Chapter 23: Do You Dare Take the Position of Commander of Liangshan’s Naval Forces?

Inside the reed marsh, Ruan Xiaoqi led the way, carving a path to facilitate the advance of Ren Yuan and his party. He was in high spirits throughout the journey, imagining the excitement of his two older brothers when they finally met Brother Ren Yuan. He couldn't help but feel a secret joy: "Heh heh, my two brothers talk about Brother Ren Yuan every single day, but it is I, Little Seven, who gets to see him first!"

After winding through many twists and turns, the two boats finally emerged from the vast reed marsh. After rowing for a while more on Shijie Lake, they could finally see solid ground. On the shore stood seven or eight thatched cottages. Two brothers were there; one was busy killing fish while muttering something, while the other sat nearby with his head hung low, silent.

As the boats drew closer, the group could clearly hear the words of the man killing the fish:
"There's no money! Don't come asking me to borrow any. Lending it to you is like throwing a meat bun at a dog—it’s only been half a day and you've already gambled it all away! Do you realize our mother is living with us now? It’s one thing for you to be penniless, but what about her? Should she drink the northwest wind with you?"

"You don't fish properly all day, and you won't take a wife or have children. Tell me, what do you intend to do? How can you face our father like this?"

The fish-killing man was scolding fiercely, almost throwing the fish in his hand at the other man, who simply kept his head down, not daring to utter a word. Hearing the sound of the approaching boats, the man looked up. Seeing Ruan Xiaoqi, he looked as if he had just seen a savior.

"Xiaoqi! Xiaoqi! Do you have any money? Lend your brother some! I guarantee I can win it all back!"

"Fifth Brother! Stop it! Stop gambling! We have honored guests today; don't make a laughingstock of yourself," Ruan Xiaoqi said, spitting out the reed stalk he had been chewing.

"Xiaoqi, who are they?" Ruan Xiaoer, who was busy with the fish, asked with some dissatisfaction; after all, the three of them often stirred up trouble, and they couldn't just reveal their home to others so easily.

"Second Brother, this is the man you and Fifth Brother have been talking about for so long: Brother Ren Yuan, the Pillar of Heaven. The other is Brother Yuan Lang, the Red-Faced Tiger. They are the leaders of Liangshan, and they have come to visit us today!"

"Clatter!" The fish-gutting knife fell from Ruan Xiaoer's hand. He truly had not expected such distinguished guests to arrive.

"Brother Ren Yuan? Is this for real?" Ruan Xiaoer was stunned. He immediately felt a pang of regret—why did he have to go gambling today? If Brother Ren Yuan saw him in such a state, would he still want to recruit him in the future?

"Hahaha, Erlang, Wulang, I am Ren Yuan. I have long heard of your great names and have come specifically to pay a visit today!"

"I am Yuan Lang. I have heard my brother speak of the fame of the Three Heroes of the Ruan family day after day. Seeing you today, you are truly extraordinary!"

Ren Yuan and Yuan Lang exchanged a glance and took the lead in offering a formal greeting.

"Oh, brothers, please come up! Fifth Brother, what are you standing there for? Help our brothers ashore!" Ruan Xiaoer quickly greeted them, not forgetting to remind his younger brother, Ruan Xiaowu, who was standing there like a stone statue.

"Hahaha, Erlang, no need, no need. We are also martial artists," Ren Yuan and Yuan Lang laughed. They pushed off the edge of the boat with both legs, their figures soaring into the air and landing steadily on the shore.

"Haha, of course, of course. Excellent martial arts, brothers! Wulang, Xiaoqi, go park the boats," Ruan Xiaoer reacted. Ren Yuan, of course, was famous throughout the martial world, and while the other was not as well-known, his movements just now proved he was no ordinary man.

"Erlang, who has come?" The commotion on the shore was quite loud. The curtain of the thatched cottage was pulled back, and an old woman emerged, accompanied by a young woman and a child of four or five.

"Mother, Xiaoqi has returned, and he has brought honored guests with him." Ruan Xiaoer hurried over to support the old woman. The others were clearly his wife and son.

