Courtyard House: I fish in the heavens, a professional bird abuser.

Looking at the lively, almost overflowing fish in He Yuanchao's bucket, and then at his own empty, broken fish basket, he was overwhelmed by a huge wave of bitterness and intense envy, jealousy, and hatred.

He couldn't hold back any longer! All pretense of face and seniority amounted to nothing in the face of a real catch of fish!

He abruptly put down his hopeless fishing rod, rubbed his hands together, and plastered on the most fawning and humble smile of his life. He leaned close to He Yuanchao and whispered, "Yuan...Yuanchao...look...look at my spot...it's weird today, not a single bite...how about...how about we switch? You...you try my 'golden spot'? I'll try my luck there?"

He pointed to his flat, large rock, his eyes filled with anticipation.

He Yuanchao was removing the hook from a large crucian carp weighing over half a pound and putting it into the bucket when he heard this. Without even looking up, he just smiled casually and said, "Sure, Uncle, please feel free to do as you please."

He picked up his bucket and fishing rod and readily gave up his spot.

Yan Bugui felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He quickly moved his stool back to what he called his "golden fishing spot," frantically casting the hook back into the waters he had carefully prepared. Then, he held his breath, his eyes wide like copper bells, staring intently at the float on which he had placed all his hopes!

In my mind, I was screaming: "Fish, fish, bite the hook! Let this old man have a turn at it!"

He Yuanchao, carrying his fishing gear, casually sat down on the small rock where Yan Bugui had just been sitting—his original spot.

He still didn't bait the hook, still casually baited the hook with earthworms, and still cast the line with such nonchalance.

The fishing hook enters the water, and the float stands still.

Yan Bugui's heart was in his throat. He stared intently at his float, but couldn't help glancing at He Yuanchao.

Time passed second by second.

Yan Bugui's float: remained completely still.

He Yuanchao's buoy: steady and steady.

One minute... two minutes...

Just as Yan Bugui's heart sank deeper and deeper, almost to the point of despair—

He Yuanchao's fishing rod, which seemed to be casually resting on the rock, suddenly sank without warning! The force was no less than the previous times!

Whoosh—!

The water splashed again!

A giant golden carp, even larger than the first one, leaped wildly out of the water. In the sunlight, its golden scales dazzled everyone's eyes!

"Fuck..."

One of the onlookers, a fisherman, couldn't help but swear.

Yan Bugui felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, and a metallic sweetness surged into his throat!

He watched as He Yuanchao once again displayed his superb fish-handling skills, easily putting the larger carp into the bucket.

His own float... remained firmly planted on the water's surface, like a stabilizing anchor!

Pfft!

Yan Bugui slumped down on his stool, his face ashen and his eyes completely lifeless.

He looked at He Yuanchao's bucket, which was almost overflowing and contained at least forty pounds of fish, and then at his own empty fish basket, which didn't even have a single fish scale. A huge sense of frustration and absurdity overwhelmed him.

He realized it had nothing to do with the fishing spot, nothing to do with the bait, and it had absolutely nothing to do with the fishing grounds!

This kid… this kid is a living god of fishing! He's the Dragon King of this Sea!

The surrounding gasps and chatter had turned into a numb silence.

Everyone was completely stunned by He Yuanchao's incredible performance.

Looking at the overflowing bucket of fish, He Yuanchao finally put away his fishing rod with a sense of unfulfilled enjoyment.

He weighed it in his hand and estimated it to be a little over fifty pounds.

His gaze swept over Yan Bugui, who stood beside him, looking utterly dejected and as if his spine had been ripped out, and he understood.

Although this old miser is cunning, he was relatively sensible at Quanjude yesterday. Today, he brought me fishing and even provided fishing gear, albeit old and worn. Most importantly, bringing him along gave that kid Banggeng a chance to "visit" my house, making it easier for the "little gift" he had arranged to come in handy...

Thinking of this, a barely perceptible smile appeared on He Yuanchao's face.

He picked up the bucket, walked up to Yan Bugui who looked like a wilted eggplant, and said in a clear voice, "Third Uncle."

Yan Bugui raised his head blankly, his eyes vacant.

