Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies

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Hearing Shen Qing's call, many villagers carrying their own mountain goods squeezed in front of him.

The scene became chaotic.

Shen Qing patted the handcart and shouted, "Quiet down, everyone line up, one at a time."

A straightforward villager pushed to the front and asked doubtfully, "Qingzi, everyone says you're not doing credit this time and require cash payment, is that true or false?"

"Of course it's true." Shen Qing took out some silver and some pre-prepared large coins from his bosom and piled them on the handcart, "Today is cash payment, I'll buy whatever goods you have."

Shen Qing's voice was solid and resolute, spreading far and wide, reaching the ears of everyone around.

Wow!

The many villagers craned their necks to look forward.

Seeing Shen Qing suddenly take out so much money, they looked at each other with surprised expressions.

Some couldn't understand.

Just over a month ago, this was the same Shen Qing who was struggling to make ends meet and suffering the bullying of the Chen Family, so why did it seem like he had undergone a complete transformation overnight and had become so wealthy?

Over this past month, Shen Qing's first improvement was in his hunting skills, no longer coming back empty-handed, then he aggressively took down Chen Yuan and his entire family.

After that he was learning to read and sell mountain goods, and even training in martial arts in the city...

To them, it seemed as magical and unbelievable as reading scriptures or hearing a fairy tale.

Having lived in Hongshan Village for so long and grown up there, they had never heard of such a person emerging before.

Shen Qing had truly "struck it rich."

Most hunters who lived off the mountains year-round had tough temperaments and could be blunt in speech, but they also stood by a strict code of respect for strength and power.

The ruthless ferocity of Shen Qing when he killed the Chen Family not long ago was still vivid in their minds.

They knew that Shen Qing was a man not to be trifed with.

Now that he had made money, no one dared to say anything, and at most some people felt a twinge of sour envy, thinking he was just lucky.

Once Shen Qing had made his stance clear and the villagers were certain he did have the money and wasn't just talking big, they brushed aside their last doubts and began selling their mountain goods to him.

One man came over with a bunch of freshly picked mushrooms and some coptis, placing them in front of Shen Qing.

After Shen Qing weighed them, he purchased them at the normal price.

Receiving the money made the man extremely happy, and seeing that Zhang Shuyuan was taking his job of keeping the accounts seriously, he left reassured.

Seeing this man receive his money made the other hunters eager to step forward and sell their goods to Shen Qing.

And one by one, as they got their money, they were grinning from ear to ear.

Just because there was nowhere to spend money in Hongshan Village didn't mean the villagers lacked the motivation to earn it.

Spring was coming, and the government office would soon be collecting forest tax, household tax, leftover woman tax ... and by the time autumn arrived, there would be land tribute and a vast array of miscellaneous duties with money required at every turn.

If they couldn't pay up when the county government came to collect the taxes, they would be conscripted to dig rivers or build walls, forced into labor, and if they didn't die from it, they would still lose a layer of skin.

Besides, even without the taxes, people from the village occasionally needed to go to Taiping County to attend the major markets and purchase necessities for living.

So money was very important.

A village woman who had traded for some money asked Shen Qing, "Qingzi, are you taking people with you to the county town this time? Can I come along with you?"

The speaker was an aunt from Linfeng Hall, someone Shen Qing vaguely remembered, although they didn't interact much.

"I am taking people with me, but I'm afraid Auntie can't come with me this time," Shen Qing replied truthfully, "I need to train in martial arts in the county town, and I likely won't be back for seven, eight days, maybe even ten."

The aunt from Linfeng Hall was somewhat disappointed and said, "… I see, I was hoping to catch a ride and pay you some fare."

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She emphasized the word "money" heavily, trying to change Shen Qing's mind.

Of course, this didn't deceive Shen Qing.

Having lived in the village for a while, he was already used to the little schemes of the village women.

This time, he definitely wouldn't bring anyone else to Taiping County.

First, there wasn't enough room. The cart was only so big. After loading it with mountain goods, it would already be fully packed with him, Shen Xiaohu, and Tian Xiaohu. Adding one more person would make it too cramped.

Second, it would be troublesome.

He wasn't going to the county town just for the trade of mountain goods, but more importantly, to train in martial arts at Linfeng Hall. Bringing another person would leave no room to spare.

However, this aunt did give him an idea. It was impossible to take someone with him, but he could certainly make money.

Shen Qing felt he could purchase the mountain goods himself and, once the villagers had the money in their hands, he could help them make a list and purchase other supplies for them in the county town.

He could earn something on both the trip there and the way back.

Money becomes more valuable once it starts moving.

Faintly, Shen Qing felt the beginnings of a business for Hongshan Trading Company.

Shen Qing said with a smile, "Auntie, do you want to buy something? If so, I can bring some things back for you."

"Really? That's great," Aunt Shen exclaimed. "I just want to buy a pair of scissors and some needles and thread for the house. If you see them, please bring some back for me."

"No problem. Please take note, Mister, and I'll buy them when I head into the county town," Shen Qing instructed Zhang Shuyuan.

Aunt Shen was immediately delighted.

Seeing this, others who had a bit of extra cash also entrusted Shen Qing to purchase items for them in the county town, even paying a deposit.

A portion of the money he had just spent immediately made its way back into Shen Qing's hands.

After being busy for nearly three to four shichen, the mountain goods from the village had been completely collected and the cart was fully loaded.

Taking the shopping list from Zhang Shuyuan, and seizing the good weather of the morning, Shen Qing set out for Taiping County with Tian Xiaohu.

Because he let Tian Xiaohu and Shen Xiaohu take turns driving the cart, it delayed them a little. A journey that usually took one shichen took nearly one and a half this time.

Fortunately, they had left early and arrived at the city gates of the county town before noon.

The trip was uneventful.

After paying the usual City Entrance Fee as always, Shen Qing headed straight to Wanfeng Building.

The backyard of Wanfeng Building was still bustling with activity, with hunters, vegetable farmers, and porters coming and going.

Only the manager was a new face.

He looked more respectable than Wang Qiyao and a bit younger.

The abacus clicked quickly in his hands, showing efficiency.

Since it was their first transaction, the new manager handled everything by the book, neither pressing too hard nor asking for too much.

A cart full of goods was exchanged for thirteen silver taels.

The mountain goods he brought were worth roughly 1,300 wen in silver, and he could make about two taels from this trip.

Quite nice.

Shen Qing took out two hundred wen in large coins, weighed them thoughtfully for a moment, then walked over to the new manager with a smile and lowered his voice to ask, "What should I call you, manager?"

Manager Cai glanced down at the hard, crisp items Shen Qing had passed him. Without any trace, he skillfully pocketed them and said, "Cai Jia Sheng."

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