Chapter 128: After making a three-day appointment with the prince to compete, Chen Taohua harbors

Huh?

Lu Yuan, having come to his senses, glanced at the guy named Gu Lie in front of him.

He thought this guy was really shameless.

Immediately, after taking the fish out of the dip net, threading a grass rope through its gills and hanging it aside, Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and said:

"Why should I teach you?"

Gu Lie hurriedly said:

"Brother, I was wrong earlier; I apologize. Please teach me. I've been here a few days and haven't caught anything."

Gu Lie had actually considered just dragging this person straight to the palace to teach himself.

But thinking about it, that's not what a true man would do!!

Speaking of forcing things, if someone isn't serious about teaching, what do you do about holding back?

Lu Yuan found this Gu Lie rather interesting.

After sitting down, Lu Yuan crossed his legs, wearing the expression of a fishing expert, and said:

"Alright, looking at your clumsy look, I'll teach you, brother."

Gu Lie wasn't annoyed at Lu Yuan calling him clumsy; instead, excited to be taught, he crouched beside him, nodding repeatedly and said:

"Brother, you speak."

Then Lu Yuan calmly said:

"For winter fishing, the first point is to fish the still, not the moving."

In winter, the water temperature is low, so fish seek places with slower currents; therefore you should fish in calm areas with little flow.

The second point is to fish shallow, not deep; in winter, with low water temperature, you must find shallow areas, because when the sun rises, shallow water warms up quickly.

Moreover, shallow areas have more food for fish, they gather many fish there, and casting your line in such places increases your chances of a bite.

Anyway…

Lu Yuan understands the reasoning, but whether it's actually useful is another matter.

After all these days, Lu Yuan has truly never caught such a big fish on his own!!

Seven jin!!

I caught it myself!!

Just thinking about it makes Lu Yuan want to die laughing!

At this moment, Gu Lie gazed at Lu Yuan with a face full of admiration and said:

Winter fishing has so many intricacies!

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and said:

That's right, learn from it!

After Gu Lie earnestly nodded, he took out his various fishing gear from his horse.

Then he also stood beside Lu Yuan, casting his line and preparing bait.

Brother, how is your fist and foot technique so formidable?

After Gu Lie finished and sat down, he suddenly turned his head to look at Lu Yuan and asked curiously:

Although Gu Lie had verbally objected earlier, in his heart he had already conceded.

However, just now for the sake of face, Gu Lie couldn't say it.

But now Gu Lie felt comfortable asking.

Gu Lie was truly astonished; his fist and foot technique was taught by the Imperial Palace!!

He doesn't care much about other things, but when it comes to this martial art, military strategy, and such, he is most devoted and fondest.

His older sister isn't keen on him learning these, fearing he'll get into danger.

But Gu Lie learned them secretly on his own, and he's very dedicated.

Basically, at his age, nobody can beat him.

Of course, maybe it's because the people he used to practice with were secretly letting him win.

Hmm…

That's generally not possible.

Because Gu Lie wouldn't train with just ordinary people.

His own status before wasn't much either.

But only after his older sister became the Human Emperor did he become a prince.

Before that, his lineage with his older sister was actually quite ordinary.

Before, there were many princes of higher status who also trained from childhood in the Imperial Palace, and they wouldn't let him win.

But he still got beaten badly by him.

But when facing Lu Yuan,

Good grief…

Every time he is defeated with a single move.

Before he could even see what was happening, he was grabbed by the head and pressed to the ground, rubbed around.

Gu Lie has never truly submitted to anyone—of course, his older sister doesn't count; his feelings toward her aren't about submission, it's genuine fear.

But now Gu Lie genuinely submits to Lu Yuan.

This gap is just too huge!!

Meanwhile, Lu Yuan, who was fishing with his legs crossed, raised an eyebrow and said:

"What's up, want to learn?"

Gu Lie nodded repeatedly, like pounding garlic, extremely excited, he said:

"Yes, yes."

The next second, Lu Yuan said with a blank face:

"No teaching."

Gu Lie: "????"

Lu Yuan definitely won't teach Gu Lie Taiji Boxing.

