Ancestor Longyan! My Trump Card

"Zhe'er, you... how can you say such things?" Gongsun Hui had not expected the always well-behaved Wang Shouzhe to speak with such shocking candor.

"Fifth Aunt, I think Shouzhe makes sense." Wang Dinghai, feeling somewhat convinced by Wang Shouzhe today, immediately chimed in, "It's better for everyone to have a mental preparation for how much longer Ancestor Longyan can hold up the clan."

Gongsun Hui's expression shifted several times before she finally said, "This is a clan secret. When I went to report to Ancestor Longyan a few days ago, she told me herself that if she doesn't exert her strength, she can hold the line for twenty more years, but if she does... I'm afraid it's hard to say."

Twenty years? Wang Shouzhe pondered silently. It was much longer than he had imagined; perhaps there was still a chance for a comeback after all.

"Zhe'er, you are the clan's only hope." Gongsun Hui's face was grave. "Our Wang Clan must continue to remain low-key and endure, gathering the entire clan's strength to help you break through to the Spirit Platform Realm within twenty years. You must not stir up trouble!"

"That's right, that's right. Sixth Uncle will find ways to catch more Spirit Fish to sell and raise resources for you," Wang Dinghai agreed earnestly. "Only if you can reach the Spirit Platform Realm can our Wang Clan truly be saved."

"I reach the Spirit Platform Realm? And then what?" Wang Shouzhe sneered with disdain. "Setting aside whether I can even reach it, even if I had the chance, would the Liu and Zhao clans just watch me do it? Would they give me twenty years? Furthermore, even if I were lucky enough to succeed, I would just be another Ancestor Longyan!"

Wang Shouzhe was a transmigrator; naturally, he could jump out of the habitual thinking patterns of the Wang clansmen.

His words sent a chill through Gongsun Hui and Wang Dinghai. Previously, they had lived under the protection of Ancestor Longyan, assuming the Liu and Zhao clans would never truly tear off their masks.

However, if Wang Shouzhe, in whom they had placed all their hopes, really showed promise of reaching the Spirit Platform, would the Liu and Zhao clans sit idly by?

"Enough. I intentionally hinted that the Ancestor's time is running out. I believe that with the scheming of that old fox Liu Shengye, he will never choose to be the vanguard and tear into our Wang Clan at this moment. Therefore, I will have the family retainers continue to spread rumors in secret, giving the Liu and Zhao clans a countdown of about five years," Wang Shouzhe huffed. "Whoever dares to provoke us within these five years, we will fight them to the death. We'll latch onto one family and strike until they're finished, and at the critical moment, we can release... er, invite Ancestor Longyan to hold the field."

In Wang Shouzhe's view, Ancestor Longyan was a "nuke" card. The greatest utility of a nuke was not the moment of detonation, but the deterrent power it held before being fired.

"Brilliant." Wang Dinghai slapped his thigh. "The Clan Leader has a great plan. We are currently like a dying beast, and they are afraid of us biting back before we expire. This way, not only will they not dare to bully us, but they will also have to find ways to curry favor and appease us. No wonder that old fox Liu Shengye obediently handed over thirty Qian Gold as an apology."

"Not only that, but because our Wang Clan now has a clear 'deadline,' with such a large, tempting piece of meat placed before them, how could the Liu and Zhao clans—who only allied because of a common enemy—not have other thoughts while they wait and endure?" Wang Shouzhe said with a smile. "You must know that greed and dissatisfaction are the most basic human traits. The situation ahead will inevitably become very interesting. If we find ways to secretly fan the flames... heh."

After hearing Wang Shouzhe's analysis, Gongsun Hui and Wang Dinghai both gasped, looking at each other with a sense of lingering fear. Yet, at the same time, a glimmer of hope sparked within them—a hope that the clan might actually have a chance to turn the tables!

"Aunt, Sixth Uncle, this matter is a top-secret concerning the life and death of the Wang Clan," Wang Shouzhe said solemnly, bowing to them. "Firstly, I hope you can keep this secret, and secondly, I hope you can trust and support me unconditionally."

This was Wang Shouzhe's true goal. His current body was too young, and even with the status of Clan Leader, he would inevitably face criticism. He had to throw out some shocking ideas to convince key figures and win over allies.

Gongsun Hui was his legal mother, and he was her future reliance, while Sixth Uncle Wang Dinghai had a direct and forthright personality that was easy to win over.

Gongsun Hui and Wang Dinghai both took a deep breath and swore a solemn oath.

As the three spoke, the medium-sized fishing boat, under the control of the boatmen, pulled away from the Deepwater Pier and entered the swift currents of the center of the An River.

The breadth of the An River far exceeded Wang Shouzhe's imagination. Looking out, the misty waves were vast and boundless, and the Dingpu Ferry grew smaller and smaller until it was no longer clearly visible.

As they ventured deeper into the An River, the wind and waves grew stronger, and the boat rocked more violently. Even with the physical constitution of a peak sixth-layer Qi Refining Realm cultivator, Wang Shouzhe felt a bit nauseous.

Gongsun Hui, who was equally accustomed to a life of comfort, also turned pale and began to feel unwell.

