Chapter 58 - 58 Zhou Yunshan’s Peak Moment
The Zhou Family’s dinner table was more vegetable heavy than loaded with meat, giving off a decidedly simple air.
But that was just on the surface.
In reality, those seemingly ordinary vegetables all came from a garden rich with spiritual energy.
Vegetables suffused with spiritual energy may or may not help in increasing one’s cultivation level, but they were certainly much more expensive than ordinary vegetables.
However, the well-established and affluent Zhou Family didn’t care about the cost of groceries.
At the dinner table, Zhou Yunshan’s wife, Miao Xue, noticed that Zhou Yunshan seemed to be in a good mood and took the opportunity to start a conversation with Zhou Yiwen, “Yiwen, I heard you’ve recently started dating a girlfriend, haven’t you? When are you bringing her home to meet your parents?”
Zhou Yiwen showed a troubled expression, “Mom, we just confirmed our relationship not long ago, don’t rush it, let me spend a few more days with her to see.”
Miao Xue, quite excited, said, “What’s there to wait for? Bring her home for Mom to see. I’ll help you size her up. Right, Old Zhou?”
Zhou Yunshan was thinking about where to go fishing that evening and replied offhandedly, “Yes, let your mom have a look. The daughter-in-law of our Zhou Family can’t just be any random girl.”
Zhou Yiwen wasn’t unable to bring Tang Qian over, but in his heart, he still harbored a sliver of hope for Lin Yao.
In terms of appearance, Tang Qian wasn’t lacking, and as long as she behaved well, plus his reasoned advocacy, his parents would most likely agree.
But Zhou Yiwen was dissatisfied; the person he liked, from start to finish, was only Lin Yao.
To him, Tang Qian was nothing more than a poor substitute for Lin Yao.
He felt that only Lin Yao was worthy to be his wife and the daughter-in-law of the Zhou Family.
As long as Lin Yao was willing to marry him, even if they had to entrust all of the Zhou Family’s wealth to Lin Yao afterward, Zhou Yiwen would be happy to do so.
Unfortunately, Lin Yao just happened to fancy Jiang Cheng…
Damn Jiang Cheng!
But it wasn’t a big problem, when the cousin Jiang Cheng’s exam celebration began, and Jiang Cheng showed his disgrace under their alliance’s attack, then Lin Yao would completely lose heart in him.
At that time, he, Zhou Yiwen, would swoop in when she was vulnerable, and he still had a complete chance of pursuing Lin Yao!
“Mom, let’s talk about the girlfriend issue in half a month, I’ll chat with her a bit more.”
According to the information provided by Chen Shuai, the middle school exam results would come out around July eleventh or twelfth, and the Sun Family would hold a celebration at the end of July.
He could stall his mother for half a month, and after the celebration party, it would be clear whether Jiang Cheng or he, Zhou Yiwen, was the winner.
“You got it!” Miao Xue said happily.
“I’ve finished eating. I’m going fishing with some friends tonight and will be back tomorrow morning,” Zhou Yunshan said.
Miao Xue hurriedly helped her husband pack his things. “Old Zhou, be careful out there.”
“I know.”
“Dad, I want to go fishing with you too,” Zhou Yiwen said, fully aware of Zhou Yunshan’s fondness for fishing. Gaining his father’s approval in fishing could make discussions easier for everything else in the future.
Zhou Yunshan was unsure about the efficacy of the new Fluorescence Talisman, and he didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of his son. As the head of the family, he still needed to save face.
“You stay home and keep your mom company tonight. Don’t always be running around aimlessly, not keeping a respectable appearance.”
The name of Wuyue City came from the Wu Mountain and Yue Mountain nearby; ‘Wuyue’ refers to a valley where the two mountains intersect.
Outside Wuyue City, on a small path leading deep into Yue Mountain, two off-road vehicles were parked. The doors were open, and four people stood by the cars, chatting in a group.
Before long, a third vehicle arrived right on time.
“Yo, Old Zhou’s here. What a rare guest.”
“What’s the occasion today? Old Zhou’s actually the one who called us out for fishing?”
“If my memory serves me right, it’s been quite a few years since Old Zhou took the initiative like this, right?”
Zhou Yunshan got out of his car, cheerfully greeting a few old friends.
He hadn’t actively invited his old friends for fishing in a long time because of his frequent no-shows, which had been somewhat embarrassing.
It was common for old friends to throw friendly jabs at each other, and the more one retaliated, the weaker they appeared.
Naturally, Zhou Yunshan wouldn’t foolishly subject himself to scorn, so he found an opening to shift the focus onto someone else.
“Don’t just talk about me. Old Bai, he hasn’t come out in a while either, right?”
The group unanimously began to roast Bai Wendao.
Bai Wendao waved his hand, “I’ve indeed been quite busy with the academy lately. The higher-ups’ inspection today was almost done, so I thought I’d come out to unwind.”
