Published at 20th of December 2024 2:02 am

Chapter 352: The Foundation of a Strong Family

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…

Faced with such an enigmatic Lady Ji, Wang Shouzhe quickly changed the subject as he drank his “Biyu Hook Green” to suppress his shock. “Let’s talk about rewards. You’ve made such a major contribution this time, so naturally, you’ve amassed a substantial amount of valor points. What would you like to exchange them for? If we don’t have it in our family treasury, I can have someone get it for you.”

“Can I exchange for anything?” Lady Ji’s eyes sparked with interest as her alluring gaze locked on Wang Shouzhe.

“Well…” Wang Shouzhe was about to say that anything in the family stock could be exchanged. However, her gaze was unsettling, almost predatory, causing him to swiftly backtrack, “Not everything can be exchanged, of course.”

“Oh, that’s dull, then.” Lady Ji withdrew her gaze regretfully. “Currently, I have enough cultivation resources so having a lot of valor points with nothing to spend them on is pointless. I suggest, Master Shouzhe, expand the exchange list, don’t restrict it to only cultivation materials. This will provide the family members with more motivation to contribute.”

A drop of cold sweat trickled down Wang Shouzhe’s forehead. Her logic was utterly outrageous. Did she expect him, the family master, to add himself to the exchange list for the sake of family development?

…

Meanwhile, Wang Shouzhe was constantly receiving guest after guest in his tiny horse carriage.

However, the main residence of the Celestial Huangfu Family was swallowed by despair and gloom.

The household in usual high spirits was now too afraid to even whisper. They, too, felt the depressive atmosphere enveloping their entire family.

In a secret chamber…

From initially high-spirited to angrily leaving, the Old Ancestor Hua Ye’s face was looking extraordinarily unpleasant. His red hair danced as if on fire, even without a breeze, creating a faint layer of flames.

A strong and intense aura of pressure filled the secret chamber, as if he was venting his frustrated emotions.

“Changning’s Xu Family, Ping’an’s Wang Family, you are going too far,” Old Ancestor Hua Ye’s voice was filled with repressed anger, “I won’t let this matter rest.”

Huangfu Jinhuan, the head of Huangfu Family, too wore a face filled with despair and indignation, his eyes gleaming with intense hatred. It was as if he could hardly wait to rally his family soldiers and completely annihilate Changning’s Xu Family, and if possible, crush the Ping’an Wang Family again.

However, he was also very aware that it was not the opportune time to take action.

As the head of the family, the burden on Huangfu Jinhuan was significant. He forced down his raging anger and comforted, “Ancestor, it’s not the right time to retaliate. After such a major event, everyone is watching us closely.”

“Furthermore, the disciples from the Purple Abode Academic Palace who are aiding in disaster relief under our oversight in Changning are apparently getting along quite well with the Wang Family of Ping’an. I ask for your patience, Ancestor. The disaster relief efforts are nearing completion and they will leave soon.”

Despite his fiery temper, Old Ancestor Hua Ye was still a seasoned figure who lived over two centuries. After venting and being placated, the vengeful and murderous look in his eyes gradually subsided. In a frosty tone, he asked, “I just didn’t expect that a bunch of insignificant insects would dare to bare their fangs at me. Jinhuan, how is the investigation on the cement production base going?”

“It’s going very smoothly. Our people have successfully infiltrated their peripheral sectors and have gathered quite some insights,” Huangfu Jinhuan said, his spirits rejuvenated by this topic, “However, their defences are stringent, and they are very cautious.”

“It’s a venture that can make our family soar. It’s only normal for them to be defending it closely,” Old Ancestor Hua Ye’s eyes were full of greed, “You must be careful and take your time. Be cautious not to startle your prey with reckless haste. Once we monopolise the cement formula, it will be a godsend and our family’s true chance of rising in power.”

Although textile production was a massive industry, it was crowded with big players. If they wanted to rise in this industry, they would inevitably face severe competition.

