"Your fishing skills have already become so impressive.
What could Great Perfection possibly look like? You can't be fishing up the Dragon King, can you?!"
Such a thought inexplicably flashed through Bai Qi's mind.
The eight hundred li of the Black Water River, wide and deep.
It might just be able to breed a big Flood Dragon.
"The process of getting started can be fast, catching something with the net allows for progress.
After reaching small success, you need to catch big fish, haul in the big ones.
Only then can you achieve the honing effect.
To reach Great Perfection, it's only going to get harder..."
Bai Qi rested for a while, and seeing that it was almost noon, he quickly swam back to the small boat.
With a push of his hands, his body, supple as if boneless, jumped straight onto it.
The movement was light, agile, and flexible, clearly much improved from before.
"While acquiring water skills, my physical condition also seems to have improved."
Bai Qi belatedly realized, only feeling at this moment the heat emanating from his bones, dispelling the bone-chilling cold.
"No wonder I didn't feel cold, it turns out my muscles and bones have become stronger and can withstand the river's immersion."
He looked down at his sun-darkened skin.
Now appearing very well-proportioned, as if without an ounce of excess.
Under the enhancement of fishing skills, even his physical state started to change.
Truly unbelievable!
"The physique of a professional swimmer in a past life was only like this, right?
It's a pity it's still a bit lean, lacking nutrition, needing some oily meat to supplement."
Bai Qi muttered to himself, bending down to sort out the white carp caught.
The little fish and shrimp that were not worth selling were released back into the river.
To make room for the next harvest.
"Heh, finding fish nests is like looking at patterns in my palm, how can I not have a booming bounty!"
Bai Qi steered the small boat into the reed marsh, reached the marked fish nest, and cast the net directly.
Just two moments later, accompanied by the sound of water splashing. The simple large net made of hemp rope was lifted.
The result was gratifying, pressing the small boat down.
"About three pounds of black bream, fifty cents!
Several fresh river eels often bought by the restaurant, altogether worth a hundred cents!
And an eight-pound mandarin fish! I'm rich, truly rich this time!"
Bai Qi was so delighted he couldn't close his mouth.
It was truly a bountiful harvest!
"The worthless ones can be kept for eating myself.
The black bream, river eel, mandarin fish should be taken to the East Market.
Exchange for a couple of hundred large coins, and it won't attract attention.
Quietly getting rich, avoiding trouble coming to the doorstep..."
He picked and chose, leaving over twenty, stuffing two fish baskets full.
"Let's go! Fish Market East District!"
...
...
Black River County is quite large, relying on the dangerous mountain path terrain, built with a thick earthen brick city wall encircling it.
Inside, there is a division between inner and outer sections.
The outer city is a dense array of shantytowns.
The roads are muddy, filthy, and chaotic, with many residents being lowly households or servant households who live by their labor.
The inner city is slightly better, with long blue stone slabs paving the streets and alleys, flanked by residential houses.
Further inside, wide roads branch into four markets in the east, west, south, and north.
Restaurants, inns, and shops all lined up in a row, bustling with people, quite lively.
The East Market has a dock, from where one can take the waterway to Yihai Prefecture.
About a hundred small boats, a dozen black canopy boats lined up, docked at the shore.
Fishermen wearing bamboo hats, shorts, and barefoot scurrying around, moving baskets of river bounty into the fish market.
Letting the purchasing clerks freely select, sounds of haggling rise and fall.
The whole place is noisy and boisterous, emitting a strong fishy smell, like a muddy swamp.
"Ah Qi is here! Haven't seen you for a long time!"
"Wow, the fish basket is so full, you must have caught some big fish!"
"White carp, black bream, river eel! Tsk tsk, all valuable good stuff!"
"Are you blind? How did you not see the most expensive treasure?"
"This mandarin fish is at least ten pounds, quickly go get someone from Donglai Tower, their chef specializes in this!"
As Bai Qi's small boat stopped, fishermen gathered around.
Seeing the two fish baskets in his hands, they all started commenting excitedly, their eyes full of envy.
Everyone makes a living on the water as lowly households.
Fully aware of the value of a bumper harvest of fish.
This time, Bai Qilang can earn at least a few hundred big cents.
Even if he eats meat and drinks wine every meal, he can live comfortably for quite a while.
"Please make way."
Bai Qi walked into the shop set up in the Fish Market East District, where about ten clerks were busy.
A young steward in neat and tidy outfit, somewhat striking, came over.
Glancing over and smiling, he said:
"Impressive, Ah Qi! This mandarin fish isn't easy to catch, over ten pounds, quite a feat for you!"
This steward, named Liang Sanshui, is not old, and his dealings are fairly honest.
Not as aggressive as Chen the Lame or Yangquan, who would squeeze two ounces of oil from a stone if they could.
He's somewhat reputable in the Fish Market East District.
"My fishing net was torn by this beast, I still need to find a skilled hand to mend it later."
Bai Qi said angrily, deliberately complaining.
"Haha, even if it tears ten of your nets, you'd still earn plenty.
Come, come, let's weigh it, and then you get your money!"
The eight hundred li of the Black Water River supports many fishermen.