When Gu Lie just met him, it was obvious he was a person who likes to show off his strength and bravery.

This is all thanks to my Taiji Boxing and perfect physique.

Otherwise, I'd definitely be lying down now.

Teaching this kind of person martial arts, wouldn't that bring disaster to others?

Of course, besides that, Lu Yuan doesn't have any free time!

I'm not even acquainted with Gu Lie.

Can this be taught?

You're joking!

Absolutely impossible!

At this moment, Lu Yuan looked at the dazed Gu Lie beside him, wondering if, aside from being afraid of his sister, there were any other labels.

However, upon opening the label to look.

Huh??

Good grief, Gu Lie's star rating went from ☆ to ★★☆.

This fast??

After beating this guy up, he directly rose two stars??

Lu Yuan's face was full of question marks.

Meanwhile, Gu Lie gazed at Lu Yuan and blinked, then suddenly pulled something out of his pocket and said:

"I'll give you a good thing, you teach me."

"Huh?"

Lu Yuan didn't even look at Gu Lie and said:

"What?"

"Want to give me money?"

"No amount of money can buy this!"

"This is a great treasure."

"Actually, if Gu Lie had money, I'd really give him money."

"But the problem is..."

"Gu Lie has none."

"Otherwise, Gu Lie really couldn't trade this great treasure."

Otherwise, Gu Lie really couldn't take this big treasure of his to exchange.

"Looking at Gu Lie, he seems like a military household, so he could probably produce something good."

"Suddenly, Lu Yuan became curious and turned his head to look at Gu Lie."

"Then Gu Lie took out a jar from his clothing opening."

"The jar had many holes."

"Lu Yuan is extremely familiar with this jar!!"

"Extremely familiar!!"

"The next second, Gu Lie opened the jar to show Lu Yuan and said:"

"Here, if you teach me martial arts, I'll give you my Ever-Victorious General."

"Indeed, this is a cricket."

"Speaking of which..."

"When Lu Yuan was young, following his grandfather, he really fought crickets every day!!"

"Before Lu Yuan's transmigration, that place really produced crickets."

"Everyone who plays crickets nationwide knows: to get a fierce, big cricket, where should you go?"

"Of course, to the Qi and Lu region!"

"Every year when crickets are sold, people from all over the country who like fighting crickets come to the Qi and Lu region!"

"This thing, Lu Yuan frankly says, he's been playing with it since childhood!!"

"Especially when he was young in the countryside, being taken by his grandparents, he really played every day."

"When summer or winter vacation came, he'd go back and play crickets with the village kids."

"But later, after entering middle school, he didn't play much, because after middle school he liked playing online games."

"Every day he'd dive into internet cafes, not playing crickets much."

"But during New Year and such, when he returns to the village, he still plays a bit."

"However, regarding all things about crickets, Lu Yuan still remembers them clearly!"

"The cricket jar in Gu Lie's hand really has a sense of age!"

"After Gu Lie showed Lu Yuan the cricket jar twice, he quickly covered it and hurriedly put it back into his pocket."

After Gu Lie gave Lu Yuan two glances, he quickly covered the cricket jar and slipped it into his own bosom.

He was afraid that the bitter winter would freeze his precious treasure.

How about it? My cricket's really impressive—sell it on the market and it'll fetch a pretty penny!

Gu Lie said with a proud smile.

That cricket was truly obtained by Gu Lie after great effort; he had no cash, so he traded his own jade pendant for it.

Although Gu Lie didn't know how much that jade pendant was worth.

But it was definitely worth at least eighty thousand.

He exchanged eighty thousand for this single cricket—his cricket is definitely worth money now!

Gu Lie really isn't boasting at all.

His Constant Victory General cricket is something he never lets anyone see normally—it's a treasure.

If it weren't for Gu Lie wanting to learn martial arts from Lu Yuan, seeing that Lu Yuan really has talent, and besides the cricket he had nothing else of value, Gu Lie wouldn't have given it to Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan glanced at Gu Lie twice, then broke into a grin and said:

"I don't want it—your cricket is just a lump of snot."

Gu Lie: "????"

