Chapter 4 Fishing

"What's wrong? Worried I won't keep my word?" Kenneth teased. "No, it's just that you mentioned last night that you borrowed money for your return trip..." Casey trailed off, recalling Kenneth's remarks before she slept last night. He mentioned that he didn't have much money and even owed his classmates money. "Ahem, I don't have money right now, but earning tens of thousands shouldn't be too difficult," Kenneth coughed lightly and chuckled. His confidence stemmed from the resources near Brighter Valley. East of the village lay a sprawling mountain range where numerous valuable medicinal herbs thrived. With luck, he might stumble upon rare and ancient herbs that could potentially make him a millionaire overnight. In the southeast direction, there flowed a fast-moving river that connected directly to the sea. Its aquatic resources were undoubtedly plentiful. Moreover, behind the village lay an expansive lake, seemingly endless in its expanse. Due to its depth and powerful undercurrents, the lake had defied development efforts. Yet, if Kenneth could devise an efficient fishing strategy, he could potentially earn tens of thousands in just a matter of days. "Haha! Kenneth, are you trying to abstain from paying Ron back?" Casey teased, seemingly sensing Kenneth's thoughts. She thought he would rely on his self-defense skills, ignore Ron and Woody's debt collection attempts, and beat them up if they came to collect by force without repaying the money. "What are you thinking? Of course, the debt has to be repaid. That's just how it goes. I only beat Woody up because he laid hands on Mrs. Cadman. That's a different story," Kenneth asserted seriously. "Oh, I see. So Kenneth, once you have the money, you might have to wait until I graduate and start working before I can pay you back in installments," Casey said. "Who said you have to pay me back?" Kenneth replied casually. "Huh? No, that won't work. My mom won't accept it, and neither will I. That's just how it goes," Casey remarked confidently, mimicking Kenneth's serious expression. "Haha, you catch on quick, Case." "Of course. I'm a college student, after all!" "Case, you're really emphasizing that you're a college student. I wonder why." "Hah!" Casey's cheeks flushed suddenly. "Kenneth, I don't want to talk to you anymore," she declared. However, her actions spoke louder than words as she continued following Kenneth obediently. "Haha, all kidding aside, let's go make some money now!" "Now?" Casey asked incredulously. Kenneth nodded decisively. "Yes. Now." "Kenneth, isn't this a bit rushed? We're not prepared at all. Where do you think we can make money?" Casey voiced her concern. Having grown up in Brighter Valley, she had explored the village and mountains. From her knowledge, there was nothing they could do to make money. "Let's go check it out first and assess the situation," Kenneth explained calmly. "Okay," Casey agreed. As they walked one after another, passing by the fields where villagers were busy with agricultural work, they attracted attention. Some villagers teasingly remarked that Kenneth must be Casey's boyfriend, who had returned with her. They complimented his good looks and pleasant demeanor, causing Casey to blush while Kenneth patiently clarified. When word spread that Kenneth, missing for five years, had returned home, villagers were taken aback. After coming to their senses, they paused their work and hurried back to the village to spread the news, including to the village chief. Particularly surprising was the revelation that Kenneth hadn't been missing at all. Instead, he had received the opportunity to study abroad but hadn't had a chance to inform everyone before his departure. Michael Bergstedt, the village chief, was deep in thought at home as he worked, contemplating ways to advance Brighter Valley's development. Several villagers approached him, excitedly informing him that their village now boasted a student who studied abroad. Michael was genuinely pleased by the news after understanding. "Great! This is wonderful news! Kenneth is our village's first university student! I never imagined he would study abroad," Michael exclaimed. "Exactly. It turns out he wasn't missing after all. He merely left abruptly to study abroad. We never received any updates," the villagers explained. "Ah, that poor child. He was all alone, balancing studies and work in the city..." "If we'd known he was going abroad, we would've gathered some funds to support him," Michael mused regretfully as he listened to the villagers' sympathetic murmurs, reflecting on how the village could have helped Kenneth in his academic pursuits. "Mr. Bergstedt, Kenneth is still grateful to the village. He just told me he's planning to stay in Brighter Valley and contribute to its development," a villager conveyed enthusiastically. "Really? Did he really say that?" Michael's eyes brightened with hope. As the village chief, he held respect but lacked significant influence. If Kenneth was committed to staying and contributing, Michael was willing to step aside from the position and support him wholeheartedly. "Yes, that's what the girl from the Cadman family confirmed," the villager affirmed. "The Cadman family..." Michael pondered for a moment after hearing it, then mobilized a group of villagers to bring supplies to Daryl's house. However, some villagers were reluctant and even attempted to thwart Michael's efforts... On the other side, Kenneth and Casey arrived at Brighter Lake, a place deeply etched in Kenneth's memory from his childhood. Named after the village itself, Brighter Lake was where he often swam and fished in his youth. Standing on the shore, he gazed across the expanse of water, noticing the wide river channel that fed into the lake. According to village elders, this river was once connected to the bay, allowing marine fish to swim into Brighter Lake. "Kenneth, where are we heading?" Casey asked, gazing at the gentle ripples of Brighter Lake without much excitement. She visited this place just yesterday to wash her clothes alone. "Over there," Kenneth pointed towards the spot where the river and Brighter Lake converged. The water there churned with powerful currents. It was a place few dared to approach; falling in could lead to serious trouble. If swept into the undercurrent, even the strongest swimmer might struggle to survive. However, Casey followed Kenneth without worry, feeling reassured by his broad shoulders and sturdy presence. She assumed he was here to enjoy the scenery and reminisce about his childhood. Unaware of his intentions, she watched as Kenneth walked confidently along a path overgrown with weeds until he reached the riverbank. "Kenneth, it's dangerous! Come back quickly," Casey urged, concerned for his safety. "It's okay. I just want to check the water," Kenneth reassured her. He scooped up a handful of water and tasted it. "It's salty!" he exclaimed. This discovery confirmed that the river was indeed connected to the sea, and it wasn't too far away. Downstream from the river lay a mountain range, where most people were discouraged from exploring or traveling along its banks. 'Splash!' Just as Kenneth was examining the water, a sudden commotion erupted in the river. "Kenneth, come up quickly! There's something in the river! I saw it!" Casey, standing on higher ground, turned pale with fright. She had spotted a massive shadow in the river near Kenneth, larger than a person! The elders in the village used to speak of monsters in Brighter Lake—man-eating fish as large as the doors and gigantic fish with long whiskers capable of swallowing a small cow! "Don't worry, Case, I can see clearly. It's just a big fish," Kenneth reassured Casey, turning around with a smile. His reflexes were sharper than most; he had observed the creature in the river before it stirred. It was a sizable fish, about five feet long, adorned with a row of yellow fins along its back.