Livelihood, Things Change

Chapter 10: Livelihood, Things Change, People Change

Chapter Ten: Livelihood, Things Change, People Change

Lin Changshun, being old and wise, had a keen eye. Just his martial arts attire alone was worth at least one to two hundred Large Coins.

Even though he was somewhat familiar with his nephew, a fisherman, he knew his nephew was just doing manual labor at the dock, not managing anything.

Hearing Lin Hai shout, Lin Changshun's old face flushed with anger, and he said in a low voice, tinged with long-held helplessness, "That's a manager, don't you understand..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lin Mo saw the two from afar. Seeing Lin Hai there too, he understood.

He figured that since the Calamity of Blood Light was resolved some time ago, his two younger cousins were at least out of danger.

"Uncle Changshun, Hai Zi!"

As Lin Mo called out enthusiastically, Lin Changshun was stunned. He thought he was seeing things or hearing things. He rubbed his eyes, and his eyes instantly welled up.

Lin Changshun led Lin Hai closer and they exchanged pleasantries.

"Mo'er, have you been eating well and staying warm these past few days?"

"Everything is fine, Uncle Changshun, please don't worry."

"You've done well, you've done well. That's good."

Seeing that his nephew was not worried about food or clothing, Lin Changshun was genuinely happy. He looked at the villagers lining up around them, his expression a little lost.

"Brother Mo, did you become a manager?" Lin Hai asked bluntly, his eyes wide.

"How could that be? I'm just helping out with the work..."

"Brother Mo, times have been tough lately... Recently, I don't know where a bunch of Water Ghosts have appeared, causing widespread panic." Lin Hai complained in a low voice. "Those big shots are just raising prices arbitrarily. Many managers of the fishing nets are taking advantage of the Water Ghost situation to impose heavy taxes."

"Oh, and they claim it's because they're taking risks to buy our catch... a full two and a half percent, plus other miscellaneous fees."

Upon hearing this, Lin Mo began to understand why the dock business had been getting better lately, and he couldn't help but click his tongue.

"These Water Ghosts are really causing trouble. Has anyone from Big Fishing Village been injured?" he asked.

"No, no, everyone's been lucky fishing and hasn't seen these ghosts."

"Brother Mo, can you talk to the managers? Buy at the normal price, with a one and a half percent tax..."

As soon as Lin Hai spoke, he was pulled back by his father, Lin Changshun, his face ashen.

"You brat, your Brother Mo finally got a job, and you're talking nonsense like this!"

Lin Changshun knew how powerful the county officials were. Seeing Lin Mo's expression change, he quickly advised, "Don't listen to this brat's nonsense. Just sell at the dock price. We don't do those kinds of things."

"It's alright, Uncle Changshun, leave it to me. The Dockside Fishery Market has a ten percent tax."

Lin Mo comforted Uncle Changshun, seeing his concerned look.

In this world, who doesn't exploit the lower class? Where does the profit come from? Naturally, it comes from these lowly farmers and fishermen.

However, since they were neighbors, he couldn't do such a scoundrel thing.

"We'll weigh them here."

Lin Mo took the bamboo baskets from the two without further ado and weighed the miscellaneous goods, mostly vegetables and herbs.

"Uncle Changshun, I'll buy these at the dock price, which comes to about thirty-five Wen."

"That's too much, too much..." Lin Changshun was surprised and quickly waved his hands. If he went elsewhere, thirty Wen would be considered good.

"That's the price. Let me look at your catch too." Lin Mo took a wooden bucket. "Mud catfish, eleven jin four liang... Grass carp... Black carp..."

"Uncle Changshun, the total is eighty-nine Wen, I'll round it up to ninety Wen for you!"

Not a penny short!

And ten extra Large Coins!

Lin Changshun felt a wave of relief. "Good, good, good. Thank you for your trouble."

He was still a little worried and asked, "Lin Mo, is it really okay to do this?"

Before Lin Mo could explain, someone else reassured him.

"Don't worry, Uncle. Little Manager Lin is kind!" Someone with sharp eyes smoothed things over.

"Little Manager Lin, look at my goods, they're all fresh."

"Uncle Changyuan, see?" Lin Mo took out a string of Large Coins, took off a few copper coins, counted them carefully, and handed them over. "The dock business is booming, and everyone from Big Fishing Village can rest assured and come sell here!"

He had heard about it recently. When he heard Lin Hai complaining earlier, he had already figured out the situation.

The fishing markets and nets were taking advantage of the situation where there was supply but no demand, and were arbitrarily increasing fishing taxes. And he, working for the Li Family Wharf Fishery Market, was doing good deeds for others while collecting Luck!

"Okay, I'll go back right now and tell Changyuan... no, I'll tell the whole Big Fishing Village to come sell at the dock!"

Lin Changshun, clutching the Large Coins, said with conviction and hurried back with Lin Hai.

Lin Mo watched their receding figures and thought to himself.

Big Fishing Village had quite a few people. This way, he might be able to gain more Luck points!

As the fishery market was about to close, Lin Mo packed up his things, preparing to return to the Stone Wall Courtyard to practice his skills. There was still some Blood Essence to harvest there.

However, as he surveyed the dock, he spotted several large ships approaching in the distance. As the manager, he naturally had to go and greet them.

"Brother Chen Qing, this escort mission went smoothly. How did you feel about eliminating those water bandits and Water Ghosts?"

"It was alright."

On the merchant ship's deck, two Martial Artists gazed at the dock scenery, chatting idly. One of them, dressed in a cloud-patterned brocade martial uniform, was Chen Qing.

Not long ago, Martial Master Wang had summoned him. In just over a month, he had broken through from the Skin Refining beginner stage to Great Accomplishment.

As the saying goes, "When one man attains the Way, even his chickens and dogs ascend to Heaven."

In just a month, he had gone from being a mere fishing village peasant to a now infinitely glorious Personal Disciple. Even his senior brother, also a disciple of Martial Master Wang and currently the head of the merchant guild's guards, looked up to him with respect.

Sun Daquan looked at his young junior brother with undisguised envy. Although he was at the Second Level of training, he was now eager to curry favor with him.

He had a relatively broad range of knowledge and naturally knew some inside information.

This junior brother before him possessed the superior martial bone of [Golden Bone Jade Tendon].

The Great Gan Dynasty had once compiled statistics on the geniuses and prodigies produced over thousands of years. Based on general public recognition and using root bone as the evaluation criteria, they had established three lists: Heaven, Earth, and Human.

These were referred to as the Heaven's Pivot, Earth's Vein, and Human Bone categories.

'Golden Bone Jade Tendon, Human Bone, ranked three hundred and fifteenth...'

According to a saying Martial Master Wang often repeated, a single Martial Master was enough to elevate Changhe County to a second-rate family, and also enough to obliterate any local gang.

And for Chen Qing, becoming a Martial Master was a certainty!

"Junior Brother, the ship has docked. Shall we go down and report our journey to Master?"

"That would be perfect."

Chen Qing nodded and slowly disembarked, walking right into Lin Mo, who had been waiting for some time. Upon a glance, he burst into laughter.

"Isn't this Brother Lin Mo? How have you been lately? It looks like you've also sensed Blood Essence? Not bad, not bad."

"So it's Brother Chen Qing."

Lin Mo didn't mind this kind of unprovoked, condescending tone. He looked at Chen Qing's face, recalling for a long time.

Finally, he found a trace in the corners of his memory. In the past, for the sake of Blood Essence, he had often helped poor youths who couldn't afford to eat. Chen Qing seemed to be one of them.