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墨書 Inktalez
Driving onto the highway from Anyou Town, I pressed the accelerator all the way to Qionghai. After exiting the highway, it was just a couple of kilometers to Wanquan River Square, where quite a few people were fishing.
This looks like the spot. Let's get out and check the situation; we can fish here for a while. After parking the car, Air Force woke Shi Tian, who was lost in dreams, and reminded him.
Catching a Phoenix Tail Carp was out of the question; those fish only inhabit the upper reaches of Wan Quan River, and we were in the lower section where the chances of catching one were slim. However, there were still big fish around; whether we could catch one would depend entirely on luck.
As they got out of the car, the two didn’t bring any equipment but strolled along the riverbank to assess the situation first. If the fishing wasn’t good here, it would be easy to leave quickly!
Most of the fishermen here were elderly men, often referred to as Migratory Birds. In summer, they might be scattered across various parts of the country, but as soon as it got cold, they flocked to Hainan to spend a warm winter. The main draw was that fishing could be done year-round here, making it a lively place to live.
They moved towards where there were more people; that was always a safe bet! A group of elderly men stood on the riverbank. Shi Tian and Air Force squeezed past them and found a few others setting up their fishing gear below. Fortunately, there wasn’t an army of Sea Rods around.
After glancing at the water where Yu Hu fish swam, they saw that catches were decent. The water in Wan Quan River was clear enough to see the Yu Hu fish swimming about. They exchanged glances and hurried back to grab their gear; they were ready to take on those old men!
Old men could be quite temperamental; it would be fun to tease them a bit. Each took a rod and stuffed some Plastic Particles into their pockets. One grabbed a box of worms for bait while carrying a Yu Hu rod without any other equipment—otherwise, it wouldn’t feel right!
They found two stones to sit on and positioned themselves with several old men between them. Slowly, they pulled out their rods while Air Force humbly asked an old man nearby for advice on how to adjust his float.
“Sir, how do you hook this worm? Should I just cover the hook with a piece or leave some hanging so it struggles in the water?” Since Air Force wanted to play the novice, Shi Tian couldn’t fall behind.
After fiddling around on the stone for a bit, Shi Tian ran over to an old man and respectfully offered him a cigarette while seeking advice.
“You’re young and not working; how do you have time to come out fishing?” The old man took the cigarette from Shi Tian with a look of disappointment.
“It’s tough finding work! Young people have it hard these days; some are working twenty-hour days without pay!” Shi Tian sighed, feeling less inclined to continue this conversation with the old man.
“I’m just asking how to hook a worm; why are you lecturing me?” This wasn’t good; he had to make sure not to go easy on this old man later!
“Hard to find work? Our community is hiring security guards! Want me to give you a call and put your name down?” Taking a deep drag from his cigarette and hearing Shi Tian’s complaints, the old man nodded in agreement—young people really had it tough!
“That won’t do! I’m graduating from one of Beijing’s top universities this year. I can’t just become a security guard; that would be such a waste of talent! The country advocates for frugality; I can’t just waste my education! As someone who has received higher education, I should respond to my country’s call!”
This old man was surprisingly nice; he even offered to help him find work. Unfortunately, being a security guard wasn’t quite right for his field!
“Graduated from a Double First Class University? What did you major in? Maybe I can help you find something suitable!” The old man was keen on helping Shi Tian find work now!
“What major? None that fits! Right now, all I can do is fish!”
“Sir, I’m majoring in Fisheries Science and Technology. I’ll graduate next year and specialize in how to catch fish! Do you have any suitable job openings?”
Shi Tian’s words nearly left the old man speechless—Fisheries Science? Was that really about fishing? Did he think this old man didn’t know anything?
“You’ve studied for four years at university specializing in fishing but don’t even know how to hook a worm? And you still dare say you graduated from a top school?” The old man clearly wasn’t one to back down easily; his retort left Shi Tian at a loss for words!
“You can’t say that! Our teachers didn’t teach us how to hook worms! I’m just trying to put what I learned into practice! Books don’t cover everything; only real experience can truly apply what we’ve learned!”
After replying to the old man, Shi Tian didn't bother asking any further and returned to his Fishing Spot. He adjusted the Float, holding a piece of worm for cover, and hooked two Plastic Particles onto the line. This was a river with flowing water, so he decided to fish with double weights!
Initially, he didn't plan to bait the area, but he couldn't let the old man underestimate him. He decided to catch a couple of Wo Liao first! One Carp, another Carp—why not go for one more Carp? It wouldn't hurt to add another; after all, he wanted to silence those old men!
While Shi Tian was baiting his spot, the Air Force couldn't fall behind either. They also tossed down a handful of Wo Liao, effectively surrounding the old men.
As they cast their lines, the frequency at which the old men raised their rods noticeably decreased. The Float bobbed, and Shi Tian quickly lifted his rod to reveal a two-pound Carp. It was his first catch, and he couldn't let it go; he decided to let it reflect in the Yu Hu for a bit!
"Hey there, this is called Carp, right?" he asked one of the old men nearby. "I heard from my teacher that this is a major economic fish species in the south—though it is a bit on the small side!" With one fish caught, Shi Tian eagerly sought advice from the old man.
Carps are generally not very large; two pounds is already quite decent. They can grow bigger, but encountering one isn't easy!
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