RBCT Chapter 7 Going Down to the Lake
Chapter 7 Going Down to the Lake
Chen Zheng woke up before dawn the next day.
He was awakened by the chirping of birds outside.
The villages by Baiyang Lake get light early.
In summer, around four or five o'clock, as the sky begins to lighten with the first hint of dawn, the wild ducks in the reed beds start quacking.
Chen Zheng lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) and stared at the roof beams above his head for a while.
The roof beams were made of pine, and over the years, they had been blackened by smoke.
A string of red chili peppers and a few bunches of garlic hung on top; they were completely dried, the skin wrinkled.
It rustles when the wind blows.
A sliver of light shone through the window paper, dimly illuminating the shadows of Chen Rong and Chen Feng on the opposite bed.
Chen Feng was sleeping sprawled out, the blanket kicked down to his feet.
A pillowcase covered her stomach, her mouth was slightly open, and she was snoring evenly.
Chen Rong lay on his side, facing the wall, wrapped tightly in the quilt.
Only the back of its head was visible, and it remained motionless, like a shrimp.
Chen Zheng quietly got up and pulled Chen Feng's blanket up to cover his stomach.
Chen Feng turned over, mumbled something, and fell asleep again.
This child is a restless sleeper, like a pancake, turning over seven or eight times a night.
He dressed and pushed open the door to the main room.
Inside the main room, his father, Chen Laosan, had already gotten up and was squatting on the threshold smoking.
The cigarettes were homemade dry tobacco, made by cutting newspaper into strips, wrapping tobacco shreds around them, and twisting both ends.
The tobacco shreds were grown on our own land, dried, chopped, and packed in a tin box; they had a very strong smell.
When you smoke it, the whole room is filled with that pungent smell.
"Father," Chen Zheng called out.
Chen Laosan turned around, glanced at him, and nodded.
He took a drag of his cigarette, the cigarette butt reflecting off his fingers, which looked as thick as old tree roots.
"Are you taking Rongzi to the lake today?"
"Hmm. Let's go take a look at Repulse Bay."
Chen Laosan took another drag of his cigarette, stubbed it out on the threshold, stood up, and said:
"The fish in Repulse Bay, after all the trouble you caused yesterday, won't be so easy to catch today."
Let's go to East Bay. The water is deep there, there are lots of fish, and it's quiet.
Chen Zheng was taken aback.
His father never told him these things in his past life.
He decides where to cast his net and what kind of fish to catch based entirely on his own guesswork.
If you run into someone, it's luck; if you don't, it's your own fault.
His father never gave him any pointers or asked any questions, as if fishing was something he was born knowing how to do and didn't need to be taught.
But this life seems to be different.
Chen Zheng felt a warmth in his heart and replied, "Dad, I understand."
Chen Laosan didn't say anything more, turned around and went into the kitchen to help.
The sounds of his mother cooking came from the kitchen, the clatter of the spatula hitting the bottom of the pot, all blended together, a sound that brought him peace of mind.
Zhang Cuihua poked her head out, her hair held back with a chopstick, her face still glowing red from the stove fire:
"Zhengwa, eat before you go."
"Mom, I'll just take two pancakes with me so I can go to the lake soon."
Zhang Cuihua glared at him: "What's the rush? The fish isn't going anywhere. Eat it before you go!"
You went to the lake on an empty stomach early in the morning; a gust of wind would have knocked you over.
Chen Zheng did not insist.
Breakfast was cornmeal porridge, so thick that chopsticks could stand upright in it.
The flatbread was made yesterday. I heated it in the pan once, so the outside was a little burnt, but the inside was still soft.
One bite and your mouth is filled with the sweet aroma of corn.
The pickled mustard greens were tossed with sesame oil and vinegar, giving them a tangy and appetizing flavor.
Chen Rong and Chen Feng also got up.
Chen Feng rubbed his eyes and sat down at the table. His hair was sticking up like a bird's nest, and there were drool marks on the corners of his mouth.
The kid was still half asleep and not fully awake.
