In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Yang Guangming stood far away, his figure half-hidden in the mottled shadows of the wall, not squeezing into the center of the noisy crowd in the front yard.

He chose a relatively quiet spot where he could hear the conversation clearly, and calmly observed the unfolding events under the dim light of the courtyard lamps.

The autumn night breeze carried a hint of coolness, rustling the treetops, but it couldn't dispel the restlessness and tension that permeated the front yard.

The argument was loud, and even if you didn't try to listen, the angry and accusatory words clearly penetrated your ears.

After listening for a while, and combining the various speculations and exclamations of his neighbors, he finally figured out the ins and outs of this new turmoil.

It turned out that just now, not long after dusk, the Ma family of three had finished dinner when a neighbor who lived in a nearby alley and had some acquaintance with the Ma family came running up breathlessly to deliver the news.

The man still looked shaken. He said that he had seen Ma Daguo lying on the ground, clutching his legs and howling, in a secluded alley just two or three miles from the courtyard house.

Judging from the horrific state, the injury must have been quite severe; most likely, the leg was broken!

The messenger was breathless as he spoke, his eyes still etched with fear.

Upon hearing this news, Ma Youcai and Ma Erguo were stunned and panicked.

Ma Daguo did indeed go out to meet friends in the evening, but at this time, he should have been back long ago. I never expected that he would encounter such a disaster on the way!
The father and son were stunned and didn't bother to ask for details. They were in a panic and rushed out of the yard with the neighbor who had brought the news.

Fortunately, the distance wasn't too far. In just over ten minutes, they found Ma Daguo lying on the ground, groaning in pain, in a dark and secluded alley.

By the dim light of the flashlight, Ma Daguo's face was ashen, and his forehead was covered with large beads of cold sweat, mixed with dust and stuck to his skin.

He clung tightly to his left calf with both hands, his body curled up like a shrimp, cursing the bastard who had ambushed him in fits and starts.

Upon seeing this, Ma Youcai and Ma Erguo felt their hearts sink to the bottom, filled with shock and anger.

Without bothering to ask for details, the two men, one on each side, struggled to lift the tall and strong Ma Daguo, who was now limp as a puddle of mud, and almost dragged and lifted him to the nearby hospital.

Throughout the journey, Ma Daguo's groans and curses never stopped, attracting the attention of a few passersby.

After an emergency examination and treatment by the doctor, the diagnosis came out quickly: Ma Daguo had a fracture of the tibia in his left lower leg, which was quite serious. He needed to be immediately immobilized with a cast and must be hospitalized for observation for a period of time.

After Ma Daguo's leg was put in a thick cast and hung on the hospital bed like a heavy stick, groaning and recovering a bit, Ma Youcai, with a gloomy face, suppressed his anger and worry and carefully inquired about the specific details of the incident.

Despite the excruciating pain radiating from his legs, Ma Daguo began to recount his story in fits and starts.

He said he had dinner at a friend's house that night and did drink some alcohol, but he didn't feel drunk. By the time he got back, it was already completely dark.

When I walked onto that path not far from home, a path I often took, it was quiet all around. Suddenly, without warning, someone put a sack over my head from behind!
He was stunned. His vision went black and his heart skipped a beat. Before he could react, he was hit hard on the leg with two blows!
That was excruciating pain; it felt like my bones were cracking.

He screamed and fell to the ground. The man didn't say anything, but gave him another hard blow to his injured leg, and then his footsteps quickly disappeared into the darkness.

He struggled to pull the sack off, but it was pitch black all around, and he couldn't see a single ghost.

Because the sack was suddenly placed over his back, and it happened so suddenly and in the dark, he didn't see who did it. He didn't even know if the person was fat or thin, tall or short, or what clothes they were wearing. He only felt the force of the stick as it swung down, which was both fierce and accurate.

As Ma Youcai and Ma Erguo listened, their faces grew increasingly grim, their fists clenching so tightly they cracked.

The father and his two sons huddled together in the hospital room, quietly analyzing the situation.

Although Ma Daguo is still idle and fooling around, upon closer examination, he hasn't committed any deep-seated hatred against anyone that would warrant breaking his leg in retaliation.

