Lu Lin and the kids miss Chen Xiao Mi as well.
Chen Xiao Mi finally went back home in spring. However, Chen Xiao Mai and Ji Yun An didn't come back with Chen Xiao Mi, they decided to stay in the capital city for some more time.
"You're back!" Lu Lin exclaimed on seeing Chen Xiao Mi.
Chen Xiao Mi nodded and hugged Lu Lin tightly, "Yeah, how come you look like you've lost weight!"
Lu Lin rubbed his face and said, "Maybe, but that's fine."
"You seem to have lost weight too. Didn't I tell you to not be frugal in the capital city?" Lu Lin stroked Chen Xiao Mi's face.
Chen Xiao Mi smiled and said, "No, I've gained some weight actually."
Chen Xiao Mi felt guilty deep down. Chen Xiao Mai and Ji Yun An knew he was homesick, they would take him places and try different stuff to cheer him up all the time, he just felt guilty that he had enjoyed so much without Lu Lin and the kids.
…
"I'll show you something," Chen Xiao Mi opened his bag and Lu Lin saw a pile of well-styled silver ingots.
Most of the silver that Lu Lin had seen was very ugly in shape, he had never seen such beautiful siler ingots. Each ingot was 50 taels, they looked like chubby dumplings.
"Where did these come from?" Lu Lin asked.
"This is money reward from His Majesty, for Roast Whole Lamb," Chen Xiao Mi said.
Lu Lin's eyes widened, "For a dish?!"
Chen Xiao Mi nodded, "Yeah, I was shocked as well! But Highness Cheng said His Majesty has added this dish to the menu of state banquet, hence this reward."
Lu Lin nodded and played with an ingot, "Let's save these ingots in a safe place and give them to the kids when they grow up, shall we?"
Chen Xiao Mi smiled and said, "Excellent."
"Would you like to go to the Hot Springs Resort, to wash off the dust and relax?" Lu Lin said.
Chen Xiao Mi nodded and said, "Great. I've heard so many people talking about the Hot Springs Resort."
Lu Lin nodded and said, "During winter, the resort was packed almost every day. Now it has cooled down a little bit, because it's getting warmer."
There was even sedan chair business at the gate of the resort, the customers loved the convenience. They were happy to pay 100 cents for one way sedan chair service.
The local villagers were grateful to Lu Lin and Chen Xiao Cai for creating these new job opportunities.
Lu Lin and Chen Xiao Mi checked in a private room and enjoyed the hot springs, "It's so comfortable!"
Chen Xiao Mi nodded, " I heard you've rubbed General Ji the wrong way somehow, and the two of you are ignoring each other at the moment, is that so?"
Lu Lin pouted and said, "General Ji is a fool, an old rigid fool. I've distributed some free tickets to the soldiers for the hot springs, he went mad and scolded me, saying soldiers shouldn't indulge in creature comforts."
Chen Xiao Mi glanced at Lu Lin and said, "General Ji means well though, he is a very straightforward person, you guys have been friends for a long time, you know him."
Lu Lin shook his head, "And he keeps saying that I'm wasting my talent, he wants me to invent more farming tools. But Mi, I don't want to catch any unnecessary attention to me, what if people find out I'm from the modern society?"
Chen Xiao Mi nodded and stroked Lu Lin's back gently, "It's fine, we can just do whatever we want to do and enjoy life, it's fine."
"Thank you for your understanding."
The Transfer Order
Lu Lin had stayed in Sha County for two more years. Under the management of Lu Lin, Sha County was thriving. Centering around Chen Xiao Cai's commercial street, there were row upon row of newly built stores. The economy had grown with leaps and bounds compared to when Lu Lin first took over.
At this moment, Lu Lin received the transfer order.
Chen Xiao Mi looked at the transfer order and pouted, "How come I feel this is so unfair!"
Chen Xiao Mi thought to himself, 'This Sha County was originally a poor and backward county, and so many villagers were moving out because it bordered on the Liao Dynasty. Lu Lin had enforced a lot of new policies in the past few years to attract businessmen and villagers to move back to Sha County and it worked. Plus Liao Dynasty and the government had finished the peace talks already, of course Sha County would become as popular as a hot cake.'
Lu Lin didn't seem to be too upset, "It's good to have the opportunity to have a look at different places. And I think this is a good timing, Sha County has enjoyed tax exemption for many years, and I think the government is about to levy tax soon. I don't want to be the one who informs the people and let the people to hate on us."
In the past few years, Sha County had been very different, it was no longer a poor county.
Lu Lin had been in Sha County for many years, and the public had a good impression of him. If he suddenly mentioned collecting taxes, the people might have the wrong idea of him.
For Lu Lin, he was more than happy to receive the transfer order and have a look at other places.
"Moreover, although the government has sent out a princess to betroth with the new emperor in Liao Dynasty, but who knows what the Liao people are up to?"
Chen Xiao Mi nodded and said, "You're right! The Liaos have unilaterally tore up agreements before, I won't be surprised if they do it again."
"It's a good thing to be able to leave this place, we have saved a lot in the past few years, we can lead a comfortable life no matter where we are heading to, I just hope General Ji can take care of himself."
Chen Xiao Mi nodded and said, "You're right."
Chen Xiao Mi sighed. Although he knew what Lu Lin said made sense, Chen Xiao Mi still felt a little indignant and regretful.
Chen Xiao Mi already had developed feelings for Sha County, he loved the people here.
"What about Cai?" Chen Xiao Mi asked worriedly.
Chen Xiao Cai had a business empire in this place now, it was unfair to ask him to ditch everything and leave with them.
But what if Lu Lin's successor found fault with Cai after Lu Lin left? People would do anything for profits.
However, it was not going to be easy for Cai to complete the business transaction within such a short period of time.
Lu Lin sighed and said, "Cai is no longer a child. He has his own considerations, and we should respect his opinion." Lu Lin thought to himself, 'Cai is a mature tycoon now, he doesn't need me anymore, I support his decisions either way.'
Chen Xiao Mi thought for a moment and said, "I'll talk to him right now."
To Chen Xiao Mi's surprise, Chen Xiao Cai promptly said he would follow his Big Brother and Lin Ge wherever they went.
"Big Brother, I don't need time to think about it. Let's go. I'll follow wherever you and Lin Ge go," Chen Xiao Cai said.
Chen Xiao Mi was a little surprised, "Are you willing to part with your business empire?"
"Yes! Family always comes first in my life!"
Chen Xiao Mi's eyes reddened.
