Let's go back to 2008, starting with a recreational fishing park.

Faced with the intense competition, Jiang Xia nodded happily:

"A fiercely contested match is what makes it interesting! I'm even hoping it rains again like yesterday!"

Upon hearing this, Li Dafu glared at Jiang Xia: "You really love stirring up trouble! Your brother Li almost got soaked to death in the rain yesterday, but your words, 'Let the wind and waves rise, I'll sit back and fish,' made me feel embarrassed to take shelter from the rain!"

He sighed as he said this:

"You said you'd compete even in the rain, but who would have thought you still wouldn't make it to the finals!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xia knew that his good older brother wasn't complaining about yesterday's rainy competition, but rather envious of the contestants who were able to participate in today's finals.

"Brother Li, isn't it nice to sit here and watch the game? Drinking tea and eating fruit, it's much more comfortable than the tense competition on the field," Jiang Xia said with a smile, handing Li Dafu a slice of watermelon.

Li Dafu took the watermelon and took a bite: "That makes sense!"

Jiang Xia then suggested, "Brother Li, if you really want to feel involved, you can cheer for your favorite players here!"

Unexpectedly, Jiang Xia's words seemed to have flipped a switch. Upon hearing this, Li Dafu immediately put his hands in his mouth and shouted towards the arena:

"Number 21, you better watch out, don't lose to that bald guy from Jinghai!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xia almost burst out laughing, spitting out the watermelon he had just eaten!

I told you to cheer, not to shout that the current number 60 is bald!

Many people in the stadium and in the stands heard this.

Contestant number 60 even glared angrily at the audience.

But then, the situation started to spiral out of control.

Someone, seemingly angered by Li Dafu's words, shouted:

"Contestant number 60, your bald head is the coolest! Hold on tight, don't let that skinny kid number 21 overtake you!"

"Number 86, listen up! Number 60 is bald, and Number 21 is skinny. Only Number 86 has the real champion's look. If you beat them, I'll buy you a drink!"

"What bald, skinny champion look? That old foreigner, I've been watching you closely these past few days, you understand? Hello? GO!"

“…………”

Seeing this scene, Jiang Xia thought to himself:

Here it comes! The trash-talking segment I've been waiting for is finally here!

Zhou Jianming, who was filming, glanced at Xia Lan beside him and quietly asked:

"Sister Lan, is the competition always this intense?"

Xia Lan shook her head, somewhat confused.

"I don't know, I remember it wasn't like this on the first day of the competition!"

Qin Songnian, on the judging panel, was amused by the scene and stroked his beard, laughing heartily. He said to the vice president of the fishing association beside him, "These young people are quite energetic!"

The vice president, who was over 50 years old, smiled and chimed in, "Yes, yes, it's so great to be young!"

…………

As the match progressed, in addition to the chaotic cheers from the stands, the competition on the field intensified.

Old John of Britain was like a dark horse, jumping from 12th to 6th place in just two hours.

Meanwhile, Brother No. 56, who was originally in 6th place, dropped to 9th place because of a less desirable fishing spot.

As for the top three, the score difference was even more intense at this point.

After a series of close calls, number 21 is now only 3 points behind number 60, who is in first place.

If we catch just one more carp and one more grass carp, we might just become number one.

Li Hao, whose ranking was not very good, was also trying his best to use various fishing techniques he knew, and his ranking gradually approached the top 20.

The intense competition kept the spectators on the dam thoroughly entertained!

In this atmosphere, even Wang Guifen quietly said to Jiang Xia, "Son, why do they look like they're fighting a war just by fishing!"

Before Jiang Xia could speak, Jiang Jianguo, who was standing next to him, said with an air of knowledge, "A competition is almost like fighting a war!"

Li Dafu laughed and said, "Auntie, my uncle is right. This competition, at times like this, really is almost like fighting a war!"

Hearing their conversation, Jiang Xia knew that this was indeed the case.

After a round of trash talk, the contestants were no longer just competing for prizes and bonuses, but also to avoid disappointing their fans.

He had just learned that most of the contestants had brought their wives and children because it was a sunny day.

Under this bond, hearing his wife and children shouting "Go, Dad! Go, Husband!" from the sidelines only fueled his determination to improve his ranking.

In the middle of the reservoir, the emcee standing on a small boat broadcast the real-time results of the competition every half hour today.

It was as if they wanted to bring the fishing master tournament to a final climax.

Ultimately, the first half of the game ended in this intense and tense atmosphere.

…………

At the end of the first half, the rankings of the players were not significantly different.

However, after a round of calculations by the judges and the panel of judges, they cruelly eliminated nine contestants who were ranked at the bottom.

As a result, only the final 20 contestants remained in the second half of the final.

Meanwhile, these 20 contestants are now considered winners of the competition.

After the competition, if they do not make it into the top ten, they will all receive a fishing rod worth 100 yuan.

Of course, the value of 100 yuan here is the selling price of the fishing tackle shop. The actual cost that Jiang Xia and Zhao Dahai jointly gave away must be calculated based on the purchase price.

However, for the sake of commemorative significance, Jiangxia still chose a fishing rod in this price range that has relatively good quality and feel.

Furthermore, he had someone print the name and logo of Qingshan Fishing Park on the handle of the fishing rod.

After the afternoon competition, these fishing rods will be given to the contestants at the awards ceremony.

……

After the first half results were announced, Jiang Xia leisurely walked to the small shop at the fishing spot, picked up a bottle of beverage, twisted it open, and drank it.

Yang Xiaoyue was minding the shop this morning. When she saw Jiang Xia, she smiled and said:

"Brother, you sold quite a lot this morning!"

Jiang Xia nodded. During the three days of the competition, his family's small shop still sold quite a lot of things, even yesterday when it rained.

He estimated that the convenience store alone should bring him an income of one or two thousand yuan in the next few days.

This can be considered a small way to recover some of the losses.

Just then, a stylishly dressed little girl walked into the convenience store.

Upon seeing Jiang Xia, she seemed to remember something and inexplicably blushed a little.

Jiang Xia vaguely remembered this girl; she had come with Zhou Jianming this morning.

I heard she's an intern at a TV station.