Chapter 235: Chapter 23: Foundation! The Millennium Noble Wang Family_2
Clan Leader Wang Shouzhe and his party, a group of young people, watched with relish, as if they had entered a new world.
Only Wang Lici showed no interest in anything else. Instead, she wandered the streets with wide eyes, looking for something delicious.
When she spotted some unique food stalls or taverns, she couldn’t help but swallow secretly.
If not for Clan Leader Wang Shouzhe’s repeated warnings before entering the city, she would have jumped down to devour them all.
"Listen to Uncle Four, listen to Uncle Four, patience in small matters and great plans won’t be disrupted," Wang Lici frantically reminded herself. Uncle Four had promised her that after visiting the Longzuo Wang Family, they would stay in Longzuo County for a few days, and she could eat whatever she wanted, and Uncle Four would cover it.
Everything in Longzuo County City was extremely fresh and new to most members of the Wang Family.
While Wang Shouzhe rode his Fire Stepping on White Clouds alongside Clan Leader Wang Xiao Rui, listening to his eloquent introduction to the various local customs and traditions, he also found it very interesting.
However, he paid more attention to some business opportunities, like the cloth workshops and the Spirit Seed Shops and so on. Almost anything available in the entire Longzuo County could be bought in this county city.
This was a huge economic center, a commercial center, and a political center. Spirit Platform Realm cultivators, rarely seen in remote places, were not everywhere in Longzuo County City, but you could spot one every now and then.
Moreover, the city was lined with shops.
Just the cloth workshops alone, they had passed four or five along the way. Who knows, perhaps the silk sold in a certain cloth workshop came from the Wang Family’s Silkworm Manor’s raw materials, processed by the Changning Xu Family.
In the middle of the avenue, the carriage moved at a brisk pace.
Yet, even so, it took nearly an hour to reach the main residence of the Longzuo Wang Family.
This main residence was grand and imposing, occupying a vast area, with the tallest pavilion several tens of meters high, and the surrounding buildings were also very grand.
They were either the headquarters of some chamber of commerce or a certain Purple Mansion Family.
Even the prefectural government of Longzuo County was not far away.
Therefore, this place belonged to the core area of Longzuo County City, and ordinary civilians couldn’t enter without special passes.
"Clan Leader Shouzhe, how do you find our Wang Family’s main residence?" Clan Leader Wang Xiao Rui remarked with a slight air of pride.
"Truly worthy of being a main residence of a millennia-old noble family," Wang Shouzhe was full of admiration, "That pavilion is the famous Lingyun Tower I’ve long heard of, isn’t it? I heard that Ancestor Hongtian spent the last two hundred years living in Lingyun Tower."
Ancestor Hongtian was the mutual ancestor of the Longzuo Wang Family and the Ping’an Wang Family.
Wang Shouzhe’s repeated use of "our" made Wang Xiao Rui feel much closer, and he sighed, "Ancestor’s building of Lingyun Tower reflected his aspiration to reach the clouds and venture into the void. It’s just a pity that ultimately, Ancestor never took that step. This tower serves as a reminder for future generations to strive courageously for improvement. However, we descendants have somewhat disappointed Ancestor’s expectations. The family fortune is declining, to the point where the succession of Celestial Humans was almost incomplete."
After saying this, he laughed, "Clan Leader Shouzhe, please don’t take these grumbling words to heart. Come, let’s go home together."
With that said, under the guidance of Wang Xiao Rui, everyone stepped into the Wang Family’s main residence.
Truly worthy of being a millennia-old noble family, every grass and tree, every brick and tile, every pavilion and courtyard exuded a rich historical atmosphere, ancient and heavy. Its land area was extensive; as Wang Xiao Rui introduced, there were hundreds of courtyards, and there were two or three thousand rooms for servants and utility rooms.
When the Ping’an Wang Family built their main residence, it was made larger. But compared to the Longzuo main residence, it’s only about a third of its size.
"Clan Leader Shouzhe, I’ve prepared more than ten sets of courtyards. Everyone being members of the Wang Family need not stand on ceremony. After traveling a long way, everyone must be tired, so let’s rest first. By evening, I’ll host a welcoming dinner at Yinglong Pavilion for everyone," Wang Xiao Rui had arranged everything in an orderly manner, "Tomorrow morning, I’ll take everyone to meet Ancestor Zhoubo. Does Clan Leader Shouzhe have any other comments on these arrangements?"
"Clan Leader Xiao Rui’s arrangements are very thorough. In that case, I’ll leave it to you, Clan Leader Xiao Rui." Being at someone else’s place, naturally, you follow their arrangements. Wang Shouzhe naturally wouldn’t overstep his bounds.
