Suijun starts with the principle of rewarding diligence.

The following day, Buqu enjoyed the happiness of having food served to him.

Zhang Cuihua had previously worked as a maid in the Zhong household and was quite skilled in cooking.

Previously, even the most skilled cook couldn't make a meal without rice, resulting in rather bland dishes.

Now that she's in Tangjingfang, where rice and noodles are readily available, her culinary skills can be fully showcased.

Bu Qu helped Wang Erlang, and Zhang Cuihua was very grateful, so she prepared breakfast with great care.

After finishing his breakfast, Buqu planned to go out to buy some supplies before continuing his quest to catch red-scaled sturgeon in the deep waters.

After learning of Buqu's plan, Zhang Cuihua offered to make him some fish cakes, which he could then heat up on the boat and eat.

Buqu thought about it and agreed.

The fishpond was naturally left to Wang Erlang to handle.

Wang Erlang was an old fisherman who dreamed of having a fishpond.

Now that he has a fishpond, he can handle it with ease, needless to say.

Wang Xiaoya couldn't lift her head in front of Bu Qu, and could only silently help her parents.

Buqu was happy to have some free time. He tidied up the awning boat and prepared to row the famous boat to the market.

I mainly bought fishing gear and clothes.

The fish are strong and often thrash about when caught in the fishing net. Over the past few days, the net has become quite vulnerable, showing signs of tearing.

Heishui County has four long rivers, making water travel extremely convenient.

Buqu planned to put the purchased items directly on the boat, so he didn't bother taking a carriage.

After all, the grooms at the post station were all from the Zhong family. He didn't want to trouble them.

Just as they were about to set off, they saw a small sampan rowing towards the Tangjing House.

Buqu looked up and saw that the people who came were Zhong Ling and He Ye.

'They're probably here to ask about the treasure fish,' he thought to himself. 'I can continue selling treasure fish to the Zhong family, but I need to make sure I have enough to eat first.'

A moment later, the small sampan had already stopped next to the covered boat.

Zhong Ling jumped off the boat and came to Bu Qu's side. Seeing Wang Erlang and Wang Xiaoya preparing for fishpond-related chores, she couldn't help but ask, "Who are they?"

Bu Qu laughed and said, "Oh, they were my former neighbors. The fishpond is so big, I didn't have time to manage it, so I invited them in to help raise the fish."

Zhong Ling understood and smiled, "I see. I heard from He Ye that you live here alone, so I was thinking of arranging some servants for you. But Grandpa said that you might not be used to the people from our Zhong family, so we won't arrange any."

She beckoned Lotus Leaf forward: "I've had two brocade robes made for you. Try them on and see if they fit."

Lotus Leaf held two sets of dark robes and stepped forward with her head bowed.

Bu Qu was thinking of buying two sets of clothes when he didn't expect that Zhong Ling had already had them prepared.

I'm afraid this little girl can't stand seeing me dressed in such coarse linen clothes.

Buqu did not refuse her kindness and jumped onto the awning boat to change into a clean brocade robe.

Looking at her reflection in the water, she couldn't help but think, "Changing her clothes completely changes her aura."

Lotus Leaf secretly glanced at him, then quickly looked away, her cheeks instantly turning red.

She lowered her head even further, afraid that Zhong Ling would discover her feelings of affection and scold her again.

Zhong Ling looked at Bu Qu with great interest, nodded slightly, and thought to herself, "This appearance does have some of the air of a talented person that Grandpa described."

Thank you.

Zhong Ling smiled sweetly: "Don't just thank me. Where's the Red-scaled Sturgeon?"

Bu Qu chuckled inwardly: 'Isn't this your main purpose in coming to curry favor?'

He shook his head: "Didn't catch them."

"Didn't catch them?"

"Hmm. We had bad luck on this voyage; we didn't catch a single one." Bu Qu said without blushing or skipping a beat.

They caught four and ate four, so it's the same as not catching any at all.

Zhong Ling tilted her head, puzzled: "Last time we caught one in just a few days. Now ten days have passed, and we haven't caught a single one?"

She suspected Buqu was lying, but had no evidence.

Bu Qu casually changed the subject: "I heard you were born with innate Heavenly Spiritual Power. You ate a Crimson Scaled Sturgeon before, that should be enough for you to cultivate to the fourth stage, right?"

Hearing this, Zhong Ling nodded proudly: "Yes, I was already a fourth-level spiritual power expert a few days ago. In a few more days, I'll be at the fifth level!"

"Impressive, impressive," Bu Qu complimented casually.

It's clear that this girl is quite susceptible to this.

Zhong Ling smiled, pouted, and said with some annoyance, "But without the Crimson Scaled Sturgeon, I'll be stuck at level six again."

She looked up at Bu Qu: "Don't you dare slack off. Grandpa gave you the fishpond in exchange for three red-scaled sturgeon, isn't that too much to ask?"

In terms of value alone, this fishpond is definitely superior to the three red-scaled sturgeon.

But for Zhong Ling, the three red-scaled sturgeon are definitely more important than the fishpond.

This matter concerns the path to immortality; how can it be compared to these mundane things?

Bu Qu laughed and said, "I was just about to go to the market to buy some supplies so I could continue searching for you!"

Zhong Ling glanced at the awning boat and exclaimed happily, "I'll go with you! That way, if you catch a red-scaled sturgeon, I can eat it right away!"

Bu Qu's lips twitched: "Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

"What's inappropriate?"

"Once I set sail, I'll be on Blackwater Lake for at least ten days. A lone man and a lone woman on a boat..."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Ling's pretty face flushed red, and she lowered her head, saying, "Then... then you can't go back empty-handed next time. In another half month, I should reach the sixth level. Envoy Zhao said that relying solely on the Spirit Gathering Pill is not enough to break through the bottleneck; the Crimson Scale Sturgeon's assistance is necessary."

Bu Qu casually replied, "I'll definitely do it next time."

Having said that, he jumped onto the covered boat and prepared to set sail.

Seeing this, Zhong Ling followed.

"What are you doing up here?"

"Aren't you going to the market? I want to go too!"

Zhong Ling chuckled, "I'm getting bored cultivating all the time. It's rare for me to come out and get some fresh air. You can't refuse me a ride, can you?"

"Uh..." Bu Qu thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.

"She's just taking a stroll around the county town; nothing should happen. In terms of strength, she might be a bit stronger than me; and in terms of background, the Zhong family is the most prestigious family in Blackwater County."

I initially thought Zhong Ling was a spoiled and willful rich young lady, but after getting to know her better, I realized that she was actually an immature girl.

Although they were both daughters of prominent families of similar age, Xia Zhuxin and Su Miaoyin were much more mature than her and knew how to recruit talent for their families.

Seeing Bu Qu drive Zhong Ling away, Wang Erlang chuckled, "Ah Qu has really made something of himself now, even able to deal with the Zhong family's daughter."

Wang Xiaoya remained silent.

After the awning boat left, He Ye also rowed back to her residence.

Then another small sampan appeared.

Wang Erlang looked up and saw that the person who came was a beautiful young girl.

She was dressed in a white dress and had exquisite makeup, as if she had dressed up specially.

Upon seeing Wang Erlang, the young woman asked with a smile, "Is Buqu at your residence?"

"Just left."

"Where did you go?"

"have no idea."

Although he didn't know what business this beautiful young woman had with Bu Qu, Wang Erlang, being a newcomer, followed the principle of "better safe than sorry." He kept to himself, lest he say something inappropriate and cause trouble for Bu Qu.