After much thought, going over the people I had recently offended in my mind again and again, I finally pointed the finger at Liu Changfu and his son, with whom I had a feud two months ago!
Especially Liu Changfu. That night at Deputy Director Li's house, his seemingly calm but actually menacing and threatening words are now chilling to recall. Every word was like a poisoned needle! If it wasn't his house, who else could it be?

"It must be his family! It's definitely that old bastard Liu Changfu's revenge!" Ma Erguo gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with fire, as if he wanted to set the air in front of him ablaze.

Ma Youcai's face was gloomy, and he didn't speak immediately, but the suspicion and anger in his eyes were obvious.

They were almost convinced that the Liu family was the culprit, and that evil fire burned fiercely in Ma Erguo's heart, almost bursting out of his chest.

After quickly settling Ma Daguo in, Ma Youcai stayed behind to look after him, while Ma Erguo, seething with anger, hurriedly returned to the courtyard house.

First, he told his anxious and restless mother about the situation. Second, he couldn't swallow his anger and wanted to go directly to the Liu family to reason with them and demand an explanation!
He felt he was about to explode if he didn't let this bottle of anger out.

Thus began the tense standoff in the front yard.

Ma Erguo was convinced that it was retaliation from the Liu family. He blocked the door of Liu Xiaojun's west wing room, his face red and neck thick with anger as he roared and questioned him, spitting as he spoke.

Liu Xiaojun stayed home all afternoon, still feeling aggrieved about the pig intestine incident. He felt that his family had been wronged and that Ma Erguo had so indiscriminately and unfairly accused him, so he was naturally furious.

Young and hot-blooded Liu Xiaojun was unwilling to take the blame and retorted defiantly.

The two argued more and more fiercely, their voices rising higher and higher, their fingers almost poking each other's noses. It looked like they were about to start fighting again, and the atmosphere was so tense that it could explode at any moment.

The neighbors who were watching listened to the heated argument between the two and roughly understood what was going on. They whispered among themselves.

Their expressions varied, ranging from surprise and doubt to worry and even a bit of detached amusement.

Old Master Tong, who lived in the same courtyard and had always been quite respected, couldn't stand it anymore.

He cleared his throat, stepped between the two, first separating them from the imminent physical confrontation, preventing the conflict from escalating, then facing the emotionally charged Ma Erguo, he said in a serious tone:
"Two countries, don't get angry yet, listen to me."

Xiao Jun definitely didn't go out this afternoon, I can vouch for that.

I was off work this afternoon and saw him going in and out several times, either getting water or moving things. He just wandered around his own front door and never left the yard.

I've witnessed everything from beginning to end. There's no way he could have grown wings and flown to that little road two or three miles away from your brother to ambush him.

I, this old man, guarantee this with my own old eyes!

Grandpa Tong has lived in the courtyard for decades. He is an upright man, and his words carry considerable weight.

Upon hearing this, Ma Erguo paused for a moment, his momentum faltering, but he immediately straightened his neck and retorted with resentment and stubbornness:
“Uncle Tong, if it’s not him, then it must be his father, Liu Changfu!”
Besides their family, who else would be so cruel to my brother! Everyone in this courtyard, including those in the neighborhood, has the biggest grudge against them!

What he said made some sense, since Liu Changfu hadn't gone home yet and certainly had time to commit the crime.

Whispers arose again, with various speculations and eyes darting back and forth between Liu Xiaojun and Ma Erguo's angry faces.

Just as the discussion was in full swing and the situation was deadlocked, a series of unhurried footsteps came from outside the gate, which sounded particularly clear in the tense atmosphere.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Liu Changfu and Deputy Director Li walking into the front yard one after the other, talking and laughing. It seemed they had run into each other on their way home from get off work.

The two were clearly surprised to see such a large crowd gathered in the front yard, and their faces showed expressions of astonishment and confusion.

Deputy Director Li frowned slightly. As a leader in the institute and also a member of the public security system, he instinctively felt that something might have happened again. So he stopped and raised his voice to ask, "What's going on this time? Why aren't you all home resting so late at night? What are you all doing here?"

Upon seeing Deputy Director Li, Ma Erguo was like a lost child who had found his parent. He rushed forward, disregarding etiquette, pointed at Liu Xiaojun, and then suddenly at Liu Changfu who had just entered. His voice trembled with excitement as he recounted in detail how Ma Daguo had been beaten and how they suspected it was revenge from the Liu family, his words filled with indignation and accusation.

