Reborn in 72, I hunt to support my family and spoil my younger sister rotten.

Early on the third day of the Lunar New Year, before dawn, someone knocked on the courtyard gate.

"Xiangyang, Xiangyang!" Li Daqiang's voice was urgent. "You promised to take me fishing!"

Li Xiangyang opened the door and found that his cousin was already dressed and carrying a wooden bucket.

"You're quite enthusiastic," Li Xiangyang said with a smile. "Let me get ready."

The black leopard cat watched Li Daqiang warily, its tail swaying slightly.

Li Xiangyang patted its head reassuringly: "Stay home and behave yourself."

After changing into a thick cotton-padded coat, Li Xiangyang retrieved tools from the woodshed: an iron shovel, an iron crowbar, and two nets. These were all left behind by his father and were rarely used.

"Brother Daqiang, take this." Li Xiangyang handed the shovel to Li Daqiang, while he himself picked up the iron crowbar.

Hearing the noise, Li's mother came out from the inner room: "Going out so early?"

"Mom, I'm taking Daqiang to the river to catch fish. We'll be back around noon."

"Then you two be careful," Li's mother cautioned, "It's slippery on the ice."

In the cold wind, the two walked towards the river at the east end of the village.

“There should be plenty of fish on a day like this,” Li Xiangyang explained as they walked. “In winter, the river freezes over, and the fish gather in the deeper waters. If you find the right spot, you’re sure to catch something with one cast.”

Li Daqiang nodded repeatedly, "Xiangyang, where did you learn all this?"

“It was all taught to me by my father,” Li Xiangyang said, his tone turning serious. “When he was alive, he often brought me to this river to catch fish.”

Upon reaching the riverbank, Li Xiangyang used an iron rod to test the thickness of the ice.

“This will do; the ice is at least three inches thick.” He drew a circle on the ice with an iron rod. “Brother Daqiang, let’s cut a hole in the ice right here.”

Li Daqiang raised his shovel to smash the ice.

"No!" Li Xiangyang quickly stopped him. "Smashing it like that will scare the fish away. We have to take it slowly. First, use an iron rod to make a small hole, then gradually widen it along the circle."

Under Li Xiangyang's guidance, the two worked together to break the ice.

Li Daqiang was responsible for clearing the broken ice with a shovel, while Li Xiangyang focused on chiseling the ice with a chisel.

"Are you tired?" Li Xiangyang asked, seeing Li Daqiang panting heavily.

"It's nothing," Li Daqiang wiped his sweat, "I just didn't expect chiseling a hole in the ice to be so difficult."

"This is nothing," Li Xiangyang laughed. "The real test of skill will come when we go offline."

After much effort, they finally managed to carve out a small hole in the ice, about a foot square, and the clear river water steamed in the cold wind.

"See that?" Li Xiangyang pointed to the water's surface. "There are bubbles floating this way, which means there are fish downstream. Let's dig a hole ten steps downstream."

After another round of busy work, the second ice hole was also chiseled out.

"Now we just wait for the fish to swim over on their own." Li Xiangyang pulled a packet of cornmeal from his pocket and sprinkled it into the ice hole upstream. "This is to lure the fish."

The two squatted on the ice and waited, with Li Daqiang rubbing his hands together to warm them from time to time.

"Aren't you cold? Why don't you go back first?" Li Xiangyang asked.

"It's not cold!" Li Daqiang gritted his teeth and said, "I want to see how you catch fish."

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, there was a sudden movement in the ice hole upstream.

"They're here!" Li Xiangyang said in a low voice. "See the ripples on the water? Those are the fish feeding."

He gestured to Li Daqiang to take the landing net, while he himself took another net and stood guard by the ice hole downstream.

"When I yell 'start,' lower the net down, and remember to push it forward, keeping it close to the ice bottom."

Li Daqiang nodded nervously.

"start!"

The two men cast their nets at the same time. Li Daqiang's movements were a bit clumsy, but fortunately, Li Xiangyang was experienced and quickly caught several large fish in the ice hole downstream.

