Chapter 103: In just a moment, three fish

Ye Cheng pulled hard, damn it, the feel was completely different now.

Before, it was fighting with the fish, with that sawing feeling, now there's no movement at all, feels like pulling a rock.

Alright, now I've lost big, the fish is gone, the line is gone.

Ye Cheng tugged for a while, couldn't get it out; if it were shallow water he could go down and pry it loose, but this is shallow sea.

Even if shallow, it's still sea, there are too many undercurrents, Ye Cheng doesn't want to take that risk.

So the only option was to cut the fishing line, losing a set of hook and line.

Fortunately the system can replenish this, just losing a few points.

After reattaching the fishing line and hook, Ye Cheng cast again.

From the side came Zhao Zhiming's disdainful chuckle; he loudly said to Zhao You Tian, "Uncle You Tian, fishing is all about technique—heavenly timing, earthly advantage, and human harmony all must be considered."

Ye Cheng didn't retort; he indeed lacked experience in this, and learning more is good.

This time, Ye Cheng lightly cast the line, making it smoother.

"Lao Er, your casting is getting better and better." Chen Jinshui said while guarding his own rod, chatting with Ye Cheng.

Ye Cheng nodded, "I have to learn it; when I learn your long cast, Uncle Chen, that'll be impressive."

"Hahaha, Lao Er just knows how to sweet talk; I can cast, but no bites—what's the use."

Xiao Hu got up and lit a circle of smoke; Zhao Zhiming waved his hand indicating he had one, Xiao Hu didn't insist much, just pretending to be cool.

While smoking, Zhao You Tian pulled up his rod and changed bait, but those clever critters down below ate it all.

Just as Ye Cheng lit his cigarette, he saw the rod move, the float dragged straight into the sea, the line racing out.

"Damn!" Ye Cheng muttered, biting his cigarette, grabbed the rod with one hand, left hand clamped the line to stop it from running.

If it kept going, it might get snagged on the seabed.

When the line snagged, Ye Cheng felt a strong force transmitted from the rod.

The rod tip bent directly downward, pointing at the sea surface.

Ye Cheng didn't dare release the line, could only hold on tight, pitting his endurance against the fish below.

But the smoke in his mouth really stung his eyes, so Ye Cheng had to spit it out and focus.

This fish is about the same size as the one that got away last time; after Ye Cheng reeled in twice, it was starting to tire, lacking strength to compete.

Ye Cheng seized the moment, pulled hard, dragging its back out of the water—a dark-colored fish with small spots, not big, over one catty but under two.

Now that it's out of water, it's easy; Ye Cheng seized the chance, lifted the rod, Xiao Hu extended his net to full length below to scoop the fish and lifted it up.

Zhao You Tian also happily ran over; besides Zhao Zhiming, the four of them gathered around.

"Ah, a green grouper."

"Grouper, Lao Er, you can do it."

This is a green grouper; grouper varieties are many, but generally price is decent; Ye Cheng's is over one catty, size suitable.

He opened his water tank, Ye Cheng put the green grouper inside.

Over there Zhao Zhiming felt a bit tempted but held back, his face gloomy as he watched his float, no movement for a while.

He tugged a few times, making the bait move, changed position; beside him were Ye Cheng and the four's laughter, especially grating.

They happily put the grouper in; Xiao Hu teased the fish there, just lifted his head, and saw his rod jerk, swoosh into the sea.

That guy let out a weird yell, lunged over, barely managing to grab the rod.

Fortunately the fish didn't feel big; Xiao Hu easily took control, after a few tugs it came up—a lamp tube squid.

Ye Cheng and Xiao Hu scored back-to-back, making Zhao Zhiming's eyes almost spit fire.

He painstakingly made a bait spot, then cast handsomely, yet ended up worse than two newbies who don't even know water depth.

He angrily reeled in, then cast again.

Unexpectedly, as soon as it went in, the float started moving bit by bit, feeling sneaky.

Zhao Zhiming got a bit excited; before he'd never been this nervous catching a fish, now he felt stuck up there, while others had landed two fish and he only had a sardine.

If he doesn't get something good soon, his face won't hold up.

He stared motionless at the water surface, one, two, three, timing the float's dip, then he sharply lifted the rod.

Hooked!

The line started going crazy, darting left and right on the sea surface.

Zhao Zhiming stood confidently, as an expert and veteran, having hooked a fish, he didn't believe it could still escape.

The fish had strong pull, likely big, so Zhao Zhiming had to tug left and right, occasionally jabbing the fish.

He felt his pose looked cool, in the sun, a muscular man holding the rod.

The rod bent, the line taut, on the sea surface the fish began to flip and tumble.

What a beautiful perfect scene.

But!

Why is nobody coming to watch me.

Zhao Zhiming glanced sideways, damn, his Uncle You Tian and that friend Uncle Chen were all squatting by Ye Cheng's side, watching him land a fish.

A red figure flapped on Ye Cheng's fishing line.

Without looking closely, he knew it was a red-spotted grouper, famous, medium-priced grouper.

The red fish body looked especially glaring, as if mocking him.

He looked at his own sea fish, white belly, black back—basically a sea bream, far inferior to others' grouper.

"Wow! Xiao Ye, you're really amazing, three fish in a short while." Zhao You Tian's eyes were full of little stars.

Chen Jinshui looked at his enviable friend, feeling proud, patted Ye Cheng's shoulder, and said to Zhao You Tian,

"Uncle You Tian, let me tell you, this kid has only been sea fishing twice; the first time I taught him, right, Lao Er."

Ye Cheng rolled his eyes; casting the rod is indeed something he learned from you, but he didn't actually learn it.

As for catching fish, that's even less his concern.

"A master produces outstanding disciples, little Ye—you're surpassing your teacher, blue from indigo but brighter than indigo."

"Ah, it's all because he's naturally talented; I merely got him started."

The two old geezers started praising each other, and Ye Cheng, too lazy to bother with them, simply put the spotted grouper into the water tank by himself.

At that moment Ye Cheng noticed Zhao Zhiming, turned his head, glanced at him, and calmly said,

"Black seabream, not bad either."

"Not bad, my ass—Zhao Zhiming is about to spit out a mouthful of old blood. Damn it, when did it become your turn, little rookie, to critique and lecture me?"

However, his black seabream was inferior in variety and only average in size, leaving him with no joy in catching fish.