"Come quickly and take a look."
"What good stuff do you have?"
"This was taken by me unintentionally when I was playing with my drone. This man is really something."
"Let me see too. This sea turtle is so pitiful, I hope it's alright."
"Give this handsome guy a like. I've decided to post this video online. This kind of positive energy must be promoted."
Li Haochen had no idea that his act of saving the玳瑁 (hǎi dài mào - turtle) had been filmed by a man on a passing yacht with a drone, nor that he would be among the top three trending topics by noon that day.
After saving the turtle, Li Haochen found a small tidal pool to keep the abalones, then paddled his kayak back to the boat. He changed his clothes, ate two bananas and a few Snickers bars to replenish his energy, and then, with a net bag and a small pry bar, he paddled his kayak back to the deserted island.
After handling the kayak and placing the abalones into the net bag, he began collecting shells along the shore. Most of them were turban shells, quite large, with about ten weighing a catty. There were also many periwinkles, and Li Haochen found quite a few rock oysters in a crevice. These were in short supply in his spatial storage. Murong Yanran liked them, so he had to dig them all up.
In the same tidal pool where he had saved the turtle, Li Haochen found a few more small abalones, which made him extremely happy. After a long loop, his harvest was abundant. Happily, he loaded the shells into his kayak and rowed back to the boat, recording this location on his computer, planning to return later.
Carrying the shells into the cabin and then into his spatial storage, the weight was considerable, at least twenty catties. He scattered them all at the bottom of the reef, allowing them to propagate freely.
Exiting his spatial storage, he began preparing lunch. He felt good after doing a good deed today, so his appetite was excellent. For lunch, he blanched a plate of small squid, steamed a black sea bream, and made a winter melon soup with stone fish.
"Isn't this a bit extravagant? Oh well, eat first. Aren't you supposed to spend money? Besides, I haven't even sold anything yet." Li Haochen found a rationalization for himself and enjoyed the incredibly sweet and fresh seafood with great relish.
After eating his fill, he turned on the radio to listen to the other contestants boasting about how great and powerful they were, and some even cursing each other over fishing spots. It was all trivial, everyday stuff, with everything imaginable. It was quite entertaining to listen to.
Of course, Li Haochen was just an audience. He didn't know any of them, so there was nothing to discuss. After listening for a while to alleviate his boredom, he turned it off.
Adjusting his mindset, he prepared the fishing bait and brewed a large pot of hot tea. To prevent a repeat of yesterday's experience with the stone fish, he specifically placed a few Snickers bars nearby. However, given the weather, they would probably turn into a mushy mess soon.
This time, Li Haochen only used one fishing rod, not wanting to exhaust himself. It didn't matter if he caught a lot or a little. He planned to return by 5 PM. After two days at sea, he missed home, and the coconut stall and the "One-Flavor Stewed Soup" were consuming too much stock, so he needed to return to replenish it.
The clam and conch meat had been used up, so he had to use Antarctic krill. After baiting the hook, he cast it with force towards the deserted island, sending it thirty to forty meters away. After the lead sinker dropped for a few seconds, he gently flicked the rod and slowly reeled in the line.
"Whoosh~" The tip of the rod bent slightly.
"So fast?"
Li Haochen's heart leaped with joy. He rested the rod handle against his stomach. This time, Li Haochen had learned his lesson. When fishing the day before yesterday, he had rested the rod handle against his stomach, and his stomach had ached all night after landing a fish. Today, he had deliberately taken a towel, folded it several times, and placed it between his stomach and the rod.
Holding the rod handle with his left hand, he pulled and released, with his right hand cooperating to reel in the line. The fish was probably not large, otherwise it wouldn't be so easy. In less than half a minute, a black sea bream weighing about a catty was pulled ashore.
These sea fish were ferocious. Mid-air, it kept shaking its head and wagging its tail, its dorsal fin held high. Li Haochen had to find a cloth to wrap around it and firmly grip its head. He removed the hook and threw it into the live bait tank. The previously quiet live bait tank suddenly had another fish in the same predicament. The scene was lively, with all of them crowding forward to inquire about each other's well-being.
"Heh heh, don't get too excited. I'll get you more neighbors soon, and we'll all go onto the steamer together."
"Keep going, keep going~"
After baiting the hook, he leaned to the side and cast with force. Hmm, his casting technique was becoming more skilled. This time, it went at least 50 meters.
Reeling it in with the spinning reel, "Chich~"
The rod tip suddenly bent into a full moon, and the fishing line cut through the water with a "chich" sound. It was too fast, and the force was surprisingly strong, even causing Li Haochen to lunge forward. Fortunately, quick as a flash, he stepped onto the gunwale to steady himself.
"A big one...!"
Seeing the bend of the rod and the pulling force of the line, he knew it was definitely a large fish, capable of weighing over twenty catties.
Anyone would get excited when encountering a large fish, especially when fighting it. There was a sense of pride. Although the beautiful saleswoman had said the fishing rod could withstand a hundred catties without issue, seeing that large bend made Li Haochen a little worried.
Li Haochen leaned back slightly, using his body weight to counteract the load from the fish's movements. He pulled and released, reeling and giving line, a battle of endurance between man and fish. After more than ten minutes of struggle, the large fish showed no signs of yielding.
It was a stalemate. Li Haochen's stamina was rapidly depleting. The scorching sun accelerated his physical exertion, and he was covered in sweat. His hands, working at high intensity, were starting to feel stiff. He could only grit his teeth and persevere.
After another five or six minutes, he clearly felt the large fish's strength weakening. Li Haochen was delighted but didn't relax. Haste makes waste. He continued to reel in the line at a steady pace.
Having fished for sea fish so many times, Li Haochen was very familiar with the habits of large fish. When you think a large fish's stamina is almost depleted, you must not relax, because it will have a brief burst of energy.
This period was very short, but the burst of strength would absolutely cause you considerable trouble. As long as you endured this period, the large fish would be at your mercy.
As expected, the fishing rod suddenly shook violently, almost making him drop it. The fishing line darted left and right, cutting through the seawater with a "chich" sound.
Li Haochen gritted his teeth, his hands firmly gripping the fishing rod and the reel handle. Just as he felt he couldn't hold on any longer, the pressure suddenly eased. Li Haochen knew the burst period had passed, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He took a few deep breaths, a little excited and nervous, anticipating what would emerge from the water.
With the pressure gone, turning the reel became easy, without any jerks. Although there was still some pulling force, it was no longer a threat. One turn, two turns... in a short while, within three to four meters of the boat, the true form of the large fish was revealed.
Its yellowish-brown body was covered with numerous red spots, with five inconspicuous, irregular, oblique dark bands on its sides that forked towards the abdomen.
"This... this is a spotted grouper!"
With excitement, Li Haochen increased his reeling speed. When it reached the side of the boat, he was even more stunned. Its body was oval and laterally compressed but robust. By estimation, it was 60 centimeters long. This size was definitely the limit for a spotted grouper.