Courtyard House: A Veteran Returns Home and Becomes a Father

Just as Su Mo was enjoying the thrill of being the "Fishing Overlord" and his advisor Su Hanlin was questioning his life, a gaunt figure sneaked over from the riverside path.

The man who arrived was none other than the Third Uncle, Yan Bugui.

He originally came out to see if anyone had lost anything, or if anyone was drying pickled vegetables so he could "borrow" a couple to taste. But instead, he saw a small group of people gathered by the river in the distance, looking quite lively.

Adhering to the life motto that "where there's excitement, there's something to be gained," Yan Bugui tucked his hands in and approached.

He first saw Su Hanlin sitting on a rock with a dark face and an empty fish basket, and he felt a little smug: This old man has been fishing all his life, but he also has times when he comes home empty-handed.

But when his gaze passed over Su Hanlin and landed on the overflowing fish basket at Su Mo's feet, his eyes widened instantly.

Inside, fish of all sizes huddled together. The scales of the carp shimmered in the sunlight, the plump bodies of the grass carp were still thrashing about, and there were even a few valuable catfish and black carp!

This...this must weigh twenty or thirty pounds!

Yan Bugui's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and he almost drooled from the corner of his mouth.

With so many fish, how much money could we make if we sold them! Even if we didn't sell them, it would be enough for our family to eat for a week!

Just as he was figuring out how to ask for two more to take home, Su Mo lifted the fishing rod again.

A large bream, weighing at least five pounds, was easily tossed ashore.

Yan Bugui's heart clenched violently as he followed the trajectory of the fish.

This isn't fishing, it's practically picking money off the river!

He could no longer care about the fear he had felt from being dominated by grenades a few days ago. With a big smile on his face, he rushed over as if he had seen his own father.

"Oh my, Comrade Su Mo, your fishing skills are truly divine!" Yan Bugui's opening remarks were textbook-level flattery. "In all my years, I've never seen anyone so skilled at fishing! You're a fishing god descended to earth!"

Su Mo glanced at him, knowing perfectly well that the old miser had come because of the smell of fish.

Having just established his authority yesterday, he wouldn't dare use force today, so he could only resort to a softer approach.

"Uncle, you flatter me. I was just lucky," Su Mo said casually, and then cast the bait out again.

Yan Bugui looked at the basket full of fish, feeling as if his heart was bleeding. He rubbed his hands, his eyes filled with longing, and tentatively asked, "Comrade Su Mo, you see... we're neighbors in the same courtyard, could you... could you give me a few pointers on your fishing techniques?"

Before Su Mo could speak, Su Hanlin, who was sulking beside him, spoke up first, snorting irritably: "His secret? His secret is using crooked and unorthodox methods!"

Yan Bugui didn't care about any evil or crooked methods; as long as he could catch fish, that was the right way!

"Comrade Su Mo, please teach me!" Yan Bugui practically knelt before Su Mo. "Look at me, I fish every day and always come back empty-handed. If you just gave me a little bit of your skill, it would be enough for me to live on for a lifetime!"

"Well..." Su Mo scratched his head as if he was having trouble. "Uncle, my fishing isn't about technique, it's about sincerity."

"Sincere?" Yan Bugui was taken aback.

"That's right." Su Mo said with a serious face, "Before fishing, you have to take a bath and change your clothes, then bow three times to the river god and silently pray, 'Fish, fish, hurry up and take the bait, those that don't take the bait are not good fish.' The more sincere you are, the faster the fish will bite."

Yan Bugui was stunned. Although he felt something was wrong, looking at Su-Mo's overflowing fish basket, he felt it made a lot of sense.

Was it because I wasn't sincere enough that I couldn't catch fish before?

Just as he was deep in thought, Su Mo caught another big grass carp.

Yan Bugui's defenses have completely collapsed.

"Comrade Su Mo!" He gritted his teeth, determined to make a significant offer. "As long as you're willing to teach me, I'll take care of all the chores in the yard—sweeping, fetching water, taking out the trash! You say east, I'll never go west!"

Seeing that the time was right, Su Mo slowly said, "Third Uncle, it's not that I don't want to teach you. This is a unique recipe passed down from my master, passed down only to men, and only within the family. If I were to teach you, my master would break my legs."

As he spoke, he glanced nervously at the clerk beside him, whose face was dark with fear.

Upon hearing this, Su Hanlin realized that this kid knew how to use him as a shield. Although he was annoyed, he didn't expose him.

Yan Bugui was immediately deflated when he heard that it was a unique secret recipe.

He knew that this ancestral craft could not be passed on to outsiders.

He stared at the lively, wriggling fish, his mouth watering, yet he was helpless. That feeling was worse than having to pay for it.

