novel-bin 06, Self-study, Path to Wealth
06, Self-study, Path to Wealth
Unfortunately... there are no martial arts skills.
According to the clan chief, to learn martial arts, one must first become an apprentice, and during the training process, one will need secret medicines to nourish oneself.
With our current financial resources, we simply cannot sustain this.
After thinking it over.
Ren Qingshan set two goals.
First, open up avenues for wealth and save money.
Second, self-study.
Since there are no established martial arts techniques, we start with the most basic ones.
Strength, speed, and precision—all martial arts techniques are based on these principles.
And: Earth's power can also be transformed into enlightenment.
With enough land, there is unlimited potential for improvement.
Facing the rising sun, Ren Qingshan opened his arms and felt the powerful energy within him for a while. Feeling very satisfied, he then took a step and ran wildly towards the distant mountains.
start running!
After a while.
We had just arrived in the mountains.
Ren Qingshan looked down at his feet. The cloth shoes with their many layers of soles had holes dug out by his powerful toes as they gripped the ground.
Dumbfounding.
This……
How much does a martial arts practitioner spend on shoes every year?
The surging power is something I cannot yet control at will.
If she were to turn over in her sleep, wouldn't she slap that delicate little maid to death?
hiss……
Just imagine that scene, it's quite terrifying. Let's start by controlling our strength.
He took off his shoes, went barefoot, and let the green hills continue to run.
Anyway, the "copper skin" is already in place, so don't think of yourself as a human being!
……
In the blink of an eye, more than three months have passed quietly.
Summer has passed, and the seedlings are turning yellow.
Ren Qingshan consciously controlled his power from morning till night, gradually integrating it into his instincts. It could be as heavy as a thousand-pound blow, or as light as a spring breeze.
Some progress has been made.
The early-maturing dryland rice is ready for harvest on those 45 mu of land.
Ground.
Ren Qingshan held a sickle and swiftly cut the rice seedlings, his movements remarkably steady, possessing an almost indescribable beauty.
Forty-five acres of land normally require three strong laborers, but with our current strength, one person can manage it.
Xiao Cui wore a straw hat, supporting her slightly protruding belly with one hand, and carefully picked up the scattered ears of rice.
Crops are the lifeblood of farmers.
During the autumn harvest, every family mobilizes the elderly, women, and children, especially the boys. There's an old saying that men only eat idle food for six years.
Since they had no children of their own, it was just the couple. Even if she became pregnant, they couldn't let the head of the household work in the fields alone.
Watching the head of the household harvesting the seedlings as quickly as a butcher in the distance, Xiao Cui's lips curled up slightly, forming a gentle smile.
These days are truly sweeter than honey.
The banquet held two months ago gave me a formal status.
With a house and land at home, a father who doesn't beat him and is incredibly considerate, and now that a new member is on the way, he is truly enjoying a life of extraordinary happiness.
There is only one flaw.
These past few months... the master has been eating way too much!
He eats ten bowls of fine rice in one meal!
Three meals a day are not enough; at least five meals are needed.
After several months, the family's food reserves, which were enough for three years, were almost gone.
The chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, and sheep we raised, which were only occasionally eaten, are almost all gone.
This man is even tougher than a bull!
For some unknown reason, two blushes appeared on Xiao Cui's face. She gently bit her lip, then came to her senses and secretly spat at herself, but couldn't help but smile.
Women are like fields for men; as the saying goes, there are only oxen that die from exhaustion, not fields that are over-plowed.
But... I just can't stand him anyway.
That magical herb truly nourishes the body!
……
It was evening.
Ren Qingshan brought the new grain into the granary, held a large pot of rice, and ate it with a plate of cured meat, enjoying it immensely.
One of the "side effects" of practicing martial arts is a greatly increased appetite.
The landlord's family is almost out of surplus grain!
Of the four vices—eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling—eating undoubtedly ranks first.
Who would have thought that the biggest spendthrift is food!
This family is almost bankrupted by its own eating!
"After the autumn harvest, I have to find a way to earn more money."
Ren Qingshan finished eating a pot of rice and waited for Xiao Cui to bring out the second pot, and couldn't help but sigh.
