The small dinghy moved swiftly, soon reaching the Fish Market East District and smoothly docking at the pier.
It was midday, and the laborers and fishermen at the pier were taking a break.
After all, they had been busy for half a day, loading and unloading baskets of river delicacies.
Everyone was starving, feeling their empty stomachs rumbling like fire.
Under the sun, fishermen in short coats gathered in groups of three or five, chatting idly.
Most sat on boats by the river or in roadside tea stalls, nibbling on wheat cakes with clear water.
If someone could afford wild vegetable millet rice with a bit of oil, it was considered enviable good food.
Bai Qi stepped off the small dinghy and had just docked when two clever young lads approached.
"Ah Qi, what big catch did you have today?"
"Come, come, no need to lift a finger, we'll handle the heavy lifting!"
"So heavy! This basket must weigh forty to fifty pounds!"
"A few hundred Wen coins again! Ah Qi, you're so capable!"
They eagerly helped, vying to take the two heavy fish baskets from Bai Qi.
Then they strode towards the East Market Shop, attracting many gazes.
"Is Ah Qi enlightened now? Catching big fish every day!"
"I reckon it's the kind-hearted Dragon King, knowing the Bai Brothers have a tough time, and rewarding them with meals!"
"We always knew, Ah Qi is no ordinary! How many fishermen can read?"
"Go to hell, when the brothers were starving, you didn't even lend half a pound of rice!"
Everyone gazed at the fish baskets with glowing eyes, gossiping and chatting.
The chatter was noisy and chaotic, making the pier bustling.
Everyone eking out a living on the Black Water River knew the hardships of survival.
With just a dinghy, a fishing net, and a mud hut.
Trying to carve out a way to survive.
It was indeed tough!
Lately, Bai Qi had been catching good goods occasionally, earning hundreds of Wen, like guaranteed harvests.
He seemed to have found his footing in Black River County, able to fill his stomach.
This is skill!
So when he earned the unanimous recognition of the fish market lads and dock laborers, viewed as a "skilled fisherman,"
the treatment he received naturally changed.
"Without skills, you can't fill your belly; with skills, you can support a family.
The former garners sympathy but rarely respect.
The latter can't be belittled.
It's a simple truth."
From "bottom-tier fishing child" to "skilled fisherman."
Bai Qi gained a deeper understanding of societal ways in Black River County.
He had just entered the East Market Shop when he heard Liang Sanshui's teasing laughter:
"Used to be once every half month, but these days it's been uninterrupted. Ah Qi is really promising!"
Bai Qi scratched his head, appearing honestly humble:
"Maybe the fish schools in Black Water River emphasize autumn harvest and winter storage.
Recently, they have become noticeably active, and the harvest has been much better than before!"
No matter how skilled a fisherman, luck plays a part in their catch.
Every time he ventured into the river, the bounty depended on luck as well.
Anyone catching a few good goods is nothing unusual.
Additionally, earning hundreds of Wen coins daily.
In the prominent Fish Market East District, it won't stir much trouble.
People might envy but won't be resentful.
"No wonder the fishermen on the Black Water River have been setting out so diligently lately."
Liang Sanshui nodded, directing the young men in weighing while chatting with Bai Qi:
"Speaking of, my nephew, not much older than you.
A few days ago, burned incense somewhere, and caught a Horned Pompano.
Sold it for over thirty taels of silver, went to Celestial Eagle Martial Arts Hall to practice.
If he masters the martial arts, he might rid himself of the lowly status... Ah Qi, I think you'll also rise someday."
What's this Horned Pompano good stuff?
Can it sell for such a high price?
Wondering if the Golden Rainbow Trout can compare?
Bai Qi's eyelids twitched slightly, thoughts swirling.
Over thirty taels of snowflake silver, enough to change the fate of most fishermen.
Whether apprenticing at a martial arts hall or finding opportunities, buying some land.
Much better than struggling on the Black Water River.
Fishermen come wind or rain.
At forty, plagued with illnesses, difficult to sustain long-term.
"Brother Shui, what's Horned Pompano?"
Bai Qi humbly inquired.
"A kind of treasure fish. This good stuff, because it can be used medicinally, with every part valuable, is called 'treasure fish.'
The inner city's martial arts halls love it, every time someone catches one it's in high demand, supply can't keep up."
The Horned Pompano used in medicinal dishes is beneficial for replenishing energy and nourishing the blood, as well as softening muscles and strengthening bones.
Especially the middle bone and the horn on its head, when ground into powder, can make a frail and weak patient become as vigorous as a dragon or a tiger."
