It was not yet dawn when the gates of Linhe County Town creaked open.
The villagers waiting outside formed a long, orderly line and passed through the checkpoint.
These people, carrying bamboo baskets or burlap bags, had all come for the early market.
At the same time, many town residents were also heading out to work.
Zhang Yuan blended into the bustling crowd as he left the town and soon arrived at the Wharf District.
He boarded a boat and headed down the river.
As usual, he rowed upstream with the fastest speed possible, reaching the River Bay District.
Because Zhang Yuan arrived early, no other fishing boats were visible in the large river bay.
He docked his black-canopied boat next to the reeds and then pulled out five eel traps from the cabin.
The eel traps are tools for catching river eels, woven from bamboo strips, pointed at both ends, and bulging in the middle like a weaving shuttle, with cleverly designed openings on both ends.