Chen Rong sat down quietly, picked up a piece of cake with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, and chewed it very slowly.
"Rongzi, come with me to the lake today," Chen Zheng said.
Chen Rong looked up at him and nodded.
That glance was quick, but there was light in his eyes.
Chen Feng was furious and slammed his chopsticks on the table: "Brother! You said yesterday you weren't taking me, fine, I'm not going."
But you took my second brother but not me? That's not fair!
"You're too young."
"I'm not young! I'm already twelve! When Jianguo was twelve, he was already swimming in the lake by himself!"
Ask anyone in the village, who doesn't know that I, Chen Feng, am a hero?
Chen Laosan, holding his bowl of porridge, glanced at Chen Feng:
"When your brother Jianguo was twelve years old, he almost drowned in the lake. He swallowed a lot of water and was pulled out by someone."
Are you going to copy him too?
Chen Feng pursed his lips and fell silent, poking at the bottom of the bowl with his chopsticks, making the bowl clink.
Zhang Cuihua laughed beside him and put a piece of pickled vegetable on Chen Feng's plate: "When you're two years older, I'll let your brother take care of you."
"Can you help Mom with the chores at home now? That pile of firewood in the yard hasn't been chopped yet."
Chen Feng nodded reluctantly, muttering to himself:
"When I grow up, I'm going to catch a fish bigger than any of yours."
I want 100 jin (50 kg) of it!
Chen Zheng laughed: "Okay, when you grow up, I'll row you around."
After finishing their meal, Chen Zheng and Chen Rong packed their things and prepared to go to the lake.
The fishing net was prepared yesterday; it's a three-layered net with mesh sizes that are just right to catch big fish.
The net rope is made of hemp rope, soaked in pig's blood, and dried. It's very strong, as thick as a finger, and you can't break it even if you pull on it.
There's also the sea snail, made of woven bamboo strips, with a wide opening and shallow bottom.
Chen Laosan came out of the house, carrying a fishing spear in his hand.
The harpoon is different from the one Zhang Jianguo used.
Zhang Jianguo's sword was a three-pronged one, with the tips polished to a shine, as if it were brand new.
Chen Laosan's weapon is a single-pronged fork with a barb on the tip; once it's in, it can't be pulled out.
The fork is made of ash wood, and after many years of use, it has become shiny and slippery from being soaked in hand sweat.
"Here you go." Old Chen handed the fishing spear to Chen Rong.
Chen Rong took it, holding it in both hands, looking a little bewildered.
The fork was thicker than his arm, and the way he held it looked like he was holding a fire poker.
Chen Laosan looked at him and said, "When you go down to the lake to catch fish, you need to have sharp eyes, steady hands, and a calm mind."
The fish is in the water, and you are on the boat; you have to be more stable than the fish.
If you panic, the fish wins. Got it?
Chen Rong nodded, gripping the fishing spear tightly.
Chen Laosan then looked at Chen Zheng: "Keep an eye on him. Don't let him go into the deep water."
Chen Zheng nodded.
The two went out the door and walked towards the lake.
Lutang Village in the early morning is like a painting.
The poplar leaves on both sides of the village road rustled in the wind.
Dewdrops dripped from the leaves and landed on my head, feeling cool and refreshing.
Whose rooster is crowing? One crow after another.
Dogs in the distance also started barking, one after another.
Under the old locust tree at the village entrance, several old men were already squatting there, smoking and chatting. They watched the people coming and going.
"Zhengwa, going down to the lake?"
An old man asked.
This old man is over seventy years old, he has lost half of his teeth, and he speaks with a lisp.
"Yes, down to the lake."
"You got a big fish yesterday, want another one today?"
The old man smiled, revealing a set of yellow teeth.
"Don't be too ambitious. Every fish in the lake you take is one less."
You took forty pounds yesterday, so you'll be lucky to take five pounds today.
Chen Zheng smiled and said, "Grandpa, I'm just going to take a look."
"Rongzi went along too? Be careful, don't fall into the lake. If you do, no one will fish you out."
Chen Rong didn't speak, but simply nodded.
