I am a local in North America

Chapter 66 Bass Fishing Competition (4200 words, please read on!)
Fishing gear purchased from Amazon was shipped directly to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Paratca, Florida by Su Jerry.

The competition venue is not far from this hotel, located in the St. John's River system just outside the city.

The morning after completing the loan application at the bank, as dawn broke, Su Jierui, carrying a small suitcase and backpack, headed lightly to the airport.

Long journeys are always grueling.

I had a layover in Atlanta, and it took a total of 7 and a half hours to get to Paratka. Plus, the East Coast is 3 hours ahead of the West Coast, so it was already past 8 p.m. local time.

As he dragged his slightly weary steps out of the airport, a warm, damp evening breeze greeted him. The fishy smell of the sea was finally gone, a stark contrast to the chill of Seattle. It felt much more comfortable, as if he had stepped from the depths of winter into early summer.

Before the other contestants arrived, Su Jerry booked four nights at his own expense, paying $199 per day plus a 10% service charge, which cost him nearly $900.

It was a bit of a financial strain, but he was unfamiliar with the local temperature and fish habits, and hadn't tried out the newly purchased fishing gear. To prevent sudden changes in environment from causing him to become unaccustomed to the water and soil, which could affect his performance during the competition, it was necessary for him to come and adapt in advance.

Sharpening a gun in the face of battle will bring displeasure.

For the next two days, Su Jerry drove a rented Jeep, deliberately avoiding the competition area for the next few days, and went fishing in a faraway place.

To ensure fairness, the organizers did not allow the athletes to familiarize themselves with the competition venue in advance. He was worried that he would be caught by the people in charge of the pre-race patrol. Even though it cost more time and fuel, he had no choice but to drive two or three hours more round trip to go further away.

The St. John River has a complex network of tributaries, and the cypress-lined banks are reflected in the calm water. Only the occasional splash of a fish leaping out of the water breaks the tranquility.

During his time participating in "Living Alone in the Wilderness," Su Jerry got used to fishing with a simple rod, but switching to professional equipment made him feel a little uncomfortable.

On one occasion, his casting motion was a little clumsy, the fishing line drew an imperfect arc in the air, and the hook even snagged on his collar with a "click".

Thankfully, this blunder didn't happen during the competition, otherwise the audience would have laughed themselves to death after the show aired...

However, the resources in the local lakes and rivers are so good, better than you can imagine.

Sometimes, when we drive a rented fishing boat across the river, the roar of the engine startles the large fish underwater, causing them to leap out of the water. Their silvery scales shimmer in the sunlight, and you can see at least a hundred of them.

Often, as soon as he cast his line, invasive species such as snakehead, silver carp, and bighead carp would rush to bite the bait. They were extremely fierce, pushing aside Su Jerry's target fish, the largemouth bass.

"The fish here are so friendly..."

He watched helplessly as the plump silver carp took the bait once again. He carefully removed the fish from the hook, released it back into the water, and muttered to himself.

There's no need to bait the area to catch fish one after another; you're either playing the fish or releasing a big fish back into the wild.

After several days of intense training, my arm muscles were twitching slightly and aching from exhaustion when I drove back to the hotel.

It's no wonder that some foreign anglers often lament that resources are far more important than technology.

While he was engrossed in his practice, a small incident occurred at his home in Seattle.

Having returned to Seattle, Su's parents were surprised to learn that Su Jerry had quietly bought the beaver ranch.

On the phone, the two elders' voices were filled with disbelief. Despite their shock, they didn't forget to remind him to be careful when he went out. Their tone revealed a hint of helplessness, clearly indicating that they had already been scolded by Grandpa Su and had no choice but to accept the situation.

Just like his grandparents' side, his parents also took the keys and made a special trip to visit the beaver ranch.

Soon, her younger sister, Arou, tipped her off, writing in a text message—

"My parents had mixed feelings when they came back, but they kept saying, 'The price is a bit high, but overall it's still worth it.' They especially praised the grassland and the woods!"

Upon receiving the text message, Su Jierui smiled.

I can finally relax completely and focus on preparing for the competition.

After honing their fishing skills for several days, the other contestants finally arrived at the Crowne Plaza Hotel one after another.

On the day of check-in, the hotel lobby suddenly became lively, filled with the noise of people speaking in various accents.

The majority of people present were middle-aged people who had gained weight, but there were also many wealthy elderly people who seemed quite rich just by looking at their clothes, manners and speech.

