Volume 1, Chapter 11: Primarily Afraid of Trouble

By the time Li Hongjun arrived with two buckets, Gao Yuan had already made quite a haul.

Seeing the silver carp, snakehead, and a large number of crucian carp on the ice, Li gaped in astonishment. "Are these fish stupid? Is it really that easy to catch them?"

Gu Lei took the buckets, and with the help of Fang Jianshe, they began filling them with fish.

"In the winter, fish are indeed easier to catch," Gao Yuan explained briefly. "The surface is frozen solid, and the water below lacks oxygen. When you break a hole, the injection of oxygen combined with the scent of the bait makes it very easy to lure them onto the hook."

As he spoke, he pulled up another two-ounce crucian carp.

Li Hongjun joined in the work, and soon both buckets were brimming with fish.

Gao Yuan was shivering, his cotton-padded shoes soaked through, his feet numb with cold. He reeled in his line, took one look at the two overflowing buckets, and smiled with deep satisfaction. "Brother Hongjun, why don't you take one bucket?"

Li Hongjun rubbed his hands together, smiling sheepishly. "Well, I won't stand on ceremony with you, brother. To be honest, I can't resist the temptation of fresh fish on a cold day like this."

He examined the two buckets, moved two snakeheads from one to the other, and picked up the lighter bucket. "I'll take this one. Gao Yuan, thank you on behalf of the boys. We hang around the Houhai area; if you ever run into any trouble you can't handle, just call on us. If it's something we can do, we'll make sure it's taken care of properly for you."

He clearly had no intention of keeping the fish for himself; he meant to share them with his group so everyone could enjoy a treat. Naturally, his gratitude toward Gao Yuan was sincere.

Gu Lei added, "You've got the right spirit, kid—loyal and principled. If you need anything in the future, just speak up. If you run into trouble and we aren't around, just drop our names; they still carry some weight around here."

Fang Jianshe nodded with a smile, echoing their sentiments.

Gao Yuan didn't decline further; he accepted the two snakeheads and promised with a smile that he would certainly seek out his three new brothers if he needed help. He could tell that, at their core, these men weren't bad; they had simply been led astray by the environment of the times.

Picking up his bucket, Gao Yuan said to Li Hongjun, "Brother Hongjun, I'll borrow this bucket for now. I'll bring it back to you in a few days when I come out to fish again."

"It's just a tin bucket, keep it. No need to worry about returning it," Li Hongjun said dismissively, having taken a liking to Gao Yuan.

Eleven chimes rang out from the direction of the Telegraph Building, signaling noon. Gao Yuan packed up his gear and followed the four of them toward the shore.

Xiao Weihong walked beside him and asked softly, "Little Gao, did you take this year's college entrance exam?"

Gao Yuan smiled. "I did. I think I did quite well. And Sister Weihong, don't be so formal—just call me Little Yuan from now on."

Xiao Weihong blushed, looking down at her feet. "Are you always this informal with everyone?"

Gao Yuan paused, realizing the implication, and quickly added, "Not at all. It's just that since you're older than me and I've already called you 'Sister,' it feels a bit distant if you keep calling me 'Little Gao'."

He didn't know whose girl she was among the three men ahead, so he had to be careful. He had enough sense to avoid misunderstandings. Furthermore, although he was in the body of a seventeen-year-old, his mind held the traditional values of a man in his sixties. While he had adapted to his fit new body and could still appreciate a beautiful woman, he wasn't about to act on impulse.

More importantly, he was wary of the era’s rigid mindset: in these times, dating without marriage as a goal was seen as scandalous. Unlike later generations, where people married and divorced in a flash, divorce here was a source of profound shame. Couples were expected to be devoted, and the children of divorced parents would be whispered about by neighbors for months. While there was some tolerance for young people, it didn't extend to serial dating or frequently changing partners.

In his previous life, Gao Yuan had been alone. In this one, he wanted a family, a wife, and a warm hearth. But he knew exactly which women to avoid, and Xiao Weihong, entangled with the local toughs, was someone he had to keep at arm's length.

Hearing his response, Xiao Weihong’s expression dimmed. She felt a bit disappointed at being relegated to the status of a "sister." Sensing his caution, she gave a bitter smile and said, "Fine, it’s settled then. You call me 'Sister,' and I’ll call you 'Little Yuan.' You aren't allowed to deny me as your sister."

