Ch 6: Transmigrated to become a Koi Husband

Jing Li didn’t know when he had passed out, but when he woke up again, he found himself back in his familiar little wooden bucket.

The sky outside was already pitch black.

On the desk, a small, dim oil lamp was lit, and Qin Zhao sat in the faint light, bent over reading a book.

The oil lamps used in the village were fueled by cooking oil, which wasn’t cheap. Keeping one burning through the night could cost at least five wen—a sum that could buy two vegetarian buns in town.

As a result, most of the villagers in Linxi Village didn’t use lamps much at night.

But Qin Zhao was different.

Despite his current situation, there were three things he never skimped on: medicine, food, and oil lamps.

The first two were because of his frail health, which required extra care. The third was because he read every day.

Thanks to his work revising and copying manuscripts for the academy in town, Qin Zhao’s home was never short of books.

In the past three years, unless he was too sick to get out of bed, he would always spend at least two hours reading at his desk each night.

Hearing the sound of water as Jing Li moved, Qin Zhao looked up at him. “You’re awake?”

“Do you feel unwell anywhere?”

The little koi shook his head, looking utterly deflated.

When Qin Zhao had brought him back, he had already checked him over. The little koi wasn’t injured; apart from rolling in the dirt and turning himself into a little mudfish, there were no other marks on him.

As for why he had fainted, it was most likely… because he had been scared unconscious.

A fish being carried by a cat for such a long distance—it was indeed a lot for him to endure.

Thinking of this, Qin Zhao dipped his hand into the water.

As expected, the little koi quickly swam into his palm, his tail gently sweeping across Qin Zhao’s hand. It was cool to the touch and slightly ticklish, making Qin Zhao’s heart melt.

Qin Zhao spoke softly, “You were really frightened, weren’t you? I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have left you alone at home.”

Jing Li was indeed terrified.

He nuzzled his head into the gaps between Qin Zhao’s fingers, his fins gently wrapping around Qin Zhao’s hand, finally feeling a bit more at ease.

He never wanted to see that cat again!

Seeing his little fish acting so pitiful, yet irresistibly cute, Qin Zhao held back his urge to pet the soft tail fin.

How could anyone resist a fish that knew how to be so affectionate?

Qin Zhao cleared his throat and comforted, “Don’t be afraid. That cat isn’t one of the village’s pets. I’m not sure how it wandered here today, but it’s long gone now, and I won’t let it get near you again.”

Jing Li didn’t lift his head; he just gave a small shake of his tail in response.

Qin Zhao let out a silent sigh.

He was really scared this time.

After a moment of thought, Qin Zhao asked, “Would you like to listen to me read for a while?”

Jing Li: “…”

Does this person even know how to comfort a fish?!

Looking back later, Jing Li thought it might have been because every time Qin Zhao read, he would always lie by the edge of the bucket watching him, which led Qin Zhao to believe he was interested in the content of the books.

How could he possibly be interested in those old texts? They were so archaic, he couldn’t understand a single word!

Qin Zhao seemed pleased with the idea and used his free hand to flip open the book.

His voice was slightly husky, with a steady and unhurried rhythm. It wasn’t like the monotonous tone of a schoolteacher, but rather had a gentle, storytelling quality.

As he read, Jing Li slowly lifted his head.

It’s said that beauty is best appreciated by lamplight. Most of Qin Zhao’s face was now bathed in the warm glow of the lamp, his long hair draped behind him, accentuating the depth of his features. His sharp eyes were lowered, filled with a gentle light that made it hard to look away.

It was already late at night, with only the sounds of insects and birds outside the window, mingling with the soft murmur of Qin Zhao’s reading.

Amazingly, Jing Li’s anxious heart began to calm down.

The next day, Qin Zhao woke up early, seemingly preparing to go out.

Jing Li lay in the bucket, secretly watching him.

Yesterday’s events had left a significant psychological impact on him, making him scared to be alone, worried that the cat, having missed him yesterday, might track him down today.

