Chapter 49

There was a fish on the hook, and Qi Xiang was just about to reel it in when he suddenly felt the fishing line tighten, and a powerful force surged, almost making the fishing rod fly out of his hands.

"What's going on?" Qi Xiang was stunned for a moment.

At the same time, the calm lake surface immediately rippled with splashes, making a splashing sound.

The boat captain, with his rich experience, immediately saw the commotion on the water and exclaimed with joy, "A big fish, there must be a big fish on the hook."

"What kind of big fish?"

At the stern of the boat, Xiao Ding quickly ran over to see what was happening.

At this moment, Qi Xiang couldn't speak. He tightly gripped the fishing rod with both hands, leaning back continuously. The fishing rod and line were bent at a ninety-degree angle, severely curved.

Not only was the fishing rod bent, but the fishing line was also taut, almost forming a straight line.

Xiao Ding, upon seeing this, hurriedly reminded, "Mr. Qi, loosen the line, loosen it quickly. Otherwise, the line will break."

"That's right, loosen the line first."

The boat captain came over excitedly, nodding in agreement, "When fishing for a big fish, you must be patient and slowly engage with it. Tighten and loosen, sometimes tight, sometimes loose, wear it down, exhaust it, and then you can catch it."

Under the guidance of Xiao Ding and the boat captain, Qi Xiang promptly loosened the fishing line. However, as soon as it was loosened, it tightened again, and the thin fishing line continuously spiraled and looped on the lake surface.

The undercurrents in the water surged, occasionally splashing fragments of water.

This commotion was not small, and Xiao Ding, seeing it, became even more excited, "Mr. Qi, this must be a big fish, at least twenty to thirty pounds. Don't let up, or it will escape."

"I'll try my best..." Qi Xiang smiled, seeing the big fish struggling in the water, making the fishing rod shake uncontrollably. He didn't feel tired but instead felt energized and fulfilled.

Subtly, he also understood why so many people enjoyed fishing. The feeling of conquest, dominance, and control was indeed very intoxicating, making one feel happy and easily immersed in it.

The human and the fish were suspended by a single line.

For the fish, it was a game of life and death. For the human, it was also very thrilling and exciting. A small fishing line was the focal point of the struggle. If the line remained, the human won, and the fish died. If the line broke, the fish escaped, and the human lost.

For a moment, a tense atmosphere began to spread.

The boat captain and Xiao Ding stared at the lake surface, somewhat anxious. Qi Xiang, however, was enjoying it, constantly adjusting the fishing line, engaging in a battle of wits and strength with the big fish underwater.

Time slowly passed, and before they knew it, more than half an hour had gone by.

The big fish gradually surfaced, and the boat captain and Xiao Ding could see it clearly. The big fish was silver all over, about a foot long, and its scales shimmered with a golden glow in the sunset, very beautiful.

"Wow, such a big silver fish, I haven't seen one in years."

At first glance, the boat captain was also surprised, then quickly ran back to the cabin, took a long-handled fish net, and came over to help Qi Xiang.

"No need for your help..." Qi Xiang waved him off, then estimated and suddenly pulled the fishing rod. The big fish immediately flew out of the water and hung in mid-air.

The big fish struggled in the air, jumping around, but with no place to leverage, no matter how much it wriggled, it couldn't escape Qi Xiang's control and eventually fell into the net on the deck.

"Ha ha, this big guy..." The boat captain touched it and weighed it, then pondered, "It should weigh about forty pounds, and it's still alive. If we send it to a big restaurant, it could sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars."

"Mr. Qi, you're really skilled." Xiao Ding gave a thumbs up, "No wonder there was no movement, you were saving your strength to catch a big fish."

"Just lucky." Qi Xiang said, but he was also a bit puzzled. He remembered his target was a small fish, so how did it become this big fish?

At this moment, the boat captain bent down to unhook the fish and suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, that's rare."

"What's the matter?" Qi Xiang and Xiao Ding quickly looked over.

The boat captain moved his hand, unhooked the fish, and then pulled out a small fish from the big fish's mouth.

"Ha ha, fish within a fish!" The boat captain laughed, "It seems the small fish ate the bait first, and then the big fish ate the small fish, which is why it was caught."

"Two for one!" Xiao Ding was also surprised, "Is that possible?"

"Very rare, extremely rare, one in a million." The boat captain chuckled, "I know that big fish eat small fish, and small fish eat shrimp, but I've never seen it with my own eyes."

"Old Wu, did you catch a big fish?"

Suddenly, a few small boats that had been lingering nearby also drifted over.

After all, the commotion caused by Qi Xiang and the big fish naturally drew some attention. A few experienced boat captains also knew not to disturb during the struggle. Now that it was over, they naturally came to join in the excitement.

