Chapter 19

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It was a robust, adult man, dressed in rough hemp clothing, who was working. He dropped the box of salted fish he was carrying on his shoulder with a thud and came forward with a happy expression.

Wang Shouzhe calmed himself and recognized that it was the second eldest of the Shou generation, Wang Shouyi. He immediately clasped his hands and smiled, saying, "Second Brother, why are you dressed like this, and even doing the work yourself?"

Wang Shouyi laughed helplessly, "Uncle Liu must have gone crazy, sending all the salted fish from the Dingpu warehouse over here and ordering me to sell them quickly. The helpers can't handle it all at once, so I'm unloading the goods myself."

As he spoke, he pointed to several cargo carts lined up behind him, almost blocking the road.

Uh... hehe.

Wang Shouzhe, of course, knew the reason. It was because of his suggestions and ideas that this year's fishing team had an exceptionally high catch. If the salted fish in storage weren't sold quickly, they would become a burden when the new catch came in.

"Wang Zhong, Wang Yong, help unload the goods," Wang Shouzhe waved his hand.

"Yes, Master," the two family guards immediately put down their burdens and went to help. One was at the fourth level of the Qi Condensation stage, and the other at the fifth, both far stronger than ordinary people.

Wang Shouyi was also at the fifth level of the Qi Condensation stage. With three Xuanwu practitioners working together, the unloading speed increased dramatically.

Of course, Wang Shouzhe was already at the high sixth level of the Qi Condensation stage. If he joined in, the speed would be even faster. However, as the head of the clan, it would damage the family's prestige if he were seen moving salted fish.

Within half an hour, the fish from the carts were all moved into the warehouse, and the road was clear again.

Afterward, Wang Shouyi, who had cleaned up, wanted to entertain Wang Shouzhe in the backyard. However, Wang Shouzhe declined and found a place in the fish stall to chat and drink tea.

"Fourth Brother, our fish stall mainly sells salted fish, dried fish, fresh fish, and live fish," Wang Shouyi said as he poured the tea. "Most of the salted fish and dried fish are bought in bulk by traveling merchants and sold to the northwest."

"Fresh fish are sold to the vendors in Changning Wei City, who come to our stall early in the morning to pick up their goods. We also supply fresh and live fish to several restaurants in the city, which we deliver ourselves, but at a slightly higher price."

"Additionally, some noble families and wealthy merchants have a daily demand for fresh and live fish. Therefore, from early morning to mid-morning, our fish stall is the busiest."

In a few words, Wang Shouzhe understood the operation of the Wang family fish stall. The main goal was to maximize the sales of the fishing team's catch, bringing in a net profit of about two hundred gold pieces annually.

Because the net profit was not high, the seventh-generation family member, Wang Shouyi, was in charge here.

Wang Shouyi's talent was not very good, only rated as lower-grade D. Therefore, he had far fewer family resources than Wang Dingyue and Wang Shouzhe. At the age of thirty-three, he was only at the initial fifth level of the Qi Condensation stage.

Fortunately, Wang Shouyi was steady, hardworking, and had no complaints about the family's resource allocation. Instead, he diligently managed one of the family's businesses, contributing to the family.

"Second Brother, you've worked hard these past years," Wang Shouzhe said solemnly, clasping his hands.

"Fourth Brother, what are you talking about?" Wang Shouyi quickly stood up to return the gesture. "As a direct descendant of the Wang family, managing the family's assets is my duty. What's the talk of hard work? If you can reach the Lingtai stage one day, our Wang family will surely have a better life."

Lingtai stage! Lingtai stage!

Wang Shouzhe sighed inwardly. Now, all the family members pinned their hopes on him. It was this hope that made them work diligently.

"Second Brother, rest assured, our Wang family will only get better," Wang Shouzhe said confidently. "By the way, I heard that Nephew Zongsheng has good talent, rated as lower-grade C?"

