bestfiction Chapter 37 Entering the Nest
Chapter 37 Entering the Nest
There are several simple docks around, used only by fishermen in the surrounding villages. They look dilapidated, but it's unknown how many generations they've been "passed down" to.
There was only one small shop nearby. Zhong Ming observed it for a while and found that the shop bought and sold fish. Fishermen could sell their good catches directly here, and of course, the prices were much cheaper than in a bustling market.
Let's go sit inside the shop; it's more comfortable than sitting on a tree branch.
After a while.
"Boss, what good stuff do you have?"
"Hey, sir, are you here for a bite or to go on a shopping spree?" The voice drifted down from above.
Not only was Zhong Ming watching the spectacle, but the waiter was also sitting on the roof watching the "all-out brawl on the water."
In the dead of winter, there were actually guests.
The waiter moved with practiced skill, leaping from the rooftop to a high platform, flipping over and landing on a long table, then making a turn and landing steadily.
"What would you like to order, sir?"
"Let's start with something warm and some food."
"Alright, sir, would you like a pot of warmed rice wine? We have excellent homemade rice wine..."
"No, hot tea will do."
Zhong Ming declared, "I'm a good young man, I don't drink!"
Hmph, drinking is so expensive!
Don't underestimate the small amount of money a pot of tea might seem insignificant; over time, it can add up to a considerable sum.
The waiter wasn't angry. This young man was clearly different from those poor old fishermen. Putting aside everything else, just by glancing at the material of his clothes, he could tell they were expensive.
Instead, he seemed a little embarrassed. "Sir, I'm sorry, our shop only has the coarse tea that fishermen usually eat, with some spices and lard. The taste is just so-so, but it will give you energy."
"Never mind then, how about a pot of boiled water... no, how about a pot of fish soup? What kind of fish do you have here?"
At this point, the waiter became excited, "Hey, sir, you know what? When it comes to fish, no place within a ten-mile radius has a more complete selection. Night-blooming sturgeon, six hundred coins a pound, definitely the cheapest price. Big green-tailed crucian carp, just arrived, four pounds each, if you really want them, five hundred coins each. Carp are also available..."
The waiter knew the details like the back of his hand, but Zhong Ming listened in utter confusion, his mind already focused on the price.
One tael of silver can be exchanged for one thousand coins.
The smallest denomination in his pocket was one tael of silver.
I'm a bit more relaxed today!
"Make soup with that four-pound crucian carp you just mentioned. I'll add fifty coins for you, more lard, less salt, and some salty snacks too."
"Alright, I recommend our special pickled fish sausage and hot-fried fish roe..."
"Just these two."
As soon as the waiter turned around, Zhong Ming immediately looked towards the river. The battle there was almost over, and the people on the small boats had already jumped onto the large ships. At most, only one person remained to watch over each of the small boats.
"Dong~dong~"
Feeling the vibration coming from the table, Zhong Ming chuckled to himself.
There was only one long table in the whole shop, which Zhong Ming could see, but he didn't expect that there wasn't a table in the kitchen. The waiter was chopping fish at one end, while Zhong Ming was waiting for food at the other end.
I reckon that when he wasn't around, the entire long table was covered in the cleavers he'd been throwing around.
Touching the deep knife marks on the wooden table, I realized this shopkeeper had some skill in martial arts.
On the side, a large pot of oil was simmering, and large, chopped fish fillets were being added one by one. Another small pot was simmering fish soup.
Zhong Ming took a deep sniff; the fragrance...
Sigh! I'll splurge a little today!
Zhong Ming never expected that he would regret it so soon.
The waiter opened a large pickling jar, and a sour, foul smell wafted out like a deadly ghost.
Take some pickled scallions from another jar, chop them up roughly, and mix them with a clump of sticky, dark yellow pickled stuff.
.....
Zhong Ming took a sniff and felt refreshed.
After taking just one bite, I felt as if I had instantly reached the state of a universal Bodhisattva.
They have no attachment to the human world anymore.