Finally, with red eyes and a sobbing voice, he shouted, "Chief Li, you have to do justice for my family! My brother's leg is broken, the doctor said the bone is fractured! They were so ruthless! This is a life-threatening crime! Who else could it be but the Liu family? You must find out the truth and severely punish the murderer!"

Liu Xiaojun was so angry that he jumped up and down, his face turning red. He wanted to argue, but his father, Liu Changfu, stopped him with a sharp and calm look.

Liu Changfu's face remained expressionless, as calm as a deep pool, as if Ma Erguo's fierce accusations were just a passing breeze.

After Ma Erguo finished speaking emotionally, he didn't look at the furious glares of the Ma mother and son, which were practically spitting fire. Instead, he turned to Deputy Director Li, glanced at the neighbors around him, and, in a calm tone, even with a hint of understanding and tolerance, began to explain:

"Director Li, gentlemen, I understand how Erguo feels. With such a trouble in their family, it's understandable that they're anxious and upset, and sometimes they say things without thinking."

He paused, his tone still calm and unhurried, and continued, "However, when you suspect someone, especially a neighbor, of doing something illegal or disorderly, you need solid evidence. You can't just make a judgment based on guesswork or speculation."

He turned his gaze to Deputy Director Li, his tone becoming even more earnest: "Director Li, I'm working overtime at the factory today. It's a production task assigned by the workshop. Several of my coworkers, including our workshop director, can testify to this."

I hadn't even been off work for twenty minutes, and I'd only just stepped out of the factory gate when I ran into you on the road. So we chatted as we walked back together.

You're familiar with this route from the factory to our compound; it takes about twenty minutes to walk.

To say that I took a detour, went so far to intercept Da Guo, and even broke his leg, doesn't make sense in terms of timing or route. Don't you agree?

He spoke calmly and clearly, and provided a solid alibi—his coworkers who worked overtime at the factory and Deputy Director Li himself, who came back with him, were the best witnesses.

These well-reasoned words were like a bucket of cold water poured over the head of the emotionally charged Ma Erguo.

Ma Erguo was immediately choked. He opened his mouth, his face turning even redder, but he couldn't immediately utter any strong rebuttal. He could only gasp for breath.

Aunt Ma, who had been silently wiping away tears, looking helpless and sad, raised her head and interjected in a voice heavy with sobs:

"Uncle Liu...we know you...you're capable and well-connected."

"Our great nation had its leg broken, and the attack was so brutal; it couldn't have been done by just anyone. Maybe...maybe someone paid some shady characters to do it!"

Although she didn't explicitly say that Liu Changfu hired the thugs, her meaning was crystal clear; she was practically pointing fingers and suspecting him.

The neighbors who were watching all understood the implied meaning, and their eyes involuntarily focused on Liu Changfu's face, trying to find some clues from his expression.

Upon hearing this, Liu Changfu's lips twitched almost imperceptibly upwards, revealing a half-smile that was cold and menacing. The chill in that smile sent a shiver down the spines of those nearby.

He looked at the terrified Granny Ma and the blustering but cowardly Ma Erguo, his tone remaining calm, yet carrying a chilling, bone-deep meaning:

“Sister-in-law Ma, what you’re saying is a bit presumptuous.”

"If I really had such a cruel heart, and if I really had such powerful connections that I could hire someone to commit murder at will."

He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping across Ma Erguo's face, which had turned deathly pale, like a cold knife, before slowly, word by word, adding:
"Then I definitely need to figure out what's 'worth it'. Since I've already paid, just breaking a major power's leg probably isn't enough to cover the costs."

We should at least... break the legs of both countries as well, otherwise we'll suffer a loss, don't you think?"

These words sounded like a joke, yet also like an extremely serious analysis and suggestion. However, the naked threat contained within them sent a chill down the spines of both Ma Erguo and Ma Da Niang, a coldness shooting straight from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads!
Yes, if Liu Changfu really did this, since he dared and was able to hire someone to break Ma Daguo's leg, then why wouldn't he dare and be able to do the same and break Ma Erguo's leg as well?

