Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 55 - 54 Hongshan Trading Company (Request for Follow-up Reading)

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At the moment of deciding to break through, Shen Qing seemed to be immersed in the torrent of time, with countless fragments of driving memories surging into his mind like a tide.

These memories encompassed a variety of driving skills from ancient times to the present, from the control of ordinary carriages to the intense races of ancient war chariots.

Each image was so vivid and clear as if he had personally experienced it.

When these memories gradually merged and converged into a powerful stream of knowledge consumed by Shen Qing, his understanding of cars and horses deepened, instilling a confidence within him.

[Skill: Driving Skill (Skillfully)]

[Progress: 1/200 points]

[Status: Cannot be improved]

[Note: The art of driving is not a day's work; its essence lies in constant practice to achieve skillful mastery. After continuous breakthroughs, you will be able to control with more ease and fluency, achieving unity with the vehicle.]

Shen Qing sat calmly in the cart, with the reins seemingly coming to life in his hands, each slight pull containing precise intent.

As he gradually approached the range of Hongshan Village, he left the official road, and the mountain terrain began to grow complex.

But whether it was steep slopes or narrow bridges, the already breakthrough Shen Qing navigated them with ease.

Each turn and acceleration was executed perfectly.

Such performance did not go unnoticed by Shen Xiaohu and Tian Xiaohu, who were sitting in the cart.

In the blink of an eye, the vehicle seemed even steadier.

Shen Qing, gazing at a section of ink text within his sight, recalled something and asked Tian Xiaohu and Shen Xiaohu, "Can either of you drive a cart?"

The two exchanged glances, shook their heads, and said, "Not yet."

"When there's time later, I'll teach you how to drive," Shen Qing said, looking ahead thoughtfully.

At present, he had run mountain goods back and forth twice from Hongshan Village, acting as a trader both times.

As Shen Qing had calculated carefully, the profits were still considerable without the interference of bosses and outside theft.

In Hongshan Village, they hunted in winter, sold herbs and precious plants from the mountains in spring, collected fruits and chopped wood in summer and fall... all of which could be considered income.

Each household didn't contribute much, but when gathered together, it was significant.

Once stabilized, when the opportunity was right, they could try to establish a stable trade route from Hongshan Village to the county town.

Once the trade route was established, the business could be sustained for a long time.

"I do have tens of taels of silver on hand now, but in the future, practicing martial arts, daily expenses, and making friends will all be considerable expenses.

The money seems plentiful now, but it won't last long. We can't just sit and watch it dwindle to nothing.

The Hongshan Village business is a good start.

It seems small now, but looking further ahead, the Four Great Eastern Families in the county town built their businesses piece by piece over generations.

Who's to say I can't achieve such scale in the future and make a name for the Hongshan Trading Company?"

Shen Qing was full of confidence.

To realize this business, besides establishing a stable trade route, he also needed a strong enough martial force.

He had experienced the chaos of Taiping County firsthand.

The city was divided into many factions with intricate connections; without strength, one could not stand firm.

Shen Qing knew that the foundation he currently had was entirely based on his true skills gained through hard work.

In a society where one moves against the current and progresses or regresses, stagnation only makes him a figurehead in Hongshan Village, unable to step out of the great mountain.

"Brother Qingzi, why do you suddenly want us to learn to drive carts?" Shen Xiaohu sat up and asked Shen Qing curiously, "Aren't you pretty good at it? You handle it better than Bookworm."

"I had promised Uncle and Aunt before to take you and Shanwa along with this mountain goods business. Now I've run it twice, and I'm getting a bit familiar, thinking I could teach you some," Shen Qing turned, glanced at Shen Xiaohu and Tian Xiaohu, and said seriously, "I'll be spending more time and energy in Linfeng Hall in the future, and might not be able to look after this side. When the time is right, I plan to let you both take care of the mountain goods business. I don't quite trust anyone else."

After pondering for a while, Shen Qing said, "At that time, I can give you a twenty percent share for each trip."

"Oh, twenty percent? You're entrusting such an important business to us?"

Shen Xiaohu found it a bit hard to believe. Having followed for a few trips and knowing a bit about the profit, in his eyes, it was no small amount, at least four to five hundred wen.

Even with a twenty percent share, each would have forty to fifty wen, equivalent to an adult laborer in the village, and making a single trip could easily bring double that.

If they hurried, it wouldn't even take a day.

"What, are you unwilling? Too little?"

"No, no, no, this business is something Brother Qingzi started all on your own, how could I be so insatiable, I even feel I'm taking advantage of you." Shen Xiaohu quickly said.

Shen Qing looked at Tian Xiaohu and asked, "What about you?"

"In the village, I don't have much to do, so if Qingzi is willing to take me, I'll be more than happy." Tian Xiaohu replied with a few hints of joy on his face.

In their village, opportunities to work outside were not many.

Having this source of income during idle times would undoubtedly make life much better.

Shen Qing instructed as he looked at Shen Xiaohu, "Hu Zi, you first oversee this. Now that you've entered Linfeng Hall, focus on practicing martial arts."

"Mm, I got it."

"Then let's set it like this first. When you go back, make it clear to Uncle, Aunt, and Shanwa," Shen Qing advised, "Xiao Hu, you prepare and I'll bring you along every time we deliver mountain goods."

"Mm."

It was about fifty to sixty miles from Hongshan Village to the county town, taking over an hour each way, which was quite a waste of time.

Plus, mountain goods were only bought and sold once every ten days before the spring.

If he went less often, he would practice less.

Practicing wrong at home alone would leave no one to correct.

Practicing still ought to be in the city.

Shen Qing, after all, had limited energy and couldn't manage everything alone.

With Shen Xiaohu and Tian Xiaohu accompanying him for two trips, they should be familiar by now.

Their assistance, on one hand, could increase their income, and on the other, could free his own energy, making it a win-win situation.

Shen Qing remembered that Ouyang Tiezhu had advised him to do muscle and bone strengthening before age sixteen; if not, it would be difficult once the muscles and bones had hardened.

Though looking at the progress from the Water Ink Panel, time seemed sufficient.

However, he dared not relax.

Shen Qing planned to seize every chance to ride to Linfeng Hall in the county and practice martial arts, at the very least to complete all movement techniques.

After another hour, the shadow of Hongshan Village gradually appeared in the vision of Shen Qing and his companions.

As Shen Qing raised the whip, it hadn't even touched the nag's back before the horse seemed to know in advance and increased its speed.

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