Chapter 218: The Brighter He Shines, The More She Feels Uncomfortable

Once Wang Zhou had settled Xiao Xia comfortably, Lin Heng started the motorcycle. With the roar of the engine, they quickly disappeared down the road.

Although the sidecar motorcycle could reach a top speed of one hundred kilometers per hour, Lin Heng kept it to thirty or forty on the mountain roads. Even so, it was much faster than riding a horse, taking just over ten minutes to reach their destination, as horses tire while machines do not.

After dropping Wang Zhou off at the shop, Lin Heng lingered for a while, then went to the river to check on Old Man Gao’s fishing.

“Have you caught anything, sir?” Lin Heng asked with a smile.

“After two hours, just one big crucian carp,” Old Man Gao replied, lifting his fish basket to show Lin Heng. The fish was quite large, over a pound, shimmering with a golden hue in the sunlight.

“What a big fish! So amazing!” Xiao Xia exclaimed in her childish voice, eyes wide with admiration.

“Hahaha, what a sweet girl!” Old Man Gao laughed, delighted by her innocent praise.

“Would you like to try fishing?” Old Man Gao asked with a smile.

“No, I’ll just watch for a bit,” Lin Heng replied, shaking his head with a smile. He wanted to fish but was worried Xiao Xia might wander off.

Anglers are like that; even knowing that winter fishing often yields nothing, they can’t resist trying. After coming back empty-handed, they vow never to fish again, only to return a few days later, blaming the environment or bait instead of the fish.

Old Man Gao handed Lin Heng a well-polished purple bamboo fishing rod. “Don’t be shy, give it a try. The spot is already prepared, and I’ll watch Xiao Xia for you.”

“Alright then,” Lin Heng agreed with a shy smile, taking the rod.

Old Man Gao stayed nearby, helping Xiao Xia collect stones. The riverbank was scattered with white stones that Xiao Xia excitedly called pearls.

Lin Heng examined the fishing rod. Old Man Gao was using a seven-star float and a long mainline, a Taiwanese fishing method. However, Lin Heng noticed the worms were too finely cut, short and pierced multiple times, losing their liveliness and making it hard for fish to bite.

He found a worm as thick as a pen refill, cut it into two pieces, and hooked it, casting it into the water. After ten minutes with no bites, he began to doubt himself. “This can’t be right. There should be crucian carp here. Are they not biting?”

He tried teasing the line a bit, and suddenly the seven-star float was pulled down. Excited, he lifted the rod.

“I’ve got a fish, and it’s a big one!” Lin Heng exclaimed, feeling the tug on the line, relishing the thrill of the catch.

“Did you catch one?” Old Man Gao hurried over with Xiao Xia.

Lin Heng played the fish for a couple of rounds before it surfaced, a silver-white crucian carp that splashed before diving back down.

“Big fish! Big fish!” Xiao Xia cheered, jumping up and down.

Lin Heng pulled the fish onto the bank, grinning. “Not bad, this one’s about half a pound.”

“Impressive, catching one right away,” Old Man Gao praised.

“I want to see the fish,” Xiao Xia insisted.

Lin Heng placed the fish in a small pool behind them for Xiao Xia to admire, then continued fishing. The teasing method worked, so he repeated it.

Every half minute or so, he teased the line, and after three or four minutes, he suddenly lifted the rod again, the line whistling as it was pulled taut.

“Wow, this one’s big!” Old Man Gao exclaimed in surprise.

“Big fish!” Xiao Xia clapped and cheered.

Lin Heng played the fish for over a minute before pulling it out. It was a beautiful yellowish crucian carp, larger than Old Man Gao’s.

“Bigger than my foot!” Lin Heng laughed, holding the fish.

Old Man Gao nodded. “This one’s nearly two pounds. You’ve got skills, Xiao Lin.”

Lin Heng chuckled. Having fished for decades, he had honed his basic skills well.

They were fishing near a water bay not far from the Huangtan Town bridge. People on the bridge, basking in the sun and enjoying the scenery, pointed and exclaimed in amazement at Lin Heng’s fishing prowess.

Lin Heng thought the rich resources of the Huangtan River played a big part in his success.

In the next half hour, he caught six or seven more crucian carp, the smallest around half a pound, the largest a pound, unable to beat his earlier record.

Lin Heng figured the reason for catching only a few was the large hook size, equivalent to a number three Ise-ni, which small crucian carp couldn’t bite. But there was no choice; it was the smallest hook available.

“Old Man Gao, your turn,” Lin Heng said, standing up with a smile.

“Alright,” Old Man Gao agreed, eager to try Lin Heng’s fishing method.

Using the same teasing technique, Old Man Gao soon caught a silver-white crucian carp weighing nearly half a pound. In just twenty minutes, he caught three, smaller each time, but far better than his previous two-hour effort for one fish.

