In the restaurant.
Elder Brother Lin Liang was talking to Lin Chen about the family matters.
Though they were family matters, it was mostly about the village.
In less than two months, not much had changed for the Lin Family. Lin Liang was not much of a talker, so he finished in a few words and could only talk about things happening in the village.
The brothers chatted while they talked, and during this time, Zhao Dongyang came over to have a few drinks.
Just as the brothers finished eating and set down their chopsticks, Zhao Dongyang came over with a smile once again.
"Brother Lin, how was your family's fishing this season? Can you deliver fish to our restaurant?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Liang quickly assured, "Shopkeeper Zhao, we can manage, we can manage."
It was just a trip to the town to deliver fish, but the restaurant's price was much higher than that of the fish market and fish shops, earning an extra several dozen cents per trip.
Seeing Lin Liang's anxious expression, Zhao Dongyang smiled warmly, "Brother Lin, no need to be excited. Here's the thing, I have a kin who runs a fish shop in our town. My restaurant has a limited need for fish every day. If your family catches an excess, you could deliver it to my kin. He has often complained to me about fish shortages, maybe you could help him out."
Lin Chen understood instantly from Zhao Dongyang's words that Uncle Zhao was offering his family another source of income.
How could a fish shop be short of fish?
The laws of the Liang Dynasty strictly regulated the professions that commoners could engage in. The Lin Family were fishermen, meaning they could catch but not sell fish.
Of course, royal law does not reach the countryside.
The village fishermen could secretly sell some fish without much issue, but there were many fishermen in Linhu Village, and even if the Lin Family caught a lot of fish, there might not be buyers.
Delivering fish to the restaurant was technically illegal, but since no one reported it, the officials at the distant county government office didn't bother with it.
Lin Chen had initially been worried that delivering fish to Uncle Zhao's restaurant might take business from the town's fish shops, provoking the shop owners to report them, but now it seemed his worries were unnecessary.
Uncle Zhao must have already discussed it with the shop owners, and by saying this now, he aimed to provide another income stream for their family and do them a favor.
"Junior Brother Zhao is a good person."
Lin Chen realized that Uncle Zhao's sudden offer wasn't just because of his presence; it wasn't about doing them a favor to their face.
If it were about doing them a favor in person, Uncle Zhao could have informed the village about delivering fish to the restaurant before Lin Chen left the village for the town.
So, it must have been something Junior Brother Zhao mentioned in a letter that prompted Uncle Zhao's immediate decision.
Lin Liang didn't respond but looked at his brother instead.
He wasn't foolish. He'd dealt with several fish shops in town and knew that fish shops were never short of fish; sometimes, they would even press them aggressively on the fish prices.
Facing the price pressure from the fish shops, the fishermen were helpless, unless they sent the fish to the county fish market, which was far away. Not only was the journey long, but there were dock fees in the county, and the fish market prices weren't much better than the shops, plus they were picky, hardly making any extra money.
"Nephew Lin thanks Uncle Zhao here."
Lin Chen did not refuse out of a false sense of propriety. His family needed money, and he also needed funds for his ongoing martial arts training.
Due to the strict regulation of occupations for commoners in Liang, it was difficult for him to earn money. The lucrative trades had long been monopolized by the powerful families in the town.
In the world of martial artists, in the end, strength speaks.
The only thing he could do was quickly improve his own capabilities. Only with strength could he stand firm in the county, marking the beginning of his family's rise.
For now, it was still too early.
Instructor Yu reminded him in his notes to focus all his efforts on martial arts training for now.
With increased strength, more opportunities to earn money will naturally come.
Without enough strength, even with business acumen, they would only be suppressed by the city's powerful citizens.
Instructor Yu was completely open with him, and Lin Chen had complete trust in his instructor.
In his notes, Instructor Yu also mentioned a phrase.
A young martial artist with potential would be befriended rather than offended by major forces and noble families; however, wanting to intrude on the county's trades would provoke a subtle hostility from those in power.
Lin Chen understood Instructor Yu's meaning; as long as he demonstrated talent in martial arts without threatening these forces' interests, they would coexist amicably.
Refining Viscera Realm!
Only by reaching the Refining Viscera Realm would he have the right to seek his share amid Poyang County's intricate web of interests.
Before that, all his efforts should be focused on the Martial Path.
Lin Chen felt that his thoughts aligned with his instructor's; since crossing over to this world, he hadn't faced its darkness and brutality largely because he hadn't encroached on those powers' interests.
...
...
Zhao Dongyang took Lin Chen and his brother directly to the fish shop; after reading his son's letter, he, as a father, had resolved to help Lin Chen if possible. He thought of his kin who sold fish and had written a note for the shop apprentice to deliver ahead of time.