However, the cement industry was different. It was a commodity that the entire Longzuo County, or even the whole of Da Qian, needed, making it much more powerful than the textile industry.

“Rest assured, Ancestor.” Hope burned in Huangfu Jinhuan’s eyes, “The incident at Golden Sand Beach was an unfortunate incident where we were unintentionally targeted. However, the cement matter is a deliberate action on our part against an unsuspecting target.”

“Good, very good.” Old Ancestor Hua Ye’s eyes burned brilliantly, “As long as we dominate the cement industry, even treasures that can prolong life can be obtained. At that time, I will fully support you to break through to the Heavenly Human Realm.”

“Thank you, Ancestor.” Warmth surged in Huangfu Jinhuan’s heart.

“Continue to maintain and improve relations with Lady Ji. Try to establish connections with the Ji family through her. Although the Ji family of Longzuo is not the prestigious Purple Abode family it once was, it is far from something we can compare to,” Old Ancestor Hua Ye instructed.

“Yes, Ancestor.”

…

The next day!

On the Golden Sand Beach of Jinsha Town.

The dry autumn season was the most advantageous time to operate the water-powered silk-reeling machine and water-powered weaving machine.

Driven by the large waterwheel, the silk-reeling machine hummed into action, implementing a semi-automatic silk-reeling process through its, not too complex, structure.

Only a few skilled workers were needed to operate each silk-reeling machine. Yet, this machine’s productivity was at least equivalent to dozens of manual silk-reeling workers using foot-operated silk-reeling machines.

Wang Shouzhe, Xu Anbang from Changning, Xu Anze from Jinsha, and even the old ancestor of the North Star were all present, each observing the operation of the water-powered silk-reeling machine with amazement.

“This is an ingenious work of art.” The Old Ancestor North Star of Xu family expressed his admiration, “Master Shouzhe, your out-of-the-box thinking is truly extraordinary. To create such a miraculous device, you’re like a reincarnated sage.”

“Elder Beichen overpraises.” Wang Shouzhe slightly bows and chuckles, “I only gave some suggestions and made few improvements seeing how laborious it was to work on the silk reel. Most of the actual work was done by my elder brother, Wang Shouxin, and my fourth aunt, Xu Zhirou. They and the craftsmen have poured their heart and soul into it, perfecting it by tinkering bit by bit.”

Wang Shouzhe wasn’t being modest. Most of his work consisted of providing direction or offering his “remarkable” “insight” when a technical difficulty arose.

If he were to solely concentrate on developing a specific product, he could certainly achieve results. But for a family head to spend all his time on research and development, when would he get any other work done?

Born into a prominent family, his big brother Wang Shouxin was a pragmatic person. His character was more stubborn than Wang Shouzhe. After receiving his task, he dedicated many years to it, resulting in such success.

Worthy of mention is Wang Shouzhe’s fourth aunt, Xu Zhirou, a very patient and ingenious lady. After Wang Shouzhe’s mother died when he was a child, she took care of the siblings.

Back then, she made many little toys to cheer Wang Shouzhe up.

When the Wang family embarked on the fast track of development, the family’s various industries were short of talents everywhere. Fourth Aunt Xu Zhirou voluntarily stepped forward to manage the sericulture at Silkworm Manor, shouldering some responsibilities for the family.

Of course, there was also a wish to gain more merit points for her son Wang Shounuo.

After all, she came from the Jingsha Xu family.

Besides some small-scale gold mining and a part of fertile farmland, the Jingsha Xu family mostly planted mulberry trees on the land they had reclaimed, creating large and small silkworm manors.

Having been immersed in this since young, Xu Zhirou was no stranger to sericulture, so Wang Shouzhe approved her request.

The mechanism of the water-powered silk reeling machine later showed she had very strong capabilities and talent. Her practical skills were also very strong, and many small structures were constantly designed and improved by her.

