Chapter Forty: Purchasing Maidservants, Entering the Seventh Rank

"After breakfast, have the servants tidy up," Liu Wenxiang instructed, nodding her head. Then she added, "Recently, the authorities released some news: the Great Qian is soon to enter into a marriage alliance with the Xiongnu. The two nations will reconcile, and once our hands are freed, we can deal with these rebels."

"A marriage alliance?"

"Which princess is it this time? Surely her dowry must be considerable," Su Yang asked, slightly taken aback.

Such alliances signified an attitude from the Great Qian: marrying off a daughter implied submission, and the dowry served as compensation. It was a way to avoid utter disgrace and preserve a sense of national pride among the common people. Anyone with a bit of sense could see through this.

"This time, it's not a princess being sent. The Great Qian is preparing to send four hundred thousand eligible young women from within its borders to marry into the Xiongnu, and to supply them with rations for twenty years," Liu Wenxiang said.

Su Yang's eyes filled with shock as he exclaimed, "Has the Great Qian truly lost its mind? Sending off four hundred thousand young women today—how many children will they bear for the Xiongnu over the next decades?"

"After twenty years, these women will likely lose their ability to bear children. The Xiongnu will have no reason to keep them," he continued.

"There are too many uprisings at home. If we don't temporarily placate foreign threats, the Great Qian may face extinction," Wang Chunxiao, who stood beside them with a cold expression, interjected.

"The fall of the nation only spells the end of the Li family's reign. But sending so many young women to the Xiongnu—that's the demise of our very people!"

"The ruler comes first, the state next."

"The people come first, the ruler comes second!"

"With such thinking, it's near impossible for you to pass the imperial exams," someone scoffed.

"I'm no gentleman. Hypocrisy is my specialty."

"Hmph!"

...

After breakfast, Su Yang excused himself and summoned the two martial instructors to his room for a private discussion.

Meanwhile, in the breakfast room, Liu Wenxiang revealed the matter of Su Yang taking on both branches of the family, which Wang Chunxiao immediately opposed, her eyes widening in protest: "Mother, he's just our family's live-in son-in-law. How can he take on two wives?"

"He's the only one who can protect the Wang family," Liu Wenxiang replied with a helpless sigh. "Su Yang could survive on his own if he left us, but without him, our family would be destroyed by villains in no time."

"These are troubled times. The authorities barely concern themselves with law and order in the city. Strength is all that matters. At least for now we can discuss things together. Once relations sour, there will be no room for negotiation."

"Besides, I've secured some benefits for our family. Every ten days, he'll spend a night with you. As long as you bear a child soon, our family line will continue."

"With Su Yang as our pillar, as long as our family stands, we can have Xia He bring in a son-in-law in the future to carry on our name."

"My dear daughter, we can't do without Su Yang now. We must face reality. Luckily, our son-in-law is a good man. If he were one of those vile types, the three of us would be doomed..."

...

Wang Chunxiao could only grit her teeth in reluctant acceptance, feeling deeply troubled. If not for having to conceal her own strength, why would she need outsiders to protect the family? She could only hope for the swift collapse of the Great Qian.

...

"Master, what did you summon us for?" the two martial instructors asked as they entered the room.

"How old are you two?" Su Yang inquired, seated in the grand armchair.

"Twenty-six," Ma Chao replied.

"Twenty-seven," Wang Han answered.

"Why haven't you broken through to the ninth rank? Are your talents lacking?" Su Yang pressed.

Ma Han and Wang Chao looked a bit embarrassed before replying, "Not exactly. Our master was the Wang family's old martial instructor. He only knew some basic fighting skills and never reached any rank. We started as household slaves and became his disciples. After two years of training, we became the family's martial instructors."

"To advance, we would have needed to pay silver to attend the Five Senses Academy, join the army, or sell ourselves as slaves to a wealthy family. But we were already indentured servants. The old master promoting us to martial instructors was already a great kindness."

"As for joining the army or attending the academy, that was nothing but a pipe dream."

"I see. Is your master still alive?"

"He's gone."

"I have a manual here that could help you reach the ninth rank. But it demands your absolute loyalty—no betrayal. Are you willing?"

