Chapter 2: Talent

Chatting with Shitou while thinking about his future plans, Cheng Feng still couldn't sort out his thoughts; it was truly too difficult.

Cheng Feng did not understand the world of adults in this era, but he could still make some guesses in his heart; it was normal for people who looked down on children to feel they couldn't be of any help.

But this was not what Cheng Feng wanted, and Cheng Feng understood his family's situation very well: they were about to run out of food.

The family originally had some spare money, but after paying for Cheng Feng's medical treatment, the savings were basically spent.

The way his predecessor's father and eldest brother had been busy running around, and his mother's warm concern, had also soaked into Cheng Feng's heart over these past few days.

People are not made of grass or wood; how could they be without feelings?

That was why Cheng Feng so urgently wanted to help this impoverished family.

A hemp rope always breaks at its thinnest point; misfortune always picks on the miserable.

Without the capital to guard against the future, any random wave in life could crush this family, leaving it shattered.

Not to mention that the original savings had been consumed to save him.

Cheng Feng calculated: hunting had high returns, but he lacked the ability and it was dangerous; with his own small arms and legs, he couldn't run very fast, so he could only look at what was swimming in the water; if he really couldn't catch fish by hand, then he would fish with a rod.

He didn't know if he could catch anything, but he had to try.

Using the process of elimination, Cheng Feng made a choice based on the current situation and his own abilities.

Cheng Feng was grateful that in his past life he had watched so many videos by Anglers; he knew quite a bit, he just hadn't practiced it, and now, the opportunity to practice had arrived.

"Are you all still going to catch fish this afternoon?" Cheng Feng asked.

Shitou said, "We are. We've already made plans with Sanwazi and the others. We can't help much at home, and it just so happens there are many fish in the summer, so we'll see if we can catch a couple more; it'll be good to have meat to eat at home." As he spoke, he even swallowed his saliva.

"Alright, I'll go take a look this afternoon too; who knows, maybe I can catch a couple myself," Cheng Feng laughed.

"Second Brother, you mustn't go," Shitou said anxiously. "Your illness hasn't healed yet. Mother said you need to rest well. If you go and something happens, Mother will definitely hit me."

"Don't worry about it; I'm all better now, and it's time to go out and walk around. I'll just watch, I won't go into the water," Cheng Feng soothed Lao San, sighing in his heart that children of poor families take on responsibilities early, and the three brothers were very close.

Seeing that he couldn't stop his Second Brother, Shitou could only agree, urging his Second Brother to be careful.

After finishing lunch, he and Lao San called a few little friends, grabbed their buckets, and ran toward the river.

Along the way, Cheng Feng was also observing this new environment; after recuperating for a few days, except for the food being a bit poor and his body being a bit weak, he was basically all better.

The impressions in his memory were also being verified one by one; slowly, Cheng Feng had a handle on things in his heart.

Along the way, the children were shouting about who caught more fish today; one said he was first, another said he was first—it was very lively.

Cheng Feng watched the little brats fooling around without taking it to heart, his own heart remaining calm; he had long since passed that age.

With a mental age of over 20 plus the social experience of his past life, silence was a sign of maturity and steadiness.

His predecessor had also tried catching fish before, but hadn't had much success, so he gave up later on; as he got older, he started helping out at home.

Now that he had to experience it again, he had to learn from these little masters.

Slowly, he steered the conversation, asking the little masters about their fish-catching tips in a roundabout way.

The half-grown children didn't have any ulterior motives, talking about this and that, and following the dirt road, they soon arrived at the riverside.

The river was not wide, the central area was slightly dark, and under the shining sun, it was sparkling.

Watching the boys take off their clothes and pants to go into the water to catch fish, he only urged them to be careful.

Although they called it catching fish, it was actually just playing in the water and swimming.

Sitting down by the willow tree near the river, watching the undulating river surface, Cheng Feng was lost in thought, just watching and learning.

He thought about trying to go into the water himself in a couple of days; perhaps he could make a fishing rod then to try it out?

As the sun set, seeing that the playing children still hadn't had any harvest, Cheng Feng knew that was it for today.

