Protect Our Patriarch

To the west of Changning Guard City, at the confluence of the Jinsha River and An River, lies a delta known as Ningxi Town.

The terrain of Ningxi Town is mostly flat, with numerous rivers crisscrossing its fertile soil, abundant in fish and rice, making it one of the important granaries of Changning Guard.

For generations, two prominent families have been seated in this town: the Ningxi Dang Clan and the Ningxi Liang Clan.

The Ningxi Dang Clan is a distinguished eighth-rank family, occupying most of the high-quality land resources in Ningxi Town. The Ningxi Liang Clan, however, is a small ninth-rank family that has lived cautiously for many years, constantly dealing with the "ferocious beast" that is the Dang Clan while striving to grow and escape their predicament.

Eighteen or nineteen years ago.

The Ningxi Liang Clan made the mistake of getting involved in the conflict between Wang's Clan and Liu's Clan, resulting in a severe setback from Wang's Clan, depleting many of the resources accumulated by their ancestors.

Logically speaking.

After such a blow, the Ningxi Liang Clan could have easily collapsed, unable to withstand the overt and covert encroachment of the Dang Clan, eventually fading into the "river of history."

Yet, contrary to expectations, the Liang Clan did not decline but thrived even more. In just eighteen or nineteen years, they nurtured a second Ancestor at the Lingtai Realm, establishing a family with two Lingtai powerhouses, and even began to rival the powerful Ningxi Dang Clan.

The architect of this miraculous turnaround was the Liang Clan's Ancestor, Liang Haofeng. Despite suffering a loss at the hands of Wang's Clan, he recognized their strength and the momentum of their future development.

While actively compensating, he leveraged his past relationship with Lu Mingsheng to mend ties with Wang's Clan by all means possible. Over time, he gradually gained some of Wang's Clan's trust.

Some core farms were granted the right to cultivate and produce Wang's Clan's Number Seven grain. While Wang's Clan supervised, they also offered a fair price to purchase these grains.

By "working" for Wang's Clan, the "family income" of Ningxi Liang Clan soared. With money in hand, they expanded their family assets, mainly through purchasing and meticulously reclaiming land.

Meticulous reclamation involved transforming unprofitable lands with high investment costs into fertile fields through terrain and landscape modifications.

For example, rocky slopes and swampy depressions were not cost-effective to cultivate. But as the per-mu yield increased, these lands gradually became profitable.

With precise development within their territory, they even struck luck by discovering a small, deeply buried copper vein, propelling the Liang Clan's development to a new level.

One day.

Several carriages set out from the Liang Clan's main residence, heading east.

The last two carriages were loaded with fresh spirit melons and fruits from the spiritual fields, salted spirit fish caught from An River and Jinsha River, white jade spirit rice wine brewed by the family, hundreds of bolts of fine cloth, and thousands of pounds of refined copper ingots.

The total value of these goods was likely to exceed ten thousand Top Gold.

In the leading carriage sat an old man, a young man, and a teenage girl around fourteen or fifteen years old.

The elder looked frail, with a pair of old eyes that were sharp yet restrained. He sat motionless in the carriage, as stable as Mount Tai.

The young man, about seventeen or eighteen years old, wore a jade crown, a brocade robe, a belt made of mutton fat jade, black sword boots, and held a finely crafted sword in his hand. The sword's sheath was made of fierce python leather, inlaid with green jewels.

This youth had a handsome face and an extraordinary bearing, truly a proud and distinguished figure.

The young girl had clean and clear eyes, and her skin was so tender it seemed like it would ooze water if pinched. She blinked her watery eyes and curiously asked, "Ancestor, I'm bored on this journey. Could you tell me the story of Wang's Clan's Long Yan Ancestor again?"

"Sister, you've heard the story of Long Yan Ancestor countless times; your ears must be calloused by now," the handsome youth said with a light laugh. "In my opinion, the rapid development of Wang's Clan is all thanks to the merits of our senior Wang Shouzhe. His creativity is as boundless as a wild horse, and his strategic planning is meticulous. He truly is a role model for our younger generation."

"Brother, I know you admire Senior Shouzhe because he also started with a low-grade A aptitude and passed the preliminary examination of the Zifu Academy. Someone praised you once for having the style of Senior Shouzhe, and you took it to heart," the young girl pouted. "In my opinion, the current situation of Wang's Clan is all thanks to the extraordinary woman, Ancestor Long Yan, who has held up the sky for them."

The handsome youth was not to be outdone, and the two siblings argued back and forth, each defending their idol.

Seeing the two younger ones quarreling, the elder swept his gaze over them with a stern look: "Hongxuan, Muqing, stop arguing. Wang's Clan's rise from a minor ninth-rank family to a renowned celestial family in the southern six guards of Longzuo is due to both Ancestor Long Yan and Patriarch Shouzhe, who are indispensable to each other. We can discuss the past achievements of these two seniors briefly in this small carriage."

"But once we are outside, especially after arriving at Ping'an Town, be very careful with your words to avoid bringing disaster upon ourselves."

"Yes, Ancestor Haofeng, we will be cautious and prudent," both younger ones replied respectfully and obediently closed their mouths. After all, they were the direct heirs of the Liang Clan and had been strictly educated since childhood.

