, who was secretly planning his revenge. Chu Mingcheng, carrying a bag of stone fish, came back home and heard noises coming from the balcony. When he went to look, An Xiuwen was there, washing clothes. Mom, look what I brought you! An Xiuwen leaned over to take a look, These stone fish are nice, so fresh. Arent you going to sell them? I sold the other fish, but stone fish taste good, and there arent many, so I thought Id bring some back for you and dad to try. You, always bringing things home, sell what needs to be sold. Your mom and dad arent craving a bite. Although An Xiuwen said so, she was quite pleased inside. After rinsing the soap off her hands, she picked up the bag and headed to the kitchen. With you bringing stuff over every day, your parents dont even need to buy vegetables anymore. Youre exaggerating; I just occasionally bring some things. Anyway, I must leave now. I have a customer who wants thirty jin of sea earthworms, and Ill be busy these next few days. Hey, eat lunch at home before you go. Dont always make do with something outside at noon. Having business was a good thing, but as a mother, An Xiuwen was more concerned about her sons health. No need, I plan to get this job done quickly and then go to get my boat license in preparation for fishing at sea. Although Chu Mingcheng used buying a boat as an excuse, the actual reason was that Jiang Luoluo would be arriving tomorrow. When someone came over for a commercial performance and they finished business, he couldnt possibly bring a little fairy to dig up earthworms from the soil, could he! An Xiuwen wasnt too surprised when she heard her son was preparing to buy a boat. Making a career out of fishing, how could one manage without a boat? Now that youre fishing, you do need to buy a boat, to go to farther places where there are more fish. Your dad and I have discussed this. If its just you, the boat doesnt need to be too big, about a few hundred thousand should do. I can give you the money upfront for now, but youll have to work hard for your own money to buy a house later on. The money from An Xiuwen was actually set aside for Chu Mingcheng to buy a house, but now that she knew the speed at which her son was making money, she felt there was no need to be so tight with it. They would pay for the boat, trusting their son to earn a house within a short period with it. Even if he couldnt, they had each other; they could make a down payment with the remaining money and help out from there. Mom, a ten-meter-long boat is sufficient for me; it wont exceed fifty thousand. Theres no need for hundreds of thousands! And you dont need to provide the money; Ive borrowed it from Chen Yang. I will be able to pay it back soon. A few hundred thousand could buy a sixteen-meter fishing boat already, although the equipment might be a bit lacking, but it would definitely be usable. But he didnt need that just yet. If he really wanted to go farther, he could just rent a fishing spot. Hearing her son say this, An Xiuwen dropped the subject of giving him money. After leaving home, Chu Mingcheng bought three chicken fillet sandwiches and a large bottle of mineral water, and headed to the mudflats to dig for sea earthworms. Jiang Luoluo was coming tomorrow, and he wasnt sure how long she would stay, so he planned to work hard today and dig up Zhao Xias ten jin of sea earthworms in advance. The 28% increase in capture rate didnt mean that there would be 28% more sea earthworms magically appearing in the mudflat when Chu Mingcheng was digging, but that he would unwittingly find more sea earthworms than usual, guided by this mechanism. And there were more larger sea earthworms in this patch of soil due to the additional 28% size increase attribute. Although he hadnt dug for a while, Chu Mingchengs digging speed was not slow. He shoveled down, pried open the mud, and several sea earthworms were immediately revealed. He picked out the large ones with his hand and ignored the small ones. After a while, the small sea earthworms would shrink back into the soil and continue to grow. Chu Mingcheng dug along the inlet ditch not far away, and suddenly, when he shoved his shovel down, there was a hiss sound. He thought he had hit a rock, but when he turned over the soil, a glint of gold appeared. Huh? Chu Mingcheng curiously picked it up and found it was a small gold Guanyin statue, but the craftsmanship was so rough, far from delicate, clearly a one yuan item from a street stall. He took out the trash bag he kept in his pocket and casually tossed it in. Ever since he started making money by beachcombing and fishing, he always carried a trash bag, just to make it convenient to clean up any litter he saw. But as he prepared to continue digging, he felt something was slightly off. He took out the gold Guanyin again, rinsed it with water, and after drying it off, he noticed that the gold was especially shiny. This gold Guanyin couldnt have been buried in the ground for a short period; however, low-cost trinkets would rust if buried for a long time. At the very least, some of the plating on the surface would certainly have worn off, but this gold Guanyin looked as good as new after washing. Could it really be that Ive found gold? This gold Guanyin was very small, probably around three centimeters in height and roughly one and a half centimeters in width. Even if it were gold, it wouldnt be worth much. But Chu Mingcheng was quite curious. If it turned out to be real, wouldnt he experience the joy of finding money? So he put it in his pocket for now, planning to have it authenticated at a gold shop when he got back. The day of digging went by quickly, and it wasnt until five in the evening, when the sky had darkened, that Chu Mingcheng picked up his days haul of sea earthworms and headed back. Having felt bored, with an aching back and sore waist after a days work, he was convinced that his plan not to sell sea earthworms anymore was the right decision. Fishing, at least, came with a sense of anticipation, wondering what kind of fish he would catch. Catching a big fish brought surprise and excitement, and the money he made was also much more. Back at his car, Chu Mingcheng took out the electronic scale and weighed his catch. He had dug up a whole seventeen pounds today, and the level of the sea earthworms had also increased to level thirty-two. [Sea Earthworm (Level 32)] [Current Experience: 67/330] [Size +32] [Taste +32] [Catch Rate +32] From around nine-thirty in the morning until five in the evening, apart from a short break for lunch, he had dug for roughly seven hours. Digging for three hours longer than before, his efficiency had indeed improved quite a bit. Having completed half the task, he came to town for dinner. Afterward, Chu Mingcheng couldnt wait to get to the small gold shop and went straight to the point with the owner. Boss, my sister bought this gold Guanyin from someone. Its so poorly made. I suspect shes been cheated. Can you take a look for me? If the golds origin was unknown, the owner of the gold shop had the right to refuse authentication. However, such a small shop didnt have that many rules, and the owner, hearing that Chu Mingcheng suspected his sister had been duped, didnt think too much about it. After examining the gold Guanyin carefully for a while, he said, This looks like it could be real. Should I heat it up and check? Sure. Whether gold is genuine is clearest after heating it, so Chu Mingcheng naturally had no objections. The workstation for burning gold was right next to them, and he closely watched the owner throughout, not afraid of any sleight of hand. The fire burned on the surface of the gold Guanyin, quickly making it shinier and more golden. The craftsmanship is poor, but the gold is real. How much did your sister pay for it? She said she spent three thousand on it, buying it from a friend who needed money. Three thousand? Then your sister made a big profit. This gold Guanyin is a bit light, hollow inside, but it should still weigh about twenty grams. The owner cooled down the gold Guanyin and then placed it on a small electronic scale, which read 22.64 grams. Wow, its actually that much! Big profit or not doesnt matter, as long as she wasnt cheated. Chu Mingcheng pretended to breathe a sigh of relief, thanked the owner while taking back the gold Guanyin, and then left the gold shop. He had no intention of selling the gold Guanyin. Twenty-two grams was worth eight or nine thousand, although the purchasing price would be lower. He was saving much more than that for a boat, so he decided to keep it. Who knows, when the time came to get married and he needed gold jewelry, he might use the gold Guanyin to make a pair of earrings and a ring. Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Successful Rescue Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Successful Rescue Chu Mingcheng had grown up by the sea, so naturally, he knew how to swim. However, his swimming skills were not exceptionally good, just at the level of an ordinary person, which made rescuing someone quite difficult. But the moment he entered the water this time, he experienced a feeling he had never had before. According to the current autumn weather, although the daytime temperature could reach 25 degrees Celsius, entering the water should have felt distinctly chilly. Yet after he entered the water, he felt very warm, with no sensation of temperature loss at all. Previously, when he swam in water, he could distinctly feel the resistance, but now he found that with a kick of his legs and a strong stroke of his arms, he could dart forward several meters. Moreover, in the somewhat murky water, he could keep his eyes open normally, as if a layer of flowing water was protecting his eyes, allowing him to see several meters ahead without discomfort. As for whether he could breathe underwater, he also gave it a try. He found that even without using his nose to breathe, he did not feel oxygen-deprived when holding his breath; he could sense that there seemed to be oxygen entering his lungs. However, the amount of oxygen provided this way was not substantial, as if it couldnt meet his oxygen needs in the water. It could only extend the time he could hold his breath underwater; if previously he could hold his breath for two minutes, now he estimated it could be at least half an hour, or even an hour. Then he tried to breathe through his nose Cough cough cough Chu Mingcheng quickly surfaced, having choked on water. It seemed this underwater breathing ability had to be taken with a grain of salt; he hadnt grown gills like a fish, it just greatly extended his breath-holding duration. But that was enough for now, he re-entered the water, swimming rapidly in the downstream direction where the firefighter had sunk. Moving with all his might, he shot through the water like an arrow, and in just half a minute, he had reached the vicinity of the lifeboat. But he didnt plan to show himself just yet, deciding to locate the person first. Chu Mingcheng continued to search for the sunken firefighter in the water, moving freely with this ability, truly like a fish in water. However, the Ou River was too wide and large, and the murky water limited visibility, which undoubtedly increased the difficulty of the rescue. If a normal, proficient swimmer were to look for someone, or if someone were to be fished out from a boat, the person who had drowned would certainly have been lost. Luckily, his speed in the water was so fast he could catch fish; a big green fish, frightened by him, hurriedly fled, only to be overtaken by him in no time. Chu Mingcheng didnt bother with the fish; three minutes later, he successfully found the firefighter being carried downstream by the current. It had been about seven or eight minutes since the firefighter had gone under, but the actual time of drowning must have been shorter, so there was still a good chance of saving him. Grasping the firefighter, he kicked his legs and swiftly swam to the surface, then dragged him toward the shore. A sharp-eyed man on the bridge suddenly noticed something in the water in the distance and shouted in surprise, Look, someone is saving the firefighter over there! Following his shout, everyone nearby turned their attention to that direction. Wow, its true; the firefighter who had drowned was just saved! Thats great; otherwise, it would feel like a life wasted. Lets hope everythings okay; after being underwater so long, I wonder if he can still be revived. The fire department captain in charge on the bridge naturally saw this scene as well, and he was delighted. He immediately used a walkie-talkie to command the firefighters on the lifeboat to head there. It was at this moment that Jiang Luoluo, who had been oblivious until now, realized that Chu Mingcheng, who had been beside her, was missing. The car was there, but he was not, yet the figure dragging someone to the shore in the distance was so familiar that it stunned her. She looked under the bridge and surely found the clothes and mobile phone on the shore, rushed down to pick up the clothes and the phone, and ran towards Chu Mingcheng. Chu Mingcheng was currently performing compressions on a firefighter, pressing out some water, but he hesitated a bit when it came to performing artificial respiration. Fortunately, the lifeboat had arrived. There were three firefighters plus the diving girl on the boat, making four in total, one of whom jumped off the boat before it had fully reached the shore. Chu Mingcheng quickly cleared the space, aware that he lacked professional emergency rescue training. The police on the bridge, other firefighters, and medical staff all ran towards the shore. But the first to arrive was Jiang Luoluo. Chu Mingcheng saw her approach him and, without uttering a word, stare blankly at him. For some reason, he suddenly felt a bit guilty. Uh, Im a bit cold, could you please give me my clothes? Jiang Luoluos chest heaved up and down, unsure if it was from running there or from being upset by Chu Mingchengs actions. She wanted to scold him severely, but they were just ordinary friends; she had no right to scold him. In the end, after taking several deep breaths, she handed the clothes back to Chu Mingcheng, saying, I just hope you think things through before you act. Dont just rush into situations. What would your parents do if something happened to you? Rescuing others was a noble deed, but Chu Mingcheng was still somewhat at fault as others werent aware of his cheat. The currents of the Ou River were swift; even a skilled swimmer attempting such a rescue might have ended up in more trouble themselves. This young lady is right, young man, you were indeed too reckless, but fortunately, youre unharmed! At this moment, as others from the bridge arrived, the fire chief heard Jiang Luoluos words and immediately agreed. After expressing his agreement, he tightly grasped Chu Mingchengs hands: But I still want to thank you for saving my team member; his daughter was just born and cannot afford to lose her father. Actually, I was confident in my actions; Im a strong swimmer and even if I hadnt found this comrade, I would have been able to return safely, Chu Mingcheng said with a modest smile, explaining. Of course, his words were also meant for Jiang Luoluo, but the young lady wasnt quite convinced, giving him a rolled eye upon hearing them. However, the emergency was ongoing, and everyone present was focused on the situation as the rescue personnel shifted from firefighters to medical staff. After continuous compressions and artificial respiration, the drowning firefighter suddenly coughed, spat out some dirty water, and took deep breaths, reviving. Everyone present showed a smiling face and cheered, especially the firefighters, who were visibly moved as the recovered man was their close comrade. Jiang Luoluo looked at the shivering, remorseful girl huddled at the side. She really wanted to scold her and show her what others had to endure because of her actions. Yet seeing her miserable state, Jiang Luoluo eventually softened and turned her head away, choosing to ignore her. The rescued firefighter still required further examination at the hospital, so he was quickly placed on an ambulance and sent off along with the girl who had jumped into the river. The fire chief didnt leave; he again expressed his gratitude to Chu Mingcheng, insisted on taking his contact information, and said he would bring his team to express their thanks in person later. A few police officers also took his contact details, mentioning that todays incident would be reported and he would later receive a commendation for his act of valor. Chu Mingcheng was actually reluctant; he disliked complications, but given the special circumstances and the fervor of all involved, he couldnt refuse. Eventually, claiming he needed to change his clothes as an excuse, he managed to leave swiftly with Jiang Luoluo. As Chu Mingcheng led her away, Jiang Luoluo noticed that her heartbeat was a bit faster. Looks are the most direct charm a person can have, but its just more likely to elicit a favorable response from others. Jiang Luoluo had originally seen Chu Mingcheng as just a regular male friend, someone she liked but had not yet felt attracted to. She wasnt love-struck, naturally not going to fall for someone just because they were good-looking. The current state of Chu Mingcheng was disheveled; his clothes were drenched, his hair was messy, and he even got muddy while dragging the man to the shore. Yet even in such a state, he seemed exceptionally radiant and charming to Jiang Luoluo. It was a kind of safety that allowed one to lower their guard, offering a great sense of security. Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Stricken Chu Mingcheng Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Stricken Chu Mingcheng Chu Mingcheng had no idea about Jiang Luoluos emotional fluctuations, for he was quite uncomfortable himself. Not just because he was soaked through and felt a bit cold with the wind blowing. But because the temporary ability of the aquatic illustrated handbookSwimming Freelyhad been taken back. Returning to his original physical condition made him feel a sense of emptiness throughout his body, giving him a particular longing to regain that power. As for the exhilarating feeling he had in the water, he didnt feel much of it now that he was back on shore. He checked the aquatic illustrated handbook and saw that he now had 27 experience points. [Aquatic Illustrated Handbook (Level 0)] [Current Experience: (27/50)] [Unlocked Capture Tools: Hands, Fishing Gear] [Highest Level of Aquatic Creatures: 50] [Unlocked Aquatic Creatures: 1 Mud shrimp, 2 Crucian Carp, 3 Whitebait, 4 Carp, 5 Ground Tiger, 6 Spicy Snail, 7 Bian fish, 8 Sea Earthworm, 9 Sandworm, 10 Sea Eel, 11 Pseudo Cave Green Crab, 12 Sea Bass, 13 Crab Tiger Fish, 14 Qiao Zui, 15 Green Fish, 16 Lianyong, 17 Chinese Turtle, 18 Black Carp, 19 Catfish, 20 Wen City Light-lipped Fish, 21 Australian Mackerel, 22 Spotted Grouper, 23 Black Sea Bream, 24 Mullets, 25 Mussel, 26 Song Diao, 27 Striped Stone Bream] [Special Abilities: None] Chu Mingcheng has never been enthusiastic about collecting species; one could even say he was rather laid-back about it. Being able to earn over one thousand a day, and having achieved the feat of earning ten thousand in a day, he was quite content with his current life, hence lacking some motivation to upgrade his Golden Finger. But after experiencing the wonderful feeling of swimming freely in the water and enhanced physical abilities, he was finding it hard to hold himself back. All he needed to do was catch twenty-three more types of aquatic creatures to level up, which wasnt difficult at all. At least, with the ability Swimming Freely, if he ever encountered a disaster at sea, he could rely on this ability to survive in the ocean, greatly increasing his chances of survival. He was about to buy a boat. Getting a boat license was much faster than a car license; in at most a month, he could set out to sea. Therefore, he had to at least unlock this ability before heading out to sea. Apart from the special circumstance of rescuing someone, Chu Mingcheng didnt head towards Huang Town but went home to change clothes first. As soon as she got to the back door of the house, Jiang Luoluo couldnt wait to get out of the car. Quick, open the door, I want to see Xiao Mi. Be careful, Xiao Mis temper has improved a lot recently, but its pregnant now, so it might still be very wary of strangers, Chu Mingcheng cautioned as he opened the door and went to the fridge to get a mackerel stick for her. Here, try approaching it with this fish stick, and if it doesnt work, dont touch it for now. Yeah, yeah, yeah! Jiang Luoluo had already spotted Xiao Mi lying flat in its nest, and after taking the mackerel stick, she immediately approached and teased it with the fish stick, Xiao Mi, eat the fish stick! When Chu Mingcheng came down after showering, he found Xiao Mi gnawing on the fish stick, and Jiang Luoluo had successfully petted it. Since they were going camping in the afternoon, he took a pot with him, and the charcoal grill he had previously bought finally came in handy. After loading everything into the car, the two set off again. Chu Mingcheng stopped by Zhao Juns house to pick up an abandoned fine-meshed net, which he cut into a square with scissors to take with him; he was going to make a trap to catch some river shrimp. Indeed, the place he was camping was the same mountain where Yao Xin had taken him fishing for stream rockfish last time. He just needed to set up a trap at a narrow section of the stream below the water pool, so that as the fish and shrimp flowed downstream, they would all fall into his trap. After buying the barbecue seasonings, lamb, and some vegetables, he headed straight for Huang Town. He had to check out a boat today; after going home last night, he contacted a shipyard online, and had made an appointment for today. They arrived at the boatyard almost at eleven oclock, and along the way Chu Mingcheng had taken the initiative to call and explain the reason. After all, they had agreed to arrive before ten oclock, but they ended up being almost an hour late, so they had to give an explanation. They first visited the nearest boatyard, which didnt seem very large, and they were received by the owner. This boatyard mainly focused on small and medium-sized fishing boats, and their work was so-so. There werent many styles of fishing yachts, only three. Their lengths were just six meters eighty, eight meters eighty, and ten meters eight. Boats of these lengths belonged to class three and four, where class three could only operate within twenty nautical miles from the shore and couldnt travel to particularly distant areas. Class four was even more limited, only being able to move around near the island without exceeding ten nautical miles from the shore. The vast majority of sea fishing enthusiasts or professional anglers typically bought class three fishing yachts, venturing out to sea for day trips and at most spending one night before returning. For more distant locations, they usually chose to rent fishing spots. Fishing yachts over sixteen meters necessitated custom orders at this boatyard. Those in the know could easily realize that this small boatyard definitely didnt produce them; custom orders actually meant getting them from someone else, acting as middlemen to resell at a higher price. Chu Mingcheng checked out the eight-meter-eighty and ten-meter-eight models, noticing that the exterior appearances were basically the same, with only differences in size. The lowest price on the water for these was one hundred twenty-five thousand and one hundred fifty-eight thousand respectively. Of course, the prices could be further negotiated, and the owner was even keen on recommending purchasing with a loan. The boatyard would handle all the paperwork and documentation, so he didnt need to worry about that. After getting a detailed understanding of the propulsion systems and other configurations, Chu Mingcheng discovered a problem. The choice of boat configurations led to huge price differences. If he wanted to buy a ten-meter-eight fishing yacht priced at one hundred fifty-eight thousand, the configured outboard propeller he got was only one hundred fifty horsepower, single-engine. The speed, the owner claimed, could reach a maximum of twenty-five knots, but Chu Mingcheng estimated that would be difficult to achieve, plus it had high fuel consumption and a range of just eighty nautical miles. Equipping a good boat would inflate the price to several hundred thousand, which made him somewhat hesitant to buy. However, since he had made appointments with three companies the night before, he still needed to check them all out. Upon visiting the second one, a large boatyard that built merchant ships, they were shown around by a salesperson from the factory. Upon hearing Chu Mingchengs requirements, the salesperson particularly introduced their ten-meter fishing yachts. Despite the yards focus on large vessels, they only had two models of small fishing yachts. Nevertheless, they looked more exquisite. After inquiring about the configurations, Chu Mingcheng found that the overall prices were a bit lower than the small boatyard they had visited earlier. But slightly better-configured boats with a cockpit and all sorts of equipment, with 150 horsepower dual engines, would cost around five to six hundred thousand. The upper limit could even reach over one million, and this was for domestically produced fishing yachts. Jiang Luoluo was left clicking her tongue in amazement, no wonder people say that it isnt much to have a luxury car, but those with a luxury yacht are the real tycoons. Being too expensive for new boats, Chu Mingcheng also inquired about the prices of second-hand fishing yachts. However, there were absolutely no third-class fishing yachts in the tens of thousands, there were only fourth-class ones available, but he didnt need those at all! Buying a fourth-class area boat wasnt any better than getting a twenty-thousand-dollar small boat, both of which could only make rounds near the island. A dejected Chu Mingcheng aimlessly walked through the third boatyard and then left Huang Town in low spirits. Jiang Luoluo sat in the passenger seat and didnt know how to start comforting him, as she had learned about Chu Mingchengs budget that morning. If the difference was just a few tens of thousands, she would have been willing to lend it, but with a difference of several hundred thousand, there was no way she could lend that much! Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Jiang Luoluos Suggestion Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Jiang Luoluos Suggestion Hmm~ this place is really comfortable. Jiang Luoluo surveyed the surroundings and nodded in satisfaction. They had already arrived in the mountains of Stone Town, which was the spot where Chu Mingcheng and Yao Xin went to fish for stream rockfish. Luoluo, organize the stuff, and Ill go make a trap. Make a trap? Ill help you. Compared to organizing, Jiang Luoluo was obviously more interested in making traps to catch fish. Seeing this, Chu Mingcheng took her to a spot downstream of the water pond, having been here before, he was very familiar with the area. About ten meters downstream of the water pond, there was a section of the stream with a nearly vertical slope about one meter high. Chu Mingcheng used a rope to tie a small net and two bamboo poles together, creating something that looked like a pair of skimming nets for two hands. He then placed this skimming net above the stream, with the net part hanging, and the bamboo poles on either side placed over the stream and weighed down with rocks. Chu Mingcheng and Jiang Luoluo each took responsibility for one side, and in this way, the water from the stream would flow into the net first before flowing out through the holes, while the river shrimp, stream rockfish, and other aquatic creatures coming down with the water would be trapped inside the net. They continued to use rocks to block off the sides of the stream, leaving only the outlet by the net. After setting it all up, Jiang Luoluo waited and saw no fish coming down, and couldnt help asking, Are fish really going to swim down like this? Actually, theres one more step we need to do, come with me. Since they had agreed to camp in the afternoon, both of them had only eaten a little for lunch, and Chu Mingcheng was not planning to wait for the fish slowly. He took Jiang Luoluo to the upper stream junction of the water pond and then picked up a stone estimated to be about ten kilograms and threw it forcefully into the water pond. Bang~ The surface of the water exploded. The previously tranquil water pond was immediately disturbed by the stone. What are you doing? Of course, Im fish-bombing. We throw stones from above, all the way down. The startled fish will naturally be scared and scatter in all directions, and some will definitely escape downstream with the water flow! Jiang Luoluo immediately understood Chu Mingchengs intent, she strenuously lifted a large stone and threw it into the water with a bang. However, she overestimated her own strength and underestimated the weight of the stone, throwing it too close, causing the splash to drench Chu Mingcheng, who was standing in front, leaving him no time to react. Pfft~ Realizing her mistake, Jiang Luoluo hastily hid behind Chu Mingcheng, and seeing his speechless face wiping the creek water, she couldnt help but burst out laughing. Big sis, pick a lighter one if its too heavy. Are you bombing the fish or bombing me? Got it, got it. And who are you calling big sis? Do I look that old? Chu Mingcheng glanced at the indignantly upset someone and felt he hadnt called the wrong name. The two continued their merry fish-bombing, and indeed, some of the startled fish and river shrimp swam downstream and landed in the net. Wow, so many fish, and some river shrimp too! Chu Mingcheng picked out all the small fish and shrimp and threw them back into the water, also finding some stone bugs, then he carried the trap net back to cook. This net full of fish and shrimp weighed about five or six kilograms, all of decent size, enough for the two of them. Chu Mingcheng sorted the fish and shrimp, cleaning the fish by the water while handing the shrimp to Jiang Luoluo to skewer for grilling later. While cleaning the fish, he glanced at the seafood guide and noticed the experience had increased a bit; the river shrimp caught today with the trap also counted. Could it be because he made the trap himself? However, today was for camping, so he wouldnt think about this for now. As they grilled the fish and shrimp over the charcoal, with Chu Mingcheng sprinkling seasoning, a very pleasant barbecue aroma filled the air. River fish are indeed fresh. Though they dont taste like the sea, you can still experience a different kind of freshness and sweetness. Jiang Luoluo felt she hadnt come in vain; it was another new experience, and it was very relaxing for her. After finishing the meal and tidying up, it was only three in the afternoon. Jiang Luoluo suggested taking a look up the mountain, and Chu Mingcheng saw no reason not to. The two of them walked shoulder to shoulder, slowly climbing the steps as if on a stroll. Are you still planning to buy a boat? Probably not, at least not for now, I guess? Chu Mingcheng hadnt expected Jiang Luoluo to suddenly bring this up, and after hesitating, he gave an answer he wasnt even sure of himself. A ten-plus meter class-three fishing boat, equipped with all the necessary gear including fish-finding radar, would probably cost at least four to five hundred thousand. One for just over one hundred thousand would be almost empty, practically just a shell. A more comfortable boat would probably cost seven to eight hundred thousand. And those were just the domestically made ones; imported ones wouldnt even be worth considering unless they cost over one million. Chu Mingcheng liked to buy good quality things when he did make a purchase, preferring to spend an extra two or three hundred thousand to get something better rather than settling for less with five hundred thousand. In addition, the annual maintenance cost of a boat was estimated to be at least one hundred thousand, and the fuel expense for each trip to sea would be at least one thousand, and likely more than two thousand under normal circumstances. Considered that way, Chu Mingcheng immediately felt uneasy. How much fish would he need to catch each day just to recoup the fuel costs, let alone the initial cost of the boat? He wasnt confident he could make that much every time, which is why he abandoned the idea of buying a boat for now. Actually, I think you could try spearfishing, go for the boutique route, she suggested. Jiang Luoluo had found out today just how good Chu Mingcheng was at swimming, and it made her think of spearfishing, which she conveniently brought up. If he were just fishing, she wouldnt advise him to buy a boat. Fishing is too unstable, but since Chu Mingcheng is such a strong swimmer, he could sign up to get a freediving certificate. Once he upgraded his certification, he could get a spearfishing license. Then, he could pilot his boat to farther waters. If he couldnt catch fish with a rod, he could use a speargun in designated areas to hunt fish. Spearfishing usually targets mid-to-high-end markets, allowing you to specifically target expensive fish. Combining the two methods, his daily income wouldnt be low. As for net fishing, Jiang Luoluo deeply wouldnt recommend that. Its too exhausting for one person, and spearfishing sounds more upscale, better suited for social media. Plus, after you buy the boat, you could also choose to rent it out. When wanting to fish, rent it to some fishermen. Just renting out the fishing spots could earn back the fuel costs! Find an employee to help you with odd jobs, and you could continue fishing to increase your income. If you want to spearfish, gather a group with licenses. Plus, you can buy their catch at lower prices and sell it onshore at market rates, earning a profit margin. I dont need to say much about shooting videos. Not only could you earn from the platform, but you could also grow your following. A small portion of followers might convert into your regular customers. In the early stages, if you dont have enough customers, you could sell to restaurants even at a loss. Once you build your customer base, youll only worry about not having enough fish to meet demand. Jiang Luoluos suggestions, like a beam of light, suddenly opened up Chu Mingchengs mind. He had originally planned to gradually upgrade Golden Finger, relying on the enhanced catch rate it provided to ensure income stability before buying a boat. But after hearing Jiang Luoluos words, he realized that although the maintenance and running costs were high, renting out his boat could ensure a stable income. With the upgraded abilities from the aquatic guide, he believed that his efficiency in underwater hunting would be significantly higher than others, perhaps several times higher. Wouldnt he catch plenty of fish then? Upon understanding this, Chu Mingcheng felt enlightened, Thank you, Luoluo. If it werent for your suggestion, I probably would have wasted quite a while before deciding to buy a boat! No need to thank me, were friends! Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Mom, how did you get here? Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Mom, how did you get here? When they got back to Yanmen Island, it was already past four in the afternoon, and Chu Mingcheng had bought some groceries to entertain Jiang Luoluo at his home. However, as soon as they arrived, they found the back door open and could faintly hear the sound of people talking in the front yard. Ah Cheng, it couldnt be that your family has come, could it! The door being open didnt seem like the work of a thief. There was only one other possibility, which Jiang Luoluo guessed and suddenly felt a bit nervous about. That might be the case! At this moment, Chu Mingcheng also inexplicably felt a bit guilty, as if experiencing the awkwardness and embarrassment of encountering ones parents while on a date with a girl. How about we sneak away now and go check into a hotel for me? Can you find a chance to bring my luggage over later tonight? Although there wasnt a special relationship between Jiang Luoluo and Chu Mingcheng, the experience they had that morning made her feel differently about him. If it had been before, she could have faced his parents confidently and without nervousness. But now, she found herself feeling unprepared and lacking confidence. Alright, lets leave for now. Chu Mingcheng did not intend to let his family see Jiang Luoluo either. If discovered, he was sure his parents would barrage him with questions. If they knew he was just treating such a beautiful girl as a regular friend, they would feel deeply disappointed and would nag him daily to secure Jiang Luoluo. Chu Mingcheng felt that their current way of getting along was comfortable, and besides, he was about to focus on making money and upgrading his aquaculture manual. Who had time for this damn romance! Sometimes, the things you dont want are more likely to happen. Just as Chu Mingcheng and Jiang Luoluo turned to make their getaway, a womans voice rang out from behind them. Ah Cheng, youre back. Is this your friend? An Xiuwen had come over today to clean up their old house because she was worried her son was too busy fishing to maintain it. Upon entering, she immediately noticed a pink suitcase, quite certain that her son would never have such a suitcase. Her son having a female friend or girlfriend, something An Xiuwen had never heard him mention before, took her by surprise and piqued her curiosity. She waited and waited but didnt see her son return, so she decided to clean the house and just as she came to the front yard, she happened to meet the next-door neighbors. Chu Mingcheng was not familiar with these neighbors, merely greeting them when they met. But An Xiuwen had lived here for so long and the age gap wasnt big, so naturally, she engaged in a good chat with these neighbors. However, she was continuously preoccupied with thoughts of her sons friend and soon went back inside, only to catch sight of the two trying to leave through the back door. Mom, why did you come today? This is my friend, Jiang Luoluo. Having been spotted, Chu Mingcheng had no choice but to turn around and introduce them. Jiang Luoluo, who was usually straightforward and bold, was uncharacteristically shy as she greeted An Xiuwen: Hello, Auntie. Such a beautiful girl! Seeing Jiang Luoluo clearly, An Xiuwen, who was a great beauty in her youth, couldnt help but silently praise her. Luoluo, may I call you that? Of course you may! Seeing An Xiuwens pleased smile, Chu Mingcheng felt helpless inside. He knew that once Jiang Luoluo left, he would have to face his mothers relentless bombardment. But what happened next surprised him. An Xiuwen affectionately pulled Jiang Luoluo into the living room: Luoluo, where were you two planning to go? Jiang Luoluo hurriedly answered, Auntie, I came back to get my suitcase. Im going to stay at a hotel tonight. Why go to a hotel? Its a waste of money and not safe. Why dont you stay with Auntie tonight! Ah? Jiang Luoluo was totally bewildered. Chu Mingcheng blinked, secretly marveling at his moms prowess, managing to persuade her to stay after just meeting her. Auntie has two empty rooms upstairs. Ill take you to see them, An Xiuwen said as she grabbed Jiang Luoluo and led her upstairs. The moment the young girl was going upstairs, she sneakily turned her head and gave Chu Mingcheng a pleading look. For a girl to rashly move into a mans house was indeed not very appropriate. Chu Mingcheng spoke up, Mom, since Luoluo is a girl, it might not be appropriate for her to live in the same house as me. Of course its not appropriate! An Xiuwen nodded in agreement, So youll come back to town with me tonight. Jiang Luoluo: Chu Mingcheng: He never expected his mother to have such a move up her sleeve. If he went back to town and considering Jiang Luoluo didnt know anyone here, staying at his house for the night seemed fine. An Xiuwen took Jiang Luoluo upstairs to show her around and made a point to let her see the large bathtub. The bathtub was designed for enjoyment; Chu Mingchengs house had a comfortable bathtub, even including a custom-designed table for placing items. Sometimes An Xiuwen would come over, cut some fruit, and then sit in the tub with her laptop to watch shows while eating fruit. The adjoining window could also be opened to view the nightscape, and because of the angle, there was no need to worry about being seen from the outside. Initially reluctant, Jiang Luoluo hesitated the moment she saw the bathtub, and An Xiuwen immediately made the decision for her. By now it was dinner time, and An Xiuwen didnt bring up having Mr. Chu come over to cook. Instead, she took her leave to give the young couple some privacy and asked Chu Mingcheng to prepare a lavish dinner. She had some confidence in her sons cooking skillsthis was a good opportunity to impress. After An Xiuwen left, the two young people breathed a sigh of relief. However, Chu Mingcheng wasnt so insensitive as to suggest sending Jiang Luoluo to a hotel, instead, he took out the groceries from the car and started making dinner. After dinner, Jiang Luoluo took the initiative to wash the dishes and tidy up the kitchen. She worked efficiently, clearly not a pampered and lazy girl. Once they finished cleaning up, they found themselves with nothing to do. Chu Mingcheng was considering whether he should head back to town to discuss buying a boat with his family when Jiang Luoluo brought up the subject of videos. By the way, Ah Cheng, you filmed some videos before, didnt you? Yeah, what about them? Have you edited and dubbed them yet? If not, let me teach you tonight! Sounds good, Ill register an account as well. Since Jiang Luoluo had offered her help, Chu Mingcheng didnt rush back to town, so the two headed to the mezzanine. Jiang Luoluo didnt have any brothers, and this was her first time in a mans room, so she looked around curiously. Though Chu Mingchengs room was simply furnished, there was not much to see. He turned on the computer and took out the head-mounted camera, transferring the videos of fishing under the pier at sea to the computer. Jiang Luoluo pulled up a chair beside him, and a pleasant scent wafted from her, making Chu Mingcheng subconsciously sniff slightly. But he quickly focused and registered an account on Bilibili. Now on Bilibili, you can categorize the video accounts so why not post videos of Xiao Mi eating fish and mice? You dont have to post them all today; spreading them out over a few days is fine, she said. Remember to save plenty of video material to maintain regular updates; its not easy to gain followers with inconsistent updates. Plus, if you have other matters to handle, you can do so without worry. Chu Mingcheng naturally took Jiang Luoluos advice since she was more knowledgeable in this area. Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Eel: Are You Polite? Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Eel: Are You Polite? By 8 pm, Chu Mingcheng not only added subtitles to the video of the cat eating, but also finished editing the video of night fishing for sea bass. Following Jiang Luoluos suggestion, he had divided that days video into an upper and a lower part. The first half was about fishing in the afternoon, and the second half was when he caught the big sea bass. However, this video was different from the one of the cat eating; it needed not only subtitles to explain some procedures but also a voiceover, which meant he had to do it slowly himself. After saying goodbye to Jiang Luoluo, Chu Mingcheng drove back to the town. As soon as he entered the front door, his parents were naturally sitting on the sofa waiting for him, as expected. Son, come over here. Chu Yongxin had been waiting for quite a while, and as soon as he saw his son returning, he immediately waved him over, obviously unable to contain his curiosity any longer. First off, I should clarify that Luoluo and I are just friends, and right now my main focus is on making money; dont start imagining all sorts of things. As Chu Mingcheng approached, he preemptively said this to avoid being bombarded with questions later. Having been rushed to marry for years, he had reluctantly gone on matchmaking dates in the past, but now that he had a new goal, his attitude was naturally different from before. I know, I know, dads not asking about that. Dads asking how the boat search went, did you find one you liked? Chu Mingcheng was taken aback by Chu Yongxins response. He looked at the silent An Xiuwen and felt it was very strange; this wasnt their usual style! But the mention of the boats actually relieved him. Ive looked, and I didnt expect a fishing boat of around ten meters to be so expensive; a fully-equipped boat costs over half a million. Of course, did you think boats were like cars, where a hundred thousand would get you a decent one? Chu Yongxin had heard about it from his wife the night before and nearly died laughing. He had taken out several hundred thousand precisely because he knew that a basic fishing boat would cost about that much! The type two fishing boats suitable for far-sea fishing were beyond his ability to support his son; he couldnt afford a boat that cost several million! So whats your plan now? An Xiuwen asked. Didnt you mention before about giving me several hundred thousand to buy a boat? I was thinking of borrowing it from you, and Ill pay you back with the money I earn, after daily expenses. Chu Mingcheng had been reluctant to take money from his family and preferred to borrow from Chen Yang because he felt that, at 28, it wasnt good to rely on his parents anymore. Now that he needed a lot more money, asking Chen Yang was not suitable, so he came up with a compromise: to borrow from his parents and pay them back with his earnings. Were family, whats this talk about borrowing An Xiuwen hadnt finished speaking when Chu Yongxin interrupted her; he quite agreed with his sons approach. Alright, choose the boat first, and tell me how much youre short. Ill lend you the money when the time comes. Seeing his parents agreement, Chu Mingcheng felt really happy inside, and it even increased his motivation to earn money. Just as he thought the discussion was over and was ready to take a shower, Chu Yongxin suddenly asked, By the way, Ah Cheng, where is your friend from? Chu Mingcheng was stunned for a moment but responded, Shes from Hang City, currently living in Xia City long term. Xia City is nice! Chu Yongxins eyes lit up, When you mentioned buying a boat and going out to sea to fish for a living, I was thinking that our area has scarce fish resources; it wouldnt be easy for you to make it in fishing. I wanted to suggest you move elsewhere, but I also didnt know where would be best for you. Since your friend is in Xia City, why dont you also go there and develop your career? Xia City is at the junction of East Sea and South Sea, with abundant fish resources, having both the unique species of East Sea and the fish types of South Sea. Moreover, the prices there are not cheap, which is more suitable for you to make money from fishing. If you go to another place, youre unfamiliar with life and would need time to adapt, but going to Xiamen with a friend there could help you get to know the locale quickly. Now Chu Mingcheng understood his parents thinking, but the idea of moving elsewhere to develop was already part of his own plans. The difference was that he hadnt considered moving so early, but now that his parents were suggesting it, he began to think about whether to go straight there to buy a boat and apply for a local fishing license. Moreover, one-star freediving certification can be directly obtained in Xia City, whereas in Wen City, there is a study club, but the exam still has to be taken in Southeast Asia, which is more troublesome. However, two-star and three-star certifications still require going abroad, and only freediver with at least a two-star rating can learn fishing and hunting to get a license. To be on the safe side, Chu Mingcheng just needs to get a three-star freediving certification, and if he doesnt have time, theres no need to go for the four-star. As for the type of diving that involves breathing tanks, called scuba diving, this kind is not allowed for fishing and hunting; its considered against the rules and even illegal. The next day, Chu Mingcheng took Jiang Luoluo to the seashore at low tide to collect a variety of sea snails and shellfish, including clams, oysters, conch, and conch shells, and they even caught two stone crabs weighing about five taels each. Of course, this was a purposeful trip to the seaside to earn some experience points. The experience points for the aquatic fauna handbook increased by five, reaching a total of thirty-three points. After lunch, Jiang Luoluo had to leave; her flight was at two in the afternoon. Chu Mingcheng didnt return from the airport until after three in the afternoon, but he didnt waste time and used the tracking function to find a mana-made pond covered in aquatic plants to collect some Fushouluo. In the evening, he planned to go to the park and use the scanning function to see if there were any Alligator Gar. The ability called Free Swimming can enhance his physical fitness by 10%, but that is just enough to reach the level of a regularly exercising normal person. Freediving fishing and hunting often require facing underwater currents, and even if he faces less resistance in the water, when it comes to spearing big catches, he similarly needs to tread water, so naturally, the stronger his physical fitness, the better. The pond he found seemed to have been man-made, probably intended for building a house or creating a fishpond. However, due to some unforeseen circumstances, it was left abandoned here and gradually formed a small pond after rainwater accumulated. As soon as Chu Mingcheng arrived, he saw many Fushouluo eggs by the pond edge, and there were also quite a few Fushouluo. He put on gloves, took out a bag, and started to work. As he was collecting, he suddenly noticed something in the water by the ponds edge. Upon closer inspection, he exclaimed, Whoa, are there eels in this kind of small pond? The eel seemed startled by his movements, quickly retracting its head back into its hole. Chu Mingcheng had not yet caught an eel, which would be good to bring up for more experience points in the aquatic fauna handbook. However, since he went to the airport to drop off Jiang Luoluo today, he only had a toolbox for fishing gear in the car, and didnt bring a fishing rod, so it seemed he would have to craft the fishing tools himself. Chu Mingcheng took the toolbox out of the car, cut a section of fishing line, and tied a small sleeve hook that was used for catching stream rockfish. Not finding a suitable branch, he simply tied the other end of the fishing line to his hand. For bait, he could use Fushouluo since the eel wasnt big and the pond looked dirty; he had no plans to catch it for eating. Picking up a Fushouluo, he smashed it with a rock, took out the snails meat from the head and hooked it onto the fishing hook, leaving the tip of the hook slightly exposed. He then placed the bait into the eels hole and gently stirred the fishing line. It took less than ten seconds before he felt a tug on the line; the eel had taken the bait. After hooking it, he couldnt simply yank it out; the best rhythm was a gentle pull and release. When he got it to the entrance of the hole, he could pull it straight out, but this was only applicable to small eels. Chu Mingcheng pulled the eel out, estimated its weight to be around two taels, too small. Seeing the experience points for the aquatic fauna handbook successfully increase by +1, he unhooks the eel and releases it back into the water. Grow bigger, wild eel! Eel: Are you being polite? Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Night Fishing for Cutlassfish Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Night Fishing for Cutlassfish Today, not even half a bag of Fushouluo had been picked up when Yao Xins call came in. Ah Cheng, are you free tonight? Want to go out to sea for some night fishing for cod? Yes! Chu Mingcheng had originally planned to look for Alligator Gar tonight and order a boat from the large shipyard in Huang Town tomorrow. It happened that they had a branch factory here, and the main factory was in Xia City. Unexpectedly, Yao Xin called him back to fish for cod, whose market price usually ranged from ten to fifty, depending on the size. However, the cod caught by fishing, about three fingers wide, could be sold for sixty to seventy. It was a great deal. Whether it was the fished cod depended mainly on whether its body was shinier. Cod caught with nets would have their bodies scratched, making them less shiny. Additionally, the Yellow-eyed Cod was imported from abroad, had coarse flesh, wasnt tasty, and was very cheap. The domestic cod, in contrast, had a more delicate texture and tasted better. Their eyes had a white base and black pupils, and their pupils were much smaller, making them easy to recognize. Okay, Ill add one spot for you. But theres something I need to tell you in advance. Were going out to sea on Brother Hes boat, the same one we used last time we fished for stream rockfish. This time Im calling you over mainly because were collecting cod. Three fingers wide is forty-five per eight taels, and more than four fingers wide, weighing over one eight-tael, will get eighty per eight-tael. Well calculate the price for bigger ones on the spot. If youre willing, come to Wen City pier after dinner tonight. Were setting out at six. If not, no problem. We can fish together some other time. Sister Yao, count me in. Ill come right after dinner tonight. Selling three-finger-wide cod for forty-five per half-pound to them was quite cheaper than the market price, but it offered a good earning opportunity. Chu Mingcheng needed money right now and wasnt picky. Moreover, with the price of eighty per half-pound for one-pound fish, he had nothing to hesitate about. East Seas small-eyed cod, three-finger-wide, generally weighed only about half a pound, while those four fingers wide weighed about eight taels to over one pound. Those weighing over one pound were premium quality cod, for which net-caught could sell for about a hundred per half-pound in the market. The price for those caught by fishing was naturally a bit higher. Therefore, the more Chu Mingcheng fished, the more profit margin Yao Xin could make. Since they were going out to sea to fish for cod at night, it meant they had received a fishing season alert and knew where a school of cod would be. In such situations, just like last time with the Mackerel, continuously casting could yield hundreds of pounds in just a few hours. This was business worth thousands of yuan. How could he not be willing to do it? Ok, remember to come on time at six. By the way, I got an underwater fish lure light that can attract small fish, so you dont need to bring any bait. Alright, Im busy with other things, so Ill hang up now. Bye. After hanging up, Chu Mingcheng poured out all the Fushouluo from the bag and smashed them with a rock. Whenever he had free time recently, he would learn about the habits of various fish species. One must be cautious with wildlife in China; even an insect shouldnt be killed casually because it might be a protected animal. Chu Mingchengs study of various aquatic creatures was not only to avoid mistakenly capturing protected species, but also because identifying marine life is necessary for the fishing and hunting certification exams. As one of the largest fish species produced in the East Sea, he knew it was important to understand their various habits. Cod are active at night and in the sea, they dont swim horizontally, but vertically. During the day, they swim to the middle and lower layers. When night falls, they slowly move to the upper layers to feed, which is also the best time to bite, lasting until early morning. So tonight, he would likely be out all night, so Chu Mingcheng had no time to cook the Fushouluo; he smashed them roughly with stones and hurriedly drove home. By the time he got home, it was already past four. He took two fishing rods, one an iron plate rod and the other a 30-number boat fishing rod. Then he went to the fishing store and bought some Sand Worms, also specifically buying a silver-white fish lure with a fishy smell. This kind of lure was specially made for fishing for cod. Essentially, if the fish were biting well, Chu Mingcheng wouldnt need to use the pungent Sand Worms. He would handle dinner outside, and after eating, Chu Mingcheng also bought two chicken sandwiches and a date milk tea to put in his fishing box. It was highly likely to fish all night and since fishing was physically demanding, they prepared some food to avoid getting uncomfortably hungry. At five forty, Chu Mingcheng arrived at the dock in Wen City. The dock here was quite large, making it easy to find a parking spot. After parking, he put the fishing rod on his back, and carried the tackle and fish boxes to the staircase at the dock. There were many fishing boats moored here, and most of them had people on board. It was common to see dozens or even hundreds of boats gathering out at sea during the fishing season. Chu Mingcheng made a phone call to Yao Xin, only to find out she had just arrived, walking towards him with her gear. Ah Cheng! Hearing the voice, Chu Mingcheng turned around to find her, then hung up and went to greet her, Sister Yao, is it just you? Brother He is already on the boat. Besides you and me, there are two more people tonight, Yao Xin explained briefly, then set down her tackle box to make a phone call. Shortly after, a white fishing boat arrived at the boarding area of the dock. The boat was about eleven or twelve meters long, with a smaller front deck and a rather spacious rear deck. Chu Mingcheng felt very familiar with this boatit was the same fishing boat he had seen at that big shipyard. He hadnt expected He Zheng to have bought one, too; he would have to find an opportunity to ask him about the boat and how much it had cost. The two boarded the boat and found the passageways on either side crowded, just wide enough for one person to pass through. The cabin was quite large, probably designed to comfortably accommodate people. At the cabins entrance, there was a steering wheel; when large catches were hooked at the rear deck, fish in the sea would thrash about, and could even end up on the other side of the boat, causing the line to cut. This steering wheel could change the direction of the boat to avoid such incidents. After exchanging greetings with a few people inside the cabin, Chu Mingcheng was then drawn in by its interior setup. Upon entering, he saw sofas on both sides and a movable coffee table in the middle, where two people he did not recognize were drinking tea. At the top end of the right sofa was the helm, where He Zheng was sitting. To the left of the helm there was a fridge and a microwavean area for cooking. In the middle was a stairwell, leading to a closed door below, presumably to the sleeping quarters and bathroom. Once everyone had arrived, He Zheng didnt hesitate to start the boat and head towards their destination. About an hour later, they reached their destination. Chu Mingcheng put on a windbreaker and gloves, then took his gear and stepped out of the cabin. Yao Xin followed him out, smiling, Ah Cheng, good luck. Catch a lot tonight. Sure, Sister Yao, you too. I hope you haul in three hundred pounds tonight. Hearing Chu Mingchengs words, He Zheng couldnt help but laugh, With Sister Yaos small frame, fifty pounds would be enough for her; hauling three hundred pounds, Im afraid she might dislocate her hands tomorrow and Id have to take her to the hospital. Immediately feeling underestimated, Yao Xin protested, Are you looking down on me? What about one hundred pounds tonight? If you haul one hundred pounds, Ill set up a table when we get back tomorrow! Deal, you said it yourself, Yao Xin quickly took Chu Mingcheng by the arm and headed towards the front deck, Ah Cheng, lets go. Tonight well catch two hundred pounds just to show him, and that meal is on him. He Zheng was taken aback, then just laughed and shook his head. But he didnt say much; if the two of them really did haul in two hundred pounds, he would make at least four thousand yuan. Spending a few hundred on a meal was nothing in comparison. After all, he would also have his wife and child alongnot a bad deal at all! Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Arm Pulls Until Sour Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Arm Pulls Until Sour Both of them reached the front deck, which was a bit smaller in size. Once the fishing and storage boxes were placed, there was just enough room for the two of them to move about. Yao Xin patted Chu Mingcheng on the shoulder, Ah Cheng, whether Brother He sets a table or not depends on you now! For this meal, Ive got to pull in at least 400 pounds! Chu Mingcheng agreed, but under the condition of a fishing surge, he had indeed set a target of 400 pounds for himself. Catching 400 pounds of fish wasnt easy. Translated into numbers, it meant catching over three or four hundred of them, which was challenging even during a fishing surge. Regardless, he was determined to attack this goal. Chu Mingcheng pulled out his iron rod; the fish he targeted had sharp teeth, so he used a steel wire leader which was primarily to prevent biting. And using steel wire for fishing little steel was reasonable too, both involving the word steel. He attached a new silver-white bait with a fishy scent and started testing the water layers. The fish had begun moving to the upper layers; as long as he could grasp their distribution, he could maintain high efficiency in continuous fishing. The boats generator had already started up, and the spotlights shining on the sea surface were turned on, along with the fish-attracting lights already lowered. The small fish and squids attracted by the lights were all prey the fish liked, creating a natural breeding ground. Chu Mingcheng let his fishing line sink to about six or seven meters when suddenly, there was a pullfish on! Lift the rod, reel in, lift the rod, reel in; soon, a shiny silver little steel fish was pulled up by Chu Mingcheng. He hadnt expected to hit his target fish so quickly on the first try. The caught fish expanded all its fins, shimmering and struggling like a transparent scarf fluttering in the windit was quite beautiful. Seeing a living fish like this was rare, much prettier than when they were dead. This fish, including its small head and tail tip, was about forty to fifty centimeters long. Chu Mingcheng measured with his fingers; it was just three fingers wide. Though it was quite long, its actual weight was only about four taels. Not bad, Ah Cheng, three fingers wide on the first one, Yao Xin said as she also held a fish, slightly smaller than his, about two and a half fingers wide and weighing three taels. Seeing her catch fish so quickly didnt surprise Chu Mingcheng. With a fishing surge, almost everyone could fish efficiently. If someone couldnt catch fish during such times, then it certainly wasnt the fishs fault. He removed the hook and threw the fish into the storage box. The fish twisted like a snake a few times, opening and closing its mouth as if it wanted to bite something. But it quickly lay sideways motionless, probably going to die soon. There were no live fish for sale on the market; they were too delicate to keep. Chu Mingcheng continued fishing. At about six or seven meters, he was catching fishclearly, it was a critical time during the biting period, and he needed to make the most of it. As he had expected, the bait was barely five meters deep when the second fish was hooked. Fishing specifically targeted water layers. Once finding the right one, staying at that layer meant the fish would bite fiercely. The feeling was similar to catching a sea eel emerging from its burrow; it wasnt good at swimming, wouldnt drag the fishing line around, just felt a bit heavy. This one was larger than the previous but didnt reach four fingers width. The caught fish were mostly this size; off the shore, they were primarily around four taels, with the occasional few reaching over a pound. Once they grew to a certain size, they would head for deep sea, where you needed nets to catch them. But this size was when they tasted bestsmaller ones were good for frying, larger ones for braising. If you got a really large one, braising it yourself might not taste as good as those prepared in restaurants. Unless, of course, everyone had a chef like Mr. Chu at home. In the next ten minutes, Chu Mingcheng managed to catch seven more fish, adding up to nine with the previous two. That was the power of a fishing surgenot so much fishing as stocking up. Not just him, He Zheng and others on the aft deck were even faster since they used gang hooks. Each fishing line had at least five hooks tied to it, often pulling in two or three fish at a time. Chu Mingcheng couldnt resist seeing this, the iron plates efficiency was fast, but it still couldnt match catching two or three fish at once! He took out his No. 30 boat fishing rod and started to tie a string of hooks, using Sand Worms as bait. During the explosive biting period, it was indeed very thrilling to fish with string hooks. The first time Chu Mingcheng lowered the rod, he noticed the fish on the hook felt much heavier than before. Sure enough, when the fish were pulled up, one rod had exactly three fish, and each fish was uniformly sized, two were three fingers wide and one was four fingers wide. The cost of higher efficiency was the longer duration which made his arms sore. Chu Mingcheng checked the number of times he had transformed his life energy and found that the number of Fushouluo caught today had just reached six times. Six life transformations afraid of wasting arms? He was determined to fish until there were no more fish under the boat today. As time slowly passed, Chu Mingcheng was shocked to find that he had run out of the Sand Worms he bought today. Its a pity he hadnt bought enough. Even though they werent often eaten and could be reused, there came a time when they were depleted. Only then did he notice the soreness when lifting his arms, feeling as if he had periarthritis, and quickly used a life transformation to alleviate it. The fish box was already full of cutlassfish, and the cutlassfish on either side of his fishing spot were also piling up; he had directly sorted the cutlassfish into three different sizes. Chu Mingcheng realized he had caught so many, somewhat to his surprise. His fish box had a capacity of 30 liters, normally holding around fifty to sixty pounds of fish. The cutlassfish deliberately placed on either side of the fishing spot also weighed over thirty pounds, indicating that he had caught nearly a hundred pounds of cutlassfish in nearly four hours. He checked the data panel and found that the cutlassfish had been upgraded to level 5. [Cutlassfish, also known as scabbardfish (Level 5)] [Current Experience: 13/60] [Size +5] [Tastiness +5] [Catch Probability +5] He hadnt expected to catch 163 cutlassfish, their size increasing by 5, no wonder he found cutlassfish four fingers wide more frequently in the last hour. At first, it took him several tries to pull up a four-finger-wide one, and he often caught two-finger-wide ones, but now the two-finger-wide ones were less frequent. It seems that in the face of a school of fish, the Golden Finger really was useful! Im exhausted, fished for almost four hours, and can hardly lift my arms. At that moment, Yao Xin noticed that Chu Mingcheng had stopped, twisted his arms, stretched his body, and also reeled in his rod. When she came to her senses, she realized there were already piles of cutlassfish on Chu Mingchengs side and was suddenly astonished, Oh my, thats excessive, I only have half a box. I switched to string hooks, often catching two or three fish per try; of course, it was faster. So you used string hooks and kept pulling for four hours? Yao Xin couldnt help but pinch his arm, feeling the hard muscles and the speed of fishing, her body slightly heating up. Not really, I took breaks in between, its just that you were too engrossed in fishing to notice. Chu Mingcheng originally wanted to agree casually, but noticing Yao Xins subtly fiery gaze, he shivered, unsure if it was the night sea breeze that was too cold. So he decisively changed his wording, surely he couldnt let a woman like a wolf misunderstand that he had an iron arm. Oh, I see! Yao Xin nodded, let go of his arm and then said, Ill call Brother He over to count the catch first, clear out the catches here so you can continue fishing if you want. Chu Mingcheng heard that she probably didnt want to continue fishing, so he asked, Sister Yao, youre not continuing? No, no, I cant stay up all night, Ill go sleep after sorting out the catches. Yao Xin waved her hands as she spoke. Normally she would sleep after midnight, but continuous fishing was physically demanding, and she was already very tired at this point. Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63 He Zhengs Invitation Chapter 63: Chapter 63 He Zhengs Invitation Yao Xins fish cooler was the same size as his, also thirty liters. The amount in half a cooler was about what he had calculated; she had caught thirty-three kilograms of ribbon fish. As for Chu Mingcheng, He Zheng was also startled when he came over. As an experienced fisherman for over a decade, he too had fiercely fished for nearly four hours, and the amount of ribbon fish he caught was similar to his? The fish in the cooler slightly overflowed, weighing in at sixty-one kilograms, priced at forty-five yuan per kilogram, is 2745 yuan. Seventeen kilograms, two fingers wide, these small ones arent worth much, He Zheng gave 300 yuan. Some four-finger-wide ones hadnt reached a kilogram, all were priced as three-finger-wide, totaling eleven kilograms, valued at 495 yuan. The rest were sixteen fish, each exceeding one kilogram but not one and a half, priced at eighty yuan per kilogram, exactly a little over twenty kilograms, just a few grams more, valued at two thousand yuan. Which means, Chu Mingchengs total fishing income here amounted to 5140 yuan, already exceeding his expectations, and He Zheng was able to earn over 2,000 yuan from the margin. Moreover, it was only 11:30 PM now, at least six hours away from sunrise. Even if the fish bite wasnt as explosive in the latter half of the night, catching another fifty kilos shouldnt be a problem. He wasnt as frail as Yao Xin; facing a school of fish, he definitely planned to fish through the night, after all, such opportunities were rare. Though Chu Mingcheng had run out of bait, that didnt matter. He kept three, two-finger-wide small ribbon fishes, cut them into pieces with a knife, which could also serve as bait, and in fact, worked better than sand worms. Huaxia Aquatic Products Institute had once dissected over one thousand two hundred East Sea ribbon fish, finding that 35% of the food in their stomachs was other ribbon fish. They are a cold-blooded fish species that practice cannibalism. Seeing Chu Mingcheng continue fishing with the fish meat on the hook, He Zheng couldnt help but be astonished, Arent you going to rest for a bit, Ah Cheng? Can your body handle it? I need to fish while I still have energy; Ill rest when Im out of energy in a few hours. Young people do have better stamina. Just take care of yourself. He Zheng nodded and said nothing more, instead feeling somewhat nostalgic. He recalled how staying up all night in his twenties wasnt a big deal. Now just thinking about it brings tears! Soon, only He Zheng and two other friends, along with Chu Mingcheng, remained on the deck; he too went to rest in the cockpit. Though the room was given to Yao Xin, he took a blanket and made do with the sofa for the night. Chu Mingcheng had just used a life transformation, and having rested while counting the catch, his condition wasnt much worse than when he started. The fish bite was still good, or perhaps the ribbon fish meat attracted them more. After baiting the fish, Chu Mingcheng lifted the fishing rod, only to find that it felt heavier than any other time. Could it be a big one this time? Chu Mingchengs eyes gleamed with excitement; large ribbon fish could be sold for over two hundred yuan per kilogram, a few more of those would be much more satisfying than small ribbon fish. However, when he hauled the fish out of the water, he found he had brought up two trains Only two ribbon fish had bitten the hook, but several more ribbon fish were hanging from their tails. One biting three, the other two, these ribbon fish were clinging to their companions tails and wouldnt let go, directly being pulled onto the boat. Ribbon fish biting tails is not to rescue their peers but to eat them. Chu Mingcheng had encountered tail-biting before, but only one at a time. He hadnt expected to bring up five this time, all at once, none narrower than three fingers. Jovially sorting the ribbon fish, the fish meat that had been bitten off was also retrieved using a hook removal tool and could be used again. Yao Xin went to sleep, and her fish cooler was borrowed by Chu Mingcheng, and unlike before, he didnt just throw them all over the deck. Afterwards, his efficiency remained as it had been during those four hours, occasionally bringing up two or three fish. But in reality, the fishing efficiency of the two people on the foredeck had already decreased quite a bit, the density of ribbon fish beneath the boat wasnt as high as before. Only they couldnt see, but the density of ribbon fish beneath the water on Chu Mingchengs side was somewhat higher than theirs. Moreover, the proportion of four-finger-wide fish he brought up this time was somewhat higher than before, with much fewer two-finger-wide ones. When immersed in fishing, one does not feel the passage of time. When the first rays of sunlight hit the sea, Chu Mingcheng suddenly realized, he had been fishing all night. No wonder the fish were increasingly reluctant to bite; the water had also deepened without his noticing. However, he had just used life transmutation once, and his mental state was still decent; although his body was tired, it could hold up. And around him, the ribbon fish was piled upa glance revealed that the catch in the latter part of the night was more than in the earlier part. He glanced at the data panel and discovered the ribbon fish had already reached level 8. [Ribbon Fish, also known as Hairtail (Level 8)] [Current Experience: 45/90] [Body Size +8%] [Deliciousness +8%] [Catch Probability +8%] Dig 242 ribbon fish in the latter half of the night? Chu Mingcheng calculated the number, and was astonishedhe had caught 79 more ribbon fish than in the first half of the night! In terms of fishing time, the efficiency was indeed no worse than in the first half of the night, but in reality, others werent getting as many bites. The Golden Finger was really something. Chu Mingcheng looked at the five ribbon fish laid neatly on the deck. Each of these ribbon fish was over a meter long and definitely weighed more than two pounds. It was a pity he hadnt encountered any of the truly large ribbon fish; even one 1.5 meters long would probably weigh over five pounds and could be worth two thousand yuan. Chu Mingcheng started to select ribbon fish before He Zheng woke up. He picked ten ribbon fish about four fingers wide, preparing them for his parents, Chen Yang, and Zhang Wei to try, specifically choosing two one-pound fish for his parents. Ten three-finger-wide ones were also selected to share later on. This time, there were only about ten pounds of two-finger-wide small ribbon fish, most of which were nearly three fingers wide, but He Zheng wouldnt count them as three-finger-wide, so he decided to pack them all and take them home, as they werent even worth two hundred yuan. It was difficult to oversleep on a sofa on a small boat. As the two who fished on the aft deck cleaned up and entered the cockpit, they woke He Zheng with their noises. Seeing that the sun was already rising, he got up, washed his face, and started counting the catch. When he reached the front deck and saw the catch, he was stunned for a moment. He had never imagined that Chu Mingchengs catch alone could almost match the tallies of his two friends, which gave him an idea. Ah Cheng, youre working hard to ensure I have a full table! Such an abundant catch made He Zheng very happy, since he made five thousand yuan from Chu Mingcheng alone. How could he not be happy? Chu Mingcheng spread his hands and smiled, Well, Sister Yao took me out twice, and she said so last night, how could I not make her happy? Yes, its about making her happy! He Zheng smiled widely. Never mind Yao Xins happinesshe was even happier! Then, he added, Ah Cheng, are you interested in fishing with me long-term at sea? Chu Mingcheng looked at He Zhengs expression and understood his meaning. He wanted Chu Mingcheng to work for him by fishing regularly! If it had been before, Chu Mingcheng might have been interested, given that He Zheng was an experienced fisherman, skilled at locating fish and had access to fishing news. However, he was about to move to Xia City soon and work under someone else wouldnt be as free as working alone, so he tactfully refused, Brother He, Id like to, but Im about to move to Xia City soon and will be developing myself there. Its a pity. He Zheng paused, then laughed heartily, Thats a pity indeed. By the way, when are you moving to Xia City? Im planning to fish for yellow croaker in a couple of days. Will you join me? Having Chu Mingcheng fish with him regularly would mean hed have to be responsible, but hed provide a base salary plus commission and cover meals. While this meant that Chu Mingcheng might earn less in a single trip, He Zheng would ensure he took him out to sea every time. So, a months total income wouldnt normally be meager, just more tiring. But as Chu Mingcheng had refused, He Zhengs further invites wouldnt involve teaching him the experiences of finding fish at sea; it would merely be a pure business collaboration for mutual benefit. If it werent for the fact that he had two people going away, he wouldnt have invited Chu Mingcheng. Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Booking a Ship, 800000 Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Booking a Ship, 800000 Go fishing for yellow croaker in a couple of days? I absolutely must make time for that! Chu Mingcheng hadnt expected He Zheng to invite him fishing at sea even after he had refused. However, the more he caught, the more He Zheng earned, so the invitation made sense. He then received the yellow croaker price quote from He Zheng: three taels or less was US$ 100 per catty, four or five taels were US$ 150 per catty, six or seven taels were US$ 260, and eight to nine taels were US$ 400. One catty was one thousand, two catties were one thousand eight hundred, and three catties or more were two thousand five hundred. If he caught any farmed fish that had escaped the net cage, they would be purchased at US$ 30 per catty. Normally farmed yellow croaker sold for twenty to thirty per catty. He could pay thirty because those that had escaped had been free for a while and could fetch a higher price. Of course, there arent really wild yellow croakers that large anymore. Prices for those over one catty are just to look at, no need to consider them. Chu Mingcheng knew somewhat about the market prices for yellow croaker, and He Zhengs prices this time seemed a bit low. For those under one catty, the average profit was fifty yuan per catty, which was quite a bit higher than what he earned from hairtail. However, fishing for yellow croaker couldnt be as efficiently continuous as fishing for hairtail, plus he didnt need to pay for a boat rental, so it was still an okay deal when he calculated it. Seeing that Chu Mingcheng had agreed, He Zhengs smile widened a bit as he started to tally up his catch from the latter half of the night. The fish that were three fingers wide weighed sixty-seven catties eight taels, totaling US$ 3051. Those four fingers wide but not reaching one catty totaled twenty-one catties for US$ 945. This time, those over one catty were more than before, totalling twenty-six catties for US$ 2080. There were also five fish over two catties, just earning an extra twenty yuan per catty at one hundred yuan per catty, selling for a total of US$ 1120. After deducting the hairtail he was taking home, he had earned US$ 7196 from the latter half of the night, plus US$ 5140 from the earlier half, netting Chu Mingcheng a total of over twelve thousand three hundred yuan from this sea outing. Earning over ten thousand in one overnight session was a deal anyone would grab; a nights work was well worth it. As for the high price of the hairtail, could He Zheng actually sell it? The hairtail caught were specifically not intended for ordinary families, but rather for those with good financial circumstances who were food enthusiasts. Perhaps He Zheng had connections and could directly package and sell to hotels. Back at the dock, Yao Xin was still asleep and hadnt come out. Chu Mingcheng had no choice but to send her a message, then he turned down He Zhengs invitation for lunch. He needed to go back to catch up on sleep, and in the afternoon, schedule a boat and get a physical examination to prepare for his driving license test. Zhao Xia would also be coming in the evening to pick up the sea earthworms, so he didnt have much time. However, before leaving, Chu Mingcheng discussed with He Zheng about the configuration and price of this boat, so he wouldnt be cheated when booking his own. Once back at home, after eating breakfast, Chu Mingcheng caught up on some sleep. Slept at eight and woke up at eleven, even the King of Hell would praise my good health! Chu Mingcheng fed Little Mimi some cat food and after considering it further, he bought an automatic timer feeding machine online, which also included a water dispenser, lest his disturbed rest times interfere with Little Mimis meals. Then he took the hairtail back to the town and handed them over to An Xiuwen. Oh, son, did you go fishing for hairtail last night? An Xiuwen loved fish, especially Changyu, hairtail, and small yellow flower fish. She liked the shiny skin of the hairtail that Chu Mingcheng brought. Yeah, I went to a friends boat last night to fish for hairtail at sea. Knowing you like them, I specifically kept some, and sold the rest. Do you have any left for yourself? Yes, I saved some for frying later. Chu Mingcheng didnt stay at home long, he grabbed lunch and then headed to Huang Town Shipyard to look at boats. He went straight to the large shipyard, and the salesperson was surprised to see him but then became very happy. The first visit might have been just a look, but a second visit meant a much higher chance of buying, so the reception this time was even warmer than before. Since Chu Mingcheng had decided to buy, he wouldnt hesitate anymore. I understand that your main factory is in Xia City, right? I will be moving there soon, so I would like to order a boat to be launched there. The salespersons expression paused briefly, then he recovered with a smile, Of course, no problem. So, Mr. Chu, lets see what kind of configuration you need. Alright Chu Mingcheng nodded and followed the salesperson to the office to discuss configurations and prices. He had found out from He Zheng that his boat, bought just a year ago, was 11.88 meters in length, 3.24 meters in width, had a displacement of 6.8 tons, and a draft of 0.48 meters; it was equipped with twin 200 horsepower diesel outboard engines. The fuel tank capacity was 800 liters, and freshwater capacity was 150 liters. The cockpit included radar GPS, fish finders, and other equipment; the shipyard had handled all three necessary certificates fully, and he had paid eight hundred thousand yuan for it. Chu Mingcheng thought He Zhengs model was quite good, but there were actually two types of propellers, gasoline, and diesel. The gasoline one was faster, with a theoretical maximum speed of 45 knots, while diesels maximum was only 30 knots. But diesel engines are more economical and consume less fuel. A 200 horsepower diesel outboard engine consumes about 40 liters per hour, so two engines would consume 80 liters, and thats at economical cruising speed; fuel consumption would increase at maximum speed. Running it for two hours would cost more than one thousand five hundred yuan, and a single trip out to sea would cost at least two thousand yuan. But even then, its much cheaper than gasoline outboard engines, which consume even more fuel. After understanding Chu Mingchengs requirements, the salesperson asked him to wait for a moment and then went to contact the head factory to get a price. About twenty minutes later, the salesperson came back with good news. Mr. Chu, heres the situation. Normally, when you order a boat from us, you have to wait two to three months for it to be launched. Thats already considering that we have the hull built, only finishing and installation of equipment are needed. However, our main factory currently has a new boat that has just been finished. It was originally ordered by someone else who already paid the deposit. But now, that customer has some financial issues at home, so the boat has been set aside. The configuration of this boat is quite similar to what you requested, but it has twin gasoline engines. Would you accept it? Chu Mingcheng was surprised to hear that there was a finished boat available and naturally, it would be best if he didnt have to wait. However, he definitely didnt want a gasoline engine. I only want diesel. Mr. Chu, actually, gasoline has its benefits, like I havent completed my boating license yet, which will take at least a month. Refitting a boat will take just two to three months; Im not in a hurry. Hearing this, the salesperson was speechless and then smiled again, Alright, Mr. Chu, you can pay a deposit first, and I will communicate with them to change the engines. Changing the engines wasnt a big issue, so once Chu Mingcheng insisted on diesel, the salesperson naturally wouldnt persuade further. When paying the deposit, he checked the contract, which also stated that the boat in Xia City needed a change of engines. He just had to go to Xia City and pay the full amount within two months, the price was still eight hundred thousand yuan. After placing the order for the boat, Chu Mingcheng went to the hospital for a checkup, and once the medical report was out, he could register for a boating license at the Maritime Bureau. It would probably take a little over a month. Once the license was issued, he would then head to Xia City. In that month, he could earn some more money and hence borrow less from his parents. Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Nighttime Seaside Journey Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Nighttime Seaside Journey Back home, he portioned off ten jin of sea earthworms to sell to Zhao Xia and received six hundred yuan. He also made a quick call to Zhang Wei, asking him to come pick up the fish in the evening. When the two arrived, they brought beer and some cooked food, clearly planning to have dinner at his place. Seeing this, Chu Mingcheng brought out the small hairtail he had caught the night before, cut them into pieces, and fried them directly in oil. The good thing about hairtail is that they dont have scales. The silver skin on their body is actually a layer of fat they secrete, which is very nutritious. He also cooked another fish, removed its meat, and added it to Xiao Mis meal. Ah Cheng, hows the boat looking? Inside the house, the three of them took a few sips of beer, and Chen Yang asked first. He had already prepared the money, but Chu Mingcheng hadnt come to borrow it yet. Do you know how much a twelve-meter class three fishing boat costs? Thinking back to his initial plan to spend over one hundred thousand on a fishing boat, Chu Mingcheng now felt naive. How much? Didnt Brother Zhao Jun say it would be around one hundred thousand? Zhang Wei asked curiously. What Brother Zhao Jun mentioned was probably something similar to his, but a class three fishing boat with decent equipment costs at least five hundred thousand. So, I borrowed some money from my dad and bought one for eight hundred thousand, Chu Mingcheng explained. Yikes, Zhang Wei gasped at the high price, Ah Cheng, you put too much chili powder on this fried hairtail! It needs to be spicy to stimulate the appetite to eat more, Chen Yang laughed, I didnt expect you to go for something so high-end. Arent you feeling the pressure? He knew a bit about boats himself; he had thought Chu Mingcheng just wanted to buy a boat to fish around the island, not go all out like this. Chu Mingcheng nodded, There is pressure, so I plan to expand to Xia City. There are more fish resources there, and I also want to learn free diving, so later I can also go hunting for precious fish. Combining fishing and hunting, and if that doesnt work out, I can add renting out the boat to make a profit on price differences. I think I might be able to make back the eight hundred thousand within a year. Regarding renting the boat, Chu Mingcheng considered it as a last resort. If he could make enough money on his own, he definitely wouldnt choose to go out to sea with others. Its good you have a plan, Chen Yang said, seeing that he already had a strategy in mind and said no more. Zhang Wei seemed a bit disappointed, Ah, I didnt expect you to develop in Xia City. I was actually hoping to have you take me fishing during my time off! When you have time, just come to Xia City, and Ill take you out to sea, Chu Mingcheng offered. Deal! Since they had been drinking, Chu Mingcheng arranged for them to sleep at his house to save the cost of calling a sober driver. The ten jin of sea earthworms Zhao Xia had taken were gone, and there were still seven jin left at his house, so he needed to dig up thirteen more jin. With nothing much to do today and still waiting a few more days for his medical report so he couldnt register for a driving license test, Chu Mingcheng took the opportunity to go and dig up the sea earthworms. And he asked Chen Qing and the others to come and take them, which meant another twelve hundred yuan in his account. Then, Chu Mingcheng maintained his fishing rods, waiting for He Zheng to call him to go fishing for yellow croaker. But after waiting all day for a call that never came, he had no choice but to continue in his search for new aquatic products, hoping to advance to level 1 soon and gain the ability to swim freely. This way, even without a fishing license, he could still sneakily dive and catch some easy-to-catch creatures. In the morning, he first dug up some loaches, and then caught some paddy field crabs, earning an experience point of +2. In the afternoon, he used the net he had used previously for catching river shrimp and stream rockfish to catch prawns and hairy shrimp in the ditch outside the hatchery gate. When dried, the hairy shrimp become shrimp shells. If not for the marine life guide, he wouldnt have even known he caught hairy shrimp, because they were so small. There was also a mudskipper there, and Chu Mingcheng took some effort to catch a small one. While catching mudskippers, he unexpectedly caught two types of crabs. These two types of crabs were Red Claw Crab and opponent crab. Red Claw Crabs are also known as Tidal Crabs, although they are small, they have one particularly large red claw. Previously, some people around Chu Mingcheng specialized in catching these crabs and frying their claws, which were especially delicious when cooked. Moreover, in some places, these crabs would be used to make drunken crabs or crab paste. The Opponent Crab is a similar type of small crab. The main way to eat it is also drunken crabs and crab paste. However, this type of crab is a kind of Opponent Crab which differs from those Chu Mingcheng used to catch back then; these could be sold for money, about ten yuan per half kilogram. Once those eligible for sale were caught, they would be recorded in the seafood atlas, and now, the experience points had reached 42, with only 8 more needed to level up. But Chu Mingcheng was having trouble, as he could temporarily think of nothing left to catch at the seaside, so he had to return to Yanmen Island and try his luck when the tide went out in the afternoon. Looking at the time, before he knew it, it was already October 22. Today was the 27th day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar, which was a mid-tide period, with the tide receding roughly from four in the afternoon until eleven at night. After dinner, Chu Mingcheng went with a bucket, sea salt, pliers, a headlamp, and a small spade for seaside foraging. He first went to the beach where he had caught ghost shrimp last time; after so many days, the beach had already returned to its usual calm. The ghost shrimps that filled the beach back then must have attracted many marine creatures to come and feed. But it was likely that there had been many people foraging at the sea during that period, and now there wouldnt be much left for him to catch. However, Chu Mingcheng was only there to collect species today and was not concerned about the quantity he could catch. Searching the beach for shellfish, razor clams, and sand-dwelling snails was typical. By now, it was nearly six oclock, the tide had gone out, and the sun had set long ago. Chu Mingcheng put on his headlamp and turned it on to search for any possible life on the beach. Before long, he spotted a vertical small hole with seawater undulating continuously from high to low. Chu Mingchengs eyes lit up; there was definitely something inside, likely a razor clam. He dug around the surface of the sand with a small spade and then poured some sea salt into the hole. After a while, something resembling an elephants trunk suddenly shot out of the hole. Chu Mingcheng didnt rush to catch it. He waited for it to shoot out a bit more, revealing its shell, and then he grabbed it and pulled the razor clam out of the sand. The clam was about the size of his index finger, but it had a strong suction force; he felt a distinct resistance as he pulled. Gained a razor clam, experience points +1. Chu Mingcheng continued to search the beach. Three minutes later, he finally found a second small hole. But next to this hole was a small lump; this wasnt a razor clam but likely a clam. Chu Mingcheng dug deeply with the spade and scooped out what was inside, only to find a conch. He guessed wrong, which was slightly embarrassing. For the next five minutes, Chu Mingcheng found nothing else; beach foraging was indeed very inefficient. However, he planned to look for another hour before going to the rocky area. Beach foraging required patience. Chu Mingcheng moved to an area still submerged by sea water and immediately found a starfish. The size was quite good, bigger than the palm of his hand. He picked it up and placed it in the bucket, experience +1. In the following hour, Chu Mingcheng found three more types of marine life: hairy clams, jellyfish, and sea anemones. He checked his experience points, which were now at 47, only 3 points away from leveling up; it was time to go to the rocky area. Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Upgrade, Purchase Diving Equipment Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Upgrade, Purchase Diving Equipment Just as he arrived at the rocky area, a wriggling essence slowly crawled toward a creviceit was an octopus. This was a great find. After an hour of chasing the sea at night, he finally found something delicious. Whether it was clams or razor clams, not the gigantic types, catching one or two wasnt really exciting. But octopuses were different. This one was not small at all; it weighed about 250 to 300 grams and could make a whole dish. Chu Mingcheng continued his search in the rocky crevices. There were many unknown varieties of shellfish and snails in the area. He picked up any that he did not recognize to examine them. He had picked up several marine species that the guidebook did not respond to until he reached into a small pit and pulled out some small shellfish. Finally, the marine guidebooks experience increased by +1he had found sea mussels. 49 marine species accounted for, just one short of the last. Chu Mingcheng continued to feel around in the rock crevices and water pits. As he was searching, he suddenly felt something soft. He pulled it out, and lo and behold, it was a sea cucumber. The size wasnt even up to five centimeters. Chu Mingcheng squeezed it and found it soft and bouncy. With fifty marine species finally collected, before Chu Mingcheng could even check the data panel, a familiar warmth surged through his body. He had experienced this sensation once before. After the warm flow subsided, Chu Mingcheng clenched his fist, faintly feeling that this enhancement seemed somewhat greater than the last. He quickly checked the data panel, only to find that it still only showed a 10% improvement in overall physical quality. [Marine Guidebook (Level 1)] [Current Experience:(0/60)] [Unlocked Capture Tools: Hand, Fishing Gear, Fishing Spear] [Maximum Marine Level: 50] [Unlocked Marine Species: 1 Mud shrimp, 2 Crucian Carp, 3 Whitebait, 4 Carp, 5 Ground Tiger, 6 Spicy Snail, 7 Bian Fish, 8 Sea Earthworm, 9 Sandworm, 10 Sea Eel, 11 Tidal Crab, 12 Sea Bass, 13 Crab Tiger Fish, 14 Qiao Zui, 15 Green Fish, 16 Lianyong, 17 Chinese Turtle, 18 Black Fish, 19 Muddy Catfish, 20 Wen City Light-lipped Fish, 21 Australian Mackerel, 22 Grouper, 23 Black Sea Bream, 24 Mullet, 25 Mussel, 26 Song Bream, 27 Striped Stone Bream, 28 River Shrimp, 29 Clams, 30 Oysters, 31 Conch, 32 Aromatic Snail, 33 Stone Crab, 34 Eel, 35 Strap Fish, 36 Loach, 37 Paddy Field Crab, 38 Prawn, 39 Woolen Shrimp, 40 Balloon Fish, 41 Tidal Crab, 42 Crab, 43 Razor Clam, 44 Starfish, 45 Woolen Clam, 46 Jellyfish, 47 Sea Anemone, 48 Octopus, 49 Sea Mussel, 50 Sea Cucumber] [Special Ability: Free Swimming (Hosts comprehensive quality improved by 10%, the host can move through water as freely as a fish when submerged and can breathe freely underwater.)] Chu Mingcheng was surprised that the experience needed for the next level had only increased by 10 points, and it was not doubled as he had imagined. He only needed to catch 60 new marine species to reach Level 2. This was good news for him, as the upgrade of the marine guidebook had significantly enhanced his abilities. Moreover, he had already experienced the ability of Free Swimming; indeed, he could swim freely in the water like a fish, without feeling much resistance. However, to chase fish in the water with this ability definitely wouldnt work. His speed still couldnt match the fishs, and they were more agile than him. But it wasnt to say that he couldnt catch them bare-handed; he would have a chance only when the fish slept at night. Chu Mingcheng felt that the biggest advantage was that he could hold his breath underwater for a long time, almost as if he were wearing an oxygen bottle. Moreover, he had not felt the water being cold when diving before; this was something he still needed to test further. If he could dive even in winter without feeling cold, then his fishing and hunting would hardly be restricted in the future; the only restriction would be the fishing ban period. At this thought, Chu Mingcheng unconsciously stroked his chin. It seemed that when he had some free time, he still needed to figure out how to legally fish overseas. As for the physical quality still only improving by 10%, he felt that his strength had increased from before, probably related to the two times he used life conversion while fishing at night. This made Chu Mingcheng feel he had miscalculated; had he known earlier, he would have used up life conversion before upgrading. Luckily, his physical quality now met the standards of a normal adult man who had been training for many years, at least robust enough to handle large fish. The seafood guide had been upgraded, and he no longer had an interest in continuing to gather seafood by the shore. He threw away everything he had just picked up in the bucket, leaving only the octopus, razor clams, and clams before Chu Mingcheng first went back home. He planned to get a good nights sleep tonight, and then go buy equipment tomorrow before diving to see if he could catch something good. The next day, Chu Mingcheng still got up to run laps, but this time he ran directly from his home to the big bridge and then back. He also bought breakfast along the way and ran home. Through this mornings run, he could clearly feel the changes in his body, which was the physical fitness that a fisherman should have! While showering, alternating between cold and warm water did not give him that warm feeling he initially had in Ou River, It seemed he would have to dive into the water to find out. So, he drove to Wen City and bought a diving suit, face mask, breathing tube, and a diving stick, which was used to fend off sharks. He also bought flippers and a lasso stick. This lasso stick was similar to the ones used for lassoing cats, after lassoing the target, pressing the switch would automatically retract or release it. He could use this lasso at night to catch fish, which would be easier than using his hands and would not result in injuries from the fishs dorsal spines. The gloves he bought were slip-resistant and could pull on the fish guns elastic bands, but they could not guarantee protection from the fishs dorsal spines. Normally, Chu Mingcheng didnt need flippers or waterproof goggles for diving. However, if he were to dive with others in the future, he would need to use these to conceal his identity. The final purchases were two live fish clasps and a small net bag, which would be handy to carry fish after catching them. Thus, free-diving fish hunting requires a lot of endurance from a person, especially when theres a heavy load of several dozen pounds of fish to swim with in the sea. It wasnt feasible to return after catching just one fish each time, as that would be more tiring and time-consuming. After buying the lasso, Chu Mingcheng always felt he had forgotten something, but couldnt remember what after thinking for a long time. Finally, upon seeing a safety rope, he spontaneously bought a bundle, although it was unnecessary for him given his current abilities in the water, but it was something that still needed to be purchased. After the shopping, he immediately drove back to Yanmen Island, bypassing his home and heading straight to the spot where he had surf fished last time. He found a suitable place to park and first came down to find an easy spot to disembark. Entering the water was easy, but finding the right spot was critical as it could be difficult to come back up. Eventually, he found a perfect entry point between two large rocks. There was an approximately thirty-degree slope that allowed one to easily walk up without needing to climb. Once he had identified the spot, Chu Mingcheng changed into his diving suit in the car, put on the live fish clasp and small net bag, took the lasso, and wearing slippers, he walked toward the disembarkation point. According to the lunar calendar, it was nearly October now, and the weather in Wen City was gradually getting cooler. But when Chu Mingcheng was fully submerged, he did not feel the icy cold of the sea water; instead, it felt like the last time in Ou River, as though he was wrapped in the water flow, feeling only warmth and comfort. The only downside was that the seawater here was not as clear as it appeared on the surface, with visibility only about four or five meters. As he slowly swam in the water, he could see many small fish swimming under the sand and rocks, and occasionally, a slightly larger fish darted past him. Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Diving to Catch Fish Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Diving to Catch Fish Diving in the deep sea was indeed a new sensation. Chu Mingcheng had swum at the seaside before, but plunging into the water for at least an hour, clearly observing the underwater scenery, and keeping company with the fish, felt truly wonderful. Gradually, he reached the spot where he had previously been rock fishing. The depth here wasnt the seven or eight meters he experienced while fishing beforenow it was morning, during the ebbing tide. Chu Mingcheng swam to the bottom and found a few Little Blacks hiding between the rocks. Once he saw the terrain clearly, he realized his previous snagged lines werent snagged in vain. He simply searched the crevices and found his fishing hooks from before, deformed, but the lead weights were still there. For a moment, he couldnt help but laugh and cry. With the ability to swim freely, would he no longer have to fear snagging his line? But he didnt bother with these snagged hooks. It wouldnt be too late to collect the weights when he had caught enough fish and was ready to return. Since he was catching fish by diving himself, Chu Mingcheng wasnt interested in the few Little Blacks here; fishing was about catching the big ones. Twenty minutes had passed since he entered the water, but he hadnt felt any discomfort, so he didnt swim up to catch his breath and instead continued diving deeper. The coastal resources were scarce. As Chu Mingcheng swam along, he didnt even encounter a school of fish, let alone a single small one. As for encountering sharks while diving? First, let them break through the fishing nets laid by the fishermen. Even if he did encounter one, he had his diving stick, so there was no need to be afraid. Surely, it wasnt possible to encounter a Great White Shark or a tiger shark over five meters long in the coastal waters! If he did encounter such an almost impossible situation, he could simply feed them a meal. After swimming slowly for another two or three minutes, he found a reef area about twenty meters deep and surfaced to catch his breath. He still hadnt felt any discomfort, but it was necessary to breathe since he was about to spend a long time underwater looking for prey. However, after surfacing to breathe, Chu Mingcheng turned to look back and was shocked to find that he was almost a hundred meters away from his starting point. Although the world swimming record was less than a minute for a hundred meters, he had been moving slowly and was in the sea; he covered a distance of a hundred meters without much effort in two or three minutes. This ability to swim freely was indeed impressive. Turning around, he now planned to try diving into the water twenty meters deep. He had been swimming in three to four meters deep water before and hadnt felt any discomfort. If he could dive to over twenty meters now without feeling dizzy or discomfort in his ears, then it would mean he was indeed cut out for the fishers life. Chu Mingcheng began to slowly dive towards the bottom, quickly reaching a depth of ten meters. Then he continued to decelerate, carefully tuning into his bodys condition. So far, he felt no discomfort whatsoever. Continuing to dive deeper, 11 meters, 15 meters, 20 meters, 24 meters He only stopped once his hand touched the reef at the very bottom. He took about a minute to cover the distance from ten meters to twenty-four meters. He could now feel the slight pressure of the surrounding water current on himself, but this bit of pressure didnt affect him at all and could be ignored. Chu Mingcheng felt he could now qualify for a four-star freediving certificate, diving seventy meters without any problem. He took off the lasso hed been wearing and started searching the sea floor formed by reefs and sand for prey. Here, Chu Mingcheng occasionally saw some big fish swimming slowly not far away, but without a fishing spear, he couldnt catch these fish. Direct visibility at the bottom of the water wasnt great, so he raised himself a few feet, about two meters from the bottom. Then, kicking his legs, he searched for fish hiding in holes and crevices. After swimming about five meters, he finally spotted his prey on the side of a large reefa Black Sea Bream weighing at least three pounds. Chu Mingcheng slowly sank to the bottom and then approached from behind. Then, holding the lasso pole, he slowly extended it, inch by inch, past the Black Sea Breams tail and at that moment, he instantly pulled the trigger. Whoosh~ The lasso tightened abruptly, and only then did the Black Sea Bream realize the danger, frantically wagging its tail trying to escape. Chu Mingcheng, fearing that the lasso around the tail wouldnt hold tight enough and it would break free, quickly used his left hand to press down on its body from the side. The Black Sea Breams dorsal fins flared out in threat, but it was in vain as it could only be pinned down on the reef, unable to break free. Chu Mingcheng released his right hand from the lasso pole, then took out the fish lock, opened it, threaded it through the fishs gill, and relocked it. In this way, even if he let go, no matter how much the Black Sea Bream struggled, it couldnt escape unless it left its head behind. Generally, a fish thats been locked wont move around much because its fine if it doesnt move, but moving caused it pain! Having successfully secured a Black Sea Bream weighing about three pounds, Chu Mingcheng continued to look for his next prey. He had twelve clasps in total and aimed to fill them all before returning. Perhaps because the fish were active during the day, it took him another seven or eight minutes to locate his second target, a Yellowfin Snapper weighing about two pounds, which was also a species he had not yet captured. However, this Yellowfin Snapper was not resting; as he approached and stretched out the lasso, it flicked its tail and swiftly darted away. emmm Indeed, without a speargun, diving for fish wasnt so easy. Even though he was quite fast in the water, he couldnt possibly catch up with it. Chu Mingcheng suddenly remembered what he had previously felt he was missing, a harpoon! In the situation just now, perhaps he could have speared it. After all, whether the fish were alive or dead, as long as they were freshly caught wild fish, the price was the same. Besides, there are no wild live fish on the market, and if there are, one should beware. Just then, a small group of sea bass averaging sixty to seventy centimeters in length arrogantly swam over his head, their languid speed making Chu Mingcheng extremely envious. It was like an armored cash transport vehicle passing by in front of you, but you didnt have an AK to make them stop. As he watched the sea bass leave, Chu Mingcheng turned his head and to his surprise, delight came knocking at his door. A cute Green Lobster slowly crawled past him and into a crevice below. He couldnt catch the fish, but lobsters were much easier to catch. Chu Mingcheng immediately swam down and looked into the situation. He saw the Green Lobster curled up in the crevice, its antennae protruding outside, seemingly observing something. Chu Mingcheng reached out to touch it He missed, and the lobster shot out from another exit and rapidly swam away into the distance. Chu Mingcheng immediately chased after it, rapidly kicking his legs and surprisingly managing to keep up. The lobsters backward dash was swift, but it had pauses, and it wouldnt keep running in the water indefinitely, only quickly hiding in other crevices. Chu Mingcheng, swimming at full speed, was no joke, and he never let the lobster out of his sight. When the panicked lobster hid in a new crevice, this time with no other exit, he successfully caught it. A Green Lobster weighing seven or eight taels wasnt bad, and he placed it in the small net bag he carried with him. This small net bag was originally intended for scallops, sea snails, and large oysters he encountered, but placing the lobster in it for the time being worked as well. Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Harpoons Are More Useful Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Harpoons Are More Useful When Chu Mingcheng could hold his breath no longer and surfaced to breathe, his catch had not increased. Fish resources are scarce near the shore, and its even harder to catch them during the day. He decided to temporarily give up fishing and look for sea snails and scallops instead, hoping to encounter a lobster along the way. Compared to fishing resources, these unattended places underwater had some rather large sea snails and scallops, as he had sporadically noticed on his swim over. So, diving in again, Chu Mingcheng no longer stubbornly pursued fish. This time, he was mainly looking for lobsters, and while searching, he picked up any scallops he saw and put them into his net. Wild scallops generally grow quite large, with shiny shells and a light tan color. Chu Mingcheng looked at the guidebook and realized that this scallop was called the Zhi Kong scallop. Several kinds of scallops are cultivated on a large scale in the north of the country, with a meat quality superior to that of the souths cultivation. After swimming a distance, he picked up three scallops each around ten centimeters in width, pretty big for their kind, and also collected a few conchs. While wandering the seabed, he finally found the second green lobster hidden in a crevice. It wasnt easy. Thinking of the foreign lobster-catching videos he had watched, Chu Mingcheng felt wistful. With his level of diving and swimming, he could probably make a fortune catching lobsters abroad! Soon, he caught the second green lobster, which was a bit larger, feeling like it weighed a pound. However, buoyancy in the water meant he couldnt feel much weight, and he would only know for sure after getting ashore. Unfortunately, after catching this lobster, he didnt encounter any other lobsters, but he did manage to snag four swimming crabs, which was an unexpected delight. Back at the surface, looking at the suns position, he guessed it was already noon, so Chu Mingcheng began swimming back. This diving trip made him realize that without a spear gun, the best hunting times would be at night. Also, he was still missing a fishing spear and a diving watch. With a fishing spear, he could significantly increase his efficiency in catching fish, and a diving watch would let him know the exact time underwater. Swimming back to shore, he casually picked up all the lead weights he had previously anchored and took them back. The fish hooks were also gathered to take away, and after reaching land, the good ones were kept, while the deformed ones were wrapped in a garbage bag and discarded into the trash can. Arriving at the car, he took out a dry towel he had prepared, roughly dried off the water from his body, and then changed back into his clothes inside the car. This is when the importance of having a fishing boat after diving became apparent. After all, the weather was getting cooler. He didnt feel cold in the water, but once ashore, the sea breeze made him break out in goosebumps. Once home, he took a shower and then checked his mornings catch. One black sea bream, two lobsters, four swimming crabs, and several scallops and sea snails. His efficiency was really no match for when he went fishing. After a simple lunch, Chu Mingcheng took a shower and planned to buy a fishing spear in the afternoon to continue diving; it was too much fun and somewhat addictive. But the sudden ring of his phone interrupted him: an unknown number was calling. Answering the call, it turned out to be the police station, asking him to come and receive a commendation for his act of heroism. However, Chu Mingcheng declined. He had only saved the person because he had suddenly gained the ability to swim freely and wanted to try it out. Without this ability, he certainly wouldnt have gone for the rescue. Besides, he suspected there might be reporters there, and he didnt want to appear in the news to avoid worrying his parents if they found out. The police station expressed understanding after his refusal and then ended the call. No sooner had Chu Mingcheng put down his phone than another unknown number called. Brother Chu, this is the firefighter you rescued at the Ou River last time, do you remember? I remember, I remember. What can I do for you? Id like to thank you in person today for saving my life. Are you at home today? This ` Chu Mingcheng rubbed his head. Seeing that someone had specifically called to express their gratitude for saving their life, it seemed a bit rude to refuse! He genuinely admired this group of people who would rush to the front lines whenever there was danger. He glanced at the seafood he had caught today and thought, well, he might as well host them tonight! So Chu Mingcheng gave them the address, asking them to come to Yanmen Island at five oclock in the evening to stay for dinner. But with the little he had, it wasnt really enough to host anyone, so it looked like he would have to put in more effort in the afternoon. Luckily, the tide was coming in that afternoon, so there should be a good haul. Therefore, he went out and bought a speargun and a diving watch, spending only 620 dollars in total. He didnt even know the brand. It would do for now, mainly to keep track of time underwater. He could get a better one when he had more money. After resting and digesting for a while, Chu Mingcheng drove back to the spot where he had dived in the morning. He put on his diving suit, but this time instead of a lasso, he had a speargun. He wouldnt feel right coming up unless he bagged several dozen pounds of fish in the afternoon. Diving again felt different than it had in the morning. Now, at high tide, waves crashed against him one after the other. Although Chu Mingcheng managed to steady himself, he had to use more effort than in the morning. Since it was high tide, he first went to check out the previous fishing spot, where the fish should have moved closer to the shore by now. Indeed, upon reaching his destination, he saw many Black Sea Bream and other fish. As he slowly approached, the fish did not flee in fear, which gave Chu Mingcheng the opportunity to catch them. Soon, he had his target locked in: the largest Black Sea Bream at the site, staying near the rocks, seemingly weighing at least five or six pounds. Such a big Black Sea Bream was a rare find. He had to get it! Chu Mingcheng raised his speargun, aimed at a 45-degree angle from above, and with a swish, the struggling sensation transmitted from the speargun rippled through his hand, frightening the nearby fish into scattering. The stirred-up silt obscured his view for a moment, but because the resistance in the water was minimal, the speargun had been fast and had successful hit the Black Sea Bream. Once the stirred-up silt had cleared with the seawater, the skewered Black Sea Bream stuck in the mud revealed itself. Chu Mingcheng went over to seize the Black Sea Bream first, bled it with his dagger, and then secured it with a live fish hook. Unlike fish caught with a lasso, spearguns and harpoons generally aim for the area around the fishs gills. These types of fish usually dont survive, so they need to be bled in the sea water to ensure the freshness of the meat. Having dealt with one Black Sea Bream, Chu Mingcheng temporarily left the area, continuing along the rocky coastline in search of his next catch, giving time for the fish to gather again. After a little while, he spotted a fish with a plump belly that was entirely black, looking very much like a Black Sea Bream. He remembered the fish species he had learned about, and his eyes suddenly lit up. There was actually a Black Hair Fish here! This was a precious fish that could sell for five hundred dollars per pound. How could he opt for anything less for his premium line of products? Chu Mingcheng immediately followed it. But this fish was in open water, and he didnt have a gun to make a move. Thus, he sped up his swimming, trying to drive the Black Hair Fish toward the reef area. The Black Hair Fish was quick, but it couldnt shake off Chu Mingcheng when he swam with all his might. He always kept to the outside of the Black Hair Fish to prevent it from swimming out to open sea. That way, the Black Hair Fish would instinctively choose to hide in the crevices of the rocky shore. As expected, when it realized it couldnt get away, the Black Hair Fish flicked its tail and immediately hid in the cracks of the rocks. Only then did Chu Mingcheng slow down, approaching carefully. After he located the uneasy Black Hair Fish in the crevice, he didnt rush. Instead, he waited for it to calm down before he thrust his speargun down. ` Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Cuttlefish: I really dont have a drop left Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Cuttlefish: I really dont have a drop left A ding sounded as the spear pierced right through the gill of the Black Hair Fish and collided with the rocks, creating a noise upon impact. This Black Hair Fish wasnt big, but its stomach was swollen, probably weighing about a pound. After similarly processing it by bleeding, Chu Mingcheng used a live fish buckle to secure it through the gills, keeping it nearby for the time being. The spear turned out to be a good purchase. Although not as convenient as a fish gun, it was much more useful than a lasso. Successfully hunting the Black Hair Fish made Chu Mingcheng realize how he should use the spear to hunt fish. This time, he no longer limited himself to the rocky areas by the shore but expanded his search range. Black Sea Bream too small, let it grow! Sea Bass not big either! On the right side, within an open stretch of water, five or six large red fish suddenly appeared in Chu Mingchengs line of sight. Target locked! Chu Mingcheng immediately pursued them quickly, driving the fish. The school of fish was startled and scattered instantly. The biggest one among them was heading toward the deep sea; seeing this, he immediately followed. Fish cant maintain a high-speed swimming state continuously. It sensed that it had escaped the hunter and started slowing down. Just as it stopped, it discovered the hunter had suddenly appeared on its left side, scaring it into turning tail and running. Chu Mingcheng successfully changed the fishs direction of escape; this time, it was heading towards the coast. In this situation, he didnt chase at full speed as before, but dangled behind it. Anytime the fish thought about changing direction, he would wave his diving stick and continue to drive the fish towards the shore. This method of herding fish into traps has been used by many fishermen since the last century. Even now in Japan, they still drive schools of fish into nets, but they dive with oxygen cylinders and move even slower. Unlike Chu Mingcheng, who swam fast, the fish simply could not escape and ended up being driven into the rocky area. Once there, since he was guarding the outside, the fish could only swim around inside, not daring to venture out. Whenever it showed a tendency to leave, Chu Mingcheng would appear in front of it to block its path. In this situation, he was in no rush to use the spear for hunting. As a hunter, what was needed was ample patience. The fish was still spooked and on high alert, so he couldnt approach it. He could only wait for it to calm down, which would then be his time to act. This waiting lasted for twenty minutes. The fish had been clinging to a rock on the left side and hadnt moved much for five or six minutes. Chu Mingcheng then slowly swam over. The spear was ready, swoosh~ A distinct sensation of piercing flesh came; the fishs struggling movements stirred up the sediment, partly obstructing Chu Mingchengs view. He pressed hard against the spear, not allowing the fish to escape. This fish was large, visually not smaller than the last green spot he had caught, weighing at least ten pounds. Only such a big fish made him willing to spend nearly half an hour to capture it. Once the struggling motion of the fish weakened, Chu Mingcheng first bled it; the fish blood in the green sea water wasnt red, but black. After bleeding the fish, Chu Mingcheng took out the fish buckle and secured it. After the lengthy pursuit, he had recognized this fish as a Red Friend Fish, scientifically named Purple Red Snapper. This fish could grow over a meter long and weigh more than thirty pounds, though such a size was rare even in the deep sea. Chu Mingcheng temporarily left the area; the blood of the Red Friend Fish should attract some ferocious fish. He would come back later to check. Handling this Red Friend Fish took quite some time; he swam to the surface to breathe and then observed his location. Chasing around in the water made him lose much of his sense of direction, knowing only the general direction of the shore. It was only when he surfaced that he realized he had unwittingly drifted almost two hundred meters from the landing spot. As for his physical strength, it was still good for now; he didnt feel very tired. And even if he was tired, he had life conversion, so there was no need to worry. Chu Mingcheng adjusted his direction and swam towards the deep water area. There were too few big fish along the coast; the chances of encountering big fish were much higher in the deep water area. Having swum about three hundred meters, Chu Mingcheng encountered a group of Blue Spot Mackerel streaking past in front of him. Upon seeing them, he didnt even think about chasing them. Chasing Red Friend Fish was doable, but Mackerel were out of the question, unless he had a high-powered propeller. As he watched the Mackerel swim away, Chu Mingcheng looked down and found a large Cuttlefish indifferently swimming beneath him. Brother Cuttlefish, how about changing your location to my pot? Chu Mingcheng turned around and swiftly pursued. Sensing the approaching danger, the Cuttlefish didnt flee like the fish but instead slowed down, hiding beside a rock, even changing its color to match the rock. This might fool its natural predators, but it was useless against humans; its stopping made it even easier for Chu Mingcheng to hunt. Slowly approaching, he raised his spear and aimed at the target, then thrust it quickly. Plop~ Ink to the face. Chu Mingcheng was slightly surprised; he had actually missed. The Cuttlefish frantically fled, still spraying ink to cover itself, not realizing that it was actually revealing its location. With a light kick of his legs, Chu Mingcheng burst out from the ink and immediately spotted the Cuttlefish not far away. But he didnt rush to catch up. Instead, he kept his distance, following it until he saw the Cuttlefish hide again in a crevice of the rocks. Chu Mingcheng swam over, laid on the rock, and peered down to spot the Cuttlefish. Once sure, he aimed with his spear and thrust again. The familiar black mist spread out; he waved his left hand to disperse the ink. The sensation from the spear in his right hand told him that he had successfully speared the Cuttlefish. However, he didnt reach to grab the Cuttlefish out immediately like before, but waited until there was less ink and then moved the spear. The Cuttlefish, in pain, continued to spray ink After it stopped, Chu Mingcheng moved again Cuttlefish: I spray! Chu Mingcheng: I move again. Cuttlefish: Thats it, thats it, stop moving. Chu Mingcheng: Really? Cuttlefish: Really, really; there isnt a drop left. Chu Mingcheng: Little buddy, youre running a bit low! Cuttlefish: Assured that the Cuttlefish was exhausted, Chu Mingcheng then picked it up and hooked it. Cuttlefish arent expensive, but they are delicious, perfect for entertaining guests in the evening. As for the Red Friend Fish, they would definitely be sold, perhaps fetching a thousand yuan! As the afternoon passed, the hooks finally filled, and Chu Mingcheng, pulling the tens of kilograms of fish he caught, felt the strain. He put away his spear and headed back to the shore. The afternoons catch was much better than the mornings. After hunting the Cuttlefish, he speared two Yellowfin Snappers, each weighing just over two pounds, and three Black Sea Breams, about two pounds each. He chased down four sea bass to a rocky corner, spearing three of them, each weighing over three pounds. One was a bit small, probably just over a pound, particularly saved by Chu Mingcheng for the evening meal. There were also several scallops and sea snails, and he caught two plump swimming crabs. Unfortunately, he didnt encounter any more lobsters; they were too scarce. When Chu Mingcheng emerged on shore with his catch, a breeze hit him, causing him to shiver instantly. At the same time, a tremendous wave of exhaustion swept over his body, making him feel as weak and sore as if he had spent a day shopping with a woman. Indeed, he had been too reckless, relying on his effortless swimming abilities to roam around all afternoon, even frequently chasing after fish. He even went ashore once during that time to put the previously caught fish into a cooler box with crushed ice that he had prepared. If he hadnt tired to death in the water, it was all thanks to the powerful ability given by Golden Finger. Chu Mingcheng quickly used the Life Transformation, and although he did not completely eliminate his fatigue, he felt much better. He hurriedly placed the fish from the hooks into the cooler box in the trunk of his car, then grabbed a towel to dry off and changed clothes inside the vehicle. Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Selling Fish at the Dock [Extra Chapter Seeking Follow-Up Reads] Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Selling Fish at the Dock [Extra Chapter Seeking Follow-Up Reads] ` After returning home, Chu Mingcheng went upstairs to take a good shower and changed into clean, dry clothes. He had planned to continue fishing that evening, but one episode of life transformation couldnt completely eliminate the fatigue in his body, so he decided to go tomorrow night instead. When he got to the first floor, Chu Mingcheng picked out the cuttlefish, scallops, and sea snails, and also kept three plump swimming crabs and the smallest sea bass, weighing about a pound and a half. That would be enough for hosting dinner that evening; he took the rest of his catch to the docks to sell, as it was mid-tide and the fishing boats had gone out, making sure there would be people at the docks. Sure enough, when Chu Mingcheng arrived at the docks, there were quite a few people there, probably because they had been craving fish after a few days without. Carrying his fish box, he found an empty spot, opened it up, and called out, Fresh fish caught by diving today, all very fresh, come take a look if youre interested. Whether it was the diving-caught stabbing fish or the eye-catching Purple Red Snappers on top of the box, they were especially attractive to the crowd. Most of the people along the coast were fishers, followed by anglers; some might have heard of diving for fish, but none had seen it. Moreover, big fish like these were indeed a rare sight here, and in no time, Chu Mingcheng was surrounded by people. How much are you selling this Red Friend Fish for? asked a male customer, the first to inquire. This one is one hundred and one yuan per half a kilogram, Chu Mingcheng offered, a price forty yuan higher than the normal market rate. The male customer frowned, considering it expensive, The price is a bit high, isnt Red Friend Fish just sixty yuan per half a kilogram right now? Then, a man who had just hurried over and heard this conversation laughed, This Red Friend Fish must weigh at least eight or nine taels if not ten. For such a big Red Friend Fish, plenty of people would buy it for one hundred and one yuan per half kilogram. The five-sixty price is for those weighing one or two taels. Having said that, the man inspected the fishs eyes which were still very clear, then checked the gills and found them to be bright red; he decided to buy it right away. The man who knew his stuff saved Chu Mingcheng the trouble of explaining, but just as he picked up the Red Friend Fish, he heard the mans surprised voice. Is this Black Hair Fish? Damn, brother, where did you get this? I havent seen Black Hair Fish around here in ages, hurry up and weigh it, I want this Black Hair Fish too. The mans astonished reactions made everyone else curious. Both the Red Friend Fish and Black Hair Fish were rare sights in the local market, and fishermen seldom caught them. A savvy bystander might have been envious of the hefty-looking Black Hair Fish, as fish in such condition were surely delicious. But instead of foolishly jumping in to compete with the man, he asked curiously, Boss, how much are you selling this Black Hair Fish for? This Black Hair Fish isnt big, its five hundred yuan per half kilogram, replied Chu Mingcheng, weighing the fish as he answered. The crowd gasped when they heard the price of five hundred, as this was even pricier than Bluefin Tuna in some respects. After all, only Bluefin Tuna of super quality and size could possibly reach five hundred yuan per half kilogram. The crowd might buy Black Sea Bream or sea bass, but even those were so big at Chu Mingchengs stall that some were reluctant to part with them. The weight of the fish was now settled, with the Red Friend Fish weighing ten taels and seven taels, totaling one thousand and seventy yuan. The Black Hair Fish was heavier than he had expected, at one and four taels, costing exactly seven hundred yuan. The man scanned the QR code with his phone and happily paid one thousand seven hundred and seventy yuan before he left with his two fish. He had only come to try his luck today and had unexpectedly encountered a Black Hair Fish and such a large Red Friend Fish. Wouldnt he call a few friends over tonight, prepare some liquor and thoroughly enjoy himself? Chu Mingchengs remaining catch wasnt hard to sell; the two lobsters added up to just one and eight taels, and Green Lobsters werent expensive C the pair went for one hundred and eighty yuan. The three swimming crabs totaled exactly two and four taels, averaging eight taels each, sixty yuan per half kilogram, selling for a total of one hundred and forty-four yuan. When selling individual items, mobile payment was convenient because there was no need to give change, and naturally, there was no need for bargaining. Now, he was left with five Black Sea Bream, two Yellowfin Snappers, and three sea bass. The three sea bass weighed a total of nine and six taels, selling for three hundred and eighty yuan. The two Yellowfin Snappers, exactly four taels in total, were rather large and consequently, being rarer fish, priced higher; Chu Mingcheng priced them at one hundred and twenty yuan per half kilogram. ` Boss, could you make it a bit cheaper? One hundred twenty is a bit expensive, how many people are willing to pay over two hundred for one fish? The best sellers had already sold out, and although the remaining fish were also good, the wealthy customers hadnt arrived yet. As for those crowding around him, some were there for the spectacle, while others were fishmongers who wanted to buy the fish and sell them at a higher price to others. The man speaking was dark-skinned and slender, and from his appearance, it was clear he had endured plenty of sea winds. But he was bound to be disappointed because at that moment, another car pulled up. A plump auntie got out of the car and, seeing that Chu Mingchengs stall had attracted a crowd, came over curiously to take a look. But as soon as she saw the fish in the box, she couldnt seem to move. Boss, how much are you selling these fish for? The plump auntie who asked this question was exactly the kind of person Zhang Wei would consider an ideal acquaintance, and Chu Mingcheng felt she was very suitable from the first glance. Yellowfin snapper is one hundred twenty a catty, Black Sea Bream thats two to three catties goes for sixty, and the biggest one here is one hundred. Upon hearing this, the plump auntie didnt complain about the price but just reached out to check the freshness of the fish, specifically looking at the gills. However, while inspecting, she unexpectedly found a small hole near the gills and curiously looked up to ask. But upon getting a clear look at Chu Mingchengs face, her expression visibly faltered, as if struck by his handsomeness. She quickly came back to her senses, though. She had seen plenty of handsome men and wasnt about to drool over him like some love-struck girl: Boss, why is there a little hole in this spot? Chu Mingcheng patiently explained, I spear these fish myself while diving. They have already been bled in the water, ensuring the flesh isnt contaminated by blood and doesnt have a fishy smell. The plump auntie was astonished, You speared them yourself while diving? Yes, whenever I have free time, I go out to sea to fish or dive for fish. With a meaningful look, the plump auntie sized Chu Mingcheng up and down, as if trying to see through his loose sportswear to the good physique beneath, causing him to feel a chill. However, she quickly withdrew her gaze and pointed at the fish in the box, saying, These fish are very fresh, Ill take them all! Right away! Chu Mingcheng flashed a wide smile and efficiently began weighing the fish and calculating the price. There were five Black Sea Bream in total, the smaller ones two catties and the larger ones more than five catties. The small ones totaled seven catties and five taels, costing four hundred fifty. The large one weighed five catties and seven taels, coming to five hundred seventy. Two Yellowfin Snappers weighed four catties, costing three hundred eighty. Boss, add me on WeChat, and be sure to contact me when you have good stock, said the plump auntie after transferring the money. Sure! Chu Mingcheng agreed immediately without hesitation. This was a wealthy, high-quality customer. Although he was going to develop his business in Xia City, if she wanted fish, he could use express delivery. If she had requirements other than buying fish, he could simply introduce her to Zhang Wei. Chu Mingcheng packed up his things and left; selling the fish had only taken him half an hour, which was quite fast. Brother, wait up! As Chu Mingcheng carried the fish box and walked up to the road above, he was stopped by a lean man. This man seemed to be just a few years older than him, but Chu Mingcheng was certain he didnt know him. What do you want? Chu Mingcheng asked, frowning. The man was as skinny as a monkey, giving off the vibe of a street ruffian from his parents generation, leading to a rather poor first impression. Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Jealousy Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Jealousy Chu Mingcheng was selling fish today, carrying a box of fish to sell at the dock, which naturally caught the attention of the fishmongers and some of the residents on the island. Four thousand for the fish catch, something everyone craved. Previously, when someone asked for the price, the fishmongers had been observing. If Chu Mingcheng had been a novice, they would have made their moves long ago. Would there have even been a chance for customers to buy the fish? But they were all local small-scale fishmongers, not so well-informed. When they heard that Chu Mingcheng dove to fish, they were puzzled but didnt think too much of it since they didnt understand fishing and hunting. But the gaunt man who stopped him knew exactly what fishing and hunting was. Ye Haoyong, an ordinary resident on Yanmen Island. Thirty-five years old, always idle and dodgy with a slippery personality. He once sweet-talked a woman from outside the area into marrying him, but just as they started living together and she got to know him, she decisively divorced him and left. Living on the island, practically everyone could fish or gather seafood. Ever since the sea-crossing bridge was built, people from Xia City often came to buy fish. Thus, Ye Haoyong started working as a fishmonger, buying at low prices from others and reselling elsewhere for a profit, leading to somewhat better days. But such lowlifes typically shared some traits: unable to save money, lazy, unwilling to handle small business and always aiming too high. Not having much money in his pocket today, Ye Haoyong came to the dock to try his luck, preparing to face up and credit some seafood to sell. He knew this was his most stable source of income, and he managed his credit quite well. After selling the credited fish and getting the money, he always made sure to pay it back, so the fishermen at the dock still sold him some of the less marketable produce. What Ye Haoyong saw today was Chu Mingcheng selling fish, four thousand for a box, and fishing and hunting involved, he instantly fixated on him. Brother, I just wanted to ask where you got these fish. I can do diving and fishing too, were all hunters here, how about we team up? Chu Mingcheng sized up the man in front of him, a bit speechless. People who can fish and hunt, even if they look thin on the surface, generally have very solid muscles. The most deadly thing in the ocean is the undercurrents, to fish and hunt, one first needs a strong body, definitely not this sort of skeletal figure. If this guy jumped into the sea, probably just a small wave would wash him away! I was just tagging along with someone else for the experience, someone else took me there, Chu Mingcheng always felt the mans goal wasnt really to go hunting with him, but he couldnt be bothered to deal, so he responded perfunctorily. Ye Haoyong could naturally tell he was being brushed off. Seeing him about to leave, he quickly stopped him and revealed his purpose. Brother, actually I have many clients here who love seafood. But you know how it is with our fishing resourcesbig fish are rare, and the good stuff is even rarer. I think we could cooperate, yeah? You hunt the fish and sell them at the dock, but you cant always be lucky enough to encounter rich folks, right? Chu Mingchengs expression remained unchanged, and he replied with a light smile, Im afraid I have to apologize. I really just joined someone for a sea outing. And Im about to head to Xia City soon, so I cant cooperate either! Isnt finding a partner just asking for discomfort? Now, in the information-rich era of the internet, many smart people no longer go to the market for seafood but specifically to the docks waiting for fishing boats to return. Moreover, some local fishermen, tired of being pressured by fishmongers to lower their prices, have simply started selling fish themselveswho would bother getting a middleman anyway! Keeping customers and connections in ones own hands is the real deal; cooperating with others would mean bitterly earning some fish and then filling someone elses pockets with the profits. Even if considering a partnership, he wouldnt just team up with a stranger casually. Chu Mingcheng had made his stance clear, and Ye Haoyong couldnt really keep him any longer, he could only watch him leave. But the next moment, his eyes lit up. It was Zhao Juns wife coming down from above, who greeted Chu Mingcheng when she saw him. Seeing the two knew each other, Ye Haoyong intercepted Zhao Juns Wife at the corner down the road as she headed towards the dock, and from her, he learned about Chu Mingchengs identity. Upon knowing that his hometown was in the area and that he usually earned money by fishing, Ye Haoyongs expression darkened. Its said that seeing others make money feels worse than losing your own. Ye Haoyong knew that fishing required a license, otherwise it was illegal, something he had learned by idly browsing on his phone. Given the amount of fish Chu Mingcheng had caught, he even suspected that the other man used oxygen tanks underwater. With the mindset of if I cant make money, neither can you, Ye Haoyong took out his phone and made a report. Chu Mingcheng didnt know that a minor trouble was coming his way; when he got back home, he immediately took out his phone to calculate his earnings from selling fish earlier. His total income for the day from fishing was 3,978 yuan. Though it was a substantially high income, he had also spent more than half of it on buying fishing gear and a watch that day. The advantage of fishing over casual angling is that once youve bought the equipment, the only cost is going out to sea. Whereas with angling, the cost of hooks, lines, and bait all add up. Once he got a boat and found a few good fishing spots, he could make a decent income from fishing. Dong dong dong~ Hello, is anyone there? Just as Chu Mingcheng was thinking of preparing the ingredients, there was a knock at the door, along with a familiar voiceit was the firefighter he had saved. Coming! The door was not closed; as he stepped out of the kitchen, he saw two men standing at the door with armfuls of items. It wasnt just the firefighter he had saved; astonishingly, the fire brigade captain from before was there too. Chu Mingcheng hadnt expected him to come, and quickly invited them in. The two men stepped inside, set down their things, and expressed their thanks to him again. Chu Mingcheng politely exchanged a few words, then asked, I dont know how to address you two elder brothers? My name is Li Bin, and this is my captain, Liu Jianjun, replied Li Bin, the firefighter. Im Chu Mingcheng, he introduced himself, went to the kitchen to make tea for them, and casually asked, By the way, how is that girl from last time? The girl realized her mistake and even came to the hospital to apologize and thank me; I think shes grown a lot from this incident, Li Bin said with a smile. He was quite happy to have saved a life, and that she had matured, even though he had nearly lost his own life in the process. Its good that she changed, Chu Mingcheng nodded. Its just a shame that the scumbag didnt face any punishment! Moral issues, at most, could discredit someones reputation, but amplifying the issue to that extent often costs money. However, Chu Mingcheng had yet to see any news about it, and even the news about the rescue had not gotten much attention. At that moment, Liu Jianjun and Li Bin both showed a peculiar expression. That man got arrested for theft. Huh? Chu Mingcheng was instantly baffled. What was this about? Liu Jianjun found it somewhat amusing yet troubling, and explained, The girl comes from a well-off family, a bit too sheltered and naive. She lived with her boyfriend and let him use her money freely. Just two days before they broke up, the guy took ten thousand yuan in cash from a drawer. Apparently, he had done it often before, he continued. But this time, she didnt know about him taking the money until she returned from the hospital and then she called the police! Chu Mingcheng: Nicely done. Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Malicious Reporting Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Malicious Reporting Considering the current situation between the two of them, that girl definitely wont budge, so that jerks prison tears are pretty much set in stone! But then, Chu Mingcheng felt something wasnt quite right, Huh, wait a minute! If that girl is usually so generous, then it wouldnt make sense for the guy to break up with her! Liu Jianjun commented with some speechlessness, He didnt break up with her, just gave her the cold shoulder. Plus, she isnt the only naive girl in the world! In this aspect, Chu Mingcheng thought Zhang Wei was smarter, knowing that a girl with love on the brain was trouble and definitely not someone he would mess with. After understanding the situation, he invited them to stay for dinner, Brother Liu, Brother Li, I caught some seafood today. Ill go get it ready; why dont you stay for dinner tonight? Liu Jianjun and Li Bin stood up in a hurry, No, no, we have plans tonight, we wont trouble you! Dont mention it; I caught it all myself while diving, its very fresh. Others might bring gifts big and small, but Chu Mingcheng was not one to skimp on a meal. He went straight to the kitchen, took out scallops and sea snails from the bucket, and handed over the kitchen knife and chopping board to them. Brother Liu, Brother Li, Ill leave these to you. Theres a well in the front yard for cleaning. Liu Jianjun looked at the almost half-full bucket of scallops and sea snails with a curious expression, Are you sure you caught these yourself diving? Not bought from the market? Chu Mingcheng spread his hands, Youve all seen how good I am in the water. If I can save Brother Li under the rapid currents of the Ou River, isnt it normal for me to dive in the sea and pick up some scallops and sea snails from the seabed? And I tie a safety rope and take a diving rod with me, so there wont be any problems. Liu Jianjun intended to advise him not to be so reckless because the undercurrents in the ocean are not comparable to those in a riverthey can drag a person under in an instant. It only takes a dozen seconds to sweep someone from the shore to a hundred meters out. But hearing that Chu Mingcheng used a safety rope put his mind somewhat at ease. With a safety rope and Chus excellent swimming skills, it was unlikely there would be an accident. In case If its ones fate walking out the door could lead to getting hit by a car; life is always fraught with danger. Just be safe, and well take you up on dinner tonight. Its no trouble; its just a meal. Chu Mingcheng said with a smile as he waved his hand and went back to the kitchen to prepare other ingredients. Li Bin carried the bucket to the front yard and began toclean the scallops. As he scrubbed, he seemed to recall something and laughed, I think Brother Chu is quite like Xiao Zhaohe also enjoys diving. As Liu Jianjun heard this, he too remembered a colleague, smilingly said, Indeed, if Xiao Zhao had been there last time, you wouldnt have been in danger. I heard hes now a coach at a club? Yeah, turned his hobby into a job, that kid must be pretty happy! The two of them continued to process the scallops and sea snails while reminiscing about fun times in the past. Meanwhile, Chu Mingcheng started with the cuttlefish in the kitchen, planning to braise it later. The sea bass he decided to steam; he didnt like it braised. He also took out some vermicelli to soak in water, planning to bake the scallops with it later. Once everything was prepared, he smashed several garlic cloves with the knife, peeled them, and chopped them up to make a garlic sauce. While dinner was being methodically prepared, a government car was driving on the sea-crossing bridge, blissfully unaware. It was the Fishery Administration en route. They had received a report, and the informant had provided the suspected violators home address, so they were naturally obliged to check it out. Cracking down on illegal fishing has always been part of fishery management, and theyve been getting stricter over the years. They had to be strict; otherwise, domestic waters would indeed run out of fish. However, when the leader of the group arrived at the destination, they were momentarily taken aback upon seeing someone barbecuing scallops in the yard. Jianjun, what are you doing here? Liu Jianjun was also confused upon seeing the newcomer, Zhao Qiang, what brought you here? I received a report that someone was fishing illegally, so I came over to check it out. Upon hearing this, Liu Jianjuns brow furrowed, sensing that the situation was not simple. It might be a misunderstanding. Li Bin, go and call Ah Cheng over. After a short while, Chu Mingcheng arrived in the front yard, and was even more puzzled upon seeing several people in uniform. The commotion also attracted the neighbors attention, and they all gathered around. They each speculated whether Chu Mingcheng had done something illegal that warranted the polices visit. Seeing the crowd around, Zhao Qiang told them to disperse and then gestured for the group to enter the house to talk. Initially, they were supposed to take Chu Mingcheng to the Fisheries Administration to understand the situation and search his house for illegal fishing tools. But out of respect for Liu Jianjun, he decided to ask directly here first. Looking at the puzzled Chu Mingcheng, Zhao Qiang said, We received a report that youve been diving and fishing illegally, so weve come to ask you about it. Chu Mingcheng was shocked and immediately thought of the skinny man who had blocked his way before. I did go underwater hunting indeed, but I used a harpoon, which should not be considered illegal fishing. As he spoke, he went to the storehouse to fetch his harpoon and lasso, even indicating that Zhao Qiang and his team were welcome to search. With this, you can catch sea harvests worth four thousand yuan? Zhao Qiang picked up the harpoon, examining it with skepticism. Chu Mingcheng nodded, Of course, you just have to aim and shoot the fish, is there a problem? The few people around him couldnt help but twitch their eyelids, but Liu Jianjun, who knew of his swimming abilities, quickly clarified, Zhao Qiang, Ah Cheng is a very good swimmer. He once rescued a drowning person. In the current of the Ou River, Ah Cheng managed to fish him out of the water. We came here today to thank Ah Cheng for that, so you dont need to doubt this matter. The one who rescued people is this young man? Zhao Qiang suddenly realized, as this incident had been discussed by his colleagues at the Fisheries Administration. The conclusion at the time was that not even professional swimmers could necessarily do it, since its difficult to maintain stability in those waters, mainly due to physical strength not permitting it, let alone diving to the bottom to find a person whos drowning. But with this, the suspicion against Chu Mingcheng was naturally cleared. If he could rescue people, catching a fish would be a piece of cake, wouldnt it? And they hadnt found any spearguns or other hunting equipment. It seems to be a misunderstanding, weve disturbed you, so well be leaving now. Wait a moment, I want to ask what are the consequences for making a malicious report. Chu Mingcheng, already guessing who was behind it, wouldnt let it go easily if the consequences were serious. Upon hearing him say this, Zhao Qiang understood what he was thinking and gave him a brief explanation. Malicious reporting, if it results in criminal responsibility for the other party, can constitute the crime of false accusation or framing. But your case isnt severe, mainly because the fish you caught werent that heavy. Even if you were to be caught, it would only result in confiscation of the tools used in committing the offense and a fine. So even if you find the person who made the malicious report and provide evidence, you cant do much to them. At most, they might be detained for a few days and fined, or possibly if you sue, you might get compensated a little money. Alright, I understand! The punishment not being severe was within his expectations. Moreover, he did not have solid evidence to prove that the other party had made a malicious complaint; reporting it would be useless, so he had to let the matter go for now! Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Envious? Then keep envying! [Vote & Follow] Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Envious? Then keep envying! [Vote & Follow] The fisheries officials left, but Chu Mingchengs mood for dinner had been thoroughly ruined. Do you need us to help? Liu Jianjun asked. Chu Mingcheng shook his head, No need, it was just a bit upsetting, lets continue with the meal. At that point, Li Bin suggested, Ah Cheng, why dont you get a free diving fishing license? With that, you can dive and fish without worry, and no one will bother you. I was actually planning to do that. The boat is already ordered, its just that I havent had the chance yet because Im moving to Xia City. Youre moving to Xia City? Liu Jianjun asked in surprise, then quickly realized, Thats right, the coastal fish resources are too poor around here, its indeed better for you to develop your skills over there. If youre planning to get a free diving certification, I can introduce someone to you. Hes a former comrade of mine who also loves free diving. After being discharged, he became a coach at a club in Qiongzhou. In most places in the country, you can only get a one-star certificate, but you can get a two-star one there, and for the fishing license, you can apply after you have the two-star certification. Chu Mingcheng became quite interested when he heard from Liu Jianjun that his former comrade could help him get a two-star free diving certification. He knew you could get a two-star certification in Qiongzhou, but since he wasnt planning on developing his career there, he initially intended to just get a one-star in Xia City. After all, he needed to get both a drivers license and a free diving certificate, so his time was a bit tight. But if he had Liu Jianjuns recommendation, maybe he wouldnt need to learn slowly at all; with his diving skills, he could take the test directly. He figured he could get his two-star free diving certificate at an extremely fast pace, then go apply for the fishing license. No one would choose the long route if there was a shortcut, so Chu Mingcheng immediately asked Liu Jianjun to make the connection for him, enabling him to quickly earn the two-star certificate. This matter improved his mood quite a bit, and the atmosphere at dinner returned to how it was before. The next day, Chu Mingcheng received a notification from the hospital; his medical report was ready. Originally, he planned to get his drivers license while at home, and after he had it, he would move to Xia City, where he could go out to sea to fish while applying for the free diving certificate. Besides, going there would mean renting a house, and living expenses would certainly rise. If he couldnt go out to sea, it made more sense to earn some money at home first. Even though He Zheng had stood him up and didnt call him to go fishing for yellow croaker, he knew the area well and there were other good spots to go to. But now, with Liu Jianjuns help, his original plan was clearly disrupted. Yesterday, Liu Jianjun had contacted his former comrade and explained the situation. His comrade said that since Chu Mingcheng often dived in the sea, obtaining a two-star certificate would be easy, and he could even get a fishing license there, perhaps all within a week. Since he could get the certificates in such a short time, he definitely chose to get them first. With the fishing license, there was no need for him to come back; he could just apply for his drivers license in Xia City and simultaneously earn money from fishing and hunting. Chu Mingcheng first booked a flight to Qiongzhou online. It wasnt a holiday season, so he didnt need to rush, and he set his departure for the day after tomorrow. Then he went to the hospital to get his medical report, and on his way, he paid a visit to Chen Yangs shop. But at half-past ten, the shop was still closed, prompting him to take out his mobile phone in disbelief. What time is it? Why havent you opened the shop yet? Chen Yang was a bit confused, thinking Chu Mingcheng needed him for something important, but instead, he was asking why the shop wasnt open yet? Whats going on? I came to get my medical report today and dropped by your shop on the way. Oh oh oh, Im on my way, Ill be there in a moment. Alright, then Ill wait at the front of the shop. Since Chen Yang was driving, Chu Mingcheng didnt press the matter any further. After the call ended, it took just five or six minutes before he arrived. Zhang Wei was the first to get out of the car from the passenger seat and greeted Chu Mingcheng with an enthusiastic slap on the back. Ah Cheng, stay for lunch. Are you treating? Im treating, just say what you want to eat. Roast whole sheep or a few tomahawk steaks? Damn, youre heartless! Chen Yang chuckled as he came over, Alright, if Ah Wei is treating at noon, then Ill treat tonight. Ill take you out for sea, land, and air. Sea, land, and air? Chu Mingcheng became curious instantly. What was that? Chen Yang smiled mysteriously, Youll know when the time comes. Eventually, because a rich dude was treating them to a big meal in the evening, Zhang Weis wallet was spared at noon and they ordered three bowls of wonton noodles to fill their stomachs. By the way, I have something to tell you guys. The day after tomorrow, Im going to Qiongzhou to study free-diving fishing and hunting, and to get certified. Once I pass, Ill head straight to Xia City. When you have time, come visit me in Xia City. Chen Yang was shocked, So soon? Zhang Wei nodded, Werent you going to get your drivers license at home first? Chu Mingcheng explained, Theres been a change. Ive met a free-diving instructor. Going to Qiongzhou is to get certified with him; its faster. Once I have the certification, I can fish and hunt, so theres no need to come back. Chen Yang patted his shoulder and said, Alright, as long as youve decided, then go for it. When we come to visit, remember to get us some rare catches. Ah Cheng, wait for me to make a name for myself, okay? When you do, take me with you. Compared to staying at the shop every day, Zhang Wei actually preferred Chu Mingchengs profession. However, Chen Yang had always taken good care of him, making it difficult for Zhang Wei to leave. The words he said now left Chu Mingcheng and the others unsure whether he was joking or serious. Damn, what am I going to do if you also run off? Chen Yang laughed and cursed. Zhang Wei didnt hesitate to retort, Cant you find yourself a girlfriend? Why are you always sticking to me? Chen Yang suddenly found himself with no comeback to that remark. After resting a bit in the shop and agreeing to have dinner together the day after tomorrow on Yanmen Island, Chu Mingcheng left first. He planned to dive under the bridge piers to check out the fish situation and catch some good ones. He would bring one fish home tomorrow to talk to his parents about leaving. The other he would save for the dinner with Chen Yang and Zhang Wei the day after tomorrow. Since they were parting ways, indulging in two lavish meals wasnt too much. Back on Yanmen Island, he put his gear in the trunk of his car and first headed to Zhao Juns house. Zhao Jun would definitely go out to collect his nets in the afternoon, so Chu Mingcheng could hitch a ride on his boat to the bridge piers. It shouldnt be too much trouble coming back either. It was quite coincidental; as soon as Chu Mingcheng arrived at Zhao Juns home, he saw him opening the door to leave. Brother Zhao Jun! Huh, Ah Cheng, you looking for me? Yeah, I plan to dive and hunt fish near the bridge piers and wanted to hitch a convenient ride. Sure, but you can dive? Zhao Jun was somewhat surprised; his young buddy had quite a few skills! Of course, I speared quite a few fish yesterday and sold them for a good amount at the dock. Upon hearing this, Zhao Jun suddenly remembered what other fishermen at the dock were talking about last night and realized, So it was you who sold several thousand worth of fish yesterday! Thats right, it was me! Chu Mingcheng nodded in acknowledgment, Lets head to the dock now! Lets go! Zhao Jun needed to keep many of his catch chilled for selling later, so he drove a van to the dock, with plastic boxes and buckets for storing the fish in the back. Both men arrived at the dock, and Chu Mingcheng carried his gear onto the boat before setting off. His hunt today also had a purposeto draw out the lean man from yesterday. Still envious? Then keep on envying! Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Undercurrents of the Sea Floor Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Undercurrents of the Sea Floor Ah Cheng, is spearfishing while diving difficult? Beneath the bridge, watching Chu Mingcheng tie the safety rope to the protruding rebar, Zhao Jun asked, unable to contain his curiosity as he recalled his catch from last night. Although he now fished in his spare time, his hauls were not stable. Sometimes he could make a few hundred or even over a thousand quickly, but he also faced days with an empty haul or only two or three small fish. If there was a way to increase his income, that would naturally be better. Brother Zhao Jun, Im a good swimmer, and holding my breath while diving for two minutes isnt a problem for me, plus I have a strong adaptability to water pressure, so I occasionally spearfish. Free diving requires professional training and assessment, and so does spearfishing. I really dont recommend it for you since you have kids and a family to support. Stick to normal fishing; dont even think about this. Chu Mingcheng immediately turned around to dissuade him, his expression very serious. He only engaged in diving because of his ability to swim freely. Otherwise, he would not have chosen to dive alone before learning professional free diving. Even when diving, he would choose to do it with others. After speaking, he suddenly realized a problem. If others saw him diving for fish and were tempted to do the same, wouldnt he be putting them at risk? Realizing the gravity of the situation, Chu Mingcheng decided he would take the opportunity to educate the people at the dock on the risks when he went back to sell fish in the afternoon. He didnt want anyone following suit and ending up in danger. Zhao Jun wasnt stubborn; after hearing the advice, he let go of the idea. Chu Mingcheng was ready, with a net bag and live fish hook hanging from his body and a speargun in hand. At first glance, one might think he was the Sea King. However, he had also not forgotten to bring his lasso today. The geography under the bridge was different from the rocksides, and he wasnt sure how effective the speargun would be. Brother Zhao Jun, you just go about your business. Once youve taken care of your nets, come back to pick me up, said Chu Mingcheng. Are you sure youll be okay? No worries, with this safety rope, I wont have any problems. Alright, just be careful. Ill come get you after I finish with the nets. Zhao Jun nodded and watched Chu Mingcheng swim a short distance away before driving the fishing boat a bit further out, then departing in another direction. Once he saw Zhao Jun leave, Chu Mingcheng dove into the water. The water under the bridge was murkier and had lower visibility than his previous diving spots, but there were definitely not a few fish. Having descended five or six meters, he spotted several small shoals of fish. Diving further, he even vaguely made out the shadows of several large fish. Indeed, beneath the bridge was the ideal spearfishing spot. When going out to sea, the common choice was to fish around oil rigs. At a depth of ten meters, Chu Mingcheng untied the safety rope attached to him, planning to dive deeper, study the surrounding terrain, and find a suitable place for hunting fish. The fish were circling around the pillars, and he wasnt confident he could spear them in such conditions. When he reached a depth of about twenty meters, he saw the base of the bridge pillars embedded in the seabed. Observing his surroundings, he noted that there were plenty of fish hiding there too. Suddenly, a large fish appeared on one side of the pillar and caught Chu Mingchengs attention. It was even bigger than the Red Friend Fish he had caught yesterday. Forgoing his inspection of the terrain, he immediately swam towards it. The big fish was alert. When Chu Mingcheng was only three meters away, it suddenly flicked its tail, kicking up mud and sand and darting away in an instant. Without hesitation, he followed, intending to herd the fish toward the area connecting Yanmen Island and the bridge, a location he had specifically chosen. If he didnt find a good spot, hed expend some energy to drive the fish there, where there were also rocks. As long as Chu Mingcheng herded the fish toward him, he was confident that he could spear the fish with his harpoon. But now the fish was heading toward the middle of the bridge, and he needed to catch up to change its direction first. He had only pursued it for a short distance when the large fish suddenly stopped, as if something controlled it. When Chu Mingcheng realized the problem, it was already too late, propelled by the inertia, he also reached the position of the large fish and subconsciously grabbed onto it. Then he felt a very strong suction on the left side, which swept him and the big fish away instantly. The big fishs pause had not even lasted two seconds, and he had almost no ability to resist. In that instant, Chu Mingcheng knew he had encountered an underwater current. Being swept away by an underwater current usually meant certain death. But Chu Mingcheng didnt panic, because he could stay underwater for at least an hour, and from diving down to chasing the fish, he had only been under for about five or six minutes. Underwater currents were frightening, but they couldnt keep rolling him along indefinitely. With the large fish in front and him behind, he was somewhat better off than the big fish, which was being spun around by the current, at least he wasnt being turned over and over. And Chu Mingcheng was also waiting, waiting for the force of the current to weaken. Indeed, after just a short while, he distinctly felt the suction of the current weaken, and the large fish, seemingly dizzy from being spun, was slanting and flicking its tail as if trying to break free from the slackening current. Chu Mingcheng took his chance and swam over, kicking fiercely onto the fishs head, kicking so hard that even his foot hurt a bit. Given the negligible resistance he felt in the water, the force of this kick was only slightly weaker than one on land, certainly enough to add to the big fishs dizziness. As expected, the big fish that was kicked floated along with the current, then flipped over, belly up. Chu Mingcheng took this opportunity to loop a lasso around it, preventing the fish from suddenly waking up and escaping, then he used a bloodletting dagger to kill it. After letting most of the blood out, he secured it with a live fish hook. This was a grouper, with seven dark bands on its body. Through this characteristic, he immediately recognized it as a Seven-band Grouper. This type of grouper was not well-known domestically; it was the only warm-temperate grouper in our country, extremely tolerant to cold, and was the only grouper distributed in the Yellow Sea. Most groupers are found in warm waters, and their flesh becomes tougher as they grow larger. But this species of grouper was different; due to its cold tolerance, it had a high-fat content. It could grow up to more than one hundred kilograms, and the bigger it was, the tastier it became. Unfortunately, the one Chu Mingcheng caught was a bit small, probably around seventy to eighty centimeters in length, weighing only an estimated 10+ kilograms. As for the price, it should be between three to five thousand. This grouper, Chu Mingcheng decided to take home tomorrow to honor his parents, allowing them to taste a truly top-grade grouper. After dealing with this grouper, the effect of the current on him had vanished completely. Chu Mingcheng began swimming back to the surface, poking his head out for a breath of air, and then surveyed his surroundings. He found that he was at least seven to eight hundred meters away from the bridge; a normal person, even if they were lucky enough to survive the current, wouldnt be able to swim back. Chu Mingcheng started swimming back silently and began thinking about the role of this underwater current. Under normal circumstances, it would be very difficult for him to hunt down the Seven-band Grouper he carried, he had to herd it into a corner and then wait for it to calm down to have a chance of spearing it with a harpoon. If he missed and the fish escaped, it would be another chase, time-consuming and exhausting. This was the main reason why, even with his underwater advantages, he was only able to catch twelve fish yesterday afternoon. Now, unafraid of the underwater current, he might be able to utilize it to help catch fish. Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Isnt This More Thrilling Than a Roller Coaster? Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Isnt This More Thrilling Than a Roller Coaster? Chu Mingcheng found a way to conserve energy as he returned to the pier, and he checked the timeit had only taken him eight minutes, almost a minute per hundred meters. At that moment, he even considered whether he should switch careers and become a swimmer instead. Breaking his own record every year, each time faster by 0.1 secondswouldnt that be awesome? But it was just a thought, as being an athlete required repetitive and dull practice, which wasnt as freeing as going out to the sea to hunt and fish. Chu Mingcheng hung his harpoon on the rebar of the pier, as he didnt need the harpoon for catching fish with the currents. He then unhooked the live fish and tied them to the rebar as well. Utilizing the currents to catch fish meant he couldnt carry the fish with him. Otherwise, the fish could get caught up in the currents and its dorsal fin might stab him. Moreover, his position was at the edge of the bridge, where boats rarely passed, so it was highly unlikely that anyone would spot his stuff hanging under the pier. After preparing, Chu Mingcheng dove back into the water. Now his target fish wasnt fixed, groupers were hard to come by, and he was fine with anything valuable. He had previously caught striped rockfish here, which were also pricey, so he decided to search for them. Ignoring the smaller fish in the upper middle layer, he went straight to the bottom. After checking the previous position of the currents, he began searching for prey. He found nothing at the bottom, but when he looked up, he saw a good four or five striped rockfish swimming towards him from not far away, leisurely circling a pillar above him. Chu Mingcheng immediately surged upward, startling the school of fish, which scattered in all directions, with two heading towards the currents. He followed them, expecting the two fish to split up again, but they plunged into the currents instead. The currents that even the previous grouper couldnt withstand were too much for the sea breams weighing only two to three pounds. They had no ability to resist and were swept away by the currents. Chu Mingcheng didnt hesitate and plunged into the currents to continue the pursuit. He hadnt been prepared before and hadnt really felt what it was like to be swept away by the currents with his feet forward. This time, with his head forward and his hands placed at his sides in a straight line, he swiftly skimmed through the water, experiencing a sense of weightlessness and visual impact similar to a roller coaster plunging from a heightit was thrillingly awesome. If he could speak, Chu Mingcheng would definitely shout, Thrilling! Isnt this more thrilling than riding a roller coaster? That costs money and every time you ride, you have to queue, but he could experience these currents again and again. And the two sea breams in front of him were already dizzied by the currents. This time Chu Mingcheng specifically checked the time, and when he emerged from the currents, about a minute had elapsed. The speed had reached over thirteen meters per second, almost matching that of a roller coaster. No wonder, whether it were him or the fish, once they entered these currents, there was no room for struggle or resistance. The two sea breams were more completely dizzy than the grouper, and Chu Mingcheng easily caught them. He lassoed one, and held the other in his hand to bleed it. After handling both, Chu Mingcheng lassoed the tails of the two fish and swam back. Returning to the pier, the grouper was still intact. After securing the sea breams, Chu Mingcheng didnt waste any time and promptly went back down to continue driving fish. Zhao Jun had about two hours before he needed to haul in his nets, and once the boat came over, he couldnt use the undercurrent to fish anymore. Otherwise, going down under the bridge and reappearing eight hundred meters away wouldnt be easy to explain. It was a pity that there were few types of fish under the pier, and the larger fish were just sea bass and black sea bream, with occasional sightings of stone bream and yellowfin snapper. There were plenty of small ones, like small yellow flower, Changyu, stone fish, and others. If Chu Mingcheng couldnt find any stone breams, he would choose sea bass and black bream instead. By the time Zhao Jun arrived, he had no idea how many times he had experienced a rollercoaster ride. Unaware of any discomfort in himself, he kept repeating until he saw a fishing boat approaching from afar, only then did he float on the surface and wait. Ah Cheng, are you okay? Do you feel any discomfort? Zhao Jun focused all his attention on Chu Mingcheng. Seeing that he was fine, he breathed a sigh of relief and didnt initially notice the fish hanging under the steel bars. Im fine. There were too many fish under the bridge. I caught a bunch and had a blast today. Chu Mingcheng climbed onto the boat with Zhao Juns help and then vigorously lifted the fish attached to the live fish hitches. Twelve hitches were not nearly enough, so he ended up threading a rope through the fish gills and tying it up. Hiss~ Zhao Jun gasped. They were all high-value fish. As a fisherman, he could tell at a glance that the catch weighed at least fifty or sixty pounds, and there was an unusually large grouper among them. The catch today was even more outrageous than yesterdays. Did you catch all these just now? Zhao Juns tone was incredulous. Yeah, there are a lot of fish under the bridge. Its quite easy to catch them with a lasso. Its a pity I havent passed the hunting and fishing license exam yet. If I had a spear gun, I could have caught at least a hundred pounds of fish. Chu Mingcheng wasnt exaggerating. As long as he became proficient with a spear gun, he really could do it. Not just him; any normal hunter would also be able to catch over a hundred pounds of fish before running out of energy. Youve found the perfect job for yourself, but this task is not something ordinary people can handle. Zhao Jun shook his head and then asked, Are you going back in the water? Not anymore, I have a dinner party tonight and need to head back early. Chu Mingcheng opened his fish box, which was prepared with crushed ice. Brother Zhao Jun, can I borrow an empty box from you? I dont plan to sell this grouper. What, are you giving it as a gift or eating it yourself? To eat myself, of course. Zhao Jun was surprised; he hadnt expected him to be so extravagant. He passed him an empty box and said, Thats lavish, this one weighs at least ten pounds, much more expensive than that green spot you had before! Im going to Qiongzhou in a couple of days to take the hunting and fishing exam. After that, Ill head straight to Xia City to develop my career. I caught this grouper especially for my parents to try. Chu Mingcheng took the box, placed the grouper inside, then poured out half of the crushed ice to make a bed and threw the rest of the catch into the box one by one. Heading to Xia City to develop? Zhao Jun was taken aback, then thinking of Chu Mingchengs hunting skills, he thought it made sense for him to go there. He was quite tempted himself, feeling a surge of desire to learn fishing and hunting at that moment. But then the faces of his wife and child appeared in his mind, and the fiery thought was immediately extinguished. Unlike the single Chu Mingcheng, he couldnt afford to take the risk; his life had to prioritize stability. Rather than learning to hunt and fish, it was a better decision for him to find a few reliable partners and jointly buy a boat to fish in the Far Sea. Back at the dock, Zhao Jun parked the boat and came to the front deck, just about to help Chu Mingcheng carry the fish box ashore, when he noticed a sea bass about four or five pounds heavy lying on his own catch from today. Zhao Jun knew for sure he hadnt netted any sea bass today, he resignedly said, Ah Cheng, I just gave you a ride by the way, take this fish back with you! Chu Mingcheng looked puzzled, What are you talking about? Arent all my fish in the fish box? Zhao Jun couldnt help but laugh and said, Alright, its just because youre leaving for another place. Otherwise, if I took you out to sea every day, I could probably earn an extra five or six thousand a month. Chu Mingcheng chuckled and didnt continue the conversation. Zhao Jun knew how he felt about him; not to mention anything else, but stopping to first check on his physical condition as soon as the boat came made him feel very comfortable. Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 76: The Giant of Air Freight Chapter 76: Chapter 76: The Giant of Air Freight Chu Mingcheng moved the fish box to the shore, to the same spot as yesterday, and opened it to sell fish again. Today, similarly, a lot of people gathered; perhaps word about yesterdays fish sale had spread, attracting even more buyers today. The thirty-seven pounds of catch were sold out in less than half an hour, and the buyers all wanted his mobile number to be notified whenever he was going fishing. However, Chu Mingcheng was planning to move to another place for development, so he informed people about his situation, mentioning that if they didnt mind paying for express delivery, he could let them check out the good stuff he caught and then send it to them via courier. He also educated the fishermen present about the dangers of fishing. If people still followed his lead under those circumstances, any accidents wouldnt be his responsibility. Hearing that Chu Mingcheng was planning to expand elsewhere, some customers grew more interested and actively added his contact, indicating that as long as the fish were fresh, shipping costs were not an issue. Since they all said this, he decided to add these people to a group, where he could post his catches directly for them to choose from. Unfortunately, he did not encounter the person who had intercepted him the day before, which left Chu Mingcheng somewhat disappointed. Unbeknownst to him, not far away, a person was looking in his direction while cursing under his breath. It was indeed the person who had reported him the previous day. He didnt know why Chu Mingcheng was untroubled, but feeling guilty and fearing Chu Mingcheng might have connections, he didnt dare show his face for the time being. After finishing the fish sale, Chu Mingcheng returned to Zhao Juns boat, retrieved the grouper he had hidden, and placed it in his own fish box before saying goodbye and leaving the pier. Once home, Chu Mingcheng calculated his earnings for the day. Today, there was no big-ticket item; he only made three thousand four hundredwhich was okay. His bank account was now at seventy-two thousand,hoping he could reach eighty thousand before he left for Qiongzhou. After rinsing all the equipment with clean water and hanging the diving suit to dry, Chu Mingcheng finally went to take a bath. After the bath, he locked the door and drove to the town. The grouper was still in the fish box in the trunk of his car; the family had a freezer in town, good for storing fish. An Xiuwen was initially chatting at her girlfriends house, but when her son called about a good catch, she hurried home. She had just arrived and saw the fish box at Chu Mingchengs feet. Son, what good catch did you get this time? An Xiuwen asked curiously, taking out her keys to unlock the door. A grouper. Theres a change in plans; I plan to head out of town in a couple of days, so I didnt sell it and brought it back for the family to enjoy a good meal together, Chu Mingcheng moved the fish box inside the house and then opened it, putting the fish in the freezer under An Xiuwens amazed gaze. This grouper is huge, must be worth a few thousand! Are you getting carried away? Youre about to owe tens of thousands to the family, how could you dare to bring this fish home? An Xiuwen came back to her senses and immediately seized his ear to scold him. Ouch, ouch, ouch! Although it was not very painful, Chu Mingcheng still cried out in pain immediately. Stop pretending, Im not using much force, An Xiuwen said, letting go reluctantly. Chu Mingcheng chuckled, Mom, I thought since you and dad have never tasted such a good grouper, Id bring it home for you to try. And once Im settled outside, Ill surely catch more groupers; eating one, although extravagant, is somewhat excusable! An Xiuwen rolled her eyes, scolding, You sure have a way with words. However, the matter of the fish was clearly already past. Ill call your father and tell him to pick up the necessary spices from the market after work. Hes got to plan ahead for how to cook this fish. With a ten-pound grouper, there definitely would be more than one way to cook it, and now Mr. Chu had to think it through. However, Chu Mingcheng interrupted An Xiuwens call: Mom, Im not eating at home tonight; Chen Yang is treating me out to a sea-land-air meal. Tell dad when hes back, Ill be home tomorrow. Alright. An Xiuwen nodded, without any objections. The meal would in fact be better tomorrow, without any rush. Chu Mingcheng stayed home until five-thirty, when Chen Yangs call came. He drove to pick them up, and the group set off to have what was called a sea-land-air grand meal. Chen Yang took them to a restaurant that was quite upscale, somewhat resembling private home cooking. After looking around, Chu Mingcheng found that this place primarily served Western cuisineit was a Western restaurant. The three were led to their seats by a server, and they ordered a sea-land-air meal, along with some appetizers. Given Chu Mingchengs usual spending level, he wouldnt have chosen this kind of restaurant, where a single meal probably cost at least ten days salary. However, today someone wealthy was treating them, so the experience was quite enjoyable. Before the appetizers arrived, four waiters came forward first with the main ingredients for the sea-land-air meal for them to check the freshness, ensuring customer satisfaction. Moreover, selection was necessary for the sea ingredient. Two waiters stepped forward: one held a tray with a live six-pound Boston lobster. The other held an Australian lobster, a bit smaller, but still four pounds. Chen Yang asked, Ah Cheng, which one do you want to eat? Definitely the Australian lobster. Who would eat the Boston lobster! As the taste of Boston lobster is the worst among lobsters, no one would choose it if there were better options. Of course, the Australian lobster tasted better, but it was also pricierit cost over twelve hundred for just four pounds. Once the sea was selected, it was time for the land, and there was only one choice: the tomahawk steak. There was no need to choose for the air, but what surprised Chu Mingcheng was that the ingredient for air was a bred goose, complete with certificationits source was legitimate! With the main dish chosen, the waiters began to serve the appetizers. The first appetizer was somewhat unexpected: a plate of New Zealand lobster with sea urchin liver and finger lime. It sounded luxurious, but it was really just a plate with a single lobster sashimi and a bit of dipping sauce. As it stands with Western dishes, plating is always sparse; Chu Mingcheng understood this. But now that he was in the seafood business, he was quite interested in the taste of this lobster. Lobsters are also found in the East Sea and Yellow Sea within the country, but he currently lacked the capability to fish them as they live in sand and mud environments at depths of at least two hundred meters, which only large fishing vessels could handle. Chu Mingcheng skipped the dipping sauce and tasted the lobster sashimi in its original flavor. It was sweet and fresh, with a slight salty taste and a crunchy texture that was slightly stickylovers of sashimi would definitely be thrilled. The slight stickiness in its texture was likely due to ultra-low temperature freezing; it would probably be even more elastic if eaten fresh. However, live New Zealand lobsters are basically unavailable in the domestic market. The cost of keeping them alive is far too high. While a chilled lobster might cost two to three hundred yuan per pound, a live one would cost thousands. Next, they served more appetizers like foie gras with fish roe; as the portions were small, everyone just tasted them. After waiting a good while, the sea-land-air meal still hadnt been served. Chu Mingcheng stood up to use the restroom and noticed that the ingredient display area was quite lively. Like many restaurants, their seafood was also displayed openly. Lobsters and Emperor crabs were kept in tanks with oxygen, but many more seafood items were laid out on crushed ice. Shrimps, sea urchins, Big Scallops, and various kinds of rare expensive fish were on display, including one particularly large grouper that Chu Mingcheng recognizedit was a Seven-band Grouper. This grouper was probably about 1.2 meters long, weighing no less than one hundred pounds, but at least seventy or eighty pounds. He remembered that he didnt notice it when he entered the restaurant, as such a large fish would surely be visible since the display was prominently placed at the entrance. Thus, he asked a nearby server, Excuse me, could you tell me where you bought this grouper? Server: Im not exactly sure, but our restaurant does make purchases. I heard it was bought at a high price from a fisherman coming back from Nansha. Okay, got it, thank you! Chu Mingcheng thanked the server and then walked back thoughtfully. Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 77: The Last Night Fishing Before Departure Chapter 77: Chapter 77: The Last Night Fishing Before Departure Nansha, located at the southernmost part of the South Sea, can be directly reached by boat from Qiongzhou, which first passes through Xisha. Chu Mingcheng returned to his seat, took out his mobile phone to check, and found that to go fishing in Xisha, a fishing spot would cost around six thousand dollars. If you include the cost of nest material and bait, it would roughly come to eight thousand per person. Of course, for this price the trip usually allows for three days and four nights of fishing, then returning on the fifth day. To go to Nansha, the one-way voyage alone takes three days and three nights, with the round trip taking a week. So, basically, a sea outing would last twenty days or even a month, and naturally, the cost would be much higher. Compared to going to Xisha, the trip to Nansha is much more troublesome, requiring one to join a group, and the price is roughly twenty to thirty thousand. The specifics arent easy to find online, Chu Mingcheng would have to ask locally himself. (Are there any big shots who have been to Nansha for fishing that can tell me about the rental rates for fishing boats there?) What are you looking at? Zhang Wei asked curiously, leaning over. I just saw a huge grouper on the display stand when I went to the bathroom; the waiter said it was brought in by a fisherman from Nansha. Since Im going to Qiongzhou, Im checking out the rental rates for fishing spots. They were sitting in a private room, so the bustle from the display stand area didnt carry over, thus they were unaware of what happened outside. It was only because Chu Mingcheng went to the bathroom that he accidentally saw the grouper. Damn, a meter-long Stone Fish? Zhang Wei and Chen Yang couldnt stay seated any longer and hurriedly got up to see the big fish. After quite a while, when the dishes were already served, they came back, their faces still showing amazement. Zhang Wei: Ive never seen such a big fish in my life. Chen Yang: Today you have. Chu Mingcheng smiled and said, Thats why Im going to Qiongzhou, so it would be a pity not to rent a boat and fish for deep sea fish. What if I also catch a meter-long grouper? Then Id really hit it big. Chen Yang sighed, I just asked; they spent fifty thousand yuan to get that ninety-two-pound grouper. At this moment, Zhang Wei suddenly teased, Ah Cheng, I believe in you. Later on, if you bring in ten of these a month, youd be making millions a year, and in ten years, the next billionaire will be you. Chu Mingcheng laughed helplessly, Just eat, will you? The food has been here for ages, and youre still talking about catching ten a month to become a billionaire! Where are so many large groupers coming from? If I could have an income of a million a year in the future, I reckon Id sleep with a smile on my face. With his current abilities, coupled with the increasingly powerful Golden Finger, an annual income of a million shouldnt be a problem, especially since he essentially has no income during the several-month-long fishing ban. The three of them chatted, laughed, and started to enjoy their dinner. The wild goose was stewed into soup, with some tonic Chinese herbs added, tasting incredibly good. As for the Tomahawk steaks and lobster, they were delicious indeed, but more than that, there was a great sense of satisfaction with every bite. It was still early after dinner, and the three planned to head to a second location. Zhang Wei suggested going to a nightclub, feeling quite empty as Chu Mingcheng was about to leave, and needed girls to fill the void. Chen Yang wanted to go for a massage, feeling a bit tired from work lately and wanting to relax. After pondering for a moment, Chu Mingcheng asked, This massage youre talking about, its not a partial one, is it? Chen Yang: ??? In the end, the three of them decided to soak their feet and enjoy a comfortable massage, then they each went home. The next day, Chu Mingcheng took Xiaomi to the pet hospital for another check-up, then went to the pet store for a deworming treatment and a bath before taking it to his parents place. If Xiaomi hadnt been pregnant, he would have probably shipped her off to Jiang Luoluo and asked her to look after Xiaomi for a while. But now, it was best to avoid the stress of travel, so he decided to let it give birth and raise its kittens at home. After the new year, when he set out for Xia City again, he would simply drive and take it with him. Mom, Ive already dewormed and bathed Xiaomi. The little one has three babies in her tummy, so Im not going to take her out, he said. After returning home, Chu Mingcheng put the automatic feeder and cat nest in his room and got the cat litter ready in the bathroom on his side. At the same time, he comforted Xiaomi, trying to help her adapt to the new environment as quickly as possible. Dont worry, Ill take good care of her, An Xiuwen nodded in agreement. Being alone at home was actually quite boring for her sometimes, and she would enjoy Xiaomis company. Today, Chu Mingcheng stayed in all day, keeping company with his mother and occasionally cradling Xiaomi on his lap to stroke her. At three in the afternoon, Chu Yongxin came home early to cook dinner for his wife and son. Chu Mingcheng naturally offered to help. I heard from your mom that youre leaving the day after tomorrow? Yeah, its almost November, and less than two months until the New Year. I want to go and get familiar with the place, he replied. Chu Mingcheng wouldnt mention his free diving fishing venture to his parents, to save them the worry. Its a good idea to get accustomed to things first, Chu Yongxin agreed with his sons decision, but then his demeanor changed abruptly the next second. He sidled over to Chu Mingcheng with a look of curiosity and gossip, Son, how are things going with that girl called Luoluo? Is she the reason youre going there early? Chu Mingcheng rolled his eyes, then pointed to his face and said earnestly, Dad, look at this face. Ive inherited all the best features from you and Mom. Handsome, arent I? Youve got eight-tenths of my good looks, but whats your point? Faced with his fathers vanity, Chu Mingcheng hadnt seen that coming, With this face, wouldnt it be too embarrassing for me to be too forward? I have to learn to be discreet. Im going there for better career development, not to fawn over a girl. What does a career have to do with getting a wife? Chu Yongxin was momentarily at a loss. Dad, you dont understand. Its 2022. Boys need to learn to protect themselves and not be too forward. Its better to have girls give voluntarily, so no one will call me a simp, he explained. Chu Yongxin was speechless, then patted his sons shoulder sagely, while wiping off a spot, Son, I think I understand why you, with such a handsome face, dont have a girlfriend yet. You need to understand one thing: the quick get while the slow miss out. When you meet an outstanding girl, you should move quickly. If her parents oppose, then make them grandparents first. Once you have her, shes truly yours, get it? Chu Mingcheng looked at the water stain on his shoulder and twitched the corner of his mouth, Dad, if you had a daughter and you found a guy doing what youre suggesting, what would you do? He wouldnt dare! With a loud thud, Mr. Chu swung the kitchen knife and chopped off the head of the grouper. Alright then, he certainly took double standards to the extreme! With that topic closed, the two of them quickly processed the grouper, making four dishes out of it. However, midway through dinner, He Zheng suddenly sent him a message, inviting him for a night of fishing for yellow croaker at sea. Chu Mingcheng was surprised; he had thought hed been stood up, but it turned out to be just a delay. In fact, He Zheng had been busy renting out his boat and taking people fishing for the past couple of days while also scouting the fish situation. The fish were biting well during the day, so he had invited Chu Mingcheng for a night of fishing. With an extra person, he could earn a bit more. Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 78 The Nights Glittering Gold【Bonus Chapter】 Chapter 78: Chapter 78 The Nights Glittering GoldBonus Chapter Whats up, whos looking for you? Seeing her son replying to a message, An Xiuwen asked. Chu Mingcheng saw that it was only five-thirty, so he wasnt in a hurry. He ate a piece of fish and said, A fishing buddy invited me to go fishing for yellow croaker tonight. He said to meet at Wen Citys dock at seven oclock. Fishing for yellow croaker? Chus father and mother were both startled, then, under Chu Mingchengs puzzled gaze, one took his bowl and the other took his chopsticks. What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and go back to Yanmen Island to gather your things! Chu Mingcheng was amused, Its seven oclock. Ill have time after dinner. Chu Yongxin directly pulled him up, Youve been eating for half an hour and youre still not full? Those are yellow croaker. If you catch a few that are three jin each, you could at least buy an outboard motor for the boat. Three taels would already be good, let alone three jin! Chu Mingcheng retorted speechlessly, but he got up anyway, going along with his fathers momentum C in truth, he had almost finished eating. An Xiuwen wasnt idle either. She took out the thermos, put the fish soup and fish meat in it, and covered the rice. Son, take this for supper. Chu Mingcheng didnt hesitate to take it. With this, he wouldnt need to buy sandwiches or bread. Leaving home, he first drove to Yanmen Island to load the fishing rods and other equipment he would need tonight onto the car; the cooler was still the thirty-liter one. Fishing for yellow croaker wouldnt be as exaggerated as fishing for cuttlefish, so this cooler was completely adequate. However, he had used up all the ice cubes hed frozen in his fridge, so he would need to buy some today. Since he had to buy sand worms and shrimp bricks for baiting the fish as well, it would be convenient to do both on the way. Today, Chu Mingcheng bought extra sand worms to avoid running out like last time. Last time, he could continue fishing with small cuttlefish, but this time he certainly couldnt use small yellow croaker flesh as bait; he couldnt afford such a luxurious bait. By the time he arrived in Wen City, it was just past six oclock. Parking his car, Chu Mingcheng carried his fishing rods, the cooler, and the thermos to the boat boarding point on the dock. Just as he was about to call He Zheng, he saw him coming out of the pilothouse of a fishing boat at the boarding point. Ah Cheng, over here! Chu Mingcheng was somewhat surprised, Brother He, you switched boats? He Zheng explained with a smile, There are more people today, my friends boat is more spacious. This boat was actually about the same size as the previous one, about twelve meters in length. The difference was that the pilothouse was very small; it consisted only of an operating desk and a narrow space for sleeping inside a small door to the left, with no area for sofas or lounging at all. But while He Zhengs boat could only take eight people for fishing, this one could accommodate twelve C six on each side and still spacious. By six-thirty in the evening, the eleventh person had arrived, making up a total of twelve people including the captain. They set off, heading toward the fishing spot. After sailing for two hours, they finally reached their destination. Just like last time, there were many fishing boats and trawlers nearby; it seemed that the fish situation today was indeed very good. First, they baited the area to attract the school of fish. At night, yellow croakers liked to forage in groups, so baiting the area could easily draw the school closer and increase the chances of hooking them. Then, Chu Mingcheng started tying his fishing line and attaching hooks, looking for the right water layer first. If he didnt find the correct water layer, he could forget about catching many fish tonight. After a while, Chu Mingcheng noticed bites, so he concentrated and waited for the fish to bite. However, as he waited, he felt something was amiss. Lifting his fishing rod, sure enough, the sand worm had been eaten. The yellow croaker was very cautious; if it were cuttlefish, it would have bitten hard straight away. Now that he had found the water layer and understood the biting habits of the yellow croaker, Chu Mingcheng had a good idea of what to expect. He baited the hook again, cast it back into the water, and before the bait had even sunk, a fellow angler had a catch. Soon, a shiny golden yellow croaker was pulled onto the boat under the light. ` Gurgle, gurgle~ the yellow croaker made its distinctive sound as it was pulled up. The angler took out the hook and checked the weight with the fish controller, then pushed the pectoral fin over its eyes, perfectly covering them, confirming that it was wild before revealing a smile and placing it in the fish box. According to He Zhengs purchase price, this one was worth about seventy yuan, which was pretty good. After coming back to his senses, Chu Mingcheng focused on his own fishing rod, and within a short time, there was another bite. This time he didnt hesitate and immediately lifted the rod to set the hook, successfully hooking a fish. Lifting the rod and reeling in the line without much effort, a large yellow croaker surfaced. It was sleek and much larger than the one the fellow angler had just caught. The angler next to him was somewhat envious, Thats a nice one, probably about seven or eight taels. We still have to see if its wild, Chu Mingcheng said with a chuckle, holding the fish while he removed the hook, then measured the weight with the fish controller. 421 grams, a little over eight taels, and the purchase price for this weight wasnt cheap, 401 yuan per jin, so this one was over three hundred yuan. In the end, he adjusted the pectoral fin, which perfectly covered the eyes, and the scales were orderly and pretty. Although they grew up from stock, such fish were considered wild, and Chu Mingcheng happily continued fishing after putting it into the fish box. Unfortunately, the chance of a catch wasnt very high, about one yellow croaker every five or six minutes, and the weight was mostly three to six taels. An hour passed, and Chu Mingcheng caught eight large yellow croakers. Apart from the initial one of eight taels, the following eight were only about four or five taels each but still good because they were all wild. But it wasnt that no one caught any over a jin; one of his fellow anglers on the boat caught one that was a jin and a half, making Chu Mingcheng extremely envious. However, unlike the last time he fished for hairtails, it wasnt just one kind of fish this time; he also caught two cod. Three jins each, they too were tossed into the fish box to take home if He Zheng didnt want them. [Yellow Croaker (Level 0)] [Current Experience: 8/10] [Size +0%] [Deliciousness +0%] [Catch Rate +0%] The data panel of the Golden Finger left Chu Mingcheng somewhat puzzled. Actually, he had felt something amiss when he caught the green spot previously. If the upgrade for any fish species required a fixed number, he would never be able to max out species like grouper in his lifetime. There were also many coral fish such as green dress, whose numbers were not abundant, so how could one catch tens of thousands of them? He had no idea if the aquatic guide would change, and for now, Chu Mingcheng could only put those thoughts aside and focus on fishing. He threw his hook into the water and scooped two spoonfuls of Shrimp Brick to create a baited spot to keep the school of fish around. After two minutes, he hadnt noticed any bites; however, the tip of his rod suddenly dipped, bending into a crescent. Whoa, what have I hooked? Its so heavy? This feeling definitely wasnt a yellow croaker; it was almost as heavy as the green spot he caught before, likely weighing about ten jin or so. If it was a yellow croaker, Chu Mingcheng feared he might end up being thrown into the sea as fish feed that evening. Wow, youve got a big one there, brother. Youre having some good luck tonight! The commotion immediately caught the attention of two nearby anglers, who were somewhat envious. Any sea-fishing enthusiast couldnt resist the lure of a big fish, especially since, under normal circumstances, a big fish usually meant money, unless its a particularly worthless fish species. Chu Mingcheng just smiled at them without replying, continuing to concentrate on fishing. The rod creaked as it was pulled, looking like it would snap at any moment. But he wasnt the novice he had been before; he had learned some fishing techniques online, such as what size of fish could be caught with rods of different strengths. And now his skills were different from before; if the rod was too flexible, he would just play with the fish, avoiding any rough pulling or dragging. ` Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 79: The True Fish King Chapter 79: Chapter 79: The True Fish King The fish was in its explosive phase, and Chu Mingcheng didnt rashly yank the rod to reel in; instead, he first tugged with the fish for a while. It wasnt an especially large fish, but he had already caught several over ten pounds and had plenty of experience; now it was a tug-of-war between him and the fish. When the fish is not small, and ones own rod isnt stiff enough, a quick battle is basically hard to achieve. Some people might say that with a fishing rod worth a few dozen dollars, or even a bamboo pole, they could catch a fish of ten or twenty pounds. Its not wrong to say so, after all, some fishermen dont need a fishing rod to catch fish; with a small boat, they can go to the open sea and directly pull in Golden Spearfish or large Marlin with their hands. However, the iron rod Chu Mingcheng was currently using did not possess this ability; he had to honestly play with the fish, which might take ten or even twenty minutes. The fish he was catching was very fierce; if he didnt hold on to the handle, a lot of fishing line would be pulled out. He didnt know how long it had been, but Chu Mingcheng finally felt the force in his hands diminish. Seizing the opportunity, he lifted the rod and pulled up some fishing line, rotating the reel to retrieve some of the line. Now he had to quickly reel in the fish; only when its on board does it belong to him. He Zheng, who had sensed the commotion, came over, and upon seeing the red figure on the water, he immediately burst out with a swear, Fuck, a sea red spot this big? A sea red spot, its scientific name being the Seven-band Grouper, is one of the four famous fish. This type of fish has been successfully farmed, but wild sea red spots are rare and thus very expensive. Those less than one pound, around seven or eight taels, can sell for about one hundred and eighty. Once over a pound, the price doubles instantly, selling for over three hundred; and the larger it is, the more expensive it gets. He Zhengs swear word immediately aroused the curiosity of everyone on board; when they left their tasks to come over and look, they were all stupefied. Sss~ Ive been fishing for more than ten years and have never seen such a big sea red spot. The biggest one Ive seen before only weighed six pounds and eight taels, and a boss bought it for eight thousand. Eight thousand? Then this one has to be at least ten thousand! I estimate its more than that. Five or six pound sea red spots are rare, but occasionally theyre still found on the market. This one looks to be at least ten pounds. With rarity comes value; its hard to say what price it could fetch. The discussions amongst the anglers reached Chu Mingchengs ears. He had not expected to catch a sea red spot; he thought it might be a Cod or a Sea Bass! According to the anglers, six pounds eight taels could sell for eight thousand; wouldnt his catch then sell for twenty thousand? Even if it wasnt twenty thousand, there would definitely be fifteen thousand. After all, this kind of item might not surface once in a year, or even several years. Therefore, he became even more cautious and attentive. Being able to catch such a large sea red spot was definitely an object of envy for everyone. With envy comes jealousy C some were probably hoping that fish would shake off the hook. One of the men volunteered to take up the landing net and said, Let me help you get it up. Ill do it, said He Zheng, after glancing at him and taking the landing net from his hands. Chu Mingcheng was invited by him, and even if this sea red spot wasnt sold to him, his yellow croaker would be. Having drifted at sea for so many years, he had seen all sorts of people and could tell right away what this mans intentions were. The man, whose net was taken away, didnt show any difference in his expression, but in his heart, he silently hoped that He Zheng would slip up and the fish would shake off the hook. But his disappointment was inevitable; when the fish was pulled up next to the boat, He Zheng deftly and swiftly scooped the fish and lifted it on board. Only then did Chu Mingcheng breathe a sigh of relief and wipe the sweat from his forehead. It wasnt the physical exertion from fishing that tired him, but the intense nervousness from the fight. A fish worth at least fifteen thousand when had he ever fought such a lucrative battle? He Zheng removed the fish hook and quickly instructed the owner of the boat, Ah Jie, get your oxygen pump out. Right away! The man named Ah Jie quickly brought out the oxygen pump and then found a fish box. He filled it with some seawater and then started the oxygen pump. By this time, He Zheng had already removed the fish hook and weighed the fish with a fish controller. It weighed a full ten jin and three taels. Being over ten jin immediately upgraded its value to a higher bracket. Fish caught in upper waters didnt need to be decompressed, so He Zheng brought the fish into the cockpit and placed it in the fish box before calling out to Chu Mingcheng, Ah Cheng, come down to the cockpit, I need to talk to you. Okay. Chu Mingcheng had just replaced the worn leader line and agreed with a nod, then walked over. He knew this was about discussing the sale of the fish. He certainly intended to sell it; as long as He Zheng offered a reasonable price, whom to sell it to didnt really matter. When Chu Mingcheng came over, He Zheng didnt play any tricks and got straight to the point, Ah Cheng, I wont mention the procurement price. Ill first see who among the bosses I know offers the highest price. If the price satisfies you, Ill take one thousand. How does that sound? After thinking it over, Chu Mingcheng said, Brother He, how about this Ill set the price at twenty thousand. If the price you negotiate is higher than twenty thousand, you can keep the excess. What do you think? The price of twenty thousand was already quite high. Even if he were to ask the group of bosses in the chat group, he was confident he could sell it for fifteen thousand, but twenty thousand might be stretching it. Secondly, it was also giving face to He Zheng. If it hadnt been for his call to come fish for yellow croaker, he would never have caught that sea red spot. He Zheng was somewhat astonished by the price and then gave a wry smile, Youve really put me in a difficult position with that price of twenty thousand Never mind, let me see if I can find a big spender! For a price above twenty thousand, some hotels needing fame might well pay a handsome amount for a trophy fish. And some bosses showing off to guests wouldnt mind spending a bit more than twenty thousand. But all this required luck, as even wealthy people dont like to be taken for a ride, so whether he could sell it for more than twenty thousand depended on whether any of his contacts would be willing to buy. Chu Mingcheng wasnt in a hurry to go fishing again. He waited in the cockpit and took the chance to rest a while. After a short while, upon seeing He Zheng sending messages with a smile on his face, he had an idea of how things were goingit seemed that twenty thousand was secured. Indeed, He Zheng put away his phone and said with a laugh, Ill take it for twenty thousand. Ill transfer the money to you when we count the yellow croakers. Great, then you go ahead with your business, Brother He. Im going to continue fishing. Chu Mingcheng was quite happy, too. Twenty thousand for a single fish was quite the earning. However, thinking about that fifty thousand worth of Seven-band Grouper from the day before, that one was even more appealing. Not only was the selling price high, but it was also big, surely making for a great catch. As he continued his pursuit of yellow croaker, without realizing it, with another yellow croaker squawking as it came up, Chu Mingcheng found his stomach grumbling along. He hadnt eaten much for dinner and now it was one in the morning, so it was normal to be hungry. He dropped the yellow croaker into the fish box and checked his catch, which was already about half a box, roughly twenty jin or so. These were all wild fish. Meanwhile, to the side of the fish box, a few larger yellow croakers were casually piled up. These few received such treatment because they had escaped from the net pen. Their fins were short and their bellies big, which clearly indicated they hadnt been out for long and didnt have high commercial value. Chu Mingcheng took an insulated bucket out of the tackle box, intending to fill his stomach and take a rest. The other anglers were still fishing non-stop, with practically no rest taken. They were certainly motivated by his catch of the sea red spot! Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Fishing Buddies in a Daze Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Fishing Buddies in a Daze Carrying the insulated bucket, Chu Mingcheng came to the cockpit for dinner. When He Zheng saw this, he also put away his fishing rod and came over, Japans days are going quite well, huh? You even prepared a midnight snack? Of course, fishing is quite the physical activity. Chu Mingcheng opened the insulated bucket, and a wave of steaming heat arose immediately. Oh, is this fish soup? He Zheng was somewhat surprised upon seeing it; he had thought it would be chicken soup or pork rib soup or something. Yes, the day before yesterday I caught a Seven-band Grouper, took it home, and my dad made fish soup out of it. He Zheng was silent for a long while before sighing and patting him on the shoulder, This fishing business, aside from experience and skill, the most important thing is still luck. A Seven-band Grouper the day before yesterday, and a sea red spot todaythose of us fishing in the near seas, how many people can have such luck? Chu Mingcheng just smiled and said nothing; luck is something unpredictable. Just as he was thinking, suddenly there was a commotion on the front deck. Damn, a three-tael wild yellow croaker Whats happening today? First a ten-tael sea red spot, and now a three-tael yellow croaker! He Zheng had intended to ask Chu Mingcheng for a taste of the soup, since hed never had the luxury of trying the high-end Seven-band Grouper. But suddenly hearing that someone had caught a three-tael yellow croaker, who had time to drool? He hurriedly left the cockpit and ran over. Chu Mingcheng didnt leave, but instead watched the situation upfront through the front window. The three-tael yellow croaker was held in someones hands, the entire fish looking incredibly sleek and remarkably eye-catching with its golden shimmer. The fisherman who caught the fish was grinning ear to ear; the price of yellow croaker fluctuates quite a bit, and many fishermen and anglers might not even encounter one three-tael yellow croaker in a year. It wasnt as rare as his ten-tael sea red spot, but it wasnt far off. The price was probably between five thousand and ten thousand, with the exact price also depending on the season. If it was before the New Year, it definitely would exceed ten thousand. A little while later, having nearly finished his midnight snack, Chu Mingcheng saw He Zheng leading the fisherman towards the cockpit, likely to discuss the price. So, he tidied up his stuff and left early. Seeing him emerge, He Zheng smiled and nodded, then let the fisherman enter the cockpit. Chu Mingcheng put the insulated bucket back into the fishing box and picked up his fishing rod to continue his work through the second half of the night. Originally, his plan was to increase his savings to eighty thousand before heading to Qiongzhou. Now, with the twenty thousand from the sea red spot, his savings jumped from seventy-two thousand directly to ninety-two thousand, just eight thousand shy of a hundred thousand. Currently, he had caught about twenty tael of yellow croaker, which was already a pretty good haul, probably worth around four to five thousand. Just a bit more effort, continuing to catch another twenty tael, and he could reach one hundred thousand in savings before departing. Swish~ A fish bit the hook, and Chu Mingcheng quickly raised the rod to stab the fish, but this felt a bit heavy, almost like the cod he had caught before. He was a tad disappointedit was only a two or three-tael cod, not very expensive! But since he had hooked it, he was certainly going to reel it in. However, as he was reeling it in, something felt off; under the illumination of the light, the fish approaching the surface appeared somewhat yellow! A thought crossed Chu Mingchengs mindcould it be Sure enough, a sleek yellow croaker was pulled up, just by eyeballing it was about seventy centimeters. His fellow anglers jaws dropped, and the looks they gave him seemed somewhat off. It was another yellow croaker weighing at least three taels, today the ship really hit a geomantic treasure spot. This time, no one congregated to watch the excitement again; two consecutive yellow croakers, each over three taels, had made everyone numb. At the same time, a surge of enthusiasm arose in their hearts, hoping that they too could catch such a big yellow croaker. And after Chu Mingcheng had checked the fin length and removed the hook, the plump fellow angler next to him couldnt help himself. He put his fishing rod back in the hole, rubbed his hands, and grinned as he approached, Brother, youre so lucky, can I shake your hand and rub some of that luck off you? Chu Mingcheng couldnt help but laugh helplessly, and he didnt refuse, Okay. The plump angler shook hands with him and, as if he really had caught some good luck, returned to his fishing spot all giddy, anticipating a big catch. Chu Mingcheng then weighed the big yellow croaker with his fish controller, and it turned out to be 2076 grams, he hadnt expected this yellow croaker to be over four taels! As everyone knows, every additional tael of yellow croaker leads to a significant price increase; this four-tael fish was completely different in price compared to the three-tael one. When Chu Mingcheng carried this big yellow croaker into the cockpit, the angler who had caught the three-tael yellow croaker suddenly found the joy in his heart had vanished. His three-tael three-liang yellow croaker had been bought for five thousand a tael, earning him over eight thousand. And this bigger one, for sure, was over ten thousand. In one night, to earn thirty thousand from two fish, why even bother working at the factory! He Zheng now looked at Chu Mingcheng with a more complex gaze, Had this been last century and you went out to sea alone with someone else, you might have ended up feeding the fish. Chu Mingcheng shrugged his shoulders, Last century, these two fish wouldnt have been so valuable. Even that sea red spot would probably just be a regular workers two years income, I guess! Two years salary is enough to feed you to the fish! He Zheng cursed with a laugh, then went on to weigh the fish. When he saw it was four taels and confirmed it was wild, his face clearly showed delight. Whats your psychological price? The market price for a three-tael should be three thousand a tael. The fellow anglers yellow croaker might sell for ten thousand in the market, so four thousand a tael for mine isnt too much, right? He Zheng gave a bitter smile, Ah Cheng, you cant calculate price like that. If everyone did, the fish merchants would have to change professions. Chu Mingcheng didnt mind, the previous sea red spot had already given him face time, and if this big yellow croaker didnt meet his psychological price, he definitely wouldnt sell. Such good stuff didnt lack buyers, and moreover, those twenty taels of yellow croaker would later be sold to him at a low price; he had already made quite a profit. So now many fishermen wont let fish merchants depress prices, preferring to sell on their own, right? Just like Brother He, arent you also slowly building up your own customers, fishing on your own, while buying from fellow anglers. Wasnt there a five-tael big yellow croaker that sold for twenty-five thousand the other day? Five thousand a tael, so my four thousand a tael is pretty reasonable. This rare commodity, when other people arent willing to sell, He Zheng couldnt force a sale either; could he really feed someone to the fish! It wasnt necessary for such an amount of money, and it wasnt like the sixties or seventies with those several thousands. So after some thought, he found Chu Mingchengs previous method of buying fish quite good, so he said, How about this, at a price of fifteen thousand, whatever I can sell is mine, how about that? Fifteen thousand was also reasonable, and it wasnt before New Year, so Chu Mingcheng had no objection and nodded in agreement. As for how much He Zheng could earn, that was his own skill. Stepping out of the cockpit, when he saw his original spot had been taken by the plump angler, Chu Mingcheng was taken aback. But the next moment, the plump angler seemed to notice him and hurriedly waved at him, Brother, I saved your spot for you, come quickly. Whats going on? Chu Mingcheng asked, clueless. Someone was jealous and wanted to take your fishing spot, so I held it for you, just waiting to give it back to you, the plump angler gave a cold laugh, glanced at a man not far away, and explained. Chu Mingcheng understood and then smiled at him, Thank you! You keep fishing here. Im a bit tired and need to rest in the cockpit. Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Departure Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Departure The plump fishing buddy expressed his thanks repeatedly; he was someone who rather believed in metaphysics. Ah Cheng gave up his spot, making him feel like his luck had arrived in the second half of the night. Ah Cheng then packed up his own gear and with his fish box in tow, returned to the cockpit to tally up the catch with He Zheng. The twenty-plus pounds of yellow croaker were sold for about five thousand two hundred yuan, which was close to the price he had estimated. Todays income had just surpassed forty thousand, and together with the original seventy thousand, Ah Chengs savings had temporarily reached over one hundred and ten thousand. However, when buying the boat, he would still borrow eight hundred thousand directly from his parents. Next, he was planning to go to Qiongzhou; getting certified would require money. After that, he intended to take a trip to Xisha after the certification, which would likely cost around eight thousand, plus he needed to buy a high-powered electric fishing rod, costing another ten to twenty thousand. As for going to Nansha, he decided against it, since a trip to Nansha would take at least half a month. There wasnt much time left in the year, and he still had to go to Xia City to get a drivers license. Moreover, things like renting an apartment in Xia City would also require money; in short, the initial investment wasnt small. The Cod and a few yellow croakers that had escaped from the aquaculture cages were kept by him, along with four six-tael yellow croakers. He saved two of them for dinner with Zhang Wei and Chen Yang in the evening, since they had agreed to eat together. He had originally planned to catch a Stone Fish, but now yellow croaker would do just as well. He brought the rest of the fish back for his parents, though they were unlikely to eat the farmed yellow croaker; coastal residents are very choosy about their seafood. It didnt matter how expensive the fish was, but it had to be fresh and tender. The farmed yellow croaker, in fact, had once been gifted by Ah Chengs grandmother; it was said that the taste of fish from her area was better due to water quality, hence it was priced higher than the usual farmed yellow croaker. But it still couldnt escape a certain fishiness, and after tasting it, his family refused to eat it, so those few fish were probably going to be used to feed Mimi. He rested in the cockpit for a while, and in the blink of an eye, the sun had already risen. A night of all-nighters left everyone on board feeling lethargic, and waking up made Ah Chengs eyes even sourer and his head heavier. The aftermath of insufficient sleep was more uncomfortable than staying up all night, but with the conditions on the boat being what they were, he had to make do. He took out a bottle of mineral water, rinsed his mouth, and washed his face, which made him feel somewhat better. Just staying at sea for one night made him feel sticky and extremely uncomfortable all over. Luckily, the fishing boat was now heading back, and he would soon be able to go home for a shower and catch up on sleep. Having returned to the Wen City dock while it was bright out, he bade farewell to He Zheng and drove home to take a shower and get some sleep as soon as he arrived. When he woke up again, it was already noon, and Ah Cheng was awakened by hunger. As soon as he opened the bedroom door, the scent of meat wafted towards him. As he headed downstairs, the meaty aroma grew stronger. Once he reached the kitchen, he found his mother was cooking. An Xiuwen saw her son at the kitchen doorway and said with a smile, Son, youre awake! Hurry and wash up, the food will be ready soon. Mom, why are you here? I knew you would be tired from fishing, so I came to cook for you. This afternoon, Ill help you sort out your clothes too, so you dont lose anything. Thanks, Mom, Im going to brush my teeth! Ah Cheng felt perfectly entitled to his mothers care, because when they got older, he intended to look after them just the same. He was very grateful to have such a harmonious and loving family. After lunch in the afternoon, it was time to pack. Considering the weather down south, Ah Cheng packed not only autumn and winter clothes but also some summer clothes. The weather this year was a bit abnormal; it was already snowing in the north, while he was still wearing short sleeves. He suspected that after the New Year, January would be very cold, and the magical attacks by then would catch people off guard. Once packed, An Xiuwen left with the fish, not wanting to disturb the young ones dinner party in the evening. It was past six in the evening when Chen Yang and Zhang Wei finally arrived. As soon as Zhang Wei entered the door, he boisterously called out, Ah Cheng, whats for dinner today? Corn stewed ribs, and some appetizers to go with the drinks. Thats it? What else? Zhang Wei decisively grabbed Chen Yang and started to leave, Lets go, lets go, lets go. You promised a feast, and now youre fobbing us off with ribs? Do you know how expensive pork is these days! Chu Mingcheng continued to joke with a laugh. Chen Yang, speechless, pulled on Zhang Wei and pointed at the steaming pot still emitting heat in the kitchen, You can tell at a glance that theres something good in there. Havent you thought about checking it out on your own! Hmph, Im just kidding around with Ah Cheng! Zhang Wei turned back, walked into the kitchen, and reached out to lift the lid. Chu Mingcheng quickly held him back, Wait another two minutes, it needs to steam a bit longer. What kind of fish is it, Stone Fish? Never mind what fish it is, we usually cant afford it anyway. Wow, now Im interested. Zhang Wei stood by patiently waiting, turned off the stove after two minutes, and then opened the lid. Damn, yellow croaker! These cant be wild-caught, can they? Chu Mingcheng was by his side heating up some oil, and at hearing his words couldnt help but feel speechless, Of course theyre wild-caught, I caught them last night. How could I have the nerve to serve you farmed ones? Now that he was fishing professionally, and considering this was the farewell dinner of the year, it would be rather shabby not to treat his friends to wild-caught fish. Damn, Ah Cheng, the best decision youve ever made in your life is to quit your job and become a Fishing Man! The two yellow croaker wouldnt normally excite Zhang Wei; after all, Chen Yang had treated them to something even more expensive the day before yesterday. But having a friend who was a professional fisherman certainly had its perks, as Zhang Wei got to enjoy some of the expensive fish he had previously been reluctant to indulge in. Chen Yang also nodded in agreement; many fresh and rare delicacies from the sea werent easy to come by, requiring both time and luck to purchase. Since he loved seafood and had a brother in the trade, he at least wouldnt have trouble getting his hands on fresh, high-quality goods in the future. That night, the three brothers chatted a lot, mostly Chen Yang and Zhang Wei spoke. They reminisced about their childhood and wished Chu Mingcheng a prosperous future in Xia City. The next day, at nine in the morning, Chu Mingcheng called his parents to say goodbye and then took Chen Yangs car to the airport. The plane left at ten oclock. After arriving at the airport, he didnt need to wait long before quickly checking in and boarding. Two hours and forty minutes later, he arrived at the southernmost tip of the country, the Triple As, also known as Lu City. Liu Jianjuns old comrade Lu Zheqiang had settled there, and the two shared a very close relationship, visiting each other during the New Year holidays each year. This was why Liu Jianjun would make the introduction; he wouldnt have suggested it if they hadnt kept in touch. Exiting the airport, Chu Mingcheng pulled his luggage along, called Lu Zheqiang to confirm the address, then flagged down a taxi to go straight there. When he confirmed his intention to get certified, he had already added Lu Zheqiang as a contact and discussed certification details and tuition fees. He was going directly for the AIDA two-star certification while also planning to get his spearfishing license. Due to Lu Zheqiangs influence, he received some discounts on tuition, only needing to pay eight thousand yuan, which included accommodation. The price for a basic free diving one-star certification is normally around 3,800 yuan, which is the standard fee across the clubs. However, the one-star curriculum is more suited to beginners and consists mostly of theory and still water practice. Those who are confident can go straight for the two-star certification. According to Lu Zheqiang, since his swimming skills were so good, he could go directly for the two-star. The tuition for the two-star certification was roughly 4,600 yuan, and spearfishing was also over four thousand, so for him to take both courses only cost eight thousand, indeed saving him a thousand yuan. The training was expected to last five days; two days for the two-star coursework, and three days for the spearfishing training. The majority of the time spent on spearfishing training would be dedicated to learning how to use various types of spearguns, becoming proficient with spearguns requires a lot of practice. Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Classes Begin Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Classes Begin The taxi stopped in front of a dive club named Snow, and just as Chu Mingcheng got out, he noticed a muscular man in a t-shirt standing at the door. Ah Cheng? Seeing that a handsome young man had alighted from the car, the man quickly walked over and asked. Yes, its me. Hello, Daqiang! Chu Mingcheng smiled, nodding and shaking hands with him. The reason they called him Daqiang was that all of these coaches seemed to have nicknames. According to Lu Zheqiang, they had coaches named Gold and Coffee; his was the most normal of the bunch. He took the initiative to grab Chu Mingchengs suitcase, then led him towards a building next to the club. Your room has already been arranged, you rest for a day to recover, and well start classes tomorrow. Alright. Chu Mingcheng followed him to his room, a single with an en suite bathroom, laid out just like a hotel room. Lu Zheqiang wheeled his suitcase into the room, then asked, Have you had lunch? If not, I can take you to eat. I have, on the plane. Okay, Ill come back for you tonight, and Ill take you to try some of Lu Citys local delicacies. Theres no need to go to all that trouble; Im fine with something simple. Dont be polite, Brother Jun specifically told me to take good care of you. So I wont disturb you now, Ill come to get you tonight. Then thank you. Haha, I said theres no need for thanks. After seeing Lu Zheqiang off, Chu Mingcheng shook his head with a smile; this guy was pretty straightforward and hearty. He turned on the air conditioning and lay down on the bed, then took out his phone to report his safety to family and friends. He should have explored this new city properly, but the weather here was too hot; it was like summer, with daytime temperatures still reaching thirty degrees. The evenings would cool down, offering the perfect time to take a stroll. Because he went to bed late and had to catch an early flight, he hadnt rested well. Now, he could definitely take a good nap. When he woke up, it was already after three oclock. He washed his face in the bathroom and immediately felt refreshed. Picking up his phone to browse some harpoon recommendations and prices, he noticed he had received two messages from Jiang Luoluo. Opening them, the first thing he saw was a photo with a line of text underneath: Just dyed my hair, what do you think? It was sent at two-thirty. Chu Mingcheng immediately tapped on the photo to take a closer look at her fair and tender Cough cough, wrong direction, lets start again! This time, he shifted his gaze upwards and discovered Jiang Luoluo had dyed her hair light brown. Huh~ She had black hair before, and it was pretty long, almost reaching her waist, which gave Jiang Luoluo a classical beauty. But after dyeing it and cutting it shorter, he found she looked like a completely different person? So he replied, I was napping this afternoon and just saw your message. You look so good, any color would suit you! But after you dyed your hair, I find your style has changed a lot from before. You had a classical air about you before, but now you seem very modern, and even your features make me think you look a bit mixed. After sending the message, it wasnt long before Jiang Luoluo replied, clearly free at the moment. (*^__^*), now that you mention it, I do remember! My grandma once told me that my great-great-grandmothers mother was from Belarus, so I do have a bit of Belarusian blood. But your impression of me being mixed is mainly due to the makeup in this photo. Usually, I wear light makeup, which you shouldnt be able to tell. Chu Mingcheng agreed. Having met her a few times, he really couldnt tell she was mixed; he just thought she was particularly beautiful, with skin too white. Soon after, he thought of another question. By the way, werent you supposed to shoot a classical dance, is dyeing your hair okay? This time, Im collaborating with another video creator for a modern pop dance, so I dyed my hair on purpose. Plus, for ancient style costumes, we often wear wigs, so its really not a big issue. Jiang Luoluo had a rare day off to relax at home today. But when she had nothing to do, her mind tended to wander, making her think of her previous visit to Wen City to rescue Chu Mingcheng, the leisure of catching fish and grilling shrimp in the mountains in the afternoon, and the little awkwardness of meeting his mother in the evening Feeling slightly agitated inside, she took several selfies and then sent the one she was most satisfied with to Chu Mingcheng. Rather than asking whether her hair color looked good, she was actually asking if her mother looks pretty, so hurry up and compliment me. Seeing the only man she had a good feeling about say she looked so beautiful, Jiang Luoluos sense of pleasure surged UP. You also do modern dance? Then Ill have to take a look when the video is released. Chu Mingcheng had watched all of Jiang Luoluos dance videos, and from LSPs point of view, each video was so beautiful, except that the costumes in the historical ones were too conservative, which was a negative mark. From an appreciative perspective Engrossed in their chat, time had unknowingly reached the evening, and Lu Zheqiang came over to invite him out for dinner, so Chu Mingcheng temporarily paused his chat with Jiang Luoluo. However, he hadnt mentioned his plan to learn free-diving fishing and then develop a career in Xia City. Chu Mingcheng was somewhat looking forward to her reaction when he would suddenly show up in Xia City. Ah Cheng, Ill take you to try coconut chicken tonight, a local Qiongzhou specialty that should suit your taste. Sure! Im actually looking forward to trying the local flavors. Chu Mingcheng gladly agreed, planning to repay Lu Zheqiang with a meal after being treated today. Isnt that how relationships work? You treat me, I treat you, and it builds up over time. He would surely continue with his three-star and four-star free diving certifications, meaning they would continue to cross paths. Lu Zheqiang had driven over and took him to a restaurant called Qiongzhou Restaurant. You could find all kinds of famous Qiongzhou dishes here, especially the coconut-flavored roasted chicken. The aroma of coconut blended perfectly with the roasted chicken flavor, stunning Chu Mingcheng. After the meal, the two walked around some of the bustling streets of Qiongzhou before heading back since there wasnt much for two guys to explore. The first day in Qiongzhou went by quickly, and the next day Chu Mingcheng got up early, ran a big loop, and casually ate some Qiongzhou rice noodles. When he returned, he was holding a coconut milk custard. Perhaps because he was from the south, he was fairly accustomed to the local cuisine. If he were from the north, he probably would have found the food quite unpalatable. After taking a bath, it was just before 8am when he arrived at the clubs classroom. Lu Zheqiang was already there, and after greeting each other, they waited for the other students to arrive. Soon, the students gradually trickled into the classroom. Chu Mingcheng noticed there were only eight students including himself, with two men and the rest women, each with decent looks and figures. Seeing that everyone had arrived, Lu Zheqiang stood up and clapped his hands, drawing everyones attention. Then, he had everyone introduce themselves so that the students could get a preliminary understanding of each other. Alright, now that everyone is acquainted, lets dive right into the subject. This morning, our focus will be on practicing the Frenzel technique, an introduction to the equipment, and a safety briefing. In the afternoon, well go to calm waters, that is, the pool, to practice underwater skills. Lets start with Frenzel. What is Frenzel? Its about ear pressure balance. As you free-dive deeper, the water pressure increases. The difference in pressure inside and outside the eardrum will cause pain, and thats when you need to balance the ear pressure. Among our eight students, six female students are only going for the PADI one-star certification, while one male student is aiming for the AIDA one-star. However, if you wish to attempt the two-star certification, you must pass the Frenzel technique assessment. Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 83 Natural Fran?o Chapter 83: Chapter 83 Natural Fran?o Although Chu Mingcheng was taking the two-star exam, he had no foundation in free diving theory or techniques, so it was no problem for him to learn together with the students taking the one-star exam. The difference lay in the higher level of difficulty required for his assessment. If one wanted to be certified for fish hunting, it would be best to go for an AIDA certification, as PADIs assessment is less demanding and many fish hunting clubs refuse to recognize its certification. Most girls opt for PADI because this system offers a Mermaid course. The beautiful women who swim and display their graceful figures underwater in aquariums, they are certified with this credential. Next, Lu Zheqiang began to teach everyone in detail about Franzs practice method. Leave a small gap when pinching your nose, (there is no need to push air into the ears each time you raise your throat, causing middle ear fatigue), and the air pushed up by raising your throat can escape through the gap in your nose. Do it 200 times a day, keep practicing until both the frequency and success rate are satisfactory. At that moment, a female student asked, Coach Daqiang, how do we know if weve successfully performed the Franco Ear Pressure Balance? Lu Zheqiang, The success of the Franco Ear Pressure Balance is actually quite simple. Look at me like this, one hand pinching my nose, the other pressing down on the indentation below the sternum, expelling all the air from my lungs. Your hand below and your belly must not put in any extra effort, just repeatedly raise your throat. If you can hear the sound of air being pushed into your ears, that means the Franco Ear Pressure Balance is successful. Then Lu Zheqiang gave a demonstration for everyone. His pinched nostrils flared quicklythe sound of air moving to the ears was not audible to those present. In just a short while, his nostrils had flared over sixty times, at a rapid pace. Good, now everyone give it a try, and I will correct you, he said. Ah Cheng, you go first! Okay! Chu Mingcheng nodded, pinched his nose and naturally used his tongue to push the air in his mouth. He had tried it out on his own while Lu Zheqiang was teaching and found the Franco Ear Pressure Balance to be very simple; he wondered if it was because he was at ease in the water. He could feel a drum-like sound in his ears, and after multiple times, his ears even felt a bit swollen. Seeing how easily he had accomplished it, Lu Zheqiang laughed and said, Ah Cheng, you havent practiced the Franco before, have you? Thats right, not to mention practicing, I didnt even know what the Franco was, he replied. Well, it seems youre a Natural Fran?o, and with your swimming ability, youll pass the two-star exam with ease. Hearing about a Natural Fran?o, the other students present felt a bit envious. After all, many students attempting to earn the two-star certification had been blocked by the challenge of mastering the Franco techniques. For a person who is a Natural Fran?o, when they pinch their nose and press the air up to their ears, they naturally use the air in their mouth pushed by the base of the tongue without needing long periods of practice. Lu Zheqiang continued to have the remaining students attempt the Franco one by one and, after correcting their mistakes, began to introduce the equipment and its uses in free diving. Chu Mingcheng wasnt very concerned about this aspect, as all he needed was a diving suit and the equipment for fish hunting. A snorkel certainly could make it convenient for him to breathe without surfacing but, when people are already at the waters surface, taking a breath wasnt much of a bother. A diving mask really felt like a burden, wearing it would obstruct his vision, and it was uncomfortable being strapped tight. However, in special circumstances, a mask could also protect his eyes. Fins were something he could take or leave; holding fish hunting tools, fins would make it easier for him to move around. The downside was that he felt very little resistance in the water, and wearing fins actually increased the resistance a bit. It also required him to expend more energy with his feet, and if he wanted to swim at high speeds, he was powerless to do so. Therefore, during the first few dives, he didnt wear fins. The club naturally sold free diving equipment, and Lu Zheqiang recommended some beginner gear to them, but Chu Mingcheng had already brought his own, so there was no need to make additional purchases. After the introduction of the equipment, next came the most important thingthe safety mechanism. First, every free diver needs an excellent dive buddy, whether its free diving or scuba diving, its not advisable to go into the water alone. Chu Mingcheng didnt need this reminder, but he listened carefully. Because Lu Zheqiang explained a lot of possible dangers in the water, as well as important knowledge about rescue and the like. The morning passed quickly. Lu Zheqiang told everyone to go have lunch and take a break, and to meet at the pool at one oclock for the next phase of learning. Then he wanted to take Chu Mingcheng to lunch, but before he could get up, a female student with a striking figure, named Tong Shu Man, stopped him. Chu Mingcheng, dont rush off just yet. Coach Daqiang, and everyone else, we come from all over the place, and meeting here is also a kind of fate. How about we all gather for lunch together at noon? Tong Shu Man had the best figure among the six women present and also had the strongest presence. When she suggested gathering for a meal, all the other women agreed, and a few even glanced subtly at the most handsome Chu Mingcheng. Another male student became somewhat interested upon hearing this. Dining with six female students might help them bond, and who knows, it might even lead to some special fate. Lu Zheqiang smiled and said, I wont be coming. I have some things to do at noon, but you guys go ahead! After saying that, he nodded at Chu Mingcheng and left the classroom. Since Coach Daqiang isnt going, then lets just have the students get together for lunch today. What do you two male students think? Chu Mingcheng was noncommittal about it. This womans little schemes were quite something, eh? Did she intend to take the lead and ride on his coattails? Also, organizing a meal together without mentioning going Dutch beforehand. Now there were only two men, and the few women could tease at the table later. Most men wouldnt be able to swallow their pride and would end up showing off by paying the bill voluntarily. After all, men with especially thick skins like Old Six arent common. Most men are more gentlemanly and straightforward, which makes them easy to manipulate. Chu Mingcheng flatly refused, You all go ahead and eat at noon, I have plans with a friend! After speaking, he took a detour and left the classroom from the other side. The people he left behind looked at each other, while Tong Shu Man who had proposed the meal glanced back at Chu Mingcheng, her interest evidently piqued. However, the meal would not be canceled just because one person left; that would be too deliberate. She turned to the other male student, Are you coming? The male student couldnt resist, nor did he want to leave, I dont have plans at noon, so its fine for us all to have a meal together. Great, lets go then! Tong Shu Man clearly noticed his attitude and raised her eyebrows it seemed like an easy mark had presented itself. She called out and led the remaining people off to find a suitable place for the gathering. After leaving the club, Chu Mingcheng started to search online for famous local snacks and then took a taxi there. Arriving at the snack street, he first bought a portion of shrimp fritters. An Xiuwen occasionally made these, but he wondered what the difference was with the local version. With the first bite, it was still the familiar taste, but the local shrimp fritters were coated with a sauce that made the flavor richer; overall, it was very tasty. Then he discovered a shop selling coconut rice and, curious, he went in to order a portion. When the rice arrived, Chu Mingcheng was surprised to find it very similar to the sticky rice of his hometown, just with different toppings. He ordered the savory version, which included coconut meat and marinated ribs, adding a hint of coconut scent to the flavor. After finishing the meal and paying, he also casually bought a cup of cheng tng, which seemed to be another local sweet delicacy. The meal was very satisfying; the only regret was the weather being too hot, which dissuaded him from the idea of walking slowly back along the streets. Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 84 Lu Zheqiang Also Invites Chapter 84: Chapter 84 Lu Zheqiang Also Invites Time quickly reached noon, and everyone first gathered in the classroom before Lu Zheqiang led them to the pool area. There werent only their group of students at the pool, but also other coaches with their students practicing. Their task for the afternoon was to practice skills, and one by one everyone changed into their own purchased equipment, but Chu Mingcheng didnt need to buy any since he brought his own. One by one, the women quickly came out of the changing rooms, and under the wraps of the diving suits, their figures were clearly visible. Tong Shu Man definitely stood out, she must exercise daily, her body looked like it was sculpted in a gym, with the diving suit accentuating her perfectly curved silhouette. Such a figure, playing the role of a mermaid in an aquarium, would definitely grab attention, not to mention the men present, even Chu Mingcheng took an extra glance. However, his glance was not drawn by Tong Shu Man, but rather he suddenly thought of Jiang Luoluos figure, which also seemed very nice. After all, she was a dancer, and if she wore a tight suit, wouldnt she look especially tempting? Beside Chu Mingcheng, the other coaches present were similarly composed. They had seen plenty of attractive and well-built female students annually. They were not going to act like greenhorns. After everyone changed their clothes, the group started getting into the water. Lu Zheqiang first had everyone enter the water one by one, beginning to record their static breath-hold times. Free-diving at level one had no hard requirements for assessment, but Lu Zheqiang still set a time for them. The women needed only to reach one minute to pass, which almost all could do on the first try. Even if they didnt reach it, it was only due to nerves, and with a little practice, they all could pass. The other male student had a slightly higher requirement, needing 90 seconds, which was a bit more challenging. Most men could easily hold their breath for a minute. This male students first attempt lasted one minute and sixteen seconds. He was only a few seconds away from one and a half minutes, and with some practice, he could achieve it. However, for level two, there were assessment requirements, needing to reach two minutes, so this male student still had to work hard. Finally, it was Chu Mingchengs turn. He, unreservedly, watched the diving watch while in the water and after four minutes, finally surfaced. Seeing his seemingly effortless performance, Lu Zheqiang couldnt help but twitch the corner of his mouth, suspecting that Chu Mingchengs physical capabilities were no less than his own, lacking only theoretical knowledge and some skills. After teaching the students how to practice holding their breath, they moved to the next learning contenthow to correctly kick fins underwater. This was something Chu Mingcheng wasnt quite skilled at yet, finally giving Lu Zheqiang a sense of achievement in teaching. During the afternoon, Chu Mingcheng learned not only fin-kicking but also duck diving, and afterwards continued learning static apnea, dynamic apnea, and pool turns. Dynamic apnea, also called horizontal diving, required 40 meters. There was also constant weight diving to 16 meters, all of which Chu Mingcheng completed at a normal level. Eventually, there were LMC and BO rescues (pool rescues), all content necessary for all students to learn, the difference lying in that Lu Zheqiang had higher expectations from Chu Mingcheng. After a full days session, other students successfully received their level one certificates, concluding their course for today. After all, a level one certificate largely served as an introductory experience and lacked significant technical content. But graduating wasnt so simple for Chu Mingcheng, he needed to go to open waters tomorrow for advanced learningout at sea. After class, he went to shower and changed clothes, preparing to taste various street foods, only to find that Lu Zheqiang had sent him a message, inviting him for dinner. That brother was indeed enthusiastic, Chu Mingcheng agreed, deciding to treat him to dinner in return that evening! Soon, Lu Zheqiang drove to the building, and Chu Mingcheng approached the car, only to discover Tong Shu Man sitting in the passenger seat, with another woman in the back seat. He was somewhat speechless, thinking about the PY matter, but still got into the car first. Lu Zheqiang did not explain, instead, he took them to a restaurant and got a private room. The table in the private room was not small; the four people sat casually and werent too close together. Once seated, Chu Mingcheng did not hold back his curiosity because women were present. He directly asked, Daqiang, did you invite me to dinner tonight because you have something in mind? Lu Zheqiang was startled, not expecting him to be so direct. Now that the matter had come to this point, he could only nod his head and explain, There is something. Id like to invite you to join my fishing team. He had seen Chu Mingchengs strong underwater capabilities. Currently, their club had three coaches, which they had also started as a partnership. Sometimes, when there were no students signing up, they would go out to sea to fish and hunt to make money. Currently, his own fishing team consisted of eight people. Each time they went out to sea to fish and hunt, under good circumstances they could catch five to six hundred kilograms of fish. Then he explained to Chu Mingcheng why he brought two female students along. It wasnt for any special PY deal, but because both had already agreed to join his team and were waiting to get their fishing licenses before joining the fishing team. Although they had just obtained their PADI One Star certificates today, it did not stop them from practicing and then going directly for the AIDA Two Star certificates. Chu Mingcheng was not going to join his team and was not planning to stay in Qiongzhou, so he could only kindly refuse, Daqiang, its not that I dont want to; its just that my career is developing in Xia City. My boat, friends, and diving partners are all there. I cant join the team, but for the upcoming Three-star and Four-star freediving certifications, I will continue to come to you. Its quite regrettable, to be honest, I have high hopes for you. If you joined, I guess it wouldnt be long before our club would have a fourth coach. Upon hearing this, Lu Zheqiang felt somewhat regretful. He really thought highly of Chu Mingcheng. Of all the students he had taught, his talent was the best. Having such a partner around would greatly enhance the safety margin of their team. However, he didnt take the rejection to heart to the extent of falling out over it. But after Chu Mingcheng refused, it was awkward for him to stay for the meal, especially since everyone present was part of his team. Well, since theres nothing else, Ill be leaving now. I plan to head to Xisha for fishing after getting my fishing license; I just arranged a time and price with a boat captain. Ill head over there now; you guys enjoy your meal. As soon as Lu Zheqiang heard this, he knew Chu Mingcheng was looking for an excuse to leave. Understanding the implication, he didnt insist on him staying. Leaving the restaurant, Chu Mingcheng looked around, somewhat speechless. Where had he been brought to? He hadnt expected Lu Zheqiang to invite him, and he hadnt known that he was one of the clubs stakeholders. With his abilities, it was improbable hed join a team. How would he advance with someone following him? If it was just occasionally fishing and hunting with friends for fun, that would be possible. He casually found a place to have dinner and then searched online for a nearby fishing gear store. Coming to Qiongzhou, he had only brought two fishing rods in his luggage. Other fishing rods were left at home, as it wasnt too late to bring them next year when driving back to Xia City. With two fishing rods and the electric winding rod he was about to buy, he had enough for now. Once he returned from Xisha to Xia City, he could also get his drivers license while renting boats for sea fishing or boat fishing. Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 85 Im Really Afraid of Heat [Regular Extra Chapter] Chapter 85: Chapter 85 Im Really Afraid of Heat [Regular Extra Chapter] Chu Mingchengs primary target fish for this trip to Xisha were deep sea fish, which resided at depths of at least eighty meters, mostly between one hundred to one hundred fifty meters, and he would use the bottom fishing method. This fishing method involves using the weight of a lead sinker to rapidly submerge the bait hook to the seabed, and then, by utilizing the length of the branch line and the action of ocean currents, allow the bait to drift near the sea floor. The length of the branch line is generally between 2 to 4 meters, and the lead sinker is about 5 to 10 kilograms. Even if the deep sea fish weighed only a few kilograms, it would be challenging to reel them in with manpower alone, which is why Fishing Man uses electric fishing reels for deep sea fishing. One reason is that most people dont have boats to go out to the deep sea, and a single trip can cost several thousand or even tens of thousands. Using an electric fishing reel saves both time and effort and, importantly, it allows one to catch more fish to make back the investment. The equipment for deep sea fishing, for enthusiasts, would likely include two to three electric fishing reels, capable of catching both medium-sized and hundred-pound big fish. Including multiple fishing rods as well. Chu Mingcheng paid eight thousand for tuition and, including the plane ticket, he still had over one hundred thousand left. Considering he wouldnt likely be going out to sea frequently to fish for deep sea fish in the near future and that he planned to visit Nansha before the fishing ban next yearalthough it was still early and uncertainit did not prevent him from purchasing a high-powered electric fishing reel. He walked into a large fishing tackle store and immediately inquired about the M-brand Golden Gun Z30 model. This electric fishing reel was imported and could pull creatures weighing over a hundred pounds, making deep sea fishing in Xisha a breeze. This fishing tackle store happened to carry this brand, priced at twenty-two thousand. Chu Mingcheng was already aware of the price when he chose this electric fishing reel, so naturally, he wasnt startled by it. Then he bought a 700 series fishing rod for three thousand. The fishing line was a 12 number, 8 braid PE line; he bought a thousand meters according to the line capacity of the electric reel. He organized his fish hooks and other gear, and his savings dropped to less than eighty thousand. The current investment was for the sake of better earnings in the future, and he wasnt at all reluctant to spend. However, Chu Mingcheng was gradually becoming an enthusiast himself. Since falling into the hobby in October, in just a short month, he had already spent around fifty thousand on equipment, truly one who could burn through money. After buying the equipment, he went straight back to the dormitory. The next day, Lu Zheqiang took him out to sea, but it wasnt just the two of them; Tong Shu Man, who joined his team yesterday, and another female student were also there. Today, Tong Shu Man was even bolder. After heading out to sea, she changed into a sexy bikini right on the yacht. The front was a bombshell, and so was the rear! Several men simultaneously exclaimed in their minds, What a feast! But Chu Mingcheng was somewhat dismayed, as he found himself inadvertently catching sights of the bombshell, certain he wasnt a lecher and wasnt doing it on purpose. If he really wanted to look, hed do so openly, after all, isnt that why she dressed that way, to be seen? Tong Shu Man seemed unfazed on the surface, but in reality, she was purposely appearing in Chu Mingchengs line of sight. Previously being rejected at the dinner, combined with his handsome features and the clearly strong and powerful physique visible when wearing his diving suit, intrigued her greatly. Moreover, his rejection of Lu Zheqiangs invitation last night made her feel she might be able to lend a hand, to keep him around. She also didnt mind having a deeper interaction with Chu Mingcheng, even dating for a while since marriage was not on the cards and there was no need to consider the others wealth. However, as a woman, she knew that taking the initiative would put her in a passive position, so she would intentionally or otherwise display her charms in front of him. After all, the one who takes the initiative, if rejected, would lose face, and would also be more easily manipulated. What deflated Tong Shu Man a bit was that she did not often have the opportunity to showcase her charms and, just when she finally had the chance today, she found that Chu Mingcheng seemed genuinely uninterested in her. Soon, the boat arrived in a sea area with exceptionally clear water. Todays weather featured mild waves, perfect for practicing scuba diving. Chu Mingchengs learning task for the day was to descend to sixteen meters using a line, then perform a rescue of a BO diver at ten meters depth and execute surface dragging and rescue procedures. However, according to Lu Zheqiang, if Chu Mingcheng could pass these trainings with ease today, he would actually meet the certification requirements and could directly obtain a two-star certificate. If that were the case, he could try target practice in the sea that afternoon. As expected, Chu Mingcheng completed all of todays training quite easily. During the assessment, he even suggested to Lu Zheqiang that he could attempt constant weight diving down to thirty-five meters. You should know that this is already the assessment requirement for an AIDA four-star rating. Chu Mingcheng proposed it now because there were people around, he could safely explore his own diving depths without worrying about accidents that might occur when he is diving alone in the future. He had already completed dives of over twenty meters under a pier before, without feeling much pressure, so in theory, thirty-five meters shouldnt be a problem either. With Lu Zheqiang by his side for protection, he descended along the rope to thirty-five meters underwater. At this depth, the light was already much dimmer, and all he could hear was the sound of water flowing past his ears. There was a slight sensation of pressure, but he still felt relaxed. Chu Mingcheng now realized that continuing to dive another twenty or thirty meters wouldnt pose a problem for him, and this would give him more options in the future for fishing and hunting. Feeling assured, he saw the hand signal from Lu Zheqiang telling him to ascend. So he signaled OK and slowly began to ascend along the rope. The entire ascent and descent took nearly two minutes, mainly because he had paused for over twenty seconds. Lu Zheqiang removed his snorkel, looking somewhat regretful, Ah Cheng, if I had met you earlier, I might have had the opportunity to lure you over to Lu City. Speaking of which, do you really plan to develop your career in Xia City? Dont you think Lu City is a better option? It would be more convenient to go to Xisha or Nansha too. Chu Mingcheng still shook his head in refusal, Forget it, I really hate the heat! Lu Zheqiang was left speechless and choked up. Hate the heat? Thats an excuse no one can argue with! With the assessment over, it was only ten oclock in the morning. Lu Zheqiang took out a brand-new fish spear from the boat, Do you want to experience the joy of spearfishing ahead of time? Dont I still not have my fishing license? Chu Mingcheng asked hesitantly as he took the fish spear. No problem, you are currently getting certified for fishing and hunting, and practicing isnt illegal. Hearing this from Lu Zheqiang, Chu Mingcheng no longer hesitated, then he began to understand the fish spear and learn how to use it. Through learning, he found out that fish spears are divided into three major categories: wood, carbon, and aluminum alloy. The aluminum alloy fish spear is cost-effective and relatively cheap, suitable for beginners. Next is the carbon fish spear, which performs better than the aluminum alloy fish spear, with better neutral buoyancy, less recoil, higher accuracy, and naturally greater power. It is very suitable for oil well fishing and hunting. If one were to hunt large species or engage in blue water fishing, then usually they would choose a wooden fish spear, which tends to be more expensive. But regardless of range or penetrating power, it is superior to the aforementioned two types. The one that Lu Zheqiang gave him was an aluminum alloy fish spear, which surprised him with its price tag of two thousand and eight hundred. So Chu Mingcheng inquired about the price of a carbon fish spear, which was about one thousand more expensive than the aluminum alloy one. He directly opted for a carbon one, costing three thousand eight hundred, but it could meet most of his fishing and hunting needs. For shore diving and hunting small fish like Golden Drum Fish, he could actually buy the raw materials online and handcraft a small wooden fish spear himself. Men should have some hands-on ability! With determination and some practice with the materials, making a suitable small fish spear is not that difficult. Moreover, a harpoon can also be used, which is an essential backup equipment for fishing and hunting. In case the fish spear malfunctions, the harpoon can come in handy. Harpoons are particularly suited for hunting sluggish fish around shores and coral areas, such as Groupers that like to hide in corals during the day and hardly move. After understanding the fish spears, the next step was practical training. Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: Chapter 86 Trying Fishing and Hunting Chapter 86: Chapter 86 Trying Fishing and Hunting The yacht approached a small rocky island, and by leaning against the railing, one could see the clear coral reef not far beneath the water. The water depth under the boat was about twenty meters, making both the distant coral reef and the area under the boat ideal for spearfishing. During the previous free dive training, Chu Mingcheng didnt take off his diving gear. This time, he reattached the safety rope around himself and then entered the water with Lu Zheqiang from the staircase at the back deck. Once in the water, Chu Mingcheng swam to the side of the boat to take the fish spear from Tong Shu Mans hands, and then he headed towards the distant coral reef. Lu Zheqiang followed behind, holding an underwater camera. He had recorded all of Chu Mingchengs training today. These materials, once edited, would make an excellent promotional video. Arriving at the edge of the coral reef, where the water was about seven or eight meters deep, Chu Mingcheng swam flat on the waters surface, looking down with the breathing tubes outlet above his head so he could breathe at any moment. This was the best way to search for prey in the coral reef area. Soon, Chu Mingcheng spotted several prized fish swimming about two meters above the coral, Black Goldfish, also known as stone breams. He made a show of holding his breath, and then he dove down headfirst. The filming Lu Zheqiang did the same, following him down. After reaching a distance of about six or seven meters from the Black Goldfish, Chu Mingcheng slowed down. Using the fish spear for the first time, he knew his aim probably wasnt great, so he wanted to get closer. He slowed his movements, first bracing the fish spear on his belly, pulling back the two rubber bands, and then slowly bringing the fish spear in front of him as he approached. The fish spear actually had some weight to it, feeling somewhat heavy when lifted on land, but with the buoyancy underwater, it became very light and could be held steadily. As he got closer, the distance narrowed to just over three meters. The Black Goldfish began to act uneasy, flicking their tails to swim away from him, maintaining a distance. Their swimming speed noticeably increased, not as leisurely as before. Chu Mingcheng stopped, not daring to get any closer and waited for the fish to stop. Then, he checked his dive watch. It had been over thirty seconds since he had dived down. There wasnt much time left. With someone behind him, he couldnt patiently wait underwater for the fish to lower their guard before striking. Raising the fish spear to aim, Chu Mingcheng chose the largest one, and when it turned its side towards him, he decisively pulled the trigger. Bang~ The rubber bands snapped open in an instant, and the spearhead shot out with a whoosh, so fast that Chu Mingchengs eyes couldnt catch it. He could only see the trajectory left by the spearhead as it darted forward. The Black Goldfish in front scattered in an explosion of movement, and the shot missed, hitting at nine oclock of the intended target, apparently missing by only about twenty centimeters. It was normal not to hit the target on the first try. Chu Mingcheng swam back to the surface and then reeled in the spearhead. Lu Zheqiang swam up to him, removed his breathing tube, and said, Ah Cheng, it doesnt matter that you missed the first shot. You actually aimed quite well, its just that shooting in the ocean is different from a pool due to one factor: the ocean water is in motion, and so are the fish. Firstly, you should take the direction of the ocean currents into account; secondly, predict the fishs next move. This way, your hit rate will improve rapidly. Just keep practicing, no rush. Okay~ Lu Zheqiang was right. He hadnt taken into account the force of the current or accurately calculated the speed of the fishs movement. However, this would naturally come with more shooting and practice. Once again, he swam flat to look for a suitable target. This time he saw a fish of a fresh green color, which should be a parrotfish, and it was a good size. He took a breath and dived down again, heading in the direction of the parrotfish. He pulled back the rubber bands, ready to approach. He realized the fish wasnt swimming in place, but was slowly moving in the direction of 1 oclock, so he sped up and intercepted it. Flipping over to stop, he raised his speargun and waited for it to come closer. Five meters, four meters, three meters Watching the fish swim closer and closer, until it curiously stopped in front of the spearguns tip, Chu Mingcheng fell silent. In his life, he had never seen such a foolish fish, but now he finally had. He pulled the trigger and with a bang, the arrowhead pierced straight through the fishs body. Only then did the parrotfish realize its regret and began fiercely flapping its tail. But the spear had a barb on it, specifically designed to prevent the prey from escaping. Chu Mingcheng was just about to take out his diving knife to bleed the parrotfish, when suddenly the seafood pictorial in his mind underwent a change. But he only paused for a moment before regaining his composure and bled the fish, noting that almost two minutes had passed underwater, so he had to start pulling himself to the surface with the rope. There was no way around it, as he couldnt stay in the water for too long when there were others around. Lucky catch! Lu Zheqiang said with a smirk as he looked at the fish, offering a half-mocking compliment. Chu Mingcheng smiled awkwardly. Stupid fish were rare, but occasionally a fisherman would encounter them. He clipped the fish onto a live fish holder and continued to hunt for more prey, leaving the change in the seafood pictorial for when he had some spare time to look at it. Considering it was almost noon, Chu Mingcheng handed the speargun to Lu Zheqiang, then took out his fish lance from his back and swam toward deeper waters. He needed to catch another fish to have enough for lunch for everyone. In waters about twenty meters deep, one couldnt see the bottom by simply free-diving at the surface. He needed to dive to the middle layer to look for suitable prey, but the trouble there was the need to occasionally surface for air. After mockingly surfacing for air four times, he finally found his favored prey, a striped stone bream hiding in the crevices of the coral reef. Only upon getting closer did Chu Mingcheng realize this stone bream was quite large, at least five or six pounds. The stone bream thought it was very safe hiding in the coral crack, unaware that this made it even easier for him to use his fish lance. Chu Mingcheng slowly approached from above, aimed his lance at its gills, and whoosh The fishs body was pierced, and the stone bream struggled frantically. But it was no use; Chu Mingcheng pressed down on it and, releasing the fish lance, took out his diving knife to bleed it. Fish blood swirled in the water, and soon it stopped struggling. Chu Mingcheng pulled the fish up to the surface and, removing his snorkel, said to Lu Zheqiang, who had also surfaced, Lets call it a morning, Ill continue to practice in the pool after lunch. Lu Zheqiang had no objections; if Chu Mingcheng was going to practice in the pool, then he could train the two new female members who had joined the team. Back on the boat, Chu Mingcheng put the stone bream in ice water and then poured a bit of white wine over it for sterilization. He had once eaten the raw oysters caught by Jiang Luoluo as a joke, and an occasional indulgence like that was fine. But if one often ate sashimi, it was best to kill the bacteria or cook it thoroughly. Using white liquor would have been best, but since the boat only had Western liquor, Chu Mingcheng had to settle for white wine instead. The parrotfish had its flesh removed by him, cut into chunks for frying, and it tasted quite good. The main thing was that such fresh fish had no fishy smell, so the taste was particularly good. After eating lunch, Lu Zheqiang began steering the boat back. The plan had been to be out for a day, but he hadnt expected Chu Mingcheng to make progress so quickly. Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Chapter 87 High-quality Aquatic Products Atlas Chapter 87: Chapter 87 High-quality Aquatic Products Atlas Returning to the club, Chu Mingcheng wanted to find an excuse to go back to his dorm for a while, but Lu Zheqiang stopped him and handed him a portable USB drive. Ah Cheng, theres still the assessment on fishing and the identification of marine organisms. This USB contains most of the aquatic organisms we often encounter during fishing. Pay special attention to the protected animals, so you dont accidentally wander into trouble. Alright, Ill remember it well, Chu Mingcheng said, holding the USB, thinking about copying its contents onto his computer later. Back in his dorm, he first checked the changes in the aquatic products atlas. He was startled to find that the atlas now included a new section called High-quality Aquatic Products, which had appeared when he hit the parrotfish with his spear gun. The data panels for the previously caught green spot, yellow croaker, and sea red spot had all disappeared. Instead, the data panels for Mud shrimp, sea earthworm, and Crucian Carp were all there. [High-quality Aquatic Products Atlas (Level 1)] [Current Experience: (23/200)] [Available tools: Hand, fishing gear (can be torn by hand), fish spear (includes fish harpoon lasso, etc.), extended rope rank hook (unlocked)] [Fish Aggregation (Level 1): Aquatic products within an area that meet the high-quality standards have a one percent chance of being attracted, thereby appearing within the hosts line of sight (they will still flee if disturbed by the host)] [Impact range: 10 cubic meters] [Note: Only those defined by the atlas as high-quality aquatic products can enhance the atlass experience value] [Tastiness: +1% (Fish with higher fat content and better meat quality are prioritized for attraction)] [Size: +1% (Larger fish of the same species are prioritized for attraction)] When he saw the level of the High-quality Aquatic Products Atlas, Chu Mingcheng suddenly realized that the missing data panels had all been consolidated here, converted into experience points for high-quality products. It meant that, regardless of the type of aquatic product, capturing anything within the high-quality range would earn him experience points. He also noticed a change in the tools used; a new addition was the extended rope and rank hook, though sadly it was still locked. However, it seemed like even if he caught high-quality aquatic products with fishing nets or crab cages, they wouldnt provide experience points for this atlas. As for the fish aggregation feature, with only a one percent chance of attraction, it completely depended on some obscure factors! And the range was so small, only ten cubic meters, which is equivalent to a side length of 2.16 meters. Unless he encountered a parrotfish as foolish as the one today, with this range, the fish or other aquatic organisms would have fled before he even got close enough for them to enter his range! This low-level function seemed more user-friendly for fish hunting, but as the level increased and the range expanded, it would also have a certain impact on his fishing activities. The functionality of this High-quality Aquatic Products Atlas might not be very strong, but at least it was more reliable than before. Some wild fish he might not encounter a hundred in his lifetime and then leveling up a few times would be useless. The non-restricted category, unified upgrade, was great. After understanding the changes in the atlas, Chu Mingcheng took out his computer, plugged in the USB and started to review the water organisms and protected animals encountered during fishing. Its worth mentioning that the information Lu Zheqiang provided also included introductions to some organisms from Southeast Asian waters. He decisively copied this valuable content to his computer, then saved it on a cloud drive, and planned to buy another USB later that evening for triple backup. In the afternoon, he practiced shooting targets in the swimming pool and after the session, he washed and hung up the clothes he had changed out of over the last two days. An afternoon of practice significantly improved Chu Mingchengs shooting accuracy. He estimated that he could probably get his fishing license tomorrow; the hit rate might still not be very high at sea, but that didnt matter, more practice out at sea was the key. Mainly because there wasnt much left to learn at the club, it wasnt worth continuing to waste time. Hence, after ordering takeout in the evening, he found two large fishing boats scheduled to go to Xisha soon online and called to inquire. One boat was departing the day after tomorrow morning, but he didnt book immediately. To prevent being deceived, he asked for the dock address, deciding to take a look tomorrow before deciding. The next day, Chu Mingcheng successfully passed the aquatic life identification and the pool shooting test, obtaining his Free Diving Level Two certificate and fishing license. He also bought a one-meter trajectory Carbon Fish Spear from the club, spending three thousand eight hundred yuan. With the certificate in hand, Chu Mingcheng returned to his dormitory to pack his luggage. He placed the fishing hooks and lines into his backpack, as he had too much luggage at the time and could only make do without his fishing box. Clothes needed for going out to sea were gathered and put in the suitcase, and he also needed to bring his mobile phone charger and laptop. Until he returned from Xisha, this dormitory would remain available for his use, so he left most of his clothes in the room. After packing, he took a taxi to the dock. As the ship captain had said, he found a house near the dock with a sign advertising deep-sea fishing boat rentals. When he first heard about the sign, Chu Mingcheng had suspected that the other party might be an agent. In the end, the other party explained that they put up the sign specifically to make it convenient for anglers to come over and discuss prices and fees. After hearing this, Chu Mingcheng decided to trust him once and came over to take a look. Walking into the house, a dark-skinned middle-aged man was sitting in the living room, he went over and asked, Hello, are you the owner of the Sky? Yes, yes, you are looking to rent a spot on the boat, right? Yes, I just called you, I want to see the boat and also ask about the costs and timing for going out to sea. Oh, oh, oh, its you! Sit down, lets sit and talk. The boss warmly invited Chu Mingcheng to sit down, then said, This time our trip to Xisha will last five days, excluding travel time, you can fish for three days and four nights. The boat fee will be seven thousand five hundred yuan, including food and accommodation. Upon hearing the price of seven thousand five hundred, Chu Mingcheng felt a bit shocked, he hadnt expected the price to be so high. Boss, I have checked around; some boats to Xisha only cost five thousand six hundred, and even the more expensive ones are about six thousand. Your price is a bit high, make it cheaper and I will book a spot. The boss did not explain but first asked, You mentioned over the phone that you only want to rent one spot, which means, you are going out to sea alone? Thats right, is there a problem with that? This is the thing, other boats typically house two or even four people in one room. But my boat has single rooms, and each room has a private washroom, providing a better environment. If you are willing to share with others, I can arrange that for you, and make it cheaper for you, say seven thousand. Regarding the prices of five thousand six hundred or six thousand, we do not have those here; the cheapest for a five-day trip to Xisha is six thousand five hundred. Mainly, the oil price has risen, and everyones boat fees have somewhat increased, you can check if you dont believe it. As for the prices written online, those are probably from before. Chu Mingcheng realized, indeed the oil prices had risen significantly compared to before. And having a single room with a private washroom, paying an extra five hundred seemed acceptable. Having decided, he paid a deposit of two thousand yuan. He would board the boat before ten oclock the next morning and then pay the balance. After paying the deposit, Chu Mingcheng thought of Nansha, and so he asked, By the way, boss, does this boat go to Nansha? Yes, it does! However, going to Nansha needs to be booked in advance. I plan a trip when we have enough people. After all, going to Nansha is expensive; it takes at least half a month each time, and its not so easy to gather people. After understanding, Chu Mingcheng did not talk about booking in advance. He went with the boss to see the boat parked not far from the dock on the sea, then left to go back. He was not sure whether to go to Nansha or not, and this trip to Xisha would be a test to see how he felt about the boat; he would consider a next time only if the experience was good. Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 88 Departure [Additional update request for follow-up reading] Chapter 88: Chapter 88 Departure [Additional update request for follow-up reading] By the next day, Chu Mingcheng arrived at the dock by nine in the morning, where the boss stood at the ferry, collecting money from customers using his cellphone and having the boatman ferry the customers to the Sky. The Sky was a large ship, sixty-six meters long, and from the dock, the people on board looked like tiny ants. Chu Mingcheng paid the remaining balance and also gave a two hundred yuan tip to the boatman. He received a key from the boat owner, which came with a small tag marked 03. The tip for the boatman was essential because it would make his fishing much easier later. The boatman would provide various services including netting the fish, bleeding, tagging and tying, untangling lines, setting the bottom, and helping with the fishing rigs; the two hundred yuan was well spent. However, the expenses didnt stop there once he was on board; he also needed to purchase bait, and after catching big fish, the fishing boat also offered foam boxes and ice. The long box was fifty yuan, the square box was thirty yuan, and upon returning to shore, they would also help arrange logistics, air transport, and so on, at their own cost. Fortunately, as long as the catch was good, these costs were relatively negligible. Taking a small boat to the ship, he followed the boatmans directions to his room. Walking down the corridor, Chu Mingcheng noticed many doors on the first floor were open; he curiously peeked inside and saw there were only two types of rooms on this floor. One type was a four-person room, slightly larger, with beds on both the left and right sides, both upper and lower bunks, and indeed, there was a private small bathroom inside. The customers luggage was stored under the ship, but it still felt a bit cramped. Then there were the double rooms, smaller and also with bunk beds, each bed still one meter wide. But living in them felt much more comfortable than the four-person rooms, at least they werent as cramped. He then proceeded to the second floor and upon entering the room, found that the rooms there were much drier and not as damp as those on the first floor. The size of the rooms on the second floor was similar to the two-person rooms on the first floor, but the difference was that there was only one bed here, a small bed of one-meter twenty width. Sitting on the bed and comparing the three types of rooms, Chu Mingcheng suddenly had the illusion that spending an extra five hundred was quite a bargain, weirdly enough. Then he put his luggage away and started to carefully check out the rooms arrangement. Next to the bed was a bedside table which, along with the room, could not be moved. There was a plug board above, which could be used for charging. The bedding looked quite clean and had a slight scent of disinfectant. He didnt dwell on whether it was dirty or not. After all, enduring a bit of hardship while fishing was quite normal! He then took the opportunity while there was still a signal to go out on the deck, took a video, and posted it to the customer group. Everyone, I am about to go to Xisha to fish for deep sea fish. If I make a catch, Ill post when I find a signal area, and you can reserve in advance. When I return to shore, I can arrange for an air shipment directly. The moment this message was sent, the group exploded. Each customer expressed anticipation. In Wen City, without connections, it was impossible for them to get deep sea fish from Xisha, unless they had friends who were into deep sea fishing. Chu Mingcheng did not interact with the customers in the group; since they hadnt set sail yet, he would discuss the prices after they had caught some fish. Now, it was just a time to build hype. Going out to sea to fish at Xisha, most of the time theres no signal. There should be a signal when they return and are about two to three hours from shore. At that time, he would send photos of his catch to the group, and everyone could place their orders. Chu Mingcheng checked his bank account; after paying the ship fee, he was left with sixty-seven thousand yuan. But he still needed to buy bait and other things, which he estimated would cost another two thousand. Recorded the deposit, and after returning home and selling all his fish, he would know how much he had earned from this sea voyage. Customers gradually boarded the ship, and by nine forty, everyone was already on board. The boat owner then boarded the ship, started the Sky, and the engine began to preheat. When the time reached ten oclock, with a long beep, the Sky officially started and began heading toward Xisha. In the first ten or so minutes of sailing, this sixty-six-meter-long ship was very stable. However, after some time had passed, the whole ship began to slowly rise and fall. Chu Mingcheng stood on the front deck, watching the Sky cut through the waves on the sea, and suddenly longed to quickly go to Xia City and get his first boat. After watching the scenery for a while, he felt bored and returned to his room. No one on board had gotten seasick yet, as most of the people who could rent a spot to fish in Xisha were experienced Fishing Men and wouldnt get seasick just from heading out to sea. At most, they would feel a bit nauseous when the sea became rougher in deep waters. In his room, Chu Mingcheng took out his laptop and started editing his recent yellow croaker fishing videos and the ones from his free diving fishing study in Qiongzhou while he had some free time. So far, he hadnt posted many videos on his account, mainly because he had been too busy. If it werent for the popularity from posting videos that could attract some customers and enable him to sell fish at market price, he wouldnt really want to do it. The large ship moved slowly up and down on the sea, not like walking on flat land as one might imagine. For those naturally good at sailing, lying in bed in such circumstances was very comfortable, like lying in a rocking chair. But for those not good at sailing, their stomachs must have already been churning. And Chu Mingcheng, rocked by the movements, even yawned out of drowsiness; fortunately, it was already noon, and the crew, using a megaphone, called everyone to the dining hall for lunch, which refreshed him a bit. The food on board was good, with meat, fish, and vegetables, and the crew members stood by to serve everyone. The utensils were disposable, but each person received a set to use until disembarking, and they were of decent quality. Chu Mingcheng, holding his meal, sat at an empty table. He took a bite and found to his surprise that the ships chef was very skilled; the communal dishes were quite delicious, stimulating his appetite greatly. If they wanted more, they could keep getting food until they were full. The dining hall was large, and the anglers generally had their own small groups, gathering together to talk about their past great achievements. He even saw a few female anglers together, their voices almost drowning out all the men in the dining hall, truly a fearsome sight! After eating, he washed his utensils, then brought them back to his room. The first day would be late at night when the ship reached the fishing spot, and everyone would come out for night fishing then. Chu Mingcheng first went outside to the deck to walk around and digest his food; when the time reached one in the afternoon, he went back to sleep. Although he felt alert after lunch, with no immediate drowsiness, he still shut his eyes to foster a sense of sleepiness. He had experience with night fishing. If he didnt rest well in the afternoon, staying up late at night would be extremely uncomfortable. He fell asleep without realizing it, and by the time Chu Mingcheng woke up again, it was already past four in the afternoon. Estimating that dinner would be soon, he got up, freshened up, and then found a crew member to ask about the fishing schedule. He learned that they would only reach the fishing spot around eleven oclock at night to fish for deep sea fish like Deep Sea Red Friend, Red Gan, Red Diamond, and Grouper at about one hundred fifty meters deep. After hearing this, Chu Mingcheng felt prepared. He went back to take out his electric fishing reel and rod; he decided to use the 12 number 8 braided PE line he had bought earlier, and for the leader line, a 30 number carbon line. Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 89 This Is the Fishing Paradise Chapter 89: Chapter 89 This Is the Fishing Paradise According to what the deckhand said, the first fishing spot had very good fish resources with many big catches, ten or twenty pounds were common, and with a bit of luck, fish weighing thirty to forty pounds were often caught in abundance. However, the actual location was still some distance from Xisha, and this fishing spot was in fact discovered by the boat owners who often took anglers out to sea. Here, when luck was poor, you might come up empty-handed, but with good fortune, everyone could have a successful haul. Therefore, every time they set out to sea, the boat owner would first try their luck at this spot, but the exact situation would only be known after the boat owner had checked the fish finder and informed everyone. When fishing in places like Xisha South Oil, one must never use the common sense and experience from shore or inshore fishing. Many people trying it for the first time usually find that, aside from scissors, they cant use any of their previous gear. Chu Mingchengs rigging was considered standard for these parts, and when fishing for deep-sea fish, it was common to encounter big catches of forty or fifty pounds, which were very powerful, easily cutting through slightly thinner lines in a second. After dinner, having had some time to digest, he saw that some people were already taking their spots, so he quickly returned to his room and took out his fishing rod to reserve a spot on the right end, number 5, at the back deck. When fishing for deep sea fish, there was not much difference between the spots at the front or back deck, as there was plenty of space. But the positions on the sides of the boat werent as good, with the corridors being more crowded with people passing by. The night sea breeze was very refreshing, and though it wasnt very cold just after the sun had set, a jacket would soon be needed. As time slowly passed, Sky arrived at the designated fishing spot, and the deckhand brought good newsthe fish resources were very rich tonight, which excited all the anglers on board. By this time, Chu Mingcheng had already put on a waterproof jacket to keep out the wind and spray. In the night of the deep sea, the winds and waves were strong, and the spray that splashed onto the deck from the sea hitting the boats hull would occasionally spill over the railings and hit people, also contributing to the dampness of the first-floor rooms. Chu Mingcheng prepared to fish and called over a deckhand to inquire about the types and prices of bait. Youre in luck today; there are many big fish below. You can buy some Australian Mackerel (also known as Chi Zai), ten yuan per pound. If you want to catch Long-tailed Bird and such fish, you could get some Antarctic Shrimp Bricks. Its only 80 yuan for a two-and-a-half-pound block, all big shrimp. The ones for chumming are cheaper, 60 yuan a block. The Antarctic Shrimp Bricks were all frozen and needed to be thawed before use. Moreover, Antarctic shrimp rot quickly, and if they thaw for too long, the heads turn black, affecting the chances of getting a bite, so they needed to be used up within about four to six hours. Alternatively, if not all were used, they should be quickly frozen again. Considering that Antarctic Shrimp Bricks could not only be used for fishing but were also great for chumming, he bought some of both types of bait. He decided to first try using mackerel to see what the fish bite was like; if the efficiency of catching big fish was low, then he would go after smaller species like Red snapper. Soon, the deckhand delivered a bucket of live mackerel and Antarctic Shrimp Bricks. The deckhand brought a small basket and hung it over the side of the boat, then placed a Shrimp Brick in it for chumming. Placed in the chumming device (shrimp cage) and lowered into the water along with the bait, it would quickly attract nearby fish. While waiting for the Shrimp Brick to melt, Chu Mingcheng opened the box of mackerel and saw that the fish inside were mostly 10 to 15 centimeters long, and from their bellies, he could see they were Australian Mackerel. He remembered selling these for four yuan each back in the day, but here the price was more than double that; what a markup! But there was no choice, the price was about the same when he bought them elsewhere, plus he had to carry them on board himself, which was an even bigger hassle. Moreover, the ones bought from outside were usually dead, while the live fish provided by the boat had a significant advantage. After a while, the Shrimp Brick had thawed a bit, and Chu Mingcheng placed the thawed Antarctic Shrimp into the chumming device, then baited a hook with a mackerel and cast it into the water. With the weight of the heavy lead sinker, the bait sank quickly. Between the lead sinker and the leader was a swivel, a must-have when fishing for deep-sea fish in places like Xisha South Oil, primarily used to prevent the leader from tangling with the main line. Chu Mingcheng kept his eyes on the numbers on the electric winch until they stopped at 157 meters. Then he retrieved three meters of line to avoid snagging the bottom. However, due to the strong currents in deep-sea fishing, the long fishing line has a large area of force, and even a few kilograms of lead weights can drift from side to side under the swift current, so its essential to constantly monitor the relative position of the fishing gear to the seabed. When the current is strong, its necessary to let out some line to avoid the fishing gear from being too far from the bottom. Conversely, if the current decreases and the line is not reeled in promptly, it can easily result in the fishing gear snagging the bottom, making deep-sea bottom fishing quite troublesome. This was Chu Mingchengs first time fishing, and although he had learned a lot in theory, he had yet to put it into practice. Luckily, the underwater current wasnt very strong at the moment, and the three meters of line he retrieved were just right. The fishing gear was in place, and now it was a matter of when the fish would bite. After about three minutes, Chu Mingcheng noticed a sudden twitch at the tip of the fishing rod, followed by a vigorous downward pressure on the rod. His eyes lit up, the speed of getting a fish on was impressive! Looking at the situation of the surrounding anglers, he was one of the first to catch a fish. He hurriedly pressed the button, and the Z30 electric winch started, its strong pulling force left the fish at the bottom with no ability to fight back. One could see the fishing rod tremble from time to time, a sign of the fish struggling at the bottom. And judging by the bend of the fishing rod, the fish caught was not small. Chu Mingcheng watched the fishing line intently, and under the illumination of the light, he soon saw a red figure in the water. The noise of the electric winch reeling had already attracted the crewmember responsible for helping with the fish, who was wearing gloves. As soon as he saw the fish surface, he immediately helped pull up the line and hauled the Red Friend Fish aboard, then tied it with a white cable tie. The white cable tie had the number 3 on it, indicating that the catch with the white cable tie number 3 belonged to Chu Mingcheng. Pulled up rapidly from the deep sea, the swim bladder of the Red Friend Fish was protruding to its mouth. The Red Friend Fish didnt need bloodletting, and the crewmember was about to bring the fish to the ice hold. Excited by catching such a big Red Friend, Chu Mingcheng quickly interjected, Wait a moment, let me see how much it weighs. This Red Friend Fish was almost a full size larger just by its body shape compared to the one he had caught while diving before. He lifted it with the fish gripper and found the fish weighed a full twenty-three pounds. A twenty-plus pound Red Friend Fish, if at the docks in his hometown, would definitely draw a crowd, but here, the crewmember barely reacted, only a few nearby anglers turned to look a few times, treating it as nothing out of the ordinary. Based on the price it sold for previously, this single fish was worth over two thousand. Not counting the equipment purchased, the total cost of this sea trip should be around ten thousand, so does this mean he has already made back a fifth of the investment? Even at the normal price of sixty yuan per pound, thats still over one thousand three hundred. Chu Mingcheng suddenly felt a bit bewildered, at this rate of making money, how could those who came to Xisha to fish say they were losing money? He looked around and saw that others were also catching fish one after another, most of which were Redfish, and one person even caught a big Red snapper, more than a meter long. In fact, this group of people was just lucky today to have encountered a time when the currents were weak. Just yesterday, there was also a boat that stayed here overnight, but they encountered a plane stream, which blew their five-pound lead weights adrift. That was a chartered boat, with twenty-five people and three leaders chartering a fifty-meter boat. Not only did they fail to prepare the planned live Mackerel, but they also didnt have enough large lead weights, resulting in the anglers on that boat having to leave after just sleeping one night. Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Chapter 90: The Rare Red Diamond Fish Chapter 90: Chapter 90: The Rare Red Diamond Fish Renting a boat in Xisha, finding the right boat is very important. Chu Mingcheng was lucky, stumbling upon this boat named Sky. Though the boat rental was one thousand more expensive, the boats captain was quite responsible. He had all the necessary fishing gear and baits prepared, and even if they encountered strong currents, using heavier lead weights could still make it possible to fish. With live mackerel bait, the catch might be smaller, but you would generally not lose money over three days; most people could actually make a profit. The only downside was how exhausting it was; after a few days, people looked more haggard than if theyd been wrung dry. The Red Friend Fish was taken by a deckhand, and Chu Mingcheng removed the bait from its mouth, setting aside the dead mackerel. This could be saved to cut up for chumming or fishing for coral fish. Catching the first one so quickly, it was clear that there was a good bite below. Chu Mingcheng decided to continue using live mackerel. There were still plenty of Antarctic shrimp in the shrimp cage, so there was no need to add more at the moment. After throwing the baited hook back into the water and it reached the bottom, Chu Mingcheng performed the same actions as before, reeling in three meters of line and waiting. After a small wait, he noticed that the tip of the fishing rod was continuously trembling slightly. Like before, it was probably a big fish approaching, with the mackerel frantically trying to escape; Chu Mingcheng felt a bit of anticipation. But after another two or three minutes, this condition persisted without any signs of a fish bite, which puzzled him. After thinking it over, he pressed the electric button to reel in the line and check the situation. Once all the line was reeled back, Chu Mingcheng was speechless upon seeing the tackle; the live bait had been swimming erratically and got tangled with the main line, which explained the continuous trembling of the rod tip. He picked up scissors and decisively cut off the tangled line. The fish had died while being pulled up due to the water pressure. Chu Mingcheng took it off and also set it aside. He threw the cut line into the trash bin and then replaced it with a new one. After fixing the tackle again, he continued fishing with live mackerel. Line tangles were unavoidable, something all fishermen encountered. Keeping a calm mindset was the best approach. Just as he cast the bait into the water, he noticed a young man not far away holding a camera, filming a female angler fishing. From the way the woman was explaining to the camera, it was obvious that she was a video creator who attracted viewers through fishing. This reminded Chu Mingcheng of the head-mount camera he had left beside his computer. He quickly called over a deckhand to watch his angling spot, then ran back to his room to put on the head-mount camera. When he returned to his spot, he found that a fish had already bitten; the deckhand had helped press the button, and the electric reel was now retrieving the line. Chu Mingcheng hadnt bought an external microphone, so there was no need for live commentary while fishing. To be honest, he preferred to record voiceovers in post-production and then add subtitles, because speaking to himself in front of a bunch of strangers would make him feel awkward. After a short wait, another red fish was pulled to the surface, and just by its appearance, it was more beautiful than the Red Friend Fish. It was much smaller than the Red Friend Fish, but Chu Mingcheng, wearing cut-resistant gloves, didnt need any help from the deckhand and just grabbed the rope to pull it up himself. For fish like this that didnt struggle much when reaching the surface, it was most convenient to simply pull them up by the fishing line as long as they werent too large. Otherwise, a net or a gaff would only be used for very large fish or those still full of energy. This red fish was easy to identify; it had a long tail like a swallows, clearly a Long-tailed Shore Bream, an extremely precious deep sea fish. As with the previous Red Friend Fish, this added a bit of experience to the High-quality Atlas. The market price of the Long-tailed Shore Bream ranged from 280 to 320, but the specific prices varied by location. In Qiongzhou, it would definitely be cheaper, as Xisha was one of the places with the most Long-tailed Shore Bream. Chu Mingcheng checked the weight with a fish controller; it was 11 jin and 8 taels. Though it was half the weight of the Red Friend Fish, its total value was much higher. ` The crew tied it up with straps and put it in the ice storage, and Chu Mingcheng honestly became even more puzzled. A cost of ten thousand yuan seemed very easy to recoup, feeling like he could break even in just one night. But for most people who come fishing, basically, the fish are taken by the boat owner or the fishmonger, making their breakeven much harder than Chu Mingchengs. After adding some Antarctic shrimp to the shrimp cage and putting the bait into the water, a curious Chu Mingcheng asked the crew member beside him, Brother, how much did you guys buy that long-tailed drill fish for earlier? We buy them here for one hundred and thirty. What about the Red Friend fish? Thirty. Chu Mingcheng suddenly realized, so the purchase price was this cheap, making the difficulty of breaking even definitely much higher! And fishing for deep sea fish took quite some time. He had only fished two fish, and with one cut line incident, more than an hour had already passed. It was now half past midnight, with only five hours left until dawn, and he had no idea how many fish he could catch. Blown by the sea breeze, listening to the girls not far away screaming and shouting when getting a fish, at this moment, Chu Mingcheng didnt find it noisy. Instead, he felt that women fishing was quite interesting, with their exaggerated reactions. His bait at the seabed had been there for three minutes, and if there was still no movement after a while, he would have to reel it in to see if the bait had come off. Just at that moment, the fishing line in the reel suddenly started shooting out rapidly. Chu Mingcheng quickly pressed the button, and the reel started, stopping the line that was being let out. This sudden reeling in was just like dealing with a Stabbing fish. But to his surprise, something capable of resisting the reel, which was over a hundred pounds, actually paused for a moment, and the speed of reeling in after that was much slower than before, bending the fishing rod to an unprecedented degree. No matter how you looked at it, he had hooked a big fish! Chu Mingcheng immediately thought of the grouper he had seen in the Wen City restaurant before. Could it be that he had also caught such a big grouper? If that were the case, he would soar with just one fish. From the initial pause to the slow reeling that followed, a few minutes passed, and it seemed the fish below had grown tired, quickening the reeling speed suddenly; the electric reel resumed its normal whirring sound of line retrieval. Chu Mingcheng placed his hand on the electric reel, feeling its temperature. If the workload was too heavy, then he would need to pour some water to cool it down. The tip of the fishing rod nodded little by little, and ten minutes passed, with thirty meters of the fishing line reeled back in. The fish would frequently struggle, considerably prolonging the time to pull it up. Looking at the fishing rod, Chu Mingcheng actually felt a bit itchy. If it wasnt for the fact that manual reeling for deep sea fish was too exhausting for the arms, he really wouldnt want to use the electric reel, missing out on a lot of the excitement. When there were only thirty meters of fishing line left, Chu Mingcheng shouted loudly, calling the crew over to prepare with the gaff hook. Finally, the fish came into his sight, another red fish, today he was really taking on the Red Fish! But as the fish surfaced, the experienced crew member blurted out, Holy shit! A Red Diamond Fish can grow this big? Ive never seen one this size in the Nansha area, this ones definitely going to break records! That exaggerated? Chu Mingcheng was somewhat surprised, not expecting that this fish would make even the experienced crewman curse. Clearly, he had hooked another rarely-seen whopper. Such a big Red Fish also attracted all the surrounding anglers, with clueless beginners expressing amazement and the more savvy Fishing Men finding it unbelievable. The crewman, with a serious expression, watched his target as the fish was pulled to the surface. Aiming carefully, he hooked the fish right at the top of its head with the gaff. He took a deep breath and pulled hard, the fish was lifted up a bit, but it was stuck and could not be lifted onto the boat for a moment. Chu Mingcheng quickly went over to help, and with their combined efforts, they managed to haul the Red Diamond Fish onto the deck with great difficulty. Clearly, as big as the fish was, it was not yet big enough to require a crane. ` Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Undercover on the North Reef Coast Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Undercover on the North Reef Coast The Red Diamond Fishs scientific name in Chinese is bin diao, and like the Long-tailed Shore Bream and the Multi-rake Shore Bream, it belongs to the Clupeidae family; the three fish are very similar. But in terms of size, the Long-tailed Shore Bream is the smallest. The eleven-pound one that Chu Mingcheng caught is already considered a large individual within the Long-tailed Shore Bream. However, bin diao and Multi-rake Shore Bream can grow to over one meter, especially the bin diao, which can reach up to one meter twenty-seven. But the one he caught was clearly oversized, not only attracting the attention of nearby fishing enthusiasts but also rousing the boat captain who had just lain down to rest. Tsk, tsk, tsk, such a big Red Diamond Fish, Ive been out at sea for more than twenty years and this is the first time Ive seen one! He didnt even bother asking Chu Mingcheng if he would sell the fish, knowing that such fish are typically snapped up as soon as they hit the shore, bypassing any middleman. Boss, do you have a ruler? I want to measure the fishs length, then can you help me take a picture afterwards? Under normal circumstances, taking such a big fish home would definitely be a misadventure, but given the unique situation on the boat and the need to preserve the fish while its fresh, taking a commemorative photo with it was the only option. No sooner had Chu Mingcheng finished speaking than a deckhand quickly approached and handed him a tape measure. This old brother really knew what he was doing! He took the tape measure, handed over his phone for taking pictures and started measuring the Red Diamond Fish. Once out of the water, the bigger the fish, the harder it is to move, especially if its pulled up directly from the deep sea. This Red Diamond Fishs mouth was still opening and closing, but in reality, once on the deck, it hardly moved at all. Chu Mingcheng squatted down and safely measured its body length; it was 137 centimeters. One deckhand took a photo of the measurement, and then another brought over a scale. Together, they lifted the fish onto the scale, which showed it weighed 32.9 kilograms, equivalent to 65.8 pounds. Seeing this number, the boat captain sighed slightly with regret: Just shy of the mark, the current record is about 74 pounds, with a length of 145 centimeters. Being able to catch something close to the record size domestically is satisfaction enough, Im not expecting to break the record, said Chu Mingcheng who was already delighted with his catch. The record fish the captain mentioned was caught overseas, where the environment is quite different. Truth be told, Chu Mingcheng was quite interested in wreaking havoc in foreign waters, only wondering how easy it would be to get a fishing license abroad. He squatted next to the fish and let the deckhand take a picture of him alone, then checked the result. The deckhands photography skills were impressive; the fish looked two sizes bigger than him in the photo. Then the boat captain also came over for a group photo. This kind of newsworthy fish was definitely not something he would miss out on showcasing, as it could attract more fishing enthusiasts. Once the photos were taken, Chu Mingcheng immediately ordered an extra-large foam box, the type used for Golden Spearfish, asking the deckhand to seal the fish in it for preservation. Afterward, he inquired about the potential market price of the fish once they landed. The boat captain pondered for a moment and said, The exact amount will depend on what people are willing to pay, usually these are auctioned off as soon as they arrive onshore. I feel yours could easily be worth twenty thousand at the lowest, you wouldnt make a loss selling it for that price. Twenty thousand, that is, about three hundred yuan per pound. Compared to its elegant cousin the Long-tailed Shore Bream, which features a slender physique and tail fin that waves like the sleeve of a dancer, the plain-looking bin diao gains the upper hand with its lower price and higher yield. In other words, the price of bin diao is incomparable to that of the Long-tailed Shore Bream, being more than just half as cheap. The market price for fresh bin diao ranges between eighty-five to one hundred twenty yuan, with specific prices varying depending on the region, but for sure its much cheaper in the Qiongzhou area. When the captain mentioned twenty thousand, he was accounting for a large part of the hype and rarity. If sold at market price, it would probably fetch about two hundred yuan per pound. But even at twenty thousand, Chu Mingcheng had already made his money back on this trip, and now he was pondering whether he could take the opportunity to earn back all the money he had spent since coming to Qiongzhou. A bin diao that nearly set a record had all the nearby fishing enthusiasts brimming with enthusiasm. ` All those who were originally using low-power electric reels to fish for small species had rented large electric reels and stiff rods from the crew. Not only that, the mackerel bait on the ship sold out in a flash. The captain stood on the deck, smiling for a while, before he leisurely walked back to his cabin to sleep with his hands clasped behind his back. He was not the only person in charge, as there was also a deputy captain to take over his shift, allowing him to sleep soundly. It seemed that his luck with the Long-tailed Shore Bream had been used up, Chu Mingcheng only caught two Red Snappers, each weighing a little over ten pounds, in the next two hours. The two fish combined were only worth one thousand five hundred yuan according to market prices, which was nothing compared to the fish he caught before. These two fish needed to be bled, so he left it to the crew to handle. Now it was almost three in the morning, with only three hours left until sunrise, Chu Mingcheng replaced the 30-numbered leader he had been using with a smaller 20-numbered one, and he also switched to smaller hooks. He didnt bother changing the main line, as it was too much of a hassle. This time he wasnt using live mackerel as bait, but Antarctic Shrimp to catch smaller fish. As expected, using smaller bait did attract fish, and he had a high catch rate of five to six-pound Deep Sea Groupers, Red Friends, and Long-tailed Shore Breams. After daybreak, Chu Mingcheng had caught a total of thirteen fish. The catch for the night was very good, and he had no plans to continue fishing. He packed up his gear, washed his face back in his room, and then went for breakfast. This afternoon, the ship would arrive near the Xisha North Reef, where it would be possible to rent a boat for trolling, but it would cost an additional 500 yuan per hour. Whether freediving for spearing fish was allowed was still unknown; he had brought his equipment and decided to ask about it later that afternoon. At noon, Chu Mingcheng was woken up by the crew calling everyone for lunch. He got up, washed up, and went out to find that the ship had already reached the Xisha North Reef. The azure sea and blue sky were not merely a scene from a movie. This kind of beautiful tropical island scenery was something he could not see in his hometown. He took out his head-mounted camera to film the scenery all around, then took a few shots with his mobile phone. Looking at the photos, he realized his photography skills were subpar; the actual scenery was much better. He decided to keep the photos anyway and planned to buy a decent camera and learn to take pictures when he had time in the future. After lunch, Chu Mingcheng approached the crew, indicating that he wanted to go out to freedive. However, as he did not have a diving buddy, the captain refused him. Luckily, there was a crew member who knew how to dive, albeit with just a one-star certification, which was sufficient. The crew members tip was also 500 yuan per hour, but Chu Mingcheng wasnt too concerned about the price. As long as there were fish, the returns from spearfishing would be much more direct than from fishing. He warmed up with the crew member on the deck until they were slightly overheated. Then they put on their gear and took the trolling dinghy to a nearby shoal. The crew member was also equipped with diving gear and brought along an oxygen tank, just in case it was needed in a crucial moment. If Chu Mingcheng ended up using the oxygen tank, the cost would be charged to him. But he didnt mind at all; he wouldnt give up this opportunity. The dinghy took them straight to a shallow bank, and the two men got off the boat. Although the crew member was wearing a diving suit, he also wore a life jacket over it. His job was to float on the surface monitoring Chu Mingchengs safety. He would only go to rescue if there was a danger, otherwise, he didnt need to do anything. Chu Mingcheng put on his fins and entered the water from the shore, the crystal-clear water allowing him to clearly observe any movement beneath the surface. The Xisha was not only a fishing paradise but also a haven for spearfishers. ` Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Upholding Justice Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Upholding Justice Fishing and hunting are most feared when encountering turbid sea waters and rough waves. Fishermen pay attention to the weather and ocean currents, and through Lu Zheqiangs recommendation, Chu Mingcheng downloaded an app specially designed to discern sea and water conditions. The underwater ecology of our countrys coastal waters is very poor, with various kinds of pollution and freshwater runoff accompanying flash floods, resulting in a serious siltation of the seabed. Simply put, other countries have crystal-clear seabeds like what you see now in Xisha. Whereas the seabed in most of our areas is composed of sand and mud, with marine debris and various impurities visible everywhere when swimming in the water. In such situations, the speed and volume of ocean currents and the strength of the wind have the most significant impact on the waters visibility. Thanks to Chu Mingchengs ease in swimming, his underwater visibility was a bit clearer and further than others. Even so, when he was diving at Yanmen Island, the furthest he could see was only five or six meters. When the water was murky, it was only two or three meters, and anything farther was just a blurry shadow. Of course, that area is mostly yellow muddy water, and speaking of visibility, it is probably much worse than any other place in the country. When he went fishing in Xia City, the situation was much better. Today, underwater visibility was like sight on land; he had never seen anything like it. Nearly all the aquatic life hiding within the coral reef couldnt escape his eyes. Schools of coral reef ornamental fish swam in his view, in yellow, blue, speckled, and various other colors. Go to ????????????????????.co Too bad theyre pleasing to the eye but not useful; the fish taste bad and the ornamental species are difficult to keep alive and transport ashore. Chu Mingchengs target location was about ten meters deep. The boatman followed behind him, but because he was wearing a life jacket, he was swimming slowly. Before they reached the target spot, an ornamental fish, yellow in color and probably a Changyu, was gruesomely killed. From the size of its companions, it was just a child. Killed out of curiosity, it paused at the entrance of a cave, where the culprit seized and brutally dragged it into the cave to dispose of the evidence. As a warm-hearted young man of the twenty-first century, Chu Mingcheng could not stand it when criminals targeted children. Unable to help its parents, he decided to become a superhero for once and avenge the parents who lost their child. He took a deep breath, stretched the rubber band of the harpoon, aimed it, and plunged into the water, ready to make the murderer surrender. If it did not surrender, then he would have to make a forceful arrest. As he approached, the culprit immediately opened its mouth threateningly and tried to shrink back into the cave to flee from its crime. This could not be allowed to happen. To prevent the culprit from escaping, Chu Mingcheng had no choice but to make a third decision, lifting the harpoon and piercing its neck with an arrow. Yet, the culprit was tenacious; even after a minute, it stubbornly kept retreating into the cave. Unable to apprehend it quickly, Chu Mingcheng had to both fight and retreat, unspooling the line to swim back to the surface, letting his teammates know he was safe. The reel used the special Number 5 eight-braid Dali Ma Line for the harpoon. He gripped the fishing line, hoping to pull the perpetrator out of the water, but it was difficult. So he had to dive back down to the cave entrance, pulling it out partially while seizing the opportunity to clutch the culprits lifeline (neck) with his right hand and drag it out forcibly. However, Chu Mingcheng underestimated the culprits strength; he felt as if he were uprooting a small tree. Fortunately, after grabbing its neck, he didnt need to pull as hard as before, fearing the line might break, so with his vigorous pulling and hauling, the culprit was finally dragged out of the cave. Once out of the cave, it was like a lamb to the slaughter, no longer resisting, and Chu Mingcheng easily led it to the surface. After reaching the surface, he pulled out a knife to bleed it. The culprit was a fierce-looking sea eel, covered in fine spots that suggested it was likely a Shus pigtooth fish. The length was about one meter, and the weight was estimated to be around five jin. Before the sea eel had cooled down, Chu Mingcheng dare not carry it around with him, as it could take a bite at your thigh at any moment. Using a diving knife to execute the sea eel, he only used a live fish clip to secure it after it was completely dead. He had wanted to search for the parents who lost their child, but unfortunately, the parents escaped too quickly, and he had to continue swimming towards his destination. After three or four minutes, Chu Mingcheng arrived at the destination, a coral reef area about ten meters deep. There were abundant fish resources here, including Stone Bream, parrotfish, and green dress. The standard for fishing and hunting generally prioritizes high-value, large-sized fish. Chu Mingcheng first set his sights on a green dress, scientifically known as Shus pigtooth fish, named for its distinctive teeth. The green dress he targeted weighed at least ten jin, a casual encounter one could only have in Xisha. Chu Mingcheng dived into the water and gently moved his legs, propelling forward swiftly with the help of his fins. Stopping five meters away from the green dress, he pulled back the rubber band on his fish gun. This distance did not alert the green dress, and being the optimal range for the fish gun, he lifted the gun, aimed, and waited for the opportunity. The green dress was unaware of the danger because it had never encountered someone pointing a fish gun at it. When it turned sideways to face the gun, it did not realize that its life was about to end. Bang An arrow shot through its chest and abdomen in an instant, and the shock and intense pain made the green dress instinctively seek a hiding place. There was a coral hole just beneath it, and it desperately swam inside. Unfortunately, the hole was a bit large and did not offer any place to conceal its shape. Chu Mingcheng released the fish gun, allowing it to float on its own, and followed the fishing line with both hands to find the green dress. He soon found the green dress hiding at the bottom of the hole, grabbed the fishing line close, and pulled it out a bit, then, together with the green dress, swam directly upward. Although the green dress struggled, the barbed pieces on the arrowhead made it impossible to escape. Upon reaching the surface, he used the diving knife to pierce the green dresss brain, killing it and bleeding it to ensure the fish meats quality as much as possible. Normally, the fish caught while fishing are killed right away. Because fish, like humans, accumulate lactic acid in their muscles during intense physical activity or energy expenditure, which occurs when the bodys muscles cannot get enough oxygen to function normally. As lactic acid builds up, the fish meat will be burned or damaged; the more damaged the fish meat, the lower the value of the fish itself. This is why eating Golden Spearfish immediately after catching them gives a slightly sour taste to the meat, requiring it to be placed in a bucket of ice water for a couple of days to drain the acid. That was another thousand plus in earnings; coming to Xisha really paid off. With the green dress and the sea eel hung on him, Chu Mingcheng began searching for his third target. He would not go after Stone Bream today as there was a good chance of encountering them in other sea areas; he wanted to go after fish that would be harder to find later in Xia City. During the day, some valuable fish like to hide in concealed parts of the coral reef, which he needed to search for carefully. Especially some beneath the corals were a sure find, but most of them were not the prey Chu Mingcheng wanted. Just then, he passed a coral that looked like a Boss Flower, a great hiding spot underneath. Chu Mingcheng went down and peeked into the crevice below, his eyes widening in shock. Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: Chapter 93 Stop Fighting, Everyone Calm Down Chapter 93: Chapter 93 Stop Fighting, Everyone Calm Down Chu Mingcheng looked down and discovered a treasure, each swaying tentacle represented Mana. Chu Mingcheng hadnt expected to find a lobster den, it was regrettable he hadnt brought a fish guard, only a small net bag, which couldnt hold many. Moreover, trying to catch them directly, he guessed he wouldnt be able to catch many. The rest of the lobsters would run away, he couldnt be reckless. He thought for a moment, decided not to disturb these lobsters for now, first to catch some fish to bring back to the boat, then arrange some bait to lure them out one by one. Chu Mingcheng swam to the surface, marking the approximate location. In the water it was easy to recognize, as there was only one Coral Tyrant Flower nearby, he could spot it immediately upon approaching. He swam elsewhere, and soon found a very large tiger spot, definitely over twenty pounds, much bigger than the green dress he was wearing. Grouper were not very active during the day, hiding away which made his spearfishing accuracy even higher after he found them, almost a hit every time. It was just that the angle of this tiger spot was poor, with coral reefs blocking on both sides of its body, he could only choose to attack from behind. The spear pierced from the back of the fish, then exited on the left side of its lower abdomen. But this made the fish bolt out directly, the tiger spots hiding spot was like a pipe, and the fishing line immediately brushed against the coral reef above. Chu Mingcheng quickly grabbed the other end of the fishing line and pulled it back, to prevent severe abrasion of the line. Go to ????????????????????.co This also made him realize he had made a mistake in his approach, he should have shot from the front to avoid the fishing line touching the coral reef. Hiding inside, he could approach from the front without the fish normally running away, as it would think it hadnt been discovered, a creatures instinct. Moreover, his accuracy with stationary targets was very high now, he wasnt afraid of missing from a slightly longer distance. Experience was accumulated over time, now he should first pull the fish back! Pulling a fish of over twenty pounds was not easy, very strenuous. Chu Mingcheng checked the time, he had already been in the water for one minute and twenty seconds, so he picked up the spear gun and inserted it into the pipe-like cave, pulling it out from the other side. Now the fishing line wouldnt get worn out, fortunately the pipe was big enough, otherwise he might have had to surface to catch his breath first. Honestly, this few times of diving experience were not good. There were too many things he needed to pay attention to, he could only treat himself as a normal person. Catching this tiger spot, todays harvest was actually enough. It was a pity there was no boat specifically waiting for them, he found going back and forth troublesome, he could only hunt as much prey as possible before returning. Continuing to swim on the surface, a bright red fish caught his attention in the water. It was an East Starfish, this fish was too famous, even though the one below was only about two to three pounds, he still didnt plan to let it go. Compared to the stationary tiger spot, this East Starfish was not staying in place, it was swimming back and forth about a meter above the coral. Chu Mingcheng, holding the spear gun, found it difficult to aim, but this was a situation he would often encounter in the future. Feeling the direction of the current, calculating the next move of the East Starfish, he found the right moment and firmly pressed the trigger. The arrowhead flew rapidly towards the nearby East Starfish, then speared through the fishs back fin. The East Starfish, startled, wriggled and its back fin tore apart, escaping quickly after breaking free. The back fin of the East Starfish was located towards the rear and its damage affected its balance greatly, making it unable to swim upright. Its entire body tilted as it moved, this caused its speed to be not very fast. Seeing this, Chu Mingchengs eyes brightened, he had thought the fish got away, but unexpectedly there was a pleasant surprise. He quickly reeled in the line and chased after it. After watching the East Starfish hide, he stopped, tightened the rubber band, and dove towards its hideout. Chu Mingcheng swam closer only to see it leaning against a piece of coral and struggling to maintain its balance. This time, it made an ideal target, pierced through by the arrowhead. At the same time, the coral next to it was also dented slightly by the arrowhead. This was tough on the arrowheads, so he had to try to use them sparingly. It was okay for those who could sharpen their own arrowheads; for those who couldnt, once the arrowheads were too blunt to hunt effectively, they had no choice but to replace them. Having caught another East Starfish, Chu Mingcheng already had about thirty-five pounds of catches, which did make him feel a bit heavy while swimming. He planned to catch another fish of about ten pounds before heading back. As he swam past a large boulder and turned around the corner, he discovered it was a fault, and about twenty meters below were two fish locking lips. This wont do, Im still single, how can I let the fish show off their love? Its time to send them to the freezer to cool off! Pulling the rubber band, the spear gun was loaded just as Chu Mingcheng was about to proceed; however, he then realized he had misunderstood. The two fish had their mouths wide open, biting each other fiercely, and one of them suddenly sported a wound on its jaw from the sharp teeth. It turned out they were fighting, then it was even more necessary for him to intervene. All these sea fish getting so heated, they need to chill in the freezer too. The two fish appeared substantial in size, definitely over ten pounds each, but whether they were fifteen pounds, he couldnt say. Apparently oblivious to Chu Mingcheng who was now within about five meters, when an arrow struck one of the fish, the other realized the danger was right next to them and quickly fled. Chu Mingcheng immediately grabbed the fishing line and pulled the struck fish to follow. The hit fish shook a bit after then died, the unlucky creature had been directly hit in the brain. So pulling it was easy for Chu Mingcheng, as it didnt drag at all. After chasing for a while, the fish swam too fast, almost out of sight. Chu Mingcheng looked back towards the direction of the boatman, finding him still at the water surface, tied next to his own float and not having followed. He must have seen how skilled he was at free diving and relaxed. At this distance, if he dove, the other side wouldnt see him, so he quietly untied his safety rope, sped up swiftly, and caught up with the fleeing fish. After a while, the fish in front seemed to think there was no danger and gradually slowed down. Chu Mingcheng swiftly closed the distance, collected the dead fish with a fish clasp, and reloaded his spear gun. When he got within five meters, but the fish was more cautious this time and ran off. He had no choice but to follow, and when it stopped, he didnt dare to get too close again, staying about seven or eight meters away. Raising his spear gun and aiming, he fired successfully, hitting the target and Chu Mingcheng made a YES gesture with his left hand. Fighting is wrong, if theres fault, they should face the punishment together, its also nice to have company. But this time he hadnt hit the fishs brain, so the fish struggled fiercely. Chu Mingcheng pulled the line to wear out its energy while slowly getting closer. With the injury and the rapid depletion of energy, it quickly calmed down. Taking out his diving knife, he dispatched it to repentance, then Chu Mingcheng went back to find his safety rope to tie it again, surfaced slowly, and swam back while also examining the two fish. Their entire bodies were pink, with a large tumor on the head and similarly on the chin, giving them a hideously ugly look, somewhat resembling the God of Longevity. Their teeth, though not quite the same as those of Mana, also had hardly any differences. This impression of the fish was very strong for him; he remembered it instantly from the information Lu Zheqiang once gave him. Both were Golden Yellow Pout, as for why the pink ones were called golden, Chu Mingcheng was also unclear. Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Lobster Platter Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Lobster Platter As for the reason it left a deep impression, it was because this fish was known as a gender changing fish, capable of changing its own gender. Whenever a female Golden Yellow Pout grew to a critical size, intense changes would occur inside its body. Under the influence of a special enzyme within its body, its female hormones would cease to secrete, male hormones would surge and start circulating within its body continuously. Then, within just a few months, it would transform into a male fish, and its body size would increase, with delicious lumps of flesh growing on its head and chin. In other words, each Golden Yellow Pout, after its mother had tired of giving birth, would suddenly become tempestuous, forcibly change its own gender, indicating it wanted other fish to reproduce too! It could be both mother and father! If Elephant Country could research this gender transformation technology, their nations little sisters wouldnt have to suffer so much! But what thrilled Chu Mingcheng even more was that this type of fish seemed to sell for a high price in his hometown. He had seen in Lu Zheqiangs information that this type of fish here, or in Fusheng, only cost about a hundred, and at most about two hundred yuan per pound. But in many places in Zhe Province, the price almost doubled. With these two fish added, the weight Chu Mingcheng carried had reached over sixty pounds. Fortunately, seawater provided buoyancy, helping to alleviate some of the weight. He began swimming back, signaling the crew to call the boat over to take him back to the Sky first. Go to ????????????????????.co When the crewman saw the fish in his hands, he asked subconsciously, What time is it now? Chu Mingcheng was puzzled but still checked his diving watch, Its exactly two in the afternoon, why do you ask? So you mean to say, you caught this many premium fish in just one hour? Yeah, is there a problem with that? Impressive, brother, Ive truly never seen anyone fish as skillfully as you. Chu Mingcheng pulled at the corner of his mouth. From what he had shown so far, there were many who were more skilled than he was. But skilled fishing experts all had teams, setting out to sea in groups they had organized themselves. It was rare for someone to run onto such a large fishing vessel alone and choose to fish; it was normal that the crewman hadnt seen it before. He laughed but did not address the question. Instead, he returned to shore with the crewman, who then used a walkie-talkie left there to call the boat over. After waiting about ten minutes, a boat without tourists, driven by another crewman, came over and took them back to the Sky. The spot where the Sky was moored wasnt a good fishing spot. Thus, apart from some who went trolling, most were lying in their rooms conserving energy, waiting for the next fishing spot to continue the battle. Chu Mingcheng had the crewman save the fish first, then brought over a fish guard. Concerned that he hadnt explained himself plainly to him, he didnt mind so much if it affected the trolling time. Trolling might not work today, but he could try again the day after tomorrow; however, the chance to fish for lobsters was just this once. He returned to his room, cut a thirty-meter segment of No. 8 carbon fiber line, then took out some No. 5 sleeve hooks to tie on it, securing three hooks in total. He also added a lead sinker to prevent the bait from being carried away by the current once it hit the water. After making one fishing line, he prepared another as a spare. For bait, he cut mackerel into small pieces and also brought some Antarctic Shrimp Bait. All the lobsters were gathered together; if he went in directly to catch them, he figured he could only catch two or three, and the rest would definitely escape. But fishing was different, it wasnt easy to accidentally alert others; at least they would wait until most of the lobsters were not biting before trying to catch them directly. All prepared, he and the boatman returned to the original spot and entered the water. Ideally, it would have been best to stop a boat directly above the lobster den to fish, but renting a small boat for his personal use would incur an additional charge, and the price was exorbitant, so Chu Mingcheng gave up on that idea. He preferred to go through a bit of trouble himself rather than be bled dry by the boat owner. Arriving at the approximate water depth, Chu Mingcheng quickly spotted the Boss Flower. He gave one of the spare fishing lines to the boatman to hold and attached mackerel meat to the other line, then dove into the water to find the right position. He placed the bait next to the hole, holding the other end of the line in his hand as he released it gradually while swimming to the surface. Until his whole body was face down, floating on the surface, breathing through the snorkel. Mimao Lobster was different from Boston Lobster; it lacked claws, and it would bite the bait directly with its mouth, so hooking one was guaranteed. Lobsters with claws would first use their claws to clamp on the prey, and there was a certain chance they would let go when you tried to catch them, making their catch rate lower than that of clawless lobsters. After two or three minutes, a Mimao Lobster was attracted by the bait. Its antennae on top of its head constantly moving up and down, it slowly crawled out of its hiding spot. But it wasnt the only one attracted; following the leader, another one came out soon after. Chu Mingcheng, holding the line in his hand, was ready. As soon as the first Mimao Lobster bit the hook bait and felt the pain and retraced, he immediately pulled the line back. The Mimao Lobster had no strength to resist and was gradually pulled to the water surface bit by bit. Chu Mingcheng grabbed the lobster by the back to inspect it, a substantial Mimao Lobster indeed, weighing around two pounds, incomparable to the previous Green Lobsters he had caught. After removing the sleeve hook from the lobsters mouth, seeing that the fish meat was badly bitten, he reluctantly handed the lobster to the boatman and hooked another piece of fish meat. The boatman, surprised, took the lobster from his hands and then placed it inside the fish protector. All this time, he had been wondering what Chu Mingcheng was aiming to do with such a fishing line, contemplating whether it was for catching some specific type of fish, but didnt expect it to be for lobsters. This one Mimao Lobster could fetch 500 yuan on the market, roughly 250 yuan per pound. And previously, Chu Mingcheng had seen that the cave was full of antennae, indicating there were at least a dozen more inside. With one successful experience under his belt, catching lobsters became very smooth. Although some lobsters were too frightened to come out, within an hour, he still managed to catch thirteen Mimao Lobsters. Among them, eight were over one and a half pounds, and five were significantly smaller. But without a scale, Chu Mingcheng did not weigh them; he simply released them all back into the water. However, the efficiency of continued lobster fishing decreased significantly afterward; in half an hour, he only managed to catch two more, one of which was too small and was released, likely because the lobsters below had become wary or he had nearly caught them all. Chu Mingcheng entered the water again, but this time he wasnt placing bait but looked into the crevices. He discovered there were still many lobsters hiding inside, seemingly aware of the trap and reluctant to come out. Since that was the case, he had no choice but to try catching them with his bare hands. Finding his target, Chu Mingcheng directly reached in. The Mimao Lobsters, sensing danger, either hid or scrambled out of the crevices and fled. However, he still managed to catch one that didnt escape in time, pulled it out to find it was quite large, and first placed it into the small net he carried on himself and then moved on to catch others that hadnt escaped. In the end, he caught three more, and with the diving time already at two and a half hours, he decided to end his hunting activity for the day and swam back to the surface. In one and a half hours, he had caught a total of thirteen Mimao Lobsters, each weighing over one and a half pounds, not much different from the first one he had caught. He released all that were slightly smaller, otherwise, he could have caught over twenty lobsters today. Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: Chapter 95 High-Quality Customer Chapter 95: Chapter 95 High-Quality Customer ` I didnt expect processing the lobsters to take so much time, its already past three in the afternoon, and clearly, theres not enough time left for trolling. I learned from the crew that Sky will set sail after dinner, heading to a new fishing spot. Back on Sky, I helped the crew tie the lobsters with cable ties. Such a swarm of lobsters quickly drew the attention of the people who stayed on the boat in the afternoon, including a female angler followed by a professional photographer. Previously, when night fishing for deep sea fish, there was a woman nearby making videos, shouting excitedly which was quite amusing. I didnt expect to encounter another one now, has video making really become this common? Generally, among the women who make short videos, aside from a tiny fraction of genuine enthusiasts, most of them share one characteristic: they all look pretty decent and their clothing tends to be eye-catching. This type of female angler usually doesnt fish much, as their skin still looks quite good. Those who frequently fish by the sea or out at sea hardly maintain very fair skin, as sunscreen simply isnt enough. However, the female angler who came over this time was petite and plain, her skin not dark, but she still fell short when compared to Jiang Luoluo. She had a nice appearance, with delicate features that boosted her overall attractiveness, giving off the vibe of the girl-next-door. This girl didnt look like an angler a big catch could easily drag her into the sea. Go to ????????????????????.co Maybe she was here in Xisha to check-in and let her online friends experience the beauty of Xisha and the joy of fishing. The female angler squatted down, her eyes sparkled looking at the lobsters, and it seemed like the corners of her mouth were wildly secreting saliva, giving the impression of a little girl craving lollipops, quite amusing. Hello, may I ask, what kind of lobster is this? The female angler noticed Chu Mingchengs looks this time and seemed surprised by his handsomeness. This is called the Mimao Lobster, which is a specialty lobster from the South Sea Xisha area. So its called the Mimao Lobster, how much is it, and can you sell me two? Chu Mingcheng was stunned, not expecting such a direct request to buy. Buying two now, is it to show that she is not coming back empty-handed? But with so many here, selling one or two wouldnt hurt. The price is 255 per tael, you can come find me when we get back, and Ill let you pick a few in advance. Can I have them now? I have cash, or I can transfer to you with my phone once theres a signal. After the girl had spoken, she seemed to sense Chu Mingchengs confusion and explained with a smile, Actually, Im a food video creator. I plan to shoot a lobster preparation video tonight, thats why I need the lobsters now. Chu Mingcheng realized, among the fishing men on the boat, there sneaked in a foodie. And hearing that she was a food video creator, he had some ideas of his own. Its well-known that among the best customers for professional fishermen, social media influencers with a large number of fans are definitely one of the premium customer groups. Sometimes when he catches or hunts uncommon seafood that is hard to sell in the market, these people are the most suitable buyers. On top of that, they usually arent short on money and are quite generous. The girl in front of him didnt even bargain, which marks her as a quality customer. Its just not clear how many followers she has, or if she knows Ah Kuangshan. That old man is Chu Mingchengs ideal food media customer. For one thousand to one thousand and one hundred worth of ingredients, he likes to use the words only cost me; for three to four thousand, he prefers a bit pricey. Chu Mingcheng really enjoys doing business with this kind of mine-owning old man. ` Facing the small request from the gourmet vlogger before him, he happily agreed. She selected the two largest Mimao lobsters, one weighing two jin and three taels, the other two jin and one tael, totaling 1122 yuan. He rounded down the amount, taking one thousand and one hundred in cash from her. Watching her leave happily with the two lobsters, Chu Mingcheng asked the boat worker to help secure the lobsters with bands and place them in the aerated tank before going to see where she was headed. Then he saw her enter the restaurant and had a pretty good idea of what she was up to. Currently, he was still wearing his diving suit and needed to return to his room to change and clean his equipment tools, so he decided to freshen up first. After cleaning his tools with fresh water and taking a bath, he put on a dry set of clothes and, curious, made his way to the restaurant. Upon arriving at the restaurant, he saw the girl who had bought the lobsters working on a meal at one of the tables. The photographer was shooting her from the front, occasionally moving in to take a close-up of the food. Chu Mingcheng didnt disturb her but sat on a distant stool, watching the food photography scene with interest. As soon as he arrived, the girl noticed him, and seeing him staring at her from a distance made her a bit nervous; mid-sentence, she suddenly burst into laughter on camera. Seeing this, Chu Mingcheng also felt like laughing, mainly because the girls laugh was quite boisterous. She threw back her head with her mouth wide open, nostrils clearly visible, completely unaware of her lack of fairy-like poise. After laughing, she continued filming without pausing. The first dish was a simple lobster sashimi. For the second dish, she somehow pulled out a big bottle of garlic sauce, spread it over the lobster, and then took it to the kitchen to ask the chef to help her bake it in the oven. The two lobsters were both prepared in a straightforward manner. Once the lobsters were cooked, it was time for the gourmet segment. Her various expressions of delight made Chu Mingcheng crave a taste of the lobster himself. Furthermore, her occasional glances revealing her nostrils were quite memorable. After she finished shooting the video, Chu Mingcheng went up to greet her, Lets get acquainted, my name is Chu Mingcheng, but you can call me Ah Cheng. I like fishing and hunting, and I might often have the ingredients youre looking for. The girl was wondering why he had come over, not expecting him to propose a collaboration. When she heard he was a professional angler and hunter, she immediately recalled the diving suit he had been wearing earlier. Previously, she had been focused only on buying the lobster, overlooking this detail; now that she remembered, her interest was piqued: Hello, hello, my name is Jiang Yuqi, and you can call me Ah Qi. I almost forgot about you wearing a diving suit! Youre incredible, catching so many lobsters. At that moment, her assistant chimed in with a reminder. While you were sleeping last night, this handsome guy caught a giant! A Red Diamond Fish, nearly breaking the world record! No way, youre the one who caught that Red Diamond Fish? When Jiang Yuqi woke up that morning and heard about the bin diao from her assistant, she regretted having gone to bed early the previous night. She had planned to ask the boat workers who had caught it today and was even considering negotiating to acquire the fish, then inviting a food blogger she knew to collaborate on a video! Maybe this video could reach five million views, or even ten million wasnt out of the question. While the budget might burn a bit bigger for this, in the long run, she was sure it wouldnt be a loss. And now, to her surprise, the person who caught the bin diao was right before her. Actually, it was caught using an electric reel, purely good luck! Chu Mingcheng felt some joy at making money from the big bin diao, but he didnt feel much sense of achievement. If he had pulled it up himself, it would have been thrilling and deeply satisfying. Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Chapter 96: 30,000 Chapter 96: Chapter 96: 30,000 Thats fantastic, I didnt expect to encounter you here. By the way, do you sell that fish? Jiang Yuqi was very happy to have the VIP appear before her. If the price was right, she was determined to buy that fish. As for the reason to buy the fish, it was because the fish was large enough to be a great gimmick. Chu Mingcheng was slightly speechless at the girls reaction. A handsome man standing right in front of her, and all she could think about was food? Her mind must be filled with nothing but food! He grumbled a bit in his heart, but when it came to selling the fish, he was rather reluctant. The reason was that the bin diao was too rare, and bringing it back to shore could fetch a very good price from the wealthy bosses eager to buy it. But coming up with his own price, he really didnt know how much to ask for. Ask too much, and it would be too expensive for others; he still wanted to make Jiang Yuqi into his client, after all, and through her, get to know other gourmet food YouTubers! Ask too little, and he would feel like he was in for a loss! High-quality clients or making more money for the moment, he wanted both! After thinking it over, Chu Mingcheng still decided to test the waters, hoping Jiang Yuqi would back off. The price for that fish is rather high, quite a bit above market price. It has considerable commercial value, which raises its price. Are you sure you want to buy it? Go to ????????????????????.co Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuqi immediately held up three fingers, Thirty thousand, how about selling it to me? The main reason Im buying this fish is to collaborate with a food YouTuber who has tens of millions of followers. Hes very interested in peculiar or particularly large seafood. How about I introduce him to you when the time comes? Deal! Chu Mingcheng decisively shook her hand, not caring whether it was soft or not, but this girl was truly generous. Perhaps she was a rich and beautiful woman experiencing life? But who cared? As long as she was willing to spend money, she was the most dazzling fairy in Chu Mingchengs eyes! The thirty thousand was five thousand more than he had anticipated, and with Jiang Yuqis promise to introduce a food YouTuber with ten million followers, he had nothing to hesitate about. Girls like her, who were generous and straightforward, usually knew people who werent too fussy either. If someone was wishy-washy, Jiang Yuqi probably wouldnt enjoy interacting with them, a personality mismatch. Through her, Chu Mingcheng could meet a big internet celebrity, and if he could turn the celebrity into his client, he might also tap into the celebritys network. Networking radiates outward like this. The more high-quality bosses he knew, the more successful he could be with his strategy of selling high-quality aquatic products. Having reached an agreement, they arranged to make the trade when they returned to shore. Afterward, Jiang Yuqi, like an inquisitive kid, started to pester him with questions about fishing. She didnt fish last night, and having tried this morning, ended up as an air force for a whole morning. With too many questions, Chu Mingcheng didnt know how to teach this newbie. He simply asked her to come find him at the next fishing spot and planned to take her fishing with him. The afternoon passed quickly, and after dinner, the Sky set sail once again. The next fishing spot would be reached by ten oclock at night, still night fishing. The crew said the Sky would stay at the next spot for one night plus a day, and then there would still be time to enjoy trolling the next afternoon. Therefore, Chu Mingcheng told Jiang Yuqi to go back and get a good sleep, waking up at nine-thirty. However, he set his alarm for eight-thirty in the evening, so that he could secure two good spots and rent the fishing gear and get the tackle ready for her. For a high-quality customer, providing some thoughtful service was the right thing to do. When the time reached half-past eight in the evening, Chu Mingcheng washed his face to refresh himself. When he came to the deck with his own fishing gear, he found that the good spots were mostly taken. He was slightly surprised, thinking that the dozen or so Fishing Men who played troll fishing in the afternoon would be exhausted by now, but it turned out they were still as lively at night. Eventually, he found two spots where the foredeck meets the corridor, which were also pretty good, guessing that even these would be gone if he arrived any later. Chu Mingcheng first called over a deckhand and inquired about the target fish and their size for the fishing spot, then he rented a suitable set of fishing gear from him. Jiang Yuqi would pay for the fishing gear herself; he was just helping her rent it. Todays target fish weighed around ten pounds, mostly ruby fish according to the deckhand, followed by some Deep Sea Groupers. Chu Mingcheng was not a local here and did not know what he meant by ruby fish, but he guessed it might be some kind of red fish from the Clupeidae or a related family. For a fish of around ten pounds, an 8-strand PE line number 8 would suffice, and as for the leader line, a 20-pound carbon line or steel wire leader would both do, especially since Groupers have rather sharp teeth. This was the setup for Jiang Yuqi; he stuck with his usual one, only downsizing the leader line and fish hook a bit. It was just nine oclock and the boat hadnt stopped when Jiang Yuqi had already come down. She was very thankful to Chu Mingcheng for holding the spot and renting a fishing rod: Thanks! If I catch any fish tonight, Ill make you a midnight snack! But Chu Mingcheng looked at her skeptically, Midnight snack or not doesnt matter, the key question is whether your culinary skills are up to par? Earlier, although Jiang Yuqi had cooked lobster, and her assistant had enjoyed it eagerly, lobster is good even if you just boil itit doesnt require much cooking skill. Raised by Mr. Chus excellent culinary skills, he had a baseline for how food should taste. How did things end with his former girlfriend? Wasnt it because she lacked self-awareness and insisted on cooking when asked not to? She cooked, insisting he eat first even if she didnt, treating him like a guinea pig, saying that if he didnt eat, it meant he didnt love her. Did she not have a clue when the food came out burnt whether it tasted good or not? And then she had the nerve to test him with it. How could Chu Mingcheng put up with that? He promptly sent her packing, saying goodbye! Since then, he harbored some doubt about the culinary skills of women he didnt know well, unless they were professional chefs. Are you joking? You actually doubt my cooking? Im a gourmet vlogger, you know, I always make my own delicious food! Jiang Yuqi immediately bristled when her cooking was questioned. Sorry, its not about you. Perhaps because my dad is an old chef, I have higher expectations for food. Hearing that Chu Mingchengs father was a chef, Jiang Yuqi felt both envious and a little anxious, and she was also a bit upset because she had simply wanted to express her gratitude. She was confident in her own skills, but it also depended on whom she was being compared with! Well, I think my cooking is pretty good. If youre not willing to eat it, then lets just forget it! Watching Jiang Yuqi back away, Chu Mingcheng felt inexplicably soft-hearted: When I get hungry later, Ill cook. My culinary skills are pretty decent! He found the girl quite amusing, plus she was petite. As an only child, he used to envy others who had cute little sisters and wished for one too. But his mom had health issues when she was young, and combined with the one-child policy, they decided not to have a second child. Later, with Chen Yang and Zhang Wei as companions, he stopped thinking about having a sister. Now, seeing the slight despondence in Jiang Yuqi, he unexpectedly felt a bit protective. Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Chapter 97 Red Fin Whistling Fish Chapter 97: Chapter 97 Red Fin Whistling Fish Chu Mingchengs sudden change of heart brought the smile back to Jiang Yuqis face. Great, great! Then its settled. Right, Brother Ming, you have to teach me how to fish, and how do I operate this fishing reel? Brother Cheng??? Chu Mingcheng suddenly shivered and quickly said, You can call me Brother Ming or just Ah Cheng, but please dont call me Brother Cheng! Ever since he accidentally watched a certain anime, he felt a chill around his neck whenever someone called him that, as if his head was no longer his own. Jiang Yuqi tilted her head, not quite understanding, but obediently called him Brother Ming. After all, Chu Mingcheng was several years older than her, and she felt a bit embarrassed to call him by his first name. One taught and the other learned, and soon, the Sky had arrived at its destination. Jiang Yuqi knew the basics of baiting and adding Antarctic Shrimp to the shrimp cage, but now she needed to learn the movements of the fishing rod when a fish was hooked, and that required actual combat. Chu Mingcheng threw his own bait into the water, just set the height above the bottom, and then heard Jiang Yuqis excited voice. Ive got a bite, the rod is moving, should I press this button? Chu Mingcheng glanced over and saw the fishing rod bending slowly and then lifting up, which was clearly caused by the ocean currents carrying the lead sinker at the bottom, completely different from the movement of a fish on the line. He explained the difference. A fish on the hook doesnt act like that, it will vibrate continuously, and the shaking frequency will speed up! Go to ????????????????????.co Jiang Yuqi suddenly realized, then somewhat embarrassed, smiled: Oh, so thats how it is! But the next moment, she noticed her fishing rod tip vibrating rapidly: Hey, hey, hey, is this a bite? Yes, hurry and press the button. Chu Mingcheng was slightly surprised, not expecting her to get a bite so soon. Today they were using Antarctic Shrimp Bait, so it was unlikely that live bait tangling the line would occur. If anything got tangled, it would be his line with Jiang Yuqis. The electric reel made a whirring noise, and Chu Mingcheng checked her reeling speed, noticing it wasnt very fast. And while reeling in, the rod suddenly sprung up. Huh, whats happening? Damn, it got off the hook, maybe you didnt press the button in time, and the fish managed to spit the hook out a bit, it wasnt hooked deeply enough. Oh, how could this be! Just as she was getting excited about catching a fish, it got off the hook, leaving Jiang Yuqi feeling downcast. However, she had a good attitude, not really being a Fishing Man, and she bounced back in no time, reeling in the line and re-baiting with Antarctic Shrimp. Chu Mingcheng had previously taught her how to bait properly, and this time she did it without any issues. As she threw the baited hook into the water, it didnt take long for the rod tip to tremble again. This time, she responded promptly, pressing the button as the rod tip trembled and bent, then stared closely at the number displayed on the reel, which indicated the water depth. Another bite so soon after the last, while he hadnt had any action, made Chu Mingcheng unable to help asking, Ah Qi, is this your first time fishing? Jiang Yuqi shook her head: No, Ive fished once before while collaborating on a video shoot. Everyone else kept catching fish, but I only caught one. Learning that it wasnt her first time fishing, Chu Mingcheng breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, there was no beginners luck anymore, otherwise, he would have considered changing fishing spots. After all, the terror of a beginners luck was such that he had no interest in watching others catch a bounty while he came up empty. As if to prove Jiang Yuqis point, his rod also began to show signs of a fish on the line, so he promptly pressed the button to reel it in. And the power difference between the two electric winches became apparent; his winch, with its greater power and faster retrieval speed, caused the fish to surface first. The first one caught wasnt a Stone Fish, but a brilliantly red fish. Wow, what a beautiful fish! Jiang Yuqi couldnt help but exclaim upon seeing the fish Chu Mingcheng had reeled in, It must be delicious! Chu Mingcheng was somewhat speechless, no wonder shes a food vlogger; she must have turned her hobby into her profession! Ever since meeting Jiang Yuqi, he had realized that eighty percent of what occupied her mind was food. Though he made mental jabs, he still assessed the fish he had tossed onto the deck. This was a Red Fin Whistling Fish, which he heard was once one of the main economic species in the South Sea of our country, and the initial output must have been quite high; perhaps this was the ruby fish the workmen were talking about. The one he caught was about fifty centimeters long, weighing around six or seven jin, and it even added a bit of experience to his High-quality Aquatic Products Atlas, clearly marking it as a high-quality fish. Through the early morning fishing and this afternoons catch, Chu Mingchengs experience in the High-quality Atlas had also increased by a considerable amount. [High-quality Aquatic Products Atlas (Level 1)] [Current Experience: (73/200)] [Usable Tools: Hands, Fishing Gear (hand-line available), Harpoon (includes fish spear and lasso, etc.), Long Line Hook (unlocked)] [Fish Gathering (Level 1): Within ones own range, there is a 1% chance that aquatic products meeting the high-quality criteria will be actively attracted, thereby appearing within the hosts line of sight (they will still run away if startled by the host)] [Influence Range: 10 cubic meters] [Note: Only those defined as high-quality aquatic products by the Atlas can increase the experience of the High-quality Aquatic Products Atlas] [Deliciousness: +1% (Fish with higher fat content and better meat quality will be preferentially attracted)] [Size: +1% (Larger fish of the same kind will be preferentially attracted)] From twenty-five points to seventy-three points, it seemed that this trip to Xisha might offer a chance to reach level 2. Chu Mingcheng called a workman over and asked him to bring a large square foam box. Since todays fish were not expected to be particularly large, he would fasten them with ties and let the workman store them in the icehouse once the box was full. While the workmans foam box had yet to arrive, Jiang Yuqis fish was already at the surfacea Red Fin Whistling Fish that was just slightly smaller than his catch. It seemed the area where they were fishing had a group of Red Fin Whistling Fish below! Tasting the joy of harvest, a delighted Jiang Yuqi held the fish high for her assistant to snap a photo, as this was the first time she had caught such a big fish. Chu Mingcheng referred to these as small fish because, in the Xisha environment where he fished, there were too many strong contenders, making five or six jin fish seem small by comparison. Along coastal areas, fish weighing less than eight taels per jin were the norm. If there were schools of fish below, the subsequent catches wouldnt be too bad. Chu Mingcheng and Jiang Yuqi occasionally brought up a Red Fin Whistling Fish, nearly the same size and caught with the same bait, resulting in a similar number of catches. An hour passed, and Chu Mingcheng had caught a total of five Red Fin Whistling Fish, including the first one, all around five or six jin in weight. Jiang Yuqi had caught three, also roughly the same size. The fact that she caught two fewer wasnt because Chu Mingcheng had better luck; it was due to the differing efficiencies of the electric winches. After catching those eight Red Fin Whistling Fish, the schools of smaller fish at the bottom seemed to have been fished out, as Chu Mingcheng didnt hook any more fish for the next half-hour. If he wasnt catching fish, naturally Jiang Yuqi wasnt either. Looking around at other spots, Chu Mingcheng noticed that some fishermen were still catching fish. Logically, with everyone chumming and sinking bait at the bottom, there should have been a gathering of fish under the boat.