Chapter 22: Winter Fishing

After a while, Li Shenxing, wrapped in a bath towel, walked out and went to the wardrobe. He found some thermal underwear, a pair of black outdoor pants, and a black jacket to wear. He chose a black cotton hat with a simple pattern, put on a down jacket, and went downstairs.

He didn’t wake up Hyo-ri, as she had no schedule today. Artists usually have very little rest time, so he let her sleep a bit longer.

He poured a cup of hot soy milk and enjoyed a delicious rice roll.

He brewed a pot of hot tea, poured it into a thermos, and packed some seaweed rice rolls in a lunch box.

He wrote a note telling Hyo-ri that he was going fishing and that she should reheat the breakfast before eating it. He placed the note next to the seaweed rice rolls.

He changed into a pair of heavy, waterproof combat boots, took the lunch box and the thermos, and left the house.

He drove his Land Rover to the annual Hwacheon Ice Fishing Festival, which is held in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, 120 kilometers northeast of Seoul.

The annual Hwacheon Salmon Festival attracts over 800,000 visitors each year as a grand winter celebration. During the festival, a variety of activities are held, including catching fish in the clear North Han River and ice fishing, which are the most representative events.

The Hwacheon Salmon Festival is divided into four sections, all related to ice and snow. First, there is ice fishing and bait fishing for salmon, for which participants need to pay a fee. Second, there are ice and snow experiences, such as sledding, long sleds, and ice football. There are also fun activities for children, including a snowman garden, an ice city, a sled train, and a sled driving test, which are both fresh and interesting. Finally, there is a food paradise where visitors can enjoy fresh and delicious salmon buffets and try the special flavors of Gangwon Province. In addition, the festival offers various exciting activities, including traditional cultural experiences and concerts.

Li Shenxing’s purpose for this trip was to go ice fishing and taste the fresh and delicious salmon.

It took about two and a half hours to drive from Seoul to the Hwacheon fishing grounds. He stopped at a rest area halfway to take a break, use the restroom, eat a seaweed rice roll, and drink some hot tea before continuing his journey.

Upon arriving at the fishing grounds, he parked his car and headed straight to the ice fishing area. At the entrance, he saw a crowd of people. He bought a ticket, collected fishing gear and a stool, found a less crowded spot with an ice hole, set up his chair, threw some bait into the ice hole to attract fish, attached the bait to the hook, and began his salmon fishing adventure.

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In the quiet bedroom, a white figure slipped in. Xiao Pang jumped onto the bed and approached the sleeping Hyo-ri. Sitting on the pillow, he extended his chubby paws and pressed them against Hyo-ri’s face.

Hyo-ri, woken up, opened her eyes slightly. "Xiao Pang, don't disturb Mommy's sleep. Go play with Daddy."

Mumbling, she turned over and snuggled back into the blankets to continue sleeping.

"Meow~ Meow~ Meow~" Xiao Pang didn’t give up. He climbed onto Hyo-ri, stomping and meowing, determined to get her attention.

Unable to bear Xiao Pang’s disturbance, Hyo-ri gave up on sleeping in. She sat up, gently pinched Xiao Pang’s chubby face, and asked, "Bad boy, why are you disturbing Mommy’s sleep? Is your daddy not at home?" She turned to look at the clock on the bedside table; it was already 11:30 AM.

"Oh! It’s already noon! Xiao Pang, are you hungry again? Looks like I need to put you on a diet; you eat too much." She got out of bed and walked to the bathroom.

"Meow~" Xiao Pang protested. "Mommy, how can you say the same thing to me as you do to Mommy? I’m not fat; I’m just full-figured."

After washing up, Hyo-ri went downstairs, with Xiao Pang following closely behind.

"Oppa~" She called out, but received no response. She turned into the kitchen and saw the seaweed rice rolls and a note on the dining table. She stuffed a rice roll into her mouth and then picked up the note to read it.

"Going fishing? So we’ll have fish for dinner tonight." Hyo-ri smacked her lips.

"Meow~" Xiao Pang couldn’t wait and urged her.

"Alright~ Alright~ I’m coming." She put the seaweed rice rolls in the microwave to heat them for a minute.

She took out a can of cat food from the cabinet, opened it, and poured it into four cat bowls. Xiao Pang eagerly started eating.

She poured a cup of soy milk and carried the seaweed rice rolls to the living room.

She put everything on the table, turned on the TV, and took out her phone to check for any messages. There was a message from her agent sent in the morning. She called her agent, Kang Mi-ya, who asked Hyo-ri to come to the company. The company planned to shoot a documentary about her daily life, and she needed to decide whether to accept it. They chatted for a bit and then hung up.

Hyo-ri thought for a moment and made another call.

"Beep... Beep... Beep." After a few rings, a warm, magnetic male voice answered—it was Li Shenxing. "Are you up? Have you eaten?"

"Yep, I’m eating now. Oppa, did you catch any fish?" She replied while eating the rice roll.

"I caught a few big salmon. When I get back, I’ll make you sashimi, spicy salmon soup, pan-fried salmon, salmon salad, salmon fried rice, sauced salmon, steamed salmon, and salmon porridge..." Li Shenxing teased her.

Hyo-ri’s mouth watered. "Ah~!!! You’re making me hungry just talking about it." She complained, stuffed another rice roll into her mouth, and chewed a few times, finding it not as delicious as before.

"Ha ha~ I’ll cook it for you when I get home. Are you eating at home tonight?" Li Shenxing chuckled.

"I have to go to the company later. Mi-ya said the company plans to shoot a documentary about my daily life. I’ll check it out and then have nothing else to do." Hyo-ri reported her schedule for the day.

"A documentary about your daily life? They won’t be following you around all day, will they?" Li Shenxing guessed.

"I don’t know yet. I’ll tell you when you get back." Hyo-ri was also unsure.

"Okay, then. Wear more clothes when you go out. I’ll try to catch more fish." Since he couldn’t figure it out, he decided not to worry too much.

"Okay, Oppa, good luck~ Bye~"

"Bye~" Li Shenxing put his phone in his pocket and continued his fishing.

If no fish bit for about twenty minutes, he would move to another ice hole.

Li Shenxing changed ice holes three or four times and caught about ten large salmon, releasing the smaller ones. Checking the time, it was already 2 PM, so he started packing up his fish and fishing gear to try the local specialties. He didn’t want to miss out on the delicious food.

He put the fish back in the car and found a nearby restaurant. He ordered a portion of sashimi, a portion of salmon porridge, a pan-fried salmon, and a spicy salmon soup.

After a while, the salmon porridge and spicy salmon soup, served in a hot pot, were brought to the table. The porridge was soft and sweet, and the spicy salmon soup was hot and rich, warming him up. Soon, the sashimi and pan-fried salmon were also served. He picked up a piece of sashimi, dipped it in soy sauce and wasabi, and put it in his mouth. The meat was tender and smooth, and he ate several pieces before moving on to the pan-fried salmon. The slight char and the chewy texture were fresh and juicy, making it very delicious. It was truly a worthwhile trip.