The first autumn market was particularly lively.

Many vendors set up stalls, divided into various kinds.

Craftsmen mostly sold rakes, brooms, and bamboo baskets.

Traders led cattle, donkeys, mules and other large livestock, waiting leisurely to open for business.

These practical goods good for plowing, grinding, working, and as transport had no worry about sales, people naturally came to inquire prices.

Bai Qi continued walking and saw many woodcutters and hunters shouting and hustling.

They put up signs on wild beehives, dry firewood, and mountain mushrooms to indicate they were for sale.

"In our rural area, it ultimately doesn’t get very prosperous."

What Bai Qi imagined about rouge, silk fabric, and food vendors was entirely absent.

The market outside the Black River County mostly focused on cheap and practical goods.

The interesting pieces that rich households bought had to be found in shops in the Inner City.

The only thing that met his expectations was—

"Candied haws! Five coins a skewer!"

Gulp, gulp.

The candied hawker approached, and Bai Qi simultaneously heard the sound of two people swallowing.

It came from Ah Di Bai Ming and Xiaotou, both of whom were staring intently at the bright red sugared fruits on the straw stack.

"You’ve just had breakfast and you’re craving again, aren’t you?"

Bai Qi pretended to be unwilling, but still took out ten coins and bought two skewers from the vendor.

He handed them to Bai Ming and Xiaotou, deliberately muttering:

"This stuff can sell for five coins... altogether five pieces, one coin each, more expensive than meat buns!"

The so-called candied haws were hawthorn strung on a long bamboo stick, coated with a layer of sugar.

Crisp and sweet with a bit of sourness, it was quite a tasty snack.

"Aren’t you going to eat, Brother?"

Seeing Bai Qi hadn’t bought any for himself, Bai Ming held the candied haws without biting.

"Too sour, I don’t like it."

Bai Qi shook his head, stating the truth.

For five coins’ worth, one couldn’t expect much rock sugar for the syrup coating.

"In the past, candied haw contained yam, oranges, red bean paste, melon seeds, sesame fillings... done like those, they’d probably sell for twenty coins a skewer."

Bai Ming raised the candied haws and insisted:

"Brother, eat one, it’s sweet, not sour."

Bai Qi had no choice, bent down, bit one, and chewed lightly.

The slightly sour hawthorn mixed with syrup surprisingly had some flavor.

Not as bad as he’d thought.

"Let’s continue browsing!"

Bai Qi held Ah Di’s small hand, beckoned Xiaotou, who was licking happily, and squeezed into the bustling crowd.

Only when you don’t worry about food and clothing can you truly experience the fireworks of the world.

Three of them wandered until past 7:00 AM, waiting for the market to near its end, carrying big and small packages in their hands.

"I must say, Ah Qi, just picking the fabric is enough, no need to find a tailor shop; my mother’s quite skilled, making a couple of cotton outfits is easy enough."

Xiaotou didn’t quite grasp it. For fishermen at the Black Water River, sewing was something their own wives did, no need to spend unnecessary money.

"Aunt Zhou goes out to sea with your father every day, still cooks and does laundry, and our oil lamps are smoky and hurt the eyes; it’s really not polite to trouble her more."

Bai Qi carried various oiled paper-wrapped bags, quite satisfied with his shopping.

He cut two pieces of flower cake for Ah Di to enjoy.

Also, he specifically bought decent medium-tier pen, ink, paper, and inkstone as promised.

Two ready-made new outfits and a reed cotton jacket to wear at home.

The latter was made by stripping the stems of reeds, soaking and sun-drying them, then hand-spinning into thread and stitching, stuffed with chicken, duck, geese feathers, etc.

The plus side was being cheap and light; the downside was it wasn’t as warm as silk and cotton.

Since it wasn’t yet late autumn, Bai Qi planned to make do for now.

Coming back in a few days to the tailor shop for the sturdy winter coats.

As for the charcoal and dried wood, he had already arranged with familiar villagers.

They would deliver to the doorstep tomorrow, saving him from carrying the heavy load.

All these totaled quite an expense.

It instantly lightened Bai Qi’s purse significantly, leaving him to lament, copper coins vanish quickly, still need to earn more silver!

...

...

They wandered until 7:00 AM, then headed back to the East Market Shop.

Liang Laoshu was unreserved indeed, setting up fifteen or sixteen tables for a banquet, treating the dock workers to a hearty meal.

Though not sumptuous, the seven or eight large pots held boiled greens, fish, shrimp, crabs, etc.

Among them was a big bowl of glossy braised pork, each person could get a ladle, and wheat bread was unlimited.

For this, it was equivalent to a New Year’s treatment!

After all, for laborers, getting some meat and fat was no easy feat!

"Ah Qi! We should also..."

Xiaotou, seeing that tempting bowl of fatty meat, momentarily couldn’t move.

"We’ll have something better, come on, let’s go inside."

Bai Qi strode into the East Market Shop, where Liang Sanshui was dressed smartly, with a green long robe and thick-soled cloth shoes.