"Brother, where are we going this time?" Chen Xiao Cai asked.
"It is called Fish Cabain County, it used to be a fish village, and now it seems to be an abundant place."
Chen Xiao Cai held his chin and said, "It sounds good!"
Sha County was an inland county, both Chen Xiao Mi and Chen Xiao Cai yearned to have a look at the seaside counties.
Chen Xiao Cai sighed and said, "A few days ago, Mai said that he would come back to Sha County soon. Now I need to write him a letter and tell him we are all moving to Fish Cabin County."
Chen Xiao Mi nodded, "Yeah! And tell Ji Yun An to not be so stressed about the upcoming exam."
…
Lu Lin saw Chen Xiao Mi coming back and asked promptly, "How was it? What did Cai say?"
"Cai says he is going with us, he is looking for buyers for his businesses now." Chen Xiao Mi said.
Lu Lin nodded and said, "Cai! We are going to conquer a new place together soon! That Fish Cabin county seems to be a good place."
The Fish Cabin county was a coastal county. Many people in the Fish Cabin county lived by fishing, and there were various aquatic products.
"Hopefully we can find Spicy Crayfish over there!" Lu Lin was filled with anticipation.
Chen Xiao Mi glanced at Lu Lin and asked, "What's that?"
Lu Lin nodded and said, "It's one of the most classic night market food in my hometown."
Chen Xiao Mi blinked and asked, "Is it delicious?"
Lu Lin nodded and said, "It is indeed. I used to order a whole plate of spicy crayfish and several cans of beer, and just like that, enjoy the night!"
Chen Xiao Mi looked at Lu Lin with a doting smile, "Let's go to the Fish Cabin county and see if you can find some."
Lu Lin nodded in a hurry, "There are many ways to cook crayfish, I will cook them all if we can find some."
Chen Xiao Mi blinked and said, "Thank you, Lin!"
…
Lu Lin visited Ji Cheng Kang with a heavy heart.
Ji Cheng Kang looked at Lu Lin and said regretfully, "Sha County would still be a backward place if not for you, but you need a bigger place to spread your wings, my friend, I don't want to part with you, but I feel happy for you."
Ji Cheng Kang was very grateful to Lu Lin for his contributions for the people.
Lu Lin smiled and said, "Thank you, my friend! I need to say a thanks to you, a lot of my plans cannot be executed without your help."
With that the two men exchanged a firm handshake.
"You will gain a foothold in Fish Cabin county in no time."
Lu Lin said, "It's a new start, hopefully I can handle it well."
Ji Cheng Kang smiled and said, "Don't be so modest, look at what Sha County has achieved under your management, Fish Cabin county is already an abundant place, I can't wait to see what you are going to do with it."
Lu Lin smiled and said, "Thank you so much for the pep talk, General Ji."
Ji Cheng Kang pondered for a moment and said, "It's Highness Cheng who has helped you to get this new official post."
Lu Lin was stunned for a moment. "I have been so confused since I got the transfer order! How come it's me who has got this fat job, it's such a wealthy place and it's so close to the capital city! Amida Buddha, I don't know how to pay my debt of gratitude to Highness Cheng now."
Lu Lin touched his chin and suddenly he felt so motivated, 'Your Highness, I won't disappoint you!'
…
Lu Lin was ready to leave after he had finished his work.
Lu Lin looked at the county yamen and said, "It's a pity, we have spent so much money renovating this place. Mi, do you remember the roofs were all stolen when we first arrived here?"
"One generation plants the trees in whose shade another generation rests. And yeah, I do remember that, we worked hard on the renovation, can't believe it's been so long." Replied Chen Xiao Mi.
Lu Lin left Sha County feeling enormously proud of his success, and he was confident that he could achieve even more in Fish Cabin County.
There were five carriages and ten horses in Lu Lin's procession, they left Sha County with great strength and vigor. A lot of villagers were choked with tears saying goodbye to Lu Lin.
Chen Xiao Cai didn't join them yet, he still needed some time to transfer his businesses.
Yuan Bao sat in the carriage playing with Dash's hair and said, "Father Lin, I heard that there are many fish in the Fish Cabin county. Do we eat fish every day after we arrive?"
Lu Lin glanced at Yuan Bao and said, "Yeah!"
Yuan Bao sighed and said, "I don't like to eat fish! I like to eat meat."
Dash nodded and said, "Yeah! Yeah! I like to eat meat too, and Little Uncle used to say meat will make us stronger!"
Lu Lin glanced at Yuan Bao and Dash, "Kids, appreciate all kinds of food please. If you don't want to eat fish, you can eat wheat brans!"
Yuan Bao glared at Lu Lin angrily and said, "Father, the wheat brans are for livestock!"
Lu Lin snorted and said, "So, kids, don't be picky eaters, eat whatever father and daddy cook for you, all right?"
"Father, let me ask you one question, do you like to eat wheat brans?" Dash chimed in.
"Look over there!" Lu Lin changed the subject.
The kids looked around and they didn't see anything interesting.
Yuan Bao then pointed at Lu Lin and complained, "Daddy Mi, look at Father, it's not fair! He threatens us he will feed me and Dash wheat brans!"
"No, what I said was if you want to be picky eaters, I will serve you two wheat brans," Lu Lin made a face.
Chen Xiao Mi smiled at Lu Lin and the two children and said, "Sorry, kids, I'm with Father on this one, kids shouldn't be picky eaters."
…
It took them more than 20 days to finally reach the Fish Cabin county.
The Fish Cabin county was much closer to the capital city than Sha County was. Compared to Sha County, the Fish Cabin county was much safer and richer.
Lu Lin's predecessor was a seventy-year-old-man who was about to retire, he and Lu Lin had a smooth handover.
Lu Lin was stunned when he moved their stuff into the new county yamen, it was much more magnificent than the one in Sha County, there were a row of rooms for servants and yamen runners!
"The situation here is even better than I imagined!" exclaimed Lu Lin.
Chen Xiao Mi nodded, "Yeah!"
Lu Lin was in no rush to hire new yamen runners or new servants, most of the old yamen runners he hired in Sha County decided to follow him here.
Lu Lin rested his eyes for a while, then he jumped up from bed and said, " Let's go out and take a stroll on the street, I want to see this place."
Chen Xiao Mi nodded, "Okay! But didn't you say you were tired?"
"Yeah, but I'm also excited to see the place we are going to stay for a few years! " Lu Lin's eyes sparkled.
Chen Xiao Mi showed a snigger, "You are acting like Yuan Bao and Dash when they get a new toy."
