At 1:45 PM, the sun was slanting west.

Leaving Ah Di Bai Ming with big and small bags at the East Market Shop, Bai Qi went out with Liang Sanshui, heading to Red Slot Street located in the northern part of the outer city.

There, the Fishery has established a hall, and at the end of each month or year, every shop has to go there to make payments.

Black River County lacks a Government Office, and decisions are dominated by local bullies and rural gentry.

In the summer and autumn, or when conscripting laborers, the tax collector of Yihai Prefecture will be sent to the countryside.

Even this process is rarely overseen by the Government Office.

It’s said to be fully delegated to a colossal entity known as "Pai Bang".

"Gangs and offices govern a city together?

And then, above them, there are so-called Immortal Masters and Daoist Officials?

This Dragon Court is truly remarkable for its generosity in power distribution.

As a fisherman, changing clan books and households is not easy.

If one wishes to enter the top three ’registrations’, how challenging must it be?"

Bai Qi pondered quietly.

Aside from the six households, there are three registrations.

Namely Immortal, Official, Noble.

Corresponding to Immortal Masters, Daoist Officials, and noble clans.

To be fair, they truly represent the vast expanse of the Red County Divine Land, among the fourteen mansions under Dragon Court.

They can genuinely turn clouds with a hand and rain with the other, those great figures!

This rare knowledge, unheard of in teahouses and marketplaces, was shared by Old Liang during idle chatter.

This greatly broadened Bai Qi’s horizons and knowledge.

"Ah Qi, your younger brother seems quite smart, speaking and acting elegantly, like good material for studying.

I used to come out of the private school, and know a few decent instructors, can help with introductions."

Liang Sanshui walked ahead, initiating conversation.

"This is the benefit of a well-established relationship, with rewards flowing endlessly."

Bai Qi raised an eyebrow, smile congenial:

"It’s best if Brother Shui has connections, I was thinking of sending Ah Di to school next spring, learning some counting and accounting skills would be good."

Private schools in Black River County specialize in cultivating junior talents like accountants and clerical staff.

Literacy rates are not high in these times; being able to read and write is considered outstanding.

If one has decent aptitude, excelling in painting, seal carving, replicating calligraphy, and possessing some eloquence, one can easily be invited to be a strategist like a white-paper fan.

In groups like Fishery, Chai Market, and fire kilns, it’s not just about fighting; there’s a lot of business to discuss.

To defend the place, one relies on practitioners with tough fists and feet.

In business, however, it depends on the skills of maneuvering and interaction.

"That’s easy, just a matter of putting in a word."

Liang Sanshui readily agreed.

He owed Ah Qi such a big favor and always tried to find ways to repay it.

Otherwise, constantly thinking about it felt like a knot in his heart.

Fortunately, Ah Qi understood things, never refusing kindness to himself and his old father, quite willing to accept these good intentions.

"We’re here; the street ahead is Red Slot Street, known for its famous brewed wine."

Liang Sanshui raised his hand, pointing to the long street, low in terrain, with shops scattered and vendors passing by.

Perhaps due to porters coming daily to collect manure, it appeared somewhat livelier and cleaner than the shanty town Bai Qi had visited.

"I’ve heard people say that Huangsha Creek flows through here, and vendors set up slot rooms to draw water from the creek for wine brewing, making the business exceptionally prosperous, hence it’s called Red Slot Street.

Does Brother Shui know where the slot rooms are? I want to buy a few pounds of good wine to gift Uncle Changshun."

A slot room refers to an earthen house with a wine slot.

Wine brewing involves steaming grains, placing them in jars to ferment, and covering with thick cotton.

After ten days to a half month, subsequent steps follow.

Thus, slot room commonly refers to shops brewing and selling wine.

Liang Sanshui looked odd, slightly embarrassed:

"There are none anymore. Since that vendor was adept at brewing wine and had thriving business,

a certain steward from Fishery grew envious and wanted to take part.

Profitable businesses don’t easily let outsiders have a share, naturally difficult to agree upon.

The steward, shamed and angry, called on some idlers and ruffians to urinate and defecate in Huangsha Creek where slot rooms draw water, causing the stench to spread.

Then he claimed there’s water mixed in the wine, creating constant trouble without rest.

In less than two months, the slot room closed for good."

Bai Qi was slightly surprised, then wasn’t too astonished.

He had a general idea of the conduct of numerous stewards and even the owner of Fishery.

Among local bullies exploiting commoners, how much kindness can exist?

Someone like Liang Sanshui, honest and kind-hearted, is in the minority indeed.

"It didn’t end there; the steward had people create a trap, leading the wine vendor’s eldest to linger at gambling houses."

Liang Sanshui shook his head, sighed helplessly:

"At first, allowing him to win one or two taels daily, soon he was increasingly addicted, losing more and more.

Then the gambling house generously gave credit, and in half a month, it amassed over five hundred taels.

The wine vendor had no choice but to drain his family’s assets and offer the brewing secret recipe to save his eldest son’s limbs."