Su Yang fixed his gaze on the two men as he spoke.

Wang Han and Ma Chao exchanged glances, their eyes brimming with suppressed excitement. "We are willing, absolutely willing," they replied at once.

Having risen from mere servants to martial instructors, they had already tasted great respect and the joy of better pay, and begun to cherish life. Yet, they still envied Zhang Hu, the previous ninth-rank martial artist of the Wang family.

If given the chance to attain such rank themselves, why would they ever betray their master? A wise man knows contentment—at least, that was their present conviction.

"I also have two pills here, each containing a mind-control parasite. Once swallowed, if I give the command, the parasite will devour your organs, bore into your heart, and leave you wishing for death—you'd die within the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea," Su Yang warned. "If you accept, swallow the pills and I'll teach you the manual. If not, you may leave and remain as martial instructors—I won't hold it against you."

With that, he placed the two prepared pills on the table, though in truth they contained no such parasite. He had only cultivated two: one already controlling the bearded constable, the other kept as a precaution. He doubted these two would betray him so soon; in twenty days, the newly bred parasites would be ready to replenish his supply.

The instructors glanced at each other, then gritted their teeth and swallowed the pills.

"This Hundred Monsters Record can help you reach the ninth rank. I also have two portions of White Flesh Immortal—a rare and costly medicine. Stew and consume it directly," Su Yang said, handing them each a copied manual and a half portion of the medicine. "Here is the ninth-rank part. Once you reach that rank, return to me for the eighth-rank manual."

"Thank you, Master...!"

"We'll never forget your grace!"

Both men spoke with trembling voices, their eyes full of gratitude as they departed to cultivate, eager to reach the ninth rank.

Once they succeeded, the family's progress bar would move to stage two. Besides these two, he still had the constable at the county office under parasite control.

After sending them off, Su Yang returned to his courtyard to tend to four heart-eating parasite larvae. In twenty days, he would have four new mind-control parasites.

The maids in the household got busy, moving luggage and clothes into Liu Wenxiang's courtyard. Though it was a bit crowded, it was much safer—and livelier.

"For the next few days, stay here. I'll bring you meals. In a few days, I'll say I bought you as a maid, and you can show your face," Su Yang told Li Doukou.

"I'll be here alone? Aren't you afraid I'll run away?" Li Doukou teased, her bright eyes flashing upward.

"How do you know I haven't set someone to watch you?" Su Yang retorted with a sly smile.

She sighed helplessly. "You'd better become powerful quickly. As soon as you no longer fear my father, you can let me go."

"Don't worry, that day is fast approaching," Su Yang promised solemnly.

Since marrying into the Wang family, it had only been two months, but he was about to break through to the seventh rank. Three more months to reach the sixth should be no problem. With half a year, he could reach the fifth. Within a year, the fourth. At the fourth rank, he'd be the true lord of Yanggu County—no petty official could stand in his way, provided the authorities remained as inept as they were now.

When the family grew strong enough, even the imperial clan would be irrelevant. In some dynasties of his previous life, the great families had nothing but contempt for royalty; almost all officials came from those clans.

It wouldn't take many years for Yanggu County to be his. There was no need to rush out and show off just yet.

...

The Black Wolf Gang lost a hall master and three lieutenants, causing quite a stir. Rumor had it the gang leader was furious, sending replacements and launching an investigation into the deaths.

Su Yang, meanwhile, kept his gates firmly shut, ignoring the outside world.

With the household's grain stores depleted, he brought out a hundred loads from the cellar, leaving fourteen hundred still in reserve.

Time flew by; three days passed in a blink.

For the past few nights, Xichun had been put through a terrible ordeal—her room never quiet at night. The sounds could be heard not just within the courtyard but from the neighboring one as well. Wang Chunxiao, separated by only two walls, heard everything clearly, losing sleep and appearing each morning with dark circles under her eyes.

In those three days, the two instructors succeeded in reaching the ninth rank.

