Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 265: 256

Entering the family home and returning to the main courtyard, the family chattered warmly for quite a while. After dinner, everyone finally dispersed.

Once the noisy young ones left, Yang Zhenshan truly felt a sense of tranquility.

”Wan Ting used to be quite quiet, why has she become so boisterous now?” Yang Zhenshan supported Yu Qingyi as they walked into the inner chamber.

”The young girl was probably shy before. Now that she’s more familiar, she’s become lively!” Yu Qingyi giggled.

Yang Zhenshan helped Yu Qingyi to sit down on the arhat bed and reached out to caress her slightly protruding belly.

”Our little one will be here soon!”

”Mhm, just two more months to go!” Yu Qingyi’s eyes brimmed with tenderness.

Seeing her like this, Yang Zhenshan couldn’t help but feel an itch in his heart.

”By the way, you still haven’t named your little grandson!” Yu Qingyi said.

”Ming Hao hasn’t named him?” Yang Zhenshan was surprised.

Yu Qingyi laughed: ”He said that since it’s his eldest son, he’s waiting for you to name him!”

Yang Zhenshan felt a headache coming on. Naming was a brain-racking task, especially with so many grandsons in the Yang family and many of the same generation in the Yang clan, finding a name that didn’t duplicate others within the clan was not an easy feat.

Yang Zhenshan pondered for a long while and said, ”Chengyou it is!”

”Mhm, it’s a good name!” Yu Qingyi smiled.

Yang Zhenshan sat beside her, and his large hands unconsciously wandered upward.

”What are you doing!” Yu Qingyi slapped away his restless hand in embarrassment.

Yang Zhenshan coughed awkwardly. What else to do after coming home and seeing his wife?

”I’m still with child here!”

Yu Qingyi looked at him somewhat helplessly, ”Why don’t you just bring Qingxia and Red Cloud into the room then?”

This Red Cloud isn’t a horse but a maid by Yu Qingyi’s side.

Qingxia and Red Cloud aren’t young anymore, both around twenty-two or three, well into spinsterhood.

”Don’t be silly, I have no intention of taking a concubine!”

”They are not young anymore!” Yu Qingyi whispered softly.

Women are contradictory creatures, sometimes they’re jealous, sometimes they’re too kind-hearted.

Yu Qingyi doesn’t want Yang Zhenshan to take concubines, but she wants to find a good match for Qingxia and Red Cloud.

”If they’re not young anymore, then let’s find someone for them to marry! If no one in the family is suitable, then one of the trusted aides by my side would do, all good young men. Later, just exchange their servitude contracts with them!” Yang Zhenshan truly had no desire to take a concubine. Although Qingxia and Red Cloud were quite lovely, he never had the thought of bringing them into his household.

It’s not that he isn’t amorous or unfaithful; he simply has his principles and bottom line.

To keep the home peaceful, don’t take a concubine.

He must adhere to the household rules he has established.

”Would that be proper?” Yu Qingyi asked.

”What’s not proper about that? As long as they are willing, and even after they get married, they can stay in the mansion to serve you!” Yang Zhenshan said indifferently, his hand once again unconsciously climbing a peak.

”You!” Yu Qingyi was both helpless and flustered.

Yang Zhenshan chuckled, whispering a few words into her ear.

Before he could finish, Yu Qingyi’s cheeks had turned a bright red.

”You naughty thing!”

”We’ve been a married couple for so long, there’s no need to be shy!”

Yang Zhenshan indeed was mischievously minded as he pulled Yu Qingyi to the bed.

As the bed canopy was lowered, the rustling sounds came from within.

...

The third day of the eighth lunar month.

From early morning, outside An Yuan City was densely packed with people attending a funeral.

White banners stood like a forest, wailing filled the air, and thousands of people in mourning attire proceeded from City Gate Castle toward Ten Miles Mountain in the east of the city.

The mournful sound of the suona seemed to pierce the clouds, and paper money strewn across the road.

Yang Zhenshan, dressed in hemp garb, personally carried the coffin at the very front, with almost all the citizens from inside the city joining the procession.

The soldiers from the garrison came from military households of various garrisons. Behind each soldier was a family; behind each family were wives, children, and elders.

The pain of losing loved ones need not be spoken of. Yang Zhenshan couldn’t soothe this sorrow, but what he could do was send off the valorous souls lost in battle for the last time, ensure that the relief funds were fully delivered to the bereaved families’ hands, then try his best to secure benefits for them to ensure their families could live in peace henceforth.

The funeral lasted all day long, and as dusk fell, Yang Zhenshan and the soldiers escorted each family away.

The next afternoon, a long procession arrived from Jia City, dozens of carts, three hundred oxen, and eight hundred sheep - these were spoils belonging to the garrison.

In the early days after setting out on a campaign, Yang Zhenshan would distribute the gold and Silver to the soldiers, but as they conquered more and more clans, Yang Zhenshan abandoned the practice of immediate distribution.

It couldn’t be helped; gold and Silver were heavy. Twenty to 30 taels of Silver could be manageable, but distributing hundreds of taels to each soldier to carry would hinder their combat effectiveness.

Therefore, later on, Yang Zhenshan handed over the spoils entirely to Wang Sheng.

Passing through Wang Sheng’s hands, the goods naturally did not yield as much as dividing the silver on the spot. This was not because Wang Sheng pilfered their money, but after transporting everything back to Jia City, there was much less room for maneuvering, and certain rules had to be adhered to.

