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Wang Shouzhe came with a purpose today, but he still remained calm and composed. He casually chatted with Wang Xiaozhi about strange and interesting events. When he mentioned that he and Sixth Uncle, Wang Dinghai, had coincidentally caught a 150-pound Red-Scaled Eel last night, Wang Xiaozhi excitedly slapped his thigh, "That little rascal Dinghai might not catch one in two years, this time it must be thanks to your good fortune."
Although the Red-Scaled Eel is not as good as the Red-tailed Spirit Eel, it is still considered a great tonic and is classified as spiritual food.
Spiritual food is excellent for quickly replenishing the blood and energy of Black Tortoise Practitioners. It is essential for the survival of every Black Tortoise Practitioner. Even for someone like Wang Xiaozhi, who is over seventy and whose cultivation has stagnated and is even gradually regressing, spiritual food is needed from time to time.
Otherwise, the lack of blood and energy would accelerate physical decline and the dissipation of cultivation.
For the younger generation, spiritual food is even more necessary to replenish their blood and energy, allowing them to grow faster and better.
As the two of them chatted and laughed, within half an hour, the cook and two sisters brought out some farmhouse delicacies: fresh chicken, duck, fish, and goose, along with a large pot of braised pork.
"Shouzhe, it's rare for you to come here, Fourth Grandpa doesn't have much to entertain you with," Wang Xiaozhi ran into the bedroom and came out shortly after with an ancient-looking wine pot, smiling warmly, "Try this fine wine I've cherished for a long time. Feel free to drink as much as you want, and take the rest back if you can't finish it."
Just as he spoke.
A young man with dark skin, covered in mud, walked in, his voice hearty, "Grandfather, you're being biased. You never let me have even a sip of this White Jade Spirit Wine, but as soon as Fourth Brother arrives, you bring out the whole pot."
"You little rascal, what makes you think you can compare with Shouzhe?" Wang Xiaozhi burst into laughter and scolded as soon as he saw the young man, "You even managed to come back just in time for the meal; go wash up quickly, and you'll get a cup."
"Third Brother." Wang Shouzhe greeted with a smile. He knew this was Wang Shounuo, the third in rank among the seventh generation of the Shou Generation in the Wang Family.
"Fourth Brother." Wang Shounuo hurriedly returned the courtesy solemnly, then smiled, "I'll wash up first and come back to entertain Fourth Brother later." With that, he quickly excused himself.
By the time the bowls, chopsticks, and wine cups were set on the table, Wang Shounuo had taken a quick bath and was sitting right below Wang Shouzhe, smelling the aroma of the dishes and eyeing the pot of White Jade Spirit Rice Wine eagerly, saying cheerfully, "Today I get to enjoy Fourth Brother's company, it's been a while since we dined together, I'll have to toast you a few times later."
"Third Brother, you've done so much for the family, it should be me toasting you a few times," Wang Shouzhe replied with a smile.
"Tong'Er, hurry and pour your Fourth Brother a drink." Wang Xiaozhi was in high spirits, his dark face glowing, and casually instructed.
"Yes, Grandfather." Wang Luotong picked up the wine pot and successively poured drinks for Wang Shouzhe, Wang Xiaozhi, and then Wang Shounuo.
This wine was pure white in color and exuded a clear and mellow fragrance. Just a whiff was invigorating.
Just as Wang Luotong and Wang Luojing, the two girls, were preparing to head to the small table in the kitchen to eat, Wang Shouzhe spoke up first, "Fourth Grandpa, I'm not an outsider, Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister can sit down and eat together."
Wang Xiaozhi was taken aback but didn't want to contradict Wang Shouzhe, so he laughed and said, "Since your Fourth Brother has spoken up, let's all dine together."
"Thank you, Grandfather, thank you, Fourth Brother." Wang Luotong and Wang Luojing obediently took the seats at the lowest rank.
After that, naturally, there was a lively exchange of toasts.
The two girls quietly ate, occasionally pouring a bit of wine.
"Good wine." After downing half a cup, Wang Shouzhe felt a burning sensation in his abdomen, the energy and blood within his body surging vigorously, his vitality gradually increasing.
This White Jade Spirit Rice Wine was brewed with White Jade Spirit Rice and numerous precious medicinal materials, making its effects of replenishing energy and blood far superior to plain spiritual food.
However, its price was also truly "heartfelt," as a several-jin pot of White Jade Spirit Rice Wine could easily cost several Qian Gold, and even Wang Shouzhe could only afford to indulge in it sparingly.
Furthermore, Spirit Wine should only be used as a supplement to spiritual food, consumed occasionally. Otherwise, if one becomes addicted, being drunk all day is no good.
At this moment, the little girl Wang Luojing, who was silently eating, occasionally glanced at the wine pot, pursing her lips with a somewhat eager expression.
