Not enemies no meeting!

The two who had a falling out locked eyes, sparks seemingly flying!

Seeing Yang Meng display an exceedingly refined force technique, Liang Laoshu remained unmoved.

He kept both hands in his sleeves, responding with an indifferent expression:

"You’re so capable at fighting, why not kill all the demon fish in the Black Water River? Consider it a good deed, accumulating virtue and benevolence, maybe bringing some blessings to your descendants.

Oh, I forgot, at your age, you might not have any!"

Yang Meng’s face was dry like tree bark, and as he rubbed his calloused palms together, grain-sized bits turned to powder:

"Be careful not to laugh yourself into misery, Liang Laoshu!

Your son was promoted to steward because of twenty ghost pattern fish, I can let that go.

Today’s visit is just to ask one question, where did they come from?"

Liang Laoshu rubbed his gums, his tone faint:

"None of your business! Ghost pattern fish raised in the Black Water River, as if only Yangquan can get them? Do you really think you’re the Dragon King!"

Veins bulged on Yang Meng’s forehead, and he suddenly stood, like a fierce creature springing from the mountains, emitting an aura of aggression.

A few porters resting in the tea stall scrambled away like startled beasts.

"Who’s scared? Ten years ago, if we met in the ring, who lives, who dies is uncertain!

Yang Meng, if you have any guts, smash the shop, I’m eager to see if a man your age can withstand the fishery’s family rules!"

Liang Laoshu’s face tightened, his voice like muffled thunder exploding before him, shaking cups and plates on the table.

"Hiss!"

Sitting behind, Bai Qi’s ears buzzed, pondering how these two, collectively over a hundred years old, at the brink of declining age.

Yet able to maintain a steady aura, like a grand bell, truly incredible!

"Blood like mercury, silver marrow like frost, second martial Dao major success, indeed extraordinary!

Feels like they could punch several of me to death?"

Bai Qi raised his brows, calmly sitting without showing himself.

This old Yang Meng, putting his son’s untimely death on my head?

Unable to deal with demon fish himself, looking to vent on me?

"All this because of a steward position, twenty ghost pattern fish allowed you to offer upwards, vacancy given to you, nothing to say."

A solid body stepped out of the grass shelter, Yang Meng wearing coarse white hemp clothing, like a descending fierce tiger:

"But my son cannot die in vain, someone must accompany him!

Waiting for Steward Lei to kill that demon fish, after seven days of mourning!

Then I’ll come asking again, see if you can stop me!"

Liang Laoshu smirked, his words showing unrestrained bitterness:

"I advise you to go back early, quickly find a matchmaker to propose marriage, marry a few more wives.

While your body is still capable, have a few more kids.

Otherwise, if the Yang family ends, what face will you have to see your ancestors in the afterlife?"

These words were sly and venomous, making Yang Meng angrily widen his eyes.

His five fingers clenched into a fist, and with a swing, the coarse, thick hardwood the size of a bowl was snapped with a "crack."

The tea stall lost a supporting corner, nearly collapsing on passersby inside.

"Sanshui, take a string of coins to compensate the tea stall owner.

Some people are used to domineering, we must be more considerate."

Liang Laoshu continued with sarcasm.

Years ago, he failed competing against Yang Meng for commander of the guards.

Their deep-set grudges had reached a point where not even superficial harmony could be maintained.

"His son died, yet he comes to give Old Liang a hard time!"

"Yang Meng likely wouldn’t dare go too far, the fishery’s family rules are there!"

"Thanks to that demon fish, aside from causing trouble for our East Market..."

Once Yang Meng left, the East Market Shop finally became lively again.

The workers eating their communal meal, laborers, fishermen all began discussing.

"Don’t worry, Ah Qi, although Black River County is hard to reason with, it must follow rules.

Yang Meng is fierce, but he can’t break laws, his antics won’t last long."

Liang Laoshu turned around and pulled over a long bench to sit, offering comforting words.

"I know, Elder Liang."

Bai Qi nodded, signaling he wasn’t intimidated by Yang Meng’s aggressive demeanor.

Black River County with its fishery, Chai Market, and kilns, indeed exploits over ten thousand households in the mountain paths and waters, yet also establishes a kind of stable order.

Like Yangquan, who has practiced martial arts, leveraging the fishery identity to become a boss of East Market, oppressing fishermen.

To put it bluntly, those in power can oppress and exploit the weak, plundering for riches, but not openly.

Everything must have a socially accepted "pretext"!"

