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The comment section of the live broadcast was ablaze with activity, as viewers continued to question Catherine’s seemingly miraculous catch. The tension between disbelief and awe grew, with many fans accusing the program crew of helping her cheat.
[“The program team is so blatant! They must have helped her!”]
[“This is cheating, right? How did she catch all those fish so easily?”]
[“I’m done with this show if they keep pulling stunts like this!”]
The program team, already on edge from the increasing scrutiny, was quick to act. The director ordered a replay of the critical moment, to clear up any confusion and answer the audience’s questions.
As the replay played out, everyone watched intently as Catherine, seemingly doing nothing at first, had been quietly weaving a net out of river weeds. Viewers were perplexed, unsure what to make of her actions.
[“What is she doing?”]
[“Can someone explain this? I don’t get it.”]
[“Is she casting some sort of spell or something?”]
[“She must be a magician.”]
However, a knowledgeable viewer soon clarified the situation.
[“Oh, I see now! She made a fishing trap using the plants in the river! It’s actually quite smart. The fish are moving downstream from the other groups. Catherine just created the perfect spot for them to swim into her trap.”]
This explanation made sense to many, and suddenly, it all clicked. The other groups had been unknowingly her helpers, disturbing the fish upstream, which had then swum straight into Catherine’s trap. The simplicity of the technique, combined with Catherine’s patience, had led to her success.
The other three groups, who had been fishing furiously without any results, were unknowingly aiding Catherine. Had they known their actions were helping their competition, they might have been furious.
In the program crew’s tent, the realization hit everyone like a wave. Catherine had caught the fish in such an ingenious manner, and the audience now saw her brilliance.
Meanwhile, Audrey, who had been struggling to lift the basket of fish, suddenly found herself overwhelmed. Her arms trembled with exhaustion, and despite her best efforts, she couldn’t budge the bamboo basket. Her hand was cut by the sharp edges of the basket, and blood began to ooze out.
Grumbling in frustration, she turned to Catherine. “Kathy, how many fish are there? Why is it so heavy? I can’t lift it.”
But to Audrey’s surprise, Catherine simply walked over, picked up the basket with one hand, and easily carried it away. Audrey stared, stunned. How had Catherine managed to do it so effortlessly? She had just struggled with all her strength to lift the basket, yet Catherine was carrying it like it was nothing.
As Catherine walked away, Audrey couldn’t help but admire her. If Catherine were a man, Audrey mused, she would have fallen head over heels for her.
Meanwhile, Catherine’s decisive and effortless manner was not lost on the viewers. They admired her strength and calm under pressure.
Back at the program’s designated station, Catherine poured the fish into a basin with smooth, controlled movements. Her actions were flawless, and once the task was done, she casually tossed the basket aside and walked back to the tree, where she leaned against it, clearly unbothered by the commotion she had just caused.
Audrey, seeing Catherine’s nonchalant attitude, couldn’t help but follow. She was no longer worried about the competition. With so many fish, it was almost impossible for them to end up last.
Audrey walked over with a small fan and a thermos of sour plum soup. The cool air and sweet, tangy smell wafted toward Catherine, who looked intrigued. Audrey handed her the thermos, offering, “Here, Kathy. I brought some sour plum soup from home. I thought you might like it.”
Catherine, still a bit surprised by the gesture, eyed the thermos for a moment before taking the glass of soup that Audrey poured for her. The sweet and sour aroma filled the air, and for a moment, Catherine seemed to soften. Audrey watched expectantly, her eyes warm with care.
After a brief pause, Catherine took a small sip, her eyes meeting Audrey’s. She didn’t speak at first, but then she gave a slight nod, her usual coolness dissipating.
“It’s delicious,” Catherine said in a soft tone, her voice carrying an unexpected warmth.
Audrey’s face lit up with a smile. “I’m glad you like it,” she replied, feeling content that Catherine had enjoyed her small gesture. For the first time in what felt like forever, the two of them stood together in a moment of quiet understanding.
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