But Qin Zhao had to go out to earn money, and Jing Li couldn’t very well ask him to stay home just to keep him company.

Jing Li felt a bit aggrieved.

After Qin Zhao finished packing, he turned and noticed the little koi peeking over the edge of the bucket with just his eyes showing.

Such a pitiful sight.

After some thought, Qin Zhao took out the basket he had used the day before, emptied its contents, and placed it next to the small wooden bucket.

Jing Li: “?”

“That wild cat might come back today, so I’m not comfortable leaving you here alone.” Qin Zhao patted the basket and said, “I’m only going to Doctor Ge’s house in the neighboring village. Would you like to come with me?”

Is that really okay?

Jing Li’s eyes lit up, and he happily wagged his tail.

Qin Zhao scooped out some of the water from the bucket to ensure it wouldn’t spill while he carried it. Jing Li cooperatively splashed some water out with his tail, worried that the bucket might be too heavy and tire Qin Zhao.

Once everything was ready, Qin Zhao set out with the little koi in the bucket.

He walked steadily, and Jing Li obediently curled up at the bottom of the bucket, staying still and trying not to add any extra weight.

Dr. Ge’s house was in Huai Xia Village, which wasn’t too far from Linxi Village, but it still took a considerable amount of time to walk there. For this reason, Qin Zhao only made the trip every two or three days, to save his strength and time.

Wait…

Didn’t he just go there yesterday?

Jing Li poked his head out of the bucket and looked around at the basket. Strangely, aside from his small wooden bucket, there was nothing else inside.

No new medicine—what was he going to Dr. Ge’s house for today?

Jing Li was puzzled.

The sky was still not fully bright, and there were few villagers on the road, just a few carrying baskets and poles, heading to the early market in town.

Qin Zhao left the village and followed the path along the creek downstream. After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they arrived at a sign marking the entrance to Huai Xia Village.

This village was named after an ancient locust tree that stood at its entrance. Dr. Ge’s house, where Qin Zhao was headed, was not far from the village entrance.

Although it was still early, Dr. Ge’s house was already open, with a large number of herbs drying in the courtyard.

The apprentice, A-Wen, whom they had met before, was sorting herbs in the yard.

Qin Zhao knocked on the door, and A-Wen looked up. Qin Zhao said, “Has Dr. Ge risen? I’m here to sell herbs.”

A-Wen led Qin Zhao into the main room, where Qin Zhao placed his basket on the table but did not sit down.

A-Wen asked, “My master hasn’t risen yet. May I ask what kind of herbs you are selling today, Mr. Qin?”

Without answering, Qin Zhao took out an item wrapped in plain cloth from his coat. He carefully unfolded the cloth on the table, revealing a herb.

The herb had a long, twisted root system, with dark purple, oval-shaped leaves marked by faint patterns, making it look particularly unusual.

Jing Li peeked out from the gap in the basket, curious.

Did this herb exist before?

When did Qin Zhao find it?

Jing Li knew nothing about herbs, but the boy named A-Wen’s expression changed drastically. “This… this is…”

Qin Zhao calmly said, “Wushan Ginseng.”

Wushan Ginseng is an extremely rare herb, with both its roots and leaves being used in medicine. Only the wealthiest and most powerful families in the city can afford it, and the highest quality ginseng is even offered as tribute to the royal family.

A-Wen had never imagined that such a precious herb could be found in the mountain village where they lived!

Being young and unable to make decisions on his own, A-Wen bowed to Qin Zhao and said, “Mr. Qin, please wait a moment. I will fetch my master.”

Qin Zhao nodded, “Thank you.”

A-Wen quickly went inside, and soon, an older man came rushing out.

The man, obviously Dr. Ge, hadn’t yet tidied his hair or beard. He had hastily thrown on a robe, which was still unfastened, leaving his chest exposed. It seemed he had come out in such a hurry that he had only managed to put on one shoe.