In the past few months, I have tried to find ways to make money, but there are no ways to make money in the village. If I want to make money, I still have to go to the county town.
However, with his beloved wife in his arms and not yet having had enough of the warm and cozy days, he naturally didn't want to leave home and decided to wait until the autumn harvest.
After the autumn harvest, we really can't delay any longer.
"If we eat sparingly, it'll still be enough."
Xiao Cui said with a hint of resentment, "My husband has mentioned going to the county town to make money several times. Although I know it's a good idea, I'm really reluctant to let it go."
Now I can't fall asleep at night without touching him.
"Let's find a place that's close by. I'll go there in the morning and come back in the evening. My village is only fifty li away from the county town, which is nothing."
Ren Qingshan understood her worries. Besides, she was pregnant, and if something happened while she was away for a day, it wouldn't be good.
I've already tried it, and my current speed is extraordinary, faster than a galloping horse.
In half an hour, you can travel at most a hundred miles!
After running, I was so hungry that I felt dizzy and had to eat. I needed to eat at least ten pounds of cooked rice.
"That's good then."
As the couple were talking, they suddenly heard a knock on the door. Ren Qingshan, barefoot and shirtless, went to open the door.
A tall young man stood at the door, carrying a box of snacks, like a javelin.
"Sixth Uncle".
"I'm Yaokang. I'm on leave from the autumn harvest and came home to visit. I heard you're feeling better?"
The young man smiled gently, his eyes showing concern.
Ren Qingshan recognized him as Ren Yaokang, the seventh son of the clan chief. He was currently working in the county government and was not yet married. He lived in the county and rarely went home due to his busy official duties.
"Alright, come in quickly."
Ren Qingshan took the pastries from his hand, smiled, patted his shoulder, and welcomed him inside.
This child is kind-hearted and sensible from a young age.
It was precisely because he was so simple and kind that the clan chief used his connections to send him to the government office, hoping to give him some experience, firstly to see the wickedness of people's hearts, and secondly because his kind of personality would easily gain the appreciation of noble people.
"Sixth Aunt, Yao Kang greets Sixth Aunt."
"I've been so busy with your wedding that I haven't been able to spare any time. I apologize to Uncle and Aunt Liu."
The Ren Yaokang from the original owner's memories gradually overlapped with the young man before him. Ren Qingshan nodded and smiled, "It's alright. His interpersonal skills have indeed improved a lot. Sit down, have you eaten?"
"I've already eaten at home, I just came to visit my sixth uncle."
The two exchanged pleasantries for a while.
With a thought in mind, Ren Qingshan asked, "Seventh Brother, to be honest, your Sixth Uncle is looking for a way to make money. Do you have any connections?"
With his official position, he was well-informed.
"Sixth Uncle, I can't guarantee that, but introducing you to someone shouldn't be a problem."
Ren Qingshan was delighted upon hearing this: "Tell me."
After a moment's thought, Ren Yaokang replied with a smile, "If we're talking about hiring, the Five Marquises' Mansion is always hiring, but I reckon Sixth Uncle wouldn't be interested. For us respectable men to do these kinds of jobs would be beneath our dignity."
The so-called Five Marquis Mansions was actually a self-deprecating term; in reality, they were just a group of middle-aged and young refugees who were neither black nor white.
They are:
The "Dahang" (打行) refers to a service that provides protection, security, and dispute resolution for wealthy families.
"Visiting and investigating" refers to gathering business intelligence, acting as informants for government agencies, or even committing fraud.
Foot transport: the transport of goods by both land and water.
Brokerage firm: a middleman who rents out houses and buys and sells livestock.
Litigation expert: a lawyer who litigates cases.
These five trades are all closely related to the government and can be considered a livelihood, but none of them are considered legitimate, and they are not as good as small landlords with houses and fields.
"On my way back, I passed by Lujia Mountain and visited the Lu family steward. I also heard that the salt merchant lord of Lujia Mountain is recruiting guards."
"If Sixth Uncle wants to go, this is a good option. The pay is quite generous. His guards are divided into four levels: gold, silver, copper, and miscellaneous servants. Their monthly salaries are twenty taels, five taels, three taels, and one tael, respectively."
"Sixth Uncle ate that magical herb; I wonder how much strength he has now?"
……
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