Just as he was about to get up and prepare to call them, the water on the river surface began to splash with a "plop, plop" sound.

"Caught a big fish! Caught a big fish!" The children who were still resting by the riverbank all jumped into the water to help.

After a flurry of chaotic activity, it was finally held firmly in Sanwazi's arms; a group of children surrounded them, terrified that the fish would run away, and slowly moved to the riverbank.

Cheng Feng watched; it was indeed not small, estimated to be about four or five catties.

Seeing they were far from the river, Sanwazi threw the fish onto the ground and said arrogantly, "Hahaha, look, I said I was first, didn't I?" with a look that said, "Come and praise me."

Some of the other children looked at this result with excitement, as if they had caught it themselves, while others looked dejected, having worked hard all day with no results.

Cheng Feng laughed in his heart watching the lively scene; children's expressions were all written on their faces, so simple!

Cheng Feng looked back at the river surface; a black shadow approached the bank, as if wanting to see the excitement on the riverbank.

Looking closely, wasn't this another big black fish?

There was no time to think; seeing it was so close to the shore, there was no possibility of drowning.

Cheng Feng put his hands forward, dove in with a splash, and according to the principle of light refraction, grabbed fiercely at the black shadow; his hands touched a slippery object.

Could he let a fish he had already caught run away?

He gripped the long, thin object tightly with both hands, pressed his body forward quickly, held it in his arms just like Sanwazi, and walked quickly toward the shore.

The fish in his arms was also restless, twisting and turning, trying to escape, but how could Cheng Feng let himself lose face?

After all, he was ten?

With a burst of strength, he threw the fish in his arms forcefully; the fish twisted its body in the air and landed on the ground, and he shouted, "Shitou, step on it!"

Shitou was startled by Cheng Feng's shout and said excitedly, "Second Brother, you're amazing!"

Taking three steps in two, he stepped on the fish's head; Cheng Feng hurried to the tree, picked up the bucket, filled it with water, and put the fish inside.

Looking at it, it was a size larger than the fish Sanwazi caught, about seven catties or more.

A fish of this size would fetch a good price even if sold for money.

Shitou looked at such a big fish happily, shouting with joy.

The group of children surrounding Sanwazi nearby watched silently, their faces showing giggles.

Just a moment ago he was saying he was first, and now he had been slapped in the face so quickly.

Sanwazi couldn't keep his face straight either, but he said sourly and unwillingly, "Second Brother Cheng, you are first today."

It's about time; if I go back any later, I'll be scolded or beaten by my family.

However, looking at Sanwazi, who looked pitiful and had lost his arrogant air, Cheng Feng didn't find it funny to compete for first place with a child, so he comforted him, "I didn't participate in your competition, so what are you comparing with me for?"

Sanwazi thought about it, and indeed, Cheng Feng hadn't said he would participate in the competition from the beginning until now, so he muttered to himself, "Oh yeah, Second Brother Cheng didn't say he was participating, so I'm still first, hee hee."

Watching Sanwazi, who was happy with himself, Cheng Feng also found it amusing; he really was just a child.

Holding back Lao San, who was preparing to go up and say a few words, he said, "Alright, hurry back. If it gets any later, we'll all be scolded."

Sure enough, as soon as they heard about being scolded, the half-grown boys scattered in a rush, hurriedly picking up their own buckets to fetch water or wring out their clothes.

Cheng Feng also wrung out his soaked clothes and stood up to walk back.

As the sun set, he looked at the doorway of his home where smoke was curling up from the kitchen.

Shitou couldn't hold back his joy, "Dad, Mom, Big Brother, come quickly and look, we have a catch, such a big fish!"

Cheng Fu and the eldest brother, who hadn't been back long, also looked at the fish in the bucket with a smile, estimating its weight.

Cheng Feng watched this scene with a smile, and also curiously looked at the light blue Panmian that had appeared in the air when the Fishing was successful.

Recalling how his family members were turning a blind eye to it both on the way home and now, Cheng Feng thought to himself: The others can't see it.

Name: Cheng Feng

Lifespan: 16 (62)

Talent: More Children More Blessings

Skill: Fishing (Entry Level 1%)