Chapter 682 Three Hills
Wuning County is already a famous large and wealthy county in the vicinity.
Although the surrounding large counties such as Yongkang, Wushang, Shanyin and Jinyun are separated by mountains and rivers, they all know about Wu Ning's prosperity.
What is prosperity? It is simply having enough to eat and not starving to death.
Those who came from south to north to seek refuge with distant relatives or to escape disaster finally managed to settle down in Wuning.
The Shen family naturally made an indelible contribution to this.
They have the help of ghosts and gods above, connections in the middle, and the support of the people below, which is enough to accumulate huge wealth.
Chen Hai donated the position of chief clerk of Wuning County. To some extent, the county magistrate's words were not as useful as his in matters concerning Wuning.
Every spring and autumn, the birds that travel across mountains and rivers from south to north and from north to south bring business opportunities and news from afar. It is thanks to this secret technique that the Shen family rarely suffers losses.
From Jiaozhi and Daguang in the south to the imperial capital in the north, the Shen family has left its mark everywhere.
Chen Shan has not enjoyed his life in Wuning County for a long time. Ever since Wansong Academy was hit by a disaster and Shen Qiao and Shen Yan were missing, Chen Shan has been unable to settle down. He personally led a team to travel all over the country to open up trade routes. On the one hand, it was to accumulate wealth and power, and on the other hand, it was to find out the news about the two boys.
Even though he had asked the fox fairy for divination and had thrown the divination blocks several times and each time they showed the holy cup, he still couldn't help but feel worried.
Then he remembered what the fox fairy had said: the two boys were destined to be noble, born with a calamity. The Shen family was burdened with two noble lives, and a small boat could hardly bear the weight, threatening to capsize. Only a large ship could protect itself and provide more support for the two boys.
So the Shen family changed their business strategy from being conservative to being expansionary.
Employing relatives and training guards, although it cannot be said to be recruiting soldiers, it is actually doing similar things.
Armor cannot be kept privately, but weapons are becoming more and more sophisticated.
Moreover, because of the strong business fortune, the Shen family did not dare to forget the fox fairy's advice. Being rich but unkind would only damage one's own virtue, and retribution would come sooner or later.
So they gave benefits to the villagers. On the one hand, they built bridges and roads, and on the other hand, they hired villagers to work and customized goods from craftsmen, so that everyone could make money together.
Such an action will naturally bring both benefits and fame.
At other times, they would have been considered as scheming individuals and arrested and disciplined. But now, the Wuning County Magistrate could only turn a blind eye. Everyone could make money together, and this didn't just apply to the villagers.
Wuning's prosperity and bustle not only attracted people who came from outside to make a living, but also attracted those who came from outside to practice cultivation.
Three young men in linen clothes, hunched over, were wandering around the county town. They had shifty looks and were wearing hemp shoes with exposed toes. They were sniffing the aroma of food coming from the stalls, as if someone was holding their noses and they were about to jump on tiptoe.
"Daqiu, why is this place so nice?"
The young man called Daqiu was a bit delicate, but at this moment he also said with a silly smile: "Even if I can't become your disciple, I shouldn't starve to death now."
"Erqiu, Sanqiu, I have one copper coin left. Let's buy a steamed bun."
He carefully took out a green copper coin from his waist, bought a steamed bun, broke it in half and gave each of the three brothers a piece. Their mouths were filled with the aroma of millet. The sweetness from the tip of their tongues went along the esophagus into their stomachs, as if they had suddenly fallen into a pile of millet.
The three of them became even happier and asked around where Fox Hill was.
Fox Hill is a good place. It was originally an unlucky desolate mountain and was rumored to be haunted by foxes.
But later, the belief in the Goddess of Mount Tai spread, and people knew that foxes were messengers of the Goddess. Not only were they not afraid, but some people with good intentions often went to the bottom of Fox Hill to offer sacrifices.
If they see their offerings eaten the next day, they are happy and think that they have accumulated good karma. If they are not eaten, they are sad that they have no fate.
After finding out their destination, the three Qius ran a few steps out of the city and felt their bodies were heavy and tired. Their newly tamed limbs were obviously not very obedient, so they went into the woods, took off their clothes, turned into three furry little animals, and headed straight for Fox Hill, carrying their clothes and shoes.
After climbing up Fox Hill, he went back into the woods, put on his clothes and shoes, and climbed up the mountain twisting his arms and legs.
The mist on the mountain had no effect on the three boys, but through the mist, they could gradually smell some faint fragrance.
There are fragrant herbs planted on Fox Hill, which grow together in the spring, showing vigorous vitality.
Going up the mountain path, you will see a gatehouse with the words "Fox Courtyard" written on it.
The three hills smiled happily and walked closer, but two of them slowed down and stopped outside the mountain gate.
When Daqiu looked back, he saw that the two of them were shoulder to shoulder, unable to move their legs, and their calves were shaking.
Seeing him looking over, Erqiu said, "You go ahead. It's useless for us to go. They probably won't accept it."
Da Qiu fell silent. He stepped back from the mountain gate and said, "We three brothers live and die together, share happiness and hardships together. If you don't go, I won't go either."
Erqiu and Sanqiu were about to cry. Sanqiu said, "No, we can't. We've come so far. How can you not go?"
Daqiu just stood there stiffly, and even though they pushed him, he didn't move.
Erqiu was both anxious and angry. "If you keep dragging your feet here, I'm afraid you'll be accused of disrespecting the immortal arts. When you return after completing your studies, we'll have someone to rely on. How can you, a fox, be so pedantic?"
Da Qiu still refused, saying, "I just know that we have come all the way here, and I will not be willing if we don't even give it a try."
Sanqiu shouted, "Alright! We'll go with you, but we've got a deal: if you don't accept us, you'll have to stay."
Only then did Daqiu give up.
He was tough in words and in heart, but his calves began to tremble.
He whispered, "You two walk behind me, I'll block you for a bit."
The three hills supported each other and entered the fox courtyard. They saw the table in front of the white wall and the beautiful and plump fox fairy sitting beside the table.
Behind the fox fairy, there were two fox girls sitting on stools, sweeping their big furry tails, looking bored.
Seeing the three brothers, the two fox girls jumped off their stools, showing a charming look and saying, "Come over here. You're so late. We won't accept any more people in a few days."
"This is Kang Yunu, the head steward of our Fox Court, in charge of this recruitment."
The three Qius straightened their chests and said loudly, "Greetings, Steward Kang."
Kang Yunu laughed and said, "Don't be nervous, we are all family."
She looked at the three young men. Da Qiu moved his toes to block Er Qiu and San Qiu behind him.
Erqiu and Sanqiu only showed half of their faces, looking down at the ground, one on the left and one on the right, not daring to look at Kang Yunu.
Daqiu didn't dare either, his eyes kept wandering around and couldn't keep still.
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