Therefore, the "rules" were set.

To allow those in power to "legitimately" exploit the weak.

If the order in Black River County deteriorated to the point where Yang Meng could kill people in the street or wipe out entire families in the night without anyone questioning it, it would have long sparked a rebellion.

The swordsmen on the mountain paths and the water bandits in the reed marshes would be at least several times more than they are now.

Wait until some renowned hero raises a call to arms.

Sufficient to lead the masses to rise up, overturn the Fishery, Chai Market, and Kiln, these three major establishments.

"The Second Training Great Success is nothing impressive. It’s not at the level of the Fourth Training, still unable to escape the fear of youthful vitality with age and frail bodies.

He’s just like me, strong on the outside but weak within."

Liang Laoshu sipped his tea, calmly instructing:

"Sanshui, find a few reliable fellows, and whether there’s something to do or not, let them wander around, keeping an eye on Yang Meng’s place from outside, lest the old fool becomes overly greedy.

Additionally, register Bai’s Fish Stall and transfer the deeds of the outer city’s house over to Ah Qi.

With assets and businesses, then they’re not slave households anymore; they can change to ’merchant household’."

Old Liang is truly a seasoned man, thinking of everything thoroughly, piece by piece.

With houses and land, they are farmers; with assets and businesses, they become merchants.

If they have exceptional skills, like forging weapons, building houses, or even joining the army.

As long as it’s passed down for three generations, they can be classified as craftsmen.

"Alright, father, the Fishery has been taken care of; Ah Qi only became a fisherman due to family decline.

He didn’t sign a contract of indenture, not a slave household, just lost their land, engaging in a base trade as a humble household.

Changing it back is quite simple."

Liang Sanshui spoke with ease.

Getting rid of the status of a humble household is not difficult, yet it is not easy either.

What is a humble household?

Those engaged in base trades!

Aside from prostitutes and courtesans making a living through their bodies, there are also musicians who sell their art, convicts exiled as fallen people, and the like.

According to the Dragon Court’s regulations, they are never allowed to leave their native place, nor do they have the qualifications to enter the city, unable to purchase land and property.

Even their marital arrangements are restricted, virtually shackled in every aspect.

Fishermen fare slightly better, at least they can change their household registration.

Much unlike the convicts, descendants of criminal officials, musicians, and prostitutes.

They don’t even have this sort of opportunity.

Thus, the most vicious curse among the idle men in the county is "to have a son born as a humble household, the males be slaves for generations, the females prostitutes for all time."

"I thank Elder Liang."

Bai Qi clasped his hands respectfully, while his brother Bai Ming followed suit.

This is one of the reasons he repeatedly offered precious fish, proactively seeking to form connections with the Liang father and son.

Although seemingly insignificant, the difficulties faced by a fisherman of humble status are in fact numerous and not easy to overcome.

Despite Liang Sanshui’s lighthearted comments, if it were him, there would be significant challenges.

Without the approval of the East Market Shop, how could the fish stall operate?

Additionally, humble households cannot purchase real estate; to buy houses in the Inner and Outer Cities, one must find a "brokerage" to vouch.

Lastly, when it comes to changing registry and household status, smoothing out relationships within the Fishery is essential.

Otherwise, a delay of three to five years might ensue, with excuses of lost humble household registries needing re-registration, causing several trips back and forth, wasting effort in vain... there are real-life examples of this.

"Identity is like the clothes one wears.

A fisherman in short pants and a lantern coat struggles to gain respect anywhere they go.

Wearing a long robe and cloth gown offers a chance for advancement."

Thought Bai Qi.

The title of humble household is a tangible shackle, firmly fastened onto one’s body.

Now freed of it, one can finally relax.

He still remembers how in his previous life he frequently read biographies.

They recounted how top figures started from nothing and created great success.

Most of these accounts emphasized self-discipline and hard work.

Yet deliberately glossed over the significance of background and the crucial support from influential figures.

Without the latter two, those so-called great figures would merely be unknown small fry.

Even if pearls were buried in the sand, they would remain unrecognized and unpolished.

They would likewise be doomed to remain buried in the mud forever!

"There’s no need to be so formal; I treat you as my own son or nephew. Doing some small favors within my ability is only right.

Besides, Sanshui’s vacancy as steward owes at least ninety percent to you; you deserve it!"

Liang Laoshu was a decisive and straightforward person who disliked procrastination:

"Go quickly and return soon; tomorrow morning, I’ll take you into the Inner City to see the martial arts scenes of Black River County."