Protect Our Patriarch

Chapter 10 – Fenggu Farm

“That’s not true, it’s just that grandpa said that sister will be getting married in less than two years.” Wang Luojing pouted, “It would be better to help brother improve his cultivation.”

“Fourth brother, I gave it to my brother voluntarily. You, you must not blame him.” Wang Luotong explained nervously and uneasily.

According to the clan rules, those who seize clan members’ resources would be severely punished. However, if it was given voluntarily, there would be no punishment.

“Ugh!”

Wang Shouzhe sighed heavily in his heart. It seemed that the four elders were somewhat patriarchal, but this was basically common in the Wang clan these days. This was because the clan was poor.

Wang Shounuo was not like him. He was the young clan leader of the direct lineage, and his natural talent was well cultivated as he was first in line to receive the best resources. Wang Shounuo would have been allocated far inferior resources.

However, for a Xuanwu practitioner, the younger you are, the higher the cultivation reached, the better it is for you. Otherwise, it would be increasingly difficult to improve your cultivation as your body declined at an older age. The fourth old master probably had no choice but to persuade Wang Luotong to help Wang Shounuo.

“It’s alright, it’s all my fault to say the least.” Wang Shouzhe sighed and said, “I’m taking up too many resources, invariably leaving my older brothers, younger brothers, older sisters, and younger sisters with a much smaller share.”

“Fourth brother is from the direct lineage, naturally talented and the pillar of the family. You should be allocated more resources,” Wang Luotong’s eyes shined with admiration and hope.

“I heard from grandpa that fourth brother’s talent is just a wee bit less than ancestor Longyan, and there is a strong likelihood that you will breakthrough to Lingtai realm in the future. As long as fourth brother becomes a Lingtai ancestor, our Wang clan’s life will be better.”

“Yes, yes! I also heard that fourth brother have been admitted to the Zifu Academy.” Wang Luojing stared at him in excitement.

“If it wasn’t for fifth uncle’s incident and fourth brother had to be the clan patriarch, fourth brother, would you be preparing to leave for Zifu Academy now? I’ve heard there are many beautiful sisters in Zifu Academy, so if fourth brother goes there, you’ll definitely be able to marry one and bring her home.”

Zifu Academy!

For all the young ones in the entire Chang’ning area, Zifu Academy was their ideal sacred sanctuary, an unattainable dream which was out of reach for most, if not all of them.

“Don’t spout nonsense, what’s in your head, little yellow-haired girl?” Wang Shouzhe smiled at her and gave her a few pieces of candied fruit. “I haven’t passed the final assessment and might be eliminated.”

Between the jokes, however, Wang Shouzhe felt a heavy pressure. It was the pressure of the entire clan’s hopes being pinned on him!

“Anyway, fourth brother is the strongest.” Obviously, Wang Luojing blindly worshipped him.

“The prosperity of a family doesn’t depend on one person.” Wang Shouzhe looked at Wang Luojing with a smile, “You are also a member of the family, you also have to work hard.

“I see you are also gifted, you are already at the peak of the first level of the Qi Refining Realm at a young age. Work hard and you might be accepted into the Zifu Academy in the future and be as exceptional as Elder Longyan.”

“Mm-hmm, Jing’er will definitely work hard.” Wang Luojing’s eyes were filled with hope, “At least, I can’t let sister Luoqiu surpass me again.”

Luoqiu?

“Is it Wang Luoqiu from San Bo’s family?” Wang Shouzhe said curiously, “Could it be that she has reached the peak of the first level and is about to breakthrough?”

“She has already made the breakthrough.” Wang Luojing pouted as she said somewhat unhappily, “She even came to show off some time ago.”

“That’s quite good talent.” Wang Shouzhe said with surprise, “I think she is only 11 years old, right?” Her natural talent seemed to equal that of Wang Shouzhe.

It seemed that the younger generation of the Wang clan was not any worse than the Liu clan and the Zhao clan. It was just that the problem of resources caused everyone’s slow growth. His brow furrowed as he continued to ponder.

Take Liu Yongzhou of the Liu clan, at the age of 23 or 24 at the high level of the Qi Refining Realm, he was considered to be relatively good among the younger generation.

If Wang Luotong was given more abundant cultivation resources, then her future achievements would not necessarily be worse than Liu Yongzhou’s.　　

It was a pity she was a female, and the family was too poor.

Wang Shouzhe then intentionally or unintentionally quizzed them on their cultural studies, but found that they were just average in this area, and were particularly bad in arithmetic.

This caused Wang Shouzhe’s face to darken and he directly reprimanded them, “You are too embarrassing, your pretty heads are empty cans. Although the Xuanwu family is founded on martial arts, the culture and knowledge base are also the foundation of a family’s heritage.”

