Chapter 154: Suyang Arrives Home

"For now, that is all we can do. Before the deadline arrives, send all the stockpiled fabrics in our estate to the various county towns, and then instruct all members of the Su family to avoid leaving the city as much as possible."

"Over the next two days, the female workers in the estate should work extra shifts."

The matriarch, Zhang Qingshi, made her decision: "The women of the Su family shall never become bargaining chips."

In this current era, the status of concubines was exceedingly low, often treated as mere commodities to be traded at the whim of the master or the matriarch of the household.

...

The day after the betrothal gifts were delivered, up on Peach Mountain:

"Big Brother, do you think the Su family will obediently submit and carry my new bride into the bridal sedan chair?"

"If the Su family knows what's good for them and gives this lord demon some face, naturally I will spare them. Rest assured. If they refuse to submit this time, from now on, every last member of the Su family can just rot away and die in Yanggu County."

The ox demon let out a cold snort and continued, "Although the western region of the Su estate is somewhat barren, fortunately, there are no powerful martial artists or fierce demons around. It's practically paradise for us."

"Indeed, Big Brother. While the central area of the Su estate abounds with ancient medicinal herbs, the various demon clans there are far too powerful. We wouldn't be able to stand out or claim any of those herbs. Since that's the case, we might as well come to this barren land and live in luxury," Niu Erdan chimed in. "However, Brother, if the Su family truly refuses, you'll get to share the bridal chamber with your bride, leaving your younger brother here all alone."

With that, Niu Erdan let out a long sigh.

"Haha, no matter. In the next two days, I will have the magistrates of the various county towns send over a batch of women of suitable age for you to choose from at your leisure."

...

In Yanggu County, inside a teahouse:

"Do you think the Su family will agree to the demands of that ox demon outside the city?"

"I heard that ox demon possesses second-rank strength, while the master of the Su family is only at the third rank. How could he possibly be a match for the ox demon?"

"Master Su has wives and concubines to spare. What harm is there in giving one to the ox demon? Can he possibly take care of so many women anyway?"

"Haha, do you think everyone is as incompetent as you, unable to even feed your own wife?"

"The Su family has treated the people of Yanggu County quite generously. At a time like this, we must not kick them when they're down or go around spreading malicious gossip."

"Well said. Whoever dares to spread malicious gossip right now is our enemy."

"If not for the Su family, how could I afford to support my elderly mother? Let me tell you, keep your mouths shut. If anyone dares to speak ill of the Su family again, don't blame me for being unpolite."

A worker from the Su family slammed a firewood chopper down onto the table with a fierce expression and roared.

Almost everyone in Yanggu County had received some form of kindness from the Su family, and Su Yang was never one to do good deeds anonymously; he would always have scholars dispatched to publicize his glorious deeds and acts of charity.

Even if he tossed a single tael of silver to a beggar on the road, he made sure the people of Yanggu County knew of his benevolence.

During this period, whether it was the taverns, the soap factory, or the brick kilns, a large number of male laborers were needed, and quite a few people in Yanggu County made their living under the Su family.

Especially in the textile business, the majority of female workers across the seven counties worked in the Su family's factories. Su Yang had even established schools specifically to teach young girls weaving, literacy, and tailoring.

Yet, there were always some scumbags who couldn't bear to see others prosper.

On the second day after the betrothal gifts were delivered, the talk about the Su family had quieted down significantly.

On the third day after the betrothal gifts, the discussion grew even fainter. Every commoner in Yanggu County already knew the news, and even those discussing it without showing any respect to the Su family had already chewed over the matter a thousand times and grown thoroughly sick of it.

...

On the eighth day after the betrothal gifts were delivered, Su Yang returned to Yanggu County.

Just as he stepped through the gates of Yanggu County, a steward hurried over and said anxiously, "Master, you're finally back!"

Seeing the steward's flustered expression, Su Yang felt a pang of worry and quickly asked, "What is it? Has something happened at home?"

The steward rushed to recount how the ox demon had come knocking to propose marriage and deliver betrothal gifts. Hearing this, Su Yang finally let out a long sigh of relief.

He had feared something major, but it turned out to be merely a second-rank ox demon making trouble.

If it were in the past, he might have found it somewhat troublesome, but now?

Incense Value: 108,600
Confucian Qi Fortune: Third-Rank Scholar
Human Virtue: 53
Soul Fragments: 25
Realm: Second Rank
Dharmic Artifacts: [Hanguang Flying Sword (Virtue Artifact)], [Hundred-Treasure Brocade Pouch], [Blazing Broad Saber], [Buddhist Little Golden Bell]
Cultivation Techniques: [Incense Scripture+], [Qi-Observing Technique], [Third-Rank Mind-Controlling Worm], [Root-Measuring Technique], [Heaven-Masking Law]
Secret Manuals: [Nine Demonic Ox Strengths], [Fire Dragon Overlord Three-Spear Technique], [Flying Sword Quenching Technique], [Blazing Slash]

Profile: [Sacred Book of Gynecology+]
Longevity: 883+
Family Progress: You have successfully attained the status of a Juren scholar, providing an extra layer of security for the family's expansion. However, merely holding sway over the seven barren counties to the west of the Su estate is far from enough; you need to venture into major cities like the one where the Su Prefecture seat lies.
Deploying industries within the Su Prefecture seat will grant 100,000 Incense points [Second-Rank Mind-Controlling Worm].

His martial arts realm had already reached the second rank, and his Confucian Qi fortune had even attained the realm of a third-rank grand academician. Although the Confucian path was not inherently skilled in offense, a decree issued by a third-rank grand academician was sufficient to suppress all martial artists below the first rank.

The magistrates of the county towns possessed merely the Confucian Qi fortune of great scholars.

Those in the realm of minor masters already held key positions and deputy roles within the prefecture office, while those in the realm of major masters were more than capable of serving as prefects.

A third-rank scholar was a designation reserved for a commanding presence in major cities like Jiangzhou, where lesser grandmasters ran rampant.

Therefore, his status as a third-rank grand academician should be roughly equivalent to a lower-tier lesser grandmaster.

Naturally, his direct combat capability might fall slightly short of a lower-tier lesser grandmaster, but crossing realms to battle first-rank martial artists posed absolutely no problem.

...

"Let's go home first!"

Now that several of his children had been born one after another, none of them had been named yet—that was the most important matter. As for that ox demon, he could deal with it whenever he pleased.

The Su estate:

The main gates were tightly shut, as if they had remained closed for a long time on account of the ox demon. It wasn't until the servants went to announce his return to his wives and concubines that they were seen running over, one by one, wiping away tears.

Among them, Taohua, Meihua, Xichun, and Jinping had already given birth to their children while pregnant, and Yilian's unborn child was due in about a week as well.

"Master, you're finally back!"

The petite Taohua arrived first, followed by a maid carrying the newly month-old Su Qinchu. She threw herself into Su Yang's arms, filling his senses with a wave of softness and delicate fragrance that made him involuntarily draw a deep breath.

"Little Taohua smells so sweet," Su Yang teased.

"Oh, Master, what nonsense are you talking about?"

A trace of coy shyness immediately flushed across Taohua's face before she added, "Master, Taohua has finished her confinement now, and she can properly wait upon you!"

"Good. Tonight, Master will come to your room and pamper my little Taohua to his heart's content."

Su Yang held Taohua affectionately in his arms as the rest of his wives and concubines walked over one after another, all proudly carrying their rounded bellies.