Crafting an Immortal Race with Daily Hexagrams

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Business Genius

In the days that followed, Shen Wenxing spent every morning seeking guidance from Lu Zhiyuan, practiced Martial Dao in the afternoon, and studied the Breathing Technique at night.

Two months passed in a blur.

One evening, after the family finished dinner, Shen Wenxing pulled Shen Yuan into the courtyard, his face lit with excitement, ”Ah Die, I can understand the Breathing Technique now!”

Upon hearing this, a hint of joy passed over Shen Yuan’s face, and he quickly asked, ”How is it?”

Xu Xiu cultivated this very Breathing Technique, enabling him to become a master comparable to the Innate.

He eagerly anticipated whether his son could match or even surpass Xu Xiu one day.

”I tried it, but I can’t feel any effects just yet; it might take some time.”

”Ah Die, I want you, Ah Niang, and Ah Nu to practice together.”

”Even if the effects aren’t significant, extending lifespan and strengthening the body is always beneficial.”

Shen Yuan nodded with satisfaction.

This son of his always thinks of his family first when there’s a benefit to be had. His filial piety as the eldest son and loving care as the elder brother are perfectly embodied in him.

”Alright, but don’t tell your mother and Ah Nu it’s the Breathing Technique; just say it’s the Body Strengthening Skill taught by the Martial Arts Hall instructors.”

Shen Wenxing was a bit puzzled.

To him, they were the closest people, so there was no need to hide it.

However, Shen Yuan told him that knowing some things was a burden and informing them would be harming them.

The father and son could bear the pressure themselves without letting the others carry it in their hearts.

Shen Wenxing nodded thoughtfully.

The next day, he verbally taught the Breathing Technique to Hu Yufen and Shen Wenyan.

”Ah Niang, this is taught by the Martial Arts Hall instructors. You can practice it when you have free time but never teach it to others, or the instructors will get angry.”

Hu Yufen smiled gently, ”Ah Niang won’t practice; at my age, it won’t come to anything significant.”

Shen Yuan immediately put on a stern face, ”The child is filial and wants you to be healthy; don’t be stubborn.”

Shen Wenxing also looked over expectantly.

Hu Yufen hesitated for a moment and then nodded, ”Alright, Ah Niang will practice.”

Spring came and went, autumn arrived, and time flew by.

Three years passed in a blink; during these years, Shen Wenxing no longer needed to spend the family’s silver coins to learn martial arts. Instead, by frequently helping Huang Qingzhou look after the Martial Arts Hall and teaching disciples, he earned some silver taels for the family.

The orchard on the mountain also matured thoroughly after three years of cultivation.

The two peach trees in front of Lu Zhiyuan’s house, whose seeds were unknowingly brought by Uncle Ya, produced peaches that were large and sweet thanks to grafting, becoming popular in Yunshui Town.

Additionally, Shen Yuan went hunting in the mountains occasionally based on the hexagram, fishing at Black Water Pool, earning some money to support the family.

With no significant expenses, the family’s savings unexpectedly reached nearly seven hundred taels in three years.

Regarding cultivation.

Shen Wenxing was almost fourteen years old now; he hadn’t broken through to the so-called Innate Realm yet, but after practicing the Breathing Technique for three years, his strength had reached the Peak of Postnatal, slightly stronger than Huang Qingzhou.

As for Shen Yuan, his wife, and Shen Wenyan, aside from Shen Yuan breaking through to the Postnatal Realm with the help of Bloodline Power, the other two saw significant improvement in their health thanks to the Breathing Technique, but due to not having the bloodline and lacking training in Pile Skill, they hadn’t made any breakthroughs.

Instead, the three-and-a-half-year-old Shen Wen’an showed good talent in Martial Arts.

The little guy, since becoming slightly sensible, would stand in posture daily with his elder brother in the courtyard.

At first, everyone thought he was mischievous, unable to persist for several days.

Unexpectedly, he practiced for half a year; from three years old till now, every morning and evening, whenever Shen Wenxing started posture practice in the courtyard, he would follow along.

No matter the weather, and never complained of fatigue.

This made Shen Yuan feel both surprised and gratified.

With the arrival of midsummer, it was again the season for the orchard’s peaches to ripen.

With Fu Gui’s help, the family harvested a cartload of fresh peaches, and the father and son prepared to deliver them to the traders in town, with the little girl Shen Wenping insisting on coming along, leaving Shen Yuan no choice but to bring her along.

On the road, the little girl sat in her elder brother’s arms, munching happily on a huge peach, her big eyes curiously observing the roadside scenery.

Shen Wenxing spoke, ”Ah Die, Senior Sister Lingxiu really likes our peaches; should we send her some later?”

”Sure, save a basket for them.” Shen Yuan, driving the ox cart, smiled heartily, ”Let Uncle Huang and Uncle Yunxiao taste them too.”

