The weather was sunny and the breeze was gentle. Lin Feng thought it was a good time to go fishing.
He checked his "tough vine" fishing net to make sure it wasn't damaged, then took some crushed pale blue flower roots that would attract fish as bait, along with a leather bag to hold the fish, and headed downstream.
Wangcai, as usual, stayed by his side without leaving his side.
The stream babbles, its waters clear and crisp. Sunlight filters through the gaps in the trees, casting shimmering waves on the water's surface.
Lin Feng was in a good mood, humming a tuneless little tune.
As he rounded a dense thicket and arrived at a river bend where the current was relatively calm and the river surface was relatively wide, the scene before him made him pause slightly, and then he frowned.
On the riverbank, six women had gathered and were trying to catch fish.
They looked even more disheveled than when they were in the cave. Their once-glamorous clothes were now filthy, patched here and scratched there.
Tang Bao's exaggerated pigtails had completely come undone, her hair was tied up haphazardly, and there were still traces of wet tears and mud on her face. Her layered Lolita dress was now lifted up and tied around her waist, revealing her mud-splattered calves.
The evening gown worn by popular actress Su Wanqing was in even worse shape, with several large holes and unidentified stains.
She pressed her lips, which were purple from the cold, tightly together, trying to maintain her composure, but the slight trembling of her body betrayed her coldness and weakness.
She was holding a sharpened stick, clumsily trying to spear the fish in the water, but each time she only stirred up a splash and didn't even touch the fish.
Shen Jiaqi, a top student in the art department, was pale, with a look of confusion and helplessness in her eyes.
She and Ruan Mengtian, the anchor of "Pure Desire Ceiling," were trying to weave something with the strips of cloth they had torn from their bodies, probably to make a simple fishing net, but the crooked and hole-ridden "net" was obviously not going to yield any results.
Ruan Mengtian kept stamping her feet and rubbing her hands, clearly feeling unbearably cold. Her once charming face had lost its allure, leaving only a pitiful look.
Department manager Qin Lan appeared relatively calm; she was directing the rich second-generation Qian Xiaoxiao.
Qian Xiaoxiao pouted and reluctantly groped around in the shallow water, trying to catch the slippery fish with her hands. Naturally, she failed repeatedly and got herself all wet. She stomped her feet in frustration and muttered something under her breath.
These six women had clearly been hungry and cold for a long time.
Their fishing movements were filled with desperate effort, but their skills were disastrous. The fish in the river seemed to mock their clumsiness, swimming leisurely around their hands without taking the bait.
Lin Feng glanced at the scene indifferently and then looked away.
He ignored the women who were none of his business and went straight to the upper reaches of the river bend, where he chose a spot with suitable water depth and a relatively gentle current.
He skillfully untied the fishing net, scattered the plant debris as bait in the designated area, and then with a flick of his wrist, the net traced a graceful arc in the air before splashing into the water. The bobber, carrying the net, sank rapidly, while the reed float bobbed gently on the surface.
The entire process was smooth and effortless, full of the composure of a seasoned expert.
The six women clearly noticed Lin Feng's arrival. They stopped moving simultaneously and turned their gazes to him.
Their eyes held a complex mix of emotions: surprise, envy, jealousy, and a barely perceptible hint of... anticipation.
Lin Feng seemed oblivious to their stares. He simply stood quietly on the shore, calmly observing the movement of the buoys on the water.
Wangcai lay warily at his feet, occasionally letting out a low whimper, warning the women not to come near.
About fifteen minutes later, Lin Feng saw the buoy on the water's surface sway and sink noticeably. His eyes narrowed, and he gripped the net ropes with both hands, beginning to steadily and powerfully pull in the net.
As the fishing net was slowly pulled out of the water, the women's eyes widened, and their mouths opened slightly in surprise, almost enough to fit an egg.
Inside the fishing net, a dozen or so fish of varying sizes were leaping and frolicking, their silvery-white scales shimmering in the sunlight.
Some of the fish were quite large, weighing over half a pound each. This full net of catch formed a stark and glaring contrast to their previous fruitless predicament.
Lin Feng expressionlessly dragged the fishing net ashore, untied the net, and poured the wriggling fish into the animal skin bag he carried with him. His movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
He tidied up the fishing net, shook off the water droplets, and prepared to leave.
The six women exchanged bewildered glances, their faces filled with shock and longing. Seeing Lin Feng about to turn away with the heavy bag of fish, Qin Lan finally couldn't hold back any longer.
"Wait...wait a minute!"
Her voice was a little hoarse, with a hint of urgency.
Lin Feng stopped and slowly turned around, looking at her coldly without saying a word, as if waiting for her to continue.
Qin Lan felt a little uncomfortable under his cold gaze, but the hunger in her stomach and her sense of responsibility to her companions gave her courage.
She took two steps forward, trying to sound sincere: "Sir...sir, could we...could we...borrow your fishing net?"
The women behind her also stared at Lin Feng expectantly, their eyes filled with hope.
Tang Bao even subconsciously swallowed; she hadn't tasted meat for several days.
A barely perceptible sneer curled at the corner of Lin Feng's mouth.
He spoke coldly, his voice as icy as the spring stream: "I won't take advantage of you, and you shouldn't take advantage of me either."
This short sentence is as clear as it gets: There's no such thing as a free lunch.
Qin Lan's face paled slightly, but she immediately understood what Lin Feng meant.
She took a deep breath, suppressing the humiliation in her heart, and looked firmly at Lin Feng: "Then what do you want? As long as it's within our power, we will definitely do it!"
She spoke those words with unwavering resolve, as if she had nothing to lose.
She knew this was their only chance. If they couldn't get help from Lin Feng, they would probably starve to death in this desolate wilderness.
Lin Feng's gaze, like a searchlight, slowly swept over the six women one by one.
Tang Bao felt uncomfortable under his gaze, and subconsciously shrank her neck, nervously clutching the hem of her tattered skirt.
Su Wanqing tried her best to maintain her composure, but her tightly clenched fists betrayed her inner tension.
Shen Jiaqi lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Ruan Mengtian mustered her courage and forced out what she thought was her most charming smile. She even subconsciously straightened her body, trying to use her "advantages" to attract Lin Feng's attention.
She thought to herself, "Although this man is cold, as long as I can get close to him, with my methods, I'm not afraid that I can make him obey my every word."
At that point, it wouldn't be impossible for him to hunt and bring me food every day!
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