Love Healing Manual

Chapter 85 Fishing Line
"Once you're here, you can go back on your own."

Lin Ze stopped his bicycle, bracing himself on the ground with his legs, and turned to Kitagawa Ayane.

He planned to ruthlessly abandon her on this street corner.

Because going any further would take a different route, Lin Ze could take a shortcut home by turning the corner on this street.

The idea that being a gentleman means escorting a girl all the way home... Lin Ze never cared about that. He had a lot of things to do when he got home, and Kitagawa Ayane had already wasted too much of his time that afternoon.

“Okay, it should only take me about ten minutes to walk back.” Kitagawa Ayane jumped off her bicycle and straightened her skirt.

She raised her little face, and instead of being annoyed, her eyes were overflowing with happiness.

Her beautiful eyes were watery.

She was already happy to be given a ride on her owner's bicycle for a while, so she certainly didn't expect Lin Ze to take her home.

Moreover, she felt bad for taking up Lin Ze's time.

"Tomorrow, let's go for a morning run together, no matter what. Did you used to run?" Lin Ze asked, looking at her.

"No, I walk a lot, though."

"Let's get used to it. We'll meet at this intersection at 7:30 in the morning." Lin Ze glanced at the road sign next to him. It was a downhill section of a T-junction, with a river at the very end.

Turning against the direction of the intersection leads to Ueno Street, and following that direction leads to Shinobazu Pond.

Then he'll need to increase his exercise time, starting his morning runs from here, which will be two kilometers longer than from his doorstep.

"I understand." She nodded.

Lin Ze didn't say anything more. He got on his bicycle and rode away without even saying goodbye.

Kitagawa Ayane watched his departing figure, lost in thought.

After a long while, she slightly curved the corners of her lips.

Although Lin Ze's attitude towards her has become much colder, the two have been spending more and more time together these past few days. Before, they would meet three times every two days, and now with the addition of a morning run, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they are together from morning till night.

Kitagawa Ayane suddenly felt that life was full of hope and very fulfilling.

Her life has been completely changed since she met Lin Ze.

Undoubtedly, she enjoys this change.

Turning around, Kitagawa Ayane, carrying several shopping bags, couldn't help but walk more briskly as she hurried towards the apartment complex where her one-bedroom apartment was located.

……

The two parted.

Lin Ze arrived at the entrance of "Lin's Fried Pork Chop Shop" in no time. He locked his bicycle as usual and put on his heavy schoolbag.

But when he looked at the shop entrance...

Strangely enough, even though it was almost lunchtime, the restaurant wasn't packed with people like usual; there were hardly any.

He was a little confused, so he went into the store.

As it turned out, Sister Lingzi, who should have been in the kitchen, was in the front hall with Lin Yuning, chatting with someone else.

"Hey, I've been fishing for so many years, I know exactly what kind of fish to catch at what time of year. As soon as I saw the weather today, I set off and stayed in Tokyo Bay for two whole days. If the waves hadn't been so big today, I wouldn't have come back."

Inside the shop, there stood a man wearing a hat.

He was filthy, reeking of fish, and his old work clothes were filthy beyond recognition.

Hearing his voice, Lin Ze felt inexplicably familiar with it.

"Sure, Uncle Matsui, these black sea bream are really big. They must fetch a good price at the market."

"Why sell it? Just share it with the neighbors. While it's fresh, you can steam it tonight," the elderly man said, waving his hand.

Upon hearing this address, Lin Ze immediately knew who the person in front of him was.

He walked over.

Lin Yuning noticed him at that moment.

"School's out, Xiaoze," Lin Yuning looked up and waved excitedly, "Look at the fish your Grandpa Matsui caught, it's still jumping around."

The elderly man turned his head and saw Lin Ze. A bright smile immediately bloomed on his weathered face, like a sunflower ruffled by the wind.

"Wow, the top student's out of school?" He immediately opened his arms to hug Lin Ze.

But before he could take two steps, Lingzi grabbed his clothes.

"You smell like fish, don't hug our Xiaoze."

"What's there to be afraid of?"

"You're not afraid, but others are," Lingzi said speechlessly.

Looking at the old man in front of him, Lin Ze offered a faint smile and called out, "Grandpa Matsui."

The other party answered enthusiastically.

Having lived in Ueno, Tokyo for so many years, I'm quite familiar with the neighborhood. Lin's Tonkatsu Street is one of many side streets; it's not particularly bustling, but there are many local residents around.

Grandpa Matsui was one of the residents at the end of the street. He was nearly 60 years old and he and Mrs. Matsui were an ordinary old couple who were both very kind and amiable.

It is said that he has no children, though he may have some, but Lin Ze has never seen them.

