Dockside Fishery Market, Visitors from Big Fishing Village

Dockside Fishery Market, Visitors from Big Fishing Village

Dockside Fishery Market, Visitors from Big Fishing Village

The days passed quickly, and silver vanished just as fast. The path of martial arts required vast sums of money at every turn; food supplements alone, merely a small part of it all, had already given Lin Mo a pounding headache.

It had only been half a month since he stepped into the first stage of martial training. Relying on the increased vitality and blood granted by his improved fate, he had barely broken through to Minor Accomplishment in Skin Refining. Meanwhile, the seven or eight taels of silver he had left were already nearly exhausted.

"Now that I'm a martial artist, I can't keep messing around with those three-legged-cat skills. I still need to find work and earn money."

After turning it over and over in his mind, Lin Mo still felt that, like the other martial artists at Changhe Martial Arts School, finding a nominal post was the most reliable option. Only, with his current cultivation, his choices were extremely limited.

After asking Xu Changfeng about it, he roughly learned of the following nominal posts.

'County Yamen constable, two thousand Large Coins a month. Main duties: apprehending criminals and maintaining order during court sessions...'

'Head guard of the Wang Family, two thousand Large Coins a month. Mainly leads a group of guards and ensures the safety of the Wang Family residence...'

'Dockside Fishery Market steward, one thousand five hundred Large Coins a month. Mainly responsible for managing the Dockside Fishery Market...'

Minor Accomplishment in Skin Refining was certainly not considered high among first-stage martial artists, yet the positions Xu Changfeng recommended were all excellent.

The base salary alone surpassed what an ordinary fishing family could earn through day-and-night toil in a month, which was at most eight hundred Large Coins.

Not to mention that the first two came with so-called gray income. Constables and head guards held a certain degree of status; other people's tributes and "convenience fees" were the real lion's share.

"Unfortunately, everyone at Changhe Martial Arts School and beyond has their eyes on those two jobs. Without the strength of first-stage major accomplishment or completion, how could anyone be chosen..."

Lin Mo calculated silently. After thinking it over from every angle, he could only choose the last position. "As a Dockside Fishery Market steward, I'd mostly just deal with fishing households, Kudali, and farmers. At critical moments, I could lend a hand, and I could also gain some luck."

All in all, the job was fairly easy. Most of the time, he only needed to be busy for a while when the catch was traded at dawn; the rest of the time was relatively free.

Though there was no hidden income, the salary was stable.

The position was fairly sought-after, but the Dockside Fishery Market had shares belonging to Zhao Family Grain Store and the Li Family. Master Yang happened to be well acquainted with the Li Family, so Lin Mo, as a registered disciple, could benefit from that connection.

Now that he had made his choice, Xu Changfeng handed him a letter. "Settle this job with the Li Family Head Steward today. He'll arrange things properly."

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Lin Mo accepted the letter and headed toward the Dockside Fishery Market. Reaching the morning market by the shore, he wound through several turns until he came beneath a shack.

A canopy was propped up overhead, while a table holding tea sat below. Though the place was somewhat noisy, an elderly man in fine clothes with a figure-eight mustache could still be seen resting there.

The Li Family Head Steward looked him over, and a conclusion formed in his heart. "You're here for a nominal post?"

"That's right. My master is Yang Yun. Here is the letter."

Lin Mo presented it with both hands. After the Li Family Head Steward read its contents, his expression softened considerably. "Since you're Master Yang's disciple, I can rest easy. Go collect a set of clothes today, then report for duty tomorrow morning."

"The daily work isn't complicated. You'll mainly deal with fishermen. If you encounter petty thieves, brawlers, or suspicious-looking people, keep your eyes open and call the County Yamen people over. Don't foolishly try to show off your strength yourself..."

"Of course, if important figures come down from merchant ships, be sure to say a few flattering words. Don't just stand there like an idiot... There's silver to be made from that too!"

The Li Family Head Steward raised his eyes and stared directly at him, his gaze carrying a trace of complicated thoughts. "Whatever you do, don't stir up trouble. Even if you're Master Yang's disciple, some matters are still difficult to handle..."

Lin Mo cupped his fists in salute and replied solemnly, "Thank you for the reminder, Head Steward. Lin Mo will remember it well."