Fish Cabin County
Lu Lin and Chen Xiao Mi went out and took a stroll on the street. The Fish Cabin county was close to the seaside, and the air was very moist, even the wind carried a fishy smell, the scenery of this county was entirely different from Sha County.
Most of the villagers in the Fish Cabin county lived by fishing. There were many people in this place, but the land was not so abundant, the ratio of landowner wasn't very high.
Lu Lin saw a lot of ships anchored off the lakes and rivers.
Many fishermen didn't own a house or any land. They lived on the boats, they even got married and had children on the boats. Due to the poor living environment, infant mortality rate was quite high.
Many fishermen wished to go ashore and settle down on land.
Lu Lin and Chen Xiao Mi went to the seafood market, Lu Lin exclaimed on seeing baskets of crabs piling up by the stalls.
Lu Lin's eyes were wide open when he saw the price sign.
"The crabs here are so cheap, two cents each! Even cheaper than buns! How strange!"
"Maybe it's because there isn't much meat in the crabs, buns are definitely more filling," Chen Xiao Mi said, "The crabs look quite big, but they are all shells. Manual workers prefer something filling."
Lu Lin retorted, "But crabs are way more tastier, I can't believe they are not being appreciated."
In modern society, steamed crabs were great gifts on New Year's Day or other festivals.
There were different methods and dressings to cook crabs in different provinces. But people in this time and space preferred buns to crabs! That sounded surreal!
"But Mi, crabs are so yummy and healthy! " Lu Lin said.
Chen Xiao Mi thought for a moment and said, "Maybe because crabs are so common in the county, people don't see them as something special."
Lu Lin thought about it and nodded. In modern society, crabs were more expensive in inland cities due to the high transportation expenses, but they were so accessible and affordable in coastal areas. It must be the same case in this time and space as well.
"If we can sell the crabs in the inland cities, I think we can make a fortune, what do you reckon?" Lu Lin narrowed his eyes.
Chen Xiao Mi shook his head, "I agree, but the reality is aquatic products are hard to store and transport."
Lu Lin thought to himself, 'Indeed! There's no fridge or cars in this time and space, it's impossible to deliver fresh fish and crabs to further areas."
"I wish I studied harder when I was in school so I can invent something called fridge."
"Fridge? What is that?" Chen Xiao Mi looked intrigued.
"Hmm, how do I put this? It's like an icebox, you put fresh food in the icebox and it can keep it fresh for days if not months."
"Is it also something from your hometown? Modern society?"
"Yes, modern society is very convenient, but other than that's it's not as great as this time and space."
Chen Xiao Mi was curious about this modern society that Lu Lin had described.
…
Lu Lin took a look at other stalls as well, there were so many different types of fish and clams, Lu Lin was so excited, 'These are all protein packed food, I don't need to worry about the kids might suffer malnutrition anymore!'
"Let's buy a basket of crabs, shall we? I will cook some for you and the kids tonight."
Chen Xiao Mi nodded, "Of course, that sounds great."
Lu Lin bought a large basket of crabs and went to the next stall where he saw lobsters. Lu Lin bought the of them, the stall owner was thrilled about this large order, he gave Lu Lin a fish as freebie.
Lu Lin promised the stall owner that he would become a regular customer, then he bought calamary, clams, seaweed and basically everything else on display…
On the way back to the county yamen, Lu Lin was still fully aroused, he was happy this county was rich in aquatic product resources, and he was determined to help the fishmen to expand the market.
Chen Xiao Mi scratched his head on seeing the crabs, lobsters and clams in the baskets, "Lin, I think you just got carried away, no way can we eat them all tonight."
"It's fine, we can share with the employees."
…
Yuan Bao and Dash looked at the crabs crawling on the ground and asked, "Father, what are those funny looking creatures? They are fierce looking and they walk in such a funny way, do they bite? Can we touch them?"
Lu Lin nodded, "They are called crabs, I guess they are a bit funny looking, but maybe not touch them, their claws are fierce. I will cook them soon and teach you guys how to eat them, they are great for your health."
Dash clapped his hands, "Yay, something new, I look forward to eating them, father."
Yuan Bao picked a clam from the baskets and said with excitement, "Father, I know what this is, apparently there are pearls inside them, right?"
"Pearls? I mean, maybe? But don't get your hopes high on these ones."
Yuan Bao was a little disappointed. "Why did you buy them if there were no pearls inside of them?"
Lu Lin curled his lips and said, "We are going to roast them for dinner as well, they are very yummy."
Yuan Bao took a closer look at the clam in hand and said, "But father, they look so small, are you sure they are yummy?"
Lu Lin was speechless! "Tut tut tut, kid, just prepare to be blown away!"
…
Lu Lin waved his hand and said, "You two, now feel free to roam around on the yard, father and Auntie Yun Niang are about to cook."
Lu Lin always sent the kids away with some excuses when he cooked meat, somehow he felt weird to let the kids see the cruel scene.
Yun Niang walked to Lu Lin's side and said with embarrassment, "Magistrate Lu, this is the first time I've seen these as well, can I watch and learn from you first?"
"Of course, of course, let me show you how to cook these little guys. Bring me some salt water first, they need a good scrub first… …"
Yun Niang was always willing to learn, she admired Lu Lin's cooking ideas and abilities.
Even though the ingredients Lu Lin bought looked strange, Yun Niang was still very confident that Lu Lin was going to serve a feast.
"I'm going to make a stir-fried sweet and savory tomato and chili crab plate and sone corn crab soup to begin with. I'm sure the kids with love it," said Lu Lin gesticulating with hands and feet.
Yun Niang looked at Lu Lin's bright eyes, red face and said worriedly, "Magistrate, Lu, are you all right?"
Lu Lin waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, I'm fine, just excited to cook these crabs."
Lu Lin and Yun Niang prepared all the ingredients, then the two of them started cooking in full swing.
…
The long-awaited meal was finally served when the night fell.
"Father, this crab soup is very delicious!" Dash made a clean sweep of his first serve.
Lu Lin snorted and said, "It is, isn't it? Now you've learned to not judge things by the size, haven't you? Watch out though, there are some shells in the soup."
"Thank you, father," Dash buried his head in his bowl.
The soup was indeed very heart, Lu Lin felt so satisfied about the first dinner they had in Fish Cabin County.
Yuan Bao stood up and grabbed a crab, he was so impatient when Lu Lin showed him how to eat the crabs without waste, he would just dive in right after Lu Lin popped the shell for him.
