Reborn at 80: From Village Scoundrel to Billionaire

Liu Bei was stunned for a moment before realizing that he had forgotten about the mermaid.

"Okay. Wait a minute, I'll get the tools!"

"Alright! I'll wait for you under the old locust tree at the village entrance!" With that, Fan Ha'er ran out of the yard.

Liu Bei went to the storage room and took out some fishing nets, bamboo poles, and several wooden buckets.

"Xiao Bei, it's already dark. Are you still going fishing? It's too dangerous. Why don't you go tomorrow?" Zhao Da'e said with some concern.

"Mom, don't worry, everything will be fine. I'll be back before midnight."

After comforting his mother, Zhao Da'e, Liu Bei took a flashlight and walked out of the yard.

"etc!"

Just then, Lin Wanqiu ran over and straightened his collar. "It's dark tonight, be careful. The kids and I are waiting for you at home!"

"Um!"

Liu Bei smiled slightly and stepped out of the courtyard.

"Brother Bei, you're out. Where are we going to fish for mermaids tonight?"

"Zhangjiahu!"

"Okay!"

……

Watching Liu Bei disappear into the night,

For some reason, Lin Wanqiu's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

She knew that this man was only pretending to appease Fan Ha'er in her quest to catch the mermaid.

But in reality, he just wanted to earn more money so that his family could live a better life.

Men are busy outside,

As his woman, she has to take good care of this home and his children for him, because when he is tired and comes home, there is warmth and comfort, and with children, his busy work will be more meaningful.

"Liu Bei, you must come back safely!"

……

On this side,

Liu Bei carried fishing nets and other tools and walked towards the old locust tree at the village entrance.

By this time, Fan Ha'er had been waiting for a long time.

There was a bamboo pole, a fishing net, two wooden buckets, and a flashlight at my feet.

"Brother Bei! You're finally here! I've prepared all the tools!" Fan Ha'er jumped up. "Let's go catch a mermaid!"

"Keep your voice down." Liu Bei gestured for her to speak. "Mermaids are timid. What if you scare her away by shouting like that?"

"Oh!" Fan Ha'er immediately covered her mouth and whispered, "Yes, yes, yes! We can't scare the mermaid. We have to go quietly and catch her off guard!"

Liu Bei: "..."

Did you really believe it?

Is he so desperate to get married that he's gone mad?

After a pause, Liu Bei headed towards Zhangjia Lake first.

Fan Ha'er followed along eagerly.

Soon, as the two passed by Zhao Liuzhi's house, Liu Bei glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.

The courtyard gate was ajar, and a faint light shone through the crack.

He didn't pay any attention and continued walking forward.

But no sooner had they left than Zhao Liuzhi opened the door.

He peeked out, squinting at Liu Bei and Fan Ha'er's backs.

"Why are these two sneaking around carrying fishing nets towards Zhangjia Lake so late at night instead of sleeping?"

"What do you want to do?"

"Could it be that they found some treasure in the lake?"

Zhao Liuzhi's eyes suddenly lit up, and he crouched down and followed.

……

A dozen minutes later, Zhangjiahu.

Several rows of bamboo rafts were moored to wooden stakes on the shore of the lake.

Liu Bei untied the rope and carried the fishing net and wooden bucket onto the bamboo raft.

Fan Ha'er stepped on it and picked up the bamboo pole.

"Brother Bei, where are we going to catch a mermaid tonight?"

"Um?"

"Mermaid? What kind of fish is that?"

Zhao Liuzhi, who was hiding behind the reeds, suddenly widened his eyes.

This was the first time in his life he had ever heard of such a fish in a lake.

He pricked up his ears, held his breath, and eavesdropped carefully.

Liu Bei stood at the bow of the bamboo raft, his gaze sweeping across the lake.

In the distance, dozens of red dots were flashing on the other side of the lake, near Zhangjia Village.

"Paddle to the other side." Liu Bei pointed to the opposite bank of the lake, "in the direction of Zhangjia Village."

"Alright!" Fan Ha'er pushed off with the bamboo pole, and the bamboo raft slowly moved away from the shore.

Zhao Liuzhi stood behind the reeds, watching the bamboo raft paddle towards the other side, his eyes darting around a few times.

Mermaid...in the direction of Zhangjia Village...

The next moment, he ran along the lake shore, taking advantage of the darkness, all the way towards Zhangjia Village.

……

Half an hour later.

Fan Ha'er moored the bamboo raft on the lake near Zhangjia Village.

The surroundings were so quiet that only the sounds of frogs and insects could be heard, and the moonlight shone on the water, making it ripple.

Liu Bei stared at the red dots in his line of sight and cast the fishing net out from the spot where the flashing was most concentrated.

"Thump~"

The fishing net sank smoothly to the bottom of the water very quickly.

"Brother Bei, your technique for casting the fishing net is really beautiful." Fan Ha'er squatted down to the side, his eyes fixed on the fishing net.

