Selling tea to the Liu Family this time—I don't know if it's a blessing or a curse!
This time, the Liu Family still cared about their reputation and the village's perception, so they used silver to buy the tea. However, if the jasmine tea passes through the Liu Family's hands and the profits are too high...
Most likely, the Liu Family would forcibly seize the cultivation method and take it for themselves!
Chen Changsheng understood the situation of these wealthy households; their history of prosperity was built upon the bones of others.
Fortunately, the deal was settled this time. He hoped for a few years of peace to give the Chen Family enough time to develop.
In fact, Chen Changsheng hadn't expected that Liu Jinshan, who had been all smiles, would change his expression the moment he stepped out of the Chen Family's gate!
A thousand taels of silver a year, to be earned by a peasant like Chen Changsheng—Liu Jinshan was green with envy!
He wanted to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs and seize the Chen Family's tea-planting techniques, but he feared a total fallout where Chen Changsheng would rather die than sell.
In his heart, he had already devised schemes to deal with Chen Changsheng. He was just waiting for the right moment to cast his net and catch the fish; buying the tea was just to let the kid be happy for a few days!
Chen Changsheng didn't realize that Liu Jinshan had already harbored such thoughts; his current goal was to wait for his eldest son to return home.
Over the past year, Chuanwu had taught Chen Changsheng almost all the basic knowledge of martial arts!
Chen Changsheng felt that there was no longer any problem with practicing the Five Elements Origin Cultivation Art. He was waiting for Chuanwu to return to confirm it one more time.
The sun gradually set in the west, and soon Chen Chuanwu rushed back from Wang Yong's house.
After this year, Chen Chuanwu had entered the Skin Refinement stage. His martial Foundation was very solid; though he was only eleven, his physique was like that of a fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth.
"Dad, did our Family's tea sell?"
When Chen Chuanwu returned home, he first took a large gulp of cold water and then asked Chen Changsheng in a boisterous manner.
Although his focus this past year had been on martial arts, he was also very concerned about the tea business; he knew it would be the Family's main source of income in the future.
"It's settled. Don't worry, Chuanwu. Come, tell Dad again what you learned today?"
Chen Changsheng gestured with a smile and called Chuanwu over.
Chuanwu was naturally bold and straightforward. When Chen Changsheng subtly asked him about martial arts basics, he never hid anything or grew suspicious.
In his heart, aside from the Tiger-Capturing Fist that Wang Yong said could not be shared, there was no need to keep basic martial arts knowledge a secret.
So, Chuanwu quickly began explaining to Chen Changsheng. Through their questions and answers, Chen Changsheng clarified several martial arts terms he was unsure about.
Chen Changsheng was secretly excited, but he showed no reaction on his face. He had dinner with his Family as usual and then went to rest.
In the middle of the night, Chen Changsheng quietly got up, stepped over his wife and Chuanjie beside him, and stole into the courtyard.
At this time, the bright moon hung high, bathing the earth in a layer of silver frost.
Chen Changsheng excitedly followed the records in the Five Elements Origin Cultivation Art, performing the Five Elements Stance Art while coordinating it with the Breathing Mind-Cultivation Technique!
"The human body is divided into the Five Elements, which generate and overcome each other. It takes the properties of the Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—to align with the generating cycle of the body's five viscera: the liver, heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys..."
Through cycle after cycle of the stance art and internal breathing, Chen Changsheng felt his heart gradually calm. His punches became more powerful, and a ball of heat seemed to emerge in his abdomen.
"Condense the True Qi of the Five Elements, gather the Innate Spiritual Root!"
Chen Changsheng felt the time was right and gave a low shout. The heat in his abdomen immediately turned into a warm current, flowing through his limbs and bones!
"It's finally done! There is hope for Cultivating Immortality! The first layer of the Five Elements Origin Cultivation Art, the Skin Refinement Realm—I've achieved it!"
Under the moonlit night, Chen Changsheng let out a suppressed, excited laugh. This was the moment he had fantasized about for countless nights over the past thirty years!
