Chapter One: A Fisherman Will Never Work for Others

Beep, beep, beep! Welcome to the Mind Storage of this book—

“Honey, off to fish so early this morning?”

Jiang Fan had just packed his fishing rod, slung his bag over his shoulder, and was stepping out when his wife, Liu Ruyan, handed him a pack of Hongta Mountain cigarettes.

“Fishing is hard work, but try not to smoke too much, it’s bad for your health.”

“And here’s a box of Swiss rolls—all for you. Remember to eat when you’re hungry.”

“And also—”

His wife fussed over him for a good few minutes before Jiang Fan finally hopped on his little electric scooter, cheerfully heading out the door.

He, Jiang Fan, was twenty-five this year, a graduate from a prestigious university.

He had a good job, until one day he happened upon his boss and the secretary “exploring the origins of life” in the office. The next day, for the crime of stepping into the company with his left foot first, he was fired.

He’d been idling at home for a year and a half, doing nothing but fish every day, living entirely on the support of his beautiful wife from the city.

Liu Ruyan, his wife, was twenty-four, the campus belle, beautiful and pure, extraordinarily understanding.

She didn’t ask for perfume, foundation, an iPhone, or designer bags. Each month, when she got paid, she handed him money to buy all manner of fishing gear.

Her only condition was that he must come home on time every evening.

Many envied him, and of course, plenty of gossip followed.

People said his wife was being kept by some company president, or that she had a boytoy on the side… Whenever Jiang Fan heard such things, he simply smiled.

With such a beautiful, capable, caring wife who even gave him spending money, what else could possibly matter?

Besides, he trusted Liu Ruyan. Not for any particular reason, but simply because that’s what trust between husband and wife is.

“Look, it’s Jiang Fan, the college grad. Off fishing again,” a few aunties commented as he rode past the alley.

“Tch! Graduated and still sits at home doing nothing—can he really call himself a college graduate?”

“My Xiaohe didn’t even finish high school but knows to work in a factory!”

“That’s right, what a waste to have married such a beautiful wife!”

“Living off his wife every day, I feel embarrassed for him!”

“And why does his wife put up with it?”

“Don’t you know? I’ve heard she’s got…”

Jiang Fan knew the aunties were gossiping about him and Liu Ruyan again, so he twisted the throttle, kicking up dust and leaving their words choked back in their throats.

Still, sometimes he thought they had a point—he couldn’t really spend his whole life fishing and living off his wife.

Liu Ruyan was so understanding; how could he let her go on supporting him?

He wasn’t getting any younger; it was time to find a job and start living properly.

[My goodness! A fisherman working? That’s impossible! Ding ding ding! Host detected with thoughts of giving up fishing—Binding Fisherman System!]

“???”

[Fisherman System: 1. Whenever the host catches a fish, they gain Emotion Points, which can be exchanged in the system shop for all sorts of fishing gear; 2. For every fish caught, the system automatically converts it to cash. If the fish weighs more than a jin, there’s a chance of a multiplier—generally, the bigger the fish, the higher the multiplier, and the more cash! Host, what are you waiting for? Choose to bind: Yes/No?]

Jiang Fan was stunned. When he finally realized he’d gotten a system, he almost toppled both himself and his scooter into a ditch.

As a fan of web novels, he knew what a system was.

He just never thought he’d actually get one himself.

He carefully read the system instructions—fishing could make him money! Without hesitation, he chose “Yes.”

[Ding! Congratulations, host has successfully bound the system. Newbie gift pack awarded!]

“There’s a newbie gift pack? Open it.”

[Ding! Congratulations, host has received a pack of ‘Wild Battle Blue Crucian’!]

[Ding! Congratulations, host has received a standard-grade hand rod!]

[Ding! Congratulations, host has received a set of standard-grade lure rods!]

“Uh… ‘Wild Battle Blue Crucian’? It’s only a few bucks a pack online, isn’t it? System, aren’t you being a little stingy?”

[The ‘Wild Battle Blue Crucian’ awarded by this system may look the same as the one online, but its effect is entirely different. It’s the ‘Wild Battle Blue Crucian Crooked-Mouth Dragon King God of War Edition.’ If you don’t catch fish after cast after cast, this system will livestream itself eating every last bit!]

“You seem excited enough—I’ll trust you this once. The rods and the lure set, same deal?”

[Yes, these rods outperform others of their class on the market. Besides, the system shop has even higher-level bait and gear, which the host can exchange for after earning enough Emotion Points from fishing.]

As a seasoned fisherman, Jiang Fan suddenly became very interested.

With this system, why look for a job? Working? Out of the question!

He twisted the throttle to the max and sped off like a racing legend.

Jiang Fan didn’t know that, just after he left, someone arrived at his home.

A woman, about twenty-six or twenty-seven.

She wore a pale blue dress, her features delicate, her figure curvaceous, her skin at least eighty-seven percent fair—how fair the remaining thirteen percent was, no one could say.

She was Liu Ruyan’s close friend, Shen Zhiling.

She was also Jiang Fan and Liu Ruyan’s university classmate.

And, she had been their biggest obstacle on their way to marriage.

Now, let’s hear what this obstacle has to say.

“That guy Jiang Fan ran off to fish again?” Shen Zhiling said with clear disapproval.

“Oh? Zhiling, what brings you here?” Liu Ruyan’s face lit up with joy at the sight of her close friend.

Shen Zhiling glared at her. “I wouldn’t have come if I’d known your precious husband would be out, as usual!”

She’d hoped to surprise them and catch Jiang Fan at home so she could give that good-for-nothing a piece of her mind—but once again, she missed him.

“Ruyan, tell me, why did you marry a man who only knows how to live off his wife? You used to be the campus belle, chased by so many rich heirs! Now look at you—what a waste of a winning hand!”

Liu Ruyan’s delicate brows furrowed, her beautiful face pure and sincere. “Zhiling, I won’t let you talk about my husband like that!”

Shen Zhiling was speechless. Jiang Fan was already so useless, and she still defended him?

She sat down and took a sip of water. “It’s not about him. I just think it’s a shame, that’s all. You could have had a far better life. But you’re only twenty-four—there’s still time. Listen to me, before you have kids, get a divorce. With your looks and figure, even as a divorcee, men would line up for you!”

Liu Ruyan shot her a look. “Why do you always urge me to divorce Jiang Fan? You opposed us when we got together, when we got married, and even now you want us to split. Can’t you just wish us well?”

Shen Zhiling huffed. “It’s all because Jiang Fan is a loser! He’s got nothing, and looks aside, what else does he have? There are plenty of men better-looking than him!”

Liu Ruyan replied, “But I love him!”

“You love him? What do you love about him? Don’t tell me what Jiang Fan said is actually true?”

“Huh? What did he say?”

“He said that back in college, when he chased you, you turned him down and told him to take a good look at himself in the mirror. He was just about to, when you agreed to date him!”

“…”