Soon, half a minute later, Fan Ha'er saw the fishing net move.

First there was a slight tremor, then the entire net was pulled from side to side, causing the bamboo raft to tilt slightly.

"I've got it! I've got it!" Fan Ha'er jumped up, almost capsizing the bamboo raft. "Brother Bei! There's movement! We must have caught a mermaid! Pull it up! Pull it up quickly!"

"Hold on!" Liu Bei grabbed his shoulder and then pulled the net rope upwards with both hands.

"Splash!"

Soon, the entire fishing net was pulled out of the water.

The net was bulging with crucian carp, silver carp, and several eels twisted into pretzel shapes. Two frogs were kicking their legs frantically through the mesh.

"Brother Bei, let me find it!"

Fan Ha'er rummaged around for a while, and the excitement on his face gradually faded.

"Brother Bei... they're all just ordinary fish. None of them look like pretty girls."

"Nonsense." Liu Bei poured the fish into the wooden bucket. "What's a mermaid? They're rare. If you could just catch one with a net, someone else would have taken it long ago. How would you have a chance?"

"That's true." Fan Ha'er scratched his head, then perked up again. "Let's continue!"

"That's right. Pole and move forward."

Fan Ha'er planted the bamboo pole, and the bamboo raft continued to move forward.

Upon reaching the next area with a high concentration of red dots, Liu Bei cast his net a second time.

The fishing net was pulled up again.

There were crucian carp, perch, eels, frogs... Soon, a large wooden bucket was already half full.

Fan Ha'er searched again, but still couldn't find the mermaid he wanted.

"Brother Bei... still nothing..."

"Well... oh dear, have you ever heard the story of grinding an iron pestle into a needle? It takes a very, very long time to grind an iron pestle into a fine needle. That's what they call good things come to those who wait. Don't be discouraged, keep going."

"All right……"

Then, Liu Bei successively cast out the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth nets.

After six consecutive netting sessions, both wooden barrels were filled.

There were crucian carp, silver carp, perch, eel, frog, and even two soft-shelled turtles.

But there are still no mermaids.

"How could this happen?"

Fan Ha'er sat on the bamboo raft, his hands supporting his face, the bamboo pole resting across his knees, looking completely listless.

"Brother Bei, do you think... the mermaids don't like me? They all hid when they saw me coming?"

Liu Bei: "..."

Liu Bei sat down next to him.

"Hey, do you know whose daughter the Little Mermaid is?"

"Whose?"

"The Dragon King's daughter. In ancient times, that would be a princess. If you want to win her over and marry her, you'll have to work harder and be more sincere than the average person."

Fan Ha'er blinked. "Then... what should I do?"

"make money."

"what?"

"Think about it, the mermaid is a princess, why would she marry you? You have to make money, a lot of money. Build a new big house in the village. Let the mermaid see that you're successful. Then she'll naturally be willing to come out of the water and go home with you."

Fan Ha'er pondered for a moment, then asked, "But why do mermaids like people who make money?"

"Because if a man can't earn money, he can't support a woman and children. If you can't even support her, why should she live with you? Why should she have children for you?"

"I see..."

Fan Ha'er looked down at his rough hands, then at the two full buckets of fish, and his eyes suddenly lit up:

"Brother Bei, I understand!"

"What do you understand?"

"I want to make money! Lots and lots of money! To build a new house of my own! Then, I'll marry the mermaid in style! Let my parents see if I, Fan Zhenxing, am truly useless!"

Liu Bei: "..."

He looked at Fan Ha'er's serious expression without saying a word.

Although Fan Ha'er is a fool, he is indeed an ambitious young man.

At this point, how could he bear to ruin Fan Ha'er's ambitions?

Let Ha'er work hard for the mermaid!

With this drive, this kid will be different from now on.

"Alright, we've caught enough fish. That's enough for tonight. Turn around and go home!"

"They're over there, can you see them? Right there!"

As soon as he finished speaking, suddenly, many lights appeared on the shore ahead.

Torches and flashlights were everywhere, one after another, like a long dragon surging towards the lake.

Soon, shouts came from the shore again.

"That's them! The two on the bamboo raft!"

"Hmm? Brother Bei, why are there so many people on the shore? What do they want?" Fan Ha'er raised an eyebrow.

"That voice sounds familiar..."

Liu Bei narrowed his eyes, and suddenly three words popped into his mind: Zhao Liuzhi!

Before long, the firelight drew closer and closer, and more and more figures appeared.

There looked to be at least thirty or forty people, and they quickly filled the shore.

A burly man at the head, holding a torch, roared at the lake:

"You two on the bamboo raft, this is Zhangjia Village's territory! You've come here to catch the divine fish and mermaid; you're encroaching on Zhangjia Village's property!"

"Get your ass up here right now! Hand over the mermaid! Otherwise... hehe... don't blame us for being impolite!"