He had shaved his stubble and tidied his appearance, looking somewhat managerial and in charge.

"Ah Qi, I saw your sampan anchored at the dock early this morning. Knowing today’s market would be bustling, I didn’t call you over."

Liang Sanshui spoke with vigor, his back straight as a rod.

It seems that his promotion to Steward has brought quite a bit of excitement.

"Is this your younger brother, Ah Ming? Come here, I just bought some flower cakes, take them and eat."

Bai Ming looked up at his older brother, and after receiving Bai Qi’s nod, he accepted them:

"Thank you, Steward Liang!"

Liang Sanshui waved his hand repeatedly:

"Just call me Brother Shui, let’s all keep it friendly!

I remember you, the youngest son of Changshun’s Family, Xiaotou?

It’s said that your father transferred the boat to Ah Qi’s name, and from now on, he’ll be exempt from the stall’s fees, letting him work with peace of mind."

Xiaotou’s eyes widened instantly, feeling like he was dreaming.

All fishermen of Black Water River, as long as they pass the fishery, have to give up about thirty percent.

It might not sound like much, but a closer look reveals that experienced old fishermen who go out to the river, earn about fifty to sixty cents a day on average.

Even without rest all year round, working diligently, they barely make over twenty taels in income.

Taking thirty percent like cutting meat with a dull knife is no small amount for poor families engaged in such lowly work.

"Exempted?"

Xiaotou hesitated, as if he couldn’t believe it.

Since when did Ah Qi have such influence?

Could it be that he truly acknowledged Old Liang as his godfather?

"Why not thank Brother Sanshui!"

Bai Qi wasn’t particularly surprised; under the fishery, the businesses in every shop were at the discretion of the Steward, holding significant power.

As long as the silver coins were paid promptly and in exact amounts monthly and yearly.

And the owners seldom ask about other matters.

With Liang Sanshui supporting him, at the docks of the whole East Market, he could indeed walk as he pleased.

Once the news spread that Bai Qi’s fish stall joined in and was exempt from stall fees,

it’s estimated many fishermen would willingly come seeking him.

"Thank you, Steward Liang!"

Xiaotou bowed respectfully.

He was not like Ah Qi, who could casually call "Brother Shui."

"After this, there’s no need to recruit too many people, have Uncle Changshun pick some reliable, honest ones."

Once everything is ready, Bai’s Fish Stall can open."

Bai Qi pondered for a moment but then asked, "Brother Shui, how did I hear that Yangquan is dead?"

Upon mentioning this, Liang Sanshui’s face grew even more joyful:

"It’s unclear what happened; all we know is that he died in Mihun Bay, leaving behind an arm and half a leg, which his father collected to bring to the spirit hall.

Along with the rascals who usually hung around with him, as well as Wang Laizi... I suspect, it ran into the Demon Fish that took Chen the Lame."

Demon Fish?

Could they be so unlucky?

"I go out to Black Water River daily and haven’t encountered it..."

Bai Qi blinked, feeling somewhat relieved about Yangquan’s sudden death.

Initially, it was assumed that he wouldn’t give up easily after losing the Steward spot, possibly seeking confrontation.

Didn’t expect it to end so easily.

"That Demon Fish... did well!"

Xiaotou clapped his hands and shouted, feeling a great sense of relief.

He hadn’t forgotten that his father was beaten by Wang Laizi because of the Ghost Pattern Fish, all starting with Yangquan’s extortion.

Now with the two nuisances gone, if he had any money, he would have surely celebrated with fireworks!

"Ah Qi, these days, don’t go out to the river; better safe than sorry.

After the fishery invites Steward Lei to exterminate that demon fish, you can go fishing."

Liang Sanshui instructed.

Steward Lei?

The first among mighty eagles and tigers?

Bai Qi mentally noted this, chatted with Liang Sanshui for a while, and then sat at the table by the front door, waiting for the dishes to arrive.

Old Liang had ordered meals from Donglai Tower today!

It probably cost several dozen taels of silver; he must eat enough to get his money’s worth!

With this thought, he suddenly felt a slight chill across his skin, as if a cold wind was passing through.

Turning to the side, he saw an old man in a long gown, draped in mourning garments not far away in the tea shed.

Medium height, solid build, nothing peculiar.

But those eyes were exceptionally bright, like a spark of electricity striking, startling Bai Qi with inexplicable unease.

It felt like he was standing at the edge of a steep cliff, ready to shatter at any moment!

"That person..."

"What are you looking at?"

Liang Laoshu appeared suddenly, blocking Bai Qi’s view of that frightening gaze.

"Your son is dead, shouldn’t you be mourning at the spirit hall, why come to me?

Hoping for free food, huh? Come, there’s fish and meat, eat to your heart’s content!"

The old man in mourning showed no expression but lightly squeezed the teacup in his hand, instantly crushing it into rice-sized fragments.

The force was terrifyingly soft, without a single cracking sound, only a dense, rustling noise.

"Liang Laoshu, after all these years, your martial arts haven’t improved, but your tongue has become quite sharp."