Name: Su Yang (Quasi-Immortal)
Incense Merit: 373
Realm: Eighth Rank, Refined Skin
Techniques: [Incense Division], [Qi Vision], [Mind-Control Parasite], [Bone Measuring Art]
Manual: [Wild Ox Long Fist]
Compendium: [Gynecology Saint Book]
Lifespan: 80+
Family Offspring: 1
1. Family Progress: The family is thriving. To ensure the healthy growth of offspring and better care for them, assign a maid to each pregnant woman. Each assignment rewards 20 incense merit!

3. Family Progress: The family is thriving. Have the host's third wife conceive to gain 30 incense merit!
Daily Tip: The higher the bone quality, the harder it is to conceive.

The system panel had changed: incense merit had reached 373. According to the last system prompt, only 27 more points were needed to break through to seventh rank. Family progress 1 could now be completed; progress 3 would take time, as conception was not immediate.

Completing family progress 1 would grant 20 merit per person—40 in total for two people, pushing the merit past 400 and allowing him to ascend directly to seventh rank, making him a figure of note in all Yanggu County.

He could also buy more maids and servants for the household. Though many in the house knew he had eighth-rank strength, outsiders still believed him ninth rank. When the opportunity arose, he should reveal his true strength to deter troublemakers.

[Bone Measuring Art] could assess bone quality, which determined martial aptitude, ranked from A (best) to E (worst).
Note: The art only detects up to A grade; anything above is still shown as A.
Also: Bone quality is not everything. Fate, luck, effort, and opportunity all affect a child's future achievement.

Having waited so long for this technique, he could now go to the slave market to buy two maids for Taohua and Meihua.

But it was still early. He glanced at Xichun lying on the bed, eyes flashing with intent, startling her. She lay limply, her voice hoarse. "Husband... it hasn't even been that long..."

He coughed. "Not that. Give me your wrist."

Relieved, Xichun stretched out her fair wrist. Su Yang took it, using his internal energy to probe her body.

Bone quality: D.

Fourth out of five grades—not the worst, at least.

He then called in Meihua and Taohua to test them as well; Taohua also had D grade, but Meihua was better—C grade!

"Shui Niang, let me see your hand," Su Yang said, suddenly curious about the wet nurse.

Bone quality: C.

"Well!" Su Yang murmured in surprise. He hadn't expected the wet nurse to have decent bones, comparable to Meihua.

"What's wrong, Master?" asked Shui Niang, her face blushing as she lowered her head, a faint scent of milk about her. She was voluptuous, her body mature—perhaps from childbirth—her curves pronounced, her bosom especially striking, and her pretty face tinged with a charming allure, the very picture of a bewitching young matron.

"It's nothing," Su Yang replied, waving dismissively and tucking away his thoughts. He summoned Li Doukou next—her bone quality was E, the most ordinary kind.

Having tested all the women in the courtyard, Su Yang could scarcely wait to head out, planning to visit the Zhou Family Market to purchase some maids.

Recently, after Zhou County's magistrate's brother-in-law, Constable Liu, was killed, the town split in two, and the Zhou Family Market was divided.

Now Yanggu County had two markets: the Zhou Family Market and the Yanggu County Market, the latter backed by the Feng and Wei families.

Both markets had their own slave markets, and according to the bearded constable, the two factions competed fiercely in secret and in the open.

Indeed, the bearded constable was now a chief constable, promoted after some bribes and Su Yang's strong support; he was utterly grateful.

Who knew how long these troubled times would last? Once he reached sixth rank, he could consider revealing his seventh-rank strength, giving him the confidence to purchase large numbers of servants and maids, as the household would need much more grain.

Grain prices rose daily; he would need to consider buying another batch. He had acquired several thousand taels of silver from a few exterminations—enough to buy a good amount for now, but if the situation worsened, silver might no longer buy grain.

Moreover, the household chickens consumed a lot of grain. The current two or three dozen would not suffice for future needs; once they hatched a new batch, numbers could exceed a hundred.

That way, the household would have enough eggs to meet its protein needs.

"Sir, are you interested in buying servants or maids?" A sharp-faced slave dealer hurried up, ingratiating himself.

"Young or old, so long as they're women, bring them all out to stand in a row," Su Yang declared grandly. "And bring over those wet nurses as well."