"Father, why did we come all the way to the county to sell? Those masters only know how to squeeze people dry."

"You little brat, what do you know? Fish market taxes have been heavy lately. How could we sell there?"

Outside Changhe County, an old man and a young man, carrying bamboo baskets on their backs and wooden buckets in their hands, waded down a muddy dirt road and passed through the county gates.

It was the morning market, and vendors of every kind came and went. The clamor of voices surged like a boiling tide.

Looking at the lively scene within the county, Lin Hai was somewhat moved as well.

But the bamboo basket on his back weighed heavily, and the wooden bucket in his hand held live fish. It was hardly an easy journey, and Lin Hai still had some complaints.

"Father, we might as well work as servants for the Li Family. I've already asked around—the pay is a full seven or eight hundred Large Coins a month."

Lin Changshun looked at the immature child beside him and sighed. "That's work where you sell yourself. You'd never be able to turn your life around. Have you forgotten how you nearly lost your life some time ago? What do you know? You don't know shit!"

Seeing his father lose his temper, Lin Hai had no choice but to drop it and change the subject. "Father, can we have some fun in the county this time?"

"Sure. After we sell this batch of goods, we can go see your Brother Lin Mo. He hasn't gone back for half a month..."

The two continued toward the docks. From far away, they could already see vendors from surrounding towns and counties trading by the waterfront, with large baskets and small hampers spread everywhere.

"Just put it here. The total comes to two coins and ninety-eight cash; I'll round it up to three coins."

"Thank you, Steward Lin! Thank you, Steward Lin..."

The hunched old man thanked him repeatedly, tears welling in his eyes. Ever since a junior steward who understood human feelings had arrived here, the labor market docks had become truly bustling.

"You're too polite, Elder. Just call me Lin Mo."

Lin Mo helped the old man up, looking rather helpless. "I'm only a poor man working for the Li Family too. We're all neighbors from the same countryside—if I can help a little more, then I'll help a little more!"

For the time being, he could not bear the title of junior steward. Yet the elderly people selling sundries, vegetables, fruit, and melons before him, along with the local folk nearby, all trusted him greatly.

Thus, they called him Steward Lin. In the eyes of these villagers, that was already a towering figure beyond the heavens.

"Steward Lin, look at mine! It's all fresh stock!"

"All right, no rush. Everyone, take your time." Lin Mo answered with a smile.

[Accumulating virtue and doing good, luck gathers +1]

[Luck: 9]

Lin Changshun and his son hurried toward the docks. Along the way, Uncle Changshun repeatedly instructed his son,

"Huzi, remember this. When we meet him later, you must wish the steward good health and good fortune!"

"Got it, got it..." Lin Hai answered carelessly. Looking at the bustling scene at the docks from afar, he seemed to catch sight of a familiar figure in a daze.

He tugged at Lin Changshun. "Father, look at that person... Doesn't he look like Brother Lin Mo?"

"Lin Mo is here too? As long as nothing happened to him..." Lin Changshun looked eagerly, searching left and right, but he could not find that familiar figure from his memories. "Where? You little brat, don't fool me."

"That one... that one... the one taking in goods." Lin Hai pointed excitedly, but when he saw the figure dressed in fine clothes, Lin Changshun's expression abruptly changed. He kicked Lin Hai. "What nonsense are you saying? That's a steward! Do you know what a steward is?"

"Don't shout nonsense!" Lin Changshun stressed. Poor commoners like them did not dare offend a steward.

"But..." Lin Hai rubbed his backside, looking somewhat aggrieved.

When Lin Changshun looked again, he sighed inwardly.

He really looked so much like him... Those facial features were truly alike...

From afar, they watched that figure clad in a gray Round-collar martial uniform patterned with clouds, its cuffs densely embroidered with wave designs. His brows brimmed with sharp vigor.

Anyone who saw him would praise him as handsome!

The features were familiar, yet that bearing, those clothes...

Could he really be the nephew of a fisherman?

Had he mistaken him for someone else?

He had not seen Lin Mo for some time, and he was even beginning to have hallucinations...

Perhaps he was simply worried about him.

"Brother Lin Mo, that steward really is Brother Lin Mo!"