As someone who has been smoking since high school, Zhang Yang has smoked a lot of cigarettes, but this filter-less Da Qian Men is something he's seen for the first time. Lighting a cigarette with a match is something he remembers only adults doing when he was young.
The packaging of Potou matches, Zhang Yang hadn't seen it in at least eight or ten years, and he couldn't figure out where these cigarettes and matches came from!
Wang Yan performed the small routine so smoothly that it left Zhang Yang in awe.
In fishing, Zhang Yang is quite experienced, but when it comes to oddities, this is truly one of a kind. In modern words, this guy has what you'd call social confidence syndrome, and it's in the advanced stages.
"Uh... thanks!"
Looking at the cigarette without a filter, Zhang Yang found himself in a bit of a dilemma, his head a little bewildered.
"Earlier, Han Qiang made a mistake in his words! To be precise, I'm his former colleague! Zhou Chu is the mentor I followed at work.
The pay at the tractor factory was too low, I've already resigned! I'm currently studying photography, planning to enter the art circle!" Wang Yan said with confidence.
"Oh, photography is great!" Zhang Yang nodded repeatedly.
Seeing Zhang Yang a bit uncomfortable, Han Qiang pulled Wang Yan and said with a smile, "This guy, besides having a habit of showing off, is usually quite reliable!
Don't listen to his boasting, he decides things on a whim. He heard that becoming a photographer can lead to taking intimate photos with girls, that's why he wanted to learn photography!"
Wang Yan wasn't upset at being exposed; he argued, "What do you know? That's called art!
You don't understand anything; there's barely any common interest between us except fishing!"
Han Qiang was already accustomed to Wang Yan's behavior and didn't join the banter, instead speaking to Zhang Yang, "Brother Zhang, give me a few packs of the bait you used last time, and teach me how to mix and use it!
I saw the bait you mixed last time had a very special state, and even the baiting technique seemed different! While we still have time, let me learn from you!"
Zhang Yang was more than willing to meet this kind of customer demand. He took six packs of bait from the shelf: "Are all three of you fishing? Should I mix the bait now for you to take directly, or just for yourself?"
Wang Yan interjected, "Just mix for the two of them first, there's no need to open my two packs yet; please demonstrate it for me. I want to see what kind of 'Divine Bait' they're talking about before deciding whether to use it!
Came all this way, spending a little money is nothing; not catching any fish is disappointing!"
Wang Yan spoke frankly, though not quite trusting Zhang Yang and his bait, his tone carried little subjective emotion, like discussing a very ordinary matter.
Saying it as it is, Zhang Yang's impression of him changed somewhat. At first, it might seem he lacked conversational tact, but Zhang Yang knew dealing with someone like this wasn't difficult.
Zhang Yang found a bait mixing bowl, opened four pounds of bait, and poured it in. He then added water and special dark sugar syrup, quickly mixing a batch suitable for the Oil House Fishing Ground.
With the bait mixed, Zhang Yang took some leader line, and personally demonstrated how to bait the Triangle Cannon.
Two high-quality Triangle baits were casually tossed by Zhang Yang into an acrylic balance bucket filled with water in the store.
As the bait entered the water, it quickly absorbed water and expanded, soon beginning to dissolve, countless particles floating up and down in the bucket, leaving Han Qiang and his group stunned.
"This state..."
After a while, Han Qiang managed to utter three words.
Zhang Yang explained: "The newly stocked fish usually prefer a large amount of dissolved bait, the method and application I just demonstrated produce noticeable effects during the prime fishing season!"
"Dissolution... Dissolution... isn't this essentially creating a three-dimensional bait area?"
Han Qiang didn't speak, but Wang Yan repeated it several times, surprising Zhang Yang.
Zhang Yang nodded, "Correct! This bait is powerful in its three-dimensional dissolution baiting state!
Using this method for fishing doesn't allow laziness; you can reduce the bottom baiting but can't lose the rhythm! Stagnation means no fish!"
"Can I give it a try?" Wang Yan asked.
"Of course!"
With permission, Wang Yan took Zhang Yang's leader line and, somewhat clumsily, baited two Triangle Cannons, tossing them into the balance bucket for trials multiple times.
A few more bait balls went in, releasing even more particles, turning the water quite turbid.
"This method is great... this technique is fantastic! The more times you cast, the more dissolution from top to bottom in the water, attracting more fish!"
The more Wang Yan talked, the brighter his eyes became and the more excited he appeared!
"Little Wang, stop getting all mystical. Didn't we also gather fish with the hand-cast bait before? What's the difference?"
Previously silent, Zhou Chu looked at Wang Yan and asked curiously.
"Of course, there's a difference! Watch!"
Wang Yan took a small ball of bait, squeezed it tightly into a lump, and plopped it into the already turbid balance bucket.
The compressed lump naturally didn't disperse much, sinking quickly to the bottom.
"How does this represent anything?" Zhou Chu still didn't understand Wang Yan's point.
Wang Yan pointed at the solid bait at the bottom, saying: "This is what we usually do with hand-thrown bait! The bait sinks before dissolving at the bottom, spreading only across a circular surface!
But the new method Zhang Yang taught, is three-dimensional from the moment it enters the water!
Thus, bait gets distributed from top to bottom, attracting more fish, right?"
With Wang Yan's explanation, Han Qiang and Zhou Chu suddenly understood, looking at Zhang Yang differently.
Zhang Yang smiled faintly: "Haha, Yan has analyzed it well! Have you encountered this before?"
"No, I just thought of it watching your demonstration! I don't need to test this method; I know it's effective. I take back my previous doubts about you!" Wang Yan replied.
Now it was Zhang Yang's turn to be surprised.
Regarding fishing talent, Zhang Yang considered himself second to none, even compared to the skillful Meng Fan; Zhang Yang felt his understanding was superior.
But this slightly eccentric Wang Yan, gave Zhang Yang an impression of exceptional insight.
Quick to grasp, once understood, he could apply and expand further.
"Yan, how long have you been fishing?" Zhang Yang continued asking.
When it came to fishing experience, Han Qiang finally had room to contribute, stating first: "I have played for a bit over a year, almost two. He's still a rookie learning to fish! Even has to borrow a rod from Brother Zhou, an apprentice!"
Upon hearing his buddy reveal more secrets, Wang Yan was indignant again: "That's not right, there's a difference in understanding; expertise requires dedication!
You admit, fishing with me increased our catches, right? With me around, both skill and luck improve substantially! The spot I chose, isn't it better than the ones you chose?"