He had come from afar, and it was not easy to get into Dongting Lake for once, so of course, he could not simply help them catch big fish.
"Well, you have a point, but the main task of our project team this time is to study the gigantic fish species that many people have spotted in the lake. Could you also consider this direction and possibly come up with a plan?" Han Li thought for a moment before speaking directly.
Lin Yang nodded heartily, "Sure, I just brought a high-tech device for fishing big fish this time, but this device is single-use and the cost to reload it is quite high, so we can’t use it wastefully. Tomorrow, we’ll fish normally for a day to check the fish situation in this area, and if there’s a suitable spot, we’ll place the device there."
"Alright, I estimate that Mr. Chen will definitely discuss this aspect with you during dinner, and then we can plan according to the actual situation."
"No problem."
....
Han Li was right, as the college students gradually returned to the camp and started preparing the fish for dinner.
It was past six in the evening, and the sky was growing darker, but the campsite was equipped with power generators, so lighting and cooking were not too greatly affected.
With the organization of Han Li and several other college students, a lavish dinner table was prepared to welcome Lin Yang and his team.
Sour fish made with dogfish and black fish, dried beef, vacuum-packed dried chicken, an unknown local type of dark mushroom, plus some seasonal vegetables obtained from the management office of the scenic area.
There were nine people in total, including the camp project team and Lin Yang’s three people, and the amount of food was plentiful, filling a large table.
By the time the last soup with tomatoes and eggs was served, dinner was officially ready.
The head of the research team, Chen Lin, brought out several bottles of Wuling Wine from his own cabin. It must be said, people from Xiang Province really like to drink this Wuling Wine, and Lin Yang and his team had drunk it the previous night too, finding it pure, soft, relaxing, and full of savory flavor.
"Come, the temperature is low, and the humidity high in the evening camp, drink some baijiu to ward off the cold. Xiao Han, pour some for Xiao Yang. This is our local brand of baijiu, maybe not as expensive as those famous domestic brands, but the quality is still good. Everyone can give it a try."
"Okay, I’m not very good at drinking, so just half a cup for me." Lin Yang didn’t refuse, and Han Li poured him a cup about seventy to eighty percent full.
Li Xiaopeng, who had a better tolerance for alcohol, filled his cup to the brim, while Yue’er poured just a little.
Once everyone had their drink, the welcoming feast officially started.
Chen Lin raised his glass, "We have limited resources here at the camp, so please excuse any shortcomings. On behalf of our research project team, I formally welcome Xiao Yang and his two companions to guide our work. Let’s all raise our glasses."
Lin Yang and his team quickly raised their glasses too, "Thank you, Mr. Chen, you are too kind."
With the opening formalities out of the way, dining and drinking naturally followed.
Despite Chen Lin’s scholarly appearance, he had a surprisingly good capacity for alcohol; he could down a glass of baijiu in a few gulps without changing his expression, maintaining a very organized and clear logic in his speech.
Taking advantage of the drinking, Chen Lin also seemed to casually ask a lot about Lin Yang’s past, like what kind of work had he done before, how long had he been fishing, and the like.
Lin Yang had no intention of concealing anything and answered quite a lot of questions orderly.
After three rounds of drinks and five flavors of dishes, Chen Lin continued, "To be honest, species like dogfish and black fish are not really the main focus of our research team, including the higher-ups’ interest, they all want to know what the big fish in this lake are actually like."
"From our perspective of aquatic biology, a fish’s gills have a relatively flat structure while the body is three-dimensional, limiting the oxygen supply capacity. The larger the fish, the higher the demand for this oxygenating structure, which under normal circumstances means that a fish cannot grow indefinitely."
"However, in this region of Dongting Lake, many have personally seen giant fish a few meters long in deep waters, and there have been resident reports of their chickens and ducks being dragged underwater and eaten by big fish. Based on your understanding of fish, what do you think these could be?"
"Also, if there really are two to three-meter long giant fish, what capturing method would be more scientific?"
Hearing Chen Lin’s questioning, Lin Yang pondered for a moment, took a sip of mineral water, and then said slowly, "My understanding of freshwater fish may not be as deep as those who specialize in aquatic research, but I think there are flaws in your theory that need addressing."
"Most fish breathe through gills, and as they grow, the function of the gills also evolves and develops. For example, some large marine species support fish growing up to over ten meters, so as long as there is enough food and enough time for growth, I believe it’s possible for fish in the lake to grow large."
Lin Yang had caught several big fish himself, each exceeding the size one would normally anticipate.
And countless facts have proven, ’a pig grows big at three hundred pounds, a fish grows indefinitely,’ suggesting fish can truly surpass limits if they continue to grow.
Originally, Chen Lin had a fairly ordinary impression of Lin Yang when they first met, but after this dinner, his view changed significantly.