These three individuals were the Liang Clan's Ancestor Haofeng, the current direct eldest son Liang Hongxuan, and the direct second daughter Liang Muqing. They had prepared ample supplies for their journey to attend the promotion feast of Wang's Clan's celestial Long Yan in Ping'an Town.

This "Wang's Clan Celestial Banquet" was an excellent opportunity for the Liang Clan to curry favor with Wang's Clan. Bringing the direct eldest son was for him to gain experience, but bringing the direct second daughter revealed the Liang Clan's subtle intentions, hoping to further their "relationship" with Wang's Clan.

The Liang Clan's caravan bypassed the south side of Changning Guard City and followed An River eastward, heading straight for Changning Official Crossing.Today's Changning Official Crossing has changed significantly compared to more than a decade ago. The original ferry point has been demolished and rebuilt, expanding its area by several times. The building materials used are all durable cement mortar and a new type of building material called hollow bricks.

Hollow bricks are large bricks formed in a single firing, which allows for rapid construction, and they contain a significant amount of cement, making the structure solid and providing excellent sound insulation.

This type of hollow brick and the new framework construction method were first created by the Celestial Wang's Clan. It is said that in Ping'an Town, there are already many buildings with this new structure.

However, it is still relatively rare north of the An River.

"It is said that a few years ago, the Celestial Wang's Clan could hardly tolerate the inefficiency of the Changning Official Crossing," Liang Haofeng said as he got off the carriage with his juniors to visit the new ferry point. "Therefore, after several negotiations and entanglements with the city guard's office, the head of the Shouzhe family finally spent a great deal of money to take over the Changning ferry point and expanded it extensively. Tsk tsk, being able to take over the official crossing shows how formidable the head of the Shouzhe family is."

"All these grounds are cement-leveled," Liang Hongxuan also praised. "This way, even on rainy days, it won't be muddy, and walking on it will be very clean."

While the Liang's were talking,

Suddenly, a deep and robust voice of an elder rang out not far away: "Isn't this Ancestor Haofeng of the Liang's? Have you also come more than ten days early to participate in the Celestial Feast of the Wang's Clan?"

Liang Haofeng turned his head and saw that it was indeed an old acquaintance. He immediately laughed and greeted with a bow: "Isn't this Ancestor Yunfei of the Xing'an Gongsun's Clan? Are you also going early to participate in the Celestial Feast?"

He glanced at Gongsun Yunfei and saw him accompanied by several young clan members, followed by several carriages. Coming to the Changning Crossing at this time, they were naturally going to participate in the Celestial Feast.

Xing'an Town is located between Shanyang and Donggang, and due to its low-lying terrain, there are many lakes and few fertile fields within its jurisdiction, so its development is not very good. Even so, that poor area is crowded with no less than three ninth-rank noble families.

Gongsun Yunfei laughed heartily: "Thanks to the care of the alliance of the Celestial Wang's Clan and their in-law families, they have vigorously promoted the technology of reed cultivation in our Xing'an area, allowing our three poor families to live better days."

"Can planting reeds make money?" Liang Haofeng was slightly surprised. "Reed fluff cannot keep warm, and its roots and stems are tasteless when eaten..."

"Ordinary varieties won't work, but the Chen's Clan from Donggang brought a high-yield reed species from overseas. Its root system is well-developed and more suitable for wetlands, growing very rapidly. With only a small investment of manpower and resources, those wetlands can be utilized," Gongsun Yunfei said excitedly, but with a helpless expression, "However, the previously ignored wetlands and mudflats have now become highly sought after, and our few poor families have accumulated even more grievances over the years."

"I came early this time also to discuss with the head of the Shouzhe family, to see if he could mediate..."

Liang Haofeng glanced at their carriages full of gifts and the two beautiful young girls among the younger generation, and sneered inwardly. What early discussion with the head of the Shouzhe family? You are clearly coming early to curry favor with the Wang's Clan, using their name to suppress your two old rivals.

But, seeing through does not mean speaking through.

Firstly, Liang Haofeng had no grudges with Gongsun Yunfei, and secondly, he himself came early to curry favor with the Wang's Clan, hoping to get the younger generation closer to the Wang's Clan's juniors.

The two old fellows, both over a hundred years old, while clearly understanding each other's intentions, chatted and caught up like old friends reunited. Meanwhile, the younger generations also greeted each other and became acquainted.

It's good for all of them, being minor noble families from Changning Wei, to be familiar and interact with each other.

"Old friend Haofeng, I heard that your young Liang Hongxuan passed the initial exam for the academy's recruitment?" Gongsun Yunfei looked at Liang Hongxuan with some envy. "This child is good-looking, and if he has the chance to enter the Zifu Academy, a future Lingtai Realm is almost guaranteed. By then, your Liang's Clan from Ningxi will be an eighth-rank noble family with three Lingtai."

"Ha ha, it's just passing the preliminary test. Whether he can pass the final test at the academy is another matter," Liang Haofeng said modestly, but the pride and satisfaction in his eyes were hard to hide. Of course, those who enter through the re-examination are basically just ordinary students of the academy. Most likely, they will be the ones cheering madly and looking up in admiration at their senior brothers and sisters fighting on the stage.

