Chapter 169: Dried Shredded Squid

In the fisherman's dormitory.

"Father, how much money did you save this month?" Han Xiao Zhou asked casually with his legs crossed.

"I saved more than six hundred cents. If it wasn't for the medical fees that we owe Magistrate Lu, I should have saved almost one tale of silver. I'm able to save one tale or even more next month," said Han Feng with a smile.

"We've finally paid Magistrate Lu off!" Han Xiao Zhou sighed in relief.

Han Feng nodded. Although he knew Magistrate Lu did not care about that little bit of money, he didn't like the feeling of owing someone money.

Han Xiao Zhou said, "Although we need to hand over some fish after we joined the fleet, it seems that we are earning more than before!"

"Yeah!"

Han Feng usually earned seven or eight hundred cents in the past, but this month he had actually earned one tale of silver.

For fishermen, having caught unmarketable fish was almost inevitable, luckily, Lu Lin's restaurant was willing to purchase any type of fish. Han Feng did some math, he figured the fish he handed over in the fleet had balanced out the unmarketable fish that he had sold to Lu Lin's restaurant.

Two days ago, he was arranged to go fishing on the big pilot ship. He and the team went further in the sea and they fished more.

Lu Lin had been offering a really good price for squid recently, the team was very motivated to fish more squid.

Han Feng thought to himself, 'After joining the fleet, I seem to have earned more. It seems like it happened to not just me, but also the whole team.'

During this period of time, everyone seemed to be in a good mood. Those who had fished strange-looking fish were even more so, Chen Xiao Cai was willing to pay about 500 cents for a strange-looking fish.

It was getting colder and colder, but there was always free hot soup in the kitchen at night. The fishermen were all grateful for this benefit!

Han Xiao Zhou held his chin and said, "His Lordship is such a good person."

Han Feng nodded and said, "Yeah! His Lordship is much better than the previous one, and his brother-in-law has never thrown his weight about."

The previous magistrate's brothers-in-law loved idling about and doing no decent work. One of them loved taking advantage of the fishermen in particular, he would always do credit charge with the fishermen and never had he settled the account with the fishermen.

The fishermen were thrilled when Lu Lin flogged that notorious brother-in-law for pilfery, and the other brothers-in-law all had restrained themselves.

Chen Xiao Cai's image in the hearts of the fishermen was very tall and glorious, they were surprised that not only Xiao Cai was a decent human being, but they were more surprised that Xiao Cai was such a capable businessman.

After Chen Xiao Cai came, more and more seafood stores were opened in the Fish Cabin county.

Some people in the surrounding towns were attracted to the Fish Cabin county by its reputation and they loved the seafood this county had to offer, more often than not, they would spend some money in the seafood center and buy some seafood as presents to their family and friends back home.

The seafood in the Fish Cabin County became more and more famous.

There were also some similar seafood shops in the surrounding counties. The shop owners would always purchase and replenish their stock from Fish Cabin county. As a result, the seafood center in the Fish Cabin county became more and more popular.

......

A few months later, the empty space in front of the fishermen's dormitory was filled with squid dried in the sun.

The Grilled Squid in Sha County had become a signature night market food, but it was not easy to transport live squid. Lu Lin asked the fishermen to dry the squid in the sun thus they could store and transport the squid better.

Dried squid was easy to make, it could be stored for a long time and it had made transportation feasible.

People could have them as a snack, a side dish and a stir-fry ingredient.

Dried Squid soon had become a specialty of the Fish Cabin county. The travelers passing by the Fish Cabin county liked to purchase some and take home with them.

"Captain Qin, this batch of squid is done, it's dried up evenly," Jiang Xian said.

Qin Ming nodded and said, "Then let's pack it. There seem to be a lot of order recently. There are a lot of orders from the capital city alone."

Lu Lin sent two boxes of dried squid to Chen Xiao Mai in the capital city a few days ago.

After that, for some reason, more and more squid orders came from the capital city.

Jiang Xian nodded, "Okay."

Jiang Xian thought to himself, 'Magistrate Lu is really capable! Before he came, the price of squid was extremely low, and no one wanted to eat it. After he came, the price started to soar. It is said that many of the nobles in the capital are interested in this fish.'

In the fishermen's dormitory, there were now many family members stayed in the dormitory when the fishermen went to sea. In the past, the fishermen had to take all the family members with them whenever they went to sea because they had no place to live. Now things were different. The fishermen would leave the children and wives in the dormitory relievedly.