He Yuanchao pointed to his heavy bucket and then to Yan Bugui's empty, broken fish basket: "Today's harvest is alright, but there's too much. I can't eat it all, and it'll spoil easily if I leave it at home."

He paused, and then, seeing Yan Bugui's eyes suddenly light up, continued, "Here's what we'll do: take twenty jin from this bucket."

"The rest I'll need your and Auntie's help with."

"Twenty...twenty pounds?!"

Yan Bugui's voice suddenly rose, becoming shrill and distorted! He jumped to his feet, nearly plunging headfirst into Shichahai Lake in the process! Pointing at the fish in He Yuanchao's bucket, his fingers trembling, he stammered, "Give...give me? Twenty...twenty catties?!"

He felt like he was dreaming!

Twenty pounds of fish! And it was a live fish just caught in Shichahai!

You can get at least ten dollars on the black market!

That's enough to feed their family for so many meals!

"Um."

He Yuanchao nodded, his tone as calm as if he were saying, "I'll divide up a few cornbread buns. I'll trouble Auntie San to help me smoke the remaining thirty or so jin."

Your yard is large, making it convenient to smoke fish.

Use as much firewood and salt as needed, and deduct the cost from the fish.

Once it's smoked, you can keep half as a tip for your hard work, and give me the other half.

"Is this acceptable to you?" He offered a condition that Yan Bugui simply could not refuse.

Smoking fish is labor-intensive and uses a lot of materials, but if you smoke thirty catties of fish well, Yan Bugui can get more than ten catties of dried smoked fish for free! This is simply a huge windfall! It's even more substantial than Peking duck from Quanjude!

"Great! Great! You're amazing! You're really... really..."

Yan Bugui was so excited he was incoherent, his old face flushed red, rubbing his hands, wishing he could bow to He Yuanchao on the spot! "Don't worry! Third Uncle... no! Third Aunt! I guarantee you'll be thoroughly fumigated! Golden yellow! Not burnt at all! I'll give you plenty of salt! Lots of firewood! Fees? What fees! We're neighbors! It's only right! It's only right!"

He patted his chest and swore an oath, fearing that He Yuanchao might go back on his word.

Without wasting any words, He Yuanchao immediately grabbed a dozen of the fattest carp, grass carp, and large crucian carp from his bucket and stuffed them all into Yan Bugui's tattered fish basket.

The fish basket was instantly stuffed full, so heavy it almost seemed about to burst.

Yan Bugui quickly hugged it to his arms like a treasure, feeling its heavy weight and the fish's lively splashing. He was so excited that his whole body trembled slightly, and his face beamed with joy. His previous dejection was swept away, leaving only ecstasy and triumph!

After packing up their fishing gear, Yan Bugui, carrying his "priceless" fish basket, straightened his back and followed behind He Yuanchao, who was pushing a bicycle with an equally heavy bucket hanging from the handlebars. Under the envious and jealous gazes of all the other fishermen around them, they strode away from Shichahai.

The setting sun cast long shadows of He Yuanchao and Yan Bugui as they returned home.

The heavy buckets hanging from the handlebars of the brand-new Forever 28 bicycle, and the bulging, tattered fish basket in Yan Bugui's arms, whose fish tails swayed from time to time, became the most eye-catching sight in the alley.

Wherever they went, they were met with amazed and envious glances.

Wow! So many fish!

"Did they raid the Dragon King Temple in Shichahai?"

"Look! It's He Yuanchao! And Uncle San too!"

"My God! How many pounds does this weigh?!"

"I heard He Yuanchao had a great day at Shichahai Sea God Casino! He caught big fish one after another! Uncle San also got some good luck!"

Holding the fish basket, Yan Bugui listened to the surrounding discussions, his back straighter than ever before, his face glowing, as if he had become ten years younger.

He would occasionally shake the fish basket in his arms to make the fish inside thrash around more vigorously, attracting even more admiring glances.

He Yuanchao, on the other hand, remained calm, enjoying the satisfaction of returning with a full load.

He silently calculated the time in his mind, a cold expectation curling at the corner of his mouth.

There must be quite a show going on at home, right?

As soon as I stepped into the familiar gate of the courtyard house, an unusual commotion hit me! Cries, curses, exclamations, and voices of persuasion mingled together, making it more lively than a vegetable market!