The next second, Gu Lie couldn't hold back.

"You can call me a lump of snot, but you absolutely cannot say my cricket is a lump of snot!!"

Gu Lie jumped up straight away and shouted:

"You're full of shit!!! This is a Constant Victory General!!! It's super strong!!! I paid a huge price for it!!!"

Looking at Gu Lie's murderous expression, Lu Yuan gave a disdainful glance, turned his head, looked at the river, and said:

"How much did you pay for it?"

Gu Lie gritted his teeth and said:

"I don't know the exact amount, but it's no less than eighty thousand!!!"

Eighty thousand??!

That's hilarious.

Lu Yuan lifted his head, glanced at the furious Gu Lie, and said:

"Even if it's worth eighty thousand, it's still just a lump of snot—useless, might as well feed it to the birds."

Gu Lie: "???"

Lu Yuan really isn't putting on an act.

Lu Yuan knows how to fight crickets, naturally he also knows how to judge them and buy them.

When he was young, Lu Yuan often followed his grandfather to the market where crickets were sold.

Gu Lie's cricket is just trash.

Well… calling it trash is a bit harsh; anyway, it's just slightly above average.

It's not even impressive.

In Huangcheng's market stalls, this kind of cricket goes for three for a penny.

Lu Yuan could tell at a glance.

Lu Yuan had even checked it with the system just a moment ago.

★★☆.

A cricket of this level, even if given to Lu Yuan for free, he'd disdain keeping it at home because it takes up space~

Gu Lie is clearly a rich fool, a landlord's naive son who's never seen the world and got taken advantage of.

But that's normal—these military households now have money, after all, back then they fought every day, and those who survived earned merit and rewards.

His three great-uncles are just like that.

At this moment, Gu Lie really couldn't hold back; he wanted to clench his fists and hit someone.

But thinking back to how Lu Yuan had grabbed his head on the ground and shaken it side to side earlier.

Gu Lie: "……"

Finally, Gu Lie gritted his teeth and said:

"Hearing you say that, you sure know crickets, you sure know how to play with them, huh?!"

Lu Yuan didn't even look at Gu Lie, crossed his legs, swaying back and forth as he said:

"Just so-so, third in the country."

Seeing Lu Yuan's smug look, Gu Lie flew into a rage:

"Then tomorrow we'll still be here—you bring your so-called strong cricket, let's have a match, no trash‑talking here!!"

"If you lose, you'll honestly teach me—we're both men, no cheating allowed!!"

Hmm…

That's a bit childish.

But…

Lu Yuan pondered…

He really hasn't had anything to do lately; although he can fish, sometimes when it snows he can't.

Lu Yuan likes fishing, but he's not the type who'd still cast a line even on the Naihe Bridge.

So, finding something else to do is fine.

The Great Zhou Dynasty doesn't offer many pastimes, and there aren't many things to play with.

Lu Yuan really does enjoy cricket fighting.

After all, he's been playing since he was young.

Before this, I hadn't thought of it like that, but after Gu Lie said that, Lu Yuan really got hooked on this urge~

Gu Lie is also someone fun to hang out with; he'd make a decent playmate.

Afterwards, Lu Yuan curiously looked at Gu Lie and said:

"Then, if at that time your so-called Ever-Victorious General can't beat my cricket, how would that work?"

Immediately, Gu Lie gritted his teeth and said:

"When the time comes, I'll do whatever you say; as long as you don't let me die, I'll do anything—kill, set fires, you name it!!"

Lu Yuan: "???"

It's not that serious, not that serious.

Lu Yuan thought it over, then said:

"Fine, then it's set, but tomorrow won't work—my father-in-law is coming from the countryside to the city to see me.

"I'll have to entertain them tomorrow, the day after tomorrow at one in the afternoon we'll meet here, okay?"

Gu Lie, on the other hand, didn't provoke anything.

He didn't say you're not daring, so you're making excuses to delay or anything like that.

Mainly, Gu Lie was thinking……

If I go back today…… that beating with the big board is definitely unavoidable.

Getting beaten when I go back isn't the issue; the key is after the beating, my older sister will definitely have someone watching me.

