Survey Only, No Redistribution of Land

Blood gushed from the bones.

The three barriers of skin, flesh, and bone alone take several months to overcome, but the Blood Barrier and Bone Barrier are interdependent and complement each other.

Refining the Bone Barrier and then the Blood Barrier will make the breakthrough speed several times faster than the first three barriers.

Liang Qu estimated that at his current pace, he would be able to break through the barrier and become a true Martial Master in just half a month.

Once the Refining Organs are refined, the body will be unified, becoming Galloping Horse Martial Master, able to pull dozens of Galloping Horse without them moving an inch.

Martial Master at the Galloping Horse Realm is highly regarded, not only in a small town, but also in a county or prefecture.

To get a government job, unless you're in a special place like the Imperial Capital or Jinling where Martial Master are as common as dogs, you'd at least be a rank-2 official. Giving someone a mere clerk would be an insult.

Liang Qu channeled his Qi and Blood into his marrow, causing his blood to surge like a great river, and his whole body was enveloped in a faint white mist.

There is no place in the body where blood cannot circulate; with blood flowing freely, the whole body feels comfortable.

After a few incense sticks had burned, Liang Qu let out a long breath, stretched his limbs, and all the drowsiness that had arisen late at night vanished without a trace.

This kind of ultimate comfort is hard to describe in words. If I had to describe it, Liang Qu felt it was a bit like discovering that something was just a false alarm.

Everything landed safely, which felt exceptionally reassuring.

A half-moon hangs in the night sky.

Liang Qu took off his shoes and socks, sat on the side of the boat, and soaked his bare feet in the water.

In early April, the unique chill of the river water seeped into the skin through every pore and then crept up the spine.

Martial Artist have strong physiques and are not afraid of severe cold or scorching heat, but that does not mean they are immune to these extremes.

On the contrary, Martial Artist are more sensitive to hot and cold and are more likely to sense changes in the external environment. However, this cold air cannot penetrate into the lungs and internal organs, as there is a Vital Flame in their chest to resist it.

Liang Qu is even more special; he is in harmony with the Marsh Spirit and is naturally drawn to water.

When the white Marsh Spirit Water Monkey at its peak, it is mostly winter. At that time, its body is weak, and it is difficult to lift heavy objects. It instinctively resists the cold of the water and cannot even feel the cold. This is actually a kind of indirect weakening.

Later, it transformed into Marsh Ape, and this ability became fully controllable.

Looking back now, half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

From a frail fisherman's boy to the respected and admired Master Liang in town.

Xu Yuelong is a big friend of many teachers and officers in the county, and if you mention him, you're considered to have some connections in the Imperial Capital.

The initial feelings of unfamiliarity and loneliness have disappeared, and they have settled down comfortably.

"Call."

Liang Qu sat on the boat, gazing at the wide river with its rolling waves. He did nothing, just like a child watching ants moving before the rain, finding complete contentment simply by watching.

"Boss, are you still having breakfast?"

A knock came at the door.

Liang Qu opened his eyes, sat up, and after a moment of confusion, remembered the question.

"Eat! I brought back some fish last night. Slice it up and make fish porridge with some greens! Make a lot, and bring a bowl over to the people working at the Third Hospital too!"

"Okay, I'll do it right away."

The courtyard fell silent, save for the chirping of birds.

Liang Qu got up, took out toothpaste to wash his face, then took out his Fubo and practiced in the yard.

A layer of hot sweat appeared on his face; the hot porridge was ready.

The elderly woman in charge of cooking brought out a wooden table and placed it in the yard. She then brought out a large pot of fish and meat porridge. The rich aroma of rice mixed with the freshness of fish and meat wafted out, making one's mouth water.

Liang Qu sat down, rolled up his sleeves, and beckoned to the craftsmen in the courtyard. "Put your work aside and come have breakfast to warm up. The bowls are right next to you; help yourself to as much as you want."

The bricklayer poked his head out of the pit. "Master Liang, we've already eaten this morning, you're too kind."

"Yes, we came here after eating."

"You think what I'm eating is the same? There's fish demon meat in the pot. Eating that will give you plenty of energy for work. Enough talk, come here and get your bowl and chopsticks!"

Upon hearing that it was fish demon meat, everyone swallowed hard.

Liu Quanfu came in from the backyard, followed by a group of workers. He was the first to pick up a bowl. "Don't you all know who Master Liang is? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so finish your food and get back to work!"

After Liu Quanfu, the most senior member, expressed his opinion, the remaining people gradually felt less pressured and came up one after another to get their porridge. Holding their bowls, some stood and some squatted, they drank it down with slurping sounds.

The cook brought out a second pot, and then a third, as if there wasn't enough.

Liang Qu moved the small stool next to Liu Quanfu.

"Uncle Fu, how's the matter with my boat? Can it be arranged?"

