Chapter Thirty-Five: Livelihood

The riots outside the city of Haozhou had nothing to do with them, but the choices that lay ahead were deeply intertwined with their survival.

To stay within the city walls or to leave? Though they wished they didn't have to choose, they had no other option.

Wang Wu gritted his teeth and asked, "Brother Mu, once we leave the city, must we continue to rely on fishing every day to survive?"

At these words, everyone turned their eyes to Zhao Mu. Even Wen Zhi knew that before they entered the city, they had only managed to reach Taiping County because Zhao Mu had used a crude, homemade fishing net to catch fish in the river every day.

Zhao Mu smiled and said, "At the beginning, we will indeed have to rely on fishing to stay alive. But fishing alone is not a long-term plan. The weather is getting colder, and the Fengshui River will eventually freeze. When that happens, fishing will no longer be an option."

"Furthermore, eating only fish is not a solution. We need more than just food; we need clothing and other supplies to ensure we can survive through the long term."

The group nodded instinctively. While they didn't fully grasp why they needed other types of food, his words struck a chord with their own anxieties. Summer had passed, and winter was only two or three months away. When it arrived, not only would the Fengshui River freeze over, making fishing impossible, but they would also require more clothing to withstand the biting cold.

Thus, fishing alone was not a viable path; they needed another way to make a living. And regardless of the path chosen, it would inevitably require money. They needed funds to buy food and to procure winter clothing. They had to find a way to earn, or leaving the city would be a futile effort.

Huang Wan’s eyes flickered as she asked, "Do you already have an idea?"

Though she had not spoken much with Zhao Mu on their journey as refugees, she had come to understand his character. Since he had spoken so extensively, she assumed he must already have a plan.

Zhao Mu nodded. "I have a few ideas, though I am not yet sure if they will succeed."

The group looked at him with eager anticipation, desperate to hear what he had in mind.

"Let’s do this," Zhao Mu said after a moment of thought. "Brother Wen, you all wait here for now. Brother Wang, will you accompany me to the Tianxiang Pavilion?"

Wang Wu was stunned. "Are you going to see Manager Qin?"

Zhao Mu nodded. "Exactly. We are strangers in Taiping County, and the only person we know is Manager Qin. If he is willing to lend us a hand, things will be much easier for us."

A glimmer of hope lit up the faces of Wang Wu and the others. They recalled the day Manager Qin had tried to press ten taels of silver into Zhao Mu’s hand, only for Zhao Mu to accept just two. From that alone, they knew there was a degree of rapport between them.

Only Huang Wan frowned slightly. Her expression grew troubled, as if she had realized something, but seeing the joy of the others, she remained silent, not wanting to dampen their spirits.

Zhao Mu noticed her reaction and suspected she did not approve of his plan to visit the Tianxiang Pavilion. However, since she did not voice her concerns, he chose not to bring it up. He had finally managed to give the others a glimmer of hope; there was no harm in letting them enjoy it a little longer. Moreover, he was not going to the pavilion to beg for charity, but to seek a partnership.

"Brother Wang, let us be off."

Zhao Mu stood up and left with Wang Wu. Watching them depart, Wen Zhi and the others felt a surge of expectation. Although they had not known Zhao Mu for long, they all felt he was a man of great resourcefulness. Whatever he set his mind to, he would surely accomplish. This time, they believed, would be no different.

Upon arriving at the Tianxiang Pavilion, the waiter instinctively moved to shoo them away. But when he recognized Zhao Mu, his expression shifted immediately to a welcoming smile. "Brother Mu! What brings you here today?"

This was the same waiter who had once turned Zhao Mu away. However, after Zhao Mu had introduced the recipes for sauerkraut fish and chili oil, Qin Jian had held him in the highest regard. Qin Jian had even asked if Zhao Mu wanted him to fire the waiter, but Zhao Mu had refused, reasoning that the man was only looking out for the business.

"It’s you," Zhao Mu said with a smile. "I’m here to see Manager Qin. Is he in?"

The waiter hurried to say, "Please, take a seat for a moment, Brother Mu. The manager is in the kitchen; I will go fetch him."

Before long, Qin Jian emerged from the back. "Brother Zhao, what brings you here?" he asked, cupping his hands in greeting.

Zhao Mu stood up to return the gesture. "To be honest, I have run into some trouble, and I have come to impose upon you, Manager Qin."

Qin Jian poured a bowl of tea for Zhao Mu and asked calmly, "What kind of trouble have you encountered?"

Zhao Mu did not hold back and recounted the plight of Wen Zhi and the others. Qin Jian listened with a furrowed brow. "So, you are not only penniless but also without a place to stay?"

Zhao Mu nodded and bowed. "Indeed. If I am to survive in these troubled times, I fear I must rely on your help, Manager Qin."

Qin Jian did not answer immediately, his mind racing with calculations. Zhao Mu sipped his tea in silence, not wishing to pressure him. If Qin Jian was unwilling, he would not force the issue.

After a moment, Qin Jian asked, "Brother Zhao, I heard that quite a few people have been trying to buy your recipe for sauerkraut fish?"

"That is true," Zhao Mu replied.

"And yet, I heard you refused to sell it to them," Qin Jian continued. "I know for a fact that some offered as much as thirty taels of silver!"

Ever since Zhao Mu had taught the kitchen staff at Tianxiang Pavilion how to make the dish, it had become a sensation in Taiping County. People flocked from all over just to taste this unique creation. Because only Tianxiang Pavilion served it, they could barely keep up with the demand. Other restaurants, seeing the success, had tried every means to discover the secret. But Zhao Mu had only taught Qin Jian and his trusted cook, and Qin Jian had kept the recipe under strict guard—even building a separate, private kitchen for the dish so no one could steal the secret.

When word got out that Zhao Mu was the original creator, many had tried to bribe him, but he had refused every offer—even the one that reached a staggering fifty taels of silver, which was twenty taels more than what Qin Jian had just mentioned.

Compared to the mere two taels of silver he had received from Qin Jian, the disparity was clear. Yet, Zhao Mu had remained unmoved.

"You are mistaken, Manager Qin," Zhao Mu said with a faint smile. "Just the day before yesterday, another restaurant offered me fifty taels of silver. Furthermore, they promised to handle my household registration and provide me with a merchant’s permit, offering me permanent employment at their establishment."