It's not unusual for the heavens to occasionally grant a bountiful fishing haul.
Liang Sanshui didn't think much of it, just pondering Bai Qilang's luck, good or bad.
This rare bountiful haul just happened to coincide with Yangquan, that Plague Deity, patrolling the East Market.
Soon, he'd surely demand a cut from it.
A moment later, the staff quickly weighed the catch.
Liang Sanshui stood behind the wooden counter, manipulating the abacus swiftly:
"White carp, black bighead carp, and river eels are good goods, often sold to restaurants.
For so many, it amounts to two hundred and sixty cents... The nine pounds and two ounces of snakehead fish, according to the market price, should be around two hundred cents.
But the people from the Celestial Eagle Martial Arts Hall were eager to buy, and just now offered three hundred and fifty cents and took it away.
Deducting the docking fee, staff weighing costs, and the fishery commission.
It amounts to four hundred and thirty-two cents, how about it?"
Bai Qi nodded.
Why do fishermen only come here when they have a great haul?
As soon as their sampan docks, they charge you a docking fee.
If you need help with weighing, it's not done with free labor.
Even if you do it yourself, the fishery has other excuses.
For those running platforms, if they can't use clever pretexts to exploit, how can they prosper?
As for fishermen like Bai Qi.
Under the eaves, one has no choice but to lower their head.
Be cautious and protect oneself wisely.
This is the way of survival for the lower-class commoners.
"Ah Qi, if you're not in a rush to mend the fishing net.
You might as well go home early, don't linger around..."
Liang Sanshui handed out several strings of large coins, kindly reminding him.
How tough Bai Qilang's days were, who in the Fish Market East District didn't know?
His parents left him early, with no relatives to help.
Leaving only a mud house and a frail younger brother with epilepsy.
Everyone could see it, but it was hard to help much.
After all, in these times, who doesn't have a family to feed?
It's just unaffordable to be kind-hearted and do good.
"Alright!"
Bai Qi took the heavy strings of coins, feeling a sense of reassurance.
He was about to tuck them into his chest and turn to leave the shop.
When he saw a black boot step over the threshold, and then a greeting voice:
"Isn't this Ah Qi? Quite a haul today, eh?"
A tall, burly figure stepped into the East Market Shop, with a scar at the corner of his mouth, grinning without a smile.
To call him fierce wouldn't be an overstatement.
This was Yangquan, a local tyrant at the fishery.
"All thanks to the heavens for granting a big catch.
Brother Quan, this is a tribute to you."
Bai Qi's heart skipped a beat, secretly cursing his luck for coming across this Plague Deity without checking today's horoscope.
However, his expression remained calm, deftly taking out a string of large coins, ready to hand it over.
Having traveled far and wide in his past life, how could he not have some shrewdness?
Unarmed and weak.
If one were to fight a vicious wolf, it would surely end in a big loss.
Yangquan had been leading a gang of rascals, bullying the market for several years without collapsing.
He must have strong backing, ruthless means.
This big stone, definitely not something a mere fisherman like himself could move.
At least, not now.
"Ah Qi, I just like your cleverness! Sensible and understanding!"
Yangquan looked at the money offered to him, laughed aloud but didn't take it:
"Why not join your brother? You'll have a good life of feasting and drinking!"
Bai Qi's heart jumped, assuming a simple and honest demeanor:
"Brother Quan holds me in such high regard, I'd certainly love to, but I have a younger brother to take care of at home..."
Yangquan waved his hand; he was actually just saying it casually.
In Black River County, there were plenty of fishermen wanting to lean on him, Bai Qi was not in short supply.
This fierce wolf's gaze darted around, passing over baskets of fresh river catch, and asked Liang Sanshui:
"Brother Shui, did anyone catch Ghost Pattern Fish today?"
Liang Sanshui showed a gloomy face as if seeing a Plague Deity, bowed his head, and worked on the abacus:
"Not yet, you can only catch Ghost Pattern Fish at Mihun Bay.
If you can get five or six by the end of the month, it'd be a thank heaven situation."
Yangquan squinted his eyes, smiled coldly, and thumped his chest, guaranteeing:
"Anyway, I'll surely get twenty for the Young Master to nurse his health, you don't worry about it."
After exchanging a few words, seeing Liang Sanshui didn't pay much attention to him, he turned back to Bai Qi:
"Ah Qi, are you aware the fishery stalls have raised prices?
I don't want your money, but you can't slack on the Ghost Pattern Fish due by the end of the month!
Our brotherhood is one thing, but rules can't be broken, right?
Moreover, Lin the Sixth from Chai Market had a drink with me yesterday.
He mentioned your sickly younger brother, found him clever, and likes him a lot."
Bai Qi lifted his eyelids, glanced at the smiling Yangquan, and said in a low voice:
"Brother Quan, my father said, starve to death rather than be a slave, I really can't sign the indenture..."
Yangquan loudly interrupted:
"A good man cannot be a slave! How could I not understand!
Immediately after Lin the Sixth started the topic, I scolded him thoroughly.
Now he has admitted his mistake and changed his mind, promising not to sign the indenture, just wanting to adopt your little brother as a godson.
How about it?"