Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Shen Song wore a satin jacket with fur-trimmed edges, and the winter hat on his head and the hand warmers on his hands were all fluffy.

He hardly dared to move.

He felt uneasy the whole way, his body stiff, wanting to tear off anything with fur.

His mind even drifted to bloody scenes of demons catching him for revenge, scaring him so much he barely ate his pastries.

When the carriage arrived at the Xie estate, Shen Song followed You An, who had been waiting a long time, to the study.

As the coachman tidied the carriage, he noticed that only a third of the pastries and sweet porridge had been eaten.

Although the amount prepared was generous, a third was already enough to fill an ordinary young man.

But for Shen Song, that was nowhere near enough—eating that little was like eating nothing.

The coachman quickly reported this up the chain.

News traveled fast. Shen Song and You An were still strolling slowly, taking in the winter scenery of the Xie estate to shake off those chaotic thoughts. The two young men admired the wintersweet blossoms, red plums, green bamboo, and withered lotus as they walked. Before they even reached the study courtyard, Xie Zhiyu already knew Shen Song had a poor appetite today.

Several braziers and foot warmers sat in the study, making it as warm as spring.

The first thing Shen Song did upon entering the study was take off his hat and set down his satin fur-trimmed hand warmers.

Xie Zhiyu had been lounging lazily on a reclining chair, a bowl of steaming sweet porridge with fermented rice, glutinous rice balls, and eggs beside him.

When Shen Song came in, Xie Zhiyu instinctively looked over—and couldn't look away.

He had seen countless beautiful things and stunning people; his own looks were already strikingly beautiful.

Yet he felt that words like beautiful, pretty, stunning, breathtaking, gorgeous, and exquisite should all be used to describe the Shen Song in front of him.

It seemed every beautiful word in the world had gathered on the Shen Song in his eyes.

Xie Zhiyu was entranced, his heart fluttering.

Yet his face betrayed nothing. On closer look, he even appeared rather solemn, brows slightly furrowed, as if troubled by some difficult problem.

Shen Song set his hat and hand warmers on the small table, then turned and ran over to Xie Zhiyu's reclining chair.

Xie Zhiyu saw a butterfly fluttering toward him.

"Xie Zhiyu..."

"Xie Zhiyu..."

"Xie Zhiyu? Why aren't you listening to me? Are you feeling okay?"

Shen Song crouched by Xie Zhiyu's chair, calling several times before finally snapping him out of it.

Xie Zhiyu stared at Shen Song, his Adam's apple bobbing. He asked, a bit awkwardly, "What?"

"I said stop sending me things with fur trim—I'm afraid of demons."

Shen Song tugged at the fur collar of his jacket, his big round eyes showing a hint of fear.

Xie Zhiyu hadn't expected that the supernatural horror story he'd told out of mischief that day would scare Shen Song this much.

He sat up. "Come with me."

Shen Song followed behind Xie Zhiyu.

Xie Zhiyu took an exquisite mother-of-pearl inlaid box from the curio cabinet—black lacquer base, inlaid with polished mother-of-pearl, vibrant in color, with exquisite floral and bird patterns.

Setting the box on the desk, Xie Zhiyu opened it with one hand, revealing neatly arranged talisman paper and cinnabar inside.

Shen Song curiously leaned in to look, momentarily forgetting to keep his distance, his head nearly pressed against Xie Zhiyu's chest.

Xie Zhiyu's breath caught, then softened considerably, as if afraid of startling a curious kitten that had drawn close. Even breathing too deeply might spook the kitten and send it darting off.

"What is this? It doesn't look like regular paper." Shen Song stared at it, confused.

Xie Zhiyu said they were talisman paper and cinnabar.

Shen Song turned to him. "Talisman paper? Cinnabar? What are they for?"

With Shen Song standing straight again, the distance between them naturally widened, and Xie Zhiyu's breathing went back to normal. He explained, "Drawing talismans with cinnabar can have many uses. A demon-repelling talisman drives away ghosts, a demon-capturing talisman can catch demons..."

Xie Zhiyu also told Shen Song about many other talismans, most of which he'd made up specifically to counter the monsters and spirits from the horror stories he'd told before—all talismans that could suppress or ward them off.