Liang Sanshui, being the Steward of the East Market, explained all these things with precision.
"Brother Shui, you've got such broad knowledge. I've been fishing for so long and still don't know what a treasure fish is."
Bai Qi sincerely complimented, encouraging Liang Sanshui to keep talking.
"The school opened by the Fishery has many seniors who have ventured through Mihun Bay.
When I was studying, I often heard them talk about it.
Black Water River is so deep that it can breed spirits and monsters, not to mention treasure fish.
Horned Pompano, Silver Sand Carp, Golden Rainbow Trout... all valuable goods.
Our shop might not see a few throughout the year.
If you're interested, you can buy a copy of 'The Fish Record' from the Bookstore, for just twenty cents."
Liang Sanshui chuckled, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of guiding others.
"Alright, thank you, Brother Shui!"
Bai Qi responded.
His family didn't come from generations of fishermen, so many common knowledge and ways of the trade remained unclear to him.
In these times, any craft that could provide a living was closely guarded and never easily taught.
Otherwise, why would so many humble families willingly sell themselves into the Fishery, Chai Market, or the kilns every year?
It's all to learn a craft!
To eat a full meal!
"Just right, five hundred and twenty cents, enough for you and your brother to exchange for quite a bit of rice and grain."
Liang Sanshui handed over several strings of coins with a smile to Bai Qi.
Seeing those struggling to live a good life is something to be happy about.
"By the way, Brother Shui, I want to rent a good net to see if I can catch some big fish.
You know, it's almost the end of the month, and the supply of Ghost Pattern Fish is not yet secured..."
Bai Qi rubbed his hands, and upon hearing Liang Sanshui mention that Golden Rainbow Trout are also treasure fish, he couldn't hold back anymore.
Even selling it for twenty taels of silver would be enough for him to pay respects and offer tea at the Martial Arts Hall.
The Eight Stages of Skill can only preserve health, but it cannot protect oneself!
One must practice some martial arts to bolster courage!
But to be beneficial in a task, one must be well-equipped.
With Bai Qi's tattered large net woven from hemp rope, catching a big fish weighing seven or eight pounds is already challenging.
Encountering naturally fierce good catches will tear it right apart.
"Then you're unlucky. All the good silk nets here have been borrowed by Wang Laizi."
Liang Sanshui shook his head and said:
"Right now, only some reasonably sturdy cast nets are left."
Wang Laizi again?
Bai Qi squinted, intentionally asking:
"Brother Shui, what's he doing with such good nets?
He earns several dozen cents a day, not cheap."
Liang Sanshui had no intention to hide anything and said directly:
"This guy had a stroke of luck and has had catches for several days in a row, landing three or four Ghost Pattern Fish.
Many fishermen dare not go to Mihun Bay and are counting on him to meet the supply quota.
Though the weight is small, each fish is worth four to five thousand coins, letting Wang Laizi rake it in!"
"Being able to go in and out of Mihun Bay speaks to his ability,
catching Ghost Pattern Fish shows his prowess."
Bai Qi accepted several strings of coins, his tone calm, but his mind was turning.
Are Ghost Pattern Fish in Mihun Bay really that easy to catch?
"I heard he's using poultry meat like chicken, duck, and goose to bait the spot, bleeding them to attract fish. Ah Qi, if you're interested, you might want to try it."
Liang Sanshui looked around, leaned over the counter, lowered his voice, and approached him:
"Mihun Bay is dangerous; if you ask me, you'd better save some money and buy it from Wang Laizi.
Old Yu from Huangsha Creek recently fell in there, and neither his body nor his soul have been seen...
They say a fisherman's life is cheap, but we must take care of ourselves.
You're so young, you should all the more so."
For this well-intentioned advice, Bai Qi respectfully accepted with a bow.
He then paid a hundred cents, which was the rental fee for the fishing net.
A fairly good cast net costs twenty cents a day.
If it's the silk nets that Wang Laizi used, it's estimated not to be less than thirty cents.
If using larger equipment like junk boats or awning boats, it could be even more expensive.
Many fishermen on the Black Water River, because they rent these tools without a rich catch,
ultimately have to resort to writing indentures to enter the Fishery as free labor, with debts of tens to hundreds of cents multiplying with interest.
"Brother Shui, I'm off."
Bai Qi left the East Market Shop with rented fishing nets and fish cages.
Following Liang Sanshui's guidance, he specifically bought a copy of 'The Fish Record' from the Bookstore, so as not to fail to recognize treasure fish in the future.
Seeing the thin ten or so pages in his hand selling for twenty cents,
truly made Bai Qi understand the invaluable nature of knowledge in these times.