Several fish shops were clustered in one area of the town, and when Uncle Zhao entered one of them, Lin Chen momentarily felt a sense of dissonance, which quickly changed to intrigue.
"What brings my kin here today?"
Inside the fish shop, a middle-aged man dressed in silk, with a big belly, greeted them with a smile, quickly glancing at Lin Chen and Lin Liang behind Zhao Dongyang.
"Dear in-law, I've come to solve your urgent problem. Isn't your fish shop short on fish? I've brought fish for you."
Doing someone a favor requires skill.
Zhao Dongyang, being a businessman, understood this very well. He had instructed his assistant to deliver a note beforehand, and he had already discussed it with his in-law. Now it was just a performance, and he believed Lin Chen was aware of it too.
"That truly resolves my urgent problem. Where are the fish you mentioned, my in-law?"
However, this fish shop owner's acting was somewhat lacking.
Lin Chen noticed that the other person's gaze was fixed on him, and he almost laughed himself. His acting wasn't as natural as Uncle Zhao's.
"Far away in the sky, right before your eyes. Nephew Lin's family caught fish and just brought them over for you, my in-law."
Zhao Dongyang also felt that his in-law's acting was clumsy, but he played along anyway.
"Nephew Lin? Isn't he the one who..."
As the fish shop owner came out, he was followed by two others, one old and one young. Their expressions were particularly interesting when they saw Lin Chen.
"Shopkeeper Yang, Brother Li."
Lin Chen didn't expect that Uncle Zhao's in-law ran the fish shop where he had once worked odd jobs.
This world really is small.
"Are you... the Young Master Lin that the owner mentioned?"
Shopkeeper Yang, out of shock, forgot their owner's instructions and inadvertently revealed the truth.
Just before, the owner had instructed them to prepare for the act.
The owner clearly stated that among the guests, there would be a martial artist who had opened the acupoints, and was also last year's top genius at the Martial Hall.
Since Lin Liang wore coarse linen clothes, it couldn't be him. It must be Lin Chen.
So the poor boy who used to work odd jobs at the fish shop really succeeded in martial arts?
"You guys?"
On the scene, the fish shop owner, Zhao Dongyang, and Lin Liang all wore puzzled expressions, not knowing what was happening.
"Uncle Zhao, back when I was studying martial arts at the Martial Hall, to earn some money to support my martial path expenses, I worked part-time at the fish shop for a while."
Lin Chen calmly recounted his past experience.
After speaking, Lin Chen bowed to Shopkeeper Yang, saying, "I still have to thank Shopkeeper Yang for giving me this opportunity back then."
"No... no need for that."
Shopkeeper Yang stepped aside, waving his hands continuously. He hired Lin Chen back then simply because Lin Chen could bring extra income to the fish shop.
Lin Chen internally mocked himself, realizing he was becoming more and more hypocritical.
"You... you are the Lin boy who used to..."
The fish shop owner suddenly realized, vaguely recalling that Shopkeeper Yang had mentioned a boy from the Martial Hall working at the fish shop, praising his quick mind. If he stayed at the shop, business would surely thrive even more.
"Haha, this is what you call fate. I didn't expect there to be such a connection between my in-law and Nephew Lin."
Zhao Dongyang's eyes twinkled as he figured out the general situation and laughed heartily. The rest was simple.
Under the owner's willingness to make concessions, they reached an agreement with the Lin Family that the caught fish would be delivered to the restaurant, and any surplus would be sent to the fish shop.
The purchase price was one cent higher than the market price.
The matter was settled!
Lin Chen and his brother took their leave, and Zhao Dongyang followed his in-law out of the fish shop, clearly having something to discuss.
"Shopkeeper, how did Lin Chen become a martial artist who opened the acupoints? He was just a..."
"Shut up!"
Shopkeeper Yang glared at the assistant fiercely, "Address him as Young Master Lin."
"How... how did Young Master Lin do it? Didn't you say that learning martial arts costs a lot, and with Young Master Lin's family situation, he definitely couldn't succeed."
"If I knew how Lin Chen... Young Master Lin achieved it, I wouldn't be a shopkeeper at a fish shop."
Shopkeeper Yang hadn't adjusted his way of speaking yet; he still hadn't calmed down.
"If not a fish shop keeper, then what?"
"I'd become an instructor at the Martial Hall."
Assistant: ...
"Remember, you must not spread the word about Young Master Lin working part-time at our fish shop. Even if Young Master Lin shows respect and gratitude towards me, who knows what he's really thinking inside. Don't get yourself into trouble."
...
...