Chen Xiao Mi tasted every dish, savoring every mouthful. There were not many edible parts in crabs, but he enjoyed how tender and rich it was.
Yuan Bao mumbled when his mouth was full of food, "Father, what sauce did you use, this is delicious!"
Lu Lin looked at the Yuan Bao and said helplessly, "Eat slowly, no one will steal it from you…"
Yuan Bao blinked and said, "I'm trying to, but I can't stop it."
…
After dinner, the kids ran to the kitchen to play with the crabs in the basket.
Lu Lin sat in the rocking chair in the yard, rubbing his belly. He had accidentally eaten too much at dinner.
Chen Xiao Mi walked to Lu Lin who was resting his eyes and asked, "Do you want to open a restaurant here again?"
Lu Lin nodded and said, "You've seen through me."
There were too many high-quality aquatic products here, but it was obvious that the local people weren't making the best use of them. Lu Lin saw it his mission to share the recipes with the local people here and maybe expand the market to inland cities. Lu Lin was confident about the prospect of the Fish Cabin County.
Lu Lin let out a sigh, "It's a pity that Mai is still in the capital city, and Cai is still in Sha County dealing with his business issues."
Chen Xiao Mi glanced at Lu Lin and said, "You! Cai and Mai have been your minions since you married me."
Lu Lin burst into laughter, "It's so true though, I tricked them to take care of hens and ducks for me when I first married you, then the jam, the gloves… …"
Lu Lin held his arms and put on a smug smile, "What can I do? I have a lot of secrets in my hand that I only trust families and close friends."
Chen Xiao Mi smiled, "The kids have learned so much from you, I still find it hard to believe that both of them are educated, rational, well-travelled, experienced, none of that would happen if not for you! Take Mai for an example, the emperor knows his name now thanks to the dish you have taught him! Lin, in all seriousness, let me say a thank you to you on behalf of my brothers."
Lu Lin and Chen Xiao Mi rarely got so emotional, the two hugged tightly.
Lu Lin and Chen Xiao Mi bought two commercial houses for Mai in the capital city, Mai and Ji Yun An were leading a comfortable life by renting the two commercial houses.
And Chen Xiao Cai had become an idol of so many merchants not only in Sha County and Forest Town, but also so many travelling merchants across the country.
Lu Lin stroked Chen Xiao Mi's back gently and said, "Hey, shall we make Yuan Bao and Dash our minions? Mai could do a lot of thing when he was Yuan Bao's age, remember? Yuan Bao doesn't like study, shall we help him to become a business man like Cai?"
Chen Xiao Mi laughed, "I don't want to appear I'm spoiling Yuan Bao or anything, but I still see him as a baby. We were poor when Mai was Yuan Bao's age, that was why Mai kind of learned a lot of things when he was a boy, but now we can afford to baby Yuan Bao a few more years, right?"
"You are right, the good thing is Yuan Bao is already very good at mathematics, that's very promising."
"Yeah, we can focus on teaching him more knowledge at the moment, no rush to ask him to manage a store or anything," Chen Xiao Mi said.
Lu Lin nodded.
"Speaking of Yuan Bao, where is he, still in the kitchen playing with the crabs?" Lu Lin asked.
"He just went out with Qin Ming, he is curious about this new place that he is going to call home. Don't worry, Qin Ming will take care of him."
Grandma Lu's Death
In Big Stone Village.
Lu Cheng Yu once again put his heart and soul into preparing for the exam.
Two years ago, Grandma Lu fell ill. Tang originally thought about sending for a doctor, but soon she changed her mind, she was afraid the treatment fee would be a bottomless pit that could never be filled.
Grandma Lu cried bitterly and loudly in excessive grief when no one paid her any attention, she demanded to see a doctor and buy the best medicine.
Tang had locked Grandma Lu in her own room, ignoring all her requests. Grandma Lu always cried, demanding to see her favorite grandson, Lu Cheng Yu, but Lu Cheng Yu was too focused on his study to divert his attention, and deep down he was afraid what if Grandma Lu needed a large amount of treatment fee, so he chose to ignore his grandmother.
Tang was afraid that Grandma Lu would cause a ruckus in the village, incurring criticism about her and her son being unfilial, affecting Lu Cheng Yu's reputation. So Tang locked Grandma Lu in her room and only gave her a bowl of porridge every day.
Grandma Lu, who was senile and sick, didn't have the energy or strength to make a scene with only a bowl of porridge every day.
Grandma Lu hoped her sons to stand up for her, but they were all worried about the treatment fee, so they chose to ignore this 'burden' and turn a blind eye to Tang's doing.
There were villagers who had to sell their farmland to raise money to treat the elders in the family, no one in the Lu Family was willing to do that for Grandma Lu.
When Tang saw that everyone at home approved of her plan tacitly, she suddenly felt confident, She started to treat Grandma Lu in a flagrant way. She used to cook porridge for Grandma Lu, but soon she just served Grandma Lu leftovers.
Of course, the leftovers in a peasant family was very coarse. Grandma Lu felt unutterably depressed, she had been domineering her whole life, and now she was mistreated to this degree, Grandma Lu let out a bellow of tearful rage.
Grandma Lu asked Tang to bring Lu Cheng Yu to her, but Tang turned her down without even telling Lu Cheng Yu that his dying grandmother wanted to see him because a mother knew her son, Tang knew Lu Cheng Yu had no interest to see Grandma Lu.
Grandma Lu would often think about Lu Lin's after on her deathbed, she regrated for not treating her second son better when he was alive, but it was too late.
Grandma Lu succumbed to grief, no one was around when she passed away.
After Grandma Lu died, Tang made an excuse that Grandma Lu's illness might be contagious and quickly buried her for fear that the villagers might see that Grandma Lu was mistreated.
…
Lu Cheng Yu was busy preparing for his exam while the villagers were busy with autumn harvest. Big Stone Village was a busy scene.
"Butcher Zhang's son is back. I heard that Lu Lin was transferred to the Fish Cabin county."
"Really? He is transferred to another post?"
"Yeah! The travelling merchants also said the same. They are worried that the new magistrate in Sha County is difficult to get along with."
Lu Lin came from Forest Town. When the travelling merchants from Sha County arrived at Sha County, they would usually pay a visit to Lu Lin.
"Fish Cabin County? That place seems to be rather famous!"
"A few years ago, Sha County was poor and dangerous. Naturally, it was no match for the Fish Cabin county. However, in the past few years, Sha County has been in the ascendant. It's a pity that Lu Lin was transferred."
