Chapter 20

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

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

"Weiguo, you've come fishing too!"

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

Yi Fugui walked over, looking at Cao Weiguo, who was waiting for a bite, with surprise.

Especially when he saw the purple bamboo fishing rod, Yi Fugui's eyes went straight.

Yi Fugui 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 fish on the hook!"

Immediately after, Yi Fugui shouted excitedly, and Cao Weiguo used the strength of his wrist to lift the rod quickly and forcefully.

The movement was fast and light, and a large carp was pulled out.

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

Yi Fugui's eyes were full of envy: "That fish must be five or six jin; your luck is pretty good."

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

Cao Weiguo smiled: "Just practicing my hand."

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

Seeing so many fish, Yi Fugui 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?

Yi Fugui rubbed his hands with a smile: "Weiguo, you've caught so many fish, could you give one to Yi Fugui?"

Before Cao Weiguo could speak, Yi Fugui added: "Yi Fugui won't take this fish for free; I'll introduce a match for you."

Cao Weiguo said in surprise: "Introduce a match for me?"

Yi Fugui said with a smile: "That's right, my eldest daughter-in-law's younger sister, Yu Haitang, the announcer at your Rolling Steel Factory."

Cao Weiguo shook his head: "That's the factory flower of the Rolling Steel Factory; I'm afraid I'm not worthy of her."

Yi Fugui said solemnly: "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 Steel Factory, Cao Weiguo had also seen Yu Haitang—young and beautiful, like a proud white swan.

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

Wouldn't a wife, children, and a warm bed be wonderful!

Cao Weiguo was moved and took a fish out of the bucket: "Yi Fugui is right. Please help me out. If this good thing works out, I will definitely have a generous reward."

Yi Fugui took the fish, his heart blooming with joy: "Yi Fugui's work is absolutely reliable. Just prepare for the wedding banquet."

Cao Weiguo's heart was stirred, and Yi Fugui was happy to have a big fish.

The two walked back chatting and laughing.

Yi Fugui looked at Cao Weiguo carrying the bucket and, with a roll of his eyes, said: "Weiguo, give me another fish, and I'll use my bicycle to help you carry the fish back."

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

Yi Fugui said: "You're carrying thirty-some jin of fish from Houhai back to the Courtyard—aren't you afraid your arms will get tired and break?"

Cao Weiguo boasted: "Yi Fugui is underestimating me, aren't you? With my physical fitness, even carrying it from Houhai to Badaling would be no problem."

Yi Fugui curled his lip: "You think you're the Overlord of Western Chu, born with divine strength?"

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

Yi Fugui got on his bicycle with annoyance: "You kid, just keep bragging. I'm going to ride home to stew fish, and you can just rely on your two legs to walk slowly."

Seeing that he couldn't take advantage anymore, Yi Fugui rode off on his bicycle, showing off.

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

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

So what if Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong earn more?

They don't have bicycles!

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 scarcity where everything is supplied by ration coupons, a unit only gets a few bicycle coupons a year.

They are usually distributed to factory leaders or model workers; for ordinary people, they can only look and sigh.

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

You can buy bicycle coupons with money at the pigeon market, but there's a risk of being reported and investigated.

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

It's not like he hasn't seen the world.

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

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

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

Yi Fugui showed off: "I borrowed a scale on the road to weigh it—five jin and two liang!"

The neighbor said enviously: "Yi Fugui has good skills. When will you teach me?"

Yi Fugui smiled: "I didn't catch this; Cao Weiguo gave it to me."

"Cao Weiguo gave it to you!"

"He's willing to give such a big fish to you!"

"Is he crazy!"

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

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

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

Slowly, the neighbors in the courtyard stopped bothering him to avoid being snubbed.

Yi Fugui said proudly: "I did a big favor for Weiguo; what's one fish?"

Happily pushing his bike back home, Yi Dama was also very happy to see the fish.

"Did Cao Weiguo really give this?"

Yi Dama had heard Yi Fugui and the neighbors talking in the room, but she was somewhat skeptical.

Yi Fugui smiled: "Would I lie to anyone? Although this Cao Weiguo is stingy, he is a man who knows how to get things done. I just mentioned introducing a match to him, and he immediately gave me a fish and guaranteed a generous reward if it succeeded."

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

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

"So many fish!"

"It seems Yi Fugui was telling the truth."

"Weiguo, did you catch all these fish!"

"You're too amazing!"

"Weiguo, you can't finish eating so many fish; give me one."

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

In this day and age, people aren't even full, so eating fish is like the New Year.

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

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

"That stingy person!"

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

"What favor did Yi Fugui do for the stingy person to get a fish?"

The neighbors who didn't get a fish were filled with dissatisfaction, but they were helpless and could only swallow their saliva in jealousy.

Since Cao Weiguo wouldn't give, they couldn't snatch them by force.

There were also clever people wondering what favor Yi Fugui had done for Cao Weiguo.

If they could help too, could they get benefits just like Yi Fugui! ===== CHAPTER 22 =====