Shen Song listened, utterly captivated, thinking talismans were truly amazing.

Just what he needed.

He asked, "I want these talismans, but who can draw them for me?"

Xie Zhiyu said casually, "It's simple. Why would it take much effort? I can draw all of these talismans myself."

Hearing this, Shen Song's eyes lit up, and he said with great admiration, "Wow—Xie Zhiyu, you're so amazing! How do you know how to do everything!"

Writing, poetry, reading, painting, sword dancing, and now drawing talismans that can fight demons and monsters.

So cool!

Xie Zhiyu's lips curled slightly, then he pressed them down again, chin lifting a little. "Not hard. Anyone can do it."

Shen Song asked Xie Zhiyu to draw him demon-avoiding talismans, ghost-repelling talismans, demon-capturing talismans, and a whole bunch of talismans for suppressing, warding off, and capturing demons and monsters.

Xie Zhiyu told Shen Song to go eat the sweet porridge with fermented rice, glutinous rice balls, and eggs by the reclining chair. "If you don't drink it soon, it'll get cold. Then I'll have someone throw it out."

Shen Song hadn't eaten much in the carriage today, and now that he had talismans that could suppress demons and monsters, most of his fears had faded. And it was something he loved, so he ran straight over to eat it.

While Shen Song ate, Xie Zhiyu took out the cinnabar, drew a sharp dagger across his fingertip, and let a few drops of blood fall into it.

After grinding it, he picked up a brush and dipped it in. The fine brush moved with sharp strokes as it touched the cut talisman paper.

The talisman patterns were intricate, but the one wielding the brush knew them by heart, the strokes flowing smoothly in one go.

Most of the talismans' effects were made up, meant only to put Shen Song at ease.

But the talisman he completed this time was one Xie Zhiyu actually knew how to draw.

He truly could draw talismans, having learned from an old Taoist, who later went off wandering and was never seen again.

Thinking back to when they first met, Xie Zhiyu lowered his gaze slightly.

Back then, his only friend had gone to the snowy mountains to learn medicine.

He couldn't eat, surviving day to day only on the pills Qi Yuanjing had begged for him.

But no matter how careful he was, he couldn't fend off the people who wanted him dead.

Back then, because he had long stopped eating yet remained perfectly healthy, people thought he was possessed by a demon, so they called in a Taoist to exorcise it.

The young Xie Zhiyu was knocked unconscious by the mansion's guards, bound, and thrown onto the bed. When he opened his eyes, he saw an old Taoist decked out in tattered, garish robes, adorned with a Bagua mirror, a peach-wood sword, red-string bells, a wine gourd... and a mess of hair.

The old Taoist muttered incantations, yelling, "A demon! A demon!"

Xie Zhiyu knew this was a convenient excuse concocted by those who wanted him dead—a way to kill him without giving anyone anything to gossip about.

Back then, he figured he might not get out of this one.

But to his surprise, the old Taoist actually started exorcising the demon.

He taught Xie Zhiyu inner cultivation to protect his core, and outer martial arts—fists and swordsmanship—to defend his body, and also taught him to draw talismans and study the Dao...

The old Taoist taught with real dedication and was strict, saying you had to cultivate yourself to drive out the demons inside.

And even without eating, just living on those pills, his body actually started getting better day by day.

Later, the old Taoist told him to come along, but Xie Zhiyu said no.

The old Taoist said the mortal world was full of suffering, and hatred would destroy you, and told him to let it go—Xie Zhiyu still refused.

In the end, as the old Taoist was about to leave, he asked Xie Zhiyu to call him "Master."

Xie Zhiyu said it in his heart.

People who came into his life, treated him well for a bit, and then left—he never tried to hold them back.

He knew that if he actually said "Master," that free-spirited wanderer would get tied down by the red thread of worldly woes stretching out from his hand.

But now, fourteen years later, at twenty-two, Xie Zhiyu figured he should've called him Master back then.

The old Taoist had looked like he really wanted to hear it.

"Xie Zhiyu, I'm done eating!"

Hearing the cheerful voice, Xie Zhiyu snapped back to the present. He looked up from the talisman paper at the person approaching.