“Xiao Lin, you’ve got a sharp mind,” Old Man Gao said happily, pleased with his catch.

Lin Heng smiled slightly, “Haha, I’m just guessing. The main reason is that you picked a good spot. In winter, the fish don’t move. If you choose the wrong place, no matter how hard you try, you won’t catch anything.”

Checking the time, he continued, “Sir, it’s getting late. I’ll head back now and won’t be able to keep you company for fishing.”

Old Man Gao pointed to the fish in the basket and said with a smile, “Take a few fish with you. I’ll keep two, that’s enough for me. I can’t eat more than that.”

“Alright.”

Lin Heng nodded with a smile, fetched a net bag, and caught six crucian carp weighing about four to five jin. Then, he bid farewell with Xiao Xia.

On the bridge, Lin Heng tied the fish net to the spare tire hub at the back of his sidecar motorcycle. Holding Xiao Xia, he sat her in the seat and fastened her seatbelt.

Many people sunbathing on the bridge looked at Lin Heng’s motorcycle and his catch with envy. This young man not only had great skills, but he was also wealthy, and his daughter was adorable. It was enough to make anyone jealous.

Lin Heng was used to the compliments, but he couldn’t help but smile whenever someone praised his fishing skills.

“Boss Lin, your fishing skills are impressive, and this motorcycle is even more so.”

Just as Lin Heng was about to leave, a voice called out from behind.

Turning his head, he saw it was Wang Jie, the owner of Unity Brick Factory.

“Long time no see, Boss Wang.”

He greeted with a smile.

“You’re doing well for yourself.”

Wang Jie walked over, offering Lin Heng a cigarette, and started a casual chat.

The more Wang Jie looked at Lin Heng, the more incredible it seemed. Six months ago, this man was just a farmer buying bricks from his factory. Now, in half a year, he was riding a motorcycle that even Wang Jie didn’t own.

Lin Heng didn’t know what Wang Jie was thinking. He simply asked about the brick factory’s situation. With the proposal Lin Heng had given, the quality of bricks at Unity Brick Factory had improved significantly. They had recently secured several deals and established a foothold in Huangtan Town.

Lin Heng felt a bit envious, thinking that once he had the money, he would invest in real estate and construction companies, as these would be the most profitable industries in the coming decades.

After a brief chat, Wang Jie left. Although Lin Heng was doing better and better, Wang Jie felt he would soon surpass him. His emotions were more of surprise than envy.

“Xiao Xia, sit tight and don’t move around.”

Lin Heng said as he started the motorcycle and headed back.

The wind on the road was strong, so Lin Heng drove slowly. Xiao Xia, being obedient, didn’t move around.

After traveling about halfway, Lin Heng saw two women walking ahead. They looked familiar.

Hearing the sound of the motorcycle, the two women turned their heads. Lin Heng realized they were Jin Yan and her mother.

Both of them had complex expressions when they saw Lin Heng. How did he keep getting wealthier?

Lin Heng didn’t intend to interact with them and silently drove past.

“Give us a ride, Boss Lin. You’re heading back to the village, right?”

To Lin Heng’s surprise, Jin Yan’s mother spoke up.

Since she had spoken, Lin Heng had no choice but to stop. They were from the same village, and if he didn’t stop, she would surely badmouth him behind his back.

“You’ll have to squeeze in.”

Lin Heng said, looking at the two of them.

Jin Yan’s mother waved her hand with a smile, “It’s fine. Your back seat is empty. Let Jin Yan sit there. It’s no big deal.”

Hearing this, Jin Yan blushed. Sitting there would mean close contact with Lin Heng, a proximity she had never experienced before.

She used to be disdainful, but now her heart was racing. This man had become incredibly attractive.

Lin Heng shook his head, “You’ll have to squeeze in. You can’t sit behind me. I don’t want my wife to misunderstand.”

Jin Yan’s steps halted, and she gave Lin Heng a deep look before being pulled by her mother to squeeze in together.

“Oh, you’re too afraid of your wife. What’s the big deal?”

Jin Yan’s mother laughed sourly, went over to pick up Xiao Xia, and the three squeezed into the side seat.

Fortunately, there was enough space, and the two women holding a child could barely fit.

“This is called respect, not fear. Sit tight, I’m starting the ride.”

Lin Heng said, then slowly drove the motorcycle forward.

Jin Yan’s mother was taken aback. Respect was a concept she hadn’t heard of before. Seeing the fish hanging at the back, she changed the topic, “You bought fish too?”

“Caught them.”

Lin Heng chatted with her sporadically as he drove back quickly.

