Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation

After they walked away, Xue Yuantong said,

"They have so many smartphones."

"Yes, they specialize in smartphone reviews." When the person just now showed his homepage, Jiang Ning noticed that the entire homepage was filled with smartphone review videos.

"Can smartphones be reviewed?" Xue Yuantong was puzzled, as she usually just went to the store to buy smartphones.

Jiang Ning smiled, "Of course. There are quite a few intricacies to smartphones, like the CPU, screen, camera, and system. Many users don't understand these, but with smartphone review videos, even those who don't understand can see the pros and cons and then decide whether to purchase."

In 2014, self-media was just beginning to rise, and smartphone reviews and digital product reviews were still in a 'blue ocean' phase.

In two more years, there would be a huge explosion in digital product reviews. That was the best time, as many of those reviewing smartphones would be receiving advertisements from smartphone manufacturers and making a fortune.

During this period, if one could persist and take the lead, one might share in the future profits.

"Hmm, I see." Xue Yuantong asked, "What if they only mention the positives in their reviews and omit the negatives?"

"There's no way around it, users have to discern for themselves," Jiang Ning said.

In later times, more than ninety percent of the self-media that got smartphones from manufacturers beforehand were paid for promotions, and their videos only highlighted the positives without mentioning any negatives.

Xue Yuantong further inquired, "What if they only mention the negatives without any positives?"

Jiang Ning had heard of this situation before; some self-media personalities he had come in contact with had received promotion fees from one manufacturer to slander another.

From what he knew, several self-media personalities who engaged in such activities had been put in jail by a manufacturer's PR team.

"Still, it's up to the users to discern," Jiang Ning said.

"But if the users always have to discern, then what's the point of their smartphone reviews?" Xue Yuantong asked.

Jiang Ning gently ruffled her hair, and facing Xue Yuantong's disapproving look, he said,

"Not every self-media person is motivated by profit; some still hold onto their initial intent, aiming to help people by creating fair review videos."

"Hmm."

As they walked and chatted, they arrived at the riverbank.

Jiang Ning was still using 'Fake Bait.' Xue Yuantong didn't compete with Jiang Ning today; she was just a spectator.

Jiang Ning cast his line.

Along the banks of the Hui River, the most abundant things were water and trees, followed by fishermen.

Whether windy or rainy, day or night, along the riverbank, one could always find fishermen.

Usually, after his evening self-study, Jiang Ning would release his Divine Sense, scanning and finding people fishing at night.

In the morning around six or seven when going to school, there were those who fished at dawn.

If the Huishui River Dam had a spirit, it certainly wouldn't be lonely.

The fishermen today were of extremely high quality. A refined-looking fisherman sat peacefully, and Jiang Ning, standing about thirty meters away, noted that the man had not once looked in his direction since the beginning.

Once Jiang Ning's bait hit the river,

Xue Yuantong asked, "When will this end?"

She knew that Jiang Ning's fishing skills were exceptionally advanced, and he could catch fish in just a few minutes.

Xue Yuantong had once thought that if there were a fishing competition, bringing Jiang Ning would guarantee a prize.

"Just wait a moment."

Jiang Ning extended his Divine Sense hundreds of meters wide, sweeping across the river like a giant net, touching the chaotic waters and reaching the gloomy riverbed.

Every creature touched by his Divine Sense couldn't escape his detection.

Jiang Ning selected a big fish, a rather rare one that looked both fierce and dumb.

At the moment, it was hibernating in the river mud, motionless.

"It's you!"

Jiang Ning launched a burst of Spiritual Power.

The Spiritual Power entered the water like a torpedo, zooming toward the happy mud shelter of the dumb fierce fish.

Under Jiang Ning's control, the Spiritual Power transformed into a giant hand that grasped the fish through the mud.

It then faced a fierce resistance, the struggle being quite substantial.

However, against the Spells of a Cultivator, the fish soon surrendered. The hand of Spiritual Power dragged it towards the riverbank, pressing it onto the hook.

To prevent it from escaping, Jiang Ning launched another burst of Spiritual Power, firmly seizing it.

Jiang Ning tugged on the fishing rod, and a black shadow was flung from the water's surface.

Xue Yuantong stared at the huge shadow, dumbfounded.

"It's so big!"

Not only Xue Yuantong, but even the refined fisherman nearby was startled.

