Chapter 171 - 172: The Port

Chapter 171: Chapter 172: The Port

It was a rest day.

Jin Qianqian pointed at the ships docked in the harbor. "Those are all cargo ships. The real fishing boats aren’t docked here; they’re over in the corners on either side."

Ancient Wen Heng helped Jin Qianqian avoid the mud on the ground. Although the road here had been repaired before, the constant traffic of horse-drawn carriages had already left it riddled with holes.

Jin Qianqian frowned as she watched a carriage struggle over the bumpy, pitted road, needing people to push it along. "They always say if you want to get rich, you have to build roads first. These people come in and out of here every day, yet none of them bother to put in a little effort to level this road."

Ancient Wen Heng shook his head. "It all comes down to self-interest. Come on, let’s go look over there. We can buy some more seafood to take back today."

Jin Qianqian said, "I spoke to an old fisherman a few days ago and asked him to set aside some dried goods for me. We should go see if he’s back in port yet."

"Are you planning to take them back with us?"

Jin Qianqian playfully scratched his palm. "Mhm. It’s such a good opportunity. We can satisfy our urge to be resellers for once."

Jin Qianqian wasn’t about to pass up such a quiet and easy way to make a fortune.

"I’ll come with you next time," Ancient Wen Heng said. He also knew such opportunities were rare. Even if they didn’t end up selling the goods, with Jin Qianqian’s cheat, they weren’t short on such things anyway.

"It seems that old fisherman isn’t here," Jin Qianqian said, having scanned the docked fishing boats and not finding the unique mark she was looking for. "He probably went out to sea and hasn’t returned yet."

After all, today wasn’t the day they had agreed on. Jin Qianqian could only turn her attention to the stalls along the shore.

There was a wide variety of seafood here, and much of it was so cheap it sold for just a few copper coins.

"This really is dirt cheap," Ancient Wen Heng remarked, his hands full of seafood. He’d heard Jin Qianqian mention it before, but it didn’t leave as deep an impression as seeing it for himself.

Jin Qianqian said, "This stuff doesn’t keep well. Not to mention the poor transportation, even in winter, with the temperatures here, you can’t get it very far without ice."

"Saltpeter," Ancient Wen Heng muttered to himself. "It’s a pity I don’t know where to find large quantities of saltpeter in this dynasty."

The small supply from apothecaries would never be enough to meet the huge demand for ice-making.

"Besides apothecaries, probably only the Daoists would have it. They need it for alchemy, after all," Jin Qianqian said, shaking her head. ’It’s a pity I didn’t think of this sooner. Even if there were limits, stocking up on some would have been much better than having nothing now.’

Ancient Wen Heng said, "How many Daoists actually know alchemy? It seems that path is a dead end."

"Wenheng, I can’t believe I actually ran into you here!" Deng Yuanhang waved at them continuously from a distance.

"Senior Brother Deng," Jin Qianqian said, performing a Fuli. Deng Yuanhang hurriedly returned the gesture.

Ancient Wen Heng asked, "Shouldn’t you be resting at home? What are you doing out here?"

Deng Yuanhang glanced at the seafood filling his hands and subtly took a few steps back. "Well, I was planning to freeload a meal at your place, but I found it empty.

"Your gatekeeper told me you’d come to the harbor, so I came to try my luck.

"You bought so much seafood. Can you even finish it all?"

Ancient Wen Heng deliberately lifted his hands and dangled the seafood in front of him. The fishy smell made Deng Yuanhang immediately raise a hand to cover his nose. "Get that away from me! I just ate not long ago."

Ancient Wen Heng said, "So dramatic. Once it’s cooked, you won’t even be able to fight for a bite."

Deng Yuanhang glanced at Jin Qianqian behind him, his eyes sparkling. "Is my sister-in-law planning to show off her skills?"

Ancient Wen Heng shook his head. "I’m the star of the show today."

Deng Yuanhang’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Wenheng, a gentleman keeps his distance from the kitchen. You’re not pulling my leg, are you?"

Ancient Wen Heng replied, "We don’t have that rule in my house. Besides, my cooking is pretty good. Want to come and try?"

Deng Yuanhang hesitated for a moment. "Are you sure it’ll be okay?"

"It’s not going to make you sick," Ancient Wen Heng said irritably. "If you’re really that worried, you can come eat after we’re almost finished."

"Am I even your Senior Brother anymore?" Deng Yuanhang yelped. "You’re actually trying to fob me off with leftovers! Let me tell you, if it doesn’t taste good, I’m going to make you eat every single bite."

"Childish," Ancient Wen Heng shot him a look. "If you don’t believe me, then don’t come. I can save some food for my family that way."

"You can’t be serious! When did you become so petty? Be honest with your Senior Brother, are you just trying to save face because you can’t actually cook at all?"

Seeing the suspicious look on Deng Yuanhang’s face, Ancient Wen Heng gave a dry chuckle and walked right past him with Jin Qianqian, heading toward home.

"Your temper’s certainly gotten bigger," Deng Yuanhang said, catching up to them. "I say, Wenheng, is your only plan for your day off to cook at home? There’s a calligraphy competition in Sea City. Don’t you want to give it a try?"

Ancient Wen Heng had heard about this, but he knew his own limits. Even after practicing for so long, and even using the time differential in Jin Qianqian’s space, he had only managed to make his calligraphy passable. When it came to truly competing, he really didn’t have the skill.

"I know my own limitations, so I won’t go join the crowd. But I’d think Senior Brother Deng would be interested. What are you doing here?"

Deng Yuanhang replied, "I was hoping you’d come with me. What do you say? Interested in taking a trip with your Senior Brother?"

Ancient Wen Heng had no interest in being cannon fodder. "Does Senior Brother think my calligraphy is presentable enough?"

"Well, then... you can just watch from the sidelines." After saying it, Deng Yuanhang realized that wasn’t a good idea either. After all, most of the attendees would know each other. If Ancient Wen Heng showed up but didn’t compete, others might think he was being arrogant, which would reflect poorly on him.

"You’re really something, you know that? You learn everything so quickly and can even infer three things from one," Deng Yuanhang couldn’t help but complain. "How is it that you’re only lacking in this manual skill?"

Ancient Wen Heng didn’t want to bother with this guy who specialized in poking at his sore spots. ’Besides,’ he thought, ’while calligraphy is my weakness now, I’m working hard every day. Sooner or later, I’ll amaze them all, and then they won’t dare look down on me anymore.’

Deng Yuanhang had no idea he had just awakened a sliver of Ancient Wen Heng’s competitive spirit. He turned and, without a care in the world, started pestering him about what delicious meal he planned to make with all that seafood.

Staring at the foodie incarnate before him, Ancient Wen Heng was pestered to his wits’ end and could only give a perfunctory reply. "Just a mixed stew. The seafood is so fresh, even just boiling it in water would produce a flavor you’ll never forget."

Deng Yuanhang said, "Yeah, right. I say, let’s not waste such good ingredients. We should have your wife handle the cooking."

Ancient Wen Heng: "...Eat it if you want, or don’t. Suit yourself."

Jin Qianqian: "..."

They chatted and laughed all the way, but their good mood came to an abrupt halt when they saw two people standing at their gate.