The family members were in charge of cooking and drying the squid. Several family members had even built duck shed and chook run in the vicinity of the dormitory building. They enjoyed the life on shore, no need to lead a wandering life.

Lu Lin built two fisherman dormitories, which were both full now.

As more and more fisherman joined the fleet, Lu Lin was planning to build another dormitory building.

......

In the capital city.

Chen Xiao Mai cupped his face and hummed.

Seeing Ji Yun An enter the door, Chen Xiao Mai stood up and happily ran towards Ji Yun An. Although Ji Yun An was prepared, he was still stunned by Chen Xiao Mai.

"Yun An, the stuff sent by Big Brother has arrived."

"Aww, Big Brother has sent us stuff again!"

Chen Xiao Mai was the youngest in the family, Chen Xiao Mi always doted on him like a son, he often sent things over. Spicy sauce, seafood sauce, thirteen-fragrant-spices, sometimes it was assorted dry goods from Fish Cabin county.

A while ago, Lu Lin sent some dried shrimps. Although the shrimps were not too big in size, it would add more flavor in the soup.

Highness Cheng was very interested in what Chen Xiao Mi had sent over.

Every time Chen Xiao Mi sent things over, Highness Cheng would come over to take a look. There were many coincidences like this, and Ji Yun An could not help but wonder if the prince had hired an informer in his residence.

The seafood sauce in the Fish Cabin county tasted very good.

Once, Lu Lin sent a total of 10 bottles over, and Highness Cheng took half of them.

He showed zero interest in the dried shrimp though. He couldn't help but get worried about Lu Lin's circumstances on seeing the size of the dried shrimp.

The prince felt pity for Lu Lin, 'poor guy can only afford small shrimps like this', and he generously sent two big baskets of lobsters to Ji Yun An and Chen Xiao Mai the next day.

A few days later, Chen Xiao Mai treated Highness Cheng to a bowl of stewed porridge with dried shrimp in it and Highness Cheng fell in love with that flavor, it wasn't until no did he realize that Lu Lin sent shrimp not because that was the only stuff he could afford but because it was delicious.

"What has Big Brother sent this time?" Ji Yun An asked.

"Dried Squid!" Chen Xiao Mai said.

Ji Yun An said with excitement, "Wow, that's something new."

Chen Xiao Mai nodded, "Yeah! Big Brother has sent a box to Highness Cheng as well, now we don't have to worry he will show up and split half with us."

Ji Yun An beamed, "Isn't that great news."

Ji Yun An hid half a box of dried squid and decided to keep it for themselves.

Dried Squid from Fish Cabin County was a new favorite in the capital city, a lot of people wanted to try their luck from Ji Yun An and Chen Xiao Mai.

Chen Xiao Mi probably knew this too, so every time he sent stuff over, he would pack extra so that Ji Yun An could send some to his friends and colleagues.

People in the capital city paid great attention to formalities. They would reciprocate Ji Yun An with something more valuable whenever they got something from him. Most importantly, Ji Yun An had got something priceless - network.

Normally Ji Yun An was happy to share the stuff with his friends and colleagues, but he wanted to try the Dried Squid first before he gave them away.

......

In Highness Cheng's manor.

"Your Highness, the things are here."

Highness Cheng couldn't help but exclaim, "Really? Let's go take a look."

Two boxes of squid were carried to the manor. Highness Cheng looked at it and said, "Beautiful send them to the kitchen and tell them I want to try some for lunch today."

Stir-fried squid and bamboo shoots was a rare delicacy. The squid meat was very chewy and the bamboo shoots were crunchy.

Highness Cheng stroked his beard and savored every mouthful with relish.

Highness Cheng always professed to be Chen Xiao Mai and Ji Yun An's matchmaker and he always invited himself to their house for dinner.

As a matter of fact, Highness Cheng had the best chefs in the capital city, but he always preferred having dinner with Mai and Ji Yun An.

Highness Cheng had even written a letter to Lu Lin asking for more dried squid, Lu Lin dared not to delay, he sent two large boxes of dried squid to Highness Cheng right away.

"Isn't Lu Lin just so wonderful and creative? I've heard of squid before, but people used to avoid using it as an ingredient, but now squid has become a new favorite in the capital city thanks to Lu Lin. You know what, I think he should become a chef in the imperial palace, his current post is unworthy of his talent, what do you guys reckon?" Highness Cheng asked Mai and Ji Yun An.

The two exchanged a look in astonishment, they didn't think Lu Lin aspired to become a chef in the imperial palace.