"Then... Comrade Su Mo, about this fish of yours..." He was still unwilling to give up and wanted to try one last time.

"Oh, these fish." Su Mo picked up the fish basket and waved it in front of Yan Bugui so that he could see it more clearly. "My master and my advisor haven't had fish soup in a long time. Taking these back will be a good way for them to nourish themselves."

After saying that, Su Mo began to pack his things, preparing to finish work and go home.

Yan Bugui watched longingly as Su Mo packed the fat fish into the bucket, his eyes filled with despair and reluctance, like a puppy abandoned by its owner.

He felt his heart break.

Su Mo carried the heavy fish basket in one hand and held his bouncy daughter's hand in the other, walking side by side with Xia Wanqing.

The advisor, Su Hanlin, walked at the front with his hands behind his back and his back straight, trying his best to maintain his aloof image as a "fishing master." However, the occasional glances he gave at the fish basket betrayed his inner turmoil.

"Daddy, Daddy, can we have a whole fish feast tonight?" Niannian looked up at her with her eyes full of stars.

"Absolutely!" Su Mo waved his hand generously, "Braised, steamed, stewed, fried... you can eat your fill!"

Hearing this, Su Hanlin, who was walking ahead, stumbled and snorted irritably, "Pathetic, so happy over a few fish."

Xia Wanqing covered her mouth and chuckled, then quietly whispered in Su Mo's ear, "Look at you, you've really angered the advisor."

"Don't worry, I have a brilliant plan." Su Mo winked at her.

As soon as the group returned to South Tongluo Alley, the basket full of fish caused a sensation.

The neighbors who passed by all craned their necks and exclaimed in amazement.

"Oh my, isn't this the Su family's? Have they taken over the entire river?"

"My goodness, this must weigh at least 30 pounds! This skill is amazing!"

When they returned to courtyard number 96, their master Su Zhenbang and his wife, who were cleaning the courtyard, were also stunned.

With a "splash," Su Mo poured the entire basket of fish into a large basin in the yard. Water splashed everywhere, and dozens of fish of different sizes tumbled and jumped in the basin, creating a spectacular scene.

"Good heavens!" Su Zhenbang's eyes widened as he circled the basin of water again and again. "Xiao Mo, did you go fishing or go shopping?"

The master's wife beamed from ear to ear, already planning: "We'll make smoked fish with this big one, soup with the smaller ones, and marinate the rest..."

Su Hanlin looked at the lively fish in the basin, then at his empty fish basket, his face darkened further, and he turned to go back into the house with his hands behind his back.

"Hey, sir, don't go!"

Su Mo quickly stepped forward to stop him, then cleared her throat and said loudly in a voice that could be heard throughout the entire courtyard:

"Master, Mistress, please don't just praise me. Today's good harvest is all thanks to Master!"

Everyone was stunned by these words.

Su Zhenbang and his teacher's wife looked puzzled, while Xia Wanqing suppressed a laugh. Even Su Hanlin himself stopped and stared at him in astonishment.

Su Mo continued his nonsensical ramblings with a straight face: "Today I'm just a tool for setting the hook. The real mastermind is the advisor! The moment he sits down by the river, his aura and imposing presence terrify all the fish within a hundred meters. They rush to my hook, just to get as far away from the advisor as possible!"

"My master said he wasn't fishing for fish, but for a state of mind! For the Dao! These ordinary 'fish' are simply not worthy of his attention, which is why I, his grand-disciple, got to catch them!"

These words were spoken with great passion and fervor.

Su Zhenbang was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized what he meant and gave his father a thumbs up: "Dad! Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! This level is beyond the reach of us mere mortals!"

The master's wife nodded repeatedly, "I knew it! The old man has been fishing all his life, how could he possibly come back empty-handed!"

Niannian looked at Su Hanlin with even greater admiration, clapping her little hands: "Great-Grandpa is a fishing god!"

As Su Hanlin listened to the praise and felt the admiring gazes, the blackness on his face faded at a visible speed, replaced by a barely perceptible blush.

He turned around slowly with his hands behind his back, coughed twice, tried to look inscrutable, and glanced at Su Mo sideways.

"Hmph! You're not so bad, kid, you do have some sense!"

He strolled to the basin and said in a commanding tone, "This carp has shiny scales and is perfect for steaming. That grass carp has firm flesh and must be braised. And that catfish is best for soup... Today, I will personally guide you in preparing a true all-fish feast!"

The dignity of a master angler was regained and even elevated at this moment.

Su Mo looked at the clerk's arrogant and smug expression and exchanged a smile with Xia Wanqing.

The family happily began to prepare the fish, and the yard was filled with laughter.