In this world, being tied down, being bound—maybe that's not such a bad thing.

At least the bond that held him was the thing keeping him alive now.

"Wow! Xie Zhiyu, you finished the talisman? I can't read it, but it feels super powerful. What kind of talisman is this? You haven't drawn the others yet, right? Hurry up and draw them—I wanna see."

Shen Song rambled on and on. Xie Zhiyu neatly folded up the talisman on the table.

In the end, he folded it into a little triangle, took Shen Song's wrist, and placed it in his warm palm.

His cool fingertips grazed Shen Song's soft, warm palm, and they both flinched.

The talisman sat there in Shen Song's palm.

Xie Zhiyu pulled his hand back quickly. "No need to draw the others—this one's enough."

Shen Song stared curiously at the talisman in his palm, missing the fact that Xie Zhiyu's ears had gone a little red.

He asked, "What talisman is this? It's that powerful?"

Xie Zhiyu said quietly, "A peace talisman. It'll keep you safe for your whole life."

Shen Song gripped the talisman tight and asked, "Did you draw one for yourself?"

Xie Zhiyu looked at Shen Song. "A talisman you give yourself doesn't work."

Since Xie Zhiyu couldn't draw one for himself, Shen Song asked, "Can you teach me? Once I learn, I'll draw one for you."

Xie Zhiyu stared hard at Shen Song, watching his reaction. "If you really want to learn, I'll teach you."

"Yes, yes, yes! I really wanna learn!" Shen Song said without a second thought. "I want you to be safe too!"

Xie Zhiyu's brow smoothed out, a smile tugging at his lips. "Okay."

Shen Song spent the whole winter learning to draw the peace talisman, even practicing through New Year's.

But on New Year's Day, he didn't go to Xie's place to learn—he practiced at home by himself.

The talisman was seriously hard to draw, but luckily he had a good memory. With tons of practice and repetition, by early spring he could finally draw it in one smooth stroke!

The talisman also needed the holder's birth date and name written on it. Shen Song used a fine brush to carefully write the birth date Xie Zhiyu had given him.

After finishing his first peace talisman, Shen Song made them for his family too, asking each of them for their birth date and writing it down carefully.

He'd also prepared talismans for his other friends, but since he didn't know their birth dates, he planned to ask them later.

When Shen Song brought the finished peace talisman to Xie Zhiyu, he also ran into Qi Yuanjing, who he hadn't seen in ages.

Qi Yuanjing had come to check on Xie Zhiyu's health and get some air.

Ever since his master came down from the mountain, he hadn't gone back. Every day he dragged Qi Yuanjing into exams or case studies, and even took him on a two-month charity clinic trip.

New Year's was freezing cold, and the two of them had spent it huddled in a snow pit on the road.

They'd only gotten back to Yunxi County two days ago.

After all that ordeal, Qi Yuanjing had come out even more solid and sturdy, with great energy.

Shen Song handed the peace talisman to Xie Zhiyu, who held it in his hand but didn't put it away.

Qi Yuanjing couldn't help but swat his hand. "Put it away, I need to take your pulse."

Xie Zhiyu said flatly, "If you can't take a pulse while I'm holding something, you're not fit to be a doctor."

"Damn, why are you still so sharp-tongued?" Qi Yuanjing looked stunned. With a mouth like that, how hadn't Shen Song run off yet?

Just then, Shen Song called out to Qi Yuanjing.

Qi Yuanjing looked over and heard Shen Song ask for his birth date. "I drew a peace talisman for you too, but I don't know your birth date."

"Huh? Do peace talismans require a birth date?" Qi Yuanjing asked, puzzled.

The talismans he'd gotten from Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries, including peace talismans, were all pre-drawn and given directly—he'd never heard of needing a birth date.

Qi Yuanjing looked at Xie Zhiyu, confused. This talisman had to be something Xie Zhiyu taught him—he remembered Xie Zhiyu had studied under an old Taoist before.

Xie Zhiyu frowned at Shen Song and said coldly, "You flinch when I get close, but asking another man for his birth date is proper manners?"