The few drove to the end of the path, then got out and walked for another twenty minutes.
Along the way, they saw quite a few other anglers who also came for night fishing.
Most were from the same circle, well acquainted, or at least familiar faces.
Upon reaching the fixed fishing spot, the five of them spaced out and set up their gear, baited the hooks, and cast the lines into the water in one smooth motion!
Each person had their own understanding of fishing equipment, methods, and techniques, with none conceding to the other. Ultimately, results would do the talking, and the one who caught the biggest fish would be in the right.
Zhou Yunshan’s bait and equipment were, of course, meticulously prepared.
Coming out for nighttime fishing with good friends, even if he couldn’t snag first place, he absolutely couldn’t go home empty-handed again!
“Old Zhou, what are you sneaking around for? Are you planning to hook a fish you bought earlier and then pretend to catch it? Haha.”
“Old Zhou doesn’t care. He’s the boss at home, so even if he comes back empty-handed, he can still come out to play whenever he wants.”
“Damn it, can’t you speak properly? Stop causing friendly fire!”
Zhou Yunshan, unable to contain his irritation, said, “Niu, on what basis do you conclude that I’ll definitely come back empty-handed tonight!”
The cultivator known as “Niu” said without any reservation, “With the weather so nice tonight, someone’s got to come back empty-handed, right? It can’t be that all four of us catch nothing while you’re the only one landing fish?”
Bai Wendao watched them argue in silence. Honestly, arguing like this could scare the fish away. But it didn’t matter much to him; the river was full of smart, hard-to-catch big fish. And with Zhou Yunshan the perennial empty-hander there, Bai Wendao certainly wouldn’t be the last one standing.
Zhou Yunshan was about to make a comeback when suddenly his fishing rod shook.
His muscles moved reflexively, and with a fierce jerk, a large fish leapt out of the water!
Zhou Yunshan held his breath and reeled in with skill.
The big fish was strong and very likely to break free from the hook. But this fish seemed to have bitten quite firmly and struggled in vain to free itself.
A few moments later, a fish as long as an adult’s arm lay on the shore!
The fish was not only large but also had a superb appearance—it could easily be called top-grade!
Catch one, boast for a year, no problem at all.
“Holy shit!”
“Old Zhou, is this the one you caught?”
“Awesome!”
Feeling the envious gazes of his old friends, Zhou Yunshan laughed heartily.
After being suppressed for several years, today he had finally turned the tables.
“Got a scale? Let’s see how much this fish weighs.”
“Twenty-one pounds!”
“Bullshit! It’s clearly twenty-one pounds and two ounces!” Zhou Yunshan argued with justification.
“Alright, alright, my bad for missing out on two ounces.”
That’s how fishing is, whoever catches the bigger fish holds the floor.
Zhou Yunshan, holding his fish as long as an adult’s arm and weighing twenty-one pounds and two ounces, said to his companions, “I’m going to take the fish back to the car first. Keep an eye on my rod for me.”
Along the way.
Wherever Zhou Yunshan passed with his fish, every angler stood up to see him off.
“Holy shit! Is this the one you caught? How big is it?”
Zhou Yunshan: “Twenty-one pounds and two ounces. I didn’t weigh it precisely, but if I did, it’d be twenty-two pounds.”
“Nice, brother, that’s a good catch!”
Zhou Yunshan: “Twenty-two pounds, it’s not that big.”
“Dude, that fish must be nearly thirty pounds, right?”
Zhou Yunshan: “No, no, at most twenty-five pounds.”
“Bro, are you selling this fish? I’ll buy it, name your price.”
Zhou Yunshan: “Hey, it’s not that big, just under thirty pounds. I’ll keep it for my family to eat.”
Zhou Yunshan’s triumphant start left Bai Wendao and the other four looking at each other in dismay.
None of them had the heart to speak up; they were all holding their breath, fishing with all their might.
The one who used to be the permanent dead-last empty-handed pro, had suddenly turned the tables today. Now, it would be awkward for whoever didn’t catch a fish next.
However, it wasn’t long before Zhou Yunshan came back, fish in tow.
“Old Zhou, weren’t you taking the fish to your car? Why bring it back again?”
Zhou Yunshan justified, “Forgot to get a bucket. I came back for a bucket to put the fish in.”
Damn it!
This damn guy definitely didn’t get enough of showing off the first time and used the excuse of coming back for a bucket to show off again!
Moments later, Zhou Yunshan came back yet again, fish in hand.
This time it wasn’t for a bucket but to say, “Do you guys have any rope? The fish is too big. I’m thinking of tying it to the outside of the car since it won’t fit inside.”
Facing Zhou Yunshan’s shameless gloating, Bai Wendao and the four others were seething with anger, yet dared not to speak.
Great, just great, show off like that, why don’t you?