Jing Li is extremely worried now.
Qin Zhao's analysis was not wrong. Since the man was willing to spend thousands of coins to get him back, it meant that he should be able to bring good luck to people.
But…
He really didn't know what to do.
In his opinion, he was just an unlucky guy. In the more than one month he had been with Qin Zhao, he had never brought any good luck to the other party.
Qin Zhao now wants him to prove it, what should he do
The little koi spit out a string of bubbles in the water.
"Eat quickly, why are you still in a daze?" Qin Zhao pushed the steamed bun floating on the water in front of the little koi. The little koi was in a daze for a while before swimming up slowly and eating it.
There is definitely no one worse than Qin Zhao in this world.
They asked him to find a way to prove that he was a koi before agreeing not to send him to exchange for money, but they refused to tell him what he should do.
They say that koi brings blessings to the world, and there is no need for a mere mortal like him to interfere in such a small matter.
… Obviously this guy never believes in ghosts and gods.
The little koi was so worried that he couldn't eat. It was only after Qin Zhao coaxed him softly for a long time that he finally finished his meal.
After eating, he refused to let Qin Zhao touch his stomach and hid under a wooden barrel to "face the wall".
I don’t know who owes whom.
Qin Zhao stood up to clean up the dishes and sighed silently.
He said that to Xiaoyu last night because he thought the little guy looked particularly cute and wanted to tease him again. If he could take the opportunity to force him to tell the truth and meet him in human form, it would be even better.
But who knew, the little monster didn't seem to understand what he meant at all.
This silly fish.
Jingli hadn't been in seclusion for long when someone came to his house.
He was just about to see who was coming, but Qin Zhao picked up a wooden lid and covered the wooden barrel tightly, then moved the barrel and the lid to the low cabinet next to him.
Jing Li: “???”
"Don't move." Hearing the little koi flapping its tail unhappily inside, Qin Zhao lowered his voice and said, "You can't be seen now, be careful that someone comes to catch you."
Jing Li was most afraid of this now, so he stopped moving immediately.
Qin Zhao then went to open the door.
The man appeared to be in his early thirties and was also a villager of Linxi Village. His surname also seemed to be Li, but he had little contact with Qin Zhao on weekdays.
Qin Zhao wasn't even sure what his name was.
The other party did not enter the house, and the first thing he said was: "Qin Zhao, I just came back from the town. Do you know that people in the town are catching fish?"
Qin Zhao: “…”
Did news spread so quickly
Qin Zhao said calmly: "Really? I don't know."
"I knew you hadn't gotten the news yet!" the neighbor kept chattering, "I heard from people in town that someone is offering a reward of one thousand taels for a red carp! I can't understand the notice, but the picture on it is exactly the same as the carp you saw before."
"Where's your fish? Take it out so I can take a look at it for you?"
As he spoke, he looked into the house.
Qin Zhao calmly stopped him and said, "You mean the fish? I've already released it."
"Release it? That's a shame. What if it's the one you're looking for with the bounty?"
"I bought that fish from the market not long ago. I only spent a few copper coins. How could it be worth a thousand gold coins?" Qin Zhao said slowly, "Thank you for giving me this news. Do you want to go in and have a drink?"
After hearing what he said, the neighbor immediately lost interest and left angrily, saying that he had something to do at home.
Qin Zhao closed the door and sighed silently.
What I feared finally came.
Qin Zhao had never thought that the little fish had such a background, and never minded it showing up in front of people. Therefore, many people in Linxi Village had seen such a little fish around him.
The villagers of Linxi Village love to go to the market in town to do business. Now that the news has spread to the village, there will definitely be a lot of people like this.
It would be fine if they just came over to remind him kindly, but I'm afraid there might be someone with bad intentions who wants to target Xiaoyu.
What to do next is indeed a troublesome matter.
Qin Zhao was rarely able to make up his mind.
He opened the lid of the barrel, and the little fish in the barrel looked at him cautiously.
