After speaking, Ma Yuhua took a reel of line from the main line box behind the counter and placed it on the counter.
If Han Qiang hadn't used Zhang Yang's line, hadn't observed Zhang Yang fishing up close, and hadn't shared drinks and meals discussing fishing, he might have been taken in by Ma Yuhua's explanation.
However, after previous interactions, he already had a basic understanding and wasn't about to be fooled a second time.
The other party clearly had no intention of acknowledging the problem; continuing to argue was pointless.
"As long as that's your attitude! I don't need the line!" Han Qiang didn't take the fishing line offered by Ma Yuhua and turned to leave.
This left Ma Yuhua stunned.
Just a rookie who's new to fishing, turned around and left, not taken in?
With the other party gone, it was a bit of an awkward pause.
Ma Yuhua's youngest apprentice helped by serving tea: "Have some tea, Master! Why bother with a rookie! Tell us about the last competition in Jiangsu!"
With a topic laid out, Ma Yuhua's expression returned to normal, and he quickly began discussing the competition, bringing a lively atmosphere of laughter and chatter back to the shop.
On the surface, it seemed as if the matter had passed, but Zhang Yang's name appeared for the first time in Ma Yuhua's memory.
...
In the following days, Zhang Yang's shop operated as usual, and on Wednesday in Meng Village, more fish were released. Zhang Yang organized another group outing, with catches as steady as ever.
The opening of the new fishing ground was a delight for the anglers, but it was quite distressing for Diao Changhe.
Also releasing fish on Wednesday and Saturday, in the past, even during poor fish shows, there would be about twenty anglers, but recent events saw just 13 coming for the weekend night fishing, and even fewer on Wednesday, with only 10.
This lack of customers led to losses spanning two consecutive events, putting Diao Changhe in a foul mood; he got mouth ulcers, sores in his nostrils, and even his daily three meals of alcohol lost their charm.
With Thursday approaching and just two days until the proper fishing event, Diao Changhe couldn't hold back any longer; he actively took out his phone to call Zhang Yang, Lang Junfeng, and several other anglers who used to show up frequently.
None of the anglers had a good impression of someone like Diao Changhe who traps his customers, so his calls amounted to mere formalities without being likely to attract many real customers.
Especially for Zhang Yang, who had a gentleman's agreement; attending would benefit the boss for free, and having already fished one event during the day, he couldn't attend another at night, as Zhang Yang had moved beyond the phase of nonstop fishing over a single day.
Zhang Yang didn't plan to go, but that didn't mean others couldn't enjoy Oil House, and if it was indeed as Diao Changhe claimed that no one showed up, it might actually be a golden opportunity to catch some excellent fish.
Based on this assessment, after hanging up the call, Zhang Yang posted a message in his QQ group.
@everyone Saturday night Oil House Fishing Ground, anyone want to team up for some fun?
Zhao Bingguang: "What's this? Preparing to take on Oil House next?"
Wang Jun: "I'll follow the main group's activities; if people go, I'll go too!"
Zhang Yang: "President Diao called me; the last two events had fewer people, but the fish situation was good. If anyone feels like going, I'll help organize it. If there are plenty of quality fish, who'd turn their back on fishing!"
Jianghu Angler: "Zhang Yang, you guys going to Oil House Saturday? Count me in, I'm Han Qiang, the one who sat next to you at the opening! Factory's been busy all week without fishing; I change shifts at four on Saturday!"
Seeing Han Qiang pop up in the group, Zhang Yang had a good impression of this straightforward guy and promptly replied: "I'm heading to Meng Village during the day; for night fishing, I'd swing by for a look but don't plan on casting out.
If anyone needs a Fisherman, I can lend a hand and head back around nine, so as not to delay opening on Sunday morning!"
Jianghu Angler: "Count me in! I'll bring two friends by to check out the shop too!"
"Count me in too; early arrival to claim spots, nothing beats the rush at Oil House!"
"I'll join in!"
"Ok! No problem!"
...
Zhang Yang organized a bunch of folks via QQ, five people confirmed, and that's not counting the few with Han Qiang.
Unknowingly, Saturday arrived, and Zhang Yang went with old Zhao and others to Meng Village for some sport fishing.
After two ongoing events, they basically figured out how the fishing ground performed; starting around six-thirty, they would be done by nine-thirty or ten, pack up and return to the shop without delaying lunch — eating heartily and maybe catching a little nap.
A bit after one in the afternoon, Zhang Yang was lounging on a recliner behind the counter when the rumbling engine noise from the entrance startled him awake.
The engine sound was peculiar, unlike what the original engine should sound like — dull, with weak propulsion — even as a car novice, Zhang Yang could tell something must be off.
Curiously poking out his head for a look, Zhang Yang saw two cars parked outside.
One was a silver-gray Jetta, the other an old Nissan Bluebird.
He recognized the Jetta as Han Qiang's car, but it was his first time seeing the old Bluebird, with the peculiar engine sound from this vehicle. Based on its style, it seemed like an old model from the 2000s, imported, worth thirty or forty thousand back then.
Soon, three people stepped out of the two cars, Han Qiang leading the other two, pushed the door and walked in.
"Hello, Zhang Yang brother! Your place is quite easy to find! Were you napping?"
Zhang Yang grinned and rushed to greet them: "Welcome, welcome! Hi, Brother Qiang, didn't you get off at four? How come you're here early? Come inside!"
Han Qiang replied: "Heard from the group that early goes get spots, so we couldn't hold back and swapped shifts to come early instead! First, we'll sort some fish bait at your shop!"
Han Qiang continued introducing: "This is Zhou Chu, this is Wang Yan, both are colleagues! This is Zhang Yang, whose fishing skills I told you about, way better than that deceiving Ma Hua!"
"Hello Xiao Zhang, we met at the opening!" Zhou Chu, a tall, thin guy with glasses, smiled to greet Zhang Yang.
"You're young, hi, I'm Wang Yan; everyone calls me Anfang Little Fishing King! Nice to meet you!"
Zhou Chu's reaction seemed normal, but Wang Yan's words gave Zhang Yang a strong feeling of "sizzle."
How to describe it, it wasn't the prancing dance kind of sizzle but the sort where it's evidently abnormal but acting proper and believing it, having seen him step out from the Nissan, overflowing with self-assurance.
Seeing Wang Yan extending his right hand for a handshake, Zhang Yang obligingly shook hands with him.
This guy was roughly 1.8 meters tall, sports a small ponytail, and his long face with a grin revealed spinach leaf stuck on his prominent teeth — his words, looks, and temperament were all unique and strikingly characterized.
Zhang Yang's first impression was like the typical classmate type each class had, more commonly known as a show-off type.
The next moment, an even more astonishing scene unfolded.
Wang Yan pulled a pack of non-filtered Da Qianmen cigarettes from his pocket, handing Zhang Yang one while lighting his own, magically producing a box of Botou matches, striking them with a flair in front of Zhang Yang and lighting the cigarette, elegantly blowing a smoke ring.