"Yeah! I heard that Chen Xiao Cai had built a hot spring resort in Sha County. Even young masters from the capital city and merchants from Liao Dynasty would go to the resort for fun!"
The travelling merchants from Forest Town had experienced the hot springs resort, they enjoyed sharing this experience with the villagers and enjoyed all the attention, and sometimes they liked to exaggerate things to get more attention, so the villagers all saw the resort as a heavenly palace.
"Although this Sha County is prosperous now, but a war will wipe out everything. The Fish Cabin county is a different story. It's close to the capital city, it will always be safe."
"Yeah! Lu Lin only picked Sha County back then because it was available."
"Lu Lin is not short of money now, his life is more important than money."
"I didn't expect that Lu Lin would be a reliable official."
When Lu Lin bought the official post, many people in the village did not think Lu Lin could handle the responsibility. In the eyes of the villagers, a good official should be profoundly learned, but they all knew Lu Lin didn't even went to school.
"Lu Lin got acquainted with His Highness Cheng when he was in Sha County, he invented a dish called Roast Whole Lamb which was added into the menu of state banquet. His Majesty has even rewarded him 1000 taels of silver, he made his name known to His Majesty! I think Lu Lin has a bright future ahead of him!"
"Amazing! This is amazing."
"Lu Cheng Yu is going to participate in the exam again this year! I wonder he can pass or not, there will be two officials in the Lu Family if he can pass."
"It's a pity that Grandma Lu and Grandpa Lu have passed away already, imagine how happy they are going to be if Lu Cheng Yu can really pass the exam."
"To be honest, I don't think Lu Cheng Yu can pass the exam, some people just don't have it in their star. But imagine it was Lu Lin who went to school, I'm afraid he would be a high-ranking official by now."
…
Not long after Chen Xiao Mi arrived at the Fish Cabin county, he prepared to build a center for aquatic products where he would build all kinds of seafood shops. Chen Xiao Cai was still in Sha County, so Chen Xiao Mi had to supervise the work personally.
Chen Xiao Mi enjoyed being busy. He would take the kids to the site and communicate with the workers on site.
"You're back?" Lu Lin glanced at Chen Xiao Mi and asked.
Chen Xiao Mi nodded, "Yeah! I just got Cai's letter, he said he would be on his way soon, he has found a perfect buyer for the commercial street, the hot springs resort is a bit tricky though."
Lu Lin nodded and said, "It's a pity to just sell the Hot Springs Resort. I know how much time and effort Cai has committed."
When the Hot Springs Resort, it caused a sensation. Over the years, the Hot Springs Resort had been expanded several times. There was a special hot springs restaurant now, people loved the restaurant.
"If Cai really feels reluctant to sell the resort, we can hire someone we trust to manage it for us," Lu Lin said.
Chen Xiao Mi nodded and said, "That is indeed the case. But a resort like that is really hard to manage, it is a golden goose in a good manager's hand and it's going to be a burden in a mediocre manager's hand."
When Lu Lin was in Sha County, he would often launch promotions to to attract guests. Now that they had left Sha County, it was not easy to manage it.
"How about handing it over to General Ji," Lu Lin said.
Chen Xiao Mi sighed and said, "I'm afraid it's not easy! General Ji seems to be too straightforward. He doesn't like to indulge in creature comforts, and he has a problem with people who do."
Lu Lin nodded, "That's right, he is like that. This guy doesn't understand stimulating consumption is good for the economy!"
Chen Xiao Mi was confused. "What are you talking about now…"
Lu Lin blinked and said, "If you have money, you have to spend it, it's good for the economy!"
Chen Xiao Mi pouted and said, "You've found a perfect excuse to spend money."
Lu Lin laughed, "It's not an excuse though…"
"Ji Yun An is attending the exam this year, hmm, I do wish him good luck, otherwise he will become a laughingstock. I still can't believe he gave up on his results last time!" Lu Lin changed the topic.
Chen Xiao Mi said helplessly, "You! You should have faith in him, maybe he will get the title of Number One Scholar this year! And our whole family will feel honored. I wish mother were still alive, she would feel so happy. Mother used to feel sorry for us that she couldn't send us to schools, but look at us now, we turn out just fine."
Lu Lin tilted his head, "Of course, I hope that he will do great, I was just talking about all the possibilities."
"Lu Cheng Yu is also attending the exam this year, right?" Chen Xiao Mi said.
Lu Lin narrowed his eyes, "I can't care less about him, it doesn't affect me regardless."
Lu Lin used to worry that Lu Cheng Yu might hurt him and his family when he was just a common villager, but now he was an official, an experienced official, he was no longer afraid of Lu Cheng Yu even though he might pass the exam and become an official.
"I heard that Lu Cheng Yu's temperament seemed to have changed a lot, he tends to see things very extreme." Several years ago, no matter how vicious Lu Cheng Yu was, he maintained to keep the image of a gentleman on the outside. However, Lu Cheng Yu became more and more aggressive over the years.
Chen Xiao Mi thought to himself, 'Lu Cheng Yu is a spoiled kid, he can't handle failures well. Especially Lin now is an official and he is still nothing, of course he would be seized by anger and envy.'
"Grandma Lu has passed away, have you heard of it? And I heard she died of hunger!" Emotion welled up inside Lu Lin.
Even though Tang kept the Grandma Lu's matter a secret, it was difficult to completely hide it from the villagers.
The villagers knew Grandma Lu was sick, but Tang didn't bother to send for a doctor, and they also knew Grandma Lu was locked into her own room by Tang, not long after that, Grandma Lu just died mysteriously.
Chen Xiao Mi nodded and said, "To be honest, I don't feel sorry or bad, I just think this is Grandma Lu's karma."
Lu Lin nodded and said, "I can't agree more, she abused her second daughter-in-law to death, and she was abused to death by Tang, her first daughter-in-law, that's some karma!"
Grilled Squid
The Qins had followed Lu Lin to Fish Cabin County, Lu Lin was grateful to them for their trust, they were living a comfortable life in Sha County, but they followed Lu Lin to a completely new destination without any hesitation.
"Magistrate, the Fish Cabin county seems to be very good! Look at this place, what kind of restaurant can we open?" Qin Lang asked.
Lu Lin smiled and said, "There are many options. The resources of this Fish Cabin county are much richer than that of Sha County. For people who like to eat seafood, this place is no difference than heaven!"
Qin Lang asked excitedly, "Can you open a food street like Sha County?"
Lu Lin smiled and said, "Of course."