The cars temporarily parked at the hotel entrance also illustrate this point. They were all driving Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, convertible classic cars, or supercars. Judging from the license plates, they came from all over the United States. No wonder it is jokingly called the "Millionaire Bass Fishing Competition".

Among this crowd, Su Jierui was not only young, but also an Asian, which was rare to see at the registration site, making him seem somewhat out of place.

While he was waiting in line to register, a middle-aged white man standing behind him, dressed in a plaid shirt and a multi-pocket fishing vest—a rather "country-style" outfit—seemed to find the wait boring and struck up a conversation with him, asking:

"Are you also a contestant this time? Did you come from over there?"

“Hello Seattle, my name is Jerry Su.” Jerry Su turned around and greeted him politely.

This white guy was very outgoing; he extended his hand with a smile and said:
“It’s not far. My name is Jose Quentin. I came from Wyoming and run a farm near Yellowstone National Park.”

José Quentin paused, then, as if to create a more approachable atmosphere, added, "My neighbors next door are also Asian; they even brought me kimchi once..."

The meaning of this last sentence is simply, "I am very familiar with Asians and have no prejudice against them."

It's similar to what white people say, "I also have a black friend," and it's very common in the United States.

Su Jierui shook hands with him, feeling somewhat amused but not wanting to point it out, and then politely replied:
"Kimchi? That's Korean, I'm of Chinese descent."

José Quentin wasn't embarrassed after hearing this and quickly changed the subject, saying:
"Did you know that a lot of people withdrew from the competition this time because of the flu? I was originally only the fifth pick on the waiting list, but I was suddenly notified the day before yesterday that I had to come and register. I almost couldn't get a plane ticket here, and I only arrived this morning after transferring in Miami."

This was the first time Su Jierui had heard of this matter. Thinking back to when he contacted the director for help, he suddenly felt like he owed him a small favor.

But he didn't regret it, after all, it's impossible to "predict the future".

Su Jierui, pretending to be confused, followed the lead and asked in a low voice:
"Is it really just the flu? I've read online that newspapers in many places are full of obituaries lately."

José Quentin perked up and leaned closer, lowering his voice: "You also feel something's off? To be honest, before leaving home, I hesitated about coming to such a crowded place. It's better to stay on my farm, which is 107 acres in total, and I hardly need to have any contact with the outside world..."

Previously, Su Jerry worried that by making full use of his special talent, he would witness some things that would break his heart.

For example, a lovely child suffering from an incurable rare disease whose life is already on its last legs, or a kind old person whose life is about to come to an end and who is powerless to help, that feeling of helplessness will deeply ache his heart.

His various experiences from childhood to adulthood have gradually taught him to respect the fate of others. He knows that he has no power to completely change anything, and the more he sees, the more pain he will suffer. Therefore, he rarely inquires about the situation of the people around him anymore.

Only after noticing something was amiss did Su Jierui become alert.

A few days ago, I avoided many strangers who were unfortunately sick in airports, on the streets, and in restaurants. Of course, I knew that it was not just the so-called "flu".

Just chatting with a stranger, Su Jerry didn't reveal that he had bought a large ranch. Instead, he took the opportunity to ask Jose Quentin, who had participated in a bass fishing competition a couple of years ago and ended up losing thousands of dollars in registration fees, about things to be aware of during the competition.

Talking about other things is fine, but when it comes to topics like "how to find largemouth bass" or "experience gained during competitions," José Quentin always laughs it off or brushes it off with jokes like "luck is very important" or "you'll see in time," clearly worried that he might inadvertently "aid the enemy."

Su Jierui noticed it, of course, but didn't mind at all.

Over the past few days, he has caught a total of forty or fifty largemouth bass, and has researched countless fishing techniques for this type of fish online, becoming increasingly confident of success...

The "Competition Participant Briefing" that evening was held in the hotel's largest banquet hall, essentially a simple pre-competition training session.

A long table was covered with a white tablecloth, on which various exquisite snacks, fruits, and beverages were laid out. However, most people were gathered around the table, listening attentively as the tournament director explained the rules of this bass fishing competition.

Last year, the Bass Bass Fishing Championship was acquired by the PGA Tour, and this is the first leg of the competition since the acquisition. Compared with previous competitions, some rules have changed slightly.

