The fishing net glittered with silver scales and pairs of pincers. It brimmed with all sorts of aquatic creatures, most of them fish.
Creak, creak... The old pier groaned with a desolate voice as the old man trudged toward the dock, dragging his fishing net behind him.
After walking a while, he suddenly set down the net and slowly sank to the ground. He loosely clenched his fists and began tapping his lower back, as if he were merely an ordinary old man from a poor family, too old to enjoy a peaceful retirement yet forced to keep laboring with his failing body.
After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the old man braced a hand against his waist and got to his feet, then began dragging the net again.
After resting twice, he finally hauled the net ashore. Beneath a flagpole hung with a wind lantern, he sat cross-legged and opened the net. After seemingly inspecting its contents, he quickly picked out a fish with tiny, closely packed scales and a plump, squat body.
Then the old man drew a gleaming kitchen knife from his waist and began to butcher it.
He pinned the fish to the wooden board in front of him, then pressed the blade against its soft belly and slowly cut it open. Its innards, mixed with blood, gushed out at once.
"Ahhhhhhh...!!"
At that very moment, the fish being butchered let out an utterly agonized shriek, as if the old man were slaughtering not a fish, but a living person!
The old man remained unmoved, as if he hadn't heard a thing. His movements were practiced and swift. In no time, he had slit the fish's belly wide open, then yanked out all its innards and stuffed them into his