Chapter 91: The Wolf Pack in the Seafood Market

Jiule City is situated along a river and the sea, but Zhangxizhen and Cha Ye Street are closer to the inland, still over ten to twenty kilometers from Jiule’s actual coastal area.

Yu Xueqing doesn’t need to go to the seaside to deliver goods—she only needs to reach the neighboring county district; there used to be a riverside dock here, which later developed into a seafood distribution hub.

Although Yu Xueqing grew up in Jiule City, she had heard the name of the seafood market before.

But she had never come here; her family had forbidden her from coming, saying it was unsafe, as fishermen and farmers often brawled in groups, sometimes fighting to the death.

After growing up, she avoided it because she was intimidated by seafood prices.

Upon arriving at the seafood market, the entrance revealed street-side eateries and shops selling raw pickled seafood and sashimi.

Further inside, she didn’t encounter the imagined scene of salty seawater everywhere—the market was extremely clean, built in a circular shape, as if something had once stood here but was now gone.

To Yu Xueqing, it felt like seeing one of the local tulou buildings common in Jiule.

Yu Xueqing carried a box of tea leaves, with the little fox placed atop the cardboard box.

After scanning the surroundings, she looked seriously at the little fox and said:

“Xiao An. I’ve looked around at the fish ponds—all imported seafood: king crabs weighing over ten jin, giant clams a meter long, Fuguixia thicker than my legs.”

“We have no spare cash. If you so much as harm one, we’ll be separated into bones and flesh right here.”

After surveying the market, Yu Xueqing was stunned to realize her savings couldn’t afford anything here.

The only thing she could afford were salmon and similar items from the raw pickled seafood and sashimi stalls at the entrance.

“You think you can afford this? Everything sold at the market entrance is premium seafood—even ordinary seafood here is carefully selected,” An Sheng rolled his eyes and mocked Yu Xueqing.

Take the most common clams, for instance—they usually sell for just a few yuan in the market.

But those clams have already been sorted; the truly large ones are marked as “Clam King” right at harvest and sold at 88 to 123 yuan.

The same applies to all other premium seafood—they’re all one-in-ten-thousand specimens; becoming a premium seafood is harder than passing the civil service or postgraduate exams.

Not only did Yu Xueqing feel the prices were high—even An Sheng thought they were absurdly expensive.

“Call Qiulingling and ask where she is right now. This place… holds great terror!”

Given Yu Xueqing’s affinity with animals, it’s entirely possible some dying seafood might leap into her arms seeking final comfort—An Sheng was extremely wary.

Don’t let her savings card get maxed out.

“Alright, I’ll call Aunt Qiulingling,” Yu Xueqing nodded in agreement, as if she’d finally understood An Sheng’s complaints about the seafood prices.

She dialed, and Qiulingling quickly emerged from behind a premium seafood shop, waving at Yu Xueqing.

Beside her was Tu Song Abai.

“Ying ying ying!”

Seeing Qiulingling, An Sheng lifted his head and greeted the woman and the dog.

Your order’s fox courier has arrived—please give our Fox Express a five-star review!

“Xiao An!”

Seeing the little fox wink and wave at her, Qiulingling beamed, rolled up her waterproof raincoat sleeves, and rubbed the fox’s head with a laugh.

【Fox Courier Wish Achieved: Your fluffy fox tail seems magical—when it brushed Qiulingling’s cheek, she shivered violently, as if stepping into a sauna in winter, comparable to a male model’s massage.】

【Power +1】

After rubbing her cheek against the little fox’s, Qiulingling led Yu Xueqing into the shop.

The seafood shop where Qiulingling works is co-owned by her father’s brothers, but currently managed by her second uncle; her father’s job now is wandering around hotels in the city, cultivating relationships and supplying premium seafood to upscale restaurants.

Qiulingling’s current duty is shuttling between the seafood shop and the port, selecting premium seafood from aquaculture farms to sell in the shop.

Occasionally, she drives a delivery truck to distribute goods to markets within Jiule City.

That’s why, despite living far away, she often wanders around Jiule City.

Her work hours typically begin at 3 or 4 a.m., with peak activity from 5 to 7 a.m.

Deliveries from the seafood market to various markets are completed no later than 7:30 a.m., and seafood is delivered to restaurants by around 9 a.m.; if nothing extra comes up, Qiulingling finishes work.

“So… you’re a guard dog?”

An Sheng looked at Abai, standing beside Qiulingling, and his face lit up with sudden understanding.

Tu Song Abai glanced at the fox, then at her master, her expression turning melancholy.

【Ancient Feud Wish Achieved: Abai watched her master sniff the fox’s stinky paws, her eyes filled with complexity. She now understood her master’s recent madness wasn’t due to demonic possession or failed hunting-induced hunger—it was because she’d fallen for a Xia Beihu fox. Abai sighed, black lines forming on her forehead: The ancestral ways must change—who knew our mistress would be cursed like this!】

【Power +1】

【Power Total: 4 points】

To Tu Song Abai, anything outside her master and family belonged to demonic entities.

But.

She had previously assumed her master’s madness was simply due to demonic possession.

Now, seeing Qiulingling and the fox together, Tu Song Abai seemed to understand something.

After a long sigh, she moved An Sheng from the “demonic entity” list to the “possible brother” list.

No matter how unshakable ancestral laws may be, they can’t withstand seafood in dog food—since Qiulingling’s dog food contains seafood, Tu Song Abai’s loyalty naturally leans entirely toward her.

“Abai, don’t sigh. No matter how good the fox is, it’s still an outsider. Who’s closer than your own dog? Tonight, I’ll add a little Qinglong and abalone to your dog food.”

Hearing Abai sigh and make low whining noises, Qiulingling chuckled, patted her head, and said with a smile.

“Wang—” Tu Song Abai clearly understood what shrimp and abalone were, instantly brightening, and barked warmly at the little fox.

Brother! Even if you’re not fragrant anymore!

But we’re still brothers—let’s join forces and support Qiulingling together!

“?”

Yu Xueqing heard Abai’s bark, blinked in confusion, then pointed at its nose:

“Bad dog! You’re trying to lure my little fox away!”

Abai’s barking was full of persuasion—urging the little fox to kneel before Aunt Qiulingling, eat seafood daily, suck on shells, and go out to play.

“Abai!”

Seeing Abai leap forward, trying to grab the fox’s tail, Qiulingling quickly pulled her back.

“That fox is off-limits. If I see a vet bill from you, I swear my big mouth will bite your tail in the next second!”

After the incident where she bit a blue-tongued skink and racked up over five thousand yuan in medical bills, Qiulingling was now extremely cautious whenever Abai barked.

After every bark came the mournful chime of Qiulingling’s wallet collapsing.

“Wang?”

Other guard dogs from nearby shops, hearing Abai’s bark, all stuck their heads out simultaneously, asking their big brother:

Big Brother? Do we have a new family member now?

Should we form a wolf pack and go to the next dock to drag up that duck-billed monster and eat it?

Dogs communicated effortlessly—they clearly understood Abai’s meaning completely.

(End of Chapter)