It was going to be easier to open a food street here than Sha County. When Lu Lin first arrived in Sha County, the rich people in Sha County had all moved away. The rest of the local people's consumption level was limited, but there were many rich local people on Fish Cabin County.
Lu Lin was intrigued to open a few high-end restaurants in Sha County. Lu Lin was confident that he could have a few side businesses here.
"Lin Ge, do you need me to do anything?" Qin Lang was eager to get into action.
" There's nothing particularly important. You've just arrived, why don't you take some rest and find a place to settle down," Lu Lin said.
"Father is taking care of the house. I have nothing to do in my hands. I always feel like I'm completely empty when I am not working! I just… I enjoy getting things done," said Qin Lang with a frown.
Lu Lin patted Qin Lang's shoulder and said in his heart, 'Qin Lang is really a hardworking person! They must have a decent amount of savings in hand already, but they still like to get more work, I guess in this time and space, you should always be alert to potential risks.'
"Actually, there is a small business that you can do," Lu Lin pondered for a moment and decided to fulfill Qin Lang's wish to work.
Qin Lang asked curiously, "What is it?"
"A food stall to sell Spicy Fried Clams and Grilled Squid, " Lu Lin said.
"What are those things? Are they hard to cook?"
"Don't worry, it's easy. They are all local seafood, and the key is the seasoning and the sauce, I've already taught Yun Niang how to do it. Xiao Mi is building a seafood center, but it's going to take a while. Why don't you do some water testing for us and set up a food stall to see whether the local people like it or not."
"That sounds great, I'll ask my wife to learn from Yun Niang," Qin Lang said.
Lu Lin nodded and said, "Perfect!"
Qin Lang's wife was a capable Bio who was always willing to learn new skills.
Soon, Qin Lang opened a small food stall, mainly selling Spicy Fried Clams and Grilled Squid.
Due to the strange appearance of squid, there were very few people here who ate it. Qin Lang listened to Lu Lin and bought a basket of squid with a low price.
Qin Lang cut the whole squid into slices and put them in wooden skewers like kebab, then he put the squid skewers on the grill. He then added chili powder and spicy sauce, delicious smells wafted up from the stall.
The roasted squid was golden, and the chili powder was red, they looked very appealing to the eye.
The squid skewers were priced as 2 cents each, soon there were customers who were willing to give that a try.
Along the way, people were intrigued by the customers who were holding the squid skewers, they were surprised to find out each skewer was only sold for 2 cents, soon a lot of customers flocked to Qin Ming's stall.
The taste of roasted squid was divine. Qin Ming would promote Spicy Fried Clams to the customers, both food were sold well.
The whole basket of squid that Qin Lang bought was sold out.
Seeing this, Qin Lang and Qin Ming decided to continue selling roasted squid the next day.
…
"Father, Uncle Qin's grilled squid is very popular!" Yuan Bao said.
Lu Lin smiled and said, "Of course." In modern society, roasted squid stalls absolutely dominated night markets.
Lu Lin once again felt so great about himself, 'Thanks to me, now the local people are enjoying Mother Nature's presents.'
Lu Lin then glanced at Yuan Bao and said, "Don't eat too much, otherwise people will make fun of your chubby face."
Yuan Bao blushed and ran away, "Daddy, you are the only one who is making fun of me."
Yuan Bao pouted and ran away. Lu Lin looked at Yuan Bao's retiring figure and smiled.
Lu Lin walked into the room only to see Chen Xiao Mi munching on roasted squid. Seeing Lu Lin come in, Xiao Mi wiped his mouth in embarrassment.
"Do you like it?" Lu Lin sat down and asked.
Chen Xiao Mi nodded and said, "It's very delicious. You are always full of new ideas."
Lu Lin touched his chin and said, "To be honest with you, I didn't invent this cooking method, I learned it in my hometown. But the good thing is all food here has kept original taste and flavor, food in my hometown is very… how do I put this… artificial."
Chen Xiao Mi nodded, he only had a hazy notion about what Lu Lin just said.
…
In the county yamen, several Yamen runners were enjoying roasted squid as well.
"This thing tastes so good!" Zheng San said.
Zhou Shi nodded and said, "Yeah! Even the local people find it amazing, they have never had it this way before."
That morning, Qin Lang bought two baskets of squids, there were a few skewers left in the evening when he packed up the stall, so he cooked them all and shared them with Chen Xiao Mi and the yamen runners.
Qin Lang and Qin Ming became more and more sophisticated over the years, they knew the old yamen runners wouldn't find fault with them if they try to be nice first.
The old Yamen runners were anxious when the previous magistrate retired, they all tried their best to inquire about Lu Lin. Now that two of Lu Lin's most trusted subordinates made overtures to them, so they befriended with them happily.
"Our new county magistrate is not simple! It is said that when he was in Sha County, he made a roasted sheep and was rewarded by the emperor."
"I've heard about it too. I heard that his brother-in-law is a genius businessman who has built a commercial street and something called a resort which has attracted visitors from the Liao Dynasty."
Wang Da looked a little worried. "I hope this Magistrate Lu is a good official."
Wang Da was the lead yamen runner, he had been worried that Lu Lin would replace him with one of his own subordinates, but it looked like this Magistrate Lu had no intention to do so, all he cared about was to build a seafood center.
…
Qin Lang and Qin Ming were both surprised when they saw there was already a line of customers waiting for them when they arrived at the market.
The Qin Brothers were great at building rapport with the customers, soon they found out a lot of the customers were here for Lu Lin's reputation. It looked like the yamen runners had promoted for Qin Brothers, they said the sauce was invented by Lu Lin, the new magistrate who was appreciated by the emperor due to his exceptional cooking skills.
The local people knew they couldn't afford Roast Whole Lamb, but they could easily spend a few cents on squid skewers.
Compared to Grilled Squid, Spicy Fried Clams wasn't as popular. It wasn't because it was less tasty, it was because Grilled Squid was much more convenient to have, the customers could easily pick them up and have them on the go.
Qin Lang prepared two baskets of squid this day, but it sold fast, it was sold out before the evening.
…
"I didn't expect this strange looking fish to be so delicious after it is roasted!" A few fish sellers in the market chatted with each other.
"Yeah! Qin Lang and Qin Ming always buy two whole baskets in one go, it must be very popular. I've had a few customers who also tried to roast the squid, but they all say it doesn't taste nearly as good."
"It's all about the seasoning and the sauce, you know, how can you just magically make something delicious by roasting it?"
"Is that so…"
…
When Qin Lang and Qin Ming first bought squid from the market, it was so cheap that it almost felt like free.
