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Changning Guard, Ping’an Town, Zhuwei Manor.
As the foremost land of affluence in a peaceful corner of Ping’an, this place was a barren marshland as little as thirty years ago.
It was Wang Shouzhe, the head of the Wang family, who transford the worthless marshland into fertile fields, spending a ten years transforming it into what it is today.
The exceptional environnt, the accumulation of the wealthy, the central location for business and convenience of living not only garnered the affection of local tycoons, but also attracted the wealthy from all over Changning Guard, willing to spend a fortune to secure a ho here.
This drove up the value of the main residences and farmland in Zhuwei Manor, providing many initial investors with windfall profits from selling their properties. These sellers, however, would later be filled with deep regret.
With the growing strength of the Changning Wang Clan, the environnt of Ping’an Town flourished, becoming increasingly prosperous and powerful. The prices for the first phase of Zhuwei Manor had risen so much that even prominent Rank 9 families from afar were taken aback.
A property comprising a front and back courtyard, along with eighty acres of farmland, had skyrocketed to worth two to three ten thousand Qian Gold coins, and there were no signs of it going down. Residences closer to the river and Zhuwei Lake even fetched higher prices.
One of the riverside residences had the word "Ouyang" inscribed above the door.
On this day, the old master of the Ouyang family was celebrating his fiftieth birthday. The house was bustling with visitors, with many prominent figures coming to offer their congratulations. The old master, however, seed rather gloomy. After toasting a few cups of sake with his guests, he withdrew to the back courtyard.
A corner of the rear courtyard.
The weather was just turning cool.
Various special breeds of plum blossoms and chrysanthemums in the courtyard were in full bloom, vying for attention.
The old master Ouyang reclined on a lounge chair. Now past fifty, he showed signs of old age, his once clear eyes sowhat murky and lacklustre.
He was only a year or two younger than Wang Shouzhe, the head of the Wang family, but in terms of appearance and vitality, they were worlds apart, not appearing to be of the sa generation at all.
After so ti.
The weather turned even cooler.
A man in his thirties, dressed in elaborate attire, entered the private garden, holding the hand of a young girl of seven or eight. Whenever his father was in a low mood, he would retreat to this garden.
"Father." The elegantly dressed man said in a low voice, "A lot of guests are waiting for you, wishing to celebrate your birthday."
Old Master Ouyang gave him a sideways glance and said, "Let them wait then."
"Father, is that appropriate?" The elegantly dressed man asked softly, "Among the guests, there are many prominent figures... The third Shopkeeper from Hengxiang rchant Shop, the Young Clan Leader of the Li family, the Deputy Garrison Commander, and the young prodigy from Xinyi Shipping Company..." He carefully enurated the guests of high status.
"Hmph!" Old Master Ouyang’s eyes were half-closed as he said, "People rush for profit and they gather for profit. These so-called distinguished guests are here to congratulate an ordinary old man like simply for one thing, ’profit’!"
"Botao, you must rember, I Ouyang Junyan am a personal attendant of the Sixth Miss, and one of the Great Stewards of the Wang family." The already aged Ouyang Junyan said sternly, "To serve the king loyally and have only official exchanges with any outsiders, never to be entangled in personal gains. The success of our Ouyang family is entirely due to our absolute loyalty.
Now a steward of the Wang family, you must rember this."
Ever since he was chosen as one of the Sixth Miss’s trusted servants, he had been involved in many of the Wang family’s front-line affairs—clearing and reclaiming land, developnt and sales of Zhuwei Manor, refugee resettlent, organizing civilians to dredge the river, the Peace River embanknt project, housing project, main project of a certain section of Shouzhe Road, Chief Principal of part of the Shouzhe Pass project...
Along the way, Ouyang Junyan scrupulously devoted himself to being a pillar of the Wang family’s ascendancy. As a result, in recognition of his contributions and loyalty, the Wang family had gifted him with this manor in Zhuwei Manor over ten years ago.
As one of the Chief Principals of the Wang family, many people naturally sought to win his favour.
"Yes, father." Ouyang Botao quickly acknowledged and then added, "Well, I will go and entertain the guests, so that no one can say that our Ouyang family doesn’t know the rules of etiquette. Let Muqiu keep you company."
"Off with you." Ouyang Junyan waved him away impatiently, seeming sowhat dissatisfied with his son.
Only then did the little girl, Ouyang Muqiu, co forward and wish sweetly, "Grandfather, may you enjoy happiness as imnse as the Eastern Sea, and longevity that rivals the Southern Mountain."
"Hehe, my good child. Grandfather is indeed blessed, but as for my longevity... I indulged in much excess when I was young… just forget it…" Ouyang Junyan stroked his granddaughter’s head affectionately, and smiled as he asked, "How is your study going? At the Wang Family School, you must study hard. You cannot lack in your cultivation."
"Your grandfather tells you, our Ouyang family has what they have today, all thanks to the Wang Family and the Sixth Miss. You must work hard, beco a useful person, and repay the kindness of the Wang family and the Sixth Miss in the future."
"Yes, grandfather." Ouyang Muqiu nodded obediently, even though she didn’t fully understand what her grandfather was saying.
"Good child." Ouyang Junyan praised her, his eyes full of affectionate and profound emotion.
Once his financial situation had improved, he had spent a lot of money and Wang Family Contribution Points to upgrade his eldest son Ouyang Botao’s bloodline from junk qualification to lower D-grade qualification, barely allowing him to step into the threshold of Profound Martial cultivation.
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