"What a big, lively gold carp!"
When Xu Qing left Tongyue Tavern, the fish seller nicknamed Eagle’s Beak should have already left the market by now, but as he exited, he discovered the man still loitering around the nearby streets.
Looking at his fish basket, Eagle’s Beak deliberately lifted the lid, letting his long arms and legs dangle it low so people around could see the few large gold carps he had caught inside.
With the river nearby and many people fishing, Eagle’s Beak had only to circle the streets a few times before several people came up to inquire.
"Eagle’s Beak, that’s quite the haul of gold carp! Where did you find this prime fishing spot? We’re all old friends here, don’t keep it to yourself, or you’ll come off as unsociable."
The one asking was a well-off dandy, holding a fish basket made of ivory split-thread weaving, with the rim inlaid with Hetian green jade, shaped like two fish holding a pearl; the fish even had engravings that read: ’Abounding Blessings.’
Even the fish basket’s lining was fixed with fish bladder glue over silk, making it so watertight that not a drop could escape, no matter if it was fish or water!
Looking further at the fishing gear tucked under his arm, his fishing rod was made from Nanyuan’s emerald green bamboo, and his fishing line was from Shu Region’s golden silk, known as Dragon’s Whisker Cable.
Except for the Dragon King, no matter what kind of fish, if it took this golden hook, its life was worth it even in death!
Unfortunately, this dandy had a passion for fishing, yet with his excellent rod, he spent every day catching little minnows and slender willows.
Every day heading home, he’d either sneak in quietly after dusk or buy a couple of decent-sized fish from others to pretend he had caught them himself.
Over time, two famous figures emerged in the fishing circles, one being the aquiline-nosed, long-limbed, eagle-like extraordinaire Eagle’s Beak, and the other being this dandy with gear more valuable than fish.
Someone standing next to the dandy taunted, "Why do you bother inquiring, Master He? I heard your golden hook has never caught a fish longer than three inches, and the only big ones were ones people baited onto your hook while underwater."
"Isn’t that why they call him Eagle’s Beak? He can catch not just fish but even dragons from the sky with just a straw rope."
"Master He, you overthink things; even for a small grass carp you need golden strings and silver cables to catch it!"
Look at this sharp tongue, instantly making Master He the laughingstock of the crowd.
Master He was so infuriated his mouth twisted!
While Eagle’s Beak, receiving the praise, happily beamed.
Just then, the owner of Deshun House opened the window of the eave on the second floor and called out, "Eagle’s Beak, I’ll take those fish, bring them up!"
Eagle’s Beak heard this, lifted his long neck, and replied, "These fish aren’t for sale, the shopkeeper of Tongyue Tavern said the gold carp bestows children, and his wife just got pregnant. He paid for me to release the fish and pray, and I can’t go back on my word."
"But if the shopkeeper really wants them, I’ll catch some good fish another day and bring them to you!"
Xu Qing, holding a food box, paid no mind as Jin Sect had many capable people; fishing was nothing unusual.
Yet coincidentally, as Eagle’s Beak finished speaking, a carriage arrived on the street.
Just as Eagle’s Beak spoke, a cold command came from within the carriage.
The curtain blocked by gauze was lifted, revealing an eunuch clothed in a dark purple robe with a silver-topped hat.
The eunuch appeared to be around thirty, with a smooth face and no beard, his expression sinister; as he uncovered the curtain, an attendant hurriedly acted as a human stool, kneeling for the eunuch to step on.
Once the boots touched the ground, the eunuch in the purple robe gave a slight nod, prompting someone to escort Eagle’s Beak forward.
"Let me see your fish..."
"These are good fish. I’ll take them!"
"Sir, these fish already have an owner," Eagle’s Beak replied cautiously.
The eunuch sneered coldly, "Whatever they paid, you return, but I’m taking these fish today!"
With that, the eunuch reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver ingot, not too large, about the size of a thumb’s belly, intricately crafted with official court marks.
Seeing the money, Eagle’s Beak’s eyes sparkled as the eunuch held the silver before him, completely forgetting his previous commitments. He dropped the basket, bent forward, and reached out with both hands as if accepting his own child, his eyes eagerly glued to the silver ingot.
The eunuch laughed lightly, tilted his hand, letting the ingot fall onto the ground.
Eagle’s Beak scrambled to pick it up, chuckling, "Sir, the gold carp is yours, and you can consider the basket a gift from me."
Why would this eunuch suddenly desire these gold carp? It’s all because of Eagle’s Beak’s words about ’the gold carp bringing children through release and prayer.’
What is an eunuch? A person with no descendants, no familial roots!
Others cherish and revere, releasing gold carp to pray for fertility and blessings, but not the eunuch.
A rootless person has no scruples; what do gold or silver carp, and gifting sons or daughters, mean to him?
"Prepare the fish; I’m dining in your building today,"
said the eunuch in a dark purple robe, lifting his head to meet the eyes of Deshun House’s owner.
The owner promptly agreed, then closed the window, seemingly intending to personally entertain downstairs.
Just then, as the eunuch craved fish, he suddenly heard someone calling behind him.
"Brother Zhang, long time no see."
"Is that you, Shopkeeper Xu from the funeral trade?" Zhang Jun looked at Xu Qing, who hadn’t changed much, feeling a mix of emotions.
At that moment, Xu Qing looked at the greatly changed Zhang Jun, feeling quite sentimental.
A former oil seller, who spent years saving money, traveled a long way to escort his beloved woman to Jin Sect to find relatives, only for her to turn and enter a brothel to marry an old man who completed her bridal ceremony.