Suijun starts with the principle of rewarding diligence.

Using the awning boat as a prize was a ruse; the real purpose was to lure Bu Qu into the scheme.

For an extra five taels of silver, the price difference between a small sampan and a covered boat is not much.

Xu Kezhou's purpose was obvious: he wanted to take the opportunity to seize Bu Qu's livelihood and make it impossible for him to survive in Blackwater Lake.

If Buqu agrees to the bet, he can almost recoup the money he used as a wager.

Using someone else's flowers to present to Buddha, killing two birds with one stone.

Buqu understood this principle immediately.

He smiled at Xu Kezhou: "If we gamble like this, wouldn't Manager Xu be at a disadvantage? Even if I add five taels of silver to my small sampan, it's not worth as much as your awning boat."

According to the dockyard's rates, he would need to add another ounce or two.

Xu Kezhou gave a forced smile: "Betting is never about what I want, but what you have. I've been running the fish market for years and have saved up a little money. I'll take the loss if I want; it's just a matter of whether you dare to gamble."

Bu Qu grinned: "Since Steward Xu is so generous, I won't spoil the fun. I'll take the bet with you."

"Alright!" Xu Kezhou announced loudly to everyone, "Everyone heard that, it's a deal, no going back on your word!"

Wang Xiaoya gritted her teeth and said urgently, "Buqu, how could you gamble with him using a small sampan? What if you lose? How will you make a living on Blackwater Lake?"

Bu Qu smiled and said, "Why not? You're using your wedding as a wager, so why can't I use my little sampan as a bet?"

Wang Xiaoya choked on her food and was quite angry.

I kindly reminded him, but he not only didn't appreciate it, he also argued back!

Chen Qing stood silently to the side: 'Xiao Ya still has feelings for him.'

A flicker of displeasure crossed his eyes: "No rush. Now that he's agreed to the bet, he has no place on Blackwater Lake anymore. He can't even protect his own boat; there's no way Xiaoya will stay with him."

He Ye leaned closer to Bu Qu and whispered, "Bu Qu, Xu Kezhou has been running the fish market for many years and has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. There might be something fishy going on at this boat race. I think you'd better not gamble with him."

Bu Qu chuckled lightly, "It's alright. Even if there's something fishy going on, I'm not afraid!"

Lotus Leaf stared intently at him, thinking, "Is this how you managed to catch two treasure fish in just a few days? You're so confident; just how capable are you?"

Although they hadn't known each other for long, He Ye could clearly sense that Bu Qu wasn't someone who spoke arrogantly.

He always keeps his promises.

Chen Qing had already suffered a loss in front of him, but Xu Kezhou refused to believe it and still wanted to gamble with him.

"But Xu Kezhou's methods are far beyond those of a fisherman like Chen Qing. Is he really confident?"

Lotus Leaf pursed her lips, no longer trying to persuade her, but secretly worried.

If Buqu loses, who will sell her precious fish in the future?

Xu Kezhou's scheme was laid bare in front of everyone; it was an open conspiracy.

He Ye spent so many days at the fish market, and apart from Bu Qu selling her two treasure fish, no one else caught a single one.

It's one thing that the treasure fish is hard to catch, but the number of people asking about the price is decreasing day by day.

For the first two days, fishermen kept coming up to inquire, but now not a single one has come. They must have all been warned by Xu Kezhou.

However, her relationship with Bu Qu was just ordinary; they could barely be considered business partners.

A word of advice would suffice. But if the other party won't listen, persisting will only annoy them.

Chen Qing offered a hypocritical compliment: "Brother Bu, you are truly magnanimous; I admire you."

Bu Qu sneered: "A person who breaks his word is not worthy of being called my brother."

Chen Qing's face darkened, and he secretly vowed, "You won't give me any face, huh? Fine! Wait until I win the rowing competition, then let's see what you have to say."

The rowing competition was about to begin, and he turned back to his sampan.

Xu Kezhou waved his hand and smiled at Bu Qu, "Please, let's see if the Dragon King is still on your side today?"

"Let's wait and see."

Buqu smiled and strode back to the small sampan.

"Let's wait and see."

Xu Kezhou muttered the same sentence over and over again, his face full of a smug smile.

Young men like Buqu are most susceptible to teasing. A little provocation and they're easily hooked.

A group of fishermen had already prepared everything on the lakeside, waiting for the girls on the shore to choose their boats and take their seats.

There are two types of girls who come to participate in the rowing day.

One reason is that some people already have someone they like in their hearts, so they come to the boat races to have some fun and add a sense of ceremony to their wedding.

Another type is those who are undecided and want to try their luck here. Maybe they can meet someone they click with and they could become in-laws after spending some time together.

The former had a clear purpose; from the very beginning, he went straight to the boat of the person he admired and sat down in the boat with an open and generous attitude.

The latter, after careful selection, finally sat at the bow of the boat.

After hesitating for a long time, Wang Xiaoya finally boarded Chen Qing's boat.

Seeing her sitting at the bow of the boat, Chen Qing couldn't help but feel a hint of disappointment.

"It's alright, it's alright," he silently reassured himself. "As long as I win, the little girl will definitely change her opinion of me."

Chen Qing looked up at Xu Kezhou on the shore, feeling a surge of confidence: "Even Manager Xu is on my side this time, there's no reason for us to lose."

Of course, not every boat has a woman to steer it.

The number of girls on the shore was dwindling, but half of the dozens of small sampans were empty.

Not all girls will find someone they like; some are just there for the fun of it.

However, this year's situation is somewhat special.

Wang Xiaoya held a public contest to find a husband, and Xu Kezhou offered a covered boat as a prize.

The young man, without a girl to guide him on the boat, had a gleam in his eyes.

Fewer people means the boat can row faster. And the chances of winning are much greater!

He was the only person on Buqu's small sampan.

The girls on the shore have all heard about how he caught two precious fish and earned ten taels of silver.

It's impossible not to be tempted.

However, Bu Qu was gambling on ships with Xu Kezhou, which inevitably made the girls have concerns.

If Buqu boards the ship now and loses the bet, how will he live from now on?

Moreover, Xu Kezhou used the awning boat as the prize; others only needed to win, but Bu Qu had to bet with him.

Isn't this blatant targeting?

Once they became the ones holding the ship back, it was tantamount to offending Xu Kezhou, and the ensuing retaliation was something they couldn't afford.

Seeing that there was only one person on the boat, Chen Qing's lips curled into a smile.

The boat race hadn't even started, and he already had a half-win situation. With Manager Xu secretly helping him, Chen Qing felt victory was assured!

With no one to hold the boat steady, Buqu was happy to relax.

After all the preparations, just waiting for the boat race to begin, a woman walked onto the boat, lifting her skirt, and sat down inside with a smile.

Everyone was shocked to see this.

He Ye is Miss Zhong's personal maid, how did she end up on a fisherman's boat?

Could it be that you've taken a liking to him?

impossible!

Given He Ye's status, she had no say in her marriage.

Even if you sit in the boat, it won't make any difference.

But she still sat down, which was a great show of respect to Bu Qu!

Xu Kezhou's face darkened slightly. With his experience, he naturally understood her intentions.

Lotus Leaf's actions were a way of subtly conveying a message to the fishermen present.

What the fish market can offer, the Zhong family can offer even more.

Xu Kezhou only offered a small awning boat as a prize; however, the benefits of boarding the Zhong family's large ship far outweigh those of a small awning boat.

If the Zhong family takes a liking to them, they might even be able to escape their lowly status!

Lotus Leaf sat on the small sampan as the boatman, thus both doing Bu Qu a favor and winning people's hearts.

Kill two birds with one stone!