Looking at the old man's wrinkled face, clearly ravaged by the sea wind, yet his eyes shone brightly, a stark contrast to his features.

Lin Ze was pulled by his aunt and looked down at the fish in the bucket. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Several black sea bream and sea bass were huddled together, seemingly too big for the small bucket. Each one weighed about two or three kilograms and was quite large. "They look delicious. Grandpa Matsui said he'd give us a few, so we won't have to worry about dinner. He'll just kill them right away."

"good."

At this moment, Grandpa Matsui came over and patted Lin Ze on the shoulder.

"When will Xiaoze come fishing with me again? It's been a long time since we went, hasn't it? When are you free?" he asked in a hoarse voice.

"Did I ever go fishing with Grandpa Matsui?" he asked, a hint of doubt in his voice.

"Hey, you little rascal, how could you forget that? I even gave you a fishing rod as a gift." The old man glared at him.

"I see..." Lin Ze seemed to be thinking.

He truly didn't remember; that memory simply didn't exist in his mind.

"Reiko, take a few with you and bring them home for the children. We can put them all in a bucket and bring them from your kitchen," Grandpa Matsui said generously.

"Oh? I'm so sorry."

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Everyone gets a share. I can't eat that much if I bring it home. My wife gets annoyed just seeing fish. She hates dealing with fish. She's been eating fish for half her life."

"Then I'll accept it without hesitation." Reiko's face lit up with joy.

But when Lin Yuning saw her heading towards the kitchen, she immediately grabbed her and turned to Lin Ze, saying, "Have a chat with your Grandpa Matsui for a while, Xiao Ze. I'm going to the kitchen to find some containers for the fish with Reiko."

He nodded in agreement.

Next to it were several fishing rods that looked very expensive.

Each of them was a valuable assistant to Grandpa Matsui when he was fishing.

“Xiao Ze, do you remember the hookfishing technique I taught you? I’ve suffered a lot these past two days. Standing on the reef, I knew it was full of fish the moment I saw that bend in the current.” He pulled Lin Ze aside.

Then he picked up a pole and started fiddling with it in a very professional manner.

"Luckily, I bought a Shimano fishing rod a few days ago. Grandma Ma Min wouldn't let me buy it. If I hadn't had this fishing rod, how could I have caught so much? What does a woman like her know?"

There were no customers in the store.

Lin Ze didn't mind chatting with the old man for a while.

He took the pole from the other person and examined it.

Indeed, you can tell from the materials used and the appearance that it is expensive.

"I specifically chose this fishing line for bass because they bite very aggressively, and the line can easily break if you're not careful. I taught you that before, right? You have to pay attention to every detail..."

As he spoke, Grandpa Matsui pulled out a transparent fishing line and let Lin Ze test its strength.

Lin Ze tightened the fishing line slightly at his fingertips and immediately felt its firmness.

"With a line like this, it should be fine for catching larger fish, right?"

"Of course. If a ten-kilogram fish bites the hook, I'm confident I can put up a fight with it. The line won't cut easily."

That's really good.

Lin Ze looked at the transparent fishing line, feeling it carefully, imagining it taut and elastic, so that it wouldn't be a problem even if it were dragged and pulled by a fierce fish.

Gradually.

His thoughts drifted elsewhere, and suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.

If it's a transparent fishing line, it definitely won't be noticed when tied around the senior's neck collar, right? Because a transparent line is practically invisible unless you look closely.

He raised an eyebrow after realizing this.

Then I started to seriously consider the feasibility.

"Grandpa Matsui, could you give me a box of these fishing lines?" Lin Ze asked.

"What, has this also stirred up your fishing interest?"

"It really worked for me."

"You have good taste. Come to my house later, and I'll get you two boxes. I specially found these from a friend; you can't buy them in regular stores, you simply can't."

The two chatted about this topic for a while longer.

soon.

Lin Yuning and Lingzi came out of the kitchen.

Lingzi was holding a plastic bucket that she usually used to hold ingredients, while Lin Yuning had two extra servings of pork chop rice.

"Uncle, take these two pork chop rice bowls back with you. It will save Aunt Ma Min the trouble tonight."

"How can this be appropriate?"

"Hey, we Chinese believe in reciprocity. If you don't accept it, I'll feel bad taking the fish."

"Alright, I'll take it back then, and Madam won't scold me anymore."

Just saying.

Lin Ze also tied up Sister Lingzi and transferred several live fish to another bucket.

Lin Yuning then instructed, "Xiao Ze, help your Grandpa Matsui take the things back, and come back later."

"I have to say, your family's traditions are truly admirable; no wonder you can raise such outstanding students," Grandpa Matsui said, lifting one end of the bucket and gesturing for Lin Ze to take the other. "Let's go."

Lin Yuning smiled as she saw her off.

(End of this chapter)