Chapter 12: Fishing

Sihe Academy

The morning sun shone into the room. Cao Cao Weiguo got up unhurriedly and gave a big stretch.

"Ding! Weekly sign-in successful!"

"Obtained Primary Competitive Fishing Technique, 1 Purple Bamboo Fishing Rod!"

Listening to the beautiful prompt, Cao Cao Weiguo's mood also became beautiful.

Working six days a week, with Sunday off, Cao Cao Weiguo slowly got dressed, washed up, and found a bucket, preparing to go fishing.

How could he leave the fishing technique and the purple bamboo rod unused?

Although the pond in his portable farm had an endless supply of fish, wasting resources was shameful.

"Fishing rod, bucket—Cao Weiguo, are you going fishing?"

Cao Cao Weiguo was preparing bait when Xu Xu Damao walked over with his hands in his pockets.

"Morning, Brother Xu. It's the weekend and I have nothing to do, so I thought I'd go fishing and see if I can improve my meals."

Cao Cao Weiguo put his folding stool and bait into the bucket, picked up the purple bamboo rod, and prepared to set off.

Xu Xu Damao said enthusiastically, "Cao Weiguo, don't go relying on luck. Your sister-in-law has already gone to buy groceries; let's have a few drinks together at noon."

Cao Cao Weiguo said in surprise, "Brother Xu, you want to treat me to a meal?"

Xu Xu Damao said righteously, "I was showing movies at the commune when you became a regular employee, so I missed celebrating with you. Now that I'm back, I have to make up for it. You call me Brother Xu, so we brothers can't let things slide."

No wonder Xu Xu Damao could make such a success of himself.

He was so good at handling people!

He was so good at talking!

It even made Cao Cao Weiguo feel "touched." This Xu Xu Damao was worth associating with!

Cao Cao Weiguo said happily, "Thanks, Brother Xu. There's still some time before noon, so I'll go to Houhai and look around. If I catch a big fish, we can have an extra side dish for our drinks."

Xu Xu Damao smiled, "Sure. I'll prepare the drinks and food at home. Whether you catch fish or not, you'd better come back early." ===== CHAPTER 21 =====

Xu Xu Damao laughed and said, "Alright, brother will have wine and food ready for you at home. Even if there's no fish, you still need to come back early."

Cao Cao Weiguo set off with his gear, humming a little tune.

He arrived at Houhai in half an hour and found a quiet spot.

"Cao Weiguo, you've come fishing too!"

Cao Cao Weiguo had acquired the competitive fishing technique and skillfully used the suspended fishing method.

The Third Master walked over, looking at Cao Cao Weiguo, who was waiting for a bite, with surprise.

Especially when he saw the purple bamboo fishing rod, the Third Master's eyes went wide.

The Third Master loved fishing and could tell the quality of the purple bamboo rod at a glance.

It was definitely a top-tier rod!

"There's a bite!"

Immediately after, the Third Master shouted excitedly. Cao Cao Weiguo used the strength of his wrist to lift the rod quickly and powerfully.

With a quick and light movement, a large carp was pulled out.

He grabbed the carp directly with his hand and threw it precisely into the bucket.

The Third Master's eyes were full of envy, "That fish must be five or six jin. You've got good luck."

The carp that had been caught weighed at least five or six jin; he hadn't caught such a "big fish" in a long time.

Cao Cao Weiguo smiled, "Just practicing my skills."

After saying that, Cao Cao Weiguo continued fishing, and the bucket was soon filled with fish one after another.

Seeing so many fish, the Third Master was dumbfounded, his heart sour with jealousy.

Several old men nearby were also full of envy—how many days would it take to finish eating so many fish?

The Third Master rubbed his hands with a smile, "Cao Weiguo, you've caught so many fish, could you give one to the Third Master?"

Before Cao Cao Weiguo could speak, the Third Master added, "The Third Master won't take this fish for free. I'll introduce a date to you."

Cao Cao Weiguo said in surprise, "Introduce a date to me?"

The Third Master said with a smile, "That's right. My eldest daughter-in-law's younger sister, Yu Yu Haitang, the broadcaster at your rolling mill."

Cao Cao Weiguo shook his head, "That's the factory flower of the rolling mill; I'm afraid I'm not worthy."

The Third Master said sternly, "You young man, how can you lack confidence? You look good, you're young and capable, and with your sister-in-law Yu Li acting as a go-between, if you put in some effort, you'll definitely be able to win the beauty's heart."

When working at the rolling mill, Cao Cao Weiguo had also seen Yu Yu Haitang—young and beautiful, like a proud white swan.

Thinking about being single, it was time to find a date.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a wife, children, and a warm bed?

Cao Cao Weiguo felt moved and took a fish out of the bucket, "The Third Master is right. Please help me out. If this good thing comes to pass, I will definitely reward you handsomely."

The Third Master took the fish, overjoyed, "The Third Master's work is absolutely reliable. Just get ready to host the wedding banquet."

