Three baskets filled with fish were unloaded from the boat, attracting the attention of many fishermen.
When the most striking Spotted Head Fish appeared, it sparked a small wave of discussions.
"Whose boat is this? Must've hit a fish school, right? So lucky, wow, even got a Spotted Head!"
"Don't recognize it, but it looks strangely familiar. Among the known experts at the dock, this boat doesn't look like any of theirs."
"Isn't this Ah Shui's small fishing boat? The one that scabby-head insisted on trading for."
"Ah Shui? Who's that?"
"You forgot, the handsome kid from Liang Dajiang's family."
"He's still alive? I thought he became an orphan. Last time I saw him, he was borrowing grain and got turned away."
"Hush, he's very much alive. What rubbish are you spouting?"
Hearing this, the gathered fishermen were a bit surprised, clearly not expecting an orphan to survive on his own; it was truly rare.
"Sigh, he's a pitiful kid, but at least he can feed himself now. Not easy."
"Our dock might have another expert soon! But why's it none of my sons? Such disappointments."
The fishermen lamented for a while, envious but also discussing possibilities.
Seeing the fish baskets being taken into the fish market store, they dispersed.
Orphans had a hard time surviving.
Although it was rare for one to make it on their own, it wasn't anyone else's business.
Just some gossip; would there really be great prospects for him in the future?
On the other side, Lin Songbao weighed the fish and did the math.
"Including the Spotted Head, it's one hundred thirty-two coins in total. How about I make it one hundred thirty-five for you?"
"Give me one silver piece and ten coins instead."
"One silver piece?" Lin Songbao paused to think.
In recent years, prices had been stable; officially, a tael of silver was said to be worth about a thousand copper coins.
However, silver kept its value better; a thousand copper coins couldn't quite exchange for a tael of silver, more like a thousand one hundred or two were needed.
Exchanging one hundred twenty-five coins for one silver piece was a slight profit.
Thinking of this, Lin Songbao agreed and took back the string of copper coins he had and replaced it with a piece of silver and ten copper coins.
"Keep it safe."
"Got it."
Leaving the fish shop, Liang Qu habitually went to the food stall to eat, sticking to his usual menu while he pondered.
"I already have two taels and three qian; I need another four taels and seven qian to have enough for the martial hall. If I can save a hundred coins a day, that's just two months, but that's too conspicuous. Everything needs a gradual buildup."
With the help of Fat Catfish, Liang Qu's fish catch was higher than average fishermen every day.
But a few days ago, he was only getting thirty coins a day, and a sudden surge would seem suspicious; it needed some adjustment time.
As for today's sudden sale of over a hundred coins, who hasn't had a lucky hit of a fish school once in a while? Like catching Yellowfish—a couple of times wouldn't matter, but if it happens often, a suitable excuse would be necessary.
"Also, the upcoming autumn tax soon is a problem; two months won't be enough. Couldn't pay the tax, and I'd be dragged off for corvée labor. Damn this feudal society."
Liang Qu had a clear plan for his future.
He had to learn martial arts.
Not just to see how vast the world was, but also because there loomed a shadow of the Zhao Manor over him.
Those damned old schemers, like a Sword of Damocles.
Liang Qu angrily finished his meal and, after paying, returned home, lying on the bed.
"If only I could catch a treasure fish like the Tiger-Head Grouper."
He remembered last month at a neighboring dock, someone caught a five-pound Tiger-Head Grouper, which a Martial Master bought at the market for a sky-high price of three taels and five qian silver.
This kind of fish could remarkably enhance the body's toughness, saving a martial artist over a month's worth of effort.
It might even be more valuable than the Treasured Lotus Roots he discovered.
As Liang Qu was wondering whether to spend some time having the Six-Whiskered Catfish look for it, a noise broke out outside, quickly dying down.
"Aye, another quarrel."
Such was life in a small place; when someone argued loudly, neighbors would clearly hear every word.
Liang Qu thought that once he earned money, he'd definitely buy a big courtyard house, with plenty of rooms and ten lovely maids with slender waists and long legs, fair-skinned, bringing tea with soft voices, living the life of a proper lord.
"Knock, knock, knock."
A sudden knocking interrupted his daydreams.
Liang Qu got up, surprised.
Could it be Zheng Xiang again?
"Who's there?"
"It's me."
Though the speaker was vague, Liang Qu quickly went to open the door.
He could never forget that voice.
Opening the door, Liang Qu saw Chen Qingjiang with a somber face, handing over a small cloth bag before turning away without a word.