Since it's all done by hiring someone to do it anyway, without any evidence or proof, just suspicion without any concrete evidence, the police can't do anything about it!
Thinking of my older brother's thick cast on his leg, the image of him lying in the hospital bed groaning in pain, and then thinking that I might follow in his footsteps in some dark corner of the world.

Ma Erguo felt his legs go weak. The fierce and accusatory aura he had just displayed vanished instantly, and his eyes revealed an undisguised primal fear.

He subconsciously took a half step back, as if being further away from Liu Changfu would make him safer.

Grandma Ma was so frightened that she stopped crying, her eyes widening in terror. She instinctively grabbed her son's arm tightly, shrank behind him, and looked at Liu Changfu with extreme fear, as if she were looking at a demon ready to devour her.

Deputy Director Li stood aside, observing everything with perfect clarity.

He felt no sympathy for Ma Daguo having his leg broken. He even felt that the Ma brothers were arrogant and troublesome, and that it was only a matter of time before they got into trouble. They had only brought it upon themselves.

However, as public security officers, we still need to maintain the proper demeanor and follow the required procedures.

He cleared his throat, stepped in to smooth things over, and spoke seriously to the still-shaken Ma mother and son:

"Old Ma's family, with such a thing happening in a major country, as a neighbor and as a police officer, I'm also very worried."

This is a heinous crime. Injuring someone in broad daylight... uh, in complete darkness! Our police station will definitely open a case and will not tolerate such criminals.

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sharpening as he swept over the crowd, his tone becoming more forceful: "But comrades, neighbors! Cases must be handled based on evidence, and in accordance with the law!"

We cannot make unfounded accusations against our neighbors based solely on personal likes and dislikes, or on mere suspicion and speculation! This undermines unity and is irresponsible!

He softened his tone slightly, speaking in a manner that suggested he was analyzing the case:

"Based on our past experience in the public security system, those who commit such vicious acts of violence usually have some unresolved grudges between them, or involve major conflicts of interest."

The most common causes are nothing more than a few: either gambling debt disputes, with violence resulting from unsuccessful debt collection; or illicit romantic relationships, with revenge stemming from jealousy; or deep-seated hatred arising from fights; or…

He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping over Ma Erguo, whose eyes were beginning to flicker with uncertainty, seemingly casually but meaningfully, before emphasizing his words:
"Or there might be some shady dealings going on behind the scenes, like... casting money for Director J, reselling tickets, or something like that. It could lead to infighting and retaliation because of disagreements over the splitting of the spoils, or some backstabbing and infighting!"

He emphasized the words "reselling tickets" with particular emphasis, almost emphasizing each word.

Upon hearing this, Ma Erguo and his mother felt a jolt in their hearts, their faces instantly turning deathly pale. They became even more unnatural, their eyes darting away, unable to meet the gaze of Deputy Director Li.

They knew perfectly well that Ma Daguo had come home so late today because he had secretly gone to trade some of the industrial coupons and cloth coupons he had worked so hard to obtain, hoping to make a little extra money to supplement his family's income.

Although many people have done this kind of thing in private, it is still illegal and disorderly conduct. If the police take notice and use this as a pretext to investigate, then you will be in big trouble!

Maybe my leg will be broken for nothing, and I'll have to go to jail for a few days!
The two immediately fell silent, like ducks with their necks being choked. They no longer dared to be as aggressive and relentless in their accusations against the Liu family as before, and their momentum completely collapsed.

Seeing that the warning had been effective, Deputy Director Li softened his tone and said in a concluding manner:

"Okay, I understand what happened. Our police station will follow up with an investigation into the specifics."

Tomorrow, I will personally go to the hospital to see Da Guo, take a detailed statement, and also ask him who he has offended recently, or what he has done that he shouldn't have.

It's getting late, everyone should leave now. Don't crowd around here; it's not a good thing and it won't solve the problem.

We'll discuss the specifics after we investigate. Everyone, go back, go back!

With Deputy Director Li's intervention, and the Ma family mother and son feeling guilty and terrified by Liu Changfu's words, and with Deputy Director Li pointing out their weaknesses, the sudden and intense turmoil in the front yard was temporarily brought to a temporary halt.

