Chapter 29: First Fishing Expedition, Catching Over 100 Kilograms

Lu Xingzhou looked at the shock-resistant rod in his hand with a sense of foreboding. He thought that while a fish over 100 kilograms might not necessarily be easy to hook, there was no harm in testing his luck with other things.

His top fan, who had no inkling of Lu's somber expression, continued to introduce himself. He said his name was Wu Fangrong and that Lu should just call him Old Wu, rather than "Brother Wu."

"Little Lu, I’m not lying to you. Really, just two weeks ago, a drinking buddy of mine caught a fish weighing dozens of kilograms in this very river. He purposely flaunted it in front of me and even invited several other anglers to a full-fish feast. It made me so angry I fell ill for several days."

"That’s why, when I saw you catch that massive, several-hundred-kilogram fish on your livestream yesterday, I wanted to soak up some of your luck, brother."

Lu Xingzhou twitched the corner of his mouth, thinking to himself, "You had better pray that the fish we catch today doesn't have the same history as the one I caught yesterday."

He looked at the rod in his hand and said somewhat awkwardly, "Brother Wu, I've never fished before. The fish yesterday was something I caught by diving into the water. Are there any particular techniques to fishing?"

Mentioning fishing sparked Wu Fangrong’s enthusiasm. His eyes lit up with excitement as he began to explain the basics to Lu—everything from rods and tackle to baiting the hole, casting, and reeling in.

"Old Wu, here to feed the fish again? You’ve single-handedly kept the entire aquatic population of Shanhe City alive. It’s unfair that these fish keep leaving you 'empty-handed' every day. If I were the Elder of the Fish Clan, I’d at least offer you a few of my descendants as a tribute every day."

Just then, two or three middle-aged men walked over, carrying rods and buckets, laughing heartily. Wu Fangrong’s face darkened instantly at their words.

One of the men looked at Lu Xingzhou, who was busy tying a swivel. "Young man, don't ask Old Wu how to fish. He's been coming up empty for half a month. Whoever stands next to him ends up with nothing. Stick with me, and I’ll help you catch a fish weighing dozens of kilograms."

Wu Fangrong turned red with rage. "Old Huang, damn it, stop slandering me! What do you mean 'whoever stands next to me ends up empty'?"

Huang Fuzhong deliberately put some distance between them before shouting back, "Who’s slandering you? Ask Old Wang and Old Cui if they caught even a loach the day they fished with you!"

Wu Fangrong lowered his head, muttering something unintelligible about "how can a true angler call it 'empty-handed'?"

Lu Xingzhou finished setting up his rod. "Brother Wu, let me try, shall I? Since it’s my first time casting, please watch me and see if my form is correct."

Wu Fangrong placed his rod on the rest. "Go ahead. I'll help you bait the spot. Let’s try to hook one on the first cast and show them."

Lu Xingzhou politely declined. "Brother Wu, this is my first time. I just want to see if I can cast the hook out properly. Help me check my form first; let’s not waste the bait. I’ll bait the spot once I’m ready."

Wu Fangrong understood and nodded, pointing to a specific area. "Right, see those green floating weeds? Aim for there. Don’t be nervous. If you don’t hook yourself on your first cast, you’ve already succeeded."

After the simple preparations, Lu Xingzhou cast his rod with force, the line landing right in the center of the weeds. Wu Fangrong looked on with satisfaction; Lu had lived up to his ten minutes of instruction.

"Not bad, the form is quite standard. Reel the line back in, and let's move on to practical training."

*Whoosh!*

Just as Lu Xingzhou prepared to reel in, the float on the water’s surface suddenly dipped, and the slack line snapped taut. Lu reflexively tugged on the rod, but it didn't budge. "Brother Wu, I think I’ve hooked something. The line won't move."

No sooner had he spoken than the thing underwater gave a mighty pull, nearly yanking the rod from his hands. Lu’s reflexes were lightning-fast; in a fraction of a second, he gripped the rod tightly. With a sharp creak, the line stretched to its limit.

Wu Fangrong realized immediately that they had a big catch. His face was filled with excitement. "Brother Lu, don't pull too hard! Easy now—let out some line, let it run! Reel it in! Now, lift! Don't let go, hold on!"

Wu’s shouting drew the attention of every angler nearby. He yelled instructions on how to reel and release as if it were he who had hooked the fish. Gradually, a dark, bluish-black creature nearly two meters long surfaced.

"A black carp! It’s a black carp weighing at least 100 kilograms! I'm going to get the landing net!" Wu Fangrong was ecstatic; after so many days of coming up empty, he had finally seen a fish.

The surrounding anglers abandoned their own rods to watch Lu Xingzhou battle the giant black fish. The audience in the livestream, watching through the drone, was equally stunned.

*<Holy cow, what kind of constitution does the host have? First cast, no baiting, and he just casually hooks a 100kg black carp!>*

*<It’s the 'beginner’s protection period,' believe me, it must be! The host will only ever catch a 100kg fish this one time, it has to be! (Jealousy intensifies)>*

*<I honestly thought that with the host's luck, he’d definitely pull up a corpse. I never expected him to actually catch a fish!>*

The black carp is the largest of the four major domestic fish—the black, grass, silver, and bighead carp. It can easily exceed 100 kilograms and is the only carnivorous species among them. Because of this, it is often rumored in many places to be a "soul-reaping fish."

This is because people often find human corpses where black carp are spotted, mistakenly believing the people were dragged underwater by the fish. In reality, it is the opposite: much like vultures, the black carp are simply drawn to the already deceased.

After a grueling half-hour struggle, Lu Xingzhou dragged the nearly two-meter-long monster onto the shore. Wu Fangrong was triumphant. "Old Huang, what do you say now! Are you convinced? This fish is at least 100 kilograms! Even if it doesn't break the record for the largest black carp, it's close!"

Huang Fuzhong retorted, "That was caught by the young man, what does it have to do with you?"

Wu Fangrong held his head high like a swan. "I taught him how to fish step-by-step, so for all intents and purposes, it counts as my catch." He then leaned in and whispered to Lu, "Brother Lu, sell this fish to me. I’ll transfer you 300,000."

Lu Xingzhou blinked. He hadn't eaten fish in so many years—had the price of fish really become that high? However, seeing the standoff between Wu and Huang, he realized this wasn't just about the fish; it was about face. Lu had already shown off in the livestream and earned enough face; selling it to Wu for 300,000 was a great deal. Fearing Wu might change his mind, he quickly agreed.

"Alright, Brother Wu, whatever you say!"

Afraid that Lu might back out, Wu immediately pulled out his phone and transferred the 300,000. "Brother Lu, check your bank account, I’ve sent the money. This fish is mine now!"

Seeing Wu Fangrong hauling away the 100-plus-kilogram carp, Huang Fuzhong stepped forward. "Brother Lu, your luck is so good today! Want to try another cast? If you can catch one over 50 kilograms, I’ll take it for 100,000!"

Lu Xingzhou smiled. He knew that in any body of water not artificially stocked, once a carnivorous fish over 100 kilograms appeared, it meant there was nothing else in the vicinity capable of competing with it for food. Still, he hummed in agreement. "Sure, I’ll give it one more cast. Whether I catch anything depends on luck."

Lu cast his line once more. The float dropped into the water, and as he gave it a light tug, a resistance bent the long rod into an arc.