At six fifteen, Liu Mazi started shouting.
"Draw lots! Everyone get ready to draw lots for entry!"
As soon as the pond owner shouted, a crowd of people outside the fishing venue rushed over in a frenzy.
In Meng Village, drawing lots has always been done using ping pong balls marked with numbers. This makes verification and drawing more convenient and straightforward.
In Joyful Forest, it's different. Liu Mazi pulled out a stack of playing cards, like a magician, from his pocket!
Seeing Liu Mazi's playing cards, Zhang Yang was reminded of something and his heart skipped a beat.
This old Liu is normally a card sharp. Besides being skilled at poker, in the past, he would cheat during the drawing of numbers among fishing buddies.
Zhang Yang was unsure if, early on, the opponent had already started manipulating the cards, but it was possible.
Thinking of this, Zhang Yang pulled Zhao Bing and Wang Jun aside and whispered, "Watch closely during the drawing, see if there are any detailed differences in the quality and pattern of the playing cards! If there are, pick a particularly different one!"
"Can you cheat at drawing lots?" Wang Jun, losing his composure, raised his voice a bit, with an incredulous look.
Old Zhao tugged Wang Jun and nodded towards Zhang Yang. "Got it! Jun, keep quiet, we'll talk later!"
With that reminder, Wang Jun realized and nodded, staying silent thereafter.
Soon, the drawing began, calling out the names of the anglers according to registration order. Before long, it was Zhang Yang and his group's turn.
"Fame Fishing Gear, thirteen people registered!" Liu Mazi shouted out loudly.
Zhang Yang responded, "Here, you guys draw first!"
Soon, everyone lined up to draw lots, with Zhang Yang, Old Zhao, and Wang Jun remaining.
"Little Zhang, you go!" Zhao Bingguang pushed Zhang Yang to the front.
"Alright, I'll draw!" Zhang Yang nodded and stepped forward.
At first glance, Liu Mazi held regular mermaid-themed playing cards, face down, with the seat number written on the face side using marker.
Anglers draw a card at random to determine their position once they flip it.
However, Zhang Yang was naturally observant, and alert to potential tricks, so he didn't draw blindly like others. Instead, he glanced at the cards by slightly parting them with his thumb and index finger.
Just this brief observation, Zhang Yang noticed that a few cards appeared slightly yellowed.
Turns out Zhang Yang guessed right!
"First time here, not sure about my luck! So far, nobody's drawn the big edge or central spot—I guess they're saving it for me!
Buddha, Jesus, God, bless me! Central spot, big edge, endless power!!"
Feigning a shamanic ritual for a few seconds, Zhang Yang pinched one of the abnormal cards.
Flipped it over, number 01!
Southwest big edge!
"Damn! Zhang Yang, you really can conjure spirits! You really pulled the big edge!"
"It's really the big edge!"
"Damn, this 13 of yours smoothed things out!"
Live drawing is not too different from a live lottery, with many familiar anglers around. Zhang Yang pulling the big edge spot caused a stir among the water friends.
Zhang Yang grinned, kissed the card. "Haha, can't help it if I'm lucky, blame it on my good looks!
Anyone want to buy the big edge slot? Add two hundred bucks and I'll sell it! Jun, weren't you aiming to draw the big edge and break the protector? Want me to sell it to you?"
"Damn, really greedy!"
"Give it a rest, the fishing hasn't started yet—you're already dreaming!"
Wang Jun smirked with a cigarette dangling, "Always trying to scam me! Four big edges, at least half of the central spots by the aerator haven't been drawn yet—who's going to be fooled and buy your big edge, buddy, I'll draw myself!"
Wang Jun jokingly pulled Zhang Yang aside, bantered a few words, and moved to the drawing spot.
The next moment, he seemingly casually drew one of the cards.
Number 13!
Joyful Forest has 48 fishing spots in total, no fishing spots by the central aerator. Numbers 12 and 13 line the sides of the aerator, 13 is one of the best central spots.
Wang Jun flaunted the card around, swaggering, "Hahaha, what did I say? Number 13, central by the aerator, even better than the big edge!"
"Damn, did you two hook up at the karaoke joint last night, didn't wash your hands in the morning?"
Wang Jun glared sideways, "Get lost, buddy, I was cuddling the wife asleep by nine last night!"
Zhang Yang feigned ignorance, "KTV? Isn't that a place for singing? What does being lucky have to do with not washing hands!"
"Damn, young Zhang is good at fishing, still naïve in other areas!"
"Hahaha, next time I'll invite you to broaden your horizons, let's hit Emperor, lots of chicks there, way more fun than fishing!"
"Hahaha…" The anglers burst into laughter.
With a conscious effort to lighten the mood, the fact that both drew good spots didn't seem abrupt.
But when it was Zhao Bingguang's turn, Old Zhao didn't continue to pick cards but drew one at random.
North shore, number 28, ordinary fishing spot.
Zhang Yang and Wang Jun pulled good spots, so Old Zhao couldn't keep doing so; otherwise, it might spark unnecessary suspicion. At Old Zhao's age, he's more steady than the younger folks, considering things more thoroughly.
Anyway, the three have always shared their catches, so no big deal if the spot's not as good.
After Zhang Yang's group finished drawing, there were still more than ten people left, throughout the process, Zhang Yang continuously watched silently as others drew the remaining good spots.
In the end,
With only 39 people signed up for the pit fishing event, none of the central spots or big edges were left; anglers drew them all, and Zhang Yang roughly remembered the faces of a few anglers who drew big edges.