Chapter Fifteen: Earning Money with Dignity

On the other side, after leaving the beach, the people of the small fishing village were still reeling from the shock of what had just happened.

Looking at the sacks full of money, an intense sense of unreality welled up in the hearts of the villagers, including Liu Quan.

“When did Scarface become so agreeable? Are we dreaming?” Zhao San said in disbelief.

“Who knows, maybe the bandits will raid our village tonight!” someone else worried aloud.

“Qin Zhen, you were too impulsive!” Liu Quan pulled Qin Zhen aside, speaking earnestly, “No matter what, you can’t just kill someone so easily!”

“That scoundrel deserved it!” Li Han retorted, indignant.

“Shut your mouth, Hanzi!” Liu Quan fumed, his liver aching with anxiety. If not for Li Han’s rashness provoking that man, they wouldn’t be in such a predicament now.

“If we hadn’t killed him, none of us would have left alive today,” Qin Zhen said quietly.

Scarface’s crew had made it clear they intended to rob them outright. Without demonstrating overwhelming force, who knew what might have happened?

“We’re only trying to make a living, not to get mixed up in killing,” Liu Quan said, face long with worry. “At worst, we could have taken less and kept things peaceful. Scarface and his lot are infamous cutthroats—cross them and there’s no good end.”

“Brother Liu,”

Qin Zhen stopped walking, and the others halted as well, curious to hear what he had to say.

Qin Zhen pointed to the tattered fishing net and asked, “With this thing, can we make money?”

“We can, but only by groveling,” Liu Quan replied.

They were just powerless commoners—how could they possibly stand up to bandits and bullies? Liu Quan knew Scarface’s character too well. He might call it a partnership, but in the end, he’d bleed them dry like a leech.

Qin Zhen took out the repeating crossbow. “And with this, can we make money?”

“In the mountains, yes!” Liu Quan answered honestly. “If you plan to become an outlaw, I suggest you go a hundred miles away to Leafy Mountain. The bandits there are righteous men of the greenwood, much more honorable than the ones at Hat Mountain…”

Clearly, Liu Quan had misunderstood Qin Zhen’s intentions.

Qin Zhen offered no explanation, but placed the repeating crossbow alongside the fishing net. “If we use this with this, can we make money standing tall?”

For a moment, Liu Quan looked at Qin Zhen with renewed understanding. He was quick-witted, and instantly grasped Qin Zhen’s underlying meaning.

Qin Zhen clapped Liu Quan on the shoulder and glanced around at the others.

“I’m not one to kneel—I can’t, not with these legs. We’re all neighbors here, so I’ll speak plainly: if you don’t want to kneel, follow me. We’ll grow stronger together and create a glorious future!”

He paused, gauging their reactions, and continued.

“Of course, if you don’t believe in me, then take the money and divide it among yourselves. I’ll still treat you all as elders and uncles, as before.”

“Qin Zhen, you underestimate us!” Zhao San laughed heartily. “We’re not afraid of storms—why should we fear anything else? If there’s a chance to prosper, who wants to live in hardship? We risk our lives at sea to catch fish, all to give our families a better life!”

Li Han’s answer was straightforward: “Zhen, I’m with you!”

Liu Quan now laughed as well. “We’re all from the same village—no need for empty talk. If we don’t stick together, how can we survive?”

But then his tone shifted, tinged with worry. “I’m just concerned about the bandits from Hat Mountain…”

“Don’t worry,” Qin Zhen replied in a low voice. “Scarface still needs us—he’s counting on us to make him money with our fishing. If I were him, I wouldn’t send bandits after us; I’d protect us! Otherwise, who would fish for him?”

Not just anyone could make those fishing nets.

Liu Quan thought it over and realized it made sense.

When they returned to the village, Qin Zhen’s group immediately attracted attention.

Whenever Liu Quan led men out to sea, eight out of ten times they’d come back bedraggled and empty-handed. Today, though, they held their heads high—not only bringing back a good catch of fish, but also several sacks, which clearly meant a bountiful harvest.

When word spread that the sacks were filled with money, the old village head was dumbfounded.

“What happened to you all? Don’t tell me you went out robbing! I warn you, we can’t do anything against the law!”

“Father, you’ve got it wrong! Zhen invented a fishing net that can catch a ton of fish! All this money came from selling fish!” Liu Quan explained, grinning.

“This raggedy net can really catch that many fish?” The old chief remained skeptical.

“I’d never lie to you,” Liu Quan snapped, frustrated that he wasn’t believed.

Before Qin Zhen could say a word, the village men hurried to set up pots and start cooking, while the daughters, along with the children, began to clean the live fish.

Fish wasn’t something they could eat every day. Perhaps not as rare as game, but for the poor villagers, it was still a precious meal.

The aroma of cooking fish wafted through the air, making everyone’s mouths water.

As they ate, the old village head beamed with joy. “Zhen, you truly are the village’s lucky star! Ever since you grew up, our little fishing village’s days have only gotten better! Now we get to eat meat every few days!”

The villagers echoed the sentiment, lavishing praise on Qin Zhen.

“That’s right! In the old days, who could afford meat? It’s all thanks to Zhen!”

“Zhen really is the most capable man in our village!”

Seeing that the mood was right, Qin Zhen shared his true intentions.

“From now on, I want every household in our village to have meat on the table. I want every man, woman, and child to have new clothes and money to spend—never going hungry again!”

“For those words alone, you can count on me for anything!” Zhao San declared. “We’ll all follow you!”

“That’s right!” Liu Quan agreed. “We’ll do as Zhen says and live a good life!”

The villagers’ desires were simple. In their hearts, a good life meant having enough to eat and wear, and not being bullied.

That was the life Qin Zhen wanted, too.

But in a world that devoured the weak, how could such days come easily?

That night, Qin Zhen couldn’t sleep.

Early the next morning, he went to the old village head’s house and knocked on the door.

“Chief, I plan to mobilize the villagers—some to clear land for farming, others to follow me out to sea and fish…”

The old chief, still half-asleep in bed, heard the word ‘fishing’ and waved his hand.

“Do as you see fit. As long as it’s not something that’ll get us all killed, the villagers will support you.”

With the chief’s approval, Qin Zhen headed to Chen Shu’s house.

“Uncle Chen, you served in the army. I’d like your help to train our villagers.”

“Train them?” Chen Shu hesitated. “What for? Our village is dirt poor, with nothing but dirt and wild greens. We don’t even attract thieves! And besides, our people are half-starved most days—who has the strength to train?”

“Uncle, trust me. It won’t be long before our village prospers,” Qin Zhen said with unwavering conviction.

“And besides, mountain bandits and sea raiders plague us every year. We can’t keep abandoning our homes and running for our lives, can we?”