Chapter 11

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Wang Shouzhe came today with a purpose, yet he remained unhurried and chatted casually with Wang Xiaozhi about various oddities. When he mentioned that he and Uncle Six, Wang Dinghai, had coincidentally caught a 150-pound red-scaled eel last night, Wang Xiaozhi was so excited that he slapped his thigh: "That little brat Dinghai might not catch one in two years. This time, it must be your good luck."

Although the red-scaled eel is not as good as the red-tailed ling fish, it is still a highly nourishing food, ranking among the spiritual foods.

Spiritual foods are excellent for quickly replenishing the qi and blood of Xuanwu practitioners, and are essential for their survival. Even someone like Wang Xiaozhi, who is over seventy and whose cultivation has stagnated and is even gradually declining, needs to supplement with spiritual foods from time to time.

Otherwise, his qi and blood would be insufficient, and his physical decline and loss of cultivation would accelerate.

The younger generation, on the other hand, needs spiritual foods even more to replenish their qi and blood, allowing them to grow faster and better.

As they chatted and laughed, in less than half an hour, the kitchen staff and his two younger sisters had laid out some rustic delicacies, including fresh chicken, duck, fish, and goose, as well as a large stone basin of braised wild boar meat.

"Shouzhe, you rarely come, and Grandpa doesn't have much to offer you," Wang Xiaozhi said, running into the bedroom and returning with an ancient wine jug, smiling, "Try this fine wine I've been saving for a long time. Drink as much as you can, and take the rest with you if you can't finish it."

Just as they were talking, a young man with dark skin and covered in mud walked in, his voice cheerful: "Grandpa, you're being partial. You never let me have a sip of this White Jade Spirit Wine, but now that my fourth brother is here, you bring out the whole jug."

"You little brat, what are you worth compared to Shouzhe?" Wang Xiaozhi scolded with a smile, "You're just lucky to come back at mealtime. Go wash up quickly, and you can have a cup."

"Third Brother." Wang Shouzhe smiled and clasped his hands. He knew this was Wang Shounuo, the third in the Shou generation of the Wang family's seventh generation.

"Fourth Brother." Wang Shounuo hurriedly returned the gesture solemnly, then smiled, "I'll wash up first and join you shortly." He quickly excused himself.

By the time the table was set with bowls, chopsticks, and wine cups, Wang Shounuo had already washed up and sat down next to Wang Shouzhe, sniffing the aroma of the dishes and eyeing the White Jade Spirit Rice Wine with longing: "Fourth Brother, you're really shining today. We haven't had a meal together in a long time. I'll toast you a few more cups."

"Third Brother, you've worked hard for the family. I should be the one toasting you a few cups," Wang Shouzhe smiled.

"Tong'er, don't you quickly pour some wine for your fourth brother?" Wang Xiaozhi, in a very good mood, instructed with a radiant face.

"Yes, Grandpa." Wang Luotong picked up the wine jug and poured wine for Wang Shouzhe, Wang Xiaozhi, and then Wang Shounuo.

The wine was pure white, emitting a clear and pure aroma, and just a whiff made one feel invigorated.

Just as the two girls, Wang Luotong and Wang Luojing, were about to return to the kitchen table to eat, Wang Shouzhe spoke up first: "Grandpa, I'm not an outsider. Let Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister join us."

Wang Xiaozhi was taken aback but did not refuse Wang Shouzhe's request, smiling, "Since your fourth brother has spoken, you can join us."

"Thank you, Grandpa, thank you, Fourth Brother." Wang Luotong and Wang Luojing obediently sat at the lower end of the table.

Then, naturally, the wine cups were raised and toasts were made.

The two girls ate quietly, occasionally pouring wine for the others.

"Good wine." After half a cup, Wang Shouzhe felt a warmth in his abdomen, his qi and blood surging, and his energy gradually increasing.

This White Jade Spirit Rice Wine is brewed from White Jade Spirit Rice and various precious herbs, with far better qi and blood replenishing effects than ordinary spiritual foods.

However, its price is also very "touching," with a few pounds of White Jade Spirit Rice Wine costing several pieces of gold. Even Wang Shouzhe could only enjoy it rarely.

Moreover, spiritual wine can only be used as an auxiliary spiritual food, to be consumed occasionally. Otherwise, if one becomes addicted, being drunk all day is not a good thing.

At this moment, the young girl Wang Luojing, who was quietly eating, kept glancing at the wine jug, her lips pursed as if she was craving it.

"Luotong can have half a cup, but Luojing is too young and can only have a sip." Wang Shouzhe picked up the wine jug and poured some for both sisters.

