Chapter 5: A Bountiful Harvest
Chapter 5: A Bountiful Harvest
Lu Qing arrived at the fishing spot, flattening the surrounding grass before setting down his wooden bucket. He then took out a bamboo tube containing worms.
Removing the seal on the tube, he exposed the wriggling red worms within.
The young boys, with their sharp eyes and elevated vantage point, immediately exclaimed in surprise upon seeing the wriggling creatures inside the tube.
Of course, they knew about worms; they often caught them to play with or fed them to the chickens and ducks at home.
However, they had no idea that worms could also be used to catch fish.
Under the watchful eyes of the boys, Lu Qing took out a worm and threaded it onto the hook.
He then cast the wriggling worm into the water, right at the spot marked by his ability as an ideal fishing location.
As the hook sank into the water, Lu Qing quietly waited.
The young boys on the slope behind him held their breath, intently watching the scene unfold.
Soon, they saw the small wooden stick tied to the fishing line begin to move gently on the water's surface, causing them to grow even more tense.
Only Lu Qing remained calm and still, allowing the stick to tremble without reacting.
Finally, just as the stick lifted and suddenly dipped into the water, he swiftly jerked the fishing rod.
A white streak flew out of the water.
By the time everyone realized what had happened, a small white fish, as thick as two fingers, was already hanging on the hook, its tail flapping wildly.
"He really caught a fish!"
The young boys were stunned by the sight of the small white fish, its tail still flicking, hanging on the hook.
Xiaoyan couldn't contain her excitement and jumped up, exclaiming, "Brother caught a fish! It's a big one!"
A smile appeared on Lu Qing's face as well.
He was relieved that his skills hadn't diminished; landing a catch on the first cast was a relief, as failing to catch anything in front of these young boys would have been embarrassing.
After unhooking the fish, Lu Qing examined it carefully.
This small white fish resembled the ones he had caught in his previous life.
Soon, a faint gray light emanated from the fish's body.
[Small White Fish: Edible. May be good for nutritional supplementation.]
Seeing the words "edible," Lu Qing's worries melted away.
As long as it was edible, at least he wouldn't go hungry today.
He poured some water into the bucket and placed the fish inside, hearing the excited shouts of the young boys behind him, which he found a bit exasperating.
"Quiet down, or you'll scare the fish away," he said.
Hearing this, the boys quickly covered their mouths to suppress their noise, but the excitement in their eyes was undeniable.
Seeing Lu Qing actually catch a fish had them feeling like they had discovered a new world, and their hearts were filled with excitement.
However, what happened next truly showed them what real excitement was.
Lu Qing threaded another worm onto the hook and cast it into the water. Before long, the float moved, and he pulled up another small white fish.
From then on, Lu Qing entered a streak of consecutive catches.
One after another, small fish were hooked, making it seem as easy as simply lifting them out of the water.
The variety of fish he caught also increased, including yellow bonefish and small river shrimp, among others.
The boys behind him were truly thrilled by this display.
If they weren't afraid of scaring the fish away, they would have been shouting loudly.
Lu Qing reached into the bamboo tube again but came up empty-handed.
Peering inside, he realized that most of the worms in the tube had been used, with only a few remaining at the bottom.
Chapter 2: A Bountiful Harvest
Lu Qing glanced at the wooden bucket beside him, which was also filled to the brim with fish. He couldn't help but smile. It had been a while since he had felt such satisfaction from fishing. Indeed, this alternate world was unique; the fish that grew in this pristine environment felt different. Even the small ones put up a good fight, giving a satisfying sense of strength when reeling them in.
He also felt relieved that he had chosen this fishing spot. If he had gone to either of the other two spots, the fish line might have snapped due to the larger fish there.
Seeing that the worms were almost gone, and the frequency of fish biting had decreased since the beginning, Lu Qing knew it was time to call it a day. If he continued, he would have emptied this spot of its fish. He needed to give them time to gather again. With that in mind, he began to pack up his fishing rod and poured the remaining worms into the water. Then, he picked up the wooden bucket and started walking up the slope.
The little rascals on the slope were already looking at him with admiration in their eyes. As soon as Lu Qing approached, they surrounded him, exclaiming at the bucket of fish.
"Brother Lu Qing, you're amazing! You caught so many fish!"
"With so many fish, we'll be eating for days!"
"So, it really is possible to catch fish with a bamboo rod!"
..."Brother, brother, fish, so many fish!"
Xiaoyan also joined the group, jumping up and down with excitement, her little face flushed from the thrill.
"Not bad, but they're a bit small," Lu Qing said modestly.
After the little rascals had calmed down a bit, Lu Qing added, "You guys, help me carry this bucket of fish back, and everyone will get a share."
Lu Qing estimated that he had caught about seven or eight pounds of fish, and with the weight of the wooden bucket and water, it was quite heavy. His body was still weak, and while he could lift it for a moment, carrying the fish back to the village would be challenging.
Besides, there were so many fish that the two siblings couldn't finish them in one or two meals. Small fish were perishable, and they didn't have the means to preserve them, so it was better to share some with the villagers.
"Okay, Brother Lu Qing!"
Hearing that they would get a share of the fish, the little rascals became excited.
Two of them carried the bucket, one on each side, easily lifting the entire load.
Those who didn't get a spot almost cried from the unfairness.
Lu Qing had to mediate and suggest taking turns carrying the bucket, calming the dispute.
Thus, the group made their way back to the village, each taking a turn to carry the heavy load.
When they reached the village, their enthusiastic chatter drew the attention of some villagers, who came out to see what the commotion was about. They were surprised by the sight that greeted them.
"Looks like Lu Qing really caught some fish, and quite a lot, too!"
During Lu Qing's absence, the news of his recovery from illness had spread throughout the village. Many villagers knew that he had gone to the river to fish, but no one expected him to come back with such a haul.
The wooden bucket was filled with at least ten pounds of fish. When did Lu Qing learn this skill? The villagers were intrigued, especially those who had tried fishing at the river themselves. They were eager to know what method Lu Qing had used to catch so many fish.
Driven by curiosity, some villagers followed Lu Qing to his home, unable to contain their interest.
(End of Chapter)
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