It's alright to be alive, it's not bad to be dead either.
I've come to terms with it.
Pickled fish intestines, with an unparalleled musty smell that surpasses all other flavors, aromas, and tastes.
The next dish was even more explosive.
Zhong Ming watched helplessly as the boy threw a large plate of fish scales into the oil pan and quickly covered it with the lid.
Suddenly, a cracking sound rang out, and the fish scales fought a battle in the pot. The battle was so loud that it was like gongs and drums and firecrackers, creating a lively and bustling scene.
"Little boy, isn't 'fish seeds' referring to small crucian carp?"
"Oh! Sir, you're from the North? Here, we don't call fish 'melon seeds.' Our shop's special fried fish scales are coated with a thin layer of flour and deep-fried over high heat until the scales puff up and resemble melon seeds, hence the name 'fish melon seeds.' Sprinkle with a layer of salt and pepper, and hey, it'll make you swoon with the aroma."
"What are those large fried fish slices?"
"Oh, that's fried fish, a New Year's dish in Yunzhou. We need to prepare the goods in advance. Would you like some to try?"
"No, no need."
Zhong Ming thought to himself: "What special fish scales? Isn't it just a culinary disaster made from frying fish until the oil in the pan was too greasy to use for anything else?"
We can only pin our hopes on that pot of fish soup.
.....
The fish soup was served perfectly, but Zhong Ming didn't eat much of it.
A large crowd swarmed around, and by the time Zhong Ming recovered from the shock of the pickled fish sausage, he suddenly found himself completely surrounded.
The stench of blood around him was so palpable that it almost transported him back to the place he least wanted to remember.
Bloodshed in Qingxi Town.
That was the smell of human blood, real, genuine human blood.
The bearded man plopped down opposite Zhong Ming, seemingly unconcerned that "there was an outsider," and brandished his long knife, wiping away the blood with his sleeve.
"Dad, you're back?" The waiter grabbed a plate of freshly fried fish and ran over happily.
"Hey, my good son, you caught a big fish today, a good haul. Hehe, looks like you caught a big fish too."
A large group of bandits sat around the table, completely disregarding Zhong Ming's "guest status" and the presence of burly men with knives on either side of him. They grabbed the scalding hot fried fish and began to chew on them.
They don't care about strangers; they only care about whether they can get good food.
"Hello...you rough-and-tumble heroes?"
The group of men suddenly fell silent, and a bearded uncle sitting next to Zhong Ming was the first to laugh.
"Boss, did you hear that? What did he call us? He called us 'heroes of the wilderness,' hahaha~~"
The uncle laughed so hard he almost fell over, and then swung his fist, as big as a sandbag, and slapped Zhong Ming's shoulders and back hard.
"Bro~~ Hahaha~~~ Bro, you're hilarious~~~ Hahaha~~"
Zhong Ming jumped up with a roar. The wound on his back hadn't healed yet, and the other party had ripped it open with a single blow. The excruciating pain was like a poison, instantly spreading throughout his body.
In an instant, everyone grabbed their weapons, and the longswords were drawn and the steel spikes were reversed.
Bloodstained hands gripped the slippery knife handle tightly, and muffled breathing drowned out the crackling sounds from the oil pan.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch~~~" Zhong Ming scratched his back like a monkey, stepping off the bench and backing away repeatedly.
The burly man with the thick beard waved his hand and said, "It's alright, third brother. You hurt the guest. You didn't know your own strength."
The man chuckled, but despite his words, everyone kept their eyes glued to Zhong Ming.
Then the leader spoke up again: "Don't be so tense. Everyone put your weapons away and eat. Eating is the most important thing, no matter what."
"Boss, you know that once I draw this knife, it will always draw blood."
"Then go help chop the fish."
The burly man with the thick beard said in a tone that was both kind and irritating.
Without stopping, she scooped up a spoonful of fish soup, skimming away a significant amount of the oil floating on the surface.
"Whoosh~ Ah~~~ This fresh fish soup is so delicious! Young man, what street are you from?"