Editor: Atlas Studios
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"Big brother, you should sit down too." Wang Shouzhe stood up and cupped his hands in invitation.
"Fourth brother." Wang Shouxin’s slightly weathered face showed a complex expression, mostly a bit of sha. He opened his mouth as if to speak but stopped and then sat down.
"It’s rare to have a al with both big brother and sister-in-law." Wang Shouzhe skillfully greeted everyone, "Everyone, try the clear water hot pot."
A high-grade charcoal brazier heated a copper pot of boiling water, with just a sprinkle of salt, de-fishing wine, and ginger; thin slices of Spirit Horned Yak Beef were placed in it, and they were cooked in seconds.
"This?"
Everyone was sowhat doubtful. Could such a simple cooking thod produce delicious food? Hopefully, it wouldn’t waste the spiritual food.
However, when the thin slices of at entered their mouths, they felt refreshing, chewy, tender, and smooth, with a surge of fiery qi and blood energy spreading throughout their bodies.
"The best ingredients should be prepared with the simplest cooking thods." Wang Shouzhe slowly poured spirit wine for everyone and said unhurriedly, "Only in this way can one taste the most original flavor of the food. Big brother, you started working at the Silkworm Manor at the age of eighteen, and now it has been twenty-five years. For all these years of dedicated, diligent work for the family, I, your fourth brother, toast to you."
Even at the age of forty-three, Wang Shouxin had few experiences such as eating spirit at while drinking spirit wine. Especially Wang Shouzhe’s words brought warmth to his heart, prompting him to quickly raise his wine cup and say, "It should be so, it should be so."
After both finished their drinks, Wang Shouzhe solemnly toasted to the Xu Family matron, "Sister-in-law, you have been married into our Wang Family for twenty-one years, giving birth to two sons and two daughters for our eighth generation of the Ping’an Wang Family, truly a ritorious achievent. I, Shouzhe, toast to you."
The Xu Family matron’s heart suddenly ached; yes, who truly knew the hardships? But except for Shouzhe ntioning it, no one else had ever praised her so. She imdiately raised her wine cup and, with a slight choking, replied, "Thank you, fourth uncle, for your understanding."
This spirit wine, it was truly sweet, making her feel light.
"Madam, you married my father in your pri, not only working hard to manage the family business but also treating my sister and as your own, taking care of us with all your heart." Wang Shouzhe toasted a third cup, saying, "This kindness and virtue, Shouzhe will always rember."
Gongsun Hui paused, her nose faintly tingling with a slight soreness, and she glared with her apricot eyes, pretending to be annoyed, "Luoyi is my legitimate daughter; you are my legitimate son. Taking care of you is my duty, so why say such things for no reason?"
Despite her words, she happily drank this cup of spirit wine, feeling that Shouzhe’s gratitude ant the hardships over the years were not in vain.
With these words, everyone gradually relaxed, and after three rounds of drinks, they had drunk more than half the pot of spirit wine. Spirit wine was most intoxicating, giving everyone a slight drunkenness.
"Fourth uncle." The Xu Family matron, gaining courage, said, "I also know that Zongwei deserves punishnt. However, could you spare him this ti for the sake of your sister-in-law and big brother? Don’t worry, your sister-in-law will surely discipline him well."
As soon as these words were spoken, even Wang Shouxin paused, his eyes showing a hint of expectation. Although he yearned to punish that brat severely, he was still his son after all.
Isn’t it natural for parents to hope their children beco successful?
"Sister-in-law, big brother, we are family." Wang Shouzhe put down his wine cup and said seriously, "Zongwei is my nephew and the future hope of our young generation in the Ping’an Wang Family. You hope for your son to succeed; how could I, as a fourth uncle, wish for my nephew to fail?"
"Yes, yes, fourth uncle is right." The Xu Family matron smiled broadly, "Whatever you dictate regarding his discipline, we will abide by."
"It’s simple. Henceforth, young people in the family under thirty years of age will be judged by their virtues and achievents." Wang Shouzhe revealed his ultimate purpose, "I will implent a sequence system from first to fifth, whereby each sequence receives different family salaries and resources. I will also establish standards, conducting an evaluation each year."
"What?"
Even Gongsun Hui was a bit surprised at this.
In the family, sequences are indeed set for the younger generation, but they are usually based on bloodline, potential, and age, and once set, they typically don’t change.
"Not only that, I will also introduce a comprehensive rit system for the entire clan. As long as one contributes to the family, one can continuously earn contribution points. With contribution points, one can exchange them for various cultivation resources from the family, including spirit tea, spirit wine, cultivation techniques, and anything within the family’s Treasure Vault." Wang Shouzhe said earnestly, "As long as you have ability, you can acquire more cultivation resources."
Wang Shouzhe’s setup, to put it plainly, cos from the settings in novels and gas, avoiding the situation where the entire family eats from a communal pot. While many clan mbers are willing to bear hardships now, this is ultimately not a long-term solution.
