Chapter 17 Are There Anymore Fishes in Brighter Lake?

"Uh." Michael paused and took a deep breath, gathering his composure. This was no place to argue with Rosaria, especially not in front of Kenneth. But Michael couldn't just let his wife treat Kenneth this way. "Ken, how much did you spend on all this? I'll make sure you get reimbursed." "Uncle Michael, it's not about the money. Right now, we need to get this car moved. There's something important I need to talk to you about later." Wait, what? Michael was so focused on Kenneth's words that he didn't even realize he had already lifted the cargo bike out of the carriage and set it on the ground. "Ken, are these fishing nets? What is the important thing you mentioned about fishing in the Brighter Lake?" "Ken, are these fishing nets? Don't tell me the big plan is fishing in Brighter Lake?" Michael asked, spotting the thick nets in the carriage. "Exactly. And Uncle Mike, you are just the guy we need for this," Kenneth replied. Michael had called Brighter Valley home for fifty or sixty beautiful years. Kenneth couldn't fathom that Michael doesn't have decades of fishing expertise. "Of course I do! When your father and I were young, we ate fish daily." "Haha, then it's settled!" Kenneth laughed, relieved. If Michael knew how to fish, this would be a breeze. "Ken, there's something you need to know. There might not have been any fish in Brighter Lake." "No fish? That's impossible." The idea that occasional large meat-eating animals could have eaten all the fish in Brighter Lake seemed unbelievable, even though the lake was connected to the sea. Even if some fish managed to swim upstream, the lake's large and natural area provided an ideal home for them. Given that the lake had never been developed or exploited, it was hard to believe there were no fish in it. "It's strange. Twenty years ago, folks in our village hardly ever caught a fish in Brighter Lake. One or two every ten days, if they were lucky. Michael found himself equally perplexed by the situation. With its expansive size and hidden currents, Brighter Lake proved unforgiving. After venturing out in a boat for days, they returned empty-handed, searching for a fishing spot. As rumors spread that Brighter Lake had no fish, gradually, people stopped going fishing altogether. Yesterday, when Michael saw Kenneth reel in that large fish, it triggered a thought. He pondered if the fish in Brighter Lake had somehow grown more radiant and noticeable, possibly concealed in the depths several meters below the surface. "That doesn't seem right," Kenneth said, noticing Michael's serious expression. After a brief pause, he continued, "Uncle Mike, could you help me get a boat and find a couple of strong swimmers?" "Finding people won't be hard, but finding the right boat might take some looking around," Michael replied thoughtfully. Michael needed to be more optimistic. Ten years ago, it seemed like every family had a bamboo raft. After making a promise to Kenneth, Michael wasted no time venturing out to search for a suitable boat. " Aunt Rosa, drop by my place later. I've invited Mrs. Cadman, Mrs. Dandy, and a bunch of folks from the village. We've got a money-making idea to discuss," Kenneth shouted, then sped off toward home. Rosaria thought Kenneth might be playing a trick on her. She stopped what she was doing and quickly went to find Petunia and the others to confirm what she had heard. It was already two o'clock in the afternoon when Kenneth pulled into the driveway. Casey had spent the morning cleaning the medicine cabinet and tidying up inside and outside the house. She stood at the front door, eagerly awaiting Kenneth's return. She spotted the oncoming cargo bike and wondered if Woody had brought someone. "Hey, Ken! You got yourself a car!" "Yeah, isn't she a beauty?" "She's stunning! Looks even cooler than those rides in Emerald City!" Casey grinned from ear to ear. "Silly girl, did you whip up lunch? I'm starving," Kenneth teased. "It's all set, just waiting on you, Ken," Casey replied. After Kenneth finished his meal, Petunia, Arlene, and Rosaria appeared at the door with six other women in tow. "Ken, we've all been chatting, and since everyone's free, spill the beans. What's your big idea?" Petunia inquired on behalf of the group. Everyone in the village knew about Kenneth and Casey's relationship. They had been childhood sweethearts, so it made sense for them to live together in Kenneth's house. "Only nine of you?" Kenneth looked surprised. Brighter Valley had at least forty households. Even though he expected more people to show up, only about twenty came, despite others being out working. "Ken, you wouldn't believe it. Sharon, that chatterbox just spilled the beans and stopped anyone else from joining us," Petunia whispered to Kenneth. Who was Sharon Lopez? Sharon Lopez, Brandon's wife, was well-known for spreading gossip in the community. She had a talent for spreading rumors, such as insinuating that Daryl had dark powers capable of causing harm. This story continued to circulate long after it was initially shared. After Daryl's death, the Cadman family was shunned and isolated in the village. "It's their loss if others don't show," Kenneth shrugged. He quickly briefed them on why he had called them together. Once they understood, the nine women huddled to discuss. Rosaria cut to the chase, asking, "Ken, are you trying to rope us into digging for treasure? Can we turn a profit from a few weeds?" "Mrs. Bergstedt, what do you think of me?" Kenneth asked earnestly. "Your character is solid. Both your grandfather and father were fine men," Mrs Bergstedt affirmed. Rosaria couldn't argue with that; after all, she had deceived Kenneth twice. However, this naive young man would still flash a smile even when deceived. "As long as you believe in me, tomorrow holds promises beyond imagination." "Ken?" Petunia and Arlene dedicated themselves to year-round farming at home, relying almost exclusively on their husbands' earnings from outside work. Kenneth's promise of profitability presented a promising and much-needed opportunity for them. "I stake my reputation on it. If Mrs. Cadman and Mrs. Dandy don't see money tomorrow, you can take my car!" "Haha, Ken, don't jest. We have faith in you." "Yes, Ken, we believe in you!" In the end, when Kenneth urged them to return home and fetch their digging tools, Casey stood silently nearby, absorbing every word. She hadn't expected Kenneth to commit to such a plan. "Kenneth, how do you plan to turn a profit with everyone here? There were nine of us who showed up," she reminded him, hinting at the consequences of failure in their small village. "It's straightforward. Our mountains are rich in medicinal herbs. We'll harvest them and sell them in town. I've already made arrangements with the merchants." "Wow? Kenneth, count me in for the digging!" Casey exclaimed, her excitement evident. Casey grew a bit hesitant. "Silly girl, what's got into you? You're with me every step of the way now. You'll oversee everything and manage the books when we get back." "Huh? So, I get to be a little leader?" Casey exclaimed, her eyes widening with excitement. "Yes, a mini-leader. Grab a notebook; I've got important instructions you'll need to write down," Kenneth replied, his tone firm and confident. "Okay!" Casey responded eagerly. Half an hour later, Kenneth guided Casey, Petunia, and the others to the outskirts of the mountains. "Ken, are we going to dig here?" Rosaria asked, her voice tinged with anticipation and a hint of uncertainty. As she gazed at the dense greenery surrounding them, she felt skepticism creeping in. The creatures that roamed these mountains found them unappealing, perhaps even bitter.