"Haha, Fifth Sister-in-law, Shouzhe, a fishing boat is not as steady as a ferry. When the boat rocks, don't use your body to resist the tilt; you should move with it like a tumbler," Wang Dinghai patiently taught them how to handle the choppy waves.

Wang Shouzhe and Gongsun Hui were both Profound Warriors, and with their Profound Qi and physical fitness, they adapted to the rocking within moments. Wang Shouzhe, in particular, followed Wang Dinghai's example, planting his feet like stakes on the deck and swaying rhythmically with the waves, his posture gradually becoming relaxed and comfortable.

"Shouzhe truly has great talent. Sixth Uncle will show you how I usually catch fish." Wang Dinghai was eager to show off; rarely did anyone in the clan like to come to the fishing boat to watch him work.

"I'm sure your technique is extraordinary, Sixth Uncle, but let the regular fishermen try first," Wang Shouzhe suggested.

Wang Dinghai was stunned, but then laughed, "Shouzhe, you're here to inspect the standard of the fishing boat. Alright, alright. The fishermen on your Sixth Uncle's flagship are all experts. Wang Goudan, come and demonstrate for the Clan Leader."

"Yes, Master Hai." A young man in his twenties leaped down from the mast, moving as nimbly as a monkey. He picked up a fishing net, tidied it, and with a twist and a flick of his waist, the net flew off the gunwale, spreading out into a beautiful, large circular canopy in the air.

Splash!

The weighted net hit the water like an inverted bowl, sinking to the riverbed in just a few breaths.

"Good!"

The surrounding fishermen cheered.

This was... cast-netting, and the technique was quite strong.

Wang Shouzhe judged it immediately. Before transmigrating, he was just an ordinary office worker who occasionally went fishing with friends. When he scrolled through short-video apps, the algorithm would recommend fishing videos, many of which featured masters of cast-netting.

Although Wang Shouzhe couldn't do it himself, he could tell a good cast from a bad one. He had to admit, this young man named Goudan was quite skilled.

After waiting for the net to hit the bottom, Wang Goudan began to pull the rope carefully. He gathered the net along the riverbed and then pulled it upward bit by bit. Finally, with a sharp tug, he hauled the entire net onto the boat in one go.

He caught something!

The net held a large fish with a grayish-white dorsal fin. Wang Goudan unhooked the fish, grabbed it, and came over joyfully to claim credit: "Master Hai, it's a Nine-Star Bass, must be five pounds."

"Not bad, lad. Put it in the live-water tank." Wang Dinghai patted his shoulder in praise and turned to explain to Wang Shouzhe, "Although the Nine-Star Bass isn't a Spirit Fish, its meat is smooth and refreshing, making it a top-tier fish. Even if we sold this to a fishmonger, it would fetch one Big Copper. However, our clan has fish shops in Changning City, and we sell what we catch ourselves, which earns us a few more Jiao."

Wang Shouzhe nodded in appreciation. The currency of the Great Qian Kingdom was calculated in Jiao, Big Copper, and Qian Gold. Generally, a pound of rice cost only five to ten Jiao, and one hundred Jiao could be exchanged for one Big Copper; thus, this fish was worth a Big Copper, which was quite valuable.

Wang Goudan placed the catch into the live-water tank in the center of the boat. This tank was connected to the outside water, allowing it to keep the catch as active as possible.

However, according to Wang Dinghai, only higher-value catches received this treatment. The live-water tank was also divided into several sections to store different types of fish.

With Wang Goudan's demonstration, the other fishermen also performed their specialties. Their techniques were all very seasoned, and the nets they cast were large and round, though the catch wasn't always guaranteed.

Most of the nets pulled up were empty, with only occasional surprises.

After more than an hour, the variety of fish grew, including three Nine-Star Bass and even a more expensive Surging Leopard-Pattern Mandarin Fish. Although it was only a little over two pounds, Wang Dinghai noted that this fish was worth at least 1 Big Copper and 60 Jiao, and that all good catches were reserved for the Clan Leader to enjoy.

Wang Shouzhe smiled on the surface, but he was calculating in his heart. This Thirty-Mile Fishing Ground was the fishing territory of the Ping'an Wang Clan, and the clan valued this asset highly; it was supposed to be one of the clan's important sources of revenue.

As time passed, Wang Shouzhe grew impatient and said directly, "Sixth Uncle, the demonstrations are enough; the fishermen's casting techniques are all very strong. Can we get to the point and demonstrate the actual commercial fishing operations?"

Wang Dinghai's beaming expression froze, and he looked confused. "Shouzhe, aren't we already demonstrating actual fishing? Could it be that you want to see the capture of Spirit Fish? Some smaller Spirit Fish are caught through luck, while some large, ferocious ones require the use of fishing harpoons."

This was professional fishing?

Wang Shouzhe's face darkened. In his previous life, out of curiosity, he had tagged along on a relative's professional fishing boat to experience commercial fishing. That final haul had been over forty thousand pounds, and it was still considered a poor harvest...

As for cast-netting, on Earth, it was purely a recreational tool, only slightly better than fishing with a rod; players did it for leisure. If anyone actually tried to use a cast-net as a profession to feed their family, the whole household would starve.