Ma Erguo helped his mother, who was still trembling slightly and whose legs were weak, and with his head down, he slunk back to the west wing, almost as if he were fleeing, and slammed the door shut.

Seeing this, Liu Changfu remained expressionless. He simply nodded to Deputy Director Li and the neighbors who had not yet completely dispersed as a greeting, and said nothing more. He then pulled Liu Xiaojun, whose face still showed resentment, and turned back to his own west wing room, closing the door behind him.

After the main characters left, the neighbors who had come to watch the spectacle reluctantly went home in twos and threes, but the suppressed murmurs of discussion still spread softly throughout the courtyard.

"I think this was most likely done by Liu Changfu! Look at what he said just now, it was all a mix of soft and hard, a smile hiding a knife, it was terrifying! Those two boys from the Ma family have really met their match this time!"

"I don't think so. Liu Changfu doesn't seem like such a ruthless person... He's usually a quiet type. But you never know, you can know a person's face but not their heart, and it's easy to draw a tiger's skin but hard to draw its bones."

"That's right. Ma Daguo has always been a troublemaker. Everyone knows he's been gambling and manipulating tickets. Who knows if he's offended some powerful figure or swindled someone's money and got taken care of by someone underhanded."

"No matter who did it, the Ma family has really bitten off more than they can chew this time. They've suffered such a huge loss that they can't speak up. I think they'll have to keep a low profile in the courtyard from now on, and they certainly won't dare to openly provoke the Liu family again."

"Serves them right! Those two brats of theirs always act like they own the place, bullying the weak and fearing the strong! This is what they call karma, the wicked get their just desserts!"

Yang Guangming and his family followed the flow of people back to the east courtyard. Tian Yufen gently patted her chest, let out a long sigh, her face showing lingering fear and emotion:

"Sigh, the Ma family is really something... Da Guo's child, although he is usually unreliable, he must be suffering a lot with his leg broken. His parents must be heartbroken."

She was ultimately soft-hearted, with a simple sense of sympathy.

The old lady was still sitting on the worn-out bamboo chair at the entrance of the main room, slowly fanning herself with her old palm-leaf fan, her cloudy old eyes sparkling with the wisdom and serenity of someone who had experienced the world.

After listening to her daughter-in-law recount what had happened, she chimed in, "If you ask me, Yufen, this was most likely not done by the Liu family."

Liu Changfu seems a bit gloomy and calculating, but he doesn't seem like the kind of person who would go to such lengths to kill someone.

I think it's highly likely that Ma Guoda messed with someone he shouldn't have, or did something shady that led to this beating.

"If you walk by the river often enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet. This is all your own doing."

Yang Guangming listened to his mother and grandmother's discussion without immediately interrupting.

He knew very well that this whole affair, from its motives and timing to its methods, was most likely orchestrated by Liu Changfu.

The decisive and swift strike, the precise blows, Liu Changfu's unusually calm demeanor afterward, and his threatening and psychologically manipulative words all reflected Liu Changfu's usual patient and ruthless style of retaliation.

Moreover, Liu Changfu's seemingly joking but actually ruthless threat was in fact a strong warning and psychological warfare, aimed at completely intimidating the Ma family so that even if they were extremely suspicious, they would not dare to provoke them easily out of fear.

He felt that Ma Youcai, though outwardly appearing reckless, domineering, and loud, was actually not ruthless enough, and even somewhat cowardly and bullying of the weak.

Having learned such a bloody lesson from the Liu family, they may be truly frightened and afraid of being beaten again.

Even if there is still resentment and unwillingness in their hearts, they will have to think twice before facing the Liu family again, and consider whether it is worth it and whether they can bear the consequences of another head-on confrontation.

The power dynamics within this courtyard will likely shift subtly overnight.

However, he did not voice these speculations based on his insights into human nature and logical analysis of events.

His mother and grandmother were both kind-hearted, law-abiding ordinary people whose world was relatively simple. He didn't want these dark schemes, ruthless methods, and bloody revenge to frighten them or pollute the relative peace in their lives.

He simply went along with them, wiping his hands with a towel, and said in a relaxed tone, "Mom, Grandma, you're right."

Ma Daguo himself doesn't learn good habits outside, so he's more likely to get into trouble.