Jiang Ning brought the fish to the grass by the riverbank.

Xue Yuantong estimated that the fish was half her size.

"Young man, how lucky to catch such a big catfish?" The refined fisherman was no longer composed, his face in disbelief.

Catfish were already hard to catch in winter, so how did this young man manage it?

It doesn't make sense!

Jiang Ning said, "Just lucky."

He took out a net and covered the catfish with it.

The refined Fishing Man asked, "May I give it a try?"

He was eager, even though he couldn't catch any fish himself, feeling the thrill was still awesome.

"Sure."

The refined Fishing Man lifted the net, and the catfish struggled.

He was very measured, lifting it a couple of times before handing it back to Jiang Ning and estimating,

"Twelve kilograms."

The catfish weighed a full twelve kilograms.

He couldn't contain his envy and took out his phone to snap a few photos.

After Jiang Ning caught the fish, he didn't stay by the riverbank; he threw the catfish into a bucket and left with Xue Yuantong.

Xue Yuantong stepped forward and struggled to lift the bucket.

Though twelve kilograms was heavy, just thinking of the catfish turning into a table full of dishes made Xue Yuantong drool.

She had eaten catfish before, which was particularly tender; she was already thinking of several ways to cook it, suddenly not feeling the weight as much.

Jiang Ning voluntarily lifted the edge of the bucket.

The two figures, one tall and one short, headed toward the river dam, the sun in front of them casting two short shadows.

Upon reaching the river dam, to the west and about a couple of dozens of meters away, there was a team actively filming a video.

To the east, the dam connected to a flat area where, some seven or eight meters away, two cars were parked with two middle-aged men standing by, smoking.

The uphill path was very close to the cars.

A man wearing a silver watch, sharp-eyed, noticed the fish in Jiang Ning's bucket and immediately changed expression, approaching with a cigarette in his mouth.

Jiang Ning certainly noticed this scene, his expression unchanged as he continued walking with the bucket.

"Stop for a moment," the middle-aged man said.

Xue Yuantong stopped walking, looking curiously at the middle-aged man.

"You guys caught some nice fish!" The middle-aged man glanced at the bucket, pulled out his wallet, flipped it open, and pulled out a bright red bill.

"Take this, and give me the fish," he said in a tone that brooked no argument.

Jiang Ning laughed, "That's not enough."

During this season, you couldn't buy a wild catfish of twelve kilograms for one hundred yuan.

There are always some adults who, relying on their age, status, and experience, bully young people.

In the workplace, senior employees bully newcomers; wealthy middle-aged men lure innocent young women—these kinds of people are always around.

The middle-aged man said, "You're quite the calculator, aren't you?"

Seeing he couldn't get a bargain, he generously pulled out three more bills.

"Four hundred yuan, this should be enough for your fish."

"Listen to your uncle, put down the bucket, and take the four hundred yuan."

The middle-aged man was confident; four hundred yuan for one fish, what young person could refuse?

Jiang Ning didn't speak, his expression unchanged as he ignored the man and left with Xue Yuantong, carrying the bucket.

The middle-aged man stood there dumbfounded, hardly believing it. Four hundred yuan for a fish, wasn't that a sincere price?

The man who had been smoking with him teased,

"Lao Liu, looks like you miscalculated, they downright ignored your money."

Lao Liu didn't say much else. If it's not selling, it's not selling; saved four hundred yuan.

At the river dam, Jiang Ning and Xue Yuantong together descended the slope, walking some distance.

Seeing Jiang Ning silent all the while, Xue Yuantong said,

"My mother always told me from a young age, 'wealth should not lead to indulgence, poverty should not sway your core, and power should not bend your will.'"

"Jiang Ning, you did really well, not being swayed by money."

This action impressed Jiang Ning:

"Are you comforting me?"

Xue Yuantong freed her hands to pat her chest, praising, "Am I good to you?"

"Remember, not everyone has a bottom line like I do."

"As your guide, seeing how you acted today reassures me."

"So I've decided to cook something delicious for you at noon."

Jiang Ning: "Thank you."

Xue Yuantong said, "What's our relationship? No need for thanks, it feels too formal."

Jiang Ning looked at her, remembering how she had resentfully stepped on his Shadow in the morning, but now she had changed her tune so quickly.