Chapter 89 - 90: I Don’t Smoke, You Won’t Take the Bait

Chapter 89: Chapter 90: I Don’t Smoke, You Won’t Take the Bait

Back at the pond, Chen Yuan sent Chen Jun on his way, then settled down under the shade umbrella on the small slope.

"Getting this side sorted out first has its perks. At least there’ll be somewhere to rest during times like this, and Chen Dequan and his wife can take turns resting when they’re on night-watch duty."

Since Chen Wenbin was worried enough to push him about it, Chen Yuan figured he had no choice but to throw everything into developing the slope area first. Not that it was a bad thing — at the very least, they’d finally have a proper place to take a break.

"Click~"

He pulled out a cigarette and lit it, eyes drifting lazily across the pond.

A nearby angler caught the sound of the lighter and felt his own nicotine craving kick in. He reached into his pocket.

"Fished all damn day and haven’t caught a thing. Screw it, smoke break~"

The angler muttered as he dug out his pack, stuck a cigarette between his lips, hunched over, and cupped one hand around the lighter while his thumb worked the flint.

"Fish on! Fish on~"

"Quick, quick — rod’s running~"

At the exact moment the lighter clicked, urgent shouts rang out from the anglers on either side of him.

"Oh shit~"

He snapped his head up. His rod was slowly being dragged toward the water. He lurched forward, scrambling to grab it.

Too late.

"Are you kidding me — I don’t light up and you won’t bite, but the second I spark a cigarette you take off with my rod? Sneaky little bastard~"

He fumbled frantically but couldn’t get a grip on the rod. Without missing a beat, he launched himself off the bank in a flying leap and plunged straight into the pond — rod and fish be damned, he wanted both~

"What the hell~"

Chen Yuan shot to his feet up on the slope.

He’d just established the no-jumping rule, and it hadn’t even been two days — and here was someone diving into the water right in front of him. What was this, a complete disregard for the rules? Did these people think his words meant nothing?

The surrounding anglers erupted in a chorus of curses too.

One guy jumps in, and everyone nearby can kiss their session goodbye. Even if there’d been fish holding in their spots, this clown would’ve spooked every single one of them.

The anglers around him grumbled as they reeled in their lines, half afraid of snagging the guy in the water. We came here to fish, not to fish some idiot out of the pond.

Besides, the dude was built like a brick outhouse. Definitely not a mermaid~

"Heh, think you can get away from me? Where do you think you’re going~"

Fortunately, it wasn’t the Fish King he’d hooked. The angler caught up to his rod, snatched it, and started paddling toward the bank — all while keeping the rod high and the fish on the line. The moment he dragged himself ashore, the first thing he did was haul in his catch.

"Thought you could pull a sneak attack on me, huh? Think you can mess with me? Tonight you’re getting steamed~"

He grabbed the bream and gave it a couple of slaps, a fierce look plastered across his face — before a grin of pure, smug satisfaction spread over it. He tossed the bream into his keep net.

"Have you read the group announcement? Are you aware that jumping into the water is strictly prohibited at Chen Yuan Fishing Ground?"

Chen Yuan came down from the slope, his expression unusually serious.

"Look, I’m really sorry, Boss Chen. That’s the first fish I’ve caught all day — I got a little carried away and completely forgot the rules. I swear it won’t happen again~"

The angler looked genuinely sheepish. This one was on him, no question.

Chen Yuan Fishing Ground had a clear no-jumping rule. But the rush of finally breaking a skunked day, combined with the sheer nerve of that bream hitting while he was lighting up and dragging his rod off — in that moment, the rule had completely slipped his mind.

"Ah, so he’s been skunked all day~"

The anglers who’d reeled in their lines in frustration softened up. Suddenly it all made sense.

Every angler has had their rod taken for a ride — sometimes you zone out, sometimes a fish strikes when you’re in the middle of something, sometimes it happens right when you’re lighting a smoke.

No angler in their right mind would let a fish go in that situation. Let alone someone who’d been getting skunked the whole day.

Chen Yuan was at a loss for words.

First there was Heavy Chummer getting skunked on the regular, and now today another guy going fishless all day. What was going on — were the fish at Chen Yuan Fishing Ground really that hard to catch?

"Understandable as it may be, rules are rules, and there have to be consequences. Since it’s your first offence and you’ve taken it well, I’m issuing you a formal warning. Three warnings and you’re banned from the grounds."

Chen Yuan laid down the ruling.

Far from complaining, the angler let out a visible sigh of relief and thanked him repeatedly.

At any other fishing ground, who the hell would stand there and take a punishment? Don’t want me here? There are plenty of other places that will.

But Chen Yuan Fishing Ground was genuinely something else — the service, the facilities, and most importantly, the Fish King lurking somewhere in that water. What angler could resist that kind of temptation?