He seems to have caused Qin Zhao a lot of trouble...
Qin Zhao softened his heart when he saw him like this, and tapped his head with his finger: "Don't be afraid, I won't let you be sent away."
The little koi swam up and kissed his fingertips.
If he can really bring good luck to people, then he should find a way to solve this problem for Qin Zhao.
He didn't want to be sent away, nor did he want Qin Zhao to be disturbed every day.
Jing Li thought silently in his heart.
But Jing Li's prayers were of no use at all. In just one hour, the small house received no less than four or five groups of people.
They all have the same purpose.
Jing Li: “…”
He is indeed not a koi!
Qin Zhao patiently sent the last group of people away and closed the door, feeling quite helpless.
We can't go on like this, we have to think of a solution.
Linxi Village does not make a living by fishing, so even if this news spreads, only a few people will go to join in the fun, and after a few days no one will be interested anymore.
If there was a way to get him to leave Linxi Village for a while and stay out of the spotlight...
Just as Qin Zhao was thinking this, someone knocked on the door again.
Qin Zhao opened the door.
It’s Lin Changzhong.
Qin Zhao instinctively thought that this person was also here to ask him about the koi, and he almost blurted out "The fish has been released," but Lin Changzhong said, "I came to talk to you about the building materials."
He had been contracted to help Qin Zhao build a house. It had been several days since then, so it was indeed time for him to get a reply.
Qin Zhao then felt relieved. He welcomed the man in and poured him a bowl of water.
"I've asked around in several nearby villages these days, and they say bamboo is not available at this time of year." Lin Changzhong took a big gulp of water and said, "You asked for it too late. If it was last month, it might still be available."
He paused and asked, "I came here to discuss something with you. How about changing the material?"
Qin Zhao didn't answer.
Bamboo fence is his first choice. Bamboo is cheap, insect-proof, and waterproof. If bricks and tiles are not affordable, it is the most economical and affordable one.
He originally thought that there were bamboo forests in the nearby mountains, so there should be no worries about bamboo production.
Lin Changzhong also knew his family's situation and proposed a second plan: "If you really want bamboo, you can only go over another mountain and ask in a village farther away. But if you do that, I'm afraid you won't be able to come back that day."
Lin Changzhong has a family to support and he also has other work to do, so he can't travel far to purchase goods.
Qin Zhao was slightly startled and looked at the small wooden barrel on the low cabinet thoughtfully.
He was just looking for an opportunity to leave the village for a few days, and Lin Changzhong brought him this opportunity.
Is this the role of koi again
Qin Zhao retracted his gaze and said, "Uncle Lin, why don't you tell me the route and I'll go there."
"You're going?" Lin Changzhong was a little worried, "Can your body handle it?"
Qin Zhao: "As long as you don't get too tired from traveling, it should be fine."
He was determined, and there was really no better way to deal with it. Lin Changzhong did not object, and said, "Then I'll go talk to Lao Er and ask him to lend you the ox cart for a few days."
The village that Lin Changzhong mentioned is called Shanglin Village. To get there from Linxi Village, one has to cross a mountain, and even a bullock cart would take most of the day.
"… That's my family's home. Everyone in the village has the surname Lin. I'll write you a letter. When you get to the village, go find a man named Lin Daniu. He'll understand after reading the letter."
Lin Changzhong told Qin Zhao the detailed route to Shanglin Village. A direct road was built between the two villages a few years ago, eliminating the risk of getting lost.
Qin Zhao thanked him.
It takes several hours to get to Shanglin Village from here, so we must set off as soon as possible, otherwise we won't be able to arrive before dark. Lin Changzhong didn't delay any longer and went to talk to Lin Laoer about borrowing the ox cart.
Before leaving, he remembered something and turned around and said, "By the way, your fish..."
Qin Zhao: “…”
Repeating the same words again, Qin Zhao sent Lin Changzhong away, closed the door, and then opened the lid of the wooden barrel.