The reason he was able to offer one hundred taels for a ship was partly because the potential return was substantial.

Leaving aside the remains of the Demon Beast that the Toad ate, there might be some good stuff in the ships it collected.

On the other hand, it is indeed very difficult.

Even a model ship, seven or eight meters long, is not small. It has a three-dimensional roof and is more complex than a regular Black Awning Boat.

Each plank must be weighed, cut, and riveted together. It's normal for the entire ship to use tens of thousands of planks. It's a truly meticulous job, no simpler than building a house.

If one person were to do it alone, it might take a year. Liu Quanfu has seven or eight apprentices helping him, so it would probably take months.

Liang Qu is not a stingy person. It's normal to pay more if the work is difficult. There's no point in being stingy.

Liu Quanfu wiped his mouth. "I went back and drew up some blueprints these past two days. If it doesn't need to be launched, it should be possible. My apprentices are already working on it, and we should be able to get one out before the summer solstice."

Liang Qu was overjoyed. "Then I'll have to trouble Uncle Fu to put in some extra effort."

Liu Quanfu nodded, but still felt something was off. "Master, what's the point of building this boat if it doesn't carry people? Could you give me a hint so I'll know what's going on?"

"Hey, Uncle Fu, to tell you the truth, I know a big shot out there who has a particular fondness for these things, especially boats. The more exquisite the boat, the better, and the more masts it has, the better."

But a boat can be so big and expensive that it doesn't fit in the house, so I can only play with small ones, just to look at and feel comfortable. So whether it works or not isn't important, as long as it looks good! But it can't be too fragile, falling apart with a single squeeze, that won't do.

Liu Quanfu suddenly realized.

It's normal for the powerful and wealthy to like whatever they want. Some people charge thousands of taels of silver for a single coral, and there were even emperors in previous dynasties who liked to be carpenters.

Knowing the intended use, Liu Quanfu had a general idea of what it was for.

"Alright, now that you say so, I have a better idea! I'll go back and revise the blueprints again, and I guarantee I'll get the client a small multi-story boat that's over two zhang tall before the summer solstice!"

"Uncle Fu, I trust your skills. There are so many people in Yi Xing City, which family doesn't ask you to take a look when building a house?"

Liu Quanfu waved his hands repeatedly. "Haha, it's all just empty fame, empty fame."

After exchanging pleasantries with Liu Quanfu for a while, Liang Qu moved a stool to the side of the bricklayers who were building the water pool.

"A Quan, A Jin, how did it go with your request to take leave yesterday to measure the fields? Any progress?"

A Quan put down his bowl and chopsticks and let out a long sigh.

"What's with that expression? What happened?" Liang Qu had originally wanted to see what the new County Magistrate was up to from the men, but judging from his expression, something seemed off.

A Jin, who was standing nearby, said, "The land has been measured, but the higher-ups have no intention of redistributing it. They just want those who missed paying to make up for it and add it to the official granary. Moreover, I saw with my own eyes that some of the officials' land was not even fully measured!"

Upon hearing this, everyone around had something to say.

"The measurement of this field is pointless; it has nothing to do with us."

"I thought I'd get that field in the east back, but it's nothing."

"You think all masters are like Master Liang? Bah! Nine out of ten are scumbags! And one of them is even slutting around with his concubine!"

"Hey, hey, you can't say that," Liang Qu quickly interrupted.

It would be inappropriate to continue the conversation.

Everyone fell silent.

"So, according to you, you're just going to make those scoundrels spit out their grain? That's not much, is it?" Liang Qu asked.

"Who knows? Maybe even the County Magistrate would be too stingy with that little bit of grain."

"You can't say that. At least the road construction is real, and many people who couldn't afford to eat went to work."

"Hey, rice prices are getting more and more expensive. Last year it was only seven or eight wen a jin, but now it has risen to seventeen or eighteen wen. A dou of rice costs three qian of silver. Who can afford it? Soon I won't be able to afford it either."

Liang Qu asked in confusion, "Didn't grain already come from other places? Why is the price of grain still so high?"

"Master, you're joking. How could that disaster relief grain possibly be enough to eat? It's only a temporary solution. I reckon the price of grain won't go down until this year's rice crop is harvested."

"If there were no disaster relief grain, it might cost twenty-three or twenty-four per catty. This is considered good."

Everyone sighed upon hearing this.

After finishing the last mouthful of porridge, A Jin put down his chopsticks and said, "I heard that the new County Magistrate is going to organize a boat race, and people from all over the country can participate. If you win, you'll get money!"

"All that fancy stuff, we're too busy farming to have time for boat racing."

"That's true. But I heard from my neighbor's second sister-in-law that the County Government Office office is almost ready, and the new County Magistrate will be Circling the Azure Dragon Three Fires tomorrow."