Good thing, good thing. No red card. Just a yellow.

"I don’t want to sound like I’m nagging, everyone, but safety at the pond is serious. Getting dragged in accidentally by the Fish King — that’s one thing. But jumping in on purpose is absolutely not allowed."

Chen Yuan swept his gaze across the whole pond as he said it.

He paused for a moment, then made a decision.

"To make sure today’s situation doesn’t repeat itself, Chen Yuan Fishing Ground is introducing a new perk effective immediately: any angler who gets skunked will have their session fee waived — until they catch a fish."

He’d said as much to Heavy Chummer before. Now he was making it official for everyone.

The words landed, and for a second the crowd was stunned — then the entire pond erupted.

"Holy shit, Boss Chen is something else — skunk out, fish for free~"

"That’s seriously generous. Honestly? That’s just straight-up class~"

"Keep this up and Chen Yuan Fishing Ground is going to become a paradise for beginners~"

What beginners love most is a high-stocking pond like this — getting that rush of actually landing a fish, feeling the thrill, getting hooked on the hobby.

Simple as that: beginners need to catch fish.

You go fishing and catch nothing — who’s going to stick around and call themselves an angler?

This perk at Chen Yuan Fishing Ground was basically throwing open the front door of fishing culture to every newcomer out there.

"Paradise for beginners? More like a holy site for the whole angling world~"

One angler raised the bar even higher — though at this point, it was mostly said in good humor.

Chen Yuan just smiled. Truth was, this perk had always been the plan. Chen Yuan Fishing Ground didn’t tolerate skunked sessions — he had the remote, after all. Was he really going to let anyone go home empty-handed?

Free sessions? Not a chance. Not that any angler would ever get the opportunity anyway.

"Want to come back to my place for a shower?"

Chen Yuan glanced over at the guy who’d jumped in.

"Nah, I’m good. That dip actually cooled me right off. Clothes’ll dry out in the sun~"

The angler grinned, stripped off his shirt and wrung it out a couple of times, then rolled his summer shorts up as high as they’d go — practically trying to turn them into a waistband.

Chen Yuan didn’t say anything. He wandered around taking a look at everyone’s keep nets — seemed like they’d all got something.

"Boss Chen’s doing his inspection — anyone still empty better chuck a fish in real quick, might still get that free session~"

The anglers cracked up as Chen Yuan went down the line checking nets.

Just joking around, of course — the guys here had more integrity than that. Besides, there were cameras everywhere. No secrets under surveillance.

After his rounds, Chen Yuan settled back under the slope. He checked the time — nearly half past two. Time to start getting ready for the shift change.

Chen Dequan and his wife were the first to arrive, pedaling over on their three-wheelers. They looked well-rested — probably caught a nap after lunch.

"Uncle Chen, Aunt Liu — I just announced a new perk: anyone who gets skunked fishes for free. So when you’re running the night sessions, keep an eye out for anyone going fishless."

Chen Yuan pulled out a cigarette and offered one to Chen Dequan.

"Got it, boss."

Chen Dequan nodded.

He’d picked up enough hanging around the pond. He knew exactly what "skunked" meant.

Not long after, Chen Jun and Chen Kingdom arrived, along with Tang Ying and Lin Cuiju.

Chen Yuan passed cigarettes to his dad and his uncle. Four chimneys going at once — quite the sight.

Time slipped by fast. By the time they’d finished their smokes and chatted for a bit, it was nearly three o’clock. The anglers started reeling in one by one, tidying their gear and laying their rods neatly at their spots.

"Time to wrap up."

Chen Yuan didn’t rush anyone. He waited until after three before going around collecting catches, gathering equipment, and seeing the anglers off.

Everyone knew the drill by now. The shift changeover was a bit of a workout, but nothing complicated.

"Boss Chen, we’re heading in, yeah?"

The moment the last daytime angler was seen off, the waiting crowd was already itching to make a dash for the pond.

"Go ahead, fish away~"

Chen Yuan wasn’t going to make them wait any longer. They’d been standing around long enough — spots were open, so why not just go?

He even waved the anglers onto the three-wheelers. A few trips and everyone was ferried over.

The night-session customers trickled in soon after. The whole routine was second nature by now, and they had it all sorted in no time.

"Uncle Chen, the pond’s all yours."

With the changeover done, Chen Yuan handed things over to Chen Dequan and his wife, then headed back himself.

He went upstairs, flipped on the air conditioning, grabbed a change of clothes, and headed straight for the shower. He washed up properly, scrubbed out the clothes he’d been wearing, then flopped onto the bed.

"Ahh~"

He lay there scrolling through his phone for a bit — nothing urgent to deal with. Come five o’clock he’d open reservations, sort out the two sessions, then set an alarm and squeeze in some sleep.

Early mornings, then the whole Fish King haul and shift changeover at night — better grab some rest while he could~