It's certain that once the Meng Village Fishing Ground opens, the business at Diao Changhe's place will be affected, as will Lang Junfeng.
This time for the opening registration, Meng Fan and his friend Xiao Li, whom Lang Junfeng valued very much, have completely joined Zhang Yang's camp.
Watching the other team's expansion bit by bit, Lang Junfeng feels that the profits originally belonging to him are slipping into Zhang Yang's pockets, making him feel indescribably uncomfortable.
If the two parties tear each other's face and fight it out regardless of the outcome, it might be straightforward. But Zhang Yang still greets him proactively as if respecting him on the surface, which is annoying.
On one hand, it's the loss of customers; on the other hand, it's being greeted with a smile upon meeting, making Old Lang even more uneasy, like a dull knife cutting into flesh.
Just returning to the store, Old Lang can't wait to call his senior brother Li Chunsheng to discuss expanding the store's influence.
"Senior brother, I've decided! Let's put the sponsorship for the competition by contacting manufacturers on the agenda. Can you help me find a few good anglers then?
The Meng Village fishing ground is quite organized, let's hold an amateur competition! Meng Xiao has been taken away by Zhang Yang again!"
"Sure, you set the date! Let me know two days in advance, and I'll call those experts from the city district for you!"
"Alright, I'll do it as soon as possible!"
...
Meanwhile, while Old Lang ends his fishing outing feeling upset, Han Qiang also holds a silent fire when he's reeling in his rod to go home.
Driving home in the evening, without even unloading the gear from his car, he heads straight to the Old Ma Fishing Tackle Shop where he bought fishing line yesterday.
Old Ma's real name is Ma Yuhua. He is 48 years old and has been running the shop for over 15 years, serving as the vice president of the W City Fishing Association.
Compared to Lang Junfeng, Ma Yuhua is much more prestigious.
He was the disciple of Old Master Hua from early on and among the first to adopt Taiwanese fishing techniques.
Since 2005, Ma Yuhua has been actively involved in competitive fishing on the frontlines. Though older, his fishing skills were top-notch among the Taiwanese fishing enthusiasts of the time.
On the display cabinet behind the tea table in Ma Yuhua's fishing tackle shop, various trophies, certificates, and honor awards fill every space, marking him as an absolute powerful angler.
Among non-major wholesalers in fishing tackle stores in W City, he's undoubtedly the top tier, with numerous followers and a widely recognized name.
It's said that more than thirty apprentices are lined up to learn fishing from him, and his shop is always bustling with many honored guests.
Han Qiang has been learning to fish for just over a year, starting to play black pit fishing with colleagues from his office this spring.
Old Ma Fishing Tackle Shop is located near his residential area, his most frequent spot, where he's continuously purchased equipment and materials, spending thousands at least.
"Ah, Han, you're here! Come in, have a seat! Xiao Wang, rinse the cups and pour some water!"
Upon seeing Han Qiang enter, Ma Yuhua greets cordially while signaling his apprentice to rinse tea cups and pour water.
"No tea for me, help me take a look. The fishing line I bought yesterday, was there a mistake?
This morning, I went fishing and cut two sets of number four main lines. Both were cut at the knot from the pole head!"
Han Qiang took out the short leftover line ends from the two cut rod heads, as well as an unused number three line, and placed them on the counter with a rather stiff attitude.
How could lines personally sold by Ma Yuhua be wrong? It's already the cheapest line in his shop, with high-end lines costing over twenty to thirty bucks.
"It's definitely my line. But what were you fishing for? How could number four lines just snap? That shouldn't happen!"
Maintaining a calm demeanor, Ma Yuhua picked up the broken line end, glanced at it in a mock serious manner, then casually set it down again.
"The Meng Village black pit has opened, I went with friends to play! With carp weighing two to three pounds, but after a few, the lines started snapping, swapped for another rod, and snapped again!