"Wow, it's really a big fish."

As soon as they approached, the big fish thrashing on the deck immediately drew the admiration of the boat captains.

The big fish's tail slapped the deck, the force and wildness clearly showing that it was a wild fish, not a farmed one.

"Old Wu, are you selling this big fish?" one of the boat captains laughed, "I know someone at a restaurant, do you want me to help you deliver it?"

"It's not mine..." The boat captain shook his head and pointed to Qi Xiang, "It was caught by this guest."

"Oh..."

Hearing this, the boat captains fell silent. They knew that for tourists, catching such a big fish usually meant they wouldn't want to sell it but would take it home to eat.

Qi Xiang also had this in mind. He looked at the sunset and said with a smile, "Brother Ding, it's getting late, and we've both had a good catch. Let's go back."

"Sure, sure..." Xiao Ding naturally agreed.

The two returned home, full of their catch. When they got to the shore, some people saw the big fish in Qi Xiang's hands and were very surprised. Some even gathered around, taking out their phones to take pictures.

"Brother, are you selling this fish? How much?" someone asked, wanting to buy the big fish.

"Not for sale..." Xiao Ding blocked them, "We caught this fish ourselves, it's not for sale!"

Pushing through the crowd, the two finally reached their car and drove back to the city.

By the time they reached the city center, the lights were already on, and the sky was dark.

At this moment, Qi Xiang declined Xiao Ding's invitation to visit his home, agreeing to meet again the next day, and then went home alone. When he got home, the big fish, due to the lack of water for a long time, was almost lifeless.

Qi Xiang quickly filled a large bucket with water and put the big fish in it. However, the fish, once in the water, remained motionless, its large body floating, as if it had become a dead fish.

Seeing this, Qi Xiang felt helpless. He should have bought a large basin to keep the fish alive at the shore, but he had forgotten due to the crowd and the rush to leave.

If the live fish turned into a dead fish, it would go bad and smell tomorrow if not handled soon.

Qi Xiang sighed, immediately took the big fish to the kitchen, placed it on the cutting board, and made a cut in the fish's belly. As he cut, he reached in and pulled out a clump of fish guts.

"Huh?"

As Qi Xiang held the fish guts, he felt something hard, like a stone. Curious, he pulled the guts apart and saw a faint glow.

"Ah?"

Qi Xiang focused and was immediately stunned. The object was round, like a bead. However, it was stained with fish blood, making it appear dark, reflecting a dim light under the lamp.

Looking at it, Qi Xiang suddenly had a strange feeling that it was something valuable. He immediately picked up the bead and turned on the tap to wash it.

After washing it, Qi Xiang saw that the object was very round, about the size of an egg. Surprisingly, its natural color was black, shiny, and lustrous, with a crystalline and transparent quality.

"What is this?" Qi Xiang admired it for a moment, unsure, "A black pearl?"

Taihu Lake is famous for its pearls, which is not uncommon.

Taihu pearls, also known as lake pearls, are one of the nine pearl varieties classified by origin. As early as the Tang and Song dynasties, Taihu pearls were already imperial tributes, along with Hépǔ pearls, South China Sea pearls, and Dòngtíng pearls, collectively known as the Four Treasures.

Taihu pearls are smooth and lustrous, not only precious ornaments but also valuable medicinal herbs. Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty often used Taihu freshwater pearls for beauty and health.

However, according to Qi Xiang's knowledge, Taihu pearls are mainly white, and he had never heard of black pearls. Therefore, he wasn't sure if the bead in his hand was a pearl.

However, it was certain that, whether it was a pearl or not, it was definitely a treasure.

Holding the bead, Qi Xiang saw a beautiful, dark glow, shining from within, pure and intense, creating an indescribable beauty.

Most importantly, the bead looked like a natural pearl, not a cultured one. The price difference between natural and cultured pearls can be significant, often several times or even ten times the difference.

"In any case, it's a good thing..." Qi Xiang admired the bead, feeling elated, and suddenly thought that the villa on the mountain was within reach.

Qi Xiang caressed the pearl, admiring it until late at night, lost in thought. Drowsily, he fell asleep.

The next morning, Qi Xiang subconsciously reached out and felt the black pearl by his bed, fully waking up.

He got up, washed up, and went out for breakfast. At the same time, Xiao Ding's call came as expected.

Seeing the caller ID, Qi Xiang immediately smiled, answered the call, and agreed to meet Xiao Ding at a location. He tidied up his room and went out.

Soon, Qi Xiang arrived at a quiet teahouse, where Xiao Ding had been waiting for a long time. Seeing him, Xiao Ding immediately greeted him with a smile...

...

This week's recommendation is a bit off, so the results depend on your support. Please add to your favorites and recommend, thank you.

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