Volume One, Chapter 20: Unlocking a New Building—The Warehouse

“Are you selling these fish?”
Because a few burly men were standing there, most people didn’t dare approach. It took some courage for someone to step forward and ask.

“Of course we’re selling them. Feel free to pick whatever you like. These are sea fish caught just a few days ago—very fresh.”

The moment he heard “sea fish,” the man immediately perked up. Looking closely, he saw the cart was indeed full of sea fish, each one larger than the next.

“Give me one.”

“Sea fish? I want one too. There’s a wife at home nursing a baby.”

In this era, sea fish and river fish were worlds apart. Sea fish were much harder to catch, making them scarce and prized for their superior freshness. As a result, they cost several times more than river fish. Plus, transportation was difficult, so sea fish were rarely seen in the market. Whenever they appeared, they were snapped up instantly.

“Young man, I’ll take all your fish.”

Amid the scramble, a voice boomed like thunder out of nowhere.

“Who’s this guy, so domineering?”

“Shh, keep it down. Don’t you know Manager Tong from Laifu Restaurant?”

Upon hearing that, the others quickly fell silent.

Laifu Restaurant was the largest establishment in the county. Manager Tong had been running it for decades and had extensive connections—rumor had it he even had a personal relationship with the county magistrate.

Tomorrow, the magistrate was hosting an inspection team at Laifu Restaurant and specifically requested sea fish. Sea fish were a local specialty, but not something you could eat whenever you pleased. Because they were so hard to catch, having sea fish was purely a matter of luck.

Today, Manager Tong was wandering the streets feeling annoyed when he saw a crowd gathered and noticed sea fish being sold. Unable to contain himself, he stepped forward and immediately bought them all, fearing someone else would snatch them up. Fortunately, his restaurant had an ice cellar to store the fish.

——————

Niujia Village

Although they had worked all day, neither the fishermen nor the women cleaning the fish showed any fatigue. The day’s haul was simply too abundant. Although not all the fish were theirs, the village chief had promised that the better the catch, the higher everyone’s wages.

At this moment, Zhou Wu and Chief Niu were inside counting money.

“The fish sold in the county this morning brought in six guan, and there are still hundreds of pounds drying after being cleaned this afternoon. Given current market prices, it should fetch at least seven guan. Am I dreaming?”

Chief Niu’s eyes were blinded by the pile of money before him. Though he was the village chief, an official in the eyes of ordinary people, anyone who knew him understood his struggles. The title “village chief” sounded grand, but his monthly salary barely covered basic needs. He was frequently bogged down with trivial family disputes and petty matters—he had little real power, but plenty of responsibility.

“Ha ha, Chief Niu, this is just the beginning. When we earn even more, not only will everyone live well, but we’ll build Niujia Village into something better. Imagine—paved official roads outside, and every household living in spacious three-courtyard compounds.”

“All right, all right.”

Though Zhou Wu spoke enthusiastically and Chief Niu smiled in response, deep down he wasn’t convinced. For him, being able to eat well, dress warmly, and avoid starvation was already a dream. The idea of every villager living in grand three-courtyard homes was something he didn’t even dare imagine.

Right now, the entire village was filled with joy. It was only the first day, but the bountiful catch was undeniable, and everyone was already beginning to dream of a better future.

In the days that followed, the men continued fishing and selling daily, while Zhou Wu began teaching the village women how to weave fishing nets.

“Scholar, I have a concern I think I should share with you.”

Although teaching everyone to weave nets meant catching more fish, Chief Niu’s face grew serious.

“Chief Niu, just say what’s on your mind. Don’t hold back.”

“Our current supply is already saturated. After all, the county town isn’t a large city. No matter how many sea fish you catch, if we can’t transport them out, it’s just wasted.”

Chief Niu had been pondering this issue for days. He saw Zhou Wu’s enthusiasm but feared speaking the truth might dampen his spirits.

“Oh, that? Of course I know.”

“Then why keep weaving so many nets?”

“Ha ha, Chief Niu, do I look short-sighted to you?”

“So you already have a plan? You had me worried. Come on, tell me—what’s your idea?”

Hearing Zhou Wu had a plan put Chief Niu’s mind at ease, but he was eager to know what it was.

“Here’s what I’m thinking: we sell the fresh fish to the county as usual, but all the extra fish we dry into fish jerky. Sea fish don’t need salting when dried, and once dried, they keep much longer. We can store them as food reserves and transport them farther for sale.”

“Ha ha, the scholar really thinks things through. A few days ago, an official notice came down saying this year will be tough—many places face poor harvests, and some already have refugees. It’s wise to prepare early.”

“Refugees? Chief Niu, all the more reason to speed up. I think we should first build a warehouse specifically for drying and storing these dried fish.”

“Good idea. At our current fishing rate, the amount of dried fish will increase quickly. We need a centralized storage point. But storing food alone won’t be enough—if disaster strikes, the village must be able to defend itself.”

“What do you mean?”

“We’ll pick some able-bodied men to form a guard team. They can protect the warehouse daily and defend the village in emergencies.”

“Chief Niu really thinks ahead.”

True to his experience, Chief Niu always had a broader perspective. Zhou Wu, having never endured famine or disaster, lacked such insight.

The two agreed that Chief Niu would oversee building the warehouse, while Zhou Wu would organize the guard team.

When it came to forming the guard team, Zhou Wu immediately thought of Niu Er. He was the village’s strongest fighter, having learned his skills from his father who had been to war. Plus, Niu Er’s large, sturdy frame gave him a natural advantage.

“Well? Are you willing? Just give me an answer.”

Seeing Niu Er silent for a long time, Zhou Wu asked anxiously.

“Me, lead the guard team?”

Niu Er couldn’t believe such a good opportunity had come his way.

“If you don’t want to, that’s fine.”

Zhou Wu said, turning to leave, only to be grabbed tightly from behind by Niu Er.

“Brother Wu, I’m willing. I’m willing.”

Zhou Wu had only intended to tease Niu Er, but the sudden embrace and earnest words made the moment awkward.