Zheng Changhe took the net from him and continued casting it as he explained, "The grass carp and common carp aren't big enough yet. It would be a waste to eat them. We pick out the biggest crucian carp and put the smaller ones back to grow a while longer. Two aren't enough, which is why Juhua wanted to cast the net again."
Laixi exclaimed in surprise, "Wasn't that grass carp from before big enough? I thought it looked like it was at least two pounds!"
Juhua shook her head. "It wasn't two pounds. Even if it were, it wouldn't be worth it to eat it. Fish like grass carp, common carp, and silver carp should be raised until they're three or four pounds before we catch them. Otherwise, all we're doing is stocking the pond. Eating a one- or two-pound grass carp is less satisfying than eating a half-pound crucian carp—and a crucian carp that heavy is already considered large."