Even so, for a ninth-rank noble family, such an opportunity is rare even in a hundred years. For an eighth-rank noble family, the chances are much higher, and for a seventh-rank noble family, it's even more so; if willing, they can send one person to become an ordinary disciple in each generation.

At this moment, Liang Hongxuan, because of his outstanding appearance and having passed the academy's preliminary test, had become the de facto leader among the young people after their interactions, with a somewhat haughty demeanor amidst his cheerful conversation.

Just then,

The large ferry arrived, and everyone boarded in an orderly manner, with carriages also parked in their respective spots. Now that the ferry point has been expanded, the throughput on both sides has increased, and ferries come and go in less than half an hour, currently only carrying half of their capacity.

Just as Liang Haofeng and the two small families had boarded the ship, suddenly, a large convoy appeared outside the ferry point. A middle-aged knight rode up to the ferry and shouted, "Wait a moment for the ferry, I am Gongsun Qiang from the Shanyang Gongsun's Clan, and we need to board."

The manager in charge of the large ferry shuddered and hurriedly bowed in response, "I will follow the orders of Ancestor Qiang." These ferries are now managed by the Wang's Clan.

And Shanyang Gongsun Qiang is no ordinary person; even the head of the Shouzhe family has to respectfully call him uncle when he sees him.

The other passengers naturally had no objections. The Shanyang Gongsun's Clan is now an eighth-rank noble family, and moreover, it is the maternal family of the head of the Shouzhe family, with an extraordinary status.

One by one, the carriages drove into the ferry point.As boarding required separation of people and vehicles, everyone from Gongsun's Clan dismounted their carriages and walked onto the ship according to the rules.

"That's Gongsun's Ancestor Meng." Liang Haofeng narrowed his eyes and said, "It's been a hasty eighteen years since we last met. Has Gongsun Meng's strength reached such an unfathomable level? I can't see through him at all; he's probably reached the fifth or sixth level of the Lingtai Realm."

"Ancestor Meng is only about a hundred years old now," Sun Yunfei also said with envy, "With such age and cultivation, plus the wealth of Gongsun's Clan, it's hopeful for Ancestor Meng to ascend to the Celestial Realm."

Just as the two were about to step forward to pay their respects,

Suddenly, from a carriage, an old lady supported by two middle-aged women stepped down. Her hair was graying, yet she carried herself with an air of dignified grace, surrounded by people like a wealthy family's matriarch.

She looked towards Changning Ferry and the surging waters of An River, and for a moment, tears fell from her eyes: "I remember the last time I returned to my maternal home was on the day Shouzhe got married, and in the blink of an eye, it's been eighteen or nineteen years. I didn't expect to still be alive to see Grandmother Long Yan ascend to the Celestial Realm. I'm afraid this will be my last visit home."

"Third Grandmother," the current Clan Leader of Gongsun's Clan, Gongsun Yan, now a mature man in his thirties, personally escorted the old lady onto the ship, smiling as he said, "You're only eighty-two this year, and still quite robust. Didn't cousin Shouzhe bring back several longevity pills from the academy last time, and even personally delivered one to you?"

"There will be plenty of opportunities for you to return to your maternal home in the future. In a few years, nephew Zong'an will also be getting married, and you must surely come back for that, right? Besides, cousin Shouzhe has said that he wants you to wait for him to ascend to the Celestial Realm."

Upon the mention of Wang Shouzhe, the old lady smiled happily: "Shouzhe is good in every aspect, just not very frugal. My brothers Xiaohui and Xiaozhi and I are all of such an age..."

Another woman, somewhat older but very well-maintained, also supported the old lady and said, "That's because Shouzhe is filial. He said that of the fifth generation of Wang's Clan with the 'Zhen' character in their names, you are the only one left, and he will do as much as he can for you. Shouzhe always sends people to deliver various beauty and skincare products to me."

Liang Haofeng, standing by, only needed a moment of thought to recognize who these two women were.

One was Wang Zhenrong of Wang's Clan's fifth generation 'Zhen' character generation, and the other was Wang Liuyu of the 'Liu' character generation. Although they had both married into the direct lineage of Gongsun's Clan, with the increasing strength of Wang's Clan, their status within Gongsun's Clan had also risen.

After all, Liang Haofeng relied on Wang's Clan for his livelihood, so how could he not study the Wang's Clan family tree? He immediately stepped forward with a smile: "Haofeng pays his respects to the esteemed members of Gongsun's Clan."

Compliments that should be given must be given, to leave a good impression for Clan Leader Shouzhe later. After all, Clan Leader Shouzhe was clearly someone who placed great importance on the elders of his family.

While they were talking,

Suddenly!

A figure was flying across the river above, touching the water with each step, soaring like a great roc. Amidst the rolling river, his seemingly insignificant figure appeared so majestic.

"That's Ancestor Xiaohan..." Gongsun Qiang said with sharp eyes.

"Why has Brother Xiaohan come to meet us?" Wang Zhenrong was both comforted and filled with emotion.

...

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