To Be a Maidservant

Ten taels of silver?

Hong Ming froze in shock, surprise washing over him like a tide.

It wasn't that the other party's offer was too high. It was too low—so low it was downright outrageous!

Though the fish tide had brought prices down across the board, Treasure Fish still commanded a firm price.

The Red-Horned Pomfret was the cream of the crop. Even in its declining years, it could fetch at least twenty taels.

Yet the other party had slashed that price by more than half, all while putting on such a self-righteous show of generosity.

He was treating Hong Ming like a child, feeding him a mouthful of lies!

Huang Chun seemed to know what Hong Ming was thinking, so he added, "A Ming, miss this chance and you won't get another. If you agree, I, your instructor, will remember this favor!"

He gave the last sentence a pointed emphasis, as if he wanted to turn their swords into plowshares.

It was as though Hong Ming's agreement would wipe away every past grudge between them, leaving no trace.

Hong Ming didn't budge, but he didn't want to spook the other man, either. Instead, he stalled, pretending to be in a difficult position. "Instructor Huang, your price is certainly fine, but could you give me some time to think it over? You know the River Bureau's rules. I have to see Instructor Han first before I can decide."

"That's true." Huang Chun was quite understanding. He narrowed his eyes. "In that case, you'd better give it some serious thought."

The first half of Huang Chun's reply had been warm and kind, but Hong Ming heard the sugar-coated threat in the second half.

Putting on an air of abject fear, Hong Ming replied, "Rest assured, Instructor Huang. This subordinate will remember."

Huang Chun nodded lightly, clasped his hands behind his back, and strode away, satisfied.

He had seen through Hong Ming's evasiveness, but didn't care in the least.

He did feel some resentment, but he wasn't the least bit angry.

There was simply no need!

If all went as expected, Hong Ming would soon be assigned under Huang Zhang. By then, he would be a catfish on a chopping board, there for Huang Chun to carve up as he pleased.

Chai Fish Market, Fishery Market.

Chen Yao and Wen Xin walked out slowly.

Unlike the roadside vendors, who were brimming with joy over their full loads, the two wore gloomy expressions.

"Chen Yao, there aren't any Treasure Fish at Chai Fish Market. Why don't we check the other markets?"

Wen Xin tried to come up with a solution and made the suggestion.

"We've already checked the places worth checking. Even if there are Treasure Fish in the markets we haven't visited, they won't be left for us." Chen Yao shook her head with a sigh.

She wasn't wrong. Many Treasure Fish had already been reserved by the major powers before they were even caught.

The rare few that slipped through the net and reached the market were quickly snapped up at high prices by others who had been waiting.

They'd visited quite a few markets and hadn't arrived late, but luck wasn't on their side. They'd come away empty-handed all the same.

"Then how many Treasure Fish does your family still need?" Wen Xin asked curiously after a moment's silence.

She knew the Chen Family's business had been struggling lately and urgently needed Treasure Fish to keep it afloat.

"Originally, we were short by two, but we can just about make up for one with a semi-Treasure Fish. The other one, though, won't do."

"Only one left to go? Then there's still a good chance." Wen Xin's brows eased slightly.

Chen Yao didn't reply, her face still troubled.

What Wen Xin called "one left" had taken every bit of their effort to manage. Finding another wouldn't be easy.

Things had changed. In previous years, even if they were short by two Treasure Fish, they would still have had a chance of buying them, let alone just one.

But for some reason, the Treasure Fish catch had been poor this year. Her family's fish farm had caught only two.

That was nowhere near the five Treasure Fish they needed to deliver!

They'd planned to scrape together the rest during the fish tide. Who could have guessed that her family's fish farm wasn't the only one in trouble? The others were in much the same situation, all desperately short of Treasure Fish.

As a result, Treasure Fish were far scarcer on the market than in previous years. Often, people bought them all up before they even reached the market.

Her family had managed to buy one to make up the shortfall, but getting another would be incredibly difficult.

"Let's go back."

Unwilling to let her trouble affect Wen Xin, Chen Yao spoke softly.

"Go back?" Wen Xin paused. "Aren't you going to check the Naval Battalion?"

"The Naval Battalion?"

Chen Yao hadn't really considered it. Treasure Fish at the Naval Battalion rarely escaped the River Bureau's clutches.

Even if the River Bureau didn't buy them, plenty of Commanders and Squad Leaders would scramble for them. There was no chance the two of them would get any.

But now that Wen Xin had suggested it, and with their odds even worse elsewhere, Chen Yao hesitated briefly before deciding to go back and have a look.

As they approached the Military Town, news about the catch was everywhere along the road. Chen Yao asked around as they walked.

At the Naval Battalion, she did hear plenty of news about Treasure Fish, but every single one already had an owner.

Disappointment showed on Chen Yao's face, and her mood grew heavier.

Just then, Wen Xin called out as she returned from asking around, "Good news, Chen Yao! I heard that Hong Ming might have caught a Treasure Fish!"

"Hong Ming?" Chen Yao stared at her in surprise.

Wen Xin nodded emphatically.

Then, without giving Chen Yao a chance to respond, she urged, "Let's hurry and find him!"

The two hurried to Hong Ming's quarters.

He wasn't there when they arrived. After asking around, they learned he had gone out on an errand.

They didn't give up. Instead, they split up to look for him.

Wen Xin headed for the training ground, while Chen Yao went to the Archery Battalion. Unfortunately, she ran into Zhou Min on the way.

Chen Yao didn't want to get tangled up with her, so she ignored her.

But Zhou Min wouldn't let her pass. "You're going to find Hong Ming to buy his Treasure Fish, aren't you?"

"Hm?" Chen Yao paused.

Zhou Min's eyes flickered. Putting on a show of concern, she warned, "I'd advise you to give up now. Hong Ming has already sold me the Treasure Fish."

"Sold it to you?" Chen Yao's body trembled.

She stared at Zhou Min, her gaze sharp as a torch, as if trying to confirm whether it was true.

Noticing her look, Zhou Min declared confidently, "I offered far more than anyone else. Hong Ming needs money, so naturally he was happy to sell it to me!"

Chen Yao fell silent. Hong Ming had chosen the better offer; she couldn't fault him for that.

She could only regret that she'd arrived a little too late, letting Zhou Min beat her to it.

With a heavy sigh, she turned to go home and find another way.

Zhou Min didn't let her leave so easily. "Chen Yao, you can forget about getting Hong Ming's Treasure Fish, but you still have a chance at mine."

"What do you mean?" Chen Yao stopped abruptly and asked, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

From Zhou Min's tone, it sounded as if she was willing to sell her the Treasure Fish.

"I can resell it to you," Zhou Min replied.

"Really?"

Chen Yao was thrilled, but suspicion stirred in her heart. Would Zhou Min really be so kind?

Zhou Min's next words seemed to confirm her suspicion. She smoothed her hair and smiled. "Of course, there are conditions!"

"What conditions?" Chen Yao pressed at once.

Though she knew Zhou Min had an ulterior motive, at least there was hope now. She wasn't willing to give it up.

Seeing how anxious Chen Yao looked, Zhou Min's smile grew wider.

She knew full well that by now, she had Chen Yao more or less in the palm of her hand.

Without hesitation, she spoke slowly, laying out her terms in an encouraging tone. Her words rang out with finality, but left Chen Yao chilled to the bone. "The condition is easy enough for you: be my maidservant for half a month. During that time, you'll do as I say, bow your head and obey, and take whatever beating or scolding I give you. In return, I'll agree to sell you the Treasure Fish I got my hands on. How does that sound?"