"Thank you, Fourth Brother." The two girls thanked him happily, clearly having longed for the spiritual wine.

At this, Wang Xiaozhi's face twitched, as if he felt a pang of pain, and he muttered, "Shouzhe, giving this spiritual wine to two girls is a waste, isn't it?"

Wang Shouzhe's eyes also twitched, realizing that this old man's preference for boys over girls was completely unhidden.

"Grandpa, our own children are all the same," Wang Shouzhe smiled.

"Not the same, not the same. Girls will eventually marry out," Wang Xiaozhi continued to grumble, "Shouzhe, you are at the critical point of advancing to the seventh level of the Qi Condensation stage. You should drink more. Shounuo, you should drink less and leave more for Shouzhe."

Wang Shounuo hurriedly put down his wine cup, embarrassed and chuckled.

In the eyes of this clan elder, Wang Xiaozhi, Wang Shouzhe, as the direct-line clan leader, is the hope and future pillar of the family, far more important than his own grandson, Wang Shounuo, let alone the two "money-losing" granddaughters.

Fortunately, his grandchildren were used to it, and the meal was still a pleasant one. However, under Wang Xiaozhi's "leadership," most of the spiritual wine was left, along with a large portion of the prepared wild boar meat, to be sent to Wang Shouzhe's courtyard for him to enjoy alone.

Wang Shouzhe was quite helpless with Wang Xiaozhi's blatant favoritism and could only let it be for now.

After the meal, Wang Shouzhe suggested, "Grandpa, I came to Fenggu Farm this time mainly to learn more about agriculture from you."

"Agriculture?" Wang Xiaozhi frowned, "Shouzhe, as the clan leader, your most important task is to cultivate hard and advance to the Spirit Platform stage as soon as possible. Don't let trivial matters like agriculture distract you. Grandpa and your third brother will handle it."

Wang Shouzhe's purpose in coming here was to learn more about Fenggu Farm. If possible, he wanted to use modern thinking to explore and see if there were ways to improve the farm's efficiency.

However, after his first encounter with Wang Xiaozhi, he found that this old man was loyal to the family but had a fixed mindset due to his age.

He was not as compliant as Uncle Six, Zhao Dinghai. If he casually proposed a few ideas, it might anger him. So, he changed his approach: "Grandpa, you misunderstood. As the clan leader, I should at least know a bit about the family's industries. How about this, let Third Brother show me around and let me enjoy the rural scenery."

"You, fine, fine. Let Shounuo accompany you for half a day. Recently, the wheat is in the grain-filling stage, and there are many tasks in the fields, so Grandpa won't accompany you." Saying this, Wang Xiaozhi took his farming tools and hurried to the fields.

Heh~

Although he was the clan leader, the clan elders still treated him like a child, hoping he would focus on cultivating to reach the Spirit Platform stage.

It felt like they wanted to treat him as a mascot.

Actually, if he could live a peaceful life, Wang Shouzhe would be happy to be a mascot and a parasite. Unfortunately, the Wang family's capabilities were insufficient, and the family's power had been declining over the past few decades. At this rate, the Wang family would soon be completely wiped out and disappear from history.

He must take advantage of the remaining foundation of the Wang family and quickly make it rise, even if it's just to have the basic ability to protect itself.

"Fourth Brother, I'll show you around. Ask me anything you don't understand," Wang Shounuo stood up and clasped his hands, treating Wang Shouzhe with great respect, even a bit of awe.

First, Wang Shouzhe was the direct-line clan leader, and second, his personal strength far exceeded his.

"Thank you, Third Brother," Wang Shouzhe politely returned the gesture.

"We'll go too," Wang Luotong and Wang Luojing eagerly followed, with the servant Wang Gui carrying Wang Shouzhe's sword and bow, and four fully armed family guards following behind.

The siblings strolled through the farm. It was early summer, and the weather was getting hot. The warm, humid wind blew on their faces, making the air feel sticky.

"Our Fenggu Farm was personally established by our ancestor Zouxuan a hundred years ago," Wang Shounuo said proudly, "Back then, the ancestor organized the construction of the tributary river, cleared the silt, filled the land, and reinforced the riverbank. He also built a water gate upstream of the Fenggu tributary, forming the initial shape of Fenggu Farm. Subsequently, the clan members continuously cultivated and maintained the land, turning this semi-dry, semi-wet wasteland into fertile fields. Through the careful management of generations, we now have 3,567 acres of top-quality farmland and 200 tenant farmers!"

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