The great fish bursting from the water stunned everyone, but only for a fleeting instant. A moment after emerging, it fell back into the water with a splash.
Yi Xuan was the first to react. He immediately rushed onto the bridge, shouting as he went.
"What are you all standing around for? Hurry and help Great-Grandfather!"
On the opposite bank, Yi Yong'an was shouting too.
"Go get the landing net! Get the landing net! I'm running out of strength."
The two household servants beside the old man immediately stepped forward to help.
One helped steady the fishing rod. The other did not go back for anything, but stepped one foot into the water. As the fish was worked toward him, he actually seized the fishing line with quick eyes and quicker hands, trying to haul it in.
Just then, Yi Shuyuan rose and came beside Yi Yong'an, whose fishing rod kept swaying in his grip. He reached out, pinched the upper stretch of line, and applied a little force. Only then could the Yi Household servant standing in the water successfully pull the fish close.
The servant then hooked the fingers of his other hand into its gills and lifted the great fish.
"Hahahahaha! Well caught! Well caught!"
Yi Yong'an cried out with delight. The servant on the bank set down the rod, reached out to his companion below, and hauled both man and fish onto the bank.
Yi Shuyuan smiled and shook his head from above. This servant certainly had nerve. The great fish had not yet exhausted its strength; grabbing the line like that would have sliced his hand open just now.
The great fish was tossed onto the path beside the fields, where it flopped with a series of slapping sounds. Both servants and Yi Yong'an were