Adding the two fish caught by Wang Yan, Zhang Yang has seen a total of four grass carp brought ashore. After sizing up the latest fish, Zhang Yang's heart sank with a new guess.
The four fish caught are all individuals around five pounds; none of those big ones, eight or ten pounds, released the day before yesterday were hooked.
This seemingly trivial information is actually quite important for analyzing fish behavior.
Some of the smaller grass carp have started biting, indicating there's a high possibility that an anesthetic affects smaller grass carp less, while the big eight to ten-pounders haven't bounced back yet.
If this guess is correct, today's catch will definitely not be great, considering that during fish release, the small grass carp don't even make up half, and the average weight per fish exceeds six and a half pounds.
In this scenario, you shouldn't blindly pack up and leave too early. Maybe when the sun rises and the temperature gets higher, surpassing a certain state point, the big fish will go crazy.
Combining his own catch, Zhang Yang developed a clearer judgment of the fish's behavior. Next, the guerrilla strategy was implemented more thoroughly.
Little Yi carried the fishing box for help while Zhang Yang held the rod, poking wherever he walked.
Zhang Yang, who has long been active at various local fishing grounds, is already familiar with the people there, chatting with fishing buddies wherever he goes, casually observing the fish conditions at the ground.
Although guerrilla strikes didn't yield much, there were some catches. Around eleven in the morning, Zhang Yang had five grass carp in his bag, making up about 30% of the total fish yield.
The fish caught today were mostly hooked by the four-person group using grasshoppers; traditional bait and corn kernels were not very effective.
Throughout the morning, the fishing conditions were sparse, leading many fishing buddies with high expectations to pack up early. By lunchtime, over a dozen people had left, leaving only fourteen or fifteen still holding on.
As Zhang Yang planned to wage a protracted battle, Ding Wen and Chen Xueqiang drove leisurely to the fishing ground.
Belonging to the crafty anglers, even smarter than monkeys, these two guys heard from old Zhao in the group that Zhang Yang was fishing, prompting them to come check the action specifically.
This kind of idle wandering around the fishing ground is actually quite common, what's now fashionably termed 'pit wanderers.'
They might not fish during stocking but seize decent opportunities to snoop around, acting sly by taking advantage. These types are the most sensible yet toughest among the black pit player community, making it very difficult for pit owners to make money off them.
And today, besides investigating fish conditions, Ding Wen and Chen Xiaodao have a tacit goal: to get close to Zhang Yang, networking socially.
At eleven-thirty, Zhang Yang, squatting near the second fishing spot at the entrance of the fishing ground, saw Ding Wen and Chen Xiaodao strolling over.
"Hey, Master Zhang is fishing! How many have you caught? How's the fish condition today?" Ding Wen enthusiastically greeted Zhang Yang from afar.
Zhang Yang looked up and grinned, "It's alright, caught a few grass carp! Going guerrilla!"
"What time does the main fishing end? At six in the afternoon?" Ding Wen asked again.
"Yes! Not much fish caught, hanging in there. Why didn't you guys come earlier?"
"Had some stuff going on, got delayed! Haven't had many chances, finally met today. I've arranged lunch, let's have a drink together, shall we? You've turned me down several times!" Ding Wen pulled out a cigarette and handed one to Zhang Yang with a smile.
From Zhang Yang's inner perspective, he's actually not keen on dining with Ding Wen. However, with frequent encounters and them inviting several times, it felt inappropriate to bluntly refuse.
"It's...Fishing fees are hundreds a day, packing up early hurts a bit!" Zhang Yang expressed difficulty.
Ding Wen said, "Come on, I've ordered food and it will be delivered to the fishing ground soon. After lunch, we can still fish in the afternoon!"
"Well...thanks for the treat then!" Zhang Yang reluctantly agreed.
Regarding the food order, Ding Wen kept his word. At eleven forty, a small Alto car arrived at the fishing ground, and a hotel worker delivered the lunch ordered by Ding Wen.
Eight dishes and one soup, with meat and vegetables—a high standard. Those familiar with Ding Wen would definitely quip that he finally shelled out.
