Chapter 22: The Freshest Substances, Hundred Herbs Scripture (Combined Chapters)

"Just beyond the village in the river, yesterday Little Yan and I went fishing and happened to catch it," Lu Qing answered.

"Elder Chen, there's actually a Green Armored Fish of such an age in that little river?" Old Doctor Chen was somewhat surprised.

The river outside the village wasn't large, yet a Green Armored Fish had grown to this size was truly rare.

However, he then recalled that the few villages nearby didn't seem to live off fishing.

Perhaps that was why the Green Armored Fish had managed to grow so big.

"No wonder you said you felt you had a talent for fishing before, capable of nurturing such a Fish Stone. The size of that Green Armored Fish couldn't have been small, yet you were able to catch it?"

Old Doctor Chen looked at Lu Qing's somewhat frail body, and couldn't help but admire him.

"This is all thanks to the line you gave me, Grandpa Chen," Lu Qing said humbly, "Grandpa Chen, that line is truly extraordinarily tough, without it, I really wouldn't have been able to pull in this big fish."

"It's good that it was useful, that thing was pointless to keep around for me anyway."

Old Doctor Chen waved his hand, not particularly concerned about it.

On the contrary, he was quite interested in the bucket that Lu Qing had been carrying around.

"What have you got in your bucket? Seems quite heavy."

Because Lu Qing had put some branches and leaves into the bucket when he left, to keep the fish from getting too frightened, Old Doctor Chen couldn't clearly see what was inside for the moment.

"Inside it is something I wanted to give to Master Chen," Lu Qing started to remove the branches and leaves from the bucket, "Yesterday when Little Yan and I went fishing, we caught two big fish. We ate the larger of the Green Armored Fish, and the smaller one, I thought to give to Master Chen to try."

"Right, Master Chen, this fish is so pretty, so pretty, Grandpa Zhang and the others didn't even recognize what kind of fish it was," Little Yan also chimed in.

"Oh, such a thoughtful gesture, I'd like to see what kind of fish it is then."

Old Doctor Chen's interest was piqued even more.

"It's this fish."

Lu Qing finished clearing the branches and leaves from the bucket, handing it over to the elder doctor.

The elder doctor looked into the bucket, and upon seeing the flame-like fish, was first shocked, then somewhat moved.

He blurted out, "This, this is a Red Moon Carp?"

The elder doctor indeed recognized the fish.

Ideas swirled in Lu Qing's mind, though his face showed confusion.

"Grandpa Chen, you know what this fish is?"

Elder Chen put down Little Yan and leaned forward to play with the fish in the bucket, scrutinizing it carefully for a while.

"Undoubtedly, this is a Red Moon Carp."

Elder Chen's look toward Lu Qing was filled with genuine astonishment, "You were even able to catch a Strange Fish like a Red Moon Carp?"

"Master Chen, what is a Red Moon Carp?" Little Yan asked, puzzled.

"This Red Moon Carp, it's quite something."

Seeing that both Lu Qing and Little Yan were clueless, Old Doctor Chen simply began to explain.

"A Red Moon Carp is a kind of Strange Fish, and in this world, any fish that can be called a Strange Fish has its own special attributes."

"The Red Moon Carp is known for its exquisite taste."

"In legend, its flavor is unparalleled, and once eaten, it's unforgettable; hence, some aficionados dubbed it one of the top ten delicacies in the world."

"One of the top ten delicacies in the world?"

This time it was Lu Qing's turn to be astonished.

He had not expected the Red Moon Carp to be so renowned.

Truly worthy of being evaluated as an extremely fresh delicacy by those with superpower.

"The big red fish is that impressive?" Little Yan also appeared stunned, "Then, Master Chen, have you eaten a big red fish?"

"I, Grandpa Chen, once had the fortune to taste this Red Moon Carp at a noble's banquet, the flavor..."

Old Doctor Chen didn't finish his sentence, but even Little Yan could discern the reminiscent look on his face.

"Then this Red Moon Carp could not be more perfect as a gift for Master Chen," Lu Qing said.

"I can't accept this gift," Chen snapped back to reality, "Do you have any idea how much money a Red Moon Carp could fetch if sold in the city?"

Lu Qing shook his head.

"A hundred taels of silver." Old Doctor Chen held up a finger and seeing the shock on Lu Qing's face, he continued, "A Red Moon Carp of the highest quality could sell for at least a hundred patterned taels of silver."

"A fish worth a hundred taels of silver?" Lu Qing gasped.

He knew well the purchasing power of silver in this world.

A single tael of silver could provide a modest family of three with enough to live on for a month.

And to the best of his memory, even at its wealthiest, the Lu Family did not possess ten taels of silver in ready cash.

Now one fish was worth a hundred taels; it was truly more than he had ever expected.

The key point was, this was only a Strange Fish with a hint of Red Light shining within the white, what then of a true Red Light Level Spirit Fish?

"This world is vast, Lu Qing," Old Doctor Chen sighed somewhat, "The daily expenses of those nobles are beyond common people's imagination. Do you know how much a noble might spend on a single banquet?"

Lu Qing shook his head again.

"At least a thousand taels of silver, and if the event is to host distinguished guests, the cost becomes unfathomable."

"This Red Moon Carp is a rare delicacy; those nobles, not short on money, wouldn't balk at spending a mere hundred taels of silver for such a treat."

Lu Qing's mouth was slightly agape.

Half of his expression was feigned surprise, and the other half was indeed a bit astonished.

True enough, in any world, the extravagance of the rich could be quite staggering.

"So, what do you think, do you still want to give this Red Moon Carp to this old man?"

Old Doctor Chen, observing the disbelief on Lu Qing's face, teased him.