Ren Yuan stepped forward, bowed to the old woman, and said, "Madam, I am Ren Yuan of Liangshan. Having heard much of the fame of the Three Heroes of the Ruan family, I have come to visit today. I hope I am not intruding."

"Not at all, not at all," the old woman replied, feeling quite comforted to hear that they were there to see her sons. If her sons could make something of themselves, she would be very happy.

"Shall we go inside?"

"No need for the house. It's too small. Let's stay in the yard," Ruan Xiaoqi said, carrying two food boxes and leading the way. The "yard" was really just an open space enclosed by a simple fence.

"As Seventh Brother says," Ren Yuan gestured for his sailors to bring the supplies and follow Ruan Xiaoqi.

"Should we prepare some wine and food?" Ruan Xiaoer's wife, seeing so many people, asked him quietly on the side. She was worried, as these men looked like big eaters; if they had to prepare a feast, it would cost a fortune!

"Sister-in-law, no need to trouble yourself. I have brought enough wine and food today. Why don't you and the child join us later? No need to light the stove today," Ren Yuan said, noticing her embarrassment and offering a graceful solution.

"Exactly. You women have no vision. Brother Ren Yuan is so thoughtful," Ruan Xiaoer said, patting his wife gently. He had seen her worry, but he had heard of Ren Yuan’s character and knew he wouldn't be the type to impose.

The sailors brought out all the provisions: roasted lamb, cooked chicken, fine wine, and fresh vegetables, filling the table. Ren Yuan even tore off a chicken leg and handed it to Ruan Xiaoer's son.

"Madam, will you join us?"

Knowing the men had business to discuss, the old woman did not interfere. She took her daughter-in-law and grandson back into the house. Ren Yuan did not press the matter, simply asking Ruan Xiaoer to send two roast chickens and some fruits inside. The rest of the group stayed in the yard, drinking heavily and eating their fill.

"Brother, you must have an important matter for coming today. Please, give us your orders," Ruan Xiaoer, as the eldest, said to Ren Yuan after finishing a chicken leg.

"There are indeed two things. First, the matter of fish. Erlang, I would like to ask: if my Liangshan were to buy fish from Shijie Village, how much could you provide?"

"Brother, you want to buy fish?" The three Ruan brothers were stunned. In these times, fish were so cheap that they were barely considered food.

"You three may not know this, but since I took Liangshan, I have set a rule: every person in the stronghold receives three catties of grain daily, and they must have meat. Although we have chickens, ducks, and livestock, with over a thousand people in the stronghold, it is hard for everyone to get their fill of meat. So, I hope to buy fish. After all, there is no shortage of fish in these eight hundred li of water. If you three can supply them, I will never treat you unfairly regarding the price!" Yuan Lang explained with a smile, not realizing how much this surprised the Ruan brothers.

Feeding over a thousand people enough meat every day—Ren Yuan’s policy was likely unique in the entire Great Song greenwood!

"That shouldn't be a problem. Brother, you don't know—Shijie Village has survived by fishing for generations. When there is too much fish, it doesn't sell, and most of it is sold for pennies. Many in the village don't even want to fish anymore. How much does Brother need?"

"One thousand catties daily, with each fish weighing no less than half a catty. No limit on the larger ones. Would that be acceptable?" Ren Yuan asked.

The three Ruan brothers looked at each other. It seemed Yuan Lang hadn't been exaggerating. With over a thousand people in the stronghold, one thousand catties a day meant one catty of fish per person, plus three catties of grain. Liangshan was truly investing heavily! It made them sigh with emotion; commoners in the Great Song rarely had such meals.

"This... the amount is not an issue. If all the fishermen in the village work together, we can meet that quota," Ruan Xiaoer promised after a moment's thought.

"Good, Erlang is straightforward." Ren Yuan raised his cup and toasted Ruan Xiaoer.

"And what is the second matter, Brother?"

"The second matter is this," Ren Yuan poured another bowl of wine and said, "My Liangshan is preparing to establish a naval force. Do you dare to take the position of naval commanders?"