Afterward, it was a matter of moving in, washing up, resting, and cleansing the dust from their journey.
By evening, members of the Wang Clan came over to invite Wang Shouzhe and the others to Yinglong Pavilion.
Yinglong Pavilion.
It was a place where the Longzuo Wang Family entertained distinguished guests.
This time, they hosted with top-notch hospitality, offering countless delicious delicacies, some of which even Wang Shouzhe had never seen, and some dishes he’d never even heard of.
Spirit wine and spirit tea were provided abundantly.
It was obvious that a certain foodie’s reputation had already reached the ears of the Longzuo Wang Family.
They even brought out an entire Spiritual-Horned Yak to create a whole yak banquet, half of which went to Wang Lici.
This meal satisfied Wang Lici immensely, and she was elated.
Even though they were mentally prepared, seeing Wang Lici finish half of the Spiritual-Horned Yak, and then eat an entire tub of Purple Jade Crystal Rice, they were still deeply shocked.
This girl’s appetite was indeed remarkable.
The Ping’an Wang Family must have had a hard time raising her.
However, the Wang Family also presented a gift list, containing high-quality spirit rice and spirit meat, including some precious Tier Three spiritual flesh. This gift list was not light, totaling over ten thousand Qian Gold.
Yet it caused Wang Xiao Rui to politely refuse back and forth several times before he reluctantly accepted it.
Afterward, several core elders, Patriarch Wang Xiao Rui, and Wang Shouzhe, along with other key figures, began chatting and discussing various matters over tea.
As the Celestial Human Clan Leader of a noble family, Wang Xiao Rui was well-versed and amiable. He casually spoke of various curious events in Longzuo County, making everyone feel highly entertained, as if they were experiencing it firsthand.
After three cups of tea.
Wang Xiao Rui’s expression became slightly serious, and he cupped his hands slightly towards Wang Shouzhe, "Clan Leader Shouzhe, my grandson Shouyue has already informed me in his letters about your care for him. He has connected with the East Port Chen Family and Young Master Tantai and received a warm reception, securing a large share of foreign trade for the family. On behalf of the Longzuo Wang Family, I sincerely thank you, Clan Leader Shouzhe."
"Clan Leader Xiao Rui, you are too polite." Wang Shouzhe returned the gesture with a smile, "Didn’t the Clan Leader just say that we are of the same family line, we are family? Such a trivial matter is not worth mentioning."
The so-called "foreign goods" were produced by several families united by Wang Shouzhe; it didn’t matter who they were sold to.
Since the Longzuo Wang Family had this need, naturally, they could be supplied preferentially. However, he wouldn’t reveal that he was the mastermind behind it all.
"What seems like a small matter to Clan Leader Shouzhe has great benefits for the Longzuo Wang Family," Wang Xiao Rui remarked with great emotion, "Clan Leader Shouzhe may not know, but competition in Longzuo County City is fierce, and no business is easy to conduct."
"We are barely maintaining the current situation thanks to the businesses and few remaining manors left by our ancestor. Now, with the foreign goods trade, we can greatly relieve our financial difficulties. Clan Leader Shouzhe, there’s one more thing..." Wang Xiao Rui spoke with a bit of difficulty.
"Is the Clan Leader referring to the Wang Family No. 9 Rice Seeds?" Wang Shouzhe smiled and said, "I have already prepared for it. Later, the Qiaan’s Trading Company will bring them over for you to receive. This batch of rice seeds amounts to about ten thousand dan, enough for fifty thousand mu of fertile land. I wonder if it’s sufficient."
Wang Xiao Rui’s spirits lifted, and he said immediately, "Enough, more than enough. We only have about thirty thousand mu of fertile land. Clan Leader Shouzhe, I’ve heard that the price of Wang Family No. 9 Rice Seeds is about eighteen Large Coppers per dan. That combined with transportation costs comes to two thousand Qian Gold. Please accept it and don’t refuse."
After a brief refusal twice, Wang Shouzhe accepted it.
Gifts are gifts, and business is business.
Since Wang Xiao Rui was also a sensible person with clear boundaries, Wang Shouzhe was not averse to further cooperation with him.
Looking around, he said earnestly, "Clan Leader Xiao Rui, since we are family, I’ll be frank. The Longzuo Wang Family has a golden opportunity; why not make good use of it?"
Wang Xiao Rui’s eyes lit up, "Clan Leader Shouzhe, you’ve managed to rise the Ping’an Wang Family in such a short time, surely your vision is remarkable. Please advise me!"
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