Shen Song didn't quite understand. "Didn't you say the peace charm needs the holder's birth date and time? You even went and gave me yours."

When Qi Yuanjing heard that Xie Zhiyu had actually given Shen Song his birth date and time and knew Shen Song's as well, he dug his fingers hard into Xie Zhiyu's wrist and blurted out, "You two planning to tie the knot or something?"

Shen Song asked Qi Yuanjing what "getting married" meant.

Qi Yuanjing, after being glared at by Xie Zhiyu, hedged, "It doesn't mean anything. But birth date and time info isn't something you casually share with others unless they're close family or a partner. Song Geer, don't go around asking folks for their birth info anymore, unless you're planning to marry 'em or read their fortune."

Shen Song had no clue about any of these unspoken rules. He looked at Xie Zhiyu, a bit lost. "Since it's so special, why did you give me yours then?"

Xie Zhiyu gritted his teeth. "Just think of it as me doing it for fun!"

Shen Song nodded and seriously told Xie Zhiyu, "Then don't go handing it out to just anyone from now on."

It's way too easy for people to get the wrong idea.

Moreover, after Qi Yuanjing explained the special significance behind sharing one's birth date and time, Shen Song also didn't really want Xie Zhiyu giving it to anyone else.

Shen Song felt a little embarrassed inside, not sure what was wrong with him—it was like he couldn't help but want to keep an eye on Xie Zhiyu.

He quietly took a few deep breaths to settle his pounding heart and asked Xie Zhiyu, "I've drawn a bunch of peace charms to hand out to friends. If I can't ask for their birth info and can't write it in, does that mean they're useless?"

Xie Zhiyu frowned. "Why'd you draw so many? Planning to hand one out to the whole Great Zhou?"

Shen Song quickly shook his head and said honestly, "That's way too many—I'd never finish drawing them all."

Xie Zhiyu: ...

"Shen Song, you're something else, I swear."

Shen Song let out a sheepish grin, feeling shy and awkward. But deep down, he figured he really was something—he could pick up anything he tried.

Pretty damn impressive!

Qi Yuanjing couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. "Hahahahaha!"

Xie Zhiyu said, annoyed, that the recipients could just fill in their own birth info with cinnabar, then pulled his hand back and left the study.

Watching Xie Zhiyu storm off, too mad to even speak, with a flick of his sleeve, Qi Yuanjing was almost doubled over laughing.

Shen Song had more peace charms stashed in his clothes and handed one to Qi Yuanjing. "You can write your own name and birth info yourself."

"Okay, okay, hahahaha, I'll write it myself." Qi Yuanjing accepted it while still laughing.

He watched Shen Song chase after Xie Zhiyu, whose leaving pace was painfully slow—clearly waiting on purpose to be caught.

Thinking back on their exchange, he finally got why Shen Song hadn't been scared off.

Shen Song had no clue what Xie Zhiyu was really saying.

Watching them from behind, Xie Zhiyu stood with his arms crossed, chin slightly lifted, looking like he couldn't be bothered with Shen Song. Shen Song seemed confused about why Xie Zhiyu was upset, buzzing around him like a little bee, insisting on looking Xie Zhiyu in the face and asking what was wrong—if he was hurting or feeling sick.

As his laughter died down, Qi Yuanjing's smile slowly faded.

Xie Zhiyu had grown up surrounded by schemes and scheming; trust seemed like something that had been stripped from him at birth. Along with that, a lot of other things had been taken from him too. Maybe only someone as simple and easy to read as Shen Song could give him a moment of peace.

Qi Yuanjing smiled, genuinely happy that his friend had found a little slice of peace.

He just wondered when that peace would finally wake up and let Xie Zhiyu rest there.

-

Spring came. Willows swayed gently by the lake, the fields were a fresh green, and flowers bloomed all over the hills. The weather was nice—gentle breezes and warm sunshine.

The Shen family's vegetable business was still doing great, same as always.

They'd also bought some chickens, ducks, and geese to raise—not too many, about a dozen of each.

Shen Sanqiu took care of them, and the kid did a fine job.

The wheat bran they'd been saving the whole time came in handy as feed. Sometimes when Shen Song fed Eight and a Half Taels and the donkeys grass, he'd toss a little extra into their feed too.

