Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
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Wang Shouzhe came with a purpose today, but he was still unhurried. He casually chatted with Wang Xiaozhi about some strange and unusual stories. When he mentioned that he had happened to catch a 150-catty Crimson-scaled Eel with Sixth Uncle Wang Dinghai last night, Wang Xiaozhi also smacked his thigh in excitement. “That little brat Dinghai might not even be able to get one in two years. He must have benefited from your luck this time.”
Although the Crimson-scaled Eel was not as good as the Red-tailed Spirit Minnow, it was still a great tonic and ranked among spirit food.
Spirit food was a good thing to rapidly replenish the Qi and blood of an Arcane Martial Artist. It was a necessity for every Arcane Martial Artist to survive. Even an old man like Wang Xiaozhi, whose cultivation had stagnated in his seventies and was even gradually regressing, needed the supplement of some spirit food from time to time.
Otherwise, his Qi and blood would be insufficient, and the decline of his body and cultivation would accelerate.
As for the younger generation, they needed spirit food to replenish their Qi and blood even more. It would allow the younger generation to grow faster and better.
As the two of them chatted and laughed, in less than an hour, the cook and the two sisters brought out some farmhouse cuisine, fresh chicken, duck, fish, goose, as well as a large stone basin of braised pork.
“Shouzhe, it’s rare for you to come here. Fourth Grandpa has nothing else to offer you.” Wang Xiaozhi ran into the bedroom. A short while later, he took out an ancient wine jug and said with a smile, “Try the good wine I’ve kept for a long time. Drink as much as you can from this jug. If you can’t finish it, bring it back.”
As they were speaking…
A young man with dark skin and mud all over him walked inside. He said in a hearty voice, “Grandpa, you’re biased. You usually refuse me even a sip of your white jade spirit wine. When Fourth Brother came today, you took out the entire jug.”
“You little brat, who do you think you are? How can you compare to Shouzhe?” As soon as Wang Xiaozhi saw this young man, he scolded him jokingly, “To think that you actually came back right on the lunch hour. Go and wash up. I’ll give you a cup.”
“Third Brother.” Wang Shouzhe cupped his hands with a smile. He knew that this was Wang Shounuo, the third son of the Wang Clan’s seventh generation of name “Shou”.
“Fourth Brother.” Wang Shounuo hurriedly returned the greeting seriously. Then, he smiled and said, “I’ll go wash up first. I’ll come and greet you in a while.” With that, he quickly left.
By the time the table was filled with bowls, chopsticks, and wine cups, Wang Shounuo had already taken a quick shower. He sat down next to Wang Shouzhe and took in the fragrance of the dishes. He stared at the pot of white jade spirit rice wine enviously and said with a smile, “We’re in luck today by virtue of your presence, Fourth Brother. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a meal together as brothers. I’ll toast you more in a while.”
“Third Brother, you’ve worked hard for the clan. I should be toasting you later,” said Wang Shouzhe with a smile.
“Tong’er, hurry up and pour some wine for your Fourth Brother.” Wang Xiaozhi was in an excellent mood. His dark face was glowing as he instructed casually.
“Yes, Grandfather.” Wang Luotong picked up the wine jug and poured wine for Wang Shouzhe, Wang Xiaozhi, and Wang Shounuo.
The wine was pure white and emitted a mellow wine fragrance. Just smelling it made one feel refreshed.
Just as the two girls, Wang Luotong and Wang Luojing, were about to return to the kitchen table to eat, Wang Shouzhe spoke first, “Fourth Grandfather, I’m not an outsider. Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister, sit down and eat together.”
Wang Xiaozhi was stunned, but he did not refute Wang Shouzhe out of respect. He smiled and said, “Since your Fourth Brother has spoken, let’s eat together.”
“Thank you, Grandfather. Thank you, Fourth Brother.” Wang Luotong and Wang Luojing sat at the end seats obediently.
Then, there was naturally another round of toasting.
The two girls ate quietly and poured wine for them from time to time.
“Good wine.” After downing half a cup, Wang Shouzhe felt his abdomen begin to burn. The Qi and blood in his body surged endlessly, and his energy gradually became exuberant.
This white jade spirit rice wine was brewed from a lot of precious herbs using the white jade spirit rice. Its effects of nourishing Qi and blood were far better than simple spirit food.
However, its price was also very “moving”. A jug of white jade spirit rice wine of several catties in weight easily cost a few pieces of gold. Even Wang Shouzhe could only enjoy it once in a blue moon.
Moreover, things like spirit wine could only be used as a supplementary spirit food. They could only drink a little occasionally. Otherwise, if they became addicted, being drunk all day would not be a good thing.
At this moment, the little girl, Wang Luojing, who was silently eating, glanced at the wine jug from time to time and pursed her lips as if she was craving it a little.
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“Luotong can drink half a cup. Luojing is too young and can only drink the bottom of the cup.” Wang Shouzhe picked up the wine jug and poured some for his two sisters.
“Thank you, Fourth Brother.” The two girls thanked him happily. It was obvious that they had been coveting the spirit wine for a long time.
