```
A middle-aged man with a gaunt face and a sharp chin was holding an abacus, occasionally looking up to check it.
His voice was sharp and stern as he quickly muttered, not letting go of even the smallest mistake, even arguing over half a wen more.
When he saw Shen Qing and others walk in, he glanced up and down at Shen Qing and said, "I've never seen you before, where are you from?"
"Manager, I'm from Hongshan Village," Shen Qing replied truthfully, "May I know your honorable name?"
"Hongshan Village? My last name is Wang. Where's Chen Youguang?"
"Back to Manager Wang, he is dead." Shen Qing replied calmly, "A mountain lord came to our place, and his entire family perished."
Wang Qiyao, the manager of Wanfeng Building, set the abacus down, his expression startled.
Dead?
Didn't that render all previously agreed matters null?
Suddenly, Wang Qiyao of Wanfeng Building found himself in a foul mood.
Shen Qing continued, "Our village is a small place, not very aware of things. I'm braver and want to try. Can you give me this chance, Manager?"
The manager of Wanfeng Building came back to his senses and said, "Let me first look at your items."
Saying so, he stepped outside to start picking over Shen Qing's mountain goods on the cart.
Shen Qing said, "These are freshly caught hares, along with wild pheasants, and some newly caught roebuck, all goods from the mountains. Please have a good look, Manager Wang."
"These are nothing special. Do you have any mountain delicacies?" Wang Qiyao mentioned casually.
Shen Qing replied, "Manager Wang, where are mountain delicacies that easy to come by? In our village, we might not come across them in a whole month."
Wang Qiyao from Wanfeng Building said, "Previously, I agreed with Chen Youguang to find some mountain delicacies to nourish Boss Song. Can you find them? If you can, I'll take all the goods on your cart."
Shen Qing was slightly taken aback, hearing the implication behind those words.
If he didn't agree, today's business might not go through.
"Manager Wang, please tell me."
Wang Qiyao, in black boots, fixed Shen Qing with a false smile, slowly saying, "I want Blood Bird's Nest, Jade Deer Tendon, and Tiger King's Penis."
Upon hearing these three items, Shen Qing's expression immediately became troubled.
"Manager Wang, I've never even heard of these things, where could I possibly find them for you?"
"If you don't have them, then I won't accept this cart of goods."
Shen Qing looked towards Zhang Shuyuan on the side, lowering his voice for advice, "In the county, can we sell to anyone else besides his family?"
Zhang Shuyuan replied, "Do you know what the four great bosses in the county do?"
"No, I don't."
"In the county, there are Zhou, Wang, Song, and Li families, dealing in silk garments, pawnshops, inns, and shipping, respectively. It can be said without reservation that the essentials of life in Taiping County, inside and out, depend on these four families."
Zhang Shuyuan continued, "This Wanfeng Building is a Song family property. If he says he won't accept, you won't be able to sell anywhere else."
After hearing Zhang Shuyuan's explanation, Shen Qing looked a bit upset.
He understood that people inside and outside the county relied on the four great families for their livelihoods, but he didn't realize they were this dominating.
Wanfeng Building manager spoke impatiently, "Have you made up your mind? If you're not willing, don't waste my time."
Shen Qing quickly said, "I am willing. I'll discuss it with people in the village to ensure we find them for you. Please first look at my cartload of goods, Manager Wang."
"By spring, make sure to find them. If not, pay thirty taels of silver as a tribute to Boss," he said.
Shen Qing's heart couldn't help but jolt, secretly cursing these vampires.
Thirty taels of silver was truly no small amount.
Even the entire Chen Family's assets might not be sufficient.
But currently, he had no better options to choose from, had to bear it.
This hard-gained opportunity cannot be easily abandoned.
Some things just cannot be helped when you're in a tough spot.
Before making it big, he could only be patient for now.
Facing this manager of Wanfeng Building, just being in this position, he must have relied on the great tree of the Song family, certainly possessing some skills.
In this county, to easily finish off a hunter from his village was not something he could handle at that time.