"Haha, we've got something!" Li Daqiang shouted excitedly.

"Don't shout," Li Xiangyang said with a smile, "you'll scare the fish away."

With this net, they caught three large carp, each weighing three or four pounds.

"One more time?" Li Daqiang asked eagerly.

"Okay, but this time you'll come to the hole downstream."

And so, the two took turns scooping the fish, catching a total of seven or eight big fish and quite a few small fish by the end of the morning, filling the wooden bucket.

"That's enough. We've made quite a commotion; we won't be able to catch them now."

Having caused such a commotion, it was clear that further baiting would be futile, so Li Xiangyang decided to return.

Li Daqiang, still wanting more, asked, "Is that all?"

"Brother Daqiang, look at the sun," Li Xiangyang pointed to the sky. "It's almost noon; if we wait any longer, the fish won't sell well."

"Sell?" Li Daqiang was taken aback, his eyes suddenly lighting up. "How much can I sell these fish for?"

Li Xiangyang chuckled inwardly, knowing he had guessed his cousin's thoughts correctly.

He deliberately hesitated for a moment before saying, "According to the current market price, large carp can sell for four cents a pound. These few large ones must weigh about twenty pounds in total, so they can sell for at least eight dollars. The small fish are hard to sell, so let's share them and eat them ourselves."

Li Daqiang gasped.

Eight yuan is almost half a month's worth of his work points.

Seeing the undisguised greed in his cousin's eyes, Li Xiangyang smiled and said, "Brother Daqiang, you've helped me so much today, let's split these fish in half."

"Really?" Li Daqiang stood up abruptly, almost slipping and falling.

"Of course it's true," Li Xiangyang said seriously. "How could I manage all this by myself? If it weren't for Brother Daqiang's help, I wouldn't have been able to catch so many fish today. Besides, these fish need to be sold quickly; it's the Lunar New Year, and every household wants to improve their meals—it's the perfect time."

Li Daqiang's smile widened: "Xiangyang, you're much more sensible than before."

Li Xiangyang found it amusing, but remained outwardly composed: "That's right, I'm learning from Brother Daqiang."

"Haha, that's right, that's right." Li Daqiang laughed even harder, and took the initiative to pick up the wooden bucket. "Let's go back quickly, I know a fishmonger, he'll definitely give us a good price."

Seeing his cousin's overjoyed expression, Li Xiangyang sighed inwardly.

Sometimes, it's hard to tell whether people are driven by self-interest or by self-interest in other people's lives.

Throughout the journey, Li Daqiang's face remained beaming: "Xiangyang... can I come with you again in the future?"

“Of course you can,” Li Xiangyang patted his cousin on the shoulder, “but you have to listen to me, you can’t just do it recklessly.”

On the way back to the village, Li Daqiang kept thinking about how to spend the money he had been given.

Li Xiangyang saw this and began to make his own plans.

This cousin, though somewhat snobbish, is still family.

Taking him fishing is a win-win situation; it allows him to earn some money and also helps build a relationship.

Li Daqiang took Li Xiangyang to Aunt Zhao's house at the entrance of the village.

Aunt Zhao's family buys fish year-round and sells them to restaurants in town.

"Hey, isn't this Daqiang and Xiangyang?" Aunt Zhao's eyes lit up when she saw the fish. "These carp are quite big."

After some haggling, Aunt Zhao gave her seven yuan and sixty cents.

Although it was less than expected, Li Daqiang was still very satisfied.

After dividing the money, Li Xiangyang asked, "Brother Daqiang, are we going again tomorrow? These next few days are perfect for the season."

Li Daqiang rubbed his hands together, looking a little embarrassed: "Um... I have to go to town tomorrow."

"What are you going into town for?" Li Xiangyang asked, knowing the answer already.

"Well... isn't Xiaofang working at the supply and marketing cooperative?" Li Daqiang's face flushed slightly. "I want to go see her."

Seeing his cousin's shy expression, Li Xiangyang couldn't help but shake his head.

That's just how young people are; spring hasn't even arrived yet, but the peach blossoms in their hearts have already bloomed.