Chapter 95 - 96: Get Me a Membership First

Chapter 95: Chapter 96: Get Me a Membership First

"You heading out already, Brother Xu?"

Chen Yuan was a little surprised.

"Already landed the Fish King — what’s the point of messing around with Little Kalami after that? It’s not like I can stock up on fish from you either."

Xu Bai lit the cigarette dangling from his lips and shrugged helplessly.

He’d come specifically for the Fish King, and now that he’d ticked that box, there was nothing left to fish for — unless the pond owner was someone he didn’t know well, in which case he could at least go wild buying fish to take home.

That thought made Chen Yuan realize something.

The Fish King had been a brilliant hook — it was safe to say it was the single biggest reason Chen Yuan Fishing Ground had grown to its current scale. Everything else was just icing on the cake.

Over seven hundred people in the fishing ground’s group chat, and nearly every one of them had joined because of the Fish King.

But once they’d conquered it — once that lifelong goal of landing a monster catch was finally fulfilled — would anglers really stay as fired up about Chen Yuan Fishing Ground as before?

The answer was obvious.

From the God of Wealth to Mr. Qin, and now Xu Bai — landing the Fish King was like completing a quest. Interest dropped off sharply afterward, and they probably wouldn’t be back anytime soon.

It was like students after the college entrance exam — who the hell still cracks open a textbook once that’s over?~

Sure, he had the remote, controlling how often the Fish King bit each day — one catch per session at most, meaning only two anglers could land it on any given day.

With over seven hundred people in the group, even if he didn’t add a single new member, that pace could keep the place packed for well over half a year, and repeat customers were a given down the line.

Keeping the business alive wasn’t the problem.

But growing it — that was a different story.

"Brother Xu, what would it take to keep you coming back?"

Chen Yuan leaned in and asked.

Xu Bai had assumed Chen Yuan just wanted him to hang around and fish a bit longer, but seeing the serious look on his face, it only took a moment to catch on.

"You mean for the fishing ground?"

"Yeah. I’ve noticed that once someone lands the Fish King, there’s this deep sense of satisfaction — like they’ve accomplished something. But once all that excitement and anticipation turns into that feeling of completion, are they really going to come rushing back to Chen Yuan Fishing Ground?"

Chen Yuan asked genuinely, wanting to learn.

Know yourself, know your customer — talking to anglers and understanding how they think was the only way to plan smarter and make decisions that actually hit the mark.

"That’s just how it goes, man."

Xu Bai took a drag and smiled,

"No business stays white-hot forever. Steady and sustainable is the norm. As long as you throw in the occasional deal or promotion to stir things up, you’re already doing better than most."

He took two more quick drags, then ground the cigarette butt under his shoe and tossed it aside before continuing,

"Take your pond, for example — the Fish King was absolutely your big bang moment, and it was the key to your early growth. The results speak for themselves."

Chen Yuan nodded slowly as he listened.

Chen Yuan Fishing Ground had only been open for a few days, and already the group chat had over seven hundred members, with two fully booked sessions every day and spots being scrambled for the moment reservations opened.

In the fishing ground business, that was nothing short of a phenomenon.

"Every angler dreams of landing a monster fish. You were smart enough to tap into that, and it put Chen Yuan Fishing Ground on the map overnight. But as more and more people tick off the Fish King, that initial frenzy is going to cool down — it’s inevitable."

Xu Bai twisted open a Coke and took a long, gulping swig.

"The hype fading is normal. But as long as the Fish King is still there, you keep the catch-and-return rewards worthwhile, maintain the service quality, and stay true to what made this place special — you’ll be just fine long-term. Plenty of anglers will still come back."

Xu Bai gave Chen Yuan a pat on the shoulder.

As long as Boss Chen held onto that original spirit, he was confident Chen Yuan Fishing Ground would do well — it might even become one of the top names in Chong City’s fishing scene.

"But what if I want it to stay absolutely packed?"

Chen Yuan understood what Xu Bai meant. Back when he’d first returned to the village, maybe that would’ve been enough. But things were different now — he wasn’t looking to just hold steady. He wanted to grow.

"Then you’d need to keep sourcing bigger and bigger fish."

Xu Bai smiled and said, "Doesn’t matter what species — once people start losing interest in the Fish King, drop something even bigger in the water, and you’ll instantly reignite that urge to conquer. Staying this hot wouldn’t be a problem."

Every angler wants to land a giant.

A true monster — that’s the target every angler dreams of conquering.

It comes down to records, and the honor that comes with them.

Land a ten-pound fish today, and tomorrow you want to break that record. Land the hundred-pound Fish King today, and naturally you start eyeing something even bigger — a new record to chase.

As for anything under a hundred pounds, whether it’s eighty or just seven or eight — in the mind of someone who’s already landed a hundred-pounder, there’s really not much difference anymore.

It’s like being an athlete. Records are the ultimate glory. Who wouldn’t want to leave their mark on the board?

