49: sail out to sea

The old man nodded: "Bai Xue is a smart child. Is this young man her boyfriend? I heard he wants to be a professional fisherman? As parents, you should try to talk him out of it; this path is not easy!"

Bai Dahai also said helplessly:

"I've tried to dissuade him, but young people today have their own ideas. As parents, we can only help them avoid detours. Anyway, he's still young, so let him try! If it doesn't work out, he can always change professions!"

"That's all we can do! I hope he succeeds!" The old man nodded.

Yang Qi and Bai Xue had already left the pier. The fishing boat, 5.8 meters long and 1.8 meters wide, wasn't actually small.

With just the two of them on board, the activity space felt quite large.

However, in the vast and boundless sea, it was like a lone leaf, appearing so insignificant.

Under Bai Xue's guidance, Yang Qi also started to operate the boat. It was indeed much simpler than driving a car. After all, driving a boat in the vast, boundless sea doesn't involve worrying about collisions like driving a car.

The two took turns driving the fishing boat, enjoying the sea clouds, and the gentle sea breeze on their faces. They felt very content.

After some discussion, they decided to get familiar with it and then head back to prepare for fishing at sea tomorrow.

After another round, the two headed back to the village pier. When they were close to the pier, Bai Xue had to take over, as Yang Qi was well aware of his own skill level.

"Fourth Grandpa, we're going home." Bai Xue greeted the old man.

"You two go! Don't worry about the boat; I'll watch it for you."

The old man nodded, smiling as he took the cigarette Yang Qi offered, and replied to Bai Xue.

The two returned to Bai Xue's house, where Bai Dahai spoke to them with a serious expression:

"It's the fishing moratorium now, so you cannot have any fishing nets or shrimp and crab traps on your boat, even if they are not in use. You can't even have them on board.

Otherwise, if someone reports you or patrol officers check, you could be fined or even jailed."

"Uncle, don't worry, we won't break the law." Yang Qi quickly assured him.

He knew that Bai Xue, as a child of a fishing village, would certainly be aware of these laws and regulations. Bai Dahai's words were meant for him, a person from inland. However, he also knew that it was all for his own good.

After dinner at Bai Xue's house, Yang Qi returned to his own small courtyard and began preparing their equipment for tomorrow, putting some common accessories into two tackle bags, two live fish tanks, and a bag of snacks he had bought last time.

The next morning, the two drove the boat to the town pier to fill it with fuel. Bai Xue then ran off to buy breakfast, and also picked up a few boxes of self-heating rice and self-heating hotpot.

After the boat left the pier, Yang Qi volunteered to drive. This was to make it easier for him to stop the boat at any time if he found a school of fish.

Otherwise, if Bai Xue was driving and he suddenly asked her to stop, it would be a bit unreasonable.

Besides, he didn't plan to tell anyone about his golden finger.

After aimlessly cruising for more than twenty minutes, there were indeed more fish than along the coastline, but it still didn't meet Yang Qi's satisfaction.

Finally, Yang Qi found a spot he was somewhat satisfied with and immediately stopped the boat: "Bai Xue, I think this spot is pretty good. Let's try fishing here for a while!"

Bai Xue readily agreed with a nod.

Yang Qi turned off the engine and opened the valve of the live fish compartment, allowing seawater to flow in.

This live fish compartment is 2.2 meters long and 1.3 meters wide. It should be able to handle most situations, plus there are two additional live fish tanks.

The two of them, one on each side, baited their hooks with live shrimp and began casting their rods.

In Yang Qi's view, there were several schools of fish on both sides of the boat, but he, with his golden finger, wasn't the first to catch a fish.

"Fish on!"

Bai Xue's cheerful cry came from behind him. He turned to see her battling a fish. It was a Sea Bass weighing about four to five jin, not bad!

"Bai Xue, do you need help?"

"No, you fish your own. This one isn't very big. I'll call you if I need anything." Bai Xue replied without turning her head.

Seeing Bai Xue skillfully reeling in the fish, he knew she was an experienced angler. Yang Qi no longer bothered her and started to fish seriously.

It has to be said that Bai Xue's luck was indeed better than Yang Qi's. Bai Xue caught six fish, while Yang Qi only caught four.

"Is it a bit of a mixed blessing? The golden finger can see the fish, but if they don't bite the hook, there's nothing I can do!"

Yang Qi was a little speechless.

The school of fish scattered, and Yang Qi found an excuse to start the boat and continue searching for fish.

About ten minutes later, at the edge of his ability's vision, Yang Qi saw about ten Sea Bass swimming rapidly in one direction.

"It should be the edge of a large school of fish!" Yang Qi thought to himself.

Yang Qi sped up, chasing the school of fish. The fish swam very fast, and the boat had barely traveled 100 meters before the school disappeared without a trace.

Fortunately, a loss may turn out to be a gain.

Yang Qi could only give up. As soon as he slowed down, he found himself stopped right above a school of Black Sea Bream, about ten of them.

"Bai Xue, I feel like there are fish down there."

"No way? Yang Qi, were you driving around just now looking for fish?"

Bai Xue asked.

"Uh ~ how should I put this? A feeling, yes, I just have a feeling there are fish here. I'd call it an absolute fish sense."

Yang Qi talked nonsense with his eyes wide open.

Fortunately, he encountered a lovesick girl who was deeply in love with him.

"Alright, then the task of finding fish will be yours from now on!"

The two began to cast their lines again. About ten minutes later, they caught a total of six Black Sea Bream, each weighing around one jin. Bai Xue also caught a Sea Bass weighing about five jin.

"Not bad! Another six hundred in hand!"

Bai Xue said happily.

Yang Qi looked at the scattered school of fish, then at the remaining small mudfish, and couldn't really get excited:

They were too cheap; not worth wasting time on!

"Bai Xue, I feel like there aren't many fish here. We need to find a new spot to fish."

Yang Qi said to Bai Xue.

"Is it your 'absolute fish sense' again? Then let's go. From now on, you decide where to find fish; you don't need to ask me."

Bai Xue looked at Yang Qi with full trust. She knew that Yang Qi had caught many fish several times before, so maybe Yang Qi really did have this ability?

Just like that, the fishing boat, as if suffering from ADHD, darted back and forth across the sea. Its fuel consumption was several times that of others.

The boat's fuel tank was 12L, and a tank of fuel cost less than 200 yuan. Just catching one or two fish would be enough, so it wasn't an unaffordable expense.

For Yang Qi, mobile warfare was the correct way to approach sea fishing.

So, throughout the morning, the two stopped and started here and there, and indeed caught quite a few fish. And they were all relatively valuable species, as Yang Qi didn't even bother with the cheap ones.

"Bai Xue, I feel like there isn't much good stuff here anymore!"

Yang Qi threw the Black Sea Bream in his hand into the live fish compartment, looked at the sea, and said to Bai Xue.

"Is it the absolute fish sense again?"

Yang Qi nodded.

"Okay, then let's go! Change spots!"

Bai Xue decisively reeled in her line.