“Four brother, we don’t dare anymore, we don’t dare anymore.”

“When we get home, study hard! I will test you again in three months.”

“Oh!”

The girls lowered their heads.

　　…

It was 20 miles from the Wang’s main residence to Fenggu Farm. The road was a solid hard dirt road which could accommodate two horse-drawn carriages. Both sides of the road were planted with wheat, and the journey was very smooth.

It was the beginning of midsummer and the vegetation on both sides was lush and vibrant. Patches and patches of green wheat swayed in the breeze like a sea of blue waves. It is clearly a good omen for this season, when the wheat ears were filling up and the wind and sunshine were plentiful.

While Wang Shouzhe was chatting to his two younger sisters, they arrived at Fenggu Farm in less than an hour.

Most farms are located on more fertile land. This piece of land bordered the main stream of the Anjiang for seven or eight miles, and a small tributary about 10 feet wide meanders down and through the Fenggu farm. (Feng means rich, abundant, plentiful).

The ancestors cut off the tributaries and created several rivers three feet wide, making the waters look like a large “Feng” from the sky, and hence, the ancestors named the farm, “Fenggu Farm”.

Rows and rows of houses were built along the water source in picturesque disorder. The houses were simple, but each had a small yard in front and behind, where fruits and vegetables could be planted, and chickens, reared. There were simple stone steps in the backyards which led to the river for washing and cooking.

In the large and small brooks, flocks of old ducks and geese were playing and hunting, while quacking away.

In front of the houses were well-kept wheat fields. The wheat was swaying in the wind, creating a magnificent and beautiful sight.

It was an idyllic scene.　　

Wang Shouzhe, who had lived in the city for a long time, was instantly mesmerized by this pleasant and leisurely scene. When he first transmigrated into the Xuanwu world, he thought the world was all about fighting and killing.

He had never imagined that there would be such a beautiful idyllic scene.

A family general went ahead of them to inform the farm’s occupants of Wang Shouze’s arrival but even then, the group had to wait for half an hour in front of the riverside before Wang Xiaozhi came out of the depths of the vast farmland.

He was already in his seventies and his skin was tanned, but he was still hale and hearty. After taking off his straw hat, he greeted Wang Shouzhe and said with a smile, “How come Shouzhe is free to visit today?”

“Fourth grandfather.” Wang Shouzhe politely paid his respects.

“Grandpa.” Wang Xiaozhi’s two granddaughters, Wang Luotong and Wang Luojing, also paid their respects.

“What are you two girls doing here, instead of studying and cultivating at home?” The fourth old master, Wang Yaozhi, frowned slightly and rebuked them, “There are many snakes, insects and rats in the field. There’s nothing fun here.”

The girls turned pale when reprimanded, and they lowered their heads and did not dare to speak.

“Fourth grandfather.” Wang Shouzhe piped up helpfully, “Fourth sister and fifth sister missed you, so I took the liberty of bringing them here to visit you without authorization. Please don’t blame them.”

“Shouzhe, don’t spoil them lest when they get married in the future, they will feel aggrieved at every turn at their husband’s house.”

Wang Yaozhi’s attitude towards Wang Shouzhe was more amiable, “You’ve come at a good time today. Yesterday, a herd of pigs came to the wheat field in the evening for a meal.  We hunted and killed the big one. The pork stew has been braising since morning. Let’s go, fourth grandpa invites you to drink and eat meat.”

“I woke up this morning and decided on a whim to visit the farm. I was lucky enough to smell something delicious from fourth grandpa’s farm from far off.” Wang Shouzhe said with a smile, “It seems I’m really quite blessed.”

“You are the pillar of our family, of course, you are blessed.” Wang Xiaozhi smiled and led Wang Shouzhe into the main courtyard of the farm, while the two girls followed behind.

The main courtyard of the farmhouse was a mixed brick and timber structure with a relatively simple and rustic shape. It was mainly for clan’s members, generals and servants who stayed behind to carry out their duties. There were some farming tools in the corner of the courtyard and a few free-range chickens.

Wang Xiaozhi led Wang Shouzhe into the courtyard. There was a round shaped tabletop made from stone, surrounded by five or six stone stools. After a few peasant women served some fruits and tea, they returned to the kitchen to cook.

Wang Xiaozhi also sent his two granddaughters to help in the kitchen. His reasoning was girls should be familiar with the kitchen so that they would not be disadvantaged in their husband’s families in the future.

Wang Shouzhe knew that this was the tradition in the Xuanwu world. Although Xuanwu families have cooks and assistant cooks, one’s own cooking represents the person’s love and care.

Just like Gongsun Hui, she often cooked some delicacies for Wang Dingyue and Wang Shouzhe, to symbolise their close relationship.