Later, I borrowed a 2.5-line set from next door, surprisingly no issues!
You told me it's manually bonded with precision, yet it seems worse than the cheapest commercial lines; just a dollar per set in bulk!
Today, you need to give me an explanation!"
Finally hearing this, Ma Yuhua's expression slightly tightened, yet he still didn't change his tone, slightly smirking: "Oh? This I don't know how to respond to!
How about this, I'll ask you a few questions, and you answer truthfully. Let some anglers here offer you advice.
If it's my fault, I'll refund you! How does that sound?"
Seeing no attempt from the other party to shirk responsibility, with a fairly decent attitude, Han Qiang lowered his tone and continued: "Questions? What questions, go ahead! It's definitely your fishing line's poor quality!"
"You said you caught a few fish before the lines snapped, changed to new lines and continued snapping. So tell me, why weren't the lines snapping when you first started catching fish?
Second question: How big are the leaders you're using?
Third question: Does the angler who said my fishing line isn't good really know fishing? One dollar cost? I can take as many as he has!"
"Well… I did catch four fish initially, the main line indeed wasn't snapped; the fish were powerful enough to cut my leader. I then switched to a braided leader, and that's when the main line kept snapping!"
Before Han Qiang could answer the remaining questions, the four or five anglers sitting around the tea table sipping tea burst into laughter.
"Haha, of course, braided leaders will snap your main line! Who that really understands fishing uses that stuff!"
"Exactly, braided leaders are stronger than the main line. If the leader doesn't snap, logically the main line would! Isn't this common fishing knowledge? Do you replace your fuses with copper wires at home?"
"Oh, Teacher Ma should just refund him! It's ridiculous you teach them daily how to match their lines! Coming back looking for trouble lowers the store's class and technical level!"
"If the line seems weak, just go top-tier! Imported celebrity line, four bucks a meter. Less than thirty per set. You get what you pay for, whose fault is it if you seek bargains?"
A round of mockery left Han Qiang stunned.
Turning back to look at Han Qiang, Ma Yuhua concluded: "Did you hear what they said? I think the issue isn't with the line but rather with your poor pairing choices!
The number four line is quite strong; I've used up to number two line myself for carp fishing!
To stretch it further, even if you bought cheaper lines, shouldn't a number two line be less sturdy than a number four line?
There's lots to learn in fishing, don't be swayed by uninformed novices! How long have they been fishing? They understand nothing!"
"He also runs a fishing tackle shop! His name is Zhang Yang! Pulled in sixty to seventy pounds next to me! How come he doesn't know? You said my setup is wrong, then how come the 2.5 line borrowed didn't snap?"
Naturally forthright, Han Qiang's face had reddened, feeling like with their comments, the mistakes are seemingly his fault and he intentionally came to make trouble!
Without comparison, there's no way to speak, whether from binding details or fishing line quality. Han Qiang is absolutely certain that what he bought from Ma Yuhua was indeed inferior.
"Zhang Yang? Running a fishing tackle shop? Among W City district's fishing experts, I know all of them. Never heard of him! Do you know anyone like that?"
Instead of answering why the 2.5 number line didn't snap, Ma Yuhua changed the topic focusing on Zhang Yang before turning to the apprentices by the tea table.
"Don't know him! Never heard of him!"
"There are roughly six or seven notable fishing tackle shops in the five districts of W City, and I've been to all. Never heard of anyone named Zhang Yang!"
"Me neither!"
The apprentices chimed in, Ma Yuhua's lips curled slightly, speaking dismissively: "A backbone craftsman none of us knows, yet you believe his words?
Next time, ask if he knows Ma Yuhua from Anfang District?
Tell him that if he's got issues with me, he can say it straight up, no need for petty sneaky tricks! You've been used as a pawn and don't even realize it!
Tell you what, I'll gift you a set of Japanese imported line bindings! Use it confidently, there absolutely won't be quality issues!"