Every animal the Shen family raised was tougher than the last.

The pack of wolfdogs now patrolled the vegetable fields, every one of them imposing and majestic. They were big, fast, skilled hunters, and they worked as a team. Neither vegetable thieves nor wild animals from the mountains dared to come around anymore.

Getting chased down and cornered by that wolfdog pack was no joke.

The donkeys, already bought as strong stock, were now sleek and shiny—anyone would say they weren't much worse than second-rate horses.

Eight and a Half Taels needed no introduction. Whenever it walked out, it always drew stares—no one had ever seen such a large, sturdy ox.

The newly purchased chicks, ducklings, and goslings were small, but they were growing visibly day by day.

They were thriving beautifully.

Shen Sanqiu would herd the ducks down to the creek. A dozen or so ducks would line up in a row, going and returning the same way without straying.

The villagers would stand at their doorways to watch, remarking that young Shen Sanqiu was so capable, raising such obedient ducks.

Every time, Shen Sanqiu would quicken his pace out of embarrassment, and the ducks would waddle faster too, their plump rear ends wobbling as they chased after him—an utterly amusing sight.

Shopkeeper Xu had already acquired the Xu family's restaurant in Yunxi County.

When he learned the Shen family was raising poultry, he asked if they could sell him some.

His restaurant in Qingyun Town was still running, with Zhou Niandong still managing the kitchen.

The restaurant had been handed over to his second son to manage.

Running a restaurant in the county was different from running a small eatery—it required attention to every detail.

After acquiring the restaurant, there were many considerations beyond just the menu and flavors, including how to receive the diners.

The patrons who came to the restaurant were wealthy and influential, all with reputations to uphold—not a single one could be slighted.

Shopkeeper Xu had no background or connections, so he had to tread carefully at every turn.

Half a month after the restaurant opened, he had already lost a significant amount of weight.

The chef was the same one from the former Chen family restaurant. The chef didn't want to leave, and Shopkeeper Xu couldn't find anyone better, so he kept him on.

The chef's skills were decent, but to stand out among the county's restaurants, one either needed a better chef or better ingredients.

For vegetables and staple foods, the county restaurants all used the Shen family's produce, so there was no edge to be gained there.

When Shen Song gave Shopkeeper Xu a peace charm, he mentioned in passing that he needed to head home to feed the chickens, ducks, and geese. Shopkeeper Xu, while gratefully accepting the charm, immediately latched onto the key point and begged Shen Song to sell him some poultry.

In Shopkeeper Xu's view, nothing from the Shen family was ever subpar. He didn't hesitate for a moment—hesitating even a little would mean missing out.

Even if the meat turned out to be the same as ordinary ones, he'd have to buy from somewhere anyway—might as well buy from the Shen family.

It's better to let the old Shen couple make the money.

Shen Song said they didn't raise many at home, and once they grew up, they could spare one or two, but not more.

Shopkeeper Xu sighed dejectedly, "I thought your family was planning to raise them in large numbers. If you did, you definitely wouldn't lose out."

Shen Song mulled over Shopkeeper Xu's words.

He pondered the idea on his way home.

After returning home, he asked his parents whether the family should consider large-scale poultry farming to sell to restaurants and taverns.

Liu Chunxia asked inquisitively, "Isn't the vegetable field business doing well? Why are you thinking about poultry farming?"

Shen Song said, "Isn't Fourth Brother-in-law always thinking about something to do? He's used to the mountains and isn't much of a farmer. I've heard from Second Brother-in-law that Fourth Brother-in-law is skilled—not just at hunting, but also at treating animals. For poultry farming, I think Fourth Brother-in-law would be a great fit."

Shen Song had noticed Zhao Lu sitting alone on the rooftop several times when he got up at night.

He didn't know what Fourth Brother-in-law was thinking then, but he could tell he wasn't too happy.

When people are happy, their faces don't look so grim.

The old Shen couple was taken aback.

Their fourth son-in-law was indeed a skilled hunter, but not much of a farmer. Still, he was strong and hardworking, and at the very least, he wouldn't hold anyone back.

