From the fusion of Tongbei Quan to the Longevity Martial Saint

When Lin first met Fang Qing, he called him "Fang Qing the kid".

Now, with the changing situation, especially after Fang Qing has aligned himself with the Second Miss's warship.

They're now in the same boat, and Guard Lin is now calling Fang Qing "little brother."

Lin, Fang Lingsu's trusted bodyguard, now considers Fang Qing as one of his own.

Of course, what Fang Qing didn't know was that at this moment, Guard Lin was actually still somewhat wary of Fang Qing.

After all, Lin, the guard, had witnessed Fang Qing's actions before and after.

In particular, his final scheme included Fang Lingsu in his calculations.

Such a person can only be described as a ruthless and calculating individual.

He smiled gently at Fang Qing again, fully expressing his goodwill.

The next moment, Guard Lin pushed open the door and walked out of the cooking room.

……

That evening, members of the Six Doors (a government agency) personally came to inspect the scene.

Because Fang Lingsu was there, Fang Qing wasn't made things too difficult.

After a routine inspection, the matter was hastily concluded.

Several days later, when the situation had calmed down considerably and almost no one was paying attention to Li Zaotou's matter, Fang Qing finally went to the back mountain to retrieve the things he had hidden.

Fang Qing counted the bag of silver; it contained approximately 150 taels.

Silver had very high purchasing power in the Great Qian Dynasty. Salt-producing families like theirs could save up 5 taels of silver a year, which meant they were quite wealthy.

150 taels of silver is equivalent to the harvest of Uncle Yang's family for more than 30 years without eating or drinking. It almost represents Uncle Yang's lifelong goal.

Fang Qing cleaned the bottom of the bag and found a delicate little box.

Upon opening, two metal blades were found.

He examined it carefully and concluded that it should be the legendary gold leaf.

Both gold leaves have a rather rustic surface and no particular patterns.

The back is engraved with the words "Da Qian Tong Bao".

"Uncle Yang seems to have said that one gold leaf is equivalent to 100 taels of silver, and two gold leaves are 200 taels of silver, plus 150 taels of loose silver. Li Zao Tou has embezzled quite a bit over the years."

This is only the remaining portion of Li Zaotou's expenses.

Fang Qing estimated that there might still be some at Li Zaotou's residence.

Unfortunately, Li Zaotou's residence has been sealed off by the Six Doors, and Fang Qing doesn't want to risk entering at this time.

After all, tomorrow he will first go to what seems to be a place where he can be freed from slavery, and then he will enter the boxing academy that the Fang family is cooperating with to learn martial arts.

This is not the time to provoke trouble.

"But there's no rush. Fang Lingsu asked me to take over the position of head of the saltworks at this salt field. Let's try to find out if Head Saltworker Li has anything else later."

Fang Qing originally suggested that Uncle Yang be the cook, but Fang Lingsu rejected the idea because Uncle Yang's cultivation level was too low.

After all, salt bandits have become increasingly rampant recently, and the salt fields need a capable person to oversee them.

Fang Lingsu could have arranged for someone else to come, but considering the need for a secret recipe for refined salt.

So Fang Qing was put in charge of the role as well.

During regular work hours, Uncle Yang was the main person in charge and oversaw the overall situation, while Fang Qing, who had returned from martial arts training at the boxing academy, was responsible for the safety of the salt field at night.

Li Zao Tou's salary was publicly disclosed: 5 taels of silver and 3 catties of spirit meat per month.

Compared to this, Fang Lingsu's reward for Fang Qing's offering of refined salt—two Body Tempering Pills and 30 catties of spiritual flesh every month—is already very generous.

The rest were porcelain, jade, and other items.

Fang Qing didn't understand these things either, so he could only look for opportunities to sell on the black market later.

What Fang Qing envied most were more than a dozen dried sea fish, each a little bigger than the palm of his hand and completely red.

[Premium dried golden threadfin bream, can increase stamina by +30, awaiting absorption...]

"One dried fish is worth three turtle eggs! What a great find!"

Fang Qing counted them and found there were about a dozen of these high-quality dried golden threadfin bream.

However, Fang Qing noticed that the salting and drying of these dried fish were rather rough, as if Li Zaotou had dried them himself.

"Could these premium golden threadfin bream not have been bought? Did Li Zaotou catch them himself?"

Fang Qing immediately became interested. If he could find this fishing spot, he would have a steady stream of high-quality golden threadfin bream to eat.

At least it can guarantee the physical strength required for cultivation.

Now that Fang Qing has reached the minor completion stage of the second level of Body Tempering, he needs to consume 4 stamina points every time he cultivates.

You need to have enough stamina to improve your cultivation level as quickly as possible.

Fang Qing searched through the bag but found no clues.

Suddenly he remembered something and quickly pulled a note out of his pocket.

There must have been a reason why Li Zaotou kept that note close to his body at the time.

Opening the bloodstained note, Fang Qing saw a simple note about a disciple.

This place is located near the salt field, but salt farmers are usually prohibited from going there.

"Could this be it?"

Fang Qing carefully examined the handwriting on it:

"On the first, third, and fifth day of the lunar month, you can fish every other day when the tide is low."

Below is a detailed method for making bait for fishing spots. Simply mix shrimp yolks with a few other common ingredients.

"They even have a method for making bait, which saves a lot of trouble."

"Once things are settled at the boxing academy, we can try fishing at this spot and see if we can catch any high-quality golden threadfin bream."

Fang Qing carefully put away the note, and then carefully put the gold leaf and the remaining silver on his person.

The remaining porcelain was buried again, to prevent the Six Doors from launching a surprise search of his residence...

……

The next day, Fang Qing got up early.

I greeted Uncle Yang.

He then walked out of the salt field.

Previously, Fang Qing was a slave of the Fang family in the salt field, and he needed a travel permit to avoid being questioned when he went out on the street.

Over the years, Fang Qingnian has had virtually no opportunity to go to the city.

He paid to hire a horse-drawn carriage to take him to Yancheng.

Yancheng was actually a transshipment center for the Lianghuai salt fields.

The salt produced by Jinsha Saltworks and thirty other saltworks was collected in Yancheng and then transported to Yangzhou.

They were transported to various parts of the Great Qian Dynasty via the waterways of Yangzhou.

Yancheng was a gathering place for salt field merchants and transport merchants. Fangjia was a consortium of salt field merchants and transport merchants, with its own salt fields and canal transport wharf fleet.

The Yangzhou government had an official salt commissioner office in Lianghuai.

……

The carriage stopped directly at the city gate of Yancheng.

Without a permit, a carriage is not allowed to enter the city.

After giving the coachman three large coins, Fang Qing bowed deeply in gratitude before walking directly towards the guards at the city gate.

"Where are you going into town? Who are you visiting? Bring me your travel permit."

Fang Qing went over and quickly cupped his hands in greeting.

Immediately afterwards, he took out five large coins from his sleeve.

He quietly handed it to the soldier guarding the city.

"Excuse me, I wish to visit the second young lady of the Fang family, a salt merchant family. Could you please provide the exact location of the Fang family residence?"

Fang Qing once asked Uncle Yang,

Uncle Yang didn't know the exact location of the Fang family's house either.

After all, someone of Uncle Yang's level in the past wouldn't have been qualified to have direct contact with the main Fang family.

It's likely that only Li Zaotou in the entire salt field knows the exact location of the Fang family's house.

Of course, Fang Qing can't get any more information from Li Zaotou now.

Left with no other choice, Fang Qing could only take it one step at a time.

The guard at the gate took the five coins that Fang Qing handed over.

Their attitude changed immediately...

……