Chapter 9: Surprises in the Pond
When Li Feng was young, he often heard the elders of his grandfather's generation recounting how they used to catch river pigs, yellow sturgeons, and white sturgeons in the great river, and the scenes were quite grand. Unfortunately, Li Feng has only seen a white Yangtze River dolphin, which, along with the yellow sturgeon, barely measures half a meter in length. It is truly regrettable that these animals have now become protected species, and it is increasingly difficult to even catch a glimpse of them. The water quality of the great river has deteriorated significantly, and many delicious species have vanished, which is indeed a pity.
"Let's go, my mother and I will go home to get the rubber boots." Upon hearing this, Li Shan nodded and said that the rubber boots were actually just the ones used for fishing in previous years, reaching up to the chest, and Li Feng's family had two pairs left. Originally, Li Feng could have gone down directly, but Zhang Lan disagreed, insisting that the water was cold. Li Feng tried it and indeed felt that it was even colder than a few days ago, probably because the sun had not been out for long.
"Indeed, look, there is also a large turtle, it seems to weigh no less than three jin." As they spoke, they searched and finally discovered the swordfish near the foot of the mountain by the pond. At this moment, the swordfish seemed to realize that its end was near, tightly pressing itself against the roots of a tree. Its body lay still, resembling a branch of a jujube tree; if one did not look closely, it would be hard to notice. This creature was indeed a master of disguise, as its color had turned yellow, and when motionless, it truly resembled a peeled jujube branch.
"Oh, where did this little creature come from? We must not let it harm the peach orchard." In the eyes of the people of Lijia Gang, squirrels are undoubtedly considered pests, as they consume tender shoots and young fruits, causing significant damage to trees. A few years ago, seeing one would warrant an immediate kill, comparable to that of a rat. However, in recent years, the number of squirrels has decreased, and the mountains have been left unattended, leading to a cessation of hunting each year.
"Hehe, the little furball is really well-behaved." Not to mention, the furball beside her watched Zhang Lan continuously pick up snails and, after observing for a while, began to imitate her. The little one picked up a snail and tossed it into the basket, which delighted Zhang Lan, who repeatedly praised the furball for being clever. This made the little one jump around and chirp excitedly.
Taking advantage of a moment of free time, Li Feng hid in the thatched cottage and entered the space. The little squirrel, with its fluffy fur, chirped joyfully as it welcomed him, while the little snake remained perched on a tree branch, flicking its pink and tender tongue. Its small, watery eyes revealed a hint of uncertainty, and its body was tense and straight, appearing quite spirited.
Dad, you really are something. Just now, Li Feng definitely missed the catch; he hasn't used his hands in years and has become quite rusty. If it weren't for Li Shan's precision, this fish would have gotten away.
You, really, there's nothing I can do about you. How about using a harpoon? Or you could borrow a battery from your uncle's house. Zhang Lan looked at her husband and son, relieved that they were safe. However, seeing her son eager to try, she still felt a bit uneasy. As for the battery, it is definitely a useful tool for fishing, but unfortunately, it can only be used in small ponds. In a river that is over ten meters wide, not to mention a small battery, even high-voltage power lines would not work.
Mom, look at all those snails up there, haha, let's collect some to make snail dishes tomorrow. Li Feng discovered them last time during the cleanup, but unfortunately, he was preoccupied with space issues and didn't pay attention to them. Seeing them again today makes him feel eager. The meat of the snails is exceptionally delicious, especially with Mom's special cooking skills; it's so tasty that one could almost eat the shells too
Li Shan and Li Feng hurriedly came ashore, while Zhang Lan dropped the basket and rushed over. Upon hearing about the swordfish, her face turned pale with fright
"Begin," Li Shan called softly, his fishing fork moving as swiftly as lightning. Li Feng was momentarily taken aback but quickly followed suit. Water splashed as a chaotic scene unfolded. Zhang Lan was already prepared, scooping with the net towards the spot where the swordfish had just hidden. The group worked in perfect harmony, and a white-yellow ribbon fell at the edge of the pond
On the second day, Li Feng got up early, thinking about visiting his old friends in the village. However, he found out that they had been quite busy with work these days. After some discussion, they decided to wait until Li Feng's house was built, so they could have a good gathering together
"Hey, Dad, be careful, quickly, make way!" Seeing a white shadow darting towards Li Shan, Li Feng shouted. Li Shan was unaware of what was happening, but trusting his son, he stepped aside, and the white shadow flashed past. Once Li Shan got a clear look, he saw a more than one-meter-long needlefish, and he broke out in a cold sweat. This fish has a slender body, extremely fast speed, and strong attacks, being one of the several ferocious fish species in the area.