Sitting on the motorcycle, Jin Yan’s mother grew increasingly envious and regretful. How had she not noticed Lin Heng’s potential back then?

This motorcycle was fast, and riding it felt prestigious.

Jin Yan held Xiao Xia without speaking, occasionally glancing at Lin Heng’s profile. She thought if she had married Lin Heng, their child would be older than Xiao Xia by now, and she could sit on this motorcycle openly.

Saying she didn’t regret it would be a lie. The more dazzling Lin Heng became, the more she regretted. She couldn’t help but think how great it would be if Lin Heng and Chen Xiulan didn’t get along. Maybe she would still have a chance to step in and drive that woman away.

However, the couple was perfectly harmonious, and Lin Heng had no interest in even glancing at her. He had just refused a perfect opportunity for close contact, so how could she make a move?

She dared to claim that no man in the village could have resisted in such a situation. She was confident in her beauty and her ample assets.

“We’re here.”

While Jin Yan was lost in her fantasies, the bike had already arrived in the village.

“Thank you! Want to come over to my house for a bit?” Jin Yan’s mother said with a smile as she got out of the bike.

“No, thank you,” Lin Heng replied, shaking his head as he drove up to his house.

Xiulan came out to greet Xiao Xia when she heard the bike. She glanced at Jin Yan but didn’t pay much attention.

“Did you meet them on the way?” Xiulan asked as she walked over with Xiao Xia, her tone calm and without accusation.

“Yes, Jin Yan’s mother flagged me down on the road and asked for a ride,” Lin Heng nodded.

Xiulan nodded back and tilted her head with a smile, “Why didn’t you let them sit in the back? You had them squeeze together.”

Lin Heng laughed, “How could I let another woman sit behind me?”

“Daddy didn’t let the auntie sit in the back. That auntie kept touching my face,” Xiao Xia chimed in with her childish voice.

Xiulan blinked at this, feeling quite pleased. She never spent time alone with other men, and she knew Lin Heng would do the same.

Lin Heng glanced at Xiulan, then pushed the cart into the yard.

“Did you catch these fish?” Xiulan asked, noticing the carp hanging on the cart.

“Yes, aren’t they big?”

“They are. It’s surprising you could catch them at this time,” Xiulan nodded, taking the fish to put in a water basin. The carp were still alive and started swimming as soon as they hit the water.

“Daddy is amazing!” Xiao Xia waved her little hands, eagerly recounting Lin Heng’s fishing exploits.

Lin Heng was pleased with his daughter’s enthusiastic praise. She truly was his good daughter.

After parking the cart, Lin Heng walked over with a smile, “You like carp soup, right? Let’s make some tonight. Fresh ones taste the best.”

Xiulan looked at the large carp and said, “Let’s keep them for the New Year. There’s no rush.”

Lin Heng waved his hand with a smile, “You eat yours now. We have a bike, so we can go to the Huangtan River to fish anytime. Bring me the knife, and I’ll clean the fish.”

With a bike, trips to the Huangtan River were much more convenient, taking only about ten minutes.

“Okay,” Xiulan nodded and went inside to get a knife.

Lin Heng took the knife and started cleaning the fish, asking, “Did you strain the malt syrup?”

“I thought you wanted to do it yourself, so I didn’t touch it,” Xiulan replied with a blink.

“Then I’ll do it later,” Lin Heng chuckled, quickly cleaning the carp.

Once Xiulan finished cooking, he washed his hands and went to strain the malt syrup and glutinous rice mixture that had been soaking for six hours.

After such a long reaction, the liquid in the large basin nearly covered the rice. It took Lin Heng ten minutes to strain a whole bucket of syrup.

However, seeing the time, he realized it was too late to cook it today. Otherwise, he would be up until two or three in the morning. It was better to leave it for tomorrow morning.

Setting the syrup aside, he prepared to make a temporary shelter for the two puppies. They still didn’t have names, and Lin Heng planned to name them once the shelter was ready.

He just hadn’t thought of suitable names yet.

“Knock, knock, knock!”

Halfway through making the doghouse, there was a sudden knock at the door.

“Who is it?” Lin Heng wondered aloud. It was dark outside, so who could it be?

(End of Chapter)

— Translator’s Notes —

– Taiwanese fishing method: A precision fishing technique developed in Taiwan, using a long mainline with multiple small bobbers (like seven stars) to detect subtle bites from cautious fish in still or slow-moving waters.

– seven-star float: A series of small, inline bobbers arranged like the seven stars of the Big Dipper constellation, used in Asian fishing to provide sensitivity for detecting light bites without alarming fish.

– Ise-ni: A type of Japanese fishing hook with a thin, straight shank and sharp point, originally for fly fishing but adapted for bait fishing delicate species like carp; ‘number three’ refers to its size.