The two walked past the old locust tree toward the lake.
The voices of the old men behind me could be heard, intermittent and scattered by the wind.
"Those two lads, Chen Laosan, they're pretty good..."
"Zhengwa is like his father, he has a ruthless streak..."
"Rongzi is a bit of a taciturn person, but she's got it all figured out..."
On the lakeside, Chen Zheng's boat was moored at the dock.
The boat is a small, flat-bottomed fishing boat, about three meters long and one meter wide.
The hull was coated with tung oil, but over the years the oil has darkened.
In some places, the wood has peeled off, revealing the grayish-brown wood underneath.
There is a cabin at the bow of the boat, which can hold fishing nets and catches.
There's a seat at the stern, big enough for one person to sit on, and it's been worn smooth.
Chen Zheng boarded the boat first and put away the fishing nets and haul.
Chen Rong followed him onto the boat, sat at the stern, gripped the fishing spear in his hand, and stood as straight as a wooden stake.
"Hold on tight." Chen Zheng grabbed the oars and pushed off into the water.
The small boat nimbly glided across the water, heading towards the center of the lake.
The paddle blades enter the water.
Splash, splash.
In the early morning, a thin layer of mist covered the lake, like a veil, drifting and ethereal, visible but untouchable.
The mist was blown away by the wind, revealing the clear blue water below.
You can also see the aquatic plants swaying and dancing on the bottom of the water.
The reed beds in the distance are faintly visible in the mist, like a hazy ink painting.
Wild ducks called in the reeds.
quack!
Occasionally, one would take flight, gliding close to the water's surface, its wings flapping and creating a spray of water.
Chen Rong sat at the stern, watching all this with eyes that seemed to be lit up.
He rarely went down to the lake.
His father, Chen Laosan, said he wasn't a good swimmer and wouldn't let him go into the deep water.
He wandered around the shore, touching snails and catching shrimp, never before had he taken a boat to the center of the lake like today.
The boat was rocking back and forth, and he was a little nervous. He gripped the bottom of the boat tightly with both feet, afraid of falling overboard.
A moment later, the boat arrived at East Bay.
The water is deeper here, about three or four zhang (approximately 10-13 meters).
There are even more hidden channels underwater, which are places where big fish hide.
Old Chen is right. They caused a scene at Repulse Bay yesterday, and the fish probably won't be back for a while.
East Bay is quiet, has plenty of fish, and doesn't attract many visitors.
Chen Zheng moored the boat near a patch of water plants and began to cast his net.
There are rules for going offline.
You can't just drop in any water; you have to look at the water flow, wind direction, and the growth of aquatic plants.
In places where the current is rapid, the net will be washed away.
Fish don't like to go where the water flows slowly.
If the wind direction is wrong, the fish will run away because they smell people.
If the aquatic plants are too dense, the net will get tangled; if they are too sparse, the fish will have nowhere to hide.
Chen Zheng learned all of this from watching his father go online over and over again as he grew up.
When Chen Laosan was fishing, he never spoke; he just kept his head down and worked.
But he knew exactly where to cast the net, how deep to cast it, and how long to leave it.
Chen Zheng tied one end of the net to the stern of the boat, then rowed the boat forward, and the net slowly spread out.
Three layers of wire mesh were spread out in the water, the mesh appearing and disappearing in the water.
With the net cast, Chen Zheng moored the boat to the side and waited.
Waiting for fish requires patience.
We must not be hasty or impatient.
If you rush, you'll scare the fish away; if you get agitated, you'll pull in the net too early.
It's the same principle as fishing; you have to be more patient than the fish.
Chen Rong sat at the stern of the boat, quietly watching the water.
He has good eyesight and can see the ripples on the water, the swaying seaweed, and the occasional small fish leaping out of the water, so he doesn't feel bored.
"Brother, there are fish fry over there."
Chen Zheng looked in the direction he was pointing.
A small ripple appeared on the water's surface a dozen meters away, making a gurgling sound.
Those are bubbles exhaled by fish feeding underwater.
