In the 1970s, it started with contracting out communal dining.

Chen Wei, Wu Xiaochun, and Lin Jun had agreed to go to a reservoir in the suburbs on the weekend to see if they could catch any carp.

Saturday arrived quickly, and Chen Wei got up early in the morning.

After getting ready, Chen Wei went to the dormitory next door and heard Wu Xiaochun snoring loudly inside. He quickly knocked on the window.

"Wu Xiaochun! If we don't get up now, we'll miss the early bus!"

"Clang—Ouch—"

The sound of a forehead hitting the bed board came from inside the room, indicating that Wu Xiaochun was having particular difficulty getting out of bed.

Fortunately, a few minutes later, Wu Xiaochun appeared at the door, disheveled, and pulled Chen Wei and Lin Jun along as they ran towards the factory gate.

"What's the rush! You're the one who couldn't get up, and now you're the one panicking!"

Chen Wei, panting heavily from being pulled, couldn't help but speak.

Unexpectedly, Wu Xiaochun's eyes widened: "There's only one bus to the suburbs. If we miss it, we'll have to wait until noon, and we won't be able to get back today!"

As Wu Xiaochun spoke, he rushed toward the factory gate. Fortunately, Chen Wei called him in time, and the three of them managed to catch the first bus.

After boarding the bus, the three of them leisurely followed it as it swayed towards the suburbs.

The city center of Jinshi is about a two-hour drive from the suburbs. Wu Xiaochun was sitting in the car when he realized that he hadn't brought any of his fishing gear.

He slapped his forehead in regret and exclaimed, "Oh no! I didn't bring any tools! If the three of us go down into the reservoir naked, we're doomed! We won't even come back with our underwear, let alone our heads! Driver, stop the car! I need to go back and get my things!"

As he was shouting, Lin Jun suddenly pulled him back and pointed to the canvas bag next to Chen Wei's feet.

Wu Xiaochun then noticed that Chen Wei was carrying two large, bulging canvas bags, and his face instantly lit up with joy.

"Brother Chen, you..."

"I definitely brought everything! If you were to forget things, we might not have caught any fish today!"

Chen Wei said irritably, then tore open the canvas bag and found a fish basket, a fishing rod, a landing net, a fish trap, and even a simple fish hamper to hold the fish he caught.

Indeed, they considered everything thoroughly.

Wu Xiaochun scratched his head and laughed sheepishly, "Hehe, Brother Chen really thought of everything! Our little team can't do without Brother Chen!"

Stop flattering me! When we get to the reservoir, you better get to work!

Chen Wei said something in an annoyed tone.

The buses of that era were old-fashioned Jiefang brand buses, with mottled bodies and a strong smell of gasoline. The windows rattled and banged against the frame.

The group swayed along with the bus until they finally arrived in the suburbs.

Once outside the city, the scenery gradually changed to low-rise bungalows, the road was bumpy and dusty, and there were many poplar trees planted along the roadside, swaying densely in the dusty wind.

After two hours of swaying and rattling on the bus, Chen Wei felt that the scenery outside the window was becoming increasingly desolate, and couldn't help but turn his head to ask.

How much further?

"We're almost there!" Wu Xiaochun pointed out the window, and sure enough, there was a large embankment on the left at the three-way intersection ahead.

Below the dam, the river water is clear and the water level is not shallow.

It seems that the reservoir Wu Xiaochun mentioned is just ahead, and the river in front of us is probably the downstream embankment of the reservoir.

"Driver, stop at Duliu Reservoir!" Wu Xiaochun shouted to the driver. A short while later, the bus screeched to a halt, leaving the three of them stranded on the roadside.

Chen Wei turned his head and looked around the place in front of him. He saw a wide waterway winding through the distance, shimmering in the morning sun.

The banks of the river are covered with dense reeds. It is early autumn now, and the cool breeze blows, causing the reeds to sway like countless green waves rolling.

The river surface was becoming somewhat obscured below, Chen Wei pointed down.

Is this the place?

"Let's walk a little further! There's a good spot ahead for setting up internet!"

Wu Xiaochun said something and immediately took the lead, guiding Chen Wei and Lin Jun deeper into the jungle.

"This area was dug during the water conservancy construction in the 1950s and 60s. My third uncle said that the deepest parts are seven or eight meters deep, and the shallowest parts are three or four meters deep. Now, without maintenance for many years, the riverbed is probably almost silted up and not that deep anymore! But there are plenty of fish in here, all wild, and the meat is very firm!"

Wu Xiaochun walked along, introducing the exhibits with great enthusiasm.

The three of them went around the dike, and on the other side of the fork in the road ahead was a small village. From a distance, they could see that the village was not big, with dozens of households living in mud-brick houses with whitewashed walls and the slogan "Learn from Dazhai in Agriculture" written in large characters.

Several old men were squatting at the village entrance, sitting in a group and smoking.

A damp scent wafted from the fields between the village entrance and the dike; the musty smell was clearly from the reservoir, indicating that we were almost there.

Sure enough, at the fork in the road ahead, Wu Xiaochun turned towards the other side of the village and immediately smelled a burst of moisture.

"arrive!"

Wu Xiaochun pointed in the distance, and Chen Wei looked up.

Before me stretched a vast expanse of water, covering an area of ​​about a hundred acres, which stood straight and imposing above the riverbed below the embankment.

A dam has raised the water level considerably. The reservoir is surrounded by lush willows and reeds, their branches drooping low and brushing the water's surface, creating ripples.

The sky in the distance was a clear, deep blue, with white clouds drifting lazily and reflected on the surface of the reservoir, creating a picturesque and idyllic scene.

"In the summer, this place gets incredibly popular for fishing! Pretty good, right?"

Wu Xiaochun stood with his hands on his hips, looking quite smug.

Chen Wei, however, was thinking about something else and quickly asked.

"I see a village nearby. If we fish here, will the village care?"

The aquatic products in reservoirs like this usually belong to the surrounding villages. This is Chen Wei's first time here, and he doesn't know which village the reservoir belongs to. He wonders if he should go to the village to ask before he can start catching fish.

Unexpectedly, Wu Xiaochun laughed heartily, looking like he had done his homework.

"Don't worry about it, I already gave you the orders!"

Chen Wei raised an eyebrow and glanced at him. To be honest, Wu Xiaochun did have a talent for dealing with people.

They didn't care how Wu Xiaochun had spoken to the village; as long as the three of them were allowed to catch fish, that was all that mattered.

"Then let's not just sit idly by, guys! Whoever's a good swimmer, go down and set up the net first!"

"I'll go!"

Lin Jun, who had been silent all along, responded with a sound, took off his shirt first, grabbed the fish trap, and plunged into the water.

To be honest, from a distance, it actually looks pretty convincing!