Chapter 8: Zhou Hong Lands a Big Catch, 100x Multiplier!

The other anglers remained skeptical that the bait could truly guarantee a continuous catch. If the bait were really that good, they reasoned, why wouldn't Jiang Fan just sell it online to make a fortune? Despite his recent success, they were convinced the kid was nothing more than a fraud, much like those online influencers who fake catching fish with their bare hands. There had to be some sort of trick involved, even if they couldn't figure out what it was.

Zhou Hong, however, had no time for their chatter. He prepared the bait and cast his line.

"Zzzzt!"

Less than ten seconds after the bait hit the water, his rod was violently jerked downward.

"Holy cow! This bait really lives up to its name—the 'Wry-Mouth Dragon King War God Edition'! I've got a bite! I've got a bite! And it's a big one!"

Overjoyed, Zhou Hong frantically worked the rod. "Yellow-Hair, get the net! Quick, help me with the net!"

A moment later, Zhou Hong hauled up a two-and-a-half-pound wild freshwater crucian carp. At that exact moment, a system notification echoed in Jiang Fan’s mind.

[Ding! Zhou Hong has caught a two-and-a-half-pound wild freshwater crucian carp. System cash multiplier: 5x!]
[Wild freshwater crucian carp: 2.5 lbs, market price: 15 yuan per lb.]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for earning 2.5 x 15 x 5 = 187.5 RMB!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for earning 30 points of emotional value!]

"Hahaha! Look at that massive wild crucian! Five pounds! It’s definitely five pounds!" Zhou Hong roared with laughter, not missing a chance to exaggerate his success.

Yellow-Hair, Ma Dongdong, and the other anglers were stunned. It really was a bite... and it happened in less than a minute. This homemade "Field Battle Blue Crucian" bait was truly divine!

"I told you the Master's bait was invincible! You didn't believe me, but look—the first catch is a five-pounder!" Zhou Hong boasted, gesturing toward the fish on the ground.

Yellow-Hair was shocked, but still refused to concede. "That fish isn't five pounds! It's barely two or three!" he scoffed. "Besides, maybe he just got lucky after being skunked for so long."

Zhou Hong dismissed him with a wave. "If you don't believe me, I’ll haul in a ten-pounder today just to open your eyes!"

He re-baited his hook and cast out. Less than a minute later, he had another frantic bite. He whipped the rod back, and a freshwater stone bass leaped from the water, flopping onto the bank. While not as big as the first, landing two fish in under two minutes after being skunked was enough to make even the biggest skeptics believe in the bait’s power.

"Haha, see that? Still want to question the Master's bait?" Zhou Hong gloated. "Yellow-Hair, hurry up and toss out that garbage you're using!"

Yellow-Hair remained stubborn. "Pure luck, all of it. If you're so good, go catch a ten-pounder."

"Fine, I will! Just watch how I shut you up!"

Zhou Hong cast again, and just like before, he started landing fish one after another. Suddenly, he let out a startled cry as his rod bent violently—the fish was pulling so hard he was nearly dragged into the water. Yellow-Hair and the others watched in astonishment. A continuous bite was one thing, but this? The way the rod was bending, this was no ordinary fish.

"Quick! Help me! I'm going in!"

Zhou Hong couldn't hold on alone; the fish was dragging him toward the edge of the riverbank. Yellow-Hair, Ma Dongdong, and two others rushed over to help.

"Dammit, Yellow-Hair! Don't grab my rod, grab me! Hold onto me! I have to be the one to catch this fish!"

"Dad! Son is begging you, I concede! Just let me feel what it's like to be dragged by a monster fish?" Yellow-Hair pleaded. But Zhou Hong wouldn't budge. With no other choice, the group grabbed onto Zhou Hong's waist to anchor him.

The commotion caught Jiang Fan's attention. He watched with keen interest. "Huh? A big one? Don't tell me he hooked that hundred-pounder I've been tracking?"

"Splash!"

No sooner had he spoken than Zhou Hong dove into the water. It wasn't the fish that pulled him in, though; his rod had slipped from his grasp, and he had jumped in to retrieve it. He soon scrambled back to the bank, dragging the massive fish a few meters onto the shore. But a sudden thrash from the fish dragged him back toward the water, and he had to be held back by the others.

Jiang Fan watched as they struggled for over ten minutes before finally hauling the prize onto the bank. It was a massive silver carp.

[Ding! Zhou Hong has caught a thirty-five-pound wild silver carp. System cash multiplier: 100x!]
[Wild silver carp: 35 lbs, market price: 5 yuan per lb.]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for earning 35 x 5 x 100 = 17,500 RMB!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for earning 360 points of emotional value!]

A hundred-fold multiplier? 17,500 RMB? 360 emotional value points?

Jiang Fan was delighted. He hadn't misjudged his apprentice; this disciple was truly a keeper.

Meanwhile, Zhou Hong was beside himself with excitement. "Hahaha! This fish is definitely a hundred pounds! A hundred pounds!"

"Don't brag," one of the others said. "It's more like thirty or forty pounds, but still huge!"

"My god, you really stepped in dog poop today! A thirty-pounder—most people don't catch that in a lifetime. That bait really is godly!"

Zhou Hong nodded excitedly. "Exactly! The Master's bait is divine! And, of course, a little bit of my own skill."

Jiang Fan walked over, wearing a wide smile. "Congratulations on the big catch."

Though silver carp weren't highly valued for food, anglers didn't fish to eat; they fished for the thrill of the hunt.

"Master, it's all thanks to your divine bait. Otherwise, I would have been skunked again today." Zhou Hong’s arrogance vanished when he spoke to Jiang Fan, replaced by pure awe for the "Field Battle Blue Crucian" he had been sold.

Seeing this, Yellow-Hair and the others immediately tried to buy some bait from Jiang Fan. However, Jiang Fan turned them down, claiming he was out. He only sold the bait to Zhou Hong because he was his apprentice; he wouldn't waste his 20-point emotional investment on anyone else, no matter how much they offered.

Seeing that Jiang Fan had no more, they turned their attention to the leftovers in Zhou Hong's bucket. "Hey, Brother Zhou, care to share a little?" Yellow-Hair asked.

Zhou Hong tucked the bait away. "Nope. I need it for tomorrow. If I share it with you, what am I supposed to use?"

"You're so stingy! I'll buy the whole thing off you for fifty yuan, how about that?" Yellow-Hair offered.

"Get lost! Who was the one saying this bait was trash a minute ago?" Zhou Hong waved them off. He packed his gear and hoisted the thirty-five-pound carp onto his shoulder.

Jiang Fan frowned as he saw him leaving while still having plenty of bait left. "Are you done for the day?"

Zhou Hong grinned. "That's enough for today. It's getting dark, and I'm afraid I won't be able to find my way home if I stay out too late!"

"..." Jiang Fan stared at him. "It's only noon."

*You're not worried about the light,* Jiang Fan thought, *you're just afraid people won't see your thirty-five-pound fish.*

It seemed likely that the streets of Yuanshan Town would have a confused driver today, someone who would "lose their way" until long after dark. Jiang Fan didn't press the issue and returned to his fishing spot. Regardless, Zhou Hong had helped him earn nearly 20,000 yuan and over 400 points of emotional value. That 20-point investment in the bait had been well worth it.

The system's bait was truly miraculous. While others struggled to get a bite, the system bait triggered a feeding frenzy and attracted monsters. With that thought, Jiang Fan looked toward the water. He remembered that hundred-pound giant from yesterday. Now that he had the right tools, was it finally time for him to reel that beast in?