In his excitement, Chen Changsheng practiced the stance art a few more times until he had no strength left, then he stopped.
After venting his emotions, Chen Changsheng gradually calmed down. He had entered the gate of martial arts, but his wife was still an ordinary person.
Chen Changsheng knew that by himself, he would never go far in the blood-soaked world of Cultivating Immortality. He needed the help of his Family to walk together.
Moreover, the Chen Family had just gained the financial path of the Tea Mountain, but they lacked the strength to protect it. If the Chen Family were a martial arts Clan, then they would be worthy of this wealth!
He had to let his wife, Yi Lian, and his son, Chuanwen, also practice martial arts!
It was a pity for Chuanwu, though; he was currently Wang Yong's Disciple and could not yet Cultivate the Five Elements Origin Cultivation Art!
However, martial arts Realms were all interconnected. At worst, he would spend some time and medicinal materials in the future to help Chuanwu switch his cultivation!
Anyway, as long as one hasn't reached the Innate stage, the martial arts Foundation can be converted!
After some thought, Chen Changsheng decided that when the opportunity arose, he would pass the Five Elements Origin Cultivation Art to the whole Family, claiming it was passed down from their ancestors. This excuse wouldn't arouse suspicion.
The next morning, Chen Changsheng woke up refreshed. After sending Chuanwu to Wang Yong's house, he and Chuanwen moved out the hundred catties of stored tea.
At eight o'clock in the morning, someone from the Liu Family knocked on the door. However, it wasn't Liu Jinshan who came, but his eldest son, Liu Hongtu.
Behind him followed that same group of hangers-on, along with villagers who gathered to watch the excitement.
A deal worth a thousand taels of silver—the village hadn't seen anything like this in years. Everyone came to see the novelty.
"Who would have thought! You, a peasant, actually managed to grow this tea!"
Liu Hongtu walked up to Chen Changsheng with great fanfare, clicking his tongue in wonder. At the same time, he clapped his hands, and a man behind him carried out a small wooden box.
Shua!
The wooden box opened, and a thousand taels of silver shimmered in the sunlight, making everyone's hearts itch!
The onlookers showed various expressions of envy, jealousy, and greed!
Chen Changsheng thought to himself that this was bad; wealth stirs the heart!
With the bare silver placed before everyone—a thousand taels—it was enough to make many people harbor wicked thoughts!
This was exactly what Liu Hongtu intended. Fearing that others wouldn't see, he even clapped to draw a crowd.
"This is a thousand taels of silver. Our Liu Family has given it to Chen Changsheng without a penny missing. Everyone, bear witness for us! The reputation of my Liu Family is absolutely ironclad!"
Chen Changsheng knew Liu Hongtu had bad intentions, but it was impossible for him not to take the silver!
Just then, Chen Chuanwu returned with Wang Yong. He was bare-chested, showing off his lean muscles. He pushed through the restless crowd and went straight to Chen Changsheng's side, laughing as he said:
"Dad, our Family's tea sold? All this silver belongs to our Family?"
As soon as Chen Chuanwu appeared, the atmosphere immediately cooled down. The villagers then remembered that the Chen Family had a Martial Artist. Although he was only at the First Layer Realm, dealing with seven or eight ordinary people was no problem.
Not to mention, his master Wang Yong was following behind him—and he was an even more ruthless character!
"Brother Chen, hurry up and hand over the goods to Young Master Liu, don't keep him waiting!"
Wang Yong also walked over, his cold gaze sweeping across the crowd before speaking to Chen Changsheng.
"Haha, Young Master Liu's reputation is naturally beyond reproach. I'll bring the tea out for you right now. Fellow villagers, don't be in a hurry to leave today. My Family will buy a pig and make a pork feast; everyone share in Young Master Liu's good fortune!"
Chen Changsheng reacted immediately. While telling his sons to move the tea, he cheerfully invited the villagers to eat pork!
Liu Hongtu glanced at Wang Yong with a sour expression, snorted, and left with his hangers-on!
Chen Changsheng knew, however, that the matter with the Liu Family was not over. This was only the beginning.