Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 189 - 15: The Path Less Traveled, Making Something of It

After sending off Huang Furo and the others, the matter of slaying the Eagle Demon came to a close.

Shen Qing watched as Zheng Yuanqiu, with a pained expression, instructed Chang Sui to clean up the demon's corpse, and did not stay long at the Guardian Martial Department Office.

He bid farewell to Zheng Yuanqiu, changed his duty token, and slowly walked toward the small house he had bought in Yongzhou.

Currently, there were still many demons around Yongzhou, but from Shen Qing's observations, most of them were stealthily hiding in the shadows, occasionally eating a few people, yet hadn't reached the point of openly contending with the county government office.

After all, behind the county stood the Great Zhou Court, with countless experts.

Those demons that gained intelligence could easily find out how terrifying it was by inquiring outside.

High-profile man-eating demons like the Eagle Demon were actually rare.

If there were no disturbances from the Huang Tian Sect in the upcoming period, it promised to be a peaceful and relaxing time.

As night fell.

Shen Qing leisurely led his horse to the doorstep, just in time to see Shen Xiaoshan carrying a sack home.

"Brother! You're back." Shen Xiaoshan shouted as he noticed Shen Qing nearby.

While greeting him, he put down the bulging sack and carried it single-handedly to the door.

Shen Qing looked him up and down, and asked, "Have you made progress in your cultivation recently?"

"With the good food I eat at your place every day, how could I not make progress?" Shen Xiaoshan chuckled, "Now I have quite the strength. This bag of soybeans, I can carry it with one hand, no problem."

"It seems you do have some talent for martial arts."

"Oh, I don't have any talent; it's all just random practice. Brother, you don't have to flatter me."

"I'm telling the truth, not flattering you. Practice well, and you'll make something of yourself."

Shen Qing patted his shoulder and opened the door.

Shen Xiaoshan, perceptive as ever, took the reins from Shen Qing's hands, and with the other hand carrying the bag of beans, he entered the house alongside Shen Qing.

In the courtyard, there was an Eight Immortals table, and the eldest sister Shen Fang, wearing an apron, was carrying plates of hot dishes. When she saw Shen Qing, a flash of joy crossed her face: "Qingzi is back. Brother Xiao just finished cooking, so we don't have to wait. Let's eat while it's hot."

Shen Qing untied the long knife from his waist, took off the black official uniform of the Guardian Martial Department, placed it on the cabinet by the door, and walked to the table, craning his neck to look closely, "So many dishes?"

"Brother Xiao came back early today. He didn't have much to do, so he made a few more dishes. I'm not sure if they'll suit your taste." Eldest sister Shen Fang explained simply.

"Brother Xiao's culinary skills are unmatched. If he opened a restaurant, it would certainly do well." Shen Qing loosened his wrist and said, "It's late. Call Uncle and Aunt over for dinner."

"I'll go get them."

Moments later, Uncle Shen the Second, Aunt Wang Family, and others came out of the kitchen.

As usual, Shen Qing let them sit at the head of the table, and he sat in the second seat.

Even though Shen Qing repeatedly emphasized that he didn't mind these things, Shen Xiaoshan, Xiao Zhi, Tian Xiaohu, and the eldest sister still refused to sit at the head.

Despite Shen Qing's assurances, these people adhered to the rules here, so he no longer insisted.

It must be said that Xiao Zhi's cooking was excellent, and this meal was no worse than those in restaurants.

Shen Qing thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

He even took out a jug of wine to drink with Uncle Shen the Second.

If this world were without demons, and those troublesome calamities, Shen Qing could not help but feel that life would be quite pleasant.

After a few rounds of drinks, Shen Qing noticed Uncle Shen the Second hesitating several times as if wanting to speak, prompting him to ask, "Uncle, is there something you want to say to me? We're all family, no need to hold back."

Uncle Shen the Second let out a long sigh and said, "It's nothing major, just that everything our family eats and uses is supported by you alone, and it feels a bit unfair."

"Hahaha, I wondered what it was." Shen Qing laughed, poured a full cup of wine, and said, "Back at Hongshan Village, wasn't our whole family supported by you, Uncle? Now that I don't have parents, it's only right for me to support Uncle and Aunt."

Currently, although the amount of Silver Tael he had wasn't much, he still had three pieces of Dog Demon skin, an Eagle Demon Pill, and several eagle feathers.

There were other miscellaneous items that could be exchanged for money anytime, and his official salary from his position would soon be issued.

In general, managing to support the family's livelihood was still sufficient.

Uncle Shen the Second looked at Shen Qing with a comforting expression but still shook his head and said, "It's different. Back then, you and your sister were still young. Without relying on others, we would have perished in the deep mountains and wilderness. Now we have hands and feet. It's uneasy just sitting idly every day."

"Don't blame your Uncle for nagging, but supporting so many people isn't a small expense. It's not a solution to rely on you forever."

Shen Qing took a small sip from his wine cup.

He gradually understood Uncle Shen the Second's meaning.

This situation was similar to rural parents being brought to the city by their children in his previous life, finding themselves in a state of boredom due to adapting to a new environment.

The best solution was still to find something for them to do.

Of course, what Uncle Shen the Second said made sense. Relying on one person to support everyone wasn't viable.

Now, with a large family and a significant business, the expenses weren't trivial.

If he wanted to continue making progress in his cultivation, the expenses would be even greater.

Shen Qing couldn't help but glance at Xiao Zhi, standing not far away, and suddenly had an idea.

He called over Xiao Zhi and asked, "Brother Xiao, if I teach you a few dishes, do you think we could open a restaurant?"

"Junior Brother Shen can cook?"

"I can't cook, but I know how to make some dishes." Shen Qing set down his wine cup and said, "I'll write them down for you. If it works, you can help out, and it might even be useful for gathering information, which would also benefit my work at the Guardian Martial Department. It's better than wandering aimlessly."

Xiao Zhi did not immediately agree nor refuse: "I will take a look at what dishes Junior Brother is talking about. This place is not like Taiping County, where restaurants have many varieties; the taste must be good to succeed."

"I'll write it down for you tonight," Shen Qing nodded and said.

That evening.

Under the oil lamp, Shen Qing combined his memories of the local customs and carefully wrote down several classic dishes from his previous life, which he handed over to Xiao Zhi the next day.

Xiao Zhi did not hesitate, and quickly prepared them.

Xiao Zhi tasted a bit, and found the flavors to be extraordinary, with dishes he had never seen before.

Bear in mind, he had gone through great lengths in the past to learn even part of a dish's recipe.

Here, with Shen Qing, these would be family recipes for others, yet he shared them freely.

For a moment, Xiao Zhi was astounded.

"What do you think?" Shen Qing asked.

"With the dishes Junior Brother Shen provided: steamed pork with rice flour, roast duck, nine-turn large intestine, sweet and sour carp, and Sichuan boiled beef," Xiao Zhi said confidently, "these few dishes are enough to sustain a restaurant."

Shen Qing clapped his hands and said, "That's great. Let's have Xiaohu pick a spot, and we can start small as a trial. After all, sitting idle won't help."

"Okay, I'll go look with Xiaohu then."

"The two of you can decide and let me know afterward. However, our funds are limited, so we can't open a large one."

"We understand the importance."

Shen Qing nodded and didn't delve further into the matter.

After all, this sort of business was minor, and it could be left to Xiaohu and the others.