He started as a shepherd and took on countless jobs.

Xu Zhi held up a finger and waved it in front of Pei Si.

One hundred coins for incense money, which was about what Pei Si had estimated.

"This price is fair." Pei Si nodded.

Xu Zhi gently stroked the red-eyed fox with her delicate hand and smiled:

"The Lu family just finalized the commission yesterday, and it's already been completed today. I'll send a servant to inform the Lu family later."

Xu Zhi paused, then said with a hint of sarcasm, "Perhaps Miss Lu would be interested in you~"

Pei Si said, both amused and exasperated, "Sister Zhi, please don't tease me."

One of the taboos for shepherds is that they must not marry or have children, otherwise they will die from severing all their blood vessels and bleeding from all seven orifices.

Of course, while marriage and children are forbidden, it doesn't mean one can't listen to music in brothels.

Xu Zhi asked Pei Si to wait a moment and sent an apprentice to inform the Lu family.

Although it is the time of demons, it is relatively safe in the city, and evil spirits will not easily show themselves.

…………

The Lu family.

Managing the fish farm business, which affected the livelihoods of thousands of people, the Lu family was at the height of its power.

The head of the family, Lu Pingshan, had a younger brother named Lu Pinghai who worked in the county government. Through Lu Pinghai's connections, he also sent his son, Lu Shouli, to work as a clerk in the county government.

Lu Pingshan has two sons and one daughter.

Lu Shouzhuo, Lu Shouli, Lu Shuangshuang.

Lu Shouzhou now manages part of the family business and is practically the heir to the Lu family business.

The youngest, Lu Shuangshuang, was the apple of Lu Pingshan's eye, and he tried his best to fulfill her every request.

For example, Lu Shuangshuang disliked needlework but loved wielding swords and practicing martial arts.

Lu Pingshan specially opened a martial arts training ground and invited martial arts instructors from the Lingcang Blade Sect to his home to teach Lu Shuangshuang martial arts.

at this time.

Lu Family Martial Arts Arena.

A young girl dressed in black, holding a long sword, beheaded the straw man in front of her with a single stroke.

"Phew~"

Lu Shuangshuang breathed a sigh of relief and wiped away her sweat.

"Miss Lu is truly a martial arts prodigy. She has already mastered the basics of swordsmanship in less than a week," said Ling Yan, a martial arts master from the Lingcang Sword Sect, with admiration in her eyes.

"Instructor Ling, you flatter me," Lu Shuangshuang said with a humble smile and cupped her hands in greeting.

"Miss, a message from Qingzhi Hall says the commission has been completed," the maid Ping'er reported.

Seeing that Lu Shuangshuang had something to do and that today's lessons had already ended, Ling Yan took the opportunity to say goodbye.

"As expected of Qingzhi Hall, they've gotten things done in less than a day." Lu Shuangshuang sheathed her sword.

"Miss, shall I send someone to fetch it?" Ping'er asked, handing over a handkerchief.

"I'm feeling tired from practicing martial arts, so I'll go out and relieve some boredom. Let me go prepare a bath."

…………

Qingzhitang.

Miss Lu came to visit.

Xu Zhi received Lu Shuangshuang and presented her with a red-eyed fox.

Lu Shuangshuang held the fox in one arm and stroked its head with the other, gently nodding her head.

It feels good.

Although she enjoyed wielding swords and spears, she had absolutely no resistance to these furry creatures.

Seeing the docile fox in her arms, Lu Shuangshuang was somewhat surprised.

I thought this fox was still wild and would require time to train, but I didn't expect it to be so obedient.

"Manager Xu, your shop is truly thoughtful. This fox has been trained very well," Lu Shuangshuang said with satisfaction.

"Huh?" Xu Zhi was taken aback at first, then explained:

"Miss Lu, this has nothing to do with us. It's all thanks to the skilled worker who brings in the fox. As soon as it's delivered to the shop, it becomes docile."

"Look, I just received the commission this morning, and it was all done this afternoon."

"Oh?"

Lu Shuangshuang became interested and even considered recruiting him.

What is the most expensive thing in this era?

He's definitely a talented person!

She thought it would take some time.

After all, the Red Lantern Goddess had just visited Mengshan. The Red Lantern Goddess was a powerful demon who suppressed the entire Eagle Banner Army of a county.

The Eagle-Soaring General was beheaded, and the Eagle-Strike General and the remaining soldiers of the prefecture were all transformed into demonic slaves.

The local garrison, originally stationed in Anjing, has now become the private army of the Red Lantern Lady.

The Red Lantern Lady descended upon Qingcheng County, perhaps to claim territory.

No one expected that the Lord of Mengshan would be so powerful, blocking the Red Lantern Goddess.

After that, the incense offerings to that mountain god should become even more abundant.

According to my second uncle, the officials in the county planned to offer a grand sacrifice to the mountain god.