"Uncle Chen! What's this?"
Before he could catch up, that figure was already heading home, leaving him no choice but to open the bag, which turned out to be filled with grain, weighing at least five or six pounds.
In that moment, Liang Qu understood everything.
To sell more fish, Uncle Chen walked miles to town every day to sell fish.
He was a straightforward man who likely didn't know Liang Qu was capable of supporting himself and assumed he was still struggling.
"This isn't necessary."
Liang Qu sighed, vowing not to forget this debt of gratitude.
Without that support, he might have starved at home by now, focusing on martial arts and the upcoming autumn tax, always delaying any reciprocation.
Perhaps the earlier quarrel was between Uncle Chen and his wife?
Liang Qu felt deeply embarrassed.
Returning home after delivering the grain, Chen Qingjiang found the atmosphere at home still heavy.
His wife Ah Di sat in the corner, sulking, not sparing him a glance.
She was busy tying threads.
She wouldn't mind helping with the grain on ordinary days, but their youngest son had been ill recently.
Though the illness was cured, their savings were gone, and they had the autumn tax, which meant three people's tax dues!
Wasn't this just a case of putting on airs?
For a moment, the couple sat in silence.
Within the dimly-lit room, the flickering candle cast a reddish shadow against the wall.
Finally, Chen Qingjiang stood abruptly, causing the flame to flicker in the sudden draft, nearly causing Ah Di to prick her hand.
She raised her head angrily but her protests were cut off as she found herself lifted into the air.
In a daze, her anger turned to embarrassment.
"What are you doing again?"
Chen Qingjiang cradled his wife, blew out the candle, his voice booming.
"Sleep!"
"The kids are asleep!"
"Just two piglets, what's to worry?"
Ah Di's mind went blank, her face flushed, and all her anger melted away.
That's how you deal with women.
At the doorstep, hearing the sounds inside, Liang Qu withdrew his hand, avoiding knocking, his face embarrassed.
He came intending to apologize for causing the couple to quarrel, only to stumble into this awkward situation.
With the grain bag in hand, Liang Qu returned home, planning to address this sooner or later.
For the next half-month, Liang Qu sold fish at the dock, gradually increasing his catches daily.
Starting from forty coins, he increased to eighty coins, building a reputation as a promising young fisherman.
Ordinary fishermen earned about sixty or seventy coins daily, while seasoned fishermen like Chen Qingjiang could earn eighty coins, with only a few exceptional hands surpassing a hundred.
Liang Qu, at fifteen or sixteen, an orphan, achieving such results made the dock's seen-it-all fishers astonished.
He gained a small reputation for himself, garnering both admiration and envy.
Yet, there was an odd thing.
Recently, whenever Liang Qu wanted to return the grain to Uncle Chen's house, he never found anyone at home.
It seemed like the entire family went out to work at dawn, each time perfectly dodging his visits, bafflingly so.
Logically it didn't make sense.
Could Ah Di also have gone to work? Did they take the kids along with them?
Pondering, Liang Qu walked to the dock, unexpectedly spotting someone he didn’t wish to see.
The matchmaker.
His recent displays had caught the matchmaker's attention, who kept trying to set him up.
"I've said it before; I'm not planning on marrying for now."
Liang Qu quickly jumped onto his small fishing boat, untied the rope, and swiftly rode away.
The hasty retreat had an urgency to it, and the fishermen on the shore took it as Liang Qu being shy, laughing heartily.
"Don’t give the kid a hard time. He's still a young lad!"
"Probably doesn't know the joy of women yet!"
"What a pity though. How about introducing her to me?"
"Old bachelor, get lost!"
Liang Qu hadn't expected that his portrayal of "fishing talent" among the docks would make him the star of the matchmaking scene, furiously rowing until the dock was out of sight to heave a sigh of relief.
Reaching the Lotus Root territory, he slapped the water with his oar.
The massive Pig Dragon lazily surfaced, flicking its tail upon seeing his boat, placing its paws on the edge.
Ensuring there was no one around, Liang Qu took the fishing net and a pig bladder float filled with air, diving into the water.
Man and beast, both searched the waters for Fatty Catfish’s signal.
Liang Qu’s daily limit was about one hundred fifty coins, but he could only show eighty on the surface, using the rest of his time to search for the Treasure Fish.
Fat Catfish couldn't rest either.
Treasure Fish were elusive, not a single one found for days until just now when Fatty sent a Mental Link signal: they found a Treasure Fish!