The shape resembles that of a ribbon fish, with a slight hint of yellow spots. Its body is cylindrical, similar to that of a yellow eel, and it can be said to cause injury upon impact. Especially at this size, a collision would definitely result in severe bruising, and there have even been rumors of fatal injuries caused by encounters with arrow fish. Among the local population, this creature is undoubtedly ranked among the top three most feared fish.
Hehe, of course, my mother is also impressive and quick-witted. Li Feng certainly would not forget Zhang Lan; seeing the proud smiles on his parents' faces, he felt a sense of joy in his heart
"It really is quite large, and it's rare to see one grow this big. Little treasure, it would be a pity to eat it." Li Shan nodded, glancing at this creature, which was about 1.5 meters long, and considered it the largest arrowfish he had seen in nearly a decade, thinking it would be quite a shame to consume it
"Mom, don't worry, I wasn't prepared just now, it's only a swordfish, just watch me. " Not to mention the swordfish, Li Feng once saw someone use a harpoon to catch a river dolphin; one harpoon is definitely enough to take its life. The harpoons from Li Jiagang are renowned far and wide, and Li Tietou's skills are unmatched. The five sharp prongs are about one foot long, as thick as a little finger, with a silver-white, sharp head that glimmers coldly, more than sufficient to catch a shark, let alone ordinary freshwater fish. The harpoons from Li Jiagang are renowned far and wide, and Li Tietou's skills are unmatched. The five sharp prongs are about one foot long, as thick as a little finger, with a silver-white, sharp head that glimmers coldly, more than sufficient to catch a shark, let alone ordinary freshwater fish.
Several individuals pulled up the water plants with iron hooks, realizing that the pond was devoid of vegetation. The water depth was less than one meter, and it became clear, revealing the bottom at a glance
What happened? Who knows, just out of the space, the little one started making a fuss, chattering incessantly, occasionally jumping around, gesturing with its little paws in front of Li Feng. It was dizzying; this creature did not want to move its nest, and it was not being well-fed and well-cared for. Who would willingly come out?
"Dad, look, not a single injury, what a lucky fellow." Several people gathered around the snake skin bag, peering inside. The swordfish, apart from losing a few scales, had no wounds at all. This clearly demonstrates the remarkable skill of Li Shan with the harpoon, as it was lodged directly in the crevice; otherwise, it would have certainly damaged a large portion of the fish's flesh.
"You child, don't forget to eat while working, good, I'll pick it up," Zhang Lan said with a smile and a scold, as she carried the basket and rummaged through the water plants. To her surprise, there were indeed quite a few, some as large as a toddler's fist. Zhang Lan couldn't help but click her tongue, as she hadn't seen such large snails in many years. In fact, these large snails are not as tasty as the smaller ones; they are somewhat like broiler chickens, having more meat but a bland flavor.
There are indeed quite a few fish. In the pond, numerous fish shadows can be seen, possibly protected by the aquatic plants, which have prevented the water birds from catching many of them, allowing these fish to remain. There are several crucian carp, each about a bundle long, and a few grass carp weighing around four to five pounds. What truly surprised Li Feng were several red carp, each about one foot long.
"It's nothing, Mom, look, the little one is unhappy." Unexpectedly, as soon as Zhang Lan finished speaking, the little furball bared its teeth and showed a fierce expression towards Zhang Lan. It was only after Li Feng gave it a couple of hard knocks that the furball, feeling wronged, drooped its head and chirped.
"Hehe, this little creature is quite spirited." Zhang Lan helped Mao Qiu smooth its fur, and the little one seemed to know that the person in front of it was a relative of its owner, gently wagging its tail in a playful manner, which made Zhang Lan chuckle, and even Li Shan, watching, felt a pang of envy.
