Zhang Tieniu looked at the fishing net in front of him with a sad face, smashed it in his mouth, sighed, and finally swallowed the words that came to his lips.
"How did everything become like this? It was obviously fine half a year ago, but suddenly this monster appeared."
Ningzhou was meant to be peaceful and peaceful, and it was originally very prosperous. However, due to the rampant monsters, people's hearts were disturbed.
Under such circumstances, naturally not many people dare to go into the sea to fish.
The government also issued a fishing ban, warning fishermen not to go to sea again in the short term.
But as the saying goes, rely on the mountains to eat the mountains, and rely on the sea to eat the sea.
Zhang Tieniu really doesn't know what else he can do besides going out to sea to fish.
Although his father gave him the name Iron Ox, he is not a real old scalper after all and cannot plow fields.
To put it another way, even if he were really a cow, there wouldn't be enough land for him to plow.
Ningzhou is rich in seafood, but in contrast, its land resources are very poor.
Because of the dense population, each person can get very little land.
Otherwise no one would think of going out to sea to fish.
After all, going to sea is extremely risky, and if you don't do it right, you may die.
Even an old fisherman like Zhang Tieniu would worship Mazu and the Dragon King before going out to sea to pray for safety.
In his opinion, as long as he can come back safely and smoothly, it is the happiest thing.
What a pity, what a pity.
Now there is no chance to even go to sea.
Zhang Tieniu is not as skilled as others.
He only goes out to sea to fish.
As far back as he can remember, he remembered that his grandfather went out to sea to fish, and every time he would bring back a lot of fish and shrimps.
Most of them will be sold by grandpa, and the remaining small fish and shrimps will be cooked by grandpa for a pot of soup, and he will happily drink three large bowls.
That taste is so delicious...
Zhang Tieniu thought about it, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.
"Cry, cry, cry, just cry! A big man doesn't know how to go out to make money all day long, so he just knows how to cry. If I were you, I would kill him with a piece of tofu!"
The daughter-in-law, Zhang Chenshi, glared at Zhang Tieniu fiercely and cursed: "The whole family is in trouble, why are you still idle here, do you have to starve us all to death?"
"Look at what you said. It's not like you don't know that there are monsters in the sea recently. Besides, during special periods, the government strictly prohibits going into the sea. If I really sneak into the sea secretly, even if I am not eaten by the monsters, it will be no good if I am discovered by the government.
Eat the fruit. Why can't you, mother-in-law, hope for something better? If I die, will you remarry?"
Zhang Tieniu only said this in reply, and her aunt Zhang Chen burst into tears.
"Oh, why is my life so miserable, marrying such a loser like you? Normally you are a coward who can't be beaten with three sticks, but why are you so powerful when you bully me? Look, I'll give you this
Yes, if you are really capable, don't get angry at the women in your family."
Zhang Tieniu was confused by his mother-in-law for a moment and turned away angrily.
There are many families like his in the fishing village. Not being able to go to sea has a great impact on everyone.
If it's only ten days and a half, it's okay. Everyone just bites the bullet and gets over it. They should all repair their fishing nets and rest at home.
But being unable to go to sea for months in a row is really a headache.
If you can't go to sea, you have no income, and if you don't have money, you can't buy rice.
It's heartbreaking to see the bottom of the rice in the rice vat. It's so heartbreaking to sit back and have nothing.
"Okay, okay, don't cry. I'll go to the city to ask if there's anything new from the government."
After feeling depressed for a long time, Zhang Tieniu felt that continuing like this was not an option, so he took the initiative to relent and said to his wife: "I'll go and ask. If there's any good news, I'll rush back and tell you immediately."
Mrs. Zhang Chen was so confused from crying that she was still angry with Zhang Tieniu and said angrily: "Go, if you can't ask me anything, don't come back. It's better for me to hang myself with a rope than to be angry with you.
"
Zhang Tieniu was choked and didn't know what to do, so he angrily left the thatched house with his hands behind his back.
...
...
Qingpu Village is not close to Ningzhou City, and Zhang Tieniu walked for half a day before arriving.
He came to Zhoucheng very rarely on weekdays, maybe only a few times in a year and a half.
In my impression, Zhoucheng was also quite deserted.
Zhang Tieniu sighed and followed the crowd into the city.
After entering the city, Zhang Tieniu walked straight to the Zhoucheng Yamen.
He knew that any new notices from the government would be posted outside the Yamen of Zhoucheng.
Although he is illiterate, there are many scholars in the city who can read and write. He can ask a scholar to read and listen to it.
Anyway, Zhang Tieniu only cares about one thing, and that is when he can go to sea.
If the imperial court did not restrict fishing at sea, Zhang Tieniu would give it a try even if he had to risk being eaten by monsters.
There was no way, there was a mother-in-law at home who was watching eagerly.
If Zhang Tieniu can no longer go fishing to supplement his family's income, the family will really have no choice but to stay.
Ningzhou City is not big, so Zhang Tieniu quickly walked to the city government office.
But as soon as he wanted to take a closer look, he was chased away by the government officials.
"This is an important place for the government, so don't get too close."
"Sir, I just want to know if the Yamen has banned the sea recently?"
Zhang Tieniu sighed and said: "I haven't been able to go fishing for more than a month, and my family has been unable to open the pot. If I can't go to sea anymore, I'm afraid the whole family will starve to death."
"Why are you so anxious? This kind of thing is so urgent? Do you know that there are monsters and monsters in the sea recently? I think you are an old man who is impatient to hang himself, right?"
The yamen servant glared at Zhang Tieniu fiercely, and then said coldly: "If you want to think about it, I won't stop you. Don't die in front of the yamen. It's bad luck."
Zhang Tieniu did not dare to confront the yamen servant, so he could only say with a smile: "Look what you said, it is better to die than to live. If there is really no way to live, who would want to die? I just want to know when can I
Open the sea."
The officer waved his hand and said: "Just wait. Now that the imperial envoy has arrived in Ningzhou, he should soon start rounding up the monsters. Once the monsters are eliminated, we will naturally be able to open the sea for fishing."
"Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy? What is this?"
Zhang Tieniu was stunned.
In his mind, there were only county magistrates and governors, but there was never the word imperial envoy.
Could it be that he is a new official appointed by the imperial court?
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Just as the yamen servant was about to scold him, he saw Zhao Xun and his party walking out of the yamen. He quickly saluted him and said, "I have met the imperial envoy."
Zhao Xun nodded slightly, pointed at Zhang Tieniu and asked, "Who is this person?"
"Reporting to the Imperial Envoy, my name is Zhang Tieniu and I am a fisherman from Qingpu Village. I came to Zhoucheng to ask when fishing can be opened in the sea."