Zhang Wei baited his hook and cast his line. Looking back, he saw Chen Hao crouching beneath a bridge pier and couldn't help calling out, "Chen Hao, don't just pick any old spot. The fish bite best where I am."
"Just because it's under the bridge doesn't mean it's any good. That's a stagnant pool. I've tried it loads of times and never caught a damn thing! Look, nobody even goes over there!"
Chen Hao put the bait on his hook without turning around. "It's fine. Today might be different."
Zhang Wei shook his head and grumbled inwardly, Ignore your elders' advice, and you'll pay for it soon enough. He shook his head again, convinced Chen Hao was just too proud to back down. Once he failed to catch anything, he'd be embarrassed. Then he'd see who the real expert was.
Chen Hao cast his line. The sinker hit the water with a small splash. The float bobbed twice, then slowly stood upright, leaving two markings above the surface.
Less than two minutes passed.
The float suddenly sank by two markings, sprang back up, then dipped again—a textbook carp bite. Chen Hao flicked his wrist, setting the hook.
The line went taut, tracing an arc across the surface. The fish struggled underwater, bending the rod into a beautiful bow.
A large carp was lifted out of the water, its scales gleaming gold in the sunlight. It looked to weigh over three jin. It flopped twice on the grass, its mouth opening and closing, its tail slapping the blades.
Zhang Wei nearly dropped his fishing rod. Mouth agape, he stared at the carp, then at Chen Hao, then at the bridge pier.
"Holy shit?!" Zhang Wei had only just cast his line, and his float hadn't budged. When he turned and