Chapter 3, The Rules of the Fish Stall Owner (1)

For instance, to sever someone's limbs, to smash someone's head, to stuff someone into a sack and throw them into the White Python River. Ten strands of garlic gold are enough to make a hundred or eighty brave men weak at the knees, bowing and calling you "Master"!

The short and stout old man cast a sidelong glance at the four burly men, leisurely clasped his hands behind his back, and chuckled as he shook his head: "I am Ling Fu, the second steward of the Ling family, specifically responsible for serving the young masters and young ladies of the Ling family. Young Master Ling Yue is undoubtedly the most promising figure of our generation in the Ling family; if he requests ten gold-scaled giant carp, it is certainly a necessity."

Exactly ten strips of garlic, one hundred taels of gold

"Sending off guests, we shall not engage in this transaction!" Sitting steadily in the armchair, Chu Tian lifted the teacup and took a sip, his expression calm and unhurried, reminiscent of the officials in Biaozhou City serving tea to send off their guests

"Hey, hey, go away. Da Hei Zi, with this strength to risk your life at Tiger Tooth Cliff, you might as well go home and hug your wife!" Chu Tian pointed at the big man in the black tower and called out twice, then looked over at Ling Fu: "Second steward, do you know..."

Yaozhou is a remote and desolate area, thus gold is extremely precious. A small piece cut from a gold bar is sufficient to find ten or eight good men in the streets of Yaozhou City to assist you in some clandestine and unsavory dealings

The fish market dock is quiet, with no one making a sound

The Military Governor of Yaozhou, serving as the military affairs assistant of Yaozhou, has the authority to mobilize the local troops. Although his rank is not high, he is indeed a legitimate figure of real power

The short and stout old man immediately demanded ten gold-scaled carp, each measuring one zhang in length, hey

Ah, is there no man left in this Biao Prefecture? The big carp of the Baima River, renowned for its catch, has not been seen for three years. With so many gentlemen and young masters in Biao Prefecture, is there not one who can break this fellow's head?

Both the fishmongers and the fishermen have their own accounts in mind. Compared to the previous fish stall head three years ago, Chutian is like a living Buddha to many families. Since he took over the Baima River fish market, both the fishmongers and the fishermen have seen significant improvements in their livelihoods, and life is getting better day by day

With a hearty slap on his chest, the sturdy fisherman chuckled and said, "I will take a group of brothers with me; at most, it will take a day and a night, and we will surely catch enough big carp to bring back. The golden-scaled ones are rare, but this White Python River is abundant with them."

If Chu Tian were truly enraged, the lord mentioned by Ling Fu could easily mobilize a contingent of local soldiers to quell the fish market at Bai Mang River, eliminating Chu Tian, the head of the fish stall, along with all his forces.

The fish teeth around and the faces of the fishermen all looked grim, each one anxiously watching Chu Tian

Ling Fuyuan's round face was full of smiles, and he said gently: "No, I am using the Ling family to pressure you! Chu Dangtou, you are merely a fishmonger, a lowly creature akin to pigs and dogs. My Ling family, however, is the closest kin of the Chu family in Biao Prefecture, and my family’s master is the military officer of Biao Prefecture City."

Especially for the various trades and businesses mingling in the streets of Chutian, the deterrent power of a military officer is even greater than that of a governor

The Chu family behind the Ling family is even more formidable and cannot be provoked

As he walked, Ling Fu muttered curses under his breath: "Despicable creatures, no better than pigs and dogs, do they really think so highly of themselves?"

I, Ling Fu, am not a person of noble status, but if I, Ling Fu, am unhappy, then there will be those who cannot continue to be happy

The fish around shrank back, not daring to make a sound, while the fishermen held their breath, fearing that even a rough breath might disturb Chu Tian and Ling Fu

With three cold laughs, Ling Fu walked with his hands behind his back, head held high, parting the crowd with two young attendants of delicate features following him

Standing on the outskirts of the crowd, the fishermen who had already sold all their catches for the day were making grimaces with bared teeth, displaying the unique shrewdness and cunning of the common folk, secretly laughing and squinting at the short, stout old man

Chutian tilted her head, the pink embroidered ball flower on her hairpin swaying gently, squinting her eyes as she looked at the ten garlic stalks glimmering in the light

Since three years ago, when Chutian overthrew the original fish stall owner and took over the entrance of the Baima River, the fishermen of Baima River have not caught even a single carp scale. The dignitaries and nobles of Yanzhou City have not tasted the flavor of carp for three years now

With a series of sharp sounds, Ling Fu took out seven gold bars shaped like garlic cloves, and one by one, he placed them heavily on the tea table. A total of ten gold bars were neatly arranged in a row, their high purity causing them to emit a dazzling brilliance under the sunlight, resembling ten glowing coals.

With a cold smile, Ling Fu said in a chilling voice: "If there isn't any, Young Master Ling Yue will be unhappy. When he is unhappy, our master, the lady, as well as the old master and the old lady, will also be unhappy. Naturally, I, Ling Fu, will have no way to be happy either"

"Rascals, truly rascals, must be properly dealt with. It is best to obediently deliver the big carp that the young master desires, otherwise, I will surely smash your head and break your two dog legs. Hmph, just a mere fishmonger, bah!"

In Gaizhou, this is indeed a substantial sum of money, which Chu Tian took over from the newly appointed fish stall head. That three-entry residence is likely worth less than a single strand of garlic gold

The four burly men standing behind Chu Tian stepped forward in unison, their staffs striking heavily against the ground. The ironwood staffs collided with the stone slabs laid on the ground, producing a dull sound

The large carp from Baima River is indeed a prized catch. However, over the past three years, how many guests from Biaozhou City have come with their shiny silver and golden treasures, seeking connections and finding ways, searching for countless fishmongers and fishermen, yet they have been unable to obtain a single large carp

If there is any mistake in Chutian, and we revert to the fish stall head from three years ago, everyone will have to subsist on chaff and vegetables, and drink the northwestern wind

"For a full three years, the Baimao River Fish Market has not seen a single carp!" Ling Fu smiled brightly, "Regardless of the mysteries involved, this time, my young master Ling Yue requires ten golden-scaled carps, each measuring one zhang in length, to be delivered by you, Chu Dangtou, personally to the front of Yaoshan Academy before noon in three days. If you miss my young master's interest, heh, heh, heh!"

"Ling Fu, the second steward, are you trying to pressure me with gold?"

The Ling family is not to be trifled with

The fishy-eyed ones each covered their mouths with their hands, exchanging furtive glances with one another.

With a shake of his hands, Ling Fu pulled out a strip of garlic gold from his sleeve and slapped it onto the tea table beside Chu Tian with a "bang"

A fisherman with dark skin, built like an iron tower, suddenly emerged from the crowd. He spoke in a deep, resonant voice: "Boss, there are excellent big carp in the White Python River. Right below the Tiger Tooth Cliff, in the eddies upstream, there are clusters of the fattest carp you can find"