"At noon the conditions aren't great either, call President Liu for a drink? You can invite your friends, let's formally get acquainted!" Ding Wen suggested.
"Sure!"
Zhang Yang took out his phone and sent a message in the team WeChat group. Soon, the others put down their fishing rods and headed towards the prefab house.
"Today, Ding Wen, Master Ding is treating us, guys—let's get to know each other!" Zhang Yang smiled innocuously, introducing Ding Wen to everyone.
"Master Ding often hangs at Old Ma's place, right? We've met before!" Han Qiang, who already knew Ding Wen, mentioned while receiving a cigarette.
Ding Wen accepted the cigarette, lit it for the other party, and said, "Yeah, always hanging with Old Ma, chasing local competitions. Sometimes we'd have tea and boast together!
Old Han, you joined President Zhang's team? I watched your fishing video in Meng Village; it was excellent!"
Upon hearing 'fishing video,' Han Qiang hesitated slightly, suddenly skeptical about Ding Wen's motives for hosting.
Though Han Qiang hadn't dealt with Ding Wen much, he's good at judging people. This guy is really calculating, a kind of person who doesn't act until tangible benefits appear. Han Qiang decided to quietly alert Zhang Yang when he got the chance.
"Haha, Old Ding remembers me, right? I was with Old Han and Old Zhou! Now, I'm filming fishing videos with Zhang Yang!" At this point, Wang Yan casually put his arm around Ding Wen.
"Wang Yan, you videoed for Zhang Yang previously, am I right?" Ding Wen also smiled and greeted.
Wang Yan nodded, "Yeah, mixing with President Zhang, leaving the backstage for the front stage!"
"How's the fishing public account doing for income? Haven't seen you adding ads or selling anything!" Just as the topic was winding, Chen Xiaodao unexpectedly chimed in.
Zhang Yang grinned, "Haven't made much money yet. Small circle, only so few in black pit fishing! Our team is just playing around, not much to it!"
"That's not the way to say it. In terms of skill, I don't even concede to Old Ma, but I've seen your capabilities, Zhang Yang! All here? Let's chat over drinks!"
"Haha, you exaggerate, just better luck than others, nothing big!" Zhang Yang chuckled.
...
The five from Zhang Yang's team, two with Ding Wen, plus Liu Mazi, squeezed onto two folding tables. Sharing common interests, the chatter never dulled and a few drinks lightened the mood even further.
During the meal, Ding Wen and Chen Xiaodao incessantly made indirect inquiries about Zhang Yang's situation.
They moved from bait and medicine, to fishing public accounts, then to bait sales on the public fishing forum. The questioning was subtle and aligned with fishing, Zhang Yang responded vaguely.
The meal stretched from eleven fifty to one o'clock—when Han Qiang's rod was pulled into the water by a fish, the drinking formally ended, and Zhang Yang took the opportunity to return to his spot to continue fishing.
As everyone finished and left, Chen Xiaodao and Ding Wen helped Old Chen pack up, then bid farewell to the others.
Once they left the fishing ground yard and got in the small car, those two who seemed slightly inebriated earlier now looked consciously alert.
Chen Xiaodao twisted open a Wahaha and took a sip, "This Zhang Yang seems chatty, but keeps tight-lipped. We scarcely gathered substantial information! Do you think that previous proposal is feasible?"
Ding Wen pursed his lips, "I asked around, Han Qiang and others resigned from the machinery factory, now Zhang Yang pays them wages!
All grown men with families, salaries shouldn't be low, right? Think about it, how much to shell out monthly for salaries alone?
If the fishing public account isn't profitable, why is he sustaining so many people?"
"The trouble is, we can't decipher his product sources or income channels. Even if we do videos, how to earn money? Like Zhang Yang, selling bait on forums?
You're better off, with my physique, I can only do this part-time. Trying to quit for fishing, if no income comes, my wife would tear me apart!"
If Zhang Yang suddenly became aware of these two's thoughts, he'd surely be startled—all places have clever people. His layout hadn't fully demonstrated its power yet, but attentive 'clever ones' already spotted it.