“Where is the Wushan Ginseng? Let me see it quickly!” Dr. Ge hurried over to Qin Zhao.

Qin Zhao stepped back half a pace to give him room.

Dr. Ge didn’t dare touch the herb directly. Instead, he used a piece of silk cloth to carefully examine the herb lying on the table.

“The leaves are oval, with a golden silk-like network of veins, dark purple on the surface and pale red underneath. Yes, this is indeed Wushan Ginseng!” Dr. Ge couldn’t hide his excitement and asked, “Mr. Qin, where did you find this?”

Qin Zhao’s gaze flickered, but he didn’t answer.

Dr. Ge quickly realized that his question was inappropriate and, after calming himself, gave an order: “Bring Mr. Qin some tea.”

Wushan Ginseng doesn’t grow alone. If Qin Zhao found one, there could be more. But since he was here to sell the herb, it was unlikely that he would reveal its location so easily.

Understanding this, Dr. Ge decided to be straightforward. “Mr. Qin, while this herb isn’t priceless, it’s far from ordinary. However… as a mere village doctor, I’m afraid I cannot afford to buy it.”

Most of Dr. Ge’s patients were local villagers who wouldn’t need or be able to use such a valuable herb.

Of course, he could buy the herb at a low price and resell it, but having known Qin Zhao for years, he knew that such a trick wouldn’t work on him.

As expected, Qin Zhao responded, “I’ve heard that you have connections with the medical clinic in town. I wonder if you could help me find a way?”

“You mean you want me to sell the herb on your behalf?” Dr. Ge asked.

Qin Zhao replied, “Exactly.”

He paused for a moment, then added, “If the deal goes through, I can offer Dr. Ge a thirty percent commission.”

In fact, if Qin Zhao could take the herbs directly to the clinic in town or a nearby city, he would earn even more. Unfortunately, his poor health couldn’t withstand such long journeys.

Having Dr. Ge find buyers while he handled the harvesting and processing of the herbs was the best option for him.

However, Dr. Ge still had some concerns. “That could work, but can Mr. Qin guarantee the quality of the herbs in the future, and how many can you supply?”

“The quality will not change, and I can provide at least twenty plants.”

Qin Zhao pushed the herb on the table toward Dr. Ge. “You can take this herb as a sample to show potential buyers.”

Wushan Ginseng is not an ordinary herb; having the actual product in hand makes negotiations much easier than going empty-handed.

This gesture showed Qin Zhao’s sincerity.

Dr. Ge was instantly filled with admiration for him. After a moment of thought, he turned and gave an instruction to the apprentice. The apprentice quickly went into the inner room and returned with a money pouch, handing it to Qin Zhao.

“Here are 800 wen, which I’ll give you as a deposit,” Dr. Ge said. “I’ll head to town shortly. If I secure a deal, I’ll return immediately to inform you.”

Qin Zhao didn’t refuse and bowed to him. “Thank you.”

After leaving Huai Xia Village, Qin Zhao took Jing Li to the creek.

The little koi had been terribly frightened the day before and needed to relax in the stream.

But Jing Li had already forgotten about yesterday’s incident. His mind was entirely focused on the fact that Qin Zhao was finally going to make some money.

Just the deposit for one herb was 800 wen—imagine how much they could earn if they sold all the herbs!

Qin Zhao is amazing!

But Jing Li didn’t know that Qin Zhao’s thoughts were quite the opposite.

The location of those herbs wasn’t something Qin Zhao had discovered himself; it was where Jing Li had coincidentally hidden when the orange cat chased him the previous day.

Qin Zhao had only realized this when he rescued him, finding that the spot where Jing Li lay was covered in a patch of Wushan Ginseng.

Could it be a coincidence?

As Qin Zhao watched the little koi swim, a thought crossed his mind.

He recalled reading in a book that wealthy families liked to keep a type of carp called koi, which was said to bring good fortune.

Could it be that this little guy really can bring luck?