Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

Having not seen each other for a year, everyone felt quite warm and fuzzy with affection.

Zhao Li, Zhao Xian, and the others didn't stand on ceremony and went straight to the back of the stall.

The elder brother, Zhao Ji, was meticulous. He quickly laid out a straw mat on the ground, but after touching it, he felt it was a bit thin, so he laid out another one.

The group sat on the ground, and Zhao Zhi took out some snacks from his carrying pole and shared them with Zhao Hong, Zhao Yu, and a few other boys to satisfy their cravings.

Zhao Xian sat next to his elder brother Zhao Ji. The two brothers had not seen each other for a long time, so they chatted happily.

Zhao Ji has been doing business in various places over the past few years, and has seen a lot of things.

Whenever he returned home, Zhao Xian would talk with him for several days.

After chatting for a while, Zhao Li brought up the matter of the bandits attacking the Shanghu Pavilion.

Upon hearing that Zhao Ren and Zhao Yi were seriously injured, Zhao Zhi and Zhao Ji were also very worried.

Upon learning that Chen Yuancheng had summoned the physicians of the pavilion to treat the wounded, the two men's expressions softened somewhat, and they repeatedly praised the benevolent Lord Ting.

The two of them traveled all over the country and encountered countless officials, both high and low, and knew that such officials who loved the people were truly rare.

Chen Yuancheng took office in the middle of the year, while the two of them had already left at the beginning of the year, so naturally they did not know Chen Yuancheng.

As Zhao Li recounted how Zhao Zheng had been appointed as a soldier at the pavilion, how his family had acquired oxen, and how Zhao Xian had been highly regarded by the pavilion lord, Zhao Zhi and Zhao Ji could not hide their excitement.

"It seems our family has prospered quite a bit this year!"

With a sigh, Zhao Zhi looked at Zhao Xian with great joy and said earnestly, "Lord Ting comes from a prominent family in the county. After defeating the bandits, you will surely be promoted."

"Sanlang, you must cherish this relationship with Tingjun!"

Zhao Zhi's only son, Zhao Sheng, is currently studying at the county school. Students at the county school attend for three-year terms and can study there for a maximum of nine years.

Within nine years, those with high talent who meet the admission requirements of the county school can be admitted.

Nine years later, if they had not been admitted to the county school, they would have to find their own way to make a living.

Zhao Zhi spent many years doing business away from home, enduring wind and rain, all so that Zhao Sheng could be admitted to the county school.

However, he also knew in his heart that with Zhao Sheng's talent, it would be as difficult as ascending to heaven to get into the county school.

If Zhao Xian can maintain a good relationship with Chen Yuancheng, he might be able to use Chen Yuancheng's influence to secure a minor official position for Zhao Sheng.

Zhao Xian was slightly surprised upon hearing this—Chen Yuancheng's impending relocation was still a secret, yet his uncle had managed to pinpoint it in a single sentence.

Zhao Zhi, with his keen mind, discerned from Zhao Xian's expression that his prediction was correct. Seeing that Zhao Xian was about to speak, he preemptively said with a smile, "We can discuss this in detail when we get home!"

Zhao Xian understood and quickly nodded in agreement.

As the group chatted, Zhao Xian looked around at the stalls and suddenly a thought struck him.

He held his breath and focused his mind, secretly channeling his magical power into the four orifices in his eyes.

In an instant, a crimson light flashed in their eyes, and several wisps of white mist appeared above their heads.

Both the uncle Zhao Zhi and the elder brother Zhao Ji had a thin wisp of white vapor above their heads, with a faint gray tinge at the bottom of the vapor.

This piqued Zhao Xian's curiosity, as he remembered that his uncle Zhao Li had a wisp of dark red white energy above his head.

Suppressing his doubts, Zhao Xian turned to look at the stall in front of him, testing his ideas.

If one can see through the fortune of others, then one wonders if one can also see the aura of treasure and spiritual energy.

After scanning the two stalls in front of him, he found nothing unusual.

Zhao Xianfu got up again and looked around. In the marketplace, people gathered in droves, and all sorts of things were happening.

All that could be seen were wisps of white mist, like clouds and fog, but not a single one that appeared slightly red.

My gaze wandered and suddenly I noticed a faint, ethereal light emanating from a street stall.

Zhao Xian looked closely and saw dozens of pearls arranged neatly, one of which had an inner radiance.

"call!"

With a long sigh, the glint in Zhao Xian's eyes faded, and he fell into deep thought.

After a dozen or so breaths, Zhao Xian looked at his younger sister Zhao Yu, who was making a ruckus beside him, and had a plan in mind.

He summoned his younger sister, Zhao Yu, and whispered a few words in her ear.

Zhao Yu understood, immediately got up, pulled his second brother Zhao Hong, and walked towards the stall.

Zhao Li and Zhao Zhi did not pay much attention to this, as the stall was nearby and quite safe.

A moment later, the sound of crying was heard. Everyone looked over and saw Zhao Yu standing in front of a stall, crying and making a fuss.

Zhao Hong, standing to the side, blushed deeply, overwhelmed with shame.