Cao Cao Weiguo's heart was stirred, and the Third Master was happy to have a big fish.

The two walked back, chatting and laughing.

The Third Master looked at Cao Cao Weiguo carrying the bucket, his eyes rolled, and he said, "Cao Weiguo, give the Master another fish, and I'll use my bicycle to help you carry the fish back."

Cao Cao Weiguo waved his hand and smiled, "No need, this little bit of fish is nothing to me."

The Third Master said, "You're carrying thirty-some jin of fish from Houhai back to the Sihe Academy—aren't you afraid your arms will break from exhaustion?"

Cao Cao Weiguo boasted, "Third Master, you're underestimating me, aren't you? With my physical fitness, carrying this from Houhai to Badaling wouldn't be a problem."

The Third Master curled his lip, "You think you're the Overlord of Western Chu, born with divine strength?"

Cao Cao Weiguo smiled, "Hey, I really would like to arm-wrestle him."

The Third Master rode off on his bicycle in a huff, "You kid, just keep bragging. The Master is going to ride home to stew fish, and you can just walk slowly on your two legs."

Seeing that he couldn't take advantage anymore, the Third Master showed off by riding his bicycle away.

Don't look at it as an old, worn-out bicycle; this was the Third Master's proudest possession.

He was the first person in the whole courtyard to own a bicycle!

So what if the First Master and Second Master earned more?

They didn't have bicycles!

Cao Cao Weiguo pondered, "Should I buy a bicycle too?"

He didn't lack the money to buy a bicycle, but he lacked the ration coupon.

In this era of material scarcity where everything was supplied by coupon, a unit only received a few bicycle coupons a year.

They were usually given to factory leaders or model workers; for ordinary people, they could only sigh in frustration.

Better to wait until work and ask the director to see if he had any connections.

One could buy a bicycle coupon with money at the pigeon market, but there was a risk of being reported and investigated.

The cautious Cao Cao Weiguo didn't want to take risks for a bicycle.

He wasn't someone who hadn't seen the world.

Before he transmigrated, he drove a four-wheeled car.

The Third Master rode his bike back to the Sihe Academy, and the neighbors were envious when they saw the big fish in the basket.

"Third Master, this fish is really big—at least four or five jin, right!"

The Third Master showed off, "I borrowed a scale on the way to weigh it—five jin and two liang!"

The neighbor envied, "Third Master, you've got great skills. When will you teach me?"

The Third Master smiled, "I didn't catch this; Cao Cao Weiguo gave it to me."

"Cao Cao Weiguo gave it to you!"

"He was willing to give such a big fish to you!"

"Is he crazy?"

The neighbors in the front yard shouted in surprise, unwilling to believe the Third Master's words.

Cao Cao Weiguo kept to himself in the Sihe Academy and rarely interacted with the neighbors.

Except for Qin Qin Huairu, who could borrow things from him, no one else could take even a needle or a thread from his hands.

Gradually, the neighbors in the courtyard stopped bothering him to avoid embarrassment.

The Third Master said proudly, "I did a big favor for Cao Weiguo; what's one fish compared to that?"

He pushed his bike home happily, and the Third Aunt was also very happy to see the fish.

"Did Cao Cao Weiguo really give this to you?"

The Third Aunt had heard the Third Master and the neighbors talking in the room, but she was also a bit skeptical.

The Third Master smiled, "Would I lie? Although this Cao Cao Weiguo is stingy, he's a man who knows how to get things done. I just mentioned the matter of introducing a date, and he immediately gave me a fish and guaranteed a big reward if it succeeded."

The Third Aunt said happily, "Hey, this Cao Cao Weiguo is a man of action. We must hurry and have the eldest daughter-in-law bring Yu Yu Haitang over."

About half an hour later, as soon as Cao Cao Weiguo entered the courtyard, the neighbors surrounded him.

"So many fish!"

"It seems the Third Master was telling the truth."

"Cao Weiguo, did you catch all these fish?"

"You're too amazing!"

"Cao Weiguo, you can't finish all these fish. Give me one."

Looking at Cao Cao Weiguo's bucket of fish, the neighbors' eyes turned green.

In this day and age, people couldn't even get enough to eat; eating fish was like celebrating the New Year.

Cao Cao Weiguo said, "Everyone, make way. I have uses for these fish; there are no extras."

Without saying much to these neighbors, Cao Cao Weiguo carried the fish and walked inside with big strides.

"That stingy miser!"

"Forget it, forget it. It's not the first day you've known him."

"What favor did the Third Master do for the stingy miser to get a fish?"

The neighbors who didn't get a fish were full of resentment, but they were helpless and could only swallow their saliva in jealousy.

Cao Cao Weiguo wouldn't give, and they couldn't rob him by force.

There were also clever people wondering what favor the Third Master had done for Cao Cao Weiguo.

If they could help too, could they get benefits just like the Third Master! ===== CHAPTER 22 =====