Chapter 243: Three Widows Night Fishing

On the way back, the ground glowed with a soft white light.

Making this night not so dark.

As for what the mother-in-law said, Yang Qing actually didn't care too much.

Because adult emotions are too complicated, not something a single fish can change.

That requires common benefit, common faith, and common cognition (i. e., worldview) to merge.

He has always been unique in others' eyes; this uniqueness can lift you to heaven or trample you into the dirt.

Not being recognized as one's own kind is his biggest problem at present.

You can say it's a class notion, or say you're different; anyway, you differ from the masses.

And in this era, being different means big trouble.

He went fishing mainly because he didn't want his wife and mother-in-law to worry.

He also harbored a hopeful mindset, wondering if he could truly blend into the crowd.

Returning home, Chen Feng had already been waiting for a while.

Yang Qing shouldered his gear, went to the backyard, and Liang Ladi also came out carrying a bundle.

Upon reaching the front hall, Qin Huairu seamlessly joined the group.

As they passed the front yard, Gu Ning had already been waiting for a while.

The group remained silent, making little noise.

Chen Feng was excited, this being the excitement of facing a harvest.

The others remained very silent.

Because Yang Qing had again become mixed up with the three widows.

They tried not to make noise, so as to have as little contact with people as possible, to avoid gossip.

Along the way, aside from the creak of feet on snow, there wasn't much other sound.

Chen Feng even felt the oppressive atmosphere.

Unconsciously, he also closed his mouth.

Returning to Shichahai, occasional lights flickered on the lake surface, indicating that others like them had come to fish.

Yang Qing did not go to the spot he used during the day.

It was too close to the road, and there were many anglers there.

They kept walking deep into the park, to a place with swaying reeds, and stepped into the lake.

Yang Qing had selected fishing spots for the several people.

He also personally taught them how to pile snow walls, heat-reflecting walls.

After making a snow den, he helped them gather some reeds, cut them with a knife, and set them alight.

"Alright, this is about ready; although it looks rough, it's definitely warmer than elsewhere."

"You three help each other build the snow dens; I'll leave the bait for you."

"Chen Feng and I will go get busy."

"If it's really too cold, come over and drink some hot water."

After arranging that, Yang Qing and Chen Feng went to their own fishing spots.

The usual setup—rain tarp, grass mat tent—except inside there was an extra small iron stove.

Plus a chimney extending outward.

Chen Feng watched Yang Qing gradually assemble his professional ice-fishing gear, almost astonished to the point of being stunned.

"Brother-in-law, you're way too professional."

Chen Feng's thumb almost pointed to the sky.

The brother-in-law then gave him another big surprise.

"Alright, light the fire, start fishing."

"We'll take turns; I'll rest two hours, you rest two hours."

"If any of them come over, you let them sit there for a bit."

Chen Feng had already learned the fishing method; Yang Qing wasn't too worried.

So after arranging that, he lay down by the stove, wrapped himself in a coat, and closed his eyes.

Chen Feng glanced at Yang Qing, then at the ice hole before him—this fishing was nothing like he'd imagined.

"Brother-in-law sleeps while I fish?"

"Have I been tricked by my brother-in-law?"

Although he complained inwardly, he quickly entered the state.

Night fishing has one advantage: it's quiet, and the fish are much less wary.

Light, bait, and oxygen can attract many fish.

Chen Feng began happily harvesting.

One fish, two fish…

Supposedly two hours, Chen Feng fished straight for four hours before he started to feel sleepy.

Just as enthusiastic as Chen Feng were the three widows.

They had never caught fish so easily before; they had already caught over twenty.

Although fish prices have dropped a lot now, selling them for forty or fifty cents each is still possible.

In other words, that night they could earn about twenty yuan.

This is practically raking in money.

However, long hours of focused fishing still left them exhausted.

Their bodies were almost frozen stiff.

They had to put down their fishing rods, then stand up and move around.

By the way, let's go see what others have caught.

Liang Ladi couldn't take it anymore and came over to Qin Huairu.

Looking at the pile of fish on the ice, Liang Ladi exclaimed.

"So many?"

Qin Huairu saw Liang Ladi coming over, she also stood up, but almost fell.

They had been squatting for too long, their legs went numb. Liang Ladi supported her.

"Stomp your feet, stomp your feet, that way the numbness goes away quickly."

Qin Huairu obediently stomped her feet; the tingling numbness began to fade quickly.

She stomped her feet while asking.

"How's your fishing?"

Liang Ladi glanced at Qin Huairu's fish and made a gesture.

"About the same."

"We've struck it rich."

Qin Huairu grabbed her hand, and Liang Ladi also jumped up.

"Yeah, we really struck it rich today."

"I never expected we could catch so many fish."

"Let's go check on Gu Ning; she must have caught quite a few too."

Qin Huairu did a bit of Household Chores on the fish rod, then followed Liang Ladi to Gu Ning's place.

Gu Ning was still excitedly fishing, although her face had turned black‑purple from the cold, her scarf was covered in frost, a white sheet, yet she felt nothing.

Gu Ning's catch was about half again as much as Qin Huairu's and Liang Ladi's.

That's the difference between a skilled hand and a novice.

"Wow, Gu Ning, you caught that many?"

Gu Ning looked up upon hearing that and saw Qin Huairu and Liang Ladi.

"How are you guys?"

"It shouldn't be too bad, Yang Qing's technique is really impressive."

This wasn't the first time she'd benefited by following Yang Qing.

Qin Huairu and Liang Ladi's originally excited hearts gradually calmed after seeing Gu Ning's catch.

"Ah, we can't compare to you; we only have about half of what you have."

Gu Ning gave her a sideways glance.

"I make a living from this, unlike you who have jobs; if your skills aren't good, you'll go hungry."

"Nothing to envy."

Gu Ning tidied up a bit, then stood up; she wasn't as flustered as Qin Huairu and now feels okay.

She has much more experience doing this.

She casually added some reeds to the fire, and the three women gathered together.

"Let's go check on Yang Qing; those two carried such a big bundle, they must be well prepared, let's go learn from them."

"Come on, come on, come on..."

The three women lined up, hopping along, and arrived in front of Yang Qing's tent.

Seeing Yang Qing's tent, the three women were dumbfounded.

"They actually brought a whole house with them."

Because the tent door was closed, they didn't know how to get in, so they could only shout from outside.

"Yang Qing, Yang Qing, we've come to take a look."