169: Fish

Gao Xiaofan helplessly placed the rod on the turret stand and started looking for a brick. After searching for a long time without success, Qiu Gu eventually ran to the car and grabbed a small hammer from the toolbox.

Gao Xiaofan tapped rhythmically and gently, then picked up a cracked snail.

"Look, just like this. It's cracked, but still held together~"

After handing the hammer back to the now-understanding Qiu Gu, Gao Xiaofan continued to adjust the float. He moved the float down the length of a sub-line, trimmed the lead skin, and once the float showed two segments above the water, he baited the hook with a snail.

With a large whip-like cast, the line flew out, and Gao Xiaofan nodded in satisfaction.

Either don't fish at all, or do it seriously~

Looking at the snails that were mostly crushed, Gao Xiaofan turned to Qiu Gu.

"Alright, you go fish now~"

Qiu Gu shook his head. "No need, I'll help you~"

He knew his priorities; work was work. He could rest, but once he was needed, he absolutely could not hold anyone back.

"Ah, enough, it's fine. Hurry up and go~ Little Yuer is still here with me!"

Gao Xiaofan waved him off with a look of feigned annoyance, then picked up the bait spoon, scooped up a spoonful of snails, and threw them in, creating a series of splashes.

"Yeah, Brother Gu, you go ahead. I'm right here, it's fine~"

Li Yuer raised an eyebrow and said with a smile.

"Brother Xiaofan, take it easy~"

"I won't!"

Gao Xiaofan threw down another spoonful of snails.

Qiu Gu looked at the two of them with a strange expression, then scurried back to his own fishing spot to start fishing.

Every two minutes, Gao Xiaofan would throw in a few cracked snails and then wait quietly by the side.

Black Carp have a massive appetite, very similar to Grass Carp, and the baiting strategy is the same: maintain a steady frequency.

However, unlike Grass Carp, Black Carp mostly move and feed alone. After baiting, fish might not enter the spot immediately; it takes a long time for the spot to become active, sometimes 2 to 3 days. Therefore, when wild fishing for Black Carp, one must be prepared for a long battle and have enough patience.

Black Carp primarily use their sense of smell to find food. The bait continuously releases scents at the bottom, and the Black Carp follows the concentration gradient to find the source and enter the spot to feed. Thus, to shorten the time it takes for the spot to activate, one needs to increase the concentration and penetration of the bait's scent.

This was why Gao Xiaofan had Qiu Gu crack the snails; that unique fishy smell was a delicacy to Black Carp.

Two hours passed, and the float remained motionless. Yet, aside from the few times Qiu Gu stood up to come over, everyone else sat as if their butts were glued down, staring intently at the water.

The occasional submerged float would trigger a cry of surprise, followed by a wave of disappointment.

Good grief, at this point, forget about whether the fans would agree; if he suggested moving now, the group's morale would likely plummet.

Forget about drawing the next fishing spot today; they might even be delayed by another day~

Gao Xiaofan looked at the few remaining snails and sighed. If there was still no bite, there was nothing else he could do; gathering snails was exhausting.

First, he had to thrust the Landing Net into the mud, then shake it clean. Finding any was pure luck; if there were none, there were just none~

In those two hours, Gao Xiaofan had only lifted the rod three times to check if the snails had fallen off before recasting.

This was another reason he chose snails; they were easy to manage~

If he were using corn, even Crucian Carp might take a bite. Lifting and casting repeatedly would make the inside of his arm ache from the friction against the rod handle.

The kind of pain where the skin feels like it's being pulled out of place~

After throwing in the last few snails, Gao Xiaofan stretched. Just as he was about to light a cigarette, a sudden change occurred.

The float, which had been motionless, suddenly plunged into the water and vanished!

A submerged float! A submerged float while fishing dull!

Gao Xiaofan was instantly exhilarated, though a hint of disbelief remained in his heart.

The Black Carp... is here?

With lightning-fast reflexes, he grabbed just above the handle and jerked the rod up, while simultaneously jamming the butt of the rod firmly into his armpit.

Gao Xiaofan's expression changed. He couldn't lift the rod at all; a massive force surged through the rod into his body, and the tip was still diving deep into the water.

Without time to think, he quickly swayed the rod left and right, using the line to lead the fish and adjust its position to prevent a straight-line break. The rod was bent into a massive arc, and the line sliced through the wind with a low whistling sound~

The rod tip finally stabilized and stopped diving. Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, another surge of power came; the Black Carp was making its move.

It suddenly bolted to the left. Gao Xiaofan thought 'oh no' as he stumbled, his entire body losing control and heading toward the water on his front left.

Shit!!!

Just as Gao Xiaofan was cursing himself for not attaching a safety rope, a pair of fair, soft hands suddenly appeared around his waist, hugging him tightly.

He then felt his back press against something soft and full, like sinking into cotton.

Before he could react, a shout rang in his ear, the sensation so tingly it made him shiver.

"Ah~ Stand it up! Brother Xiaofan."

Hearing Li Yuer's voice behind him, Gao Xiaofan snapped back to reality. He dropped into a deep squat, and the rod made a dull thud.

Thump.

The moment the rod butt hit the ground, Gao Xiaofan braced it with his right foot. His right arm tensed, veins bulging, as he violently pulled the a specific fishing rod model back.

A minute later, feeling the struggle weaken, Gao Xiaofan felt a sense of relief but still didn't dare lower his guard.

Every time a Black Carp exerts force, it's powerful and broad; one lapse in attention and the fish is gone.

For now, the fish seemed to be under control. Next was the slow process of wearing it down.

After all, just a few hours ago, the Company Commander had lost one.

Gao Xiaofan panted, a woman's fragrance reaching his nose. The sensation behind him was like a spring, constantly pressing against him, making his heart itch.

When he glanced around, he couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed. The members of the Independent Regiment and Qiu Gu were all standing nearby, watching him.

The Independent Regiment members were looking nervously at the water one moment and at the two of them hugging the next. They wanted to help hold Gao Xiaofan but found no place to grab, as Li Yuer was holding him tight.

Qiu Gu had already removed his phone from the stand and was using the Gimbal to constantly track the action.

Gao Xiaofan's heart skipped a beat. If Little Yu saw this, who knows what she would think. He hurriedly tried to pull away, but as he struggled, the soft pressure against him only shifted and pressed further~~~~

"Little Yuer, here, you take over for a bit. I need a break."

"Oh, can I, Brother Xiaofan?" Li Yuer slowly loosened her hands from Gao Xiaofan's waist, seemingly reluctant, and took hold of the rod.

"If it gets away, you can't blame me~"

"Don't worry, I won't blame you if the big fish gets away~"

Gao Xiaofan stretched his body and curled his lip, thinking to himself.

But if Little Yu gets away, then I'm definitely blaming you!