Dan Brooks and Victor Smith were both laughing, but when they looked at Chad Bennett, he was clearly displeased at not being able to brag about any relatives with the surname Lei. He snorted and said to the eldest, “Brag about what? Your Dan family was just an ancient gang, try that today and the neighborhood committee would take care of you... If you want to talk about being impressive, it’s got to be my dad’s urban management squad. Just yesterday I saw online, the Diaoyu Islands issue still isn’t resolved, and I think the main problem is that they haven’t set up an urban management department there... Let’s talk about the present, who are you trying to scare with those bandits from history? On the way here, my dear brother and I were just saying, we’re grassroots folks, you’re not one of us, you’re a bandit.”

The three of them were both praising and mocking each other, laughter rising and falling, as the car drove smoothly along the secondary road. Along the way, the muddy waters of the Zhuozhang River could be seen, winding like a yellow earth dragon between green mountains and trees. Occasionally, sheer cliffs could be seen in the distance, mountains upon mountains blocking the view—those were the Tianji Mountains, known as “rivaling the heavens.” After driving for over an hour on the old dirt road, they stopped at the mouth of a mountain pass. Looking out, an endless expanse of water lay at their feet. This was the famous Zhangze Reservoir of the Three Jin region. The ring of mountains and the dam, over ten meters high, surrounded tens of thousands of acres of water, making for a spectacular sight. As the sun set, the entire surface of the water was dyed a deep, translucent red. The surrounding mountains and the occasional sparkling waves made it so beautiful, it was as if they had entered a fairy tale world.

Escaping the monotonous study life and the stifling campus environment, the three of them were all in high spirits. After a short rest, the trio abandoned the car and set out on foot, each carrying their gear and a bucket. They bypassed the designated tourist and fishing areas of the reservoir, walked for over half an hour, climbed over several obstacles made of rough wood and wire, and headed toward the northern area of the reservoir by the mountain. These three never took the usual path. The area they entered was the former resettlement zone for people displaced by the reservoir over twenty years ago. Because of the deep water and many reefs, fatal boating accidents were common, so the area had been closed off. On the last stretch of rough wooden wire fence, a few large characters were written:

No fishing or hunting.

Chapter 06: What Was Meant to Be a Blessing Seems a Curse

Green mountains, clear water, rocky shores—soaking your feet in the cool water, you don’t even feel the cold.

The most beautiful part of Luzhou is the Tianji Mountains, all because of the tens of thousands of acres of the man-made Zhangze Lake at their base. Mountains encircle the lake, and the lush green hills, emerald waters, and azure sky together form a vivid pastoral landscape. Occasionally, a cormorant or two would soar overhead, or a flash of silvery fish scales would break the mirror-like surface, adding a touch of movement to the scene.

After a busy night, morning arrived in the blink of an eye. With the sea rods set at an angle, eyes on the bobbers, breathing in the fresh air, basking in the warm sun, and munching on sweet French rolls—even after a sleepless night, Chad Bennett was still in high spirits. If he were at school, in this kind of situation, he’d probably be snoring on his desk by now. But life in the wild was just so pleasant. He had just finished a roll when suddenly someone shouted:

“Oh... quick, quick, Bennett got a bite—no, it’s a big one, a big fish is on the hook, Bennett, come help me!”

Not far away, Victor Smith sprang up, hunched over in excitement, babbling incoherently. He raised his arm, gripping the fishing rod tightly, the line taut, suddenly being pulled diagonally toward the water. The fish was hooked, and it was no small catch—it felt like someone was about to yank the rod right out of his hands, the rod nearly bent into a full arc. Chad Bennett sprang up like a spring, grabbing the two-meter-long landing net, nervously saying, “Let it run a bit, don’t let it get off... That’s right, follow it. You’re so hopeless, I’ve never seen anyone as clumsy as you... Let out some line, just a bit, and as soon as the tension eases, reel it in, but do it slowly. Don’t let it get away, this one’s big.”

One person holding the rod soon became two fighting over it. The two of them, caught up in the excitement, dashed along the reservoir’s edge for over ten meters, letting the line out and reeling it in, stopping and starting. Under Chad Bennett’s expert guidance, they finally brought the hooked fish close to shore. Now both were tense. Handing the rod to Victor Smith, Chad Bennett thrust the landing net into the water. With a sudden scoop, the struggling fish nearly pulled him into the water. He barely managed to steady himself, and with a net full of fish, he shouted in surprise, “Damn, it’s strong!”

With the shout, water splashed everywhere, and the bright silvery belly of the fish flashed dazzlingly in the net. After a frantic struggle, the two finally managed to pin down the big, unyielding fish and drag it onto the shore. Victor Smith happily unhooked it, while the out-of-breath Brother Chad hefted the huge tail. The fish gave a slap, splashing water all over Chad Bennett’s face, making him jump and curse, “Damn, Brother Chad, you dare hit me too? You’re asking for it.”

Victor Smith was too happy to care about Chad Bennett. The big grass carp, over a meter long, was heavy even to hold, weighing at least twenty pounds. Out of the water, it was exhausted, its mouth opening and closing, hanging limp. Victor Smith quickly slipped a plastic bag through its gills, grinning, “This must be the biggest one I’ve ever caught, right?”

“Yeah, right. I’m the one who netted it. You? You only caught a few tiny juvenile crucian carp all night.” Chad Bennett sat up and took the fish—it really was heavy. Victor Smith didn’t argue; when it came to fishing, after the eldest, Brother Chad was the best. With the baited spot here, the two of them had fished all night, and Chad Bennett’s haul was much bigger than Victor Smith’s.