But thinking about it, that man used to roam the mountains hunting, supporting his family single-handedly.

Now he was living with his wife and children under his wife's family's roof, and he probably had his moments of discontent.

It was just that Fourth Son-in-law was always so cheerful, which made it easy to overlook that.

Since there was a market for it and Fourth Son-in-law had the skills, the old Shen couple figured it wasn't a bad idea.

But for poultry farming, the small yard at home wouldn't be enough—they'd need to buy land.

That evening, several oil lamps were lit on the table, making the main hall quite bright.

The Shen family discussed expanding their business scope.

First, Shen Song brought up Shopkeeper Xu's request to buy their poultry, which led to the idea of poultry farming.

The old Shen couple each expressed their approval, saying it sounded good and doable.

After listening, Zhou Gu couldn't hold back his opinion as usual, "If we raise a few, our San Qiu can handle it, but if we raise a lot, he won't be able to manage. Also, I've heard that when poultry are raised in large numbers, they can get sick like people. Don't we need to find a vet for animals?"

Then, as if remembering something, he asked Zhao Lu, "Hey? I recall that Fourth Brother-in-law's ancestors passed down veterinary skills, right? You know them too, don't you?"

Zhao Lu hadn't expected to be brought into the conversation. He nodded, "I can treat some external injuries. But for the diseases of the poultry we raise, I'd need to look through the family's inherited manual. However, I can't read, so I can't understand it."

Zhou Gu chuckled and said it was no big deal.

"What's there to fear about not reading? We've got Yi'an, Xiao Wu, Xiao Ba, and Third Brother-in-law who can all read. Have them teach you. With someone in our family who can treat animals, I don't see why we can't set up a proper farm."

Zhao Lu was stunned for a moment and instinctively looked at the old Shen couple and the rest of the family.

As rough as he was, he knew this was a new business. He was the Shen family's son-in-law, sure, but unless the parents and other siblings spoke up, he couldn't just jump in.

Liu Chunxia smiled and said, "Gu Geer is right—there are several literate people in the family. Zhao Lu, start by learning to read and get through that manual. Once you've mastered it, our farm can be fully set up. This business will be for you, Bing Jie'er, and San Qiu to handle."

Shen Bing, Zhao Lu, and Shen Sanqiu all looked up toward the head of the table.

Shen Bing and her husband could hardly believe it—this was a livelihood handed to them!

Shen Sanqiu was even more astonished that Grandma trusted him so much to think he could handle this business.

Xu Hongmei and the others also saw the intent—this was a way to give Shen Bing and her husband a path. No one objected, and no one voiced dissent.

They knew their parents treated them all equally. Giving Shen Bing and her husband the farming business meant they'd get other opportunities later.

Besides, Zhao Lu was the only one in the family with the skills to take this on.

Zhou Gu was especially delighted. His San Qiu, at twelve, had this job, and with his aunt and uncle guiding him, he wouldn't be taken advantage of. After a few years of experience, the boy would have both skills and money—Zhou Gu had no worries about San Qiu's future.

No one in the Shen family disagreed, so the matter was settled.

Zhao Lu and Shen Bing both had red-rimmed eyes, filled with gratitude, at a loss for words.

Shen Sanqiu was young, grateful but also a bit scared, worried he might not do well. Zhou Gu smiled and patted his child's back, whispering, "Little Dad believes in San Qiu. Even if you don't do well, it's fine—Dad and Little Dad will help you."

Shen Sanqiu looked at his father.

The usually stern Shen Zhun nodded, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "Don't be afraid."

With his father and Little Dad's support, Shen Sanqiu broke into a smile, and his worries eased considerably.

This time, the Shen family wanted to buy mountain land.

Mountain land was half the price of wasteland, just one tael and five mace per mu.

Since the farming idea had been raised, it was as good as decided.

The Shen family needed to secure the land first.

When Liu Xiaoping learned the Shen family wanted to buy mountain land, he pulled out a map of Tiger Head Mountain and circled an area.

"This whole stretch is fairly close to your vegetable fields," Liu Xiaoping suggested. "If you have the budget, it's best to buy it all. These past few days, quite a few people have been asking about the land around Shen Family Gully. The good plots get bought up as wasteland, and after that comes this mountain land."

