Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

  The weather was getting warmer, and the thin ice covering the lake started cracking. Jin Er was fishing in one of the holes. The dark blue water underneath the ice was peaceful and calm.

  Good-For-Nothing had finished the meat, and started gnawing on the chicken bone.

  Jin Er noticed Snowy gazing at the lake, and asked, “Snowy, do you want to fish? I can teach you, if you want.”


  Snowy wasn’t interested in fishing at all. Asking her to sit for hours by the water was the same as asking her to die.

  “Uncle Jin, are there fish in the lake? Don’t they freeze to death in winter?” she asked.

  “How could the fish freeze to death? They aren’t tropical fish.”


  “Then why isn’t the hook moving at all?” She asked again.

  “Because I haven’t put the bait on.” Jin Er pulled the rod up to show her.

  Snowy was doubtful, she didn’t know whether there actually was no bait, or the bait was already taken by fish.

  “What kind of fish are in the lake?” she inquired. “Are there any Crucian Carps?”


  “Yes, that’s the most commonly found fish in this lake, especially in winter. Even in the extreme cold of Northeast China, you can still catch Crucian Carps. Low ambient temperature doesn’t mean low water temperature. As long as the water temperature is above 4°C, you can find Crucian Carps. That’s why we say ‘Every season is fishing season.'”


  “Oh.” Snowy nodded. She figured that Jin Er was an experienced fisherman, so she asked, “Is it easy to catch them, as long as you use the bait?”


  Jin Er chuckled. “No. Most Crucian Carps stay in a certain area under the ice for a long time. We fishermen call this spot the ‘fish nest.’ If you choose the wrong location, you will never catch any Crucian Carps. The most crucial technique is to find the fish nest.”


  Snowy took another look at where Jin Er stuck the rod. It was an area of thin cracked ice. As far as she could tell, it was no difference from other locations.

  “Is this the fish nest?” She pointed at the hole.

  “No.” Jin Er shook his head. “Since I wasn’t planning to use the bait, I just stuck my rod in a random spot. Snowy, are you craving Crucian Carps? They have a lot of bones, you have to be careful when you eat them.”


  “It’s not for me. Do you know about the pet shop where I bought my cat? The shop owner’s cats just gave birth last night, and he needs fresh Crucian Carps to help the mothers lactate. The food market isn’t open today, and there’s nowhere to buy Crucian Carps. He asked for help, so I’m trying to get some information,” Snowy answered honestly.

  Jin Er knew about the pet shop, he helped them deliver medication His driving license was revoked, but it was an amazing experience.

  “So, you’re looking for fresh Crucian Carps for the mothers to lactate?” Jin Er asked.

  “Yes, the kittens aren’t getting enough milk. I feel sorry for them,” she replied.

  “Haha, no problem!” Jin Er spoke with great certainty. “I may be at the bottom of the list in terms of wealth, but in terms of fishing, I’m at the top.”


  Snowy was speechless. Despite his ambitious and confident speech, she didn’t believe him.

  Jin Er saw the disbelief on Snowy’s face, and grew anxious. If she looked down on his fishing technique, how would he maintain his reputation?

  He stood up from his chair. “Come here. I’ll get you two big Crucian Carps today! If not, I’ll change my last name to yours!”


  “My last name is Jiang.” Snowy reminded him.

  “I’m not taking your workaholic father’s name!” Jin Er waved his hands with contempt. “It’s hard to get Crucian Carps in the winter, but the ones you do catch are big. Each one weighs about 13 ounces.”


  “13 ounces?” Snowy frowned. “That’s big?”


  Jin Er was speechless. The Jiang’s little princess didn’t seem to know how a Crucian Carp looked. Maybe she was mistaking carps and cods as Crucian Carps.

  “Most Crucian Carps weigh about 5 ounces, so 13 ounces is very big,” he explained.

  Snowy stuck her tongue out, embarrassed of her ignorance, but then she glanced at this lake in concern. “Are the fish from this lake edible?”


  If Zhang Zian’s cats got sick because they ate the Crucian Carps from this lake, she wouldn’t have helped at all.

  “Absolutely edible,” Jin Er said. “For humans and cats. The lake water is isolated from outside, so the fish are much cleaner than those you can buy. They’ve never been fed artificial food or hormones. They mainly live off worms in winter and plants in summer. Even the so-called wild Crucian Carps aren’t as clean as the ones in this lake.”


  Snowy thought it made sense. The fish in the lake were stocked by the home association, so they were completely natural and free of pollutants.

  Jin Er knew he couldn’t convince Snowy with words alone. He folded his chair and put it on his back before he grabbed his fishing rod. He took the thermobox with his left hand, and the bucket with his right hand, and said, “Let’s go, Snowy. I’m taking you to a fish nest, where Crucian Carps are guaranteed!”