"Problem is, freshwater fish over a hundred pounds are nearly impossible to come by. Across all of Chong City Fishing Ground, yours is the only place with a hundred-pound Fish King."

Xu Bai shook his head with a rueful look, then glanced over at the small pond,

"And honestly, your pond’s too small. If it were that big one across the way — stock a Fish King in there, throw in some fifty-to-hundred-pounders, make the catch-and-return rewards a little more tempting — I’d be here every single day."

Chen Yuan’s eyes lit up instantly.

Looked like he’d just found the direction for the Old Pond.

He was about to pull Xu Bai aside for a proper discussion when Chen Dequan and Liu Fang came rolling up on a three-wheeled cart.

"Give me a sec, Brother Xu."

Chen Yuan called out, helped deliver the lunchboxes and side dishes, then waved Xu Bai over to hop on. He gunned the throttle and they were back home in no time.

"Have a drink with me, Brother Xu."

Chen Yuan brought Xu Bai into the main room, flicked on the fan, then disappeared and came back with a good bottle of liquor.

"Boss Chen, you’re going all out — cracking open the hard stuff at noon? How are we supposed to do anything this afternoon? A couple of beers would’ve been plenty."

That’s what he said, but the moment Xu Bai laid eyes on the bottle in Chen Yuan’s hand, they brightened noticeably. It was clearly the good stuff — he was probably just worried about Chen Yuan spending too much on him.

"Skip the afternoon plans, Brother Xu. I’ve got some things I’d like to pick your brain about — fishing ground stuff. Hope you don’t mind."

Chen Yuan grabbed the glasses and started pouring as he spoke, filling Xu Bai’s cup right to the brim.

"I’m just a guy who fishes. What do I know about running a place like this?"

Xu Bai laughed and shook his head — then it suddenly clicked. He stared at Chen Yuan with wide eyes. "Don’t tell me you’re going after that big pond across the way?"

"The big pond’s still out of reach — but the Old Pond? Now that’s worth thinking about~"

Chen Yuan glanced at the doorway, made sure no one was around, and lowered his voice with a sly grin.

Holy shit~

Xu Bai let out a sharp gasp.

No wonder Boss Chen had pulled him in for drinks and questions — he was actually planning to open a second location, and it was the Old Pond everyone in the village talked about.

He’d been there before.

Ten Mu Pond. A massive stretch of open water. Knowing the kind of vision Boss Chen had, if he really went for it, there was a good chance it could blow past everything else in Chong City’s fishing scene and become the benchmark everyone else measured themselves against.

Simple reason — if Boss Chen could get his hands on a Fish King, who’s to say he couldn’t source other big fish too?~

Fighting a monster fish across Ten Mu Pond? That was a completely different experience from what any small pond could offer.

And if he went with what Xu Bai had just suggested — on top of Fish King-tier monsters, throw in some fish weighing dozens of pounds, set different catch-and-return rewards for different sizes — that would be an absolutely irresistible draw, even for Xu Bai himself.

With a pond like that, why the hell would anyone still be out there traveling all over the country, baking in the sun and wind, when they could just have a decent supplier and stay put?~

"Boss Chen, first tell me — can you actually get your hands on something over a hundred pounds?"

Xu Bai was buzzing with excitement, practically more worked up than Chen Yuan himself.

When Chen Yuan smiled and nodded, Xu Bai nearly leapt out of his chair.

"Membership — set up a membership program! Sign me up first, Boss Chen!~"

Xu Bai threw his arms around, eyes wide and practically vibrating with excitement.

Ten mu of open water. A monster over a hundred pounds. Just thinking about it was enough to get the blood pumping — and knowing Boss Chen, the catch-and-return rewards sure as hell wouldn’t be stingy.

He’d be a regular. Absolutely a regular.

No matter what, he was getting a membership today.

"The membership program isn’t set up yet, but I promise — the moment it launches, you’ll be the first one I tell~"

Chen Yuan finished pouring the glasses just as Tang Ying and the others came in carrying the food.

With the Old Pond closed, there were no anglers dropping by for lunch today, so they could actually sit down and eat properly in the main room.

His dad and the others could tell Chen Yuan and Xu Bai had business to talk about, so after a quick drink and a meal, they cleared the table and made themselves scarce.

Chen Yuan and Xu Bai talked for a long time — covering the layout for the Old Pond, what to do with the small pond once the Old Pond opened, and even getting into membership plans and a few other topics.

By the time they wrapped up, it was well past two in the afternoon.

"You good, Brother Xu?"

Chen Yuan held out a cigarette and asked with a grin.

"Three cups of liquor? Not even close to a buzz."

Xu Bai was in fine shape — not the slightest bit drunk, and he wasn’t driving anyway, so it was no issue at all.

"I’ll see you off~"

Knowing Xu Bai still had plans to meet up with Wang Heng, Chen Yuan didn’t push him to stay. He grabbed his keys, hopped on the three-wheeler, and gave Xu Bai a ride to the bus stop.