After a few days, the two of them found that the price of squid had increased. Although it was still cheap, it was still much more expensive than before because many people were also buying them, it was in short supply but in great demand.
Qin Lang and Qin Ming had been making about two hundred cents per day.
"Father, Magistrate Lu is amazing! He just helps us make so much money with a random idea."
Qin Yi nodded, "I'm not surprised at all! This isn't the first time we've seen Magistrate Lu works wonders. I think the wisest decision I've ever make in my life was to work for Magistrate Lu."
The Qin Brothers nodded, they felt the same way as well, they always thought they owed everything they had in life to Lu Lin.
Qin Lang nodded, "That's right, I'm forever grateful to Magistrate Lu. Father, Magistrate Lu has invited us to dinner, are you going as well?"
Qin Yi shook his head and said, "You guys go."
Qin Lang nodded and said, "See you soon, father."
"Does he have something important to discuss with you or… …" asked Qin Yi.
Qin Ming shook his head and said, "That doesn't seem to be the case. I heard that Magistrate Lu has accidentally bought too much food, so he invites us for a dinner to finish all the food."
Qin Yi was speechless, "Sometimes I feel Magistrate Lu acts like a little boy."
Qin Lang laughed, "But that makes him more real and approachable, everyone likes him."
Qin Yi looked at his two sons and said, "You guys don't get carried away too much, he is our lord, remember to show respect all the time!"
To Save a Father and Son
When the Qin Lang and Qin Ming arrived, they found that Lu Lin had not only invited them, but also the Yamen runners.
"Qin Ming, Qin Lang, you guys are here too!" Wang Da greeted.
Qin Lang nodded, "Yeah, Wang Da, how are you!"
Qin Ming also greeted the crowd with a smile.
Qin Ming saw a few round tables in the hall and there were already a selection of dishes on the tables.
Lu Lin came out and said with a smile, "Looks like everyone is here. Let's all take a seat, make yourself at home."
Qin Ming scratched his head and said, "Magistrate Lu, we won't stand on ceremony with you."
"That's what I want to see. I'm glad you've brought you son Dazhi with you, he is such a big boy now, isn't he? How time flies, I still remember when I first met you and you brother, two boys, and look at your today, you have a family!" Lu Lin stroked Qin Dazhi's hair and got a bit emotional.
Qin Dazhi, who seemed to be a shy boy, hid behind Qin Ming.
Seeing Lu Lin move away, Qin Dazhi curiously popped his head out and stared at Lu Lin. Then he craned his neck to get a better view of the guests.
Qin Ming and the other guests soon were seated, they could smell the aroma of dishes even more, he swallowed some saliva subconsciously.
Crab porridge, Dried Pot Shrimp, Sweet and Sour Fish, Spicy Fried Clams, Garlic Fried Eels, Stri-fried Seafood Noodles, Lu Lin really made a feast.
Every dish was finger licking good, the yamen runners didn't know this new magistrate well yet, so they paid great attention to their table manners at first, but as soon as they started eating, they started to throw their manners out of the window.
Qin Ming served a bowl of Crab Porridge for his son and Qin Dazhi, the boy enjoyed it so much.
Qin Lang and Qin Ming knew Lu Lin's cooking skills and were not surprised that Lu Lin could whip out such a feast. However, the yamen runners had never met a official who was willing to condescend to cook for his subordinates, they didn't expect this meticulously prepare feast.
"This is an eel, how come it's so yummy!" Sun Wu, a yamen runner thought to himself, "This new magistrate is something else!"
"This fish is actually sweet!" One of the yamen runners exclaimed, then he covered his mouth and blushed.
Qin Ming thought to himself, 'What's so special about sweet and sour fish? Magistrate Lu used to cook this for us all the time."
Then Qin Ming realized that sugar was expensive, most families only bought sugar as a treat to the kids in the family, it was very rare to use it as an ingredient.
Soon the guest made a clean sweep of everything on the table with an appreciative smack of the lips. They helped packing up ang doing the dishes before they left.
…
"It's really delicious." The yamen runners walked out of the hall together.
"Yeah! None of the ingredients seems to be too rare, but everything was just so delicious, I wish I knew one thing or two about cooking so I can ask my wife to cook the same thing for me and the kids."
"I totally agree. Although the ingredients were all very accessible, it just tastes so fine."
"Yeah, especially that ell, it tastes so tender!"
"For me, my favorite is the sweet and sour fish, it didn't even occur to me you could put sugar into cooking."
…
"It looks like our dishes are very popular, they've eaten up everything!" Lu Lin blinked.
Chen Xiao Mi smiled, "Isn't that great? It makes me more confident to open a restaurant.
Lu Lin nodded, "Yeah! It seems very simple to cook something people like."
Chen Xiao Mi looked at Lu Lin with a doting smile and said, "You! Don't get too smug, all right?"
Lu Lin made a face, then he looked outside the door and said, "It's still early. Let's go out and take a stroll somewhere."
"It's okay for us to go out for a walk, but don't buy whatever you see on the way." said Lu Lin.
"Got it, I promise we are just taking a stroll. I'm sorry I've been a little carried away since we arrived, it's just I can't help it, all the lobsters and crabs are being sold at such an affordable price, I really can't help it."
Chen Xiao Mi looked at Lu Lin and said smiled, "I guess if you really want to buy, you can still buy some."
Lu Lin nodded and said, "Really? Well, it's not a bad idea to buy stuff now because I think the price of the seafood will increase soon."
"You are always so creative with your excuses when you want to buy stuff."
…
Lu Lin and Chen Xiao Mi saw a father and son being thrown out from an inn.
"Boss, please show some mercy, I promise you I will pay soon," a middle-aged man carried his son in the arm and begged the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper looked at him and said flatly, "You haven't paid a cent for three days. There's nothing I can do here, my boss isn't happy about this, I'm so sorry."
The shopkeeper glanced at the child in the man's arms and thought, "This child is so sickly. If he dies in the inn, the other guests will move out!"
"That's a fisherman! I can tell from the marks on his hands." Chen Xiao Mi said.
Lu Lin frowned. Many fishermen lived on the boat. They would only live onshore when there was a family member got sick, but living in an inn was a burden for them
From the way it looked, the fisherman might be broke now.
Lu Lin walked to the middle-aged fisherman and said, "If you don't have a place to live, you can stay with me and my family for a while."
The shopkeeper turned pale on seeing Lu Lin, he trembled with fear said, "Magistrate Lu, I…"
Lu Lin nodded at the shopkeeper.
