Ding Wen and Chen Xiaodao drove away, while Zhang Yang and the others, well-fed and content, continued their afternoon fishing.
As the temperature gradually rose, the grass carp's activity also increased. By around two in the afternoon, the fish started biting more frequently, and the dozen or so anglers who remained at their spots managed to catch a few fish each.
This continued until the main fishing period ended at dusk. Zhang Yang caught a total of 11 grass carp, weighing in at 67 pounds, claiming the day's fishing crown for the pond.
According to the buyback price of four dollars per pound, he earned 252 bucks from the fish, but still lost 48 bucks on the fishing fee.
Even the skilled Zhang Yang didn't break even, and his three comrades caught even fewer fish: Old Zhou had six, Wang Yan seven, and Han Qiang only four. There was another brother with terrible luck who sat there all day and didn't catch a single fish, completely skunked.
The little team of Zhang Yang's four was unusually wiped out by Liu Mazi, the pond owner.
After the fish weighing ended, Zhang Yang, with a cigarette in his mouth, smiled and asked Liu Mazi, "President Liu, today's fishing conditions weren't great. What about the fishing fee, how should it be calculated?"
Liu Mazi scratched his head, a wry smile on his face, and said, "The bite was bad in the morning, but the afternoon was barely acceptable!
Otherwise, let's just forget about it. Next ti you co, I'll give you a discount!
There weren't many people today to begin with, and I'm already losing money. You guys cut so slack, try to understand!"
Hearing Liu Mazi's rather unreasonable tone, Wang Yan stepped forward two steps and said unhappily, "What did you say when I ca to see the fish on Friday? A man's word is his bond, don't you make light of us!"
"Exactly, exactly, no matter how many fish you release, it ans nothing if they don't bite!" Han Qiang chid in.
Zhang Yang maintained his smiling deanor and continued, "I'm doing okay with the fishing, so I can let it go without much fuss, but the rest of my friends here didn't catch any fish, not to ntion those who packed up early.
It's a fact that the fishing conditions were poor. How about showing so recognition of that? Otherwise, how can I bring friends to play here in the future?"
Seeing that Zhang Yang's teammates were unrelenting, Liu Mazi gritted his teeth and said, "With the conversation at this point, I'll make a concession. Here's the deal, if you co for the 'sneak fishing' tomorrow, I'll give you half off! Others pay 200, but you only 100!"
"Co again tomorrow? Are you taking us for fools? Who wants to co for these lousy fishing conditions!" Han Qiang imdiately exploded upon hearing it.
Wang Yan also wanted to speak, but Zhang Yang pulled them back, nodding, "Alright then, let's go with your proposal! We'll deduct today's fishing fee from the fish sale money, and I'll co again tomorrow!"
"Alright! Good!" Liu Mazi happily nodded when Zhang Yang agreed, and began calculating the remaining fish sale money.
Once the money was settled, Zhang Yang gave a shout, and the group packed up their gear and left.
At that mont, Zhang Yang's leadership within the team beca apparent. Although everyone felt uneasy about being shorted, with Zhang Yang agreeing, no one else objected further, accepting the situation.
Once everyone had their fishing gear packed and got in the car, Han Qiang and Wang Yan couldn't hold back any longer and started ranting in the WeChat group.
Wang Yan: "President Yang, why give Liu Mazi face, when it's clear he acted improperly!"
Han Qiang agreed, "Exactly, we did relatively well with our catches, yet most people couldn't even average three fish, with quite a few getting skunked, that jerk Liu Mazi's really unfair!
The pair ranted, but Zhang Yang didn't rush to reply, instead he turned to ask Zhou Chu.
"Brother Zhou, what do you think about this?"
The more cautious Zhou Chu replied, "A promise not kept is inexcusable, but since we've already paid the fishing fee, there's no point in digging into it. We should negotiate concessions if possible!
I feel there's potential for tomorrow's fishing!"
Hearing Zhou Chu's words, Zhang Yang felt much better.
In a team, mbers have different roles. Han Qiang and Wang Yan have short tempers and don't tolerate unfairness; they're the bold and daring warriors.
But Zhou Chu, slightly older, is much more stable, understanding how to weigh the pros and cons.
With Zhang Yang leading, he can make decisions if sothing happens. When they're on solo missions for filming, soone needs to take charge, and Zhou Chu fits that role well.
"Potential for tomorrow? After catching a few fish under the sun all day, I don't see any potential for tomorrow! Are we coming again?" said Han Qiang, who caught the least, unable to resist muttering.
Zhang Yang: "Yes! We're coming tomorrow. I also think there's potential!
Just before dusk, the fish biting increased. I caught an eight-pound big one in the last two hours, and I think the chances are high tomorrow that they'll bite!
Also, the sneaky fishing fee of 200 bucks tomorrow ans not many will co! If we seize the opportunity, we might land a big catch!
Yelling and losing face is a last resort. Finding an opportunity to get both principal and interest back is the real skill!!"
"Damn, when you put it like that, it seems to make sense! The grass carp I caught before packing up was seven or eight pounds too!"
"Then let's continue tomorrow special!"
In a few short exchanges, Zhang Yang had managed to quell the dissatisfaction within the team.
...
After a full day of fishing outside, the team did not gather at the shop again; they parted ways at the town's intersection, going ho to find their mothers.
In the evening, Zhang Yang specifically glanced at the announcents in the QQ fishing group and saw that Liu Mazi's notice about the sneaky fishing had been criticized by many anglers, who felt shortchanged. Zhang Yang's lips curled slightly.
The reputation of Joyful Forest wasn't great to begin with; with today's trickery and tomorrow's high sneaky fishing price, anglers who couldn't gauge the situation were even more reluctant to risk their rods, fearing one wrong judgnt and getting ripped off.
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