"You're quite broad-minded," Gao Yuan thought, surprised. He smiled and said, "It's a deal. From now on, you're my own sister."

He was just paying lip service, and anyone could see he was being perfunctory. No matter how pretty Xiao Weihong was, in his heart, she didn't come close to his actual sister, Gao Ya.

They parted ways at the North River Bank. Before leaving, Li Hongjun asked, "Do you want a ride on the bike?"

Gao Yuan politely declined. "It's only a short walk, I'll head back on foot."

"Alright then, take it slow. Come find us when you have time."

"Understood, Brother Hongjun. I'll definitely come by to see you three and Sister Hong again."

After exchanging farewells, Gao Yuan began his slow walk south.

When he walked into the alleyway carrying the heavy, fish-filled bucket, it caused quite a stir among the neighbors. In this season, having fresh fish for a meal was a luxury fit for the gods.

Old Man Qin spotted him first. Seeing the tin bucket full of fish, he exclaimed, "They're all so plump! Little Yuan, where on earth did you go fishing?"

Gao Yuan wasn't about to reveal his spot. "The moat. You won't find fish this big anywhere else. Want one, sir?"

Old Man Qin swallowed hard and waved a hand. "No, no. You worked hard to catch these; it wouldn't be right for me to take one for free."

Gao Yuan smiled, fished out a silver carp, and pressed it into the old man's hands. "Ever since our family moved here, we've caused you plenty of trouble. Take this as a small token of respect. Please, don't refuse."

Old Man Qin’s eyes grew moist. Holding the carp, he sighed, "Little Yuan, you've really grown up and matured. I'm truly happy for your parents. Alright, since it's a gift from you, I won't be overly modest. We'll have this for dinner tonight."

"It’s best cooked with garlic," Gao Yuan suggested.

Silver carp had coarse meat and many small bones, which usually made them difficult to eat. But in these days, people weren't so picky; having meat on the table was a blessing.

Old Man Qin laughed. "You even know how to cook? That sounds like a great idea. I'll tell the missus to prepare it that way."

Gao Yuan did know how to cook. In his past life, living alone, he had practiced his culinary skills because he couldn't just live on takeout, which was usually unhealthy.

As they spoke, more neighbors gathered. Seeing the bucket, Chang Laowu from across the street probed, "Yuan, are you selling these? Can you sell me one?"

Gao Yuan refused without hesitation. "Sorry, Uncle Wu, the fish aren't for sale. I don't even know if we have enough for our own family."

Chang Laowu curled his lip. "Come on, there are only three of you. How could you possibly eat all of this?"

Gao Yuan gave a cold laugh. "You forget, I have my uncle, my aunt, and elders on my mother's side. In these times, every family is struggling. I worked hard to catch these few fish just to improve life for my family. After I divide them up, there won't be much left. If you want fish, go to the moat and catch them yourself tomorrow; no one is stopping you."

The remark left Chang Laowu blushing. He realized that Gao Yuan’s situation was unique—while only three lived in the alley, they were part of a larger clan. Besides, in the freezing winter, it wasn't easy to fish; as an elder, it really wasn't right to take advantage of the boy.

Forget it. He laughed awkwardly and turned back toward his courtyard.

However, Gao Yuan’s words gave Chang Laowu an idea for making money. As he walked, he pondered going to the moat himself tomorrow to fish and secretly selling his catch. Even if he didn't get rich, it would be a nice way to supplement the household income.

The other neighbors had the same thought, but seeing Chang Laowu get shut down, they lost heart and turned away with regret.

Old Man Qin smiled, his face creasing. "Little Yuan, you're a filial child."

Gao Yuan leaned in and whispered, "Sir, to tell you the truth, I'm mostly afraid of trouble. In these times, you never know what people are thinking. If I sold fish to the neighbors and some malicious person reported me, I'd be slapped with a 'speculation and profiteering' charge. It wouldn't be worth the risk."

Old Man Qin pondered this and gave him a thumbs up. "Lad, you've got a good head on your shoulders. In this world, you have to be careful. As they say, it's hard to know a man's heart. Caution is never a mistake. I'm glad you've thought this through."

Gao Yuan smiled. "I won't keep you any longer, sir. I've been fishing all morning and haven't had a bite to eat. I'm going home to cook some noodles."

"Go on, then," Old Man Qin said with a satisfied smile.