At this moment, Wang Xiaozhi’s face twitched, as if he felt some pain. He lamented in a low voice, “Shouzhe, don’t you think it’s waste to let the two girls drink this spirit wine?”
Wang Shouzhe’s eyelids twitched as well. The Fourth Old Master really did not conceal his thoughts of valuing males over females at all.
“Fourth Grandfather, children of our clan are all the same,” Wang Shouzhe said with a smile.
“It’s not the same, it’s not the same. Girls will be married to someone sooner or later.” Wang Xiaozhi continued to prattle on in pain. “Shouzhe, you’re at the critical juncture of breaking through to the seventh level of the Qi Refining Realm. You should drink more. Shounuo, you should take fewer sips too. Save more for Shouzhe.”
Wang Shounuo put down his glass in embarrassment and smiled sheepishly.
In the eyes of a clan elder like Wang Xiaozhi, Wang Shouzhe was the patriarch of the direct line of descent, and the hope and future mainstay of the clan. He was much higher in priority than even his own grandson, Wang Shounuo, let alone his two “loss-incurring” granddaughters.
Fortunately, his granddaughters and grandson were already used to it, and the meal could be considered harmonious. However, under Wang Xiaozhi’s “leadership”, more than half of the jug of spirit wine was left in the end. They were prepared to send most of the chopped meat to Wang Shouzhe’s courtyard for him to enjoy alone later.
Wang Shouzhe was rather helpless against Wang Xiaozhi’s blatant “favoritism”. He could only let him be for the time being.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Wang Shouzhe suggested, “Fourth Grandfather, the reason I came to the Bountiful Farm this time is mainly to learn about agriculture from Fourth Grandfather.”
“Agriculture?” Wang Xiaozhi frowned. “Shouzhe, you’re the patriarch of a clan. The most important thing right now is to work hard in cultivation and advance to the Spirit Tower Realm as soon as possible. Don’t be distracted by miscellaneous matters like agriculture. Fourth Grandfather and your third brother will handle it well.”
Wang Shouzhe’s purpose in coming here was naturally to learn more about the Bountiful Farm. If possible, he also wanted to use modern thinking to expand it, and see if there were any ways to expand industrial efficiency.
However, after interacting with Wang Xiaozhi for the first time, he realized that this old man, Wang Xiaozhi, was extremely loyal to the clan. However, ultimately, his thinking had become rigid in his old age.
He was not as accepting towards suggestions as his Sixth Uncle, Wang Dinghai. Casually suggesting a few ideas would probably anger him. Wang Shouzhe immediately changed tact and said, “Fourth Grandfather, you’ve misunderstood. It’s just that, as the patriarch, I more or less have to know a thing or two about the internal businesses of the clan. Why don’t we do this? I’ll trouble Third Brother to accompany me around and appreciate the scenery.”
“Oh, you. Forget it, forget it. Let Shounuo accompany you for half a day. Recently, the wheat has reached the stage of filling. There are many miscellaneous matters in the fields. Fourth Grandfather won’t accompany you any longer.” As he spoke, Wang Xiaozhi took the farming tools and hurriedly went to the ground.
Heh…
Although he was already the patriarch, the clan elders in the family still treated him like a child. They mostly hoped that he could utilize his talent and cultivate to the Spirit Tower Realm.
They wanted to treat him, the patriarch, as a mascot?
In fact, if he could live a peaceful life, Wang Shouzhe would be more than willing to be a mascot and freeloader. Unfortunately, the members of the Wang Clan were not capable enough. In the short span of a few decades, the power of the clan declined day by day. At this rate, the Wang Clan of Ping’an would be completely devoured by others before long and fade into obscurity in history.
He had to quickly ensure that Wang Clan rose in power while it still had some foundations, even if it meant possessing the most basic ability to protect itself.
“Fourth Brother, I’ll show you around. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask me at any time.” Wang Shounuo stood up and cupped his hands. He was very polite to Wang Shouzhe, and even somewhat intimidated.
Firstly, Wang Shouzhe was the patriarch of the direct bloodline, in terms of personal strength, Wang Shouzhe was many times stronger than him.
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“Thank you for your trouble, Third Brother,” Wang Shouzhe returned the salute courteously.
“We’ll go too.” Wang Luotong and Wang Luojing followed eagerly. Behind them, the manservant Wang Gui helped Wang Shouzhe to hold his sword and bow and arrows. Behind him were four fully armed clan guards.
The siblings strolled around idly through the farm. It was already early summer, and the weather was a little hot. The hot wind mixed with moisture blew on their faces, making the air slightly sticky.
“Our Bountiful Farm was established by Ancestor Zhouxuan personally a century ago.” Wang Shounuo’s expression was a little proud as he said, “Back then, Ancestor organized people to open up the channel of the tributary, cleanse the mud and fill the soil, and consolidate the river levees. He also built a hydroponic port on the upper reaches of the Bountiful tributary, forming the preliminary Bountiful Farm. After, the clansmen continuously cultivated and maintained the barren land, turning this half-dry and half-wet wasteland into fertile farmland. Generations of clansmen worked hard to manage it. Now, there are already 3,567 acres of high-grade farmland and 200 tenant farmers!”
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