Because when everyone is poor, it’s fine; everyone works with a shared determination. But once the family becos wealthy, people’s hearts will change.
"But, but this..." Xu Family opened her mouth wide and said, "How, how does this relate to Zongwei’s matter?"
"Sister-in-law, you’re being muddled." Wang Shouzhe said, "Is Zongwei’s talent bad? It’s not very good, but not bad either, right? But why is he still only at the second level of the Qi Refining Realm at twenty, not even able to surpass so of the younger brothers and sisters? That’s because he’s been spoiled since childhood, receiving pampering from Second Grandfather, Eldest Uncle, as well as sister-in-law and big brother. This made him lack a sense of competition, unwilling to endure hardships, and gradually developed various bad habits."
"Then, is there still hope for Zongwei?" Xu Family weakly asked, truthfully, she was very disappointed with her son’s behavior. But no matter how disappointed, he’s still her son.
"Yes!" Wang Shouzhe said seriously, "That is by stripping him of all resources, letting him rely on his own hands to strive for cultivation resources, knowing sha to then be courageous. He should use his own efforts to climb to the family’s top tier, to reclaim the cultivation resources that were taken from him. Only when he grows and progresses through his own bit-by-bit effort, will he mature."
"Fourth Brother is right." Wang Shouxin slapped the table, strongly agreeing at this mont, "That brat’s conditions are too good; how can he grow up without experiencing so hardship?"
"But if Zongwei still doesn’t work hard..." Xu Family hesitated, "Wouldn’t he miss the best ti to cultivate then?"
"Haha, if he’s still unwilling to work hard in such circumstances." Wang Shouzhe sneered, "Sister-in-law, can you still expect him to achieve sothing in this lifeti? Don’t worry, although our Wang Family is a bit poor, we can still support a loafer. Sister-in-law, you don’t only have this one son; look at Zongchang, isn’t he quite good? I recall that he’s only thirteen this year but already at the second level of the Qi Refining Realm. If such potential is well nurtured, he’ll surely be the pillar of our Wang Family in the future."
At the ntion of Wang Zongchang, both Xu Family and Wang Shouxin showed a look of comfort. No matter what, this younger son is still quite promising, much stronger than his brother.
"Shouzhe, you’re right." Wang Shouxin seed to have also made up his mind, "Then let’s give that brat one last chance. If it still doesn’t work, then let him fend for himself, I, Wang Shouxin, will just consider that I never had this son."
Xu Family was sowhat anxious and was just about to say sothing when Wang Shouzhe comforted her, "Sister-in-law, don’t be anxious. How could big brother and I harm Zongwei? If it really doesn’t work, then I’ll handle it. I truly don’t believe we can’t straighten that kid out."
These words cald Xu Family’s anxiety, and she gratefully said to Wang Shouzhe, "Fourth Uncle, we’ll listen to you for everything." Unknowingly, her eyes showed much admiration and trust towards Wang Shouzhe.
Since the matter was settled, everyone stopped this topic. Wang Shouzhe and Wang Shouxin, the two brothers, exchanged drinks and only talked about brotherly feelings, finishing off a pot of spirit wine completely.
After the feast ended, Wang Shouxin, who was quite drunk, returned with Xu Family’s support.
Having witnessed all these, Gongsun Hui felt both satisfied and emotional looking at Wang Shouzhe. If Zongwei’s issue wasn’t handled well, it could very well create a rift between the brothers.
But not only did he manage it remarkably well, he also got Xu Family and Wang Shouxin on the sa boat. Just imagine, if even the least promising Wang Zongwei has to go the sequence route, what reason do others have to oppose?
"Elder Aunt, regarding the family’s rit point system, it will be hard for Elder Aunt to manage and compile the records." Wang Shouzhe thought that Gongsun Hui was the best candidate for this task.
Subsequently, they began discussing various aspects of the rit point system.
anwhile.
Wang Shouxin also returned ho with Xu Family’s support, and Xu Family, sowhat tipsy, with a glowing face, said: "Shouxin, I see Fourth Uncle is really not a simple character."
"Of course, you should see whose brother he is." Wang Shouxin said smugly, "If he didn’t have to take on family responsibilities, Fourth Brother might already be a student at the Purple Mansion Academy." Today’s various events with Wang Shouzhe made him feel exceptionally proud, giving him the feeling of being able to hold his head high in front of Xu Family.
"Look at you boasting... what are you doing, you old thing?" Xu Family got halfway through her sentence before being embraced by Wang Shouxin, her eyebrows raising, and her temper flaring up.
"Didn’t Fourth Brother praise you as a great contributor?" Wang Shouxin picked up Xu Family and headed towards the bedroom, "We as a couple can’t let Fourth Brother down; we need to have more children to contribute more to the family."
"Wang Shouxin, you dog, you think I’m... ah~"
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