The Red Lantern Goddess had just left when that man dared to go up the mountain.

Courageous.

Taking the risk to go up the mountain proves that he is short of money.

Offering substantial rewards can win people over.

"Manager Xu, could you perhaps make an introduction?"

"I know the rules."

Lu Shuangshuang smiled.

According to the rules, the buyer and seller cannot meet in person.

However, if the other party agrees, then there is no problem with it.

Lu Shuangshuang also needs to pay an agency fee.

"Please wait a moment, Miss Lu," Xu Zhi said with a smile.

Kill two birds with one stone.

This would allow Pei Si to get to know Miss Lu and also earn him a commission.

"Brother Si, your good luck has arrived."

Xu Zhi told Pei Si about this, and said with a smile, "Miss Lu is very interested in you. Would you like to meet her?"

Pei Si pondered for a moment and then agreed.

A moment later, in the guest room.

Lu Shuangshuang and Pei Si sat facing each other.

Upon seeing Pei Si, Lu Shuang's eyes lit up.

A mountain runner as refined as Pei Si is a rare sight.

"To be honest, I admire Brother Pei for his efficiency and courage. How about becoming my retainer?" Lu Shuangshuang got straight to the point, then held up three fingers.

"I will treat you as a top-class retainer, and add thirty coins to your monthly incense offerings."

Pei Si was speechless.

He had heard about the treatment of the Lu family's retainers, which was divided into three classes: upper, middle, and lower.

The best guests live in private courtyards, are served by servants, have fish, wine and meat for every meal, are provided with silk and satin all year round, travel by carriage, and receive a monthly allowance of seventy coins for incense money.

A mid-level retainer lives in a side room, has three meals a day with both meat and vegetables, and receives a monthly allowance of fifty coins as incense money.

Lower-class guests are provided with dormitory accommodations, three full meals a day, and a monthly allowance of twenty coins for incense offerings.

To be honest, this offer wasn't enough to entice Pei Si.

He could earn the equivalent of a month's salary for a lowly retainer by catching a single thorny rat.

Becoming a retainer of the Lu family means being tied to the Lu family's fate.

Although Pei Si lived in a county, he knew that the world was about to fall into chaos.

The Red Lantern Goddess has taken over Yang'an County, turning the county's Eagle-Flying Army soldiers into demonic slaves, rendering the county government ineffective, and allowing the demons to take over its duties.

What's the difference between this and being granted territory and becoming a vassal king? Such a huge commotion, yet Shu Prefecture didn't react, and neither did the imperial court.

Wouldn't that just be watching the brothel madam grow stronger?

Moreover, given that he bears the mark of the Red Lantern Goddess, he is destined not to stay in Qingcheng County for long.

"Miss Lu, I will not be staying in Qingcheng County for long, please understand."

Seeing Pei Si politely decline, Lu Shuangshuang smiled slightly. A capable person is bound to be proud.

Moreover, someone like Pei Si is naturally free-spirited.

"If Miss Lu has any similar requests again, she can come to me," Pei Si added.

This Miss Lu is both generous and stingy.

Catching a fox costs over 150 coins as incense money, but my monthly salary is only 100 coins.

Are you kidding me?

"Of course."

"If you change your mind, you can come find me with this token." Lu Shuangshuang tossed out a token.

……

"Miss, Pei Si is too arrogant," Ping'er said indignantly.

In her view, Pei Si was nothing more than a wandering mountain dweller, and he should be grateful for the young lady's personal invitation.

A monthly stipend of one hundred coins for incense money.

She didn't even dare to think about it.

Everyone has their own aspirations; how can you force someone to have them?

Lu Shuangshuang had a warm smile.

"I must find out who Pei Si is when I get back," Lu Shuangshuang thought to herself.

……

Pei Si put away the token and politely declined Xu Zhi's invitation to have dinner together.

If you have money, you should spend it!

A month ago, Pei Si had already learned a lot of information from Lord Xin.

The so-called "Informant Master," also known as "Know-It-All" or "Inquisitive Man," was a seasoned whiz in the county town, specializing in staking out the bustling city center, teahouses, and casinos.

From the secrets of wealthy families to the most trivial matters, there's nothing these people can't find out.

The men made a living by reselling information.

There are many martial arts schools in Qingcheng County.

Kung fu naturally has different levels of skill.

If you ask which martial arts school has the most ruthless and highest level of skill...

Lingcang Blade Sect is number one!

Pei Si felt that if he was going to learn, he should learn the best.

This involves a cost issue.

In his previous life, he had taken an economics course.

To give a simple example, a hiker goes to buy a hatchet.

The cheap machete costs five strings of cash, but it's made of poor-quality materials, so you have to replace it every month.

A high-quality machete costs fifty strings of cash. It's made of good materials and can last for two years. The total cost is only fifty strings of cash, and you don't even need to travel back and forth to the market.

Of course, without money, everything is just empty talk.