Clan Cultivation: Starting with Building an Island Immortal City

30: Recruiting talent, a storm is brewing.The enraged refugees chased for a while before gradually calming down, still cursing incessantly.

Uncle Zhong watched the fleeing figures of the City Guards, his face ashen, filled with lingering fear and a surge of cold dread.

City Lord Xia Donghai... finally couldn’t resist making his move!

And his first move was such a vicious, root-destroying scheme!

If not for Mr. Song... He took a deep breath, tidied his robes, and quickly walked up to Song Wenqing, bowing deeply and solemnly:

”This old man, Shi Zhong, the steward of the Li Family, thanks Mr. Song for speaking out righteously, resolving the crisis for my Li Family, and moreover preserving the livelihoods of these hundreds of villagers! The Li Family will never forget Mr.’s great kindness!”

Song Wenqing quickly stepped aside to avoid the bow, returning a cupped-hand salute:

”Steward Shi, you overstate it. I merely spoke the truth. How could I sit idly by as villains framed a good deed and ruined the lives of hundreds? This is the duty of a scholar, and does not warrant thanks.”

Uncle Zhong straightened up, looking at the extraordinary middle-aged scholar before him, a strong desire to recruit such talent rising in his heart.

He surveyed the surrounding refugees, who were gradually restoring order but still felt lingering fear, and declared loudly:

”Fellow villagers! The villains’ treacherous plot has been exposed! You can all see that the Li Family acts openly and honorably! This porridge stall will remain open! We will absolutely not let anyone go hungry! I also ask everyone to inform each other and be more vigilant, so that petty villains cannot take advantage again and ruin our hope for survival!”

”Good!”

”Thank the Li Family for the grace of saving our lives!”

”Thank Steward Shi! Thank Mr. Song!”

The refugees, having survived the ordeal, erupted in heartfelt gratitude and cheers.

Uncle Zhong gestured for the servants to continue serving porridge. Once the situation was completely stable, he sincerely said to Song Wenqing:

”Mr. Song, this is not a place for discussion. Mr. has great talent and cares deeply for the local people, which this old man greatly admires. I wonder if Mr. would be willing to move with me into the city to meet our Eldest Young Master? The resettlement of the refugees outside the city and their future livelihoods all require careful consideration. Mr. is familiar with the common people’s situation and has extraordinary insights. Our young master will surely await you with an empty seat, eager to hear Mr.’s valuable opinions and discuss a proper plan, so that these unfortunate displaced people can truly be settled.”

Upon hearing this, Song Wenqing looked at the villagers around him, whose faces showed anticipation. After a brief deliberation, he nodded solemnly:

”Steward Shi’s kind invitation, how could Wenqing refuse? To find a long-term livelihood for the villagers is precisely my wish. Please lead the way, Steward.”

”Good! Mr., please!”

Uncle Zhong was overjoyed and immediately arranged for a capable servant to temporarily manage the porridge stall, while he personally led Song Wenqing towards the city.

Song Wenqing walked over with two young people, a male and a female.

He told Uncle Zhong that these two were his son and daughter.

The two were twins; the daughter was the elder sister, named Song Shuyao, and the son was the younger brother, named Song Shuwen.

Song Wenqing walked a few steps, then turned back and called out loudly to the surrounding refugees:

”Fellow villagers, please rest assured here, do not panic, and follow all arrangements made by the Li Family. My journey is to secure a stable resettlement plan for everyone. I will surely not disappoint you!”

”Mr. Song, take care!”

”It all depends on Mr.!”

The refugees waved their hands, their eyes filled with trust and anticipation.

Uncle Zhong and Song Wenqing walked side by side towards the Li Family’s ancestral land.

Behind them, the porridge stall once again emitted wisps of cooking smoke, and the aroma of rice lingered.

Uncle Zhong led Song Wenqing and his two children through the Li Family courtyard and into the Council Hall.

As soon as they stepped over the threshold of the Council Hall, a sense of oppression assailed them.

Inside the hall, Li Qingshan sat in the main seat, his expression solemn.

Li Qinghe, the General Manager of Maritime Transport, and Zhao Zhiyuan, the accountant, sat on either side, both with tightly furrowed brows, seemingly in intense discussion. Seeing Uncle Zhong bring people in, their voices abruptly ceased, and their gazes simultaneously turned towards them.

”Eldest Young Master.”

Uncle Zhong stepped forward, bowed, and then turned to introduce:

”This is Mr. Song Wenqing, a highly respected figure among the refugees outside the city. Today’s porridge stall incident was largely thanks to Mr. Song’s righteous words, which resolved the crisis for my Li Family.”

Upon hearing this, Li Qingshan immediately rose, his solemn expression easing slightly, replaced by sincerity. He cupped his hands to Song Wenqing and said:

”So it is Mr. Song! Just now, Uncle Zhong sent someone back on horseback to briefly report the events. Mr.’s great righteousness helped my Li Family avoid being framed by villains and preserved the food supply for hundreds of lives. Li Qingshan, on behalf of the entire Li Clan, thanks Mr.!”

With that, he actually bowed.

Song Wenqing quickly stepped aside and returned the bow:

”Eldest Young Master, you overstate it. To speak out righteously when witnessing injustice is inherently the duty of a scholar. Moreover, this matter concerns the livelihoods of many villagers, how could Wenqing sit idly by?”

Li Qingshan straightened up and gestured for everyone to sit.

Uncle Zhong, sensing the unusual atmosphere, quickly asked:

”Eldest Young Master, could it be... that there are also troubles within the Residence?”

