Then, Li Baolong carefully took out an exquisite hanging net and a sturdy roll of hemp rope from the mysterious urea production bag from Afghanistan. The hanging net shimmered faintly in the firelight, as if it contained endless secrets. The hemp rope was entwined together, like a sleeping dragon, waiting to be awakened to complete an important task.
Without hesitation, Li Baolong stepped into the river. The water was icy cold, as if it would freeze his feet, but he did not flinch. He walked step by step into the shallows, the water reaching his ankles, calves, and finally his knees. Relying on his keen senses and years of experience, he carefully waded through the frigid water.
When he finally stepped onto the other side, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Looking back, he saw that the riverbank was about fifty meters wide, and the water was already two meters deep in some places. However, he wasn't deterred by the difficult crossing; instead, a strange excitement welled up inside him. He knew there must be many surprises hidden there, because based on his experience fishing many times, he could sense hundreds of fish of various sizes swimming in the water.
This time, his luck seemed exceptionally good. Li Baolong was confident he would catch many fish, enough to satisfy his appetite and also to exchange them at the market for precious comic books and sweet candies. He could almost see himself flipping through those comic books and feeling the candies melting on his tongue, his heart filled with anticipation and joy.
An hour passed quietly, like the gently flowing river of time. In this small pond, roughly an acre in size, countless fish, as if drawn by some mysterious force, stumbled upon the net suspended high above the water. They struggled desperately in the water, their small bodies displaying astonishing vitality, as if announcing their existence to the world. These fierce struggles, like invisible ropes, constantly pulled on the rough hemp rope on the bank, causing it to dance wildly along the shore, like a startled dancer performing a unique dance.
Just then, Li Baolong, like a composed sage, walked steadily and calmly to the shore. A barely perceptible confidence shone in his calm eyes, as if he had already foreseen everything that was about to happen. He stretched out his small but strong hands, gripped the rope tightly, and pulled hard, slowly raising the net attached to it to the bank. The moment the net fully emerged from the water, everyone's eyes lit up. The short twenty-meter net was densely packed with hundreds of carp and grass carp of all sizes and shapes. These fish shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, like strings of precious jewels, a dazzling sight.
Ah Jun stood to the side, his eyes filled with astonishment and admiration, his mouth agape as if he could fit an egg inside. He had never seen such a magnificent sight, and his heart was filled with admiration for Li Baolong. Li Baolong shouted, "Hurry up and haul in the nets and fish! This is a bountiful harvest!" His voice was loud and impassioned, like a victory horn, inspiring the two men to quickly get to work. Excited, their previous fatigue and hunger seemed to have been forgotten. They worked together skillfully, hauling in the nets and removing the live fish from the hanging nets, placing them into the prepared buckets. With each fish they picked, a joyful smile spread across their faces, as if these fish were the best reward for their hard work.
After a busy morning, the two finally finished hauling in the nets and cleaning the fish. Looking at their bucket full of fish, they felt a great sense of accomplishment. The sun was high in the sky, its warm rays bathing them. They smiled at each other and decided to head back to the market. The journey of several miles seemed much shorter to them. They walked briskly home, their hearts filled with hopeful anticipation for the future, imagining the bustling market and the people's admiration for their hard work.
The two men carefully removed the large fish from the urea bag, careful not to break them, and then approached the busy fishmongers at the market with beaming smiles. While negotiating prices, they gestured with their hands to indicate the size and quantity of the fish, as if demonstrating their "extraordinary" qualities. The smaller fish, however, were unwanted by the fishmongers due to their small size and lack of market demand. Seeing this, Li Baolong decided without hesitation to give them all to A-Jun. A-Jun's eyes lit up with surprise upon receiving the small fish, followed by a sincere and grateful look, as if this small gift carried the deep affection of the two men for him.
At that moment, Li Baolong clutched the five yuan he had earned from selling fish, his heart filled with joy. He eagerly went into the nearby bookstore, carefully selecting a set of exquisite comic books, as if they were the most precious treasures of his childhood. After choosing the comic books, he went to the bakery next door and bought two fragrant loaves of bread, their golden, crispy crusts making his mouth water. Then, he ran to the convenience store and bought two bottles of ice-cold soda; the sound of the bubbles bubbling in the bottles seemed to whisper of summer's coolness.
One carried a comic book, the other bread and soda, their faces beaming with happiness as they returned home, laughing and chatting all the way. From then on, this simple yet peaceful life continued until the Spring Festival when Li Baolong was sixteen. At that moment, their lives seemed to usher in some new changes…
(At the beginning of this book, Li Baolong is just an ordinary man, young and naive, with little experience in the ways of the world. Upon reaching adulthood, he rapidly accumulates wealth through special means, rising rapidly through the ranks to acquire money, power, and women. Later, Li Baolong, along with several female companions, stirs up the world's wealth, always accompanied by beautiful women. However, his ambitions don't stop there; he targets European and American financial oligarchs, launching a thrilling financial war. In this battle, he doesn't hesitate to squander trillions of his fortune, all so that the poor can have enough to eat and warm. Ultimately, he becomes a legend revered by millions, his deeds spreading far and wide, inspiring future generations to pursue lofty ideals and write extraordinary chapters in their lives.)
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