At the mention of Zongsheng, Wang Shouyi's honest face lit up with joy. He scratched his head and said, "That kid is pretty good, better than his father. It seems my bloodline isn't bad."

"Hehe, Second Brother, that's because Second Sister-in-law has good bloodline," Wang Shouzhe teased with a smile. "I know that when Second Sister-in-law was still unmarried in the Jinsha Xu family, she was a famous beauty, and many families came to propose. But you managed to win her heart."

"Fourth Brother, you remember that? You were just a child back then. Hehe, Second Sister-in-law didn't like those flashy young men; she saw the honesty and integrity in Second Brother," Wang Shouyi said with pride. "Marrying Second Sister-in-law is the greatest victory of my life. By the way, Fourth Brother, you're eighteen this year, right? When do you plan to bring the Liu family's daughter home?"

Liu family's daughter?

Wang Shouzhe was taken aback. If not for Wang Shouyi's reminder, he would have forgotten that he had a betrothal to the eldest daughter of the Liu family.

In theory, the declining Wang family should find it difficult to match with the main line of the Liu family. Their relationship was only maintained at the level of occasional marriages between the main lines. The last time the main lines of the Wang and Liu families were married was over a hundred years ago.

At that time, the Liu family's eldest daughter married the second son of the Zouxuan ancestor, Wang Yuyou, while the second daughter of the Zouxuan ancestor, Wang Zhuzhui, married into the Liu family's main line.

Notably, Ancestor Grandmother Zhuzhui gave birth to two sons and one daughter in the Liu family. Now, two of the living Lingtai ancestors of the Liu family are her son and grandson.

However, the most powerful in the Liu family is not the two Lingtai ancestors but Ancestor Grandmother Zhuzhui's daughter, Liu Xuanfu.

Back then, Liu Xuanfu of the Liu family and Wang Longyan of the Wang family, who were cousins, were both rare prodigies, both admitted to the Zifu Academy, shocking the entire Changning Wei region.

They were known as the "Changning Twin Beauties," with a reputation that surpassed that of many families' Lingtai ancestors. They both developed well in the Zifu Academy, with a bright future ahead.

Unfortunately.

After the Wang family faced a great disaster, Ancestor Longyan had to abandon her elite disciple status in the academy and return to the family, ultimately suffering severe injuries and a shortened lifespan, and has not left Changning since.

Liu Xuanfu, on the other hand, continued to develop in the Zifu Academy, and her recent status is unclear. However, the growing strength of the Shanyin Liu family suggests that Liu Xuanfu is developing well in the Zifu Academy.

Therefore, the betrothal between Wang Shouzhe and the Liu family's eldest daughter was proposed by Ancestor Longyan herself, as a final safeguard for the family.

Perhaps Ancestor Longyan paid some unknown price, or perhaps the Liu family still remembered the old ties. In any case, the betrothal was finalized.

"Fourth Brother, what are you thinking about?" Wang Shouyi asked with a smile. "You're not thinking about your future wife, Liu Ruolan, the Liu family's eldest daughter, are you?"

"Hehe~ Second Brother, let's focus on how to strengthen the family," Wang Shouzhe changed the subject. "If Uncle Liu's fishing team increases its annual production to twice the usual, can your fish stall handle it?"

"Twice?!" Wang Shouyi's face lit up, and he exclaimed, "Fourth Brother, the family is willing to expand the fishing fleet? That's a great thing for the family. If it's true, I'll make sure not to lag behind."

"What about three times?" Wang Shouzhe said with a smile.

"Whoa~" Wang Shouyi drew in a sharp breath. "Fourth Brother, don't joke with your Second Brother."

Just as Wang Shouzhe was about to explain, a sinister laugh came from outside: "Second of the Wang family, Wang Shouyi, are you there? I'm the second manager of the Facai Gambling Den, Ding Youde. When do you plan to repay the debt your nephew owes us?"

Facai Gambling Den? Gambling debt? Nephew?

As Wang Shouyi's face changed, Wang Shouzhe's smile also froze, and his eyes became sharp.

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