This is a cold case, and it's a tough one for the police to solve. Let's not speculate; living our own lives is the most important thing. Let's stay out of the gossip and trouble in this courtyard.”

Tian Yufen nodded, deeply agreeing: "Guangming is right. We shouldn't discuss other people's affairs too much, because we can't really understand them anyway. Living our own lives peacefully and quietly is better than anything else."

The old lady chimed in, "Yes, let's close the door and enjoy our quiet lives. There's always gossip, but if we don't listen, it won't bother us. Guangming, tomorrow's Sunday, what are your plans? Go out for a walk and relax, don't stay cooped up inside all the time."

Yang Guangming smiled easily and expectantly, saying, "I was just about to tell you. I'm planning to go fishing by the river tomorrow to relax. I've already prepared my fishing rod and bait, and the weather is nice, so I'll try my luck."

Upon hearing this, Yang Shanshan, who had been doing her homework by the windowsill, immediately threw down her pencil and ran over like a happy little bird. She grabbed her brother's hand, her big eyes sparkling: "Brother, are you going fishing? Can you catch a big fish? I want to go too! Take me with you!"

"The path along the river is difficult to walk on, and I don't know how deep the water is. Besides, I need to find a quiet place to cast my line. With you, my little rascal, I'll scare all the fish away."

"You stay home and do your homework obediently, and help Mom with some chores."

Yang Guangming patted his younger sister's head, his tone gentle but not argumentative, "I'll try my best to catch a few big fish, and I'll make you fish soup or braised fish for dinner tonight!"

Tian Yufen also advised, "Be careful when you go fishing. Don't go into deep water or get too close to the shore. Slipping in is no joke. It's okay if you don't catch anything. Just think of it as going for a walk in the countryside to relax."

"I understand, Mother. Don't worry," Yang Guangming replied.

He was really looking forward to tomorrow's fishing trip.

On the one hand, it is indeed a very good way to relax, allowing him to temporarily escape from the complex mathematical thinking and formula derivation in the research institute, breathe in the fresh air of the suburbs, enjoy the tranquility and openness of the river in autumn, and relax his tense nerves.

On the other hand, this is also a perfectly reasonable and audacious way to replenish food supplies at home that will never arouse suspicion.

Among the supplies that his refrigerator automatically refreshes daily is a grass carp weighing about one and a half pounds.

He has deliberately kept his "stock" for the past three days untouched, waiting for the right opportunity to use it.

This fishing trip is a perfect opportunity to "clean up" their names and present them as my own catch.

Thinking of this, a satisfied smile involuntarily appeared on his lips, as if he could already see the joyful expressions on his family's faces when they saw the big fish.

Looks like we'll have another substantial dish for dinner tomorrow.

The turmoil in the front yard seemed to have subsided for the time being, but the deep-seated suspicion, distrust, and tension between neighbors had not completely disappeared.

However, none of this had anything to do with Yang Guangming.

What he's looking forward to now is the gentle breeze by the river tomorrow, the leisurely feeling of fishing, the warmth of the sun, and the happy, satisfied smiles on his family's faces when they see his "harvest".

This is the real life he wants to protect.

As night deepened, moonlight poured across the courtyard like quicksilver.

As the dim lights of each household gradually went out and the whispers that continued into the late night filled the courtyard, the residents slowly drifted into sleep.

The next day was Sunday, and as expected, the autumn sky was clear and blue, and the sun was shining brightly and warmly—a rare and beautiful day.

Early in the morning, just as dawn was breaking, the sun was already shining, and I felt refreshed.

He deftly packed up his fishing gear: a simple fishing rod he had carefully modified himself from a thin and resilient bamboo pole; the fishing line, hook, and float were all tied securely; a small stool; a slightly chipped tin bucket for holding fish and water; and a small can of bait he had prepared in advance.

Tian Yufen had gotten up early and steamed a pot of mixed flour buns and cooked a pot of thick corn porridge. With some homemade pickled radish strips, the family gathered around the kang table for a simple yet warm breakfast.

After finishing his meal, Yang Guangming securely tied the empty bucket and small stool to the back rack of his mother's new bicycle with hemp rope, while carefully draping the fishing rod diagonally across the handlebars.

"Mom, Grandma, I'm leaving now. The important thing is that I'm coming back too late, so don't wait for me to eat," Yang Guangming said, pushing his cart.