Truly venomous!

Bai Qi’s eyelids twitched; in his previous life, in the unorthodox line of work, there were people who specifically targeted the newly wealthy.

They proactively made connections, formed relationships, took them out to eat, drink, and play, ultimately making them squander their family fortunes.

It was all part of the same game.

However, he followed his master, mainly pursuing the "Great Master" route.

Fortune-telling, discussing feng shui, as well as consecrating objects, selling Buddhist amulets, Dao talismans, and crucifixes, focusing on integrating foreign and domestic practices.

They lived off the silver of the nobility and the patronage of socialites and courtesans.

They kept away from such morally bankrupt and self-destructive low-level business.

"Brother Shui, it’s not time to pay yet, why have you come?"

"Taking care of some matters."

"Long time no see, I’ve heard you’ve been promoted, you must treat us to a liquor feast!"

"We’ll make it happen."

Liang Sanshui had good relations; people greeted him as he passed by, but no one paid attention to Bai Qi.

Wearing his short lantern pants and fisherman’s attire, walking alongside the robe-wearing Steward Liang, it was only natural to be taken as an attendant.

"Ah Qi, don’t take it to heart. Once you get out of here, you’ll be a ’merchant’ with your own family and business, something these small vendors can only envy—a ’fishery owner’."

Liang Sanshui patted Bai Qi’s shoulder, fearing Ah Qi might feel embarrassed.

"Brother Shui, I just suddenly thought, if one day I make a name with my fists and rise to fame.

When I return to this Red Slot Street, what scene will unfold then!"

Bai Qi was not perturbed but rather calm and collected.

With various skills and abilities bestowed upon him, how could he remain unheard of in Black River County.

"Surely, you’d be surrounded by admirers, basking in glory!"

Liang Sanshui praised with a smile.

What his own father appreciated was likely Ah Qi’s ambition.

Moments later, the two walked into a spacious hall occupying considerable ground.

A few fierce men stood lazily at the entrance; judging by their attire, they were fishery thugs.

They recognized Liang Sanshui and did not question them, allowing direct passage.

Heading inside, they reached a relatively broad front yard.

A middle-aged man with a mustache was idly dozing off, resting his head.

"Brother Qing, the matter discussed yesterday, it’s time to settle it."

Liang Sanshui gently knocked on the table to awaken the mustached man.

With his guarantee and silver paving the way.

Bai Qi’s registration and classification change proceeded smoothly without any hassles or obstacles.

"Celestial Water Prefecture, Yihai Prefecture, Black River County, Bai Qi, Bai Family’s eldest; Bai Ming, Bai Family’s second... due to having family and business, verified and confirmed, all were removed from the status of lowly fishermen."

The mustached man took out the Fish Scale Atlas and carefully wrote down.

"House deed, land deed, fishery certificate... must all retain a copy.

Then pay five taels of silver, the roster and waist plaque can be taken to serve as a pass, facilitating entry to the city."

"Alright, Sanshui, we haven’t slacked off."

Bai Qi tucked the paper documenting names and origins into his chest and received the wooden bamboo-made waist plaque.

This item weighed very little but held great significance.

With it, he and Ah Di could freely travel among Black River County’s villages and enter Yihai County City.

In the Dragon Court Fourteen Mansions, it likely meant being considered a "person."

"Thanks. By year-end settlement, I’ll treat you to a liquor feast."

Liang Sanshui clasped hands in acknowledgment, leading Bai Qi out of the hall, laughing and asking:

"Ah Qi, how does it feel?"

Bai Qi shrugged his shoulders, seemingly shedding shackles:

"I feel light all over, fast-paced, can’t be better!"

Liang Sanshui rarely saw Ah Qi so visibly joyful, clapped his hands and exclaimed:

"With your talent at capturing treasure fish and me as the steward, we’re bound to achieve great things!"

The two exchanged a knowing smile, quite delighted.

...

...

Past 3:00 PM, Bai Qi and Liang Sanshui returned to the East Market Shop.

Whether it was Old Liang’s idea or someone else’s.

They had bought two strings of firecrackers, hanging them at the door.

As soon as Bai Qi appeared, Xiaotou lit them with incense, and they started crackling loudly.

"Congratulations, Brother Qi!"

"Freed from the status of a lowly household, you can do whatever you want now!"

"Brother Qi is truly amazing; it’s been many years since any fisherman from the East Market managed to rise up!"

"Indeed, you’ve made us proud!"

Many attendants, laborers from the docks who had finished their work, as well as fishermen who could most empathize and envy, gathered around, offering their congratulatory words.

Bai Qi’s eyes flashed momentarily, looking over, seeing all those enthusiastic and friendly smiling faces, he couldn’t help but feel:

"When Bai Ah Qi was starving to death, it was hard to beg for even a bowl of rice.

Once he became Brother Bai Qi, not a single bad word could be heard.

Sure enough, the warmth and coldness of the world depend on the nobility of one’s status."