"Luotong can have half a glass, Luojing is too young, she can only have a drop at the bottom of the glass." Wang Shouzhe picked up the wine pot and poured some for his two younger sisters.
"Thank you, Fourth Brother." Both girls thanked him happily, clearly having craved the Spirit Wine for quite some time.
At this moment, Wang Xiaozhi's face twitched slightly, as if feeling a bit of heartache, and he muttered quietly, "Shouzhe, isn't it a waste to give Spirit Wine to these two girls?"
Wang Shouzhe's eyelid twitched too, it seemed this old man really didn't hide his preference for sons over daughters.
"Fourth Grandfather, they're our own children, all the same." Wang Shouzhe said with a smile.
"Not the same, not the same, girls will eventually get married." Wang Xiaozhi continued to mutter painfully, "Shouzhe, you're at the critical threshold of breaking through to the Seventh Layer of the Qi Refining Realm, you should drink more. Shounuo, you should drink less and save some for Shouzhe."
Wang Shounuo quickly put down his wine glass awkwardly and chuckled a couple of times.
In the eyes of clan elder Wang Xiaozhi, Wang Shouzhe was the direct-lineage clan leader, and more importantly, the hope and future pillar of the family, even more so than his own grandson Wang Shounuo, let alone his two "losing" granddaughters.
Fortunately, his grandchildren were used to it, and they still managed to have a harmonious meal. Under Wang Xiaozhi's "guidance", most of the Spirit Wine remained for Wang Shouzhe to enjoy later, along with half a freshly cut pig's meat.
For Wang Xiaozhi's blatant "favoritism", Wang Shouzhe was quite helpless and could only go along for now.
After the meal, Wang Shouzhe proposed, "Fourth Grandfather, this time my visit to Fenggu Farm is mainly to learn some agricultural science from you."
"Agriculture?" Wang Xiaozhi frowned deeply, "Shouzhe, you are the head of the clan now, the most important thing is to cultivate diligently and reach the Spirit Platform Realm as soon as possible. Don't let agricultural matters distract you, Fourth Grandfather and your Third Brother can handle it."
Wang Shouzhe's purpose was naturally to understand more about Fenggu Farm. If possible, he wanted to explore it with modern thinking to see if there were ways to improve its efficiency.
However, after initial interaction with Wang Xiaozhi, he discovered that this elder was loyal to the family, but his thinking had become rigid due to his age.
Unlike Sixth Uncle Wang Dinghai, who was more compliant, suggesting ideas recklessly might anger him. He swiftly changed the direction, "Fourth Grandfather, you misunderstood. As the patriarch, I should know a bit about clan enterprises. How about my Third Brother accompanies me for a tour to enjoy the agricultural scenery?"
"You, alright, alright, just let Shounuo accompany you for half a day. Recently, the wheat has reached the filling period, with many field chores, Fourth Grandfather won't accompany you." Saying this, Wang Xiaozhi took up his farming tools and headed out quickly.
Hehe~
Though he was already the clan leader, the elders in the family still treated him like a child, hoping he could focus on cultivating to the Spirit Platform Realm.
Did they seem to want to treat him as a mascot?
In fact, if he could live a comfortable life, Wang Shouzhe wouldn't mind being a mascot or a rice bug. Unfortunately, the Wang Clan members were not capable enough, and in just a few decades, the clan's influence had declined. If things went on like this, the Ping'an Wang Family wouldn't take long to be completely erased from history.
It was essential to seize the foundation the Wang Family still had and rapidly elevate the clan, at least to maintain some basic self-defense capabilities.
"Fourth Brother, let me take you around, you can ask me if you have any questions at any time." Wang Shounuo stood up and cupped his hands respectfully, he was very polite, even somewhat in awe of Wang Shouzhe.
For one, Wang Shouzhe was the direct-lineage clan leader, and his personal strength surpassed his by many times.
"Thank you, Third Brother." Wang Shouzhe returned the gesture politely.
"We want to go too." Wang Luotong and Wang Luojing chirped in, following happily. Behind them was the servant Wang Gui, carrying a sword and bow, followed by four fully armed Household Generals.
The siblings strolled leisurely through the farm. It was already early summer, the weather was getting hot. The warm wind mixed with humidity brushed against their faces, making the air seem slightly sticky.
"Our Fenggu Farm was personally established by Ancestor Zhou Xuan a hundred years ago." Wang Shounuo said with some pride, "At that time, Ancestor organized the opening of the tributary waterways, dredging silt, consolidating the riverbanks, and built a water gate upstream of Fenggu Valley, creating the embryonic form of Fenggu Farm. Subsequently, clan members continually cultivated and maintained the wasteland, turning this half-dry, half-wet desolate marsh into fertile fields. Through generations of careful management, we now have 3,567 acres of high-grade farmland and 200 households of tenant farmers!"
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