Thirteen big carp weighing three to four pounds each, they look like quite a lot in the fish keeper.
Zhang Yang helped dump the fish into the basket, casually rinsed the fish keeper by the water, and let it dry in the sun.
"Give me a hand, it's a bit hard to lift on my own! Are you selling these fish to the fishing spot, or taking them away?" President Diao asked.
"I'll take two back! Sell the rest! Let me help you carry them over!" Zhang Yang helped lift the fish basket towards the electronic scale.
"What's your name, buddy? You seem a bit unfamiliar!" President Diao asked, making conversation as he walked.
"Zhang Yang, from Zhang Family Village! Just opened a little fishing gear shop in town and came with friends to play! I'm not very good at fishing, learning from them!
Didn't expect the fish to be this good today, feels like we're in a real fishing mode despite just trying to catch a few!"
Of course, Zhang Yang wouldn't tell this unscrupulous boss the truth, joking half-seriously, acting quite easy-going.
"Opened a fishing gear shop, huh? That's a good business! Nowadays, those who can afford fishing are either wealthy or noble, easy to earn their money, it's a sure profit!
Not like us running the pond with fish, even if we make money it's tough, and if mishandled we're at a loss! Just this morning with your two rods, I lost at least a hundred bucks! Ugh..."
"Haha, just lucky today! The real fishing days weren't great, the fish didn't bite well either!
Technically, you're not at a loss, since the fishing is good this time, we'll be back next time! If people come to play, why worry about not making money?" Zhang Yang continued joking and chatting.
"I like hearing talk like that, you're a few years younger yet much more capable in words and deeds than Wang Jun!" President Diao said earnestly.
"You're too kind!"
While chatting, they lifted the basket to the door, and President Diao raised his hand to put it on the electronic scale.
Zhang Yang deliberately slowed down, pretending it was too heavy to lift and had to put it down.
"The plastic cuts my hand, can't take it, give me a moment to rest!
By the way, you have a scale, let's weigh me while we're at it! The guys say I've lost weight recently, let's see if it's true!"
Without waiting for President Diao to respond, Zhang Yang stepped on the electronic scale and looked at the display.
"That's not right, is this scale not calibrated, I weigh 158 pounds, how come it's only 145 now! Lost 13 pounds in two days, that's too exaggerated!"
Hearing Zhang Yang say this, President Diao felt uneasy and hurriedly explained: "It hasn't been used for days, maybe the tare weight wasn't cleared?
Try recalibrating and zeroing it! My scale is reliable, absolutely honest to everyone!"
While talking, President Diao subtly pressed a couple of buttons on the electronic scale like he was recalibrating and zeroing it.
When Zhang Yang stepped up again, the scale finally read true, 158 pounds, exactly right.
"See, I knew President Diao's scale couldn't be inaccurate! I must've seen wrong earlier! Come on, let's lift!"
Zhang Yang lifted the fish basket onto the scale with the plastic basket's weight included, the numbers showing.
53.3 pounds!
"Boss Diao, could you help find a convenient bag? I want to take two big fish back as a gift!"
"Sure, I'll get one for you!"
Soon President Diao brought a bag over, Zhang Yang picked out two big ones to pack, checking the remaining weight, 44.6 pounds!
Packed the fish, President Diao continued: "Several groups came and had poor fishing, today you guys hit the jackpot!
Fish all morning for free, and cost me a good dozen bucks too! The basket weighs six and a half pounds, net weight 38 pounds, three bucks a pound, that's $114, right?"
"Exactly! That's the deal, but you don't need to pay me now, there's real fishing tomorrow night, we'll be back, just consider it an advance payment!" Zhang Yang said calmly.
Initially, President Diao was reluctant to take money out of his pocket, but hearing Zhang Yang propose to keep it on account, he felt much better.
"Alright! Should I put it under your name? Or Wang Jun's?"
"Just put it under my name, we'll tally it up together!"
"Got it!"
...
A moment later, Zhang Yang returned carrying two big carp.
"38 pounds, not counting these two! Selling the fish for $114, had the boss put it on the account!" Zhang Yang said.
Wang Jun nodded happily: "Alright, played the rod pond quite a few times, finally seeing some return money! Let's pack up the rods, I'll go home, see you at the shop, lunch today is on me!"
"Let's head back first!"
After discussing it, the three left the fishing spot individually.
Old Zhao and Wang Jun drove, while Zhang Yang rode his bike. They left first, went home to drop off their fish, then returned, while Zhang Yang took his time riding his bike leisurely back to the shop.
When they reconvened, it was already twelve forty, but after a satisfying morning, they weren't tired at all, surprisingly cheerful!
The three chose a small restaurant, ordered four dishes and a few bottles of beer, and began eating.
As soon as they sat down, Old Zhao eagerly asked: "Now can you tell me? What secret weapon did you use this morning? I saw the weight photos Diao sent, over fifty pounds with tare!"
Normally, catching just one or two during casual fishing is good, now both successfully cashed in, Old Zhao couldn't believe it was just luck!
Wang Jun chuckled, grabbed his beer and took a big gulp, then started explaining the triangle bait technique Zhang Yang taught him this morning.
Wang Jun is quick to learn and clear in thought, his explanations were logical, he didn't waste a bit of the technique Zhang Yang taught him and repeated it all to Old Zhao.
"Damn! You can catch carp like that! Zhang Yang, you're not fair! Why didn't you tell me earlier!" Old Zhao rubbed his face, feeling he missed a billion-dollar idea!
Zhang Yang covered his mouth laughing: "Oh I wanted to tell you, but you didn't listen! If you'd followed my advice, shot two less slingshots, you'd have caught 11 fish!
Besides, your bait was ready, there were already fish in the spot, not a newly opened one, I wanted to tell but there needs to be the right fish conditions too!"
Now it's Old Zhao's turn to feel speechless.
Zhang Yang really didn't hide anything from him; only after fishing a few rods did he tell Old Zhao about the bobber being too sensitive. It's Old Zhao who didn't listen, lost two fish before realizing the issue!
Reflecting calmly now, he really can't blame Zhang Yang!
"Damn! My bad! We're buddies, nothing to hide. When you arrived this morning, I saw you sit for a while without catching anything, thought you didn't know how to fish for carp!
That was my assumption! Cheers to you, bottoms up!"
Zhang Yang smiled: "No need for formality, Wang, let's all have one, celebrate the successful fishing trip!"
Zhang Yang raised his cup to invite, and the three raised their cups, clinked, and drank in one go!
...
With easy-going fishing buddies together, there's really no barriers, small issues are cleared up right there, followed by a drink of beer, that's it settled! Doesn't affect the friendship.