"Hey, ride slowly on the road, watch out for vehicles and pedestrians, and be careful on bumpy roads." Tian Yufen poked her head out from the kitchen, reminding them again with concern, still holding a wet rag in her hand.

"Brother, you must catch a big fish! I want to eat a big fish!" Yang Shanshan chased after him to the door of the Moon Gate, leaned against the door frame, waved her little hand, and shouted expectantly.

"Don't worry! Wait for my good news!"

Yang Guangming smiled and responded, then pushed off the pedal, mounted his bicycle, and leisurely rode out of the alley, blending into the quiet street on a Sunday morning.

The morning sunlight, carrying just the right amount of warmth, shone on him, dispelling the chill of the early morning.

A gentle breeze caressed my face, carrying the refreshing scent unique to autumn, mixed with the smell of roadside soil and fallen leaves.

He rode his bicycle through the streets of Kyoto in the early 1960s.

At that time, Haidian was far from the place that would later become known for its numerous universities and technology companies. Looking around, one could see vast farmlands, scattered villages, and a few scattered company compounds and factory buildings.

The roads are mostly bumpy dirt or gravel roads, so bicycles can't go very fast.

Following the route he had inquired about beforehand, he rode towards a river called "Xiaoqing River," which wasn't too far away.

After riding for about half an hour, when I was slightly sweaty, a wide, winding river finally came into view.

The river shimmered with golden light under the bright autumn sun, flowing slowly into the distance.

The banks are lined with dense reeds that are beginning to turn yellow, as well as willows with drooping branches and slightly yellow leaves. In the distance, a few tallow trees with bright red leaves dot the landscape, creating a wide-open and tranquil scene full of wild charm.

A few early anglers were already scattered along the riverbank, each occupying a good spot, setting up small stools, and waiting quietly, like frozen statues, blending into the surrounding natural scenery.

Yang Guangming pushed his bicycle slowly along the riverbank covered with grass and wildflowers, looking for a suitable spot.

He didn't rush to sit down and cast his line. Instead, he carried the empty bucket and pretended to observe the water conditions and look for a good spot to cast his line. He paced slowly along the bank, his eyes seemingly intently scanning the water.

He wanted to try out the new function the refrigerator space had gained in this life—mind collection—to see if it could be useful for fishing and bring some extra "surprises".

This feature allows him to use his mind to store or retrieve small items within a two-meter radius around him.

Previously, he had conducted some simple tests and found that the function had a large size limitation; it had to be able to fit into those fixed "cells" in the space, and each cell had a volume limit.

As for weight, there doesn't seem to be much of a limitation; as long as the volume allows, even heavy metal blocks can be stored inside.

Moreover, the ability to collect live animals greatly increases the possibility of him "cheating" while fishing.

With a thought, he concentrated and activated that wondrous ability of "psychic vision".

Instantly, everything within a two-meter radius of him, including the mud, rocks, and grass roots on the bank, as well as the river water near the shore, the swaying aquatic plants underwater, the murky silt, and even the occasional small shrimp that darted by, was clearly and vividly reflected in his mind.

It is as if you see it with your own eyes, even more clearly and in greater detail than you can see with the naked eye.

This feeling is very strange; within a two-meter radius around you, it's as if you have a God's-eye view.

He walked slowly, focusing his attention mainly on the shallow water area along the riverbank, since a range of two meters was too small to observe the riverbank.

After walking a few steps, on a bank where aquatic plants were abundant and roots were intertwined, I "saw" a small crucian carp swimming leisurely and occasionally pecking at the tender leaves of the aquatic plants. It looked to weigh about two ounces, not very big, but not small either.

Yang Guangming's heart stirred slightly. He locked his thoughts onto the small crucian carp that was completely unaware of the approaching danger, as if issuing a silent command: "Snatch!"

In an instant, the small crucian carp vanished from the clear river water without even a ripple.

The next moment, after passing through the refrigerator space, it appeared directly at the bottom of the empty bucket that Yang Guangming was carrying!
With a soft "thud," the small crucian carp thrashed about in panic at the bottom of the dry bucket, its tail slapping against the metal sheet with a slapping sound.

It worked! It really does!

