Oh ho

The sun still hung in the sky.

However, the fish near Lin Mo's side had become scarce.

They hadn’t managed to catch a single one since.

Xia Ziqian, who had initially been enjoying the beginner’s luck, sighed helplessly but continued to wait patiently with his rod in hand.

"Maybe there just aren’t any fish in this spot," Feng Hong muttered, watching his float remain completely still.

Fang Jun glanced at the group of seasoned anglers nearby.

"Don’t worry, they haven’t caught anything either. We’re all in the same boat."

Lin Mo remained unfazed. "As long as they don’t reel in a bighead carp as huge as the one I just caught, they won’t have anything to boast about."

"True, that thing was almost a meter long."

Just then, a shout erupted from the group of anglers: "Got a bite!"

The fishing rod bent sharply, a clear sign that something massive was on the line.

Lin Mo’s spiritual sense revealed another bighead carp, though it wasn’t as large as the one he had caught earlier.

The anglers grew excited, cheering and offering advice as the man struggled with the fish.

He pulled with all his might, exhausting every fishing technique he knew, but it still wasn’t enough. "Someone help me!" he yelled.

Another angler immediately stepped in to assist, gripping the rod.

Together, they pulled harder—only for the rod to bend even more dangerously.

Lin Mo shook his head as he watched. "It’s going to snap."

Lin Jiajun nodded. "Even a high-end rod worth thousands won’t survive that kind of strain."

Sure enough, a loud crack echoed the next second.

The rod shattered into three pieces, two of which splashed into the water.

The sudden loss of leverage sent both anglers tumbling backward onto the ground.

The fish was gone, and so was the rod.

Some of their fellow anglers couldn’t help but laugh. "Well, that’s unfortunate!"

Fang Jun grinned. "Seems like those so-called experts aren’t as skilled as Lin Mo after all."

Lin Mo shrugged. "Just luck. But that snapping sound was pretty satisfying."

At that moment, Lin Mo felt a tug on his line and swiftly lifted his rod.

This time, it was a tilapia.

"Dinner’s settled—tilapia it is!"

Lin Mo hauled in the fish.

Like crayfish, tilapia were an invasive species that had become a staple in Chinese cuisine.

They were hardy, reproduced quickly, and grew with little effort.

Best of all, they had few bones, making them a favorite in fish farms.

Market prices were low, especially for tilapia from reservoirs—large, tender, and free of any muddy taste.

Seeing Lin Mo’s success, the other anglers grew envious and redoubled their efforts.

Meanwhile, the man whose rod had snapped packed up his gear and left.

No one knew whether he was heading home or returning with better equipment for a triumphant comeback.

Soon, Fang Jun and the others started catching fish too.

Lin Mo had subtly guided the school their way.

They couldn’t possibly eat all the fish, but they could give the extras to Fang Jun’s uncle—after all, this trip had cost them almost nothing.

Before long, their bucket was nearly full, holding seven or eight fish.

Seeing it was almost overflowing, Lin Mo decided to wrap things up by using his spiritual sense to lure another massive bighead carp.

This one was even bigger than the last.

The moment it bit, Lin Mo yanked hard.

The rod bent to its absolute limit.

The anglers nearby watched, silently chanting: Snap! Snap! Snap!

But the rod held firm.

Lin Mo raised the rod high and stepped back, slowly reeling in the struggling fish.

He fought against its resistance, gradually dragging it toward the shore.

Fang Jun grabbed the net, ready to scoop it up—only to slip and tumble straight into the reservoir.

He was no stranger to swimming and even tried to reach the fish, but the thrashing bighead carp smacked him twice across the face.

The blows knocked the air right out of him.

As expected—or rather, unexpectedly—things took a turn for the worse.

To make matters worse, Fang Jun had left the lifebuoy back at the farmhouse.

For a moment, no one knew what to do.

But Lin Mo gave the rod one final, powerful jerk, sending the fish flying onto the bank.

Then he dove into the water and hauled Fang Jun out.

The reservoir’s edge was already seven or eight meters deep, and it only got deeper further in.

Fang Jun lay on the concrete, coughing violently.

Luckily, he didn’t need CPR—just a few mouthfuls of water.

Still, both of them were soaked. Even under the blazing sun, the wind sent chills through them.

Lin Mo picked up the fish and the bucket, then turned to Lin Jiajun and the others.

"Let’s head back. Fang Jun could catch a cold if this wind keeps up."

"You say that like you’re not drenched too," Lin Jiajun pointed out.

Lin Mo was already walking ahead.

"Then hurry up!"

Carrying the still-wriggling fish in one hand and the bucket in the other, he moved much faster than the other four.

Fang Jun trailed behind, coughing intermittently.

As soon as they entered the farmhouse, Lin Mo spotted He Guoan standing by the pond with a few strangers.

"Sir, this fish doesn’t belong to us. It was caught by one of our guests, and they’ve already decided how to prepare it."

He Guoan smiled politely—after all, a friendly face was hard to refuse.

The men were dressed casually, wearing slippers, likely locals from the area.

"Alright, but could you ask the guest if they’d be willing to sell? We’re offering 10,000 yuan for this bighead carp. One this size is rare, and our CEO loves fish heads. If you prepare it well, our company will make this our regular gathering spot."

10,000 yuan for an 80-pound bighead carp was a generous offer.

He Guoan considered it. Money was always better than a fish, but he’d have to ask Fang Jun’s friend first.

Just as he looked up, he saw Lin Mo—dripping wet—walking over with an even bigger bighead carp in hand.

The men turned and immediately approached him.

"Young man, would you be willing to sell this fish?" The leader, a middle-aged man, spoke in a gentle, negotiating tone.

"How much are you offering?" Lin Mo shrugged.

"How about 10,000 yuan?"

Lin Mo shook his head without hesitation and pointed at the fish in the pond.

"No deal. You offered 10,000 for that one, but mine’s bigger. Same price doesn’t make sense."

The man paused, studying the fish more closely. It was noticeably larger—his boss would definitely be pleased.

"Then how about 12,000?"

Lin Mo didn’t hesitate.

"Deal!"

The man agreed, but just then, a younger man in his thirties stepped forward.