"Xiaoyu has good taste," Zhao Ji glanced at the stall and laughed, "Those are pearls from the East China Sea. It is said that grinding them into powder and applying them to the face can moisturize the skin."

As he spoke, he took out a string of talisman coins and handed them to Zhao Xian, saying, "How can an elder brother see his younger sister cry? Buy these for her."

Zhao Xian pushed aside the string of coins and laughed, "Brother Zhong underestimates me; Third Brother has his own savings!"

After saying that, he got up and left.

The stall owner had already taken notice of Zhao Zhi, Zhao Li, and the others, and was naturally pleased that Zhao Yu was making a scene in front of his stall.

Sure enough, upon seeing Zhao Xian approach, the stall owner immediately picked up the pearl Zhao Yu was pointing to, placed it in his hand, and said with a smile, "Don't cry, don't cry, take it!"

Zhao Yu played with the pearl in her hand, and then burst into laughter through her tears.

Zhao Xian walked over to Zhao Yu's side, glanced at the stall, then bowed to the stall owner and said with a smile, "My little sister was just playing around, please don't take offense!"

"It's alright, I have a younger sister at home, whom I adore!"

Upon hearing this, the stall owner immediately replied with a smile.

Zhao Xian picked up the pearl, examined it closely, and then smiled, "Shopkeeper, this item~"

"From the shores of the East Sea, thousands of miles away, this is quite rare. It can make your skin fair and tender, and it will only cost one hundred talismans!"

The stall owner was overjoyed and quickly replied.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian put the pearl back in its original place and looked at his younger sister with a smile, saying, "One hundred talismans can buy ten catties of meat. Why don't we go home and buy some meat?"

Zhao Yu glanced timidly at her brother and nodded obediently.

Zhao Xian turned her around, silently counting in his mind.

Upon reaching the third step, the stall owner indeed spoke up, saying, "I also have a younger sister at home. Seeing how reluctant your sister is to leave, I feel uneasy. How about I give you eighty coins?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian turned around and laughed, "Please don't take offense, I only have thirty-seven talisman coins on me!"

After saying that, he took them out one by one from his own pocket, and there were indeed only thirty-seven of them.

Seeing this, Zhao Hong took out seven or eight talisman coins from his pocket and handed them to Zhao Xian.

"Stadium owner, that's all I have!"

Zhao Xian opened his hand, and dozens of bright yellow talisman coins shone brightly in the sunlight.

"Young man, why don't you come here and buy some fabric to make a new dress for your little sister?"

A vendor nearby immediately said with a smile.

Seeing this, the stall owner waved his hand and said with a wry smile, "Fine, fine! I'll give you one!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu cheered and stepped forward to pick up the pearl that Zhao Xian had put down.

Zhao Xian handed over the talisman coins to the stall owner, exactly forty-five coins.

"Thank you, stall owner!"

Zhao Xian bowed again.

"Ha, what a well-mannered young man!"

"Qi Bing, you're really lucky!"

A vendor nearby also chimed in with laughter.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian bowed to everyone and led his younger sister back to his uncle's side.

"Go away, stop talking nonsense!"

The stall owner waved his hand and said with a smile.

"Sanlang is quite wealthy!"

Upon returning to their stall, Zhongxiong Zhaoji also made a joke.

As for the pearl, none of them paid it any attention, simply assuming it was Zhao Xian's affection for his younger sister.

After chatting for a while, Zhao Li and his group got up and left.

Zhao Zhi and Zhao Ji would have to continue their business in the surrounding villages of Wohu Township for a few more days.

With the Lunar New Year approaching, business is booming, so naturally we'll work a few more days.

After boarding the oxcart, the group headed towards Shanghuting.

......

The night was dark, and the north wind howled like a knife.

By the moonlight shining through the window, Zhao Xian carefully examined the round pearl in front of him.

The size of a soybean, crystal clear, and very smooth when gently rubbed.

"The precious light is concealed, revealing not a trace of spiritual energy. Perhaps we need to crush the outer shell?"

Stroking the pearl in his hand, Zhao Xian pondered these thoughts.

"So be it, a mere few dozen talisman coins, they're gone if they're destroyed!"

With the thought made up, I applied a little force with my fingers, and heard a "click".

The once-round pearl has now broken into several pieces.

In an instant, light shone everywhere, and spiritual energy rushed towards us.

A tiny, rice-grain-sized spiritual pearl appeared within the debris, radiating brilliant light.

"What is this? It has such a rich spiritual energy!"

Lost in thought, Zhao Xian muttered to himself before snapping back to reality and quickly fetching a porcelain bottle from the windowsill.

He carefully placed the rice-grain-sized spirit bead into the porcelain bottle, and then plugged it with a wooden stopper.

"Full of spiritual energy, it must be a treasure!"

"It's a pity that my knowledge is too limited; I have the treasure in my hands, yet I don't recognize it!"

With a sigh, a figure appeared in Zhao Xian's mind.

"Tomorrow, I will visit the pavilion and seek guidance from Lord Ting!"

After a moment of contemplation, Zhao Xian also thought to himself.