The boss of the inn soon rushed out, he sighed in his heart that he was so unlucky that he was caught by the new magistrate when he was kicking out a guest.
"Magistrate Lu, please hear me out, he hasn't paid the room fee for three days."
"I understand, you have a business to run, this is not a charity, if all the guests don't pay accommodation fee, you will lose your business soon." Lu Lin said.
Han Feng, the father who was holding his son realized that he had met a big shot on seeing how scared the boss and the shopkeeper were.
Lu Lin was no longer in the mood to continue the stroll, he looked at Han Feng and said, "Why don't you just follow me?"
Han Feng looked at his sick son, he gritted his teeth and followed Lu Lin.
After arriving at the county yamen, Lu Lin asked Wan Xiao Fan to arrange a room for Han Feng and his son, then he asked Qin Ming to send for a doctor for the sick boy. physician.
…
Lu Lin sat in the study, writing at a tremendous speed. Chen Xiao Mi walked into the room and asked, "What are you busy with?"
Lu Lin glanced at Chen Xiao Mi and said, "I plan to organize a fisherman team."
Chen Xiao Mi blinked and said, "Well! To be honest, I don't think it is that easy. The fishermen all tend to avoid people, they have their own circles just like the mountain people in Big Stone Village."
Lu Lin nodded and said, "I've heard of it too, but I plan to build a dormitory building for the fishermen by the sea, so they can enjoy all the convenience on shore."
"Dormitory?" Chen Xiao Mi heard Lu Lin mention it before. When Lu Lin was in school, he lived in something called a dormitory.
Lu Lin nodded and said, "The fishermen live on the boats. It's all right when the weather is good, but it's troublesome when it's windy and rainy. It's not healthy for children to live on boats! If I build a dormitory for them, they can have a place to stay when the weather conditions are harsh."
Chen Xiao Mi blinked and asked, "Is it free for them to live?"
Lu Lin shook his head, "Of course not!"
People tended to not cherish free things that they didn't have to work for.
"You can only live in my building if you join my fishermen team! The rooms won't be fancy, it's just a safe place for them to stay."
Chen Xiao Mi nodded, "It's a good idea."
After Han Feng and his son arrived, they stayed in one of the servants 'rooms in the County Yamen. Naturally, the things in the county Yamen were good, but the father and son constantly felt nervous.
Lu Lin covered the treatment fee for Han Feng's son, Han Xiao Zhou. Han Xiao Zhou 's condition had improved significantly after taking the medicine the doctor had prescribed, Han Feng was so grateful to Lu Lin.
Han Feng couldn't afford the medical fees. All Han Feng could think of was to hand over his boat to Lu Lin to pay for the debt. However, he couldn't make a living without his boat in the future.
Qin Lang knew that Lu Lin had taken Han Feng and his son in, he would visit them from to time.
When he saw the father and son, Qin Lang thought of himself and his own family. Back then, his brother was injured, and their family was so helpless, it was Lu Lin and Chen Xiao Mi who had saved them.
Han Xiao Zhou looked at Qin Lang and asked carefully, "Uncle Qin, is it really okay for me and father to stay here for free?"
Han Xiao Zhou lowered his head. In order to treat him disease, his father had spent all the money he had accumulated.
Qin Lang nodded and said, "It's fine, I'm sure. Our magistrate and his partner are two of the best people I have ever met, just don't worry."
Han Feng was still a little skeptical. Lu Lin was an official! Han Feng firmly believed all officials liked to bully the plain folks for their personal profit.
Qin Lang stroked Han Xiao Zhou's head and said, "Don't worry, kiddo, it'll get better. This is actually how me and my family met Magistrate Lu. Several years ago, my father, my brother and I were mountain people, one day my brother was injured by… …"
Both Han Feng and Han Xiao Zhou were fascinated by the story, and now they believed Lu Lin was a different official.
To Establish a Fleet
"You guys are here," Lu Lin waved at the Qin Lang and Qin Ming.
"Magistrate Lu, you're always so kind!" Qin Ming cupped his hands and salute Lu Lin.
Lu Lin said with a lighthearted tone, "Mi and I happened to see them when we were taking a stroll on a street."
Qin Lang smiled and said to himself, 'His Lordship is always like this, he never wants to take any credit for any good deed he has done, everything is just a coincidence.'
"Plus I want to establish a fleet. I want them to publicize it for me. If there are a lot of people willing to join my fleet, it would be great."
"Magistrate Lu, what are you going to do with a fleet?" Qin Lang was confused.
"To have a fleet, of course, it's for business!"
Qin Ming touched his chin and said expectantly, "If you are really going to establish a fleet, don't you need a captain? Magistrate Lu, how about letting me be the captain?"
Qin Lang glared at Qin Ming, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Lu Lin waved his hand and said, "Lang, don't be too harsh on your brother."
Lu Lin looked at Qin Ming with a smile, "Very good, ambitious. He is a bad soldier who doesn't dream of becoming a general. You are absolutely right, I do need a captain for my fleet, but are you a good swimmer? Have you ever been on a boat?! Are you seasick?"
"Of course I won't get seasick," Qin Ming said without thinking.
Qin Lang glanced at his brother and stifled a laughter, "You haven't been on a boat yet. It's hard to say if you're seasick or not."
Qin Ming glanced at Qin Lang unhappily. He felt that his big brother should be talking him up.
Lu Lin looked at Qin Ming with interest and asked, "Why do you want to be the captain?"
"It sounds impressive, isn't it?" Qin Ming said with bright eyes.
Qin Lang glanced at Qin Ming and sighed in his heart that his little brother could be a bit naïve sometimes. Luckily, Magistrate Lu was not the kind of person who made a fuss over things.
Lu Lin nodded and said, "If you can drive a boat, you can swim, you don't get seasick, you don't mind managing the trifles of the fleet, I can hand over this matter to you!"
Qin Ming asked excitedly, "Really? That's great, Magistrate Lu, don't worry. I'll go learn to swim right away."
Qin Lang looked at Lu Lin and asked curiously, "Magistrate Lu, I heard that you've been looking for people to build something called dormitory, is that also for the purpose of setting up the fleet?"
Lu Lin nodded. "I heard that many fishers live on their boats. If they join my fleet, they can live in the dormitory I prepare for them."
Qin Lang smiled and said, "Magistrate Lu, I know you don't like to be called as a saint, but you are! Father, Ming and I used to live in caves in the mountain, I know how much people desire for reliable accommodation!"
Lu Lin lowered his head and said, "Don't flatter me, I'm not a saint, I just want to see a win-win situation."
…