C18 Wild Giant Carps

The name Three-river Village originated because it is nestled among three rivers, creating an abundance of ideal fishing spots nearby.

Zhao Lei and Zhou Jun arrived at a bend in the river and settled under the shade of a tree to fish. Their choice of location was excellent, and it wasn't long before they started reeling in fish. While the fish they caught were common and not particularly valuable, the pair were there to relax and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Zhou Jun had a successful start, catching several green fish and a black fish, whereas Zhao Lei's luck was less impressive, managing only two small carps. Zhou Jun couldn't help but gloat, grinning at Zhao Lei, "You've been studying in the big city for years, and it seems your fishing skills have diminished. I remember when you used to outfish me every time!"

Zhao Lei, not one to concede easily, retorted, "What do you know? I'm just building up good karma. A big fish will bite soon enough!"

Zhou Jun laughed, "Alright, I can't wait to see this big catch of yours!"

But as Zhou Jun's words hung in the air, Zhao Lei suddenly stood up, yanking his rod with force, exclaiming, "I've got one, haha, and it feels like a whopper!"

Despite his earlier teasing, Zhou Jun rushed over to offer support, "Keep it steady, don't let that big fish get away!"

Zhao Lei was too focused to banter with Zhou Jun, as he stepped back, pulling the rod, and slowly guided the fish into the shallows.

Standing at the water's edge, Zhou Jun's eyes bulged with excitement as he peered into the river, shouting encouragement, "You've got this! I can almost see it! It's definitely a big one! Holy smokes, it's a Softshell Turtle, a huge one at that! Don't let it slip away!"

Zhao Lei was equally astonished, not expecting to hook a Softshell Turtle. Given their rarity in the wild, it was a remarkable catch. He reeled in the line with great care, ensuring the turtle wouldn't escape. After several tense minutes, Zhao Lei triumphantly pulled the Softshell Turtle ashore.

Although Zhou Jun had already mentioned that Zhao Lei had caught a massive Armored Fish, he was still taken aback when he saw it in person—it was even larger than Zhao Lei had anticipated.

The shell of the Armored Fish was as large as a soup bowl, and Zhao Lei guessed it weighed at least ten kilograms. While it wasn't unusual for a farmed Armored Fish to reach such a size, a wild one from the river would need to be at least a dozen years old, making it a rare find even in the county market.

"Wow, Lei, you've hit the jackpot!" Zhou Jun exclaimed as he gingerly placed the Armored Fish into the bucket, grinning from ear to ear. "An Armored Fish this size must be worth at least a thousand or two!"

Zhao Lei was equally thrilled, his face beaming with joy. "See? This is what happens when you build up good karma. You've got a long way to go if you want to out-fish me!"

Zhou Jun responded with a touch of envy, "You're gloating so much you're practically out of breath. What are you planning to do with this Armored Fish?"

In the past, Zhao Lei would have certainly sold such a catch. However, with the ginseng he had planted soon to fetch a handsome price, he wasn't concerned about a few thousand yuan. With a decisive gesture, he said, "Do we even need to ask? We're going to eat it, of course. We caught it together, so let's enjoy it at your place and treat your dad to a taste of the fresh catch as well!"

Upon arriving at Zhou Jun's home with their catch, Zhou Qingsong, Zhou Jun's father, came out to greet them with a warm smile. "Lei, come on in and have a seat!"

"Hello, Uncle Zhou," Zhao Lei greeted with a smile. "We caught a big Armored Fish today. We're in for a real treat!"

It was only then that Zhou Qingsong noticed the Armored Fish in the bucket and he couldn't hide his astonishment. "Such a large Armored Fish could fetch a pretty penny. Maybe we shouldn't eat it and sell it at the market instead!"

Zhao Lei chuckled and replied, "It's just one Armored Fish. It won't break the bank. Please, don't hold back on my account!"

Zhou Jun nudged his father, "Dad, Lei Zi is destined for big things; he wouldn't fuss over a few thousand yuan! This giant wild turtle is a real tonic. Have a little extra today—who knows, it might even give you the energy to find me a new stepmom!"

"Get lost, you little rascal!" Zhou Qingsong barked, "I raised you single-handedly. It's not your place to worry about me getting a wife!"

Zhou Jun grinned, "I'm just looking out for your well-being, that's all!"

Zhou Jun's mother had died when he was very young, leaving Zhou Qingsong to raise him alone. They shared a close bond, often indulging in banter that might seem a bit much to outsiders.

Zhao Lei, being Zhou Jun's close friend, was well aware of their dynamic. He simply watched the exchange with a smile, feeling a twinge of envy for his friend who still had a father, unlike himself who was all alone.

After a bit of verbal sparring, Zhou Qingsong set about preparing the turtle. He insisted that such a rare specimen required the hands of an experienced person like himself to avoid letting the young men, Zhao Lei and Zhou Jun, squander such a delicacy.

Indeed, Zhou Qingsong's concerns were justified. As he opened the turtle, he exclaimed with delight, "Wow, there are eggs inside!"

Zhao Lei and Zhou Jun crowded around to see, and sure enough, there were over a dozen white eggs nestled inside the turtle's belly. Turtle eggs differed from chicken eggs; they were almost perfectly spherical, resembling ping pong balls aside from their size.

"I told you, it takes an old hand like me to dissect this turtle," Zhou Qingsong boasted. "If it were up to you two, not many of these eggs would have survived!"

While speaking, he carefully removed the eggs, nodding thoughtfully, "The shells are quite hard. If you hadn't caught this turtle, it would have laid these eggs within a few days."

Zhou Qingsong's words struck a chord with Zhao Lei, who quickly inquired, "Uncle Zhou, I could really use these turtle eggs. Could I have them?"

Since Zhao Lei had caught the turtle, the Zhous had no objections to his request. When Zhao Lei left Zhou Jun's home, he was not only satisfied from feasting on wild turtle but also contentedly carried away more than a dozen turtle eggs.

After arriving home, Zhao Lei took the mature turtle eggs into the Gourd Space.

With the knowledge that the turtle eggs were ready, Zhao Lei was struck by an audacious idea: he would try to hatch them. To boost the chances of success, he decided to incubate the eggs within the nurturing environment of the Gourd Space, hopeful for a favorable outcome.

He dug a hole next to the spring, filling it with a mixture of dried twigs and leaves. Gently, he placed the turtle eggs atop the bedding and then covered them with a generous layer of leaves. Satisfied with his work, he dusted off his hands with a sense of accomplishment.

Truthfully, Zhao Lei was unsure of the precise conditions needed for hatching turtle eggs, so he improvised based on what he had seen crocodiles do on television. He reasoned that as the plant matter decomposed, it would generate heat, which should facilitate the successful hatching of the eggs.

Having set everything in motion, Zhao Lei exited the Gourd Space. Clutching the tiny Purple Gold Gourd in his palm, he couldn't help but let out a sigh, tinged with concern for the uncertain fate of the eggs.