Jiule City is located along the river and near the sea, but Changxi Town and Tea Street are closer to the inland, about ten to twenty kilometers away from the actual coastal area of Jiule.
Yu Xueqing doesn’t need to deliver to the seaside, just to the neighboring county; there used to be a riverside pier here, which later developed into a seafood distribution center.
Although Yu Xueqing grew up in Jiule City, she had heard of the seafood market’s name.
But she had never been here before because her family forbade her from coming here, saying it was unsafe and that some fishermen often fought fiercely over business matters.
As she grew up, it was her respect for seafood prices that also kept her away.
Upon arriving at the seafood market, the entrance presented a scene full of eateries along the street and shops selling marinated raw seafood and sashimi.
Going further inside, she did not encounter the imagined scene of salty sea water everywhere; the market was very clean, and the entire seafood market was built around a circular structure, as if something used to be there but was now gone.
This gave Yu Xueqing the impression of seeing a common earthen building local to Jiule.
Yu Xueqing held a box of tea leaves, with a little fox sitting on top of the box.
After surveying her surroundings, she looked at the little fox very seriously and said:
"Xiaolan... I’ve checked the fish ponds around here, and they’re all full of imported seafood, king crabs that weigh over ten kilos, geoducks a meter long, shrimp thicker than my leg..."
"We have no extra money in our pockets right now; if you casually ruin one, we’d be separated instantly from our flesh and bone."
After browsing around the market, Yu Xueqing was startled to find that her savings couldn’t afford anything here.
The only things she could afford were items like salmon from the shops selling marinated raw seafood and sashimi at the entrance.
"You’re thinking of spending with your head, but this seafood market only has premium seafood; even the ordinary ones are handpicked for sale..." Ansheng rolled his eyes, mocking Yu Xueqing.
For example, the most common clams usually sell for just a few bucks in the market.
But those clams have been picked over, and the truly large clams are labeled as noble clam kings at harvest, selling for eighty-eight to one hundred twenty-three yuan.
The same goes for other premium seafood. They are all the cream of the crop, being a premium seafood takes more effort than passing public service exams or graduate school.
Even Yu Xueqing finds them expensive; even Ansheng thinks they’re ridiculously overpriced.
"Call Qiu Lingling and ask where she is now! There’s... a big dread here!"
With Yu Xueqing’s animal affinity, it’s very likely that some dying seafood would jump into her embrace for comfort in its final moments, making Ansheng extremely cautious.
When the time comes, better not max out Ah Qing’s debit card.
"Okay! I’ll call Auntie Lingling." Yu Xueqing nodded in agreement as if she understood Ansheng’s complaints about the expensive seafood around them.
The call went through, and Qiu Lingling quickly emerged from behind a premium seafood store, waving to Yu Xueqing.
Beside her was Tu Song Abai.
Ansheng, seeing Qiu Lingling, raised his head and greeted the human and dog.
Your Fox Fox Delivery personnel is here, please give us a good rating!
Qiu Lingling saw the little fox greeting her with a wink, instantly beamed, rolled up her waterproof raincoat sleeve, and affectionately rubbed the fox’s head.
[The Fox Fox Delivery wish has been fulfilled. Your fluffy fox tail seemed magical, gently brushing against Qiu Lingling’s cheek, giving her a jolt like entering a sauna in winter, comparable to a male model’s massage.]
Qiu Lingling rubbed her cheek against the little fox’s cheek, then led Yu Xueqing into the store.
The seafood shop where Qiu Lingling worked was co-managed by siblings from their parents’ generation, though she’s currently under her second uncle’s management. Qiu Lingling’s father’s current job involves drifting around hotels in the city district, establishing connections and supplying premium seafood to upscale restaurants.
Qiu Lingling’s current work duties include shuttling back and forth between the seafood shop and port, selecting premium seafood from some farms to sell in the store.
Occasionally, in her spare time, she drives a truck to deliver goods to some markets in Jiule City.
This is why, despite living far away, Qiu Lingling often spends time idling around Jiule City.
Her working hours usually begin at three or four in the morning, with the busiest time being between five and seven.
Delivering goods from the seafood market to major markets doesn’t exceed seven-thirty in the morning, and by nine, she delivers the seafood to various restaurants. If nothing else comes up, Qiu Lingling finishes work by then.
"So, does that make you a guard dog?"
Ansheng looked at Abai, standing by Qiu Lingling’s side, and a look of realization appeared on his face.
Tu Song Abai glanced at the fox and then looked at its owner, showing a look of melancholy.
[A wish of ancient feud has been fulfilled. On seeing its owner sniff the fox’s smelly paws with a complex look in its eyes, Abai seemed to realize that its owner’s recent mental craze wasn’t due to a spell or the result of failed hunting while starving, but rather her liking for a Northern Asian subspecies fox. Tu Song Abai murmurs with a full head of black lines: The ancestral rules must be changed, for who would have thought its master would be bewitched so grandly!]
[Wish Power: 4 points]
Except for its owner and her family, all other beings appeared as evil spirits in Tu Song Abai’s eyes.
It hadn’t known the cause of its master’s mental frenzy, always attributing it to possession.
Now that it’s seen Qiu Lingling and the fox, Tu Song Abai seems to understand something.
After a long sigh, it moved Ansheng from the list of evil spirits to the list of possible brothers.
No matter how unbreakable the ancestral rules were, they couldn’t withstand that the dog food contained seafood; having eaten Qiu Lingling’s dog food, Tu Song Abai’s stance naturally leaned infinitely towards Qiu Lingling.
"Abai, don’t sigh. No matter how good the little fox is, they’re always an outsider. A local dog is always closer. Tonight’s dog food, I’ll add a small blue lobster and abalone for you..."
Hearing its own dog sighing with some wheezing sounds, Qiu Lingling smiled, reached up, patted Tu Song Abai’s head, and said with a laugh.
"Woof—" Tu Song Abai seemed to know what lobster and abalone were, and instantly cheered up, letting out a friendly bark at the little fox.
Brother, you may not smell good anymore!
But we are still brothers, and in the future, let’s assist Qiu Lingling together for a grand achievement!
Yu Xueqing, upon hearing Tu Song Abai’s barking, first showed a puzzled expression, then pointed at its nose and said:
"Bad dog! Trying to entice my little fox!"
In Tu Song Abai’s barking, it was full of persuasion for the little fox to kneel before its stepmother Lingling, to eat seafood-filled dog food every day, slurp shells, and go out to play.
Seeing Abai wanting to jump up to grab the little fox’s tail, Qiu Lingling hurriedly pulled it back.
"That fox mustn’t be bitten. If you make me see a vet bill, I swear my big mouth will bite your tail in the next second!"
Having bitten a Blue-tongued Skink once, resulting in a medical bill of over five thousand yuan, Qiu Lingling is now extremely cautious whenever her Abai barks.
The barking is often followed by the mournful toll of Qiu Lingling’s wallet.
Some guard dogs owned by other store owners, hearing Tu Song Abai’s bark, all poked their heads out one after another, inquiring their big brother.
Boss? Do we have a new family member?
Are we going to form a pack and directly drag that platypus fish from the next pier to eat?
Communication between dogs flowed smoothly, as if they fully grasped Tu Song Abai’s intent.