Ink panel: Hunting the sun and surveying the sky from the bow.

Chapter 30 Linfeng Hall

"Brother Qingzi, my father once sold a raccoon for six taels of silver. It was about the same size as yours, but the housekeeper sold it too cheaply."

After the three of them were away from Wanfeng Building, Shen Xiaohu began to feel indignant on behalf of Shen Qing.

"Hey, you guys are lucky. If they start fighting and don't give you a cent, you won't even have a place to argue."

Zhang Shuyuan sat leisurely on the cart. He took out a booklet at some point and started reading it with great interest.

Shen Xiaohu said excitedly: "The local government doesn't care? We have paid all kinds of taxes every year."

"This place is far from the Dragon Court. The officials sent down from above all look at the faces of the four major bosses. A powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake. You will understand after you have been here for a while. The officials here have always taken the money but not done the work."

Zhang Shuyuan glanced at Shen Xiaohu and said meaningfully, "If you cause trouble for the government, the first thing they will do is to get rid of you, the troublemaker."

Shen Xiaohu opened his mouth slightly, but the words in his heart were stuck in his throat and he couldn't say them.

Although he had never traveled far since he was a child, he had seen how Tianchuan was beaten to death.

He knows all these principles.

It’s just… I feel a little dissatisfied.

Shen Qing, who was standing nearby, listened to their conversation and remained silent.

Why is it so difficult for these people from the lower class to make a fortune?

As long as they had some harvest and wanted to move into the county town, they could not escape the exploitation of the four major bosses and the government.

A layer is peeled off when entering the city, a layer is peeled off when doing business, and another layer is peeled off every year under various pretexts.

For people at the bottom of society like them, being able to have enough to eat is a luxury, so how could they have the energy and capital to make a fortune?

Just like Zhang Shuyuan said, he was lucky today.

After all, I am too weak. I still need to practice martial arts and find a backer as soon as possible to change my status to a martial arts practitioner.

"Sir, do you know where Linfeng Hall is?" Shen Qing asked, holding the reins in his hands.

……

Shengshifang.

Majestic mansions are neatly arranged on both sides of the street. Looking around, the roads are paved with bluestone, and the roads are clean and sparsely populated.

The snow on top had been cleared and piled up on both sides of the street.

Shen Qing drove the cart and stopped in front of a large courtyard with bungalows.

A pair of stone lions squat on either side of the door, one paw holding a ball and the other protecting a cub, looking majestic and majestic.

Above the gate tower of the stone lion hangs a plaque with black background and golden characters, with the three large characters "Linfengtang" inscribed on it.

Standing at the door, Shen Qing and others could hear some shouting and exercising sounds from inside from afar.

My aunt Shen Xiu was initially sold to a wealthy family in the county town. Because of her good looks, she was able to live a decent life there.

When my grandparents were still alive, they could come back to visit once a year.

Even after the grandparents passed away, they kept in touch and would ask people to send some things to the Shen family from time to time.

But as she had not been pregnant for many years, her life in the wealthy family gradually became difficult. She rarely had the opportunity to go out and interacted less with them.

Even when his parents passed away, he was unable to return to the Shen family.

I heard from my uncle that not long ago, this little girl of ours was sold to the master of Linfengtang and became a concubine.

This time I have finally come here, I should pay him a visit and, by the way, ask him about Shanwa's entry into martial arts as my uncle asked.

Shen Qing walked up the bluestone steps, grabbed the copper ring on the red door, and knocked three times slowly.

After waiting for a while, the vermilion door was opened from the outside to the inside, revealing a human face with prominent brow ridges.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Shen Qing stepped forward and explained her purpose. "My aunt is Shen Xiu, the concubine of the head of the Li Hall. I happened to come to the county town for something, and my family asked me to bring some mountain products to her. Please pass on the message."

"Seventh Young Lady's family? Please wait at the door."

As soon as the other party finished speaking, he slammed the door shut.

Shen Qing showed no sign of being surprised or disgraced, and stood at the door waiting patiently.

After a moment, the red door was reopened: "Come in."

"Thank you."

Shen Qing strode in with Shen Xiaohu and handed the cart and horse to Zhang Shuyuan.

Inside the yard, as soon as you enter the door, you will see a dozen strong men with bare upper bodies. Each of them is holding a stone lock in his hand, and his whole body is steaming with heat.

It was surprisingly warm in this yard even though it was winter.

After standing for a while, Shen Qing, under the guidance of Menzi, came to a room in the front yard, waiting for his aunt Shen Xiu.

Li Linfeng, the head of Linfeng Hall, has run a martial arts school for many years. He has some fame in the county and has many family members, both young and old.

As the family business grows, there are more rules.

Outsiders, including men, are not allowed to enter the inner courtyard or have contact with the female members without permission.

After waiting in the room for about a moment, a beautiful lady who looked somewhat like Shen Qing pushed open the wooden door and walked in.

I have to say that although the Shen family may not be as good as others in other aspects, their appearance and manners are impeccable.

My aunt has skin as smooth as fat, thin lips, a high nose bridge, and a pair of almond eyes that are full of liveliness.

She was a real beauty, without any air of being from a hunter family.

"Are you Shen Qing? The eldest son of my eldest brother? I didn't expect you to have grown up so much. The last time I saw you, you were just a little kid."

Aunt Shen Xiu walked slowly into the room, her steps were a little cautious, and her waist showed a barely noticeable roundness.

She recognized her nephew, and when she spoke, her face was warm and her eyes were gentle.

Aunt Shen Xiu found a cushion and sat on a chair to greet him, "Are the second brother and the others all right?"

"Thank you for your concern, Aunt. Uncle and Aunt are all fine."

"That's good. I couldn't go back last time when my eldest brother got into trouble. Don't blame me, nephew. I had no choice." Aunt Shen Xiu's face darkened, as if she was thinking of many sad things.

Shen Qing said hurriedly: "How can I blame my aunt? Others may not know the situation in our family, but we all know it well."

"Ah..." Aunt Shen Fang sighed and asked, "You came to see me, is there something wrong at home?"

"Aunt, nothing happened at home." Shen Qing stood up, pulled Shen Xiaohu to his side and said, "This is Xiaohu. It's rare for us to go to the county town. Uncle wanted me to bring some mountain products over to visit Aunt."

Aunt Shen Xiu showed some joy on her face and said with a smile: "You are really thoughtful."

After Shen Qing finished speaking, he patted Shen Xiaohu on the back.

Shen Xiaohu understood and brought over the basket full of delicacies and placed it at Shen Xiu's feet.

"They are all worthless monkey mushrooms, bamboo fungus, sheep tripe and the like. Auntie can ask the cook to make some hometown flavors if she has nothing to do."

Aunt Shen Xiu smiled and said, "I haven't eaten food from my hometown for a long time. Now I can satisfy my craving for it."

"I hope my aunt doesn't mind." Shen Qing stood up, bowed slightly and said, "This time I came here to visit my aunt, and my uncle also told me that there are indeed some things that need to be done for my aunt."

Aunt Shen Xiu's expression did not change at all, and she continued in a gentle voice, "I wonder what it is? Let me listen first and see if I can help."

Shen Qing's expression became more respectful, revealing an embarrassed look of asking for help: "Uncle wants to ask Aunt, can we brothers enter Linfeng Hall to practice martial arts?"

(End of this chapter)