"Hehe, are you hungry?" Li Feng did not wait for the sentence to finish, as he patted the little one's belly, which was round and full. Oh my, looking at the four or five half-eaten pears under the pear tree, he felt a pang of heartache. It seemed that this little one could not be left here. He had forgotten that squirrels naturally liked to eat tender shoots and young fruits. He hurriedly picked up the little squirrel, but fortunately, the furball was already familiar with Li Feng and was quite obedient.
"Little Treasure, this little thing is quite fun, keep it around." The more Zhang Lan looked at the fluffy ball, the cuter she found it. Li Feng nodded with a smile. Not to mention, this fluffy ball really knows how to flatter; just a minute ago it was called a nuisance, and the next minute, it was fun and cute. Truly impressive.
He took two harpoons and also grabbed the largest net, which had a diameter of about 40 centimeters, made of wire mesh with a thickness similar to that of a finger. It was originally used for catching large fish and had not been used for seven or eight years, but fortunately, Li Shan had preserved it well
Hmm. He took the leather boots, changed into them, and found the shoulder strap a bit loose. He pulled it tight, jumped a few times, felt it was just right, and quickly took the iron hook into the water. The pond had been abandoned for a long time, and the water was mostly rainwater, less than one meter deep, reaching his waist. The gray-green water plants were quite entangling. Li Feng stopped after just a few steps, picked up the hook, and pulled a few times; the water plants beside him were uprooted, and the mud at the bottom of the pond was very soft.
"Alright, you two, come here, Xiaobao." Li Shan said with some helplessness. How old are these two? There are important matters at hand. There is still more than half of the water plants in the pond; we need to hurry. It can all be cleared out before lunch.
Dad, you take the front, I’ll take the back, Mom, you keep an eye on us. If we catch something, quickly scoop it up with the net. This guy is quite a formidable character in the water, but on land, he’s just a dead fish, unable to jump around. Li Feng's family was cautious, and even the nearby pine needles felt the oppressive atmosphere, tightly clutching Li Feng's pant leg, their eyes darting around.
"Alright, stop messing around, let's go catch some fish for you to eat." Li Feng heard Zhang Lan and Li Shan talking not far away. After a short while, his parents had returned, so he quickly placed the squirrel on his shoulder, exited the thatched cottage, and happened to see Li Shan and Zhang Lan walking into the peach orchard.
The swordfish was finally caught, and Li Feng quickly stepped forward to put a snake skin bag over the swordfish's head, ensuring that this fellow could not escape. Of course, one layer of the snake skin bag was not enough; it would definitely break with just a couple of struggles. After putting on three layers, he finally felt at ease.
In this way, after the family finished breakfast, they all worked together, and within less than two hours, the construction site was finally cleared. Noticing that it was still early, Li Feng thought to also clear the pond. He had previously removed half of the water plants, and with the good weather and ample sunlight today, it was just right for drying the water plants.
Mom, it's fine, I didn't bump into anything, haha, today is a day of good fortune. Dad, I'm going home to get the harpoon and the net. We will have a whole fish feast for lunch today. Li Feng's eyes sparkled; it had been many years since he had seen a swordfish of this size. Although it had been a bit startled, thinking of the deliciousness of swordfish made his mouth water. Swordfish is comparable to pufferfish, and its meat is even more firm. Non-toxic, it is truly a rare delicacy. This swordfish is over 1 meter long and weighs at least 2 jin, comparable to a giant. It has been many years since he had seen a swordfish of this size. Although it had been a bit startled, thinking of the deliciousness of swordfish made his mouth water. Swordfish is comparable to pufferfish, and its meat is even more firm. Non-toxic, it is truly a rare delicacy. This swordfish is over 1 meter long and weighs at least 2 jin, comparable to a giant. Usually, swordfish weighing half a jin or eight liang are considered rare high-quality finds.
"No need, that guy harms the pond." Li Shan shook his head. His son planned to raise fish in the pond, but that guy's actions not only killed the fish but also spared no aquatic life within. Moreover, after a single electric shock, the nutrient content of the water significantly decreased.
"Did you get hit? Hurry to the hospital." Seeing the two of them in a daze, Zhang Lan was extremely anxious, pulling them up and down to examine them, her heart racing.