Chapter 21: Jiang Fan's Short Video Account

“*Ahem, a look at you all, and you’re only 130 jin—two jin less than yesterday’s big catfish...*”

“*What a pity, just three more jin and you’d have broken the personal best record.*”

Already 130 jin and you say ‘only’?!

The blond’s eyes sparkled. “Brother Fan, you’re just too modest.”

“But I’m so jealous.”

“Yesterday, a 132-jin catch, today another 130-jin one. If there’s no god in this world, Brother Fan, you’re my one true deity!”

Ma Dongdong chimed in, “With Brother Fan’s skill, catching a dragon wouldn’t be surprising.”

Zhou Hong was full of question marks. “Catch a dragon? Where are there dragons in this world? If anything, it’d be a thousand-jin giant fish!”

The blond said, “If there’s a real dragon, then my second uncle must be truly deaf!”

Ma Dongdong nodded, “Yeah, the imperial tutor has seen dragons before!”

Zhou Hong sneered, “By that logic, Guangxi also has real dragons!”

The three of them then took photos of the 130-jin big blue fish that Jiang Fan was carrying, planning to boast about it on Douyin once they got home.

“This big blue fish will definitely go viral on Douyin!”

…

The three returned home, brimming with excitement and carrying their catch.

Zhou Hong tied the 23-jin grass carp to the front of their electric scooter. The three of them squeezed onto one electric bike and began cruising around Yuanshan Town’s city center.

However, after only two blocks, they were stopped by traffic police for overloading.

“You three are overloaded and you’re hanging a fish on there? Are you crazy?! Show me your IDs. I’m writing you a ticket!”

Zhou Hong smiled broadly. “Fine, write the ticket. Can you make it a city-wide announcement?”

The traffic officer was speechless.

…

Near a vegetable market in Yuanshan Town, when Hu Pang saw Jiang Fan bring in another 130-jin big fish, he could hardly believe it.

“Another hundred-jin fish, and caught at Beimen River again?”

“No, changed locations. There are plenty of big fish there. The price is a bit higher today. Next time I go, I’ll call you.”

“Alright, boss!”

Shortly after, Jiang Fan walked out counting dozens of red bills.

The big blue fish sold at 25 yuan per jin, fetching 3250 yuan, and the three other Qiaozui fish sold for a total of 580 yuan.

[Host: Jiang Fan]

[Title: Master Angler]

[Emotion Points: 7470 (7470/9800)]

[Cash Value: ¥808,350]

[Fishing Equipment: Standard hand rod; blue iron grade lure rod; two-meter diameter fish net]

[Apprentice Anglers: Three! (3/3, all bound!)]

[Map: Water Curtain Cave; (other locations to be developed)]

(+)

Though his emotion points had reached 9800 this time, he hadn’t gained any new title nor earned the right to bind more apprentice anglers.

He wondered how many points were needed for the next title.

Jiang Fan checked the [Title] interface and saw the descriptions:

Angler (500): Increases chance of catching big fish by 3%

Fisherman (3000): Increases chance by 5%

Master Angler (6000): Increases chance by 8%

Fishing Spirit (12000): Increases chance by 10%

Fishing King (25000): Increases chance by 15%

Fishing Emperor...

“…”

So titles increase the probability of catching big fish.

His next title, “Fishing Spirit,” required 12,000 emotion points; he still needed 2,200 more.

Obviously, without a new title to unlock more apprentice slots, he had to rely on Zhou Hong and the others to help earn money.

He still needed to wait a while before he could bind He Qiang, the super angler.

Moreover, Jiang Fan wasn’t even sure if the next title would grant more apprentice slots... After all, the “Master Angler” title only unlocked the map feature. Who knew what “Fishing Spirit” would bring?

Still, even without binding He Qiang, when he next ventured into Water Curtain Cave to fish that 300-400 jin giant, Jiang Fan planned to invite him along.

Because the system stipulated that only with his bait could they earn money and gain emotion points, getting in early would help build rapport and make it easier to sell bait to He Qiang later.

With this in mind, Jiang Fan returned home, where his wife, Liu Ruyan, had already prepared dinner.

“Hey, honey, didn’t you say you were going to that classmates’ gathering tonight? Why did you cook dinner?”

Jiang Fan looked curiously at the lavish meal on the table.

Liu Ruyan turned around and said, “Honey, you’re back! I wasn’t sure if you’d go, so I cooked just in case. What if you come back hungry from fishing?”

Jiang Fan replied, “If I’m hungry, I can order takeout.”

Liu Ruyan pouted, “Takeout isn’t healthy. We’re going to have a baby eventually, and I don’t want that to affect the child.”

Jiang Fan smiled. “Speaking of kids, how about we try for one soon?”

Before, without a stable job, having a child was stressful.

But having earned over 800,000 yuan in three days thanks to the system, and with more to come, even if they had five or six kids, it wouldn’t be a big problem.

Liu Ruyan was stunned. “You used to say we’re young and didn’t want kids yet. Why the sudden change?”

Jiang Fan laughed. “If you want one, let’s have one. If not, we can wait.”

“I definitely want one!” Liu Ruyan nodded eagerly like a little chick pecking.

She wanted a child more than anything; having a baby would truly make their house a home.

Besides, her father was preparing to return from abroad.

When they married in haste, her father hadn’t attended and didn’t know Jiang Fan’s family was poor.

If he returned and disapproved of Jiang Fan, he would surely force her to divorce.

But once they had a child, even if her father objected, he’d have to accept it.

“Honey, I’ll go make your favorite garlic oysters!”

Thinking about having a child, Liu Ruyan was full of energy and went back to the kitchen to prepare one of Jiang Fan’s favorite dishes.

After dinner, Liu Ruyan washed the dishes while Jiang Fan sat on the sofa.

He thought about Zhou Hong and the others’ idea of making a Douyin account.

He created a new account named “Xia Shuaibi.”

The purpose wasn’t to make money but to have a way to explain where the money came from when spending in front of Liu Ruyan.

After verifying his identity, Jiang Fan added Zhou Hong, the blond, and Ma Dongdong into a WeChat group to ask for the video of yesterday’s big catfish catch.

Upon hearing Jiang Fan had started a Douyin account, the three quickly followed and became his first three fans.

They eagerly helped Jiang Fan edit explosive videos and sent them to him.

Their enthusiasm was naturally motivated by the hope of gaining homemade bait.

Jiang Fan agreed that as long as they helped edit videos, they would receive free bait, which excited the three anglers immensely.

Zhou’s Young Master: Great! We’ll edit videos and get bait from Brother Fan. Deal!

Blond Handsome: Let me introduce myself—I have 20,000 Douyin followers and three years of video editing experience. Leave it to me!

Ma Dongdong: The video I posted yesterday got over 50,000 likes. My editing skills are top-notch!

Zhou’s Young Master: That’s just riding Brother Fan’s coattails!

After chatting for a while, Jiang Fan put down his phone.

Meanwhile, the three continued joking in the group, changing its name repeatedly.

“Zhou’s Young Master” renamed it “The Four Swordsmen of Yuanshan Town.”

“Blond Handsome” changed it to “Fishing Action Squad.”

“Ma Dongdong” renamed it “Three’s Fan Group.”

Zhou’s Young Master: ???

Blond Handsome: ???

Zhou’s Young Master: You little rascal! @Ma Dongdong

Blond Handsome: Got any resources? Lend me a mic? @Ma Dongdong

Ma Dongdong: Sans censorship

Zhou’s Young Master: !!

Blond Handsome: Heart-eyed emoji!

Jiang Fan: ???