Li Qingshan took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:

”What Uncle Zhong encountered is not an isolated incident. Today, a rumor has quietly spread through the teahouses and taverns in the market, stating with certainty that... that father and the new elite disciples of the Family he brought with him have met with misfortune overseas, their ships destroyed, their people dead, buried in the belly of fish, with no complete corpses!”

Li Qinghe interjected, with suppressed anger:

”Things are not peaceful at the docks either. Today, during a shipment, we were suddenly inspected by soldiers under the City Lords Residence. They claimed to be acting on a superior’s order, stating that recently, evil individuals have frequently caused trouble by exploiting the refugees, and strict precautions are needed. Routes that were previously unobstructed now all require meticulous inspection. Fortunately, I had some dealings with the commanding officer of that squad, and after some monetary persuasion, we managed not to miss the ship’s schedule. However, their words hinted that such inspections might become commonplace in the future, and are by no means accidental.”

Zhao Zhiyuan calmly added:

”Taken together, the rumors slander the Clan Chief, shaking the Foundation and morale of my Li Family; the dock inspections restrict our Family’s financial lifeline; and the framing of the porridge stall damages my Li Family’s reputation for benevolence. These three attacks, seemingly disparate, are in fact clearly targeted and relentlessly pressing.”

Silence fell upon the hall, creating a sense of ”the calm before the storm.”

Only then did Uncle Zhong understand that the morning’s commotion was merely one part of the opponent’s full-scale assault.

Song Wenqing, who had been sitting quietly, now leaned forward slightly, his gaunt face composed, and slowly spoke:

”Gentlemen, in Wenqing’s humble opinion, this is not an all-out war, but rather an act of ’testing the waters.’”

Everyone’s gaze instantly focused on him.

Song Wenqing’s words were clear and went straight to the core:

”The opponent spread rumors, yet dared not publicly announce a death; they conducted inspections, yet still left room for monetary persuasion; they framed the porridge stall using a clumsy, underhanded trick, retreating immediately upon failure. All three actions leave room, not exerting full effort. What they fear is nothing more than the Clan Chief Li’s prestige and whether he is truly safe and sound. Therefore, they use these methods for strategic probing, aiming to observe the Li Family’s reaction, assess its true strength, and measure its bottom line. If the Li Family responds poorly, revealing internal emptiness and the absence of its backbone, then their subsequent thunderous measures will likely follow one after another, without any further scruples.”

These words, like parting clouds to reveal the sun, clearly analyzed the logic behind the opponent’s seemingly chaotic offensive.

A sharp glint flashed in Li Qingshan’s eyes:

”Mr. speaks precisely! That’s exactly it! Xia Donghai, that old fox, is indeed probing! He fears father and dares not act rashly, so he uses these underhanded methods to test the Li Family’s depth!”

Li Qinghe and Zhao Zhiyuan also nodded in agreement.

Li Qingshan’s gaze towards Song Wenqing had changed significantly:

”Mr. Song has keen insight and dissects matters with reason, truly a great talent! Now the situation is clear; the opponent’s wolfish ambitions are obvious. My Li Family is in need of talent. Mr. possesses a benevolent heart and extraordinary wisdom, I wonder... if you would be willing to condescend and help my Li Family overcome this difficulty?”

His tone was extremely sincere:

”Mr., rest assured, your villagers, my Li Family will properly settle them, and we will absolutely not fail your righteous assistance today!”

Song Wenqing looked at his two children beside him, and then thought of the villagers outside the city, eagerly looking at him. He, a failed scholar, with his children, adrift and rootless, faced an uncertain future.

Although the Li Family was currently in a difficult situation, it acted righteously, its patriarch was responsible, and this Eldest Young Master before him also showed the demeanor of an enlightened lord eager for talent.

After a brief deliberation, he rose and bowed solemnly:

”Thank you, Eldest Young Master, for not disdaining me. Wenqing, a humble and lowly person, is already fortunate to be taken in by the Li Family. Now that villains are in power, framing the good, though Wenqing is untalented, I am willing to do my utmost to help the Li Family clear away the gloom and settle the local people. Henceforth, I wish to attach myself to your service and be at your command!”

”Good! Good! Good!”

Li Qingshan was overjoyed, saying ”good” three times in a row, and personally stepped forward to help Song Wenqing up:

”To have Mr.’s help is like gaining an arm! This is heaven’s blessing upon my Li Family!”

Immediately, Li Qingshan ordered someone to arrange for Song Shuwen and Song Shuyao to rest, and then said to Song Wenqing:

”Mr. must be tired from your journey, please rest for now. We will need to consult Mr.’s valuable opinions in detail later regarding the resettlement of the refugees and how to deal with the current situation.”

Song Wenqing humbly assented.

Li Qingshan surveyed everyone in the hall, his expression regaining its resolute composure, and decided:

”Now that the enemy has moved, we must not fall into disarray ourselves. Father entrusted the Family to me before his long journey. Such mundane troubles should be handled by us ourselves; how can we disturb the elder with every matter?”

”Pass down the order: all properties are to operate as usual, and no one is to panic due to rumors or inspections. However, everyone must be extra vigilant, closely observe all movements, especially any unusual activity from the City Lords Residence and related personnel. Report any clue immediately! We want Xia Donghai to see that the Li Family will not be thrown into chaos!”

”Yes!”

Li Qinghe, Zhao Zhiyuan, and Uncle Zhong responded in unison, their eyes rekindled with fighting spirit.

Everyone departed, each to their assigned task.

The storm had arrived, and the young Phoenix was making its first cry.

The Li Family, this great ship, was encountering its first storm after taking the helm.