"Did you hear everything?" Qin Zhao said, "Let's leave the village for a few days and come back when the situation calms down."
The little koi nodded, feeling a little guilty.
He couldn't help at all, and Qin Zhao had to find a way to solve the problem on his own.
The sickly boy's health is so poor, I wonder if it will get worse after running around outside for a few days.
Jing Li suddenly felt very depressed.
Lin Laoer was one of the first people in the village to have a good impression of Qin Zhao. After hearing about this, he quickly drove the ox cart over.
He was even eager to go with Qin Zhao so that he could take care of him.
Qin Zhao didn't agree.
Lin Laoer had to go up the mountain to chop firewood every day. The trip back and forth took several days and his income was cut off.
The Lin family has helped him a lot, and Qin Zhao doesn't want to trouble him anymore.
However, before leaving, Qin Zhao did another thing.
He deliberately mentioned the town's bounty on fish in front of Lin Lao Er, saying that the fish looked very similar to the one he had bought before, but unfortunately he had already released it.
The tone was quite regretful.
Lin Laoer had no doubt at all. He first lamented the impermanence of life and then comforted him for a long time.
News in the village always spreads quickly. If someone came to ask Qin Zhao with a purpose, it was unlikely that he would tell others about it. Even if Qin Zhao left for a few days, if the matter was not resolved when he came back, someone would still ask about it.
But if Qin Zhao took the initiative to release this news, the entire Linxi Village would know about it within half a day.
Anyway, there was always new stuff to talk about in the village every day, and by the time he returned to the village two or three days later, things had already calmed down.
As it happens, Lin Lao Er is a person who cannot hide things.
After seeing Qin Zhao off, he returned home, and the first thing he said to his wife was: "Do you know that the town is offering a reward for a carp worth a thousand gold coins? Qin Zhao..."
From Linxi Village to Shanglin Village, there are villages along the way, and the scenery is very beautiful. There is still time to spare, so Qin Zhao walks slowly and steadily along the way.
Jing Li was placed in a small wooden barrel, and would occasionally stick his head out to take a look.
He was surprised to find that Qin Zhao could actually drive oxen, and that his driving was more steady than any ox cart he had ridden before.
I discovered another strange skill of this person.
They set out in the morning and arrived at Shanglin Village just as the sun was setting.
There happened to be an old man enjoying the cool air at the entrance of the village. Seeing that he was a stranger, he couldn't help but look at him a few more times.
Qin Zhao didn't care and stepped forward to explain his purpose.
"So you're looking for Lin Daniu?" The old man raised his hand and pointed, "Go straight along this road. Turn right at the intersection and it's the third store."
Qin Zhao thanked him and quickly followed the path the old man pointed out to find Lin Daniu's house.
Lin Daniu is a distant relative of Lin Changzhong's family. He often purchases goods from him, so the two families are quite familiar with each other.
After reading the letter from Lin Changzhong, Lin Daniu said, "Changzhong has already said it in this letter. I still have some bamboo here, but it has not been processed yet. It is all raw material. It is too late today. I will help you process it tomorrow, and I can hire someone to transport it to Linxi Village for you the day after tomorrow."
Qin Zhao: "Thank you."
Lin Daniu added: "You can stay at my house for the next two days. There happens to be an empty house in the backyard."
It's already dark now, and it's not easy to find a place to stay, and...
The little koi was covered in a wooden barrel, tapping the barrel wall with its tail from time to time.
He is so hungry...
Although Qin Zhao brought dry food, they had been delayed for too long. By the afternoon, they had almost no time to rest in order to reach Shanglin Village before dark.
Not to mention eating.
Qin Zhao held the lid of the wooden barrel and said to Lin Daniu, "Thank you very much."
Lin Daniu's house is just an ordinary farmhouse. There is a separate small house on the other side, which is a temporary resting place for carpenters hired to polish wood.
He led Qin Zhao over and said, "It's a little shabby here, don't be surprised."