When the Shen family had bought wasteland the second time, many had inquired, but then they'd vanished like ghosts.

Now they'd resurfaced. Liu Xiaoping figured the previous time they'd been scared off by the Chen family from the prefectural city.

Now that the Chen family was gone, along with several others, those wanting to buy land in Shen Family Gully had reappeared.

Especially since the crops from Shen Family Gully grew better than anyone else's, with rumors that the land there was blessed by the Land God.

That made even more people want to buy.

It was just that the Chen family's confiscated fields were too numerous—compared to rumors, solid high-grade fields were more attractive.

Those people were busy grabbing high-grade fields, but once they came to their senses, they'd rush for Shen Family Gully's land.

This time, there was no Chen family to scare them off. Liu Xiaoping could foresee that the land around Shen Family Gully would be hotly contested from now on.

The one who came to buy the land was Shen Chong, with Shen Song also present.

Before coming, the family had said the two of them had full authority to decide.

Shen Chong and Shen Song discussed it for a while.

Shen Song said, "It's good to buy a bit more. I noticed there are lots of fruit trees in the mountains. If the breeding area doesn't take up too much land, we can plant fruit trees behind our house."

Shen Song had tried the mountain fruits last year. They were a little tart, not as sweet as the ones Xie Zhiyu gave him, but they had a unique flavor of their own.

They were pretty good.

If they planted them themselves, with his Land Blessing Art, they'd definitely taste even better.

Shen Chong didn't dismiss his younger brother's words just because he was always thinking about food. Instead, he gave it serious thought—if they planted fruit trees, they could later make jam, brew fruit wine, and dry preserved fruits.

Well, those were all viable businesses.

As for the breeding area, besides poultry, they could also raise pigs.

Shen Chong stared at the map of Tiger Head Mountain, pointed at a small dot, and asked, "What's this?"

Liu Xiaoping glanced at it and said, "It's a small lake."

Shen Chong nodded—they could also raise fish there.

"Buy everything that can be bought in this area. How much silver will it cost?" Shen Chong asked.

Liu Xiaoping raised three fingers and said, "Two hundred mu of mountain land, three hundred taels."

Three hundred taels.

Shen Chong calculated in his mind.

Adding the breach-of-contract money from the various restaurants and taverns, plus all the family's savings from over a year, it was enough to buy it.

The next day, Zhao Lu, Shen Zhun, and Shen Chong escorted the money over and exchanged it for a light piece of land deed.

When the land deed was brought home, no one thought it was a waste to spend all the family's savings. Everyone was full of drive.

If they continued to work together as one, they could earn another three hundred taels!

The mountain land was indeed vast, and there was also a lake.

Originally, they only planned to raise chickens, ducks, and geese, but since they had bought such a large mountain area, it would be a waste to leave it unused.

So the Shen family began preparations according to the series of plans Shen Chong had laid out.

They would build a poultry breeding area for chickens, ducks, and geese. They would also build a pig-raising area, as pork was the most commonly consumed meat by the common people.

The lake couldn't just sit there as decoration either. They would use fishing nets to divide it into sections, raising fish, turtles, and lotus roots separately.

Other areas would be used for planting fruit trees.

The specific types of fruit trees to plant still needed further discussion.

The Shen family was busier than ever, running around nonstop.

Some went to negotiate for chicks, ducklings, goslings, fish, and turtle fry; some went to look for piglets; some asked about planting lotus roots; and others inquired about which fruit trees would survive best in Yunxi County.

They also had to tend to their existing vegetable fields and manage the vegetable business.

Shen Song felt like he was about to fly from all the busyness.

Everyone in the Shen family left early and returned late, collapsing into bed as soon as they got home.

Shen Chong not only did physical labor, helping manage the vegetable fields, but also did mental work—studying, planning the mountain construction, and mapping out the family's future direction.

In seven days, he had visibly slimmed down.

Shen Song's little face had also thinned, his chin becoming a bit sharper.

It was simply too exhausting. The Shen family realized they couldn't handle it all themselves and finally changed their approach—they started hiring workers.