The small water-powered silk reeling machine and water-powered weaving machine may look simple, but they actually contain the crystallization of years of hard work from the related clansmen of the Wang family.

This kind of result also makes Wang Shouzhe feel comfortable and proud. The Ping’an Wang family is not supported by him alone, nor is it a case of a king leading a group of bronzes to score. Rather, every family member is working hard, contributing to the growth and strength of the family.

As Wang Shouzhe and the family heads and elders were discussing this matter, Xu Zhirou, after carefully inspecting the water-powered silk reeling machine, came over and reported, “Shouzhe, the installation this time is very qualified and the operation is very smooth. The only issue is considering the hydraulic configuration during the flood and drought periods.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Fourth Aunt,” said Wang Shouzhe, bowing in response.

This workshop was supervised and constructed by Xu Zhirou. All water-powered equipment was also installed bit by bit by her and the craftsmen.

“You’ve worked hard, Second Sister,” the head of the Jingsha Xu family, Xu Anze, quickly came forward to care for Xu Zhirou, showing great concern.

Actually, he was quite distressed for his second sister. After marrying into the Ping’an Wang Family and giving birth to Wang Shounuo, Wang Luotong and Wang Luo Jing, her husband Wang Dingbang passed away at the young age of thirty-seven.

After that, she has been raising the children all by herself, and the situation in the Wang family wasn’t good at that time, so life was exceptionally hard. The Jingsha Xu family, as the maternal family, has helped her a lot within its power.

This is also why, this time in building the workshop on the Golden Sand Beach, Xu Zhirou volunteered to take on the entire project — to serve the family, but also to give back to her mother’s clan for their care towards her and the family.

“Sister Zhirou,” Longning’s Xu Anbang also leaned in to care, “Thanks to you in these days. Some time ago, our Xu family unexpectedly obtained some Beauty Maintenance Pills. I thought they might be useful to Sister Zhirou, so I brought them.” Then, he blatantly gave them to her.

The head of the Jingsha Xu family, Xu Anze, was bug-eyed. Although he and Xu Anbang were both of the An generation, the two families had separated a hundred years ago. Hearing Xu Anbang call her ‘Sister Zhirou’ repeatedly made him somewhat jealous.

His eyes rolled and he too hurriedly pulled out a bottle of Dan medicine: “Second Sister, this bottle of Cultivation Pill is for Luo Jing. She is currently studying in the Academic Palace, and I, as her uncle, should express my goodwill.” Without waiting for Xu Zhirou to refuse, he directly stuffed it into her hand.

The Cultivation Pill is a second-class Dan medicine. It is priced at twenty to thirty Qian gold apiece. Handing over a bottle of several pills to the Jingsha Xu family is not a small sum.

“This…” Xu Zhirou, holding the bottles of Beauty Maintenance Pills and Cultivation Pills in her hand, was somewhat at a loss, looking to Wang Shouzhe for help.

In an unexpected turn of events,

Before Wang Shouzhe said a word, Elder Beichen from Changning laughed and waved his hand: “Zhirou is undoubtedly a rare talent from our Xu family. She has dedicated herself to the development project of the three clans, but you two family heads are being too stingy. Xu Ningwei, don’t you agree?”

Xu Ningwei is Elder Ningwei of the Jingsha Xu family and the second generation elder of the Jingsha Xu Clan. Facing Elder Beichen, he naturally appeared a bit smaller, and he eagerly bowed and said, “Elder is right.”

With the elder speaking out, the two family heads naturally raised their stakes, constantly trying to please Xu Zhirou.

This made Wang Shouzhe chuckle. His fourth aunt, it seemed, had really made it.

However, it could be seen from this incident how strong an alliance formed by families connected by marriage could be. After all, everyone has blood relationships, which naturally make it easier to gain each other’s trust.

Wang Shouzhe was also secretly proud. The glory of a family cannot depend solely on one person. Everyone needs to work hard to make the family stronger.

…

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