Qin Zhao shook his head and said "No". In fact, this place was much better than his little house.
After seeing Lin Daniu off and closing the door, he heard a snapping sound behind him.
The little koi flicked its tail and lifted up the lid of the barrel.
He was suffocated to death.
"You..." Qin Zhao bent down to pick up the barrel cover that he had dropped on the ground, and said helplessly, "Be careful not to be seen."
Got it.
The little koi fish shook its tail like a big shot and opened its mouth towards Qin Zhao.
Feed the fish quickly, they are so hungry.
…
Qin Zhao stayed in Shanglin Village for two days. Lin Daniu was very kind to him. He not only gave up his kitchen to make medicine for him, but also never forgot to give Qin Zhao a portion of the food he cooked.
But half of them went into the fish's stomach.
On the morning of the third day, Lin Daniu loaded the processed bamboo into the truck.
The bamboos are long and can only be loaded on large carts. Forty pieces can fill a cart.
Actually, you don't need so much to build a fence, but it takes three oxen to pull such a large cart, and the cost of transporting it to Linxi Village is fifty cents, no matter how much is loaded.
Qin Zhao simply asked Lin Daniu to fill up the car, and the remaining bamboo could be used to make a bamboo chair.
As for the price of bamboo, Lin Daniu and Lin Changzhong had a lot of business dealings with each other, so they calculated the lowest price for Qin Zhao.
The cost price of bamboo is three cents per stick, which means a cartload of bamboo costs one hundred and twenty cents. Adding the processing costs of this cartload of bamboo, the total is one hundred and seventy cents.
All in all, one pillar costs less than five cents.
Qin Zhao paid Lin Daniu a total of two hundred and forty coins, and the extra amount was counted as accommodation and food expenses for the past few days.
The cargo cart was much faster than Qin Zhao's own ox cart and soon disappeared.
Fortunately, Lin Daniu had found trustworthy people, so he didn't worry about losing the bamboo. They set out an hour and a half earlier than when they came, and Qin Zhao let the ox cart move slowly along the mountain road.
The little koi swam back and forth in the wooden barrel, splashing water from time to time.
It was strange that after only being away for two days, he actually felt a little bit of anticipation of going home.
He didn't know since when he had already regarded Qin Zhao's house as his own home.
Qin Zhao looked at him with a smile and whispered, "Why are you so happy? Have you figured out how to prove it to me?"
Bringing up old things again.
The little koi fish stopped swinging its tail suddenly, and its mood became visibly depressed.
Of course Jing Li did not dare to forget this, but he really couldn't think of how to prove it to Qin Zhao.
If it comes to fulfilling the other party's wishes and demands, what Qin Zhao lacks most now is money, but he can't conjure up money.
As for this person's illness...
He is a koi, not a doctor.
But apart from that, he really couldn't think of what else Qin Zhao was missing.
The fish are so worried.
"Why are you like this again?" Qin Zhao stopped the ox cart, turned around and reached into the water, rubbing the little koi's head, "Can't you think of it, or are you unwilling?"
The little koi shook its head anxiously.
How could he not be willing? He really couldn't think of it!
"Unexpected?" Qin Zhao asked, "You didn't lie to me, did you?"
The little koi fish shook its head even more vigorously.
But Qin Zhao looked at him with a smile, and said slowly: "What about other things? Are you lying to me about anything else?"
The little koi's movements froze instantly.
... He really has...
Qin Zhao pretended not to notice that the little koi in front of him suddenly tensed up, and continued seriously: "That's good, I hate being lied to."
I hate being lied to.
Jing Li was so anxious that he almost cried.
Although he had no bad intentions, he did intentionally hide the fact that he could transform into a human from Qin Zhao.
This... What should I do...
Qin Zhao felt that his hint was obvious enough, so he said no more, turned around and continued to drive the ox cart forward.
If the little monster still doesn't understand this, then he is really a fool.
Qin Zhao smiled helplessly.