Yang Guangming felt a surge of secret joy, as if he had discovered a new continent.

This feature really helped him increase his "fish catch" without anyone noticing!
Although it's not very efficient, since the shore can't be teeming with fish, it's still quite effective as a supplementary method to increase the variety and quantity of fish caught.

He suppressed his excitement and continued walking slowly along the shore, carefully observing the underwater situation with the help of the magical ability to see through space.

It's like playing a real-life collection game.

When he encounters suitable fish or shrimp, as long as they are not particularly small, he can lock onto them with his mind, collect them, transfer them through the space, and then put them into the bucket.

This process was silent and unnoticed by anyone. Occasionally, a slightly larger fish would try to struggle, but under the absolute rules of space, it was powerless to resist.

After walking and "collecting" for about ten minutes, his bucket was half full of lively fish, mainly small crucian carp and slender whitebait, each no bigger than the palm of his hand.

Looking at the tiny, shimmering creatures splashing and leaping in the bucket, Yang Guangming smiled with satisfaction, feeling much more at ease.

These catches, though not large fish, are considerable in number. Combined with the three plump grass carp, each weighing about 1.5 pounds, that we've accumulated in the space, it's enough to bring a huge surprise to the family and make dinner exceptionally plentiful.

He felt he had gained enough, so he withdrew his ability to see through things.

Next, instead of relying on space, they found a shore that looked relatively calm and had a suitable water depth.

Set down the small stool, arrange the bucket, take out the fishing rod, skillfully bait the hook with fragrant sesame oil dough, and officially begin to enjoy the pure pleasure of fishing.

He gently cast the fishing hook into the water. The fishing line drew a beautiful arc in the air, and the sinker, carrying the hook, sank to the bottom. The float swayed gently on the surface of the water a few times before finally standing still.

Yang Guangming sat on a small stool, his gaze fixed on the motionless red float, and his mind became peaceful as a result.

It was very quiet around, with only the rustling of the wind through the reeds, like the whisper of nature; occasionally, a few clear birdsongs could be heard in the distance, along with the gentle gurgling of the river flowing slowly beside us.

Time seemed to slow down or stand still here.

He doesn't care whether he catches fish or how big they are; what he enjoys more is this rare time alone, this relaxation and tranquility of being one with nature.

The mind can be temporarily empty, free from complex mathematical formulas and research topics, from interpersonal relationships and backstabbing, simply feeling the warmth of the sun, the caress of the breeze, the scent of the river, and the small anticipation of waiting for unknown rewards.

For him, this was a precious form of spiritual healing.

Occasionally, anglers from the neighborhood would come over and look at him with surprise and envy when they saw that there were already quite a few small fish thrashing around in his bucket. Some even couldn't help but strike up a conversation and ask him what special bait he was using.

Yang Guangming smiled and gave a vague answer, saying that he was just lucky. He had only been there a short time and had caught a few fish in the shallow water near the shore using ordinary dough bait.

Time always flies when you're focused on fishing.

Yang Guangming's fishing skills are indeed quite average, or rather, the fish weren't biting very actively today.

From morning until nearly noon, although the float twitched and sank slightly a few times, he never quite got the timing right when to lift the rod. Relying solely on his own skill, he managed to catch two small crucian carp, probably weighing less than three ounces in total, which was better than nothing.

He glanced at his watch; the hour hand was pointing to 11:30.

After sitting all morning, my stomach started growling, and I was getting a little hungry.

He decided not to waste any more time and started packing his things.

He lifted the fishing rod out of the water, tied it up, and folded up the small stool as well.

Then, he picked up the bucket containing a few small fish and walked to his bicycle.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, he used his mind to connect with the refrigerator space and transferred the three grass carp, which were very fresh and each weighed about one and a half pounds, to the bucket at the same time.

The only regret is that these three grass carp taken from the space were not live fish.

Looking at the three shimmering silver grass carp in the bucket, and the small miscellaneous fish that served as "side dishes," Yang Guangming's face revealed a satisfied smile.

This fishing trip was quite fruitful, and the predetermined goals were successfully achieved.

He secured everything to the bicycle, made sure it was secure, then mounted the bike and, carrying his heavy load of belongings and a light, happy heart, began his journey home. (End of Chapter)