"Good eye," Chen Zheng said.
Chen Rong's lips curled up slightly, then she returned to silence.
After a while, the net rope suddenly stretched taut like a bowstring.
Chen Zheng's eyes lit up.
A fish has gotten caught in the net.
He grabbed a piece of seaweed and said to Chen Rong, "Steady the boat, don't move. Don't move at all."
Chen Rong nodded, put down the fishing spear, and pressed his hands against the gunwale.
Chen Zheng slowly moved closer to the net, observing the movement of the net ropes as he did so.
The net rope was very taut, tightening and loosening repeatedly, which meant the fish was still struggling and had energy.
He looked down along the net and could see a dark shadow thrashing about underwater.
It churned left and right, stirring up the mud at the bottom of the water.
It was a large carp, weighing at least ten pounds, its tail shimmering underwater.
Carp are not as strong as grass carp, but you still have to be careful.
Carp are impatient; when they hit a net, they struggle desperately, which can easily tear the net.
Last time, Baldy Liu ran into a big carp and, without paying attention, tore a large hole in his net.
The fish got away, and he was so angry that he didn't eat properly for three days.
Chen Zheng dipped the ladle into the water and slowly approached the fish.
The fish got tangled in the net and couldn't break free, but it kept thrashing its tail, making a splashing sound on the water.
As the fish approached, it suddenly lunged forward, nearly tearing a hole in the net.
"Don't rush."
Chen Zheng told himself to steady his wrist.
They then calmed down and waited for the fish to calm down.
The fish struggled for a while, then got tired and took a break.
In that split second, Chen Zheng scooped up the fish head and scooped it into the shovel.
The fish struggled in the water, splashing water everywhere, hitting my face, salty and fishy.
He didn't let go; with a forceful pull of both hands, he lifted the fish out of the water.
"Bro! We got it!"
Chen Rong shouted, his voice as sharp as a whistle.
Chen Zheng put the fish into the hold at the bow of the boat. The fish jumped around in the hold, its tail slapping against the deck.
He covered it with a wooden board and weighed it down with a stone, and then he breathed a sigh of relief.
"First rule." Chen Zheng smiled and wiped the water off his face.
Chen Rong looked at the fish in the hold, a wide smile playing on his lips.
Then, more fish started hitting the net.
In total, there were six crucian carp, four bream, and two rather large whitebait.
They're not very big, but together they weigh several dozen kilograms.
The crucian carp were splashing around in the hold, the bream were quiet, and the whitebait were jumping the highest, darting around.
Just as Chen Zheng was pulling in the net, he heard the sound of splashing in the distance.
Splash, splash, very rhythmic.
He looked up and saw a small fishing boat coming this way.
There was a man in his forties sitting on the boat, dark-skinned and thin, wearing a patched blue cloth shirt.
He was wearing a straw hat, the edges of which were torn and drooping.
"Zhengwazi!" the man shouted, his voice loud and carrying far across the lake.
Chen Zheng recognized him; it was Wang Laoliu from the village.
Wang Laoliu is a skilled fisherman who has been fishing on Baiyang Lake for over twenty years and is very experienced.
He knew exactly where the fish were and what kind of fish they were.
But he has a flaw: he's a chatterbox and loves to gossip.
He wanted to know exactly how many fish each family caught and how much they sold for, and then he would tell everyone about it.
"Sixth Uncle," Chen Zheng replied.
Wang Laoliu steered the boat closer, glanced into Chen Zheng's cabin at the bow, and clicked his tongue twice:
"Wow, Zhengwa, you've done so much in just one morning?"
You caught a big fish yesterday, and you've had another great harvest today. You're incredibly lucky.
Has it been blessed?
Chen Zheng smiled and said, "I was lucky to run into you."
Wang Laoliu shook his head, placed the oar horizontally on the boat, took out a cigarette from his pocket, struck a match, and lit it.
"I heard that you were the one who suggested that fish yesterday?"
"Good for you, Zhengwa, you've really made something of yourself. Your dad wasn't nearly as capable as you were when he was your age."