But as for the future…
"This cart of goods can fetch about ten taels of silver altogether, and that raccoon and some pheasant feathers as well, I'll give you an extra five taels, totaling fifteen taels." The manager of Wanfeng Building deftly moved his abacus, quoting Shen Qing a price.
"Can this price be raised a bit? It's too cheap."
The manager of Wanfeng Building closed the abacus, visibly displeased, dominantly said, "I'll add another half tael of silver, don't think about more. If not for Chen Youguang pestering me, the Song family has its merchants go out for purchases, and such good deals wouldn't get to you."
Shen Qing suppressed his thoughts, putting on a smile, "Thank you, Manager Wang, for your consideration, please kindly accept this small tribute."
Saying so, Shen Qing casually slipped a string of large coins into the hand of Wanfeng Building manager Wang Qiyao.
With that, Wang Qiyao's face showed a slight improvement, "I can tell you're clever, I like dealing with smart people."
"I'll be frank with you, asking you for those mountain delicacies is not specifically targeting you, it's an opportunity from Boss. Several young masters of the Boss' family have reached critical points in their martial arts training and need these mountain delicacies for nourishment. If you find them, the Boss is sure to reward you."
After hearing that, Shen Qing acted very grateful and said, "I see, thank you for informing me, Manager."
He tactfully didn't pursue the reason for the thirty taels demanded by the Boss.
He had already guessed a bit of the inner workings.
After storing the abacus, Manager Wang Qiyao of Wanfeng Building ordered people to start loading the items from his cart and then had the cashier give Shen Qing fifteen taels of silver, "What's your name?"
After counting the silver taels and ensuring everything was correct, Shen Qing said, "To answer manager, my surname is Shen, just a single character Qing."
"Shen Qing, huh?" The manager of Wanfeng Building nodded, "I'll remember you. In the future, if you have goods, feel free to bring them here. If you do well, I can entrust you with the mountain goods business of seven or eight villages around Shicheng Mountain."
Facing the big promise mapped out by Manager Wang, Shen Qing outwardly agreed, earnestly saying, "I'll do my best."
Wanfeng Building manager lazily waved his hand, dismissing, "There is nothing more here."
"Then I'll take my leave." Shen Qing politely said a few words before leaving the backyard.
Watching Shen Qing's departing figure, Wang Qiyao of Wanfeng Building couldn't help but glance more, wearing a contemplative expression.
A servant approached by his side and said to Wang Qiyao, "Manager, should we explain a bit to those outside the city?"
"The task given by the Boss is crucial, mountain delicacies cannot be missing, have you explained to all hunters from other villages?"
"Manager, rest assured, every hunter family that came was told, definitely won't mess up your matter."
Wang Qiyao's expression turned serious, instructing, "Whatever means necessary, ensure to have those three mountain delicacies ready by spring. That guy Cai doesn't get along with me, surely working secretly too. The position of shopkeeper at Wanfeng Building must not be given to him."
Servant by the side eagerly flattered, "Manager Cai surely doesn't have as many connections as Manager Wang, this shopkeeper position will surely be yours in the future."
Wang Qiyao waved the servant away, heading to the spot where Shen Qing unloaded the goods, pulling out the raccoon.
"This raccoon looks good, should fetch six taels of silver; earned an extra tael, haha."
...
Outside the door, Shen Qing carefully assessed today's takings.
In total, he gained fifteen taels of silver.
About five and a half came from his own hunting goods; mainly that raccoon accounted for the bulk, bringing substantial profit.
The remaining nearly ten taels all came from mountain goods of the entire village.
Subtracting the costs, he could net nearly five hundred to six hundred wen.
This amount could roughly match what his uncle Shen Ershi would earn in twenty days.
Even if he ate refined rice and grain every meal, he could afford it.
Importantly, this way didn't seem like hunting, which was reliant on luck and very stable.
No wonder Chen Youguang had such intentions.
Together with all the labor earnings, this time he gained close to six taels of silver.
Enough to count as a windfall, small fortune earned.
The upcoming days could be much better now.
Now there was some confidence in pursuing martial arts training.
```