As he said this, he slightly turned and asked, ”Are you and Lingxiu girl still getting along well?”

Shen Wenxing, unsure of what he meant, nodded with a smile, ”Just like always.”

To care for the family and alleviate his father’s burden, he had spent these years cultivating at home.

Every month, I would go to town for a few days to help Huang Qingzhou teach disciples.

Huang Lingxiu, who had already broken through to the Postnatal Martial Artist realm, often ran to Jinliu Village when she was free.

Both families had tacitly acknowledged their relationship, but it had not been completely confirmed yet.

”Life has gotten a bit better these past two years. Your father plans to find some time to talk to your Uncle Huang.”

”You’re both not young anymore; it’s time to settle the marriage first, and then you can get married in a couple of years.”

That’s just how it was in those days.

The son of Zhao Shuan in the front yard is only two years older than Shen Wenxing, and now they’re already expecting a child.

Zhao Shuan became a grandfather before reaching middle age, so I must hurry too.

The hexagram system is bound to the entire Shen Family. Now, there are only five direct lineage bloodlines. To spare his wife, he doesn’t plan on having more children himself, so the task of branching out falls on the brothers.

”Ah Die, I’m still young...”

Shen Wenxing said in a somewhat startled manner, as if he were not ready yet.

”I want to think about this after breaking through to the Innate realm.”

After breaking through to the Innate realm, the Shen Family would become a prominent family, at least in Anyang County.

By then, he would have the confidence to protect his wife and children or shelter his parents and siblings.

”Innate?” Shen Yuan glanced back at him and said, ”Old man Xu Xiu took forty years to break through to Innate. Do you plan to get married forty years later too?”

”Would Lingxiu be willing to wait for you until then?”

”It’s different...” Shen Wenxing argued. ”I will definitely not take forty years to break through.”

Shen Yuan did not deny what he said. After pondering for a moment, he asked, ”Then how long do you think it would take?”

”Three years!” Shen Wenxing said confidently, ”Give me three more years, Ah Die. By then, whether or not I’ve broken through to Innate, I will marry Senior Sister Lingxiu!”

Three years...

Shen Yuan thought for a moment and nodded. ”Alright, it’s settled then.”

The ox cart quickly arrived at the town street.

Their peaches were famous for their superior quality. When the vendors in town saw Shen Yuan arrive, they swarmed around, not even bargaining over the price, and quickly bought up the whole cart of peaches.

Shen Wenxing guarded the last basket with all his might to prevent the vendors from taking it away.

”Younger Brother Shen, next time I’ll directly go to Jinliu Village to collect your peaches, saving you and your father a trip,” a slightly plump man over fifty came over and said in a low voice, seeing the peaches were all sold.

This man was named Tao Shun, and he owned a fruit shop called ”Fresh Fruit Shop” in town.

After seeing Shen Yuan’s peaches two years ago, he had a hard time accepting peaches from other fruit farmers.

Once he collected Shen Family’s peaches, he secretly transported them to the Commandery City, where the dignitaries loved them, and the prices often multiplied.

”No, no!”

Before Shen Yuan could respond, Shen Wenping suddenly stood up on the ox cart, hands on her hips.

Tao Shun looked at her in surprise. ”Huh—this kid?”

”Why won’t it work?”

Shen Wenping tilted her head and said, ”The peaches are limited. If you take them all, what about the others?”

”If you want them, bring more money next time and come early. If you offer a higher price, naturally you can buy more.”

”Hey!” Tao Shun looked at her in amazement, then turned to Shen Yuan. ”Younger Brother Shen, your daughter... At such a young age, she’s truly remarkable.”

Shen Yuan smiled and patted the little girl’s head.

This girl had been clever and spirited since she was young, very endearing.

”In that case, next time Younger Brother Shen brings peaches, save half a cart for me, and I’ll buy them at a 20% higher price. How about it?”

After they agreed, Shen Yuan drove the ox cart towards the Martial Arts Hall.

On the ox cart, Shen Wenxing asked curiously, ”Girl, why not let him collect from home? Wouldn’t it save Father the trouble of bringing the peaches to town?”

”Brother, are you silly?” The little girl rolled her eyes at him. ”Our peaches are good, and everyone wants them.”

”But there are only so many peaches, and if more people want them, they’ll pay more.”

”If you let him take them all and sell them at a high price to others, wouldn’t he make off with all the money?”

”Not only shouldn’t we let him collect them, but next time we should bring even fewer peaches, to make people think our supply is limited so they’ll be more anxious.”

The father and son were stunned by her words.

Shen Yuan glanced back at his daughter, a bit bewildered that this four-year-old girl understood valuing and scarcity marketing strategies. Did Meng Po’s soup get diluted?