Su Jierui looked around, found a seat at the back, sat down with a small plate in his hand, crossed his legs, and listened with great interest while eating macarons, strawberries, and oranges.

The reason he stayed away from the crowd was because he noticed that some contestants were coughing softly and looked unwell. This made him immediately prepare to buy some masks later and use "pollen allergy" as an excuse for protection.

Fortunately, apart from this pre-match briefing, there aren't many other occasions where people gather, so if we're careful, we should be fine.

The tournament director, a middle-aged man with a serious expression and a loud voice, stood in front of the projection screen and explained in detail:

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Paratka!"

"The rules are simple, but please listen carefully. For the next three days, from the officially designated departure time to the weighing deadline each day, your goal is to catch compliant largemouth bass and smallmouth bass! This time, we will use a two-tier elimination system: 80 to 47, and 47 to 10!"

"You can submit a maximum of five fish per day. We will select the five heaviest fish you catch within three days, and the final champion ranking will be determined by the total weight!"

A low murmur arose from the audience. This rule meant that strategy was crucial; it was not only about catching a lot of fish, but also about catching big ones.

The director continued to emphasize:

"All bass must be alive and healthy to be accepted for weighing. The use of live bait is permitted, but must comply with regulations."

"Most importantly, the competition area is strictly defined. We will provide detailed course maps, and any deviation from the designated area will result in immediate disqualification!"

"Safety is always the top priority. Please make sure you wear your life jacket..."

Similar to before, but the rules are a bit complicated, including "it is not allowed to fix the fishing rod in a certain position and then leave", "it is not allowed for players to help each other", "in case of malfunction during the competition, the angler can accept help from other anglers or official rescue boats, but cannot fish during this period", etc.

The main difference lies in the allocation of bass fishing boats, and it is also emphasized that no underhanded tactics or actions that could undermine the fairness of the competition should be used.

After the briefing, a lottery was held to determine the departure order.

Afterwards, as Su Jierui was about to leave, a middle-aged man dressed in a smart polo shirt, with his hair neatly combed and even his beard meticulously trimmed, stopped him.

"Hey, young man, I haven't seen you before. New here?" The man sized him up, his eyes scrutinizing him.

“I was last year’s third place winner, Raoul Jefferson.”

His tone carried a hint of arrogance as he introduced himself, then his gaze fell on the number plate on Su Jierui's chest, his eyes suddenly sharpening, even taking on a hint of hostility:
“This competition spot originally belonged to my uncle. He was a very famous furniture dealer in Miami, but unfortunately he passed away recently. I just attended his funeral before coming here.”

As he spoke, Raoul Jefferson raised his heavily tattooed arm and pointed to his number plate, which read "57," right next to Jerry Su's "58."

Su Jierui could sense the subtle probing and hostility in the other person's tone, but he remained polite and responded calmly:

"Yes, this is my first time participating. My name is Jerry Sue. I feel sorry for your uncle's unfortunate experience; I've already heard about it."

Raoul Jefferson twitched his lips into a smile that was hardly friendly, and spoke again in a lecturing tone:

“Enjoy this race, the competition here is fiercer than you think. The St. John River looks calm, but there’s something hidden beneath the surface that a novice can’t figure out. I’m going to win the championship for my uncle, that was his dream when he was alive. So, kid, you better not come near my bass fishing boat and cause trouble.”

Su Jie met his gaze, simply looking at him calmly, his tone neither humble nor arrogant:
"Thanks for the reminder, I will pay attention. However, whether a fish bites or not sometimes depends on experience alone, right? I will also try my best to win the championship, that would be the best way to honor your uncle."

Raoul Jefferson paused for a moment, then chuckled:
"Interesting. See you on the field then..."

After saying that, he gave Su Jierui a deep look before turning and leaving.

Looking at Raoul Jefferson's slightly arrogant back, Su Jerry frowned slightly.

This guy had an arrogance and aggression that made me uncomfortable, much like the members of those football and baseball teams in high school who always liked to pick fights and bully others.

However, this level of provocation only fueled Su Jierui's fighting spirit.

"The championship? It all depends on your own ability," he thought to himself.

Back in his room, he checked the fishing gear he would use the next day one last time, rearranged the fishing line, oiled the reel, and carefully calibrated the reel's drag system to ensure everything was in perfect working order.

Only after confirming that all his equipment was in optimal condition did he finally lie down to rest and recharge for tomorrow's match...

(End of this chapter)