Chapter 2263 - 2263

Upon arriving in Shunping County, the shared bicycle barely had any power left and couldn't be ridden.

Liu Zhizhong scanned for another shared bicycle and continued riding, heading out of the county town.

This ride was headed towards the north of the city.

He rode for about 15 kilometers, noticing that there was still enough power to return to the city.

The place he arrived at was the very spot where he and the old director of the orphanage used to love fishing for large crucian carp.

This place was quite remote, and not just anyone could find it.

Since the vehicle had to be parked by the roadside, you had to walk another five or six kilometers of small paths to reach the riverbank.

Nowadays, fishing spots everywhere are devoid of resources. Where access is easier and cars can reach the water's edge directly, they are basically vacant military bases.

It's not just the number of fishers that's the issue—although that's a factor—the main reason is that convenient transportation also makes it easy for netters, electricians, and poachers!

One day you might have a good catch at this spot, but the next day it's gone, no fish to be caught. It's often that the netters or electricians have already visited the night before.

To be honest, in many rural villages where there are rivers, there are almost always netters and electricians. Especially in the more remote areas, it's like this; law enforcement can't manage it, and a trip out there wouldn't even cover the fuel costs.

Some netters and electricians even have connections with the law enforcement system, reporting them as good as not reporting them.

Sometimes, even the leaders want to eat some wild fish from the river. Where do they buy them? They don't have to buy them, someone sends them over, specifically delivers them.

Where do these fish come from? Isn't it the netters and electricians who get them from the river?

In some places, national documents designate areas as water source protection sites or fishing prohibition environmental protection zones, but in reality, it just means you can't fish there.

Locals have no issue, they can fish.

Locals can also set nets and fish with electricity.

Why protect it at all? Heh, actually, the leaders like to eat fish from the protection zones too, heh...

This world is still a giant makeshift troupe, it's not about what the common people like, but what the leaders prefer!

The place Liu Zhizhong wanted to go for fishing large crucian carps was indeed a local water source protection river, extremely remote, with stepped dams upstream and downstream.

Because of the protection, some fishing men dare not fish there. Nowadays, drone surveillance is ongoing, and if caught, your gear could be confiscated, and fines imposed! Multiple offenses could even lead to detention, not worth it, right?

But when Liu Zhizhong goes fishing, it's a different story, since he's considered half a local.

Because the old director of the orphanage's hometown was that very village.

Though there aren't many people left in the village now, Liu Zhizhong is still quite well-known there.

After all, he used to return to fish with the old director, everyone knew him, recognized his hardships, and later knew he got into a prestigious university!

Of course, the old spot Liu Zhizhong chose for fishing was a big bend of the river, surrounded by particularly lush trees—no drone from the Environmental Protection Bureau or Agricultural Affairs Bureau or Fisheries Administration could spot it from above.

By the time Liu Zhizhong reached the fishing spot, he had passed through the village settlement area.

At that time, he realized with some sadness that, with the changes of the times, the village was empty, with households all having tightly shut doors.

Only two elderly people remained on the edge of the village, who still recognized Liu Zhizhong. They were quite happy to see him, inviting him to have dinner at their home.

Liu Zhizhong thanked them, saying he needed to return to the city after fishing as it would be dark.

The elders asked what work he was doing now after graduating from university. He could only say he was currently resting and would start working soon.

After that, Liu Zhizhong finally reached the fishing spot, feeling somewhat sentimental once again.

The fishing spot was still the same, but the old director was gone, and he had been in a vegetative state for over two years, so the old fishing spot had grown over with grass.

Evidently, it had been a long, long time since anyone came to fish there.

What does such an overgrown and unused fishing spot mean to a fishing man?

Naturally, it means a fishing frenzy, naturally, it's a guaranteed catch!

How many anglers in the world can encounter such a fairy-tale fishing spot?

It was early autumn, and although the weather was still somewhat hot, this fishing spot barely saw any sunshine from dawn till dusk. It was really very refreshing.

Moreover, the water was about three meters deep, suitable for fishing all year round. The old director had said that this place used to be stepping stones for villagers crossing the river, with three large stone piers submerged at least two meters underwater due to a dam built later. The road crossing the river had also been rerouted.

Three large stones create perfect barriers and structure for holding fish. Real enthusiasts of wild fishing know this.

Liu Zhizhong set up his cheap little stool at the spot and didn't even need to bait the swim.

He adjusted the float, drawing on memory, using a 2.5-gram float with lead weights, extending two and a half rod lengths, and accurately found the bottom.

Subsequently, Liu Zhizhong started feeding the fish by throwing bait repeatedly.

The float set, he immediately lifted the rod—this is called feeding!

The bait on the hook naturally scattered across the bottom, forming a baited area.

After ten casts, the feed that went down was in large clumps, forming quite an extensive baited area.

Then Liu Zhizhong directly baited, cast the rod, and began the fishing process.

In less than a minute, suddenly, without any sign, a big bite came.

Liu Zhizhong lifted the rod at the right moment, the line whistled, and the rod bent into a big bow.

The feel was incredibly comfortable and stimulating!

Liu Zhizhong knew a large crucian carp had bitten, and this opening fish was not small.

Enjoying the thrill of playing the fish, in less than a minute, a nearly two-pound large crucian carp was ashore.

Its broad belly and golden skin were simply top-tier wild crucian carp!

Liu Zhizhong was quite thrilled; with one big one, there had to be another. Larger fish, like people, often come in pairs!

So, after packing this large fish, he quickly made another cast and continued fishing!

Sure enough, in less than half a minute, another big bite came out of nowhere.

Liu Zhizhong expertly lifted the rod, and indeed... another very large crucian had bitten.

When he pulled the fish up, whoa... almost three pounds in weight, big, really big!

Just these first two rods, catching two fish, were enough for him and Teacher Zhang Qidong to eat over the weekend!

But Liu Zhizhong wanted to catch a couple more to make some pickled fish, so he continued to fish.

In less than an hour, Liu Zhizhong caught 15 large crucian carps, each beautiful and each over a pound—truly exhilarating!

Just when he was about to catch one more and reel in his line to return to the city, an unexpected sight: an electric fishing boat was coming down from upstream, and someone was electrofishing...