Even though with my abilities, sneaking out again wouldn't be a problem.

But…… I just got beaten tonight, and tomorrow I'd run out again.

That would make my older sister furious; she might even personally come beat me.

So I'll first put off a day, wait until the day after tomorrow to come, and take it easy!

Immediately, Gu Lie looked at Lu Yuan, nodded, and said:

"Fine, then we're set—day after tomorrow at one in the afternoon, still here.

"We're both men; our words can't be thrown away like empty talk!!"

Lu Yuan then looked at Gu Lie, amused, and said:

"Hurry up and sit down, you talk too much!!"

In the end, Gu Lie honestly sat down and fished with Lu Yuan.

At five in the afternoon, Lu Yuan gathered his things and prepared to head home.

This afternoon he didn't catch any fish at all, just ended up freezing.

Seeing Lu Yuan about to leave, Gu Lie became a bit anxious and said:

"Hey, don't rush off, stay a bit longer to fish!!"

Lu Yuan, while loading stuff onto his horse, raised an eyebrow and said:

"Fishing for a hammer? I've got a home and a livelihood; when I get home I still have to make babies with my wife—you should head home early too."

Gu Lie pursed his lips and didn't reply.

Today's beating is definitely happening.

Whether I go back now or at nine or ten tonight, I'll still get beaten.

Why rush back?

It's just that coming back later means a harder beating.

But I'm thick-skinned and tough, so it's fine~

Finally, after Lu Yuan packed up, he swung onto his horse and said:

"We're off—you should head home early too; winter's not good for fishing, that'll do."

Lu Yuan needs to make up for himself; aside from the first clause, this afternoon he didn't catch any fish.

The persona of the fishing god can't be abandoned.

Gu Lie tilted his head, glanced at Lu Yuan, and said:

"Hey, don't forget the day after tomorrow, hey."

Lu Yuan flicked the reins, not looking back, and said:

"I won't forget!"

On the way home, Lu Yuan went a bit slow, really slow~

As for why it's so slow~

Look quick!!

A seven-catty big fish!!

On the road, Lu Yuan ran into his wife.

At that moment his wife wore a red scarf, her little face was rosy, looking pretty~

"Brother~~ you caught another big fish!!"

Su Liyan asked, her face full of surprise.

Seeing his wife's appearance, Lu Yuan couldn't be more pleased; he immediately lifted his head and said:

"That's~ Brother can support you just by fishing~"

And Su Liyan, with a smiling face, said:

"I want to support you in the future~"

Soon, Lu Yuan and Su Liyan returned to the Siheyuan.

He was thinking about whether to eat at home tonight or out.

Thinking about how busy I was the past week, I don't need to rush now; tonight I'll just eat at home.

Let my wife make the whole braised fish!!

However, just as I entered the siheyuan, I saw Gao Xushi always smiling and bustling about when seeing people, and Chen Taohua is pregnant.

Today she went to the hospital for a check-up.

Hearing this, Lu Yuan didn't have much reaction.

Gao Tingyu and Chen Taohua got married not long after I did.

As soon as they got married they wanted a child, and it's not as troublesome as for Lu Yuan.

So now they're probably about to have the child.

There's nothing to say about it.

But... when Chen Taohua is about to have the child, I can't really show off my big fish.

This is a fish I caught myself, it's a bit of a pity.

And at that moment, Lu Yuan suddenly had his sleeve tugged; Lu Yuan turned around and saw Su Liyan looking at him seriously and said:

"Brother, let's go out for a bowl of noodles, then go back home."

Su Liyan isn't usually one to pinch pennies; even though Lu Yuan has earned a lot of money these days, she has never said she wants to go out to eat.

But today is the first time Su Liyan has said she wants to eat out.

As for why...

What else could it be? Surely she's missing her son!

But... there's no need to be so anxious...

Hey!

No... wife, don't pull me, let me go home first to put the fish away!

Thanks to Brother Zhuo for the 1666 book coin reward, thank you very much~~

Thanks to Brother from the Rouqing group for the 100 book coin reward, thank you very much~~

See you in the daytime, I'm off~

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(End of chapter)