However, even so, the garrison gained quite a substantial amount of spoils of war.

Among the several dozen horse carts, just the Silver Coin alone amounted to twenty-eight thousand taels. After it reached Yang Zhenshan’s hands, he did not hesitate at all and directly distributed twenty taels to each soldier as a reward for their service. The remaining five thousand taels were then placed into the accounts of the garrison office.

Three hundred cows were distributed to the garrison for use as draft animals.

Eight hundred sheep, one for each family of deceased soldiers, with the remainder slaughtered for meat.

With this distribution, the soldiers of the garrison all made a tidy sum.

Each soldier received an income of at least fifty taels, while the families of the fallen soldiers gained close to a hundred taels of Silver Coin and goods.

These spoils belonged to the garrison office, to the garrison, distributed by the Assistant General Mansion, and recorded by the court as legitimate gains.

Besides these lawful earnings, Wang Bin did not forget Yang Zhenshan’s portion.

On the same day, the Yang family’s horse farm received three hundred adult horses and five hundred foals, as well as two hundred cows and five hundred sheep. Additionally, there were over a thousand pieces of various furs, hundreds of Martial Arts Cultivation Techniques, over a hundred gemstones, and a large box of precious medicinal herbs, including two Treasure Medicines.

When the time came, Yang Zhenshan wasn’t surprised by the other items. He knew Wang Bin would certainly not skimp on his share. However, the two Treasure Medicines astonished Yang Zhenshan immensely.

Where did these Treasure Medicines come from?

Yang Zhenshan thought back but could not pinpoint the origin of these Treasure Medicines.

This was to be expected. Although they had conquered many tribes, due to time constraints, they had not sorted through the spoils of war. To be honest, he did not even know the total amount they had collected this time.

Since Wang Bin had sent them to him, he might as well accept them.

”Dad, I’ve stored these two Treasure Medicines in the warehouse for you!”

In the main hall of the Yang family’s home, Yang Mingcheng packed up the brocade box containing the Treasure Medicines and said.

Yang Zhenshan looked at the two Treasure Medicines. One was a hundred-year-old ginseng, and the other was a Hundred-Colored Flower.

The Hundred-Colored Flower, an evergreen shrub, looks similar to roses in shape. It blooms once a year, and initially, the flower has only four petals, but after each year it grows one additional petal, each in different colors, hence the name Hundred-Colored Flower.

However, this particular Hundred-Colored Flower only had twenty-four petals, meaning it was only twenty-one years old.

Hmm, only one blossom, a Hundred-Colored Flower usually bears four to six blooms.

The effect of the Hundred-Colored Flower is to invigorate blood, nourish the face, and promote the flow of energy.

Invigorating blood and dispelling fatigue has remarkable effects on Martial Artists in the Body Refining Realm, which can enhance the circulation of qi and blood within the body and improve the efficiency of cultivation.

For cosmetic purposes, it is said that a hundred-year-old Hundred-Colored Flower can preserve one’s youthful appearance, though a twenty-year-old one likely does not have this effect.

As for promoting the flow of energy, here ”energy” refers to Jin Qi. For Postnatal Martial Artists, Jin Qi is fundamental. The Hundred-Colored Flower can accelerate the circulation of Jin Qi, allowing Postnatal Martial Artists to perceive the flow trajectory and other characteristics of Jin Qi more clearly, aiding them in improving their control over it.

Yang Zhenshan picked up the Hundred-Colored Flower, feeling somewhat regretful.

This Hundred-Colored Flower had already lost its vitality; otherwise, he could have transplanted it into the Spiritual Spring Space.

”Take the ginseng to brew soup! Share it with everyone tonight!”

It was merely a hundred-year-old ginseng. What Yang Zhenshan least lacked now was ginseng. Although his ginseng was not a hundred-year-old one, in terms of effects, the ginseng in the Spiritual Spring Space also had them, just not as potent as the hundred-year-old one.

Potency could be compensated for with quantity. He often used ginseng to make soup in the kitchen, so he regarded this hundred-year-old ginseng as nothing unusual.

Among the Treasure Medicines, hundred-year-old ginseng was like a cure-all, being able to strengthen the body, heal diseases, calm the spirit, and so on. It has many functions, but precisely because of its myriad uses, there is no one function that stands out.

For example, although the Hundred-Colored Flower has the effect of promoting the flow of energy, ginseng also has this effect, but it is not significant. It cannot allow Martial Artists to perceive the flow of Jin Qi within their bodies more clearly. This renders the perceived effect of ginseng on this point, in essence, a vestigial one.

Therefore, among the many Treasure Medicines, the price of hundred-year-old ginseng is in the lower middle range, and in the northern part of Da Rong, it is the most common among Treasure Medicines.

Yang Mingcheng acknowledged with a response and carried away the ginseng. By his side, Yu Qingyi looked at the Hundred-Colored Flower in surprise, ”So this is the Hundred-Colored Flower! I never thought the legends were true. The Hundred-Colored Flower really does have many colors!”

The Hundred-Colored Flower is very rare. Ordinary people, let alone Postnatal Martial Artists, seldom see it and have only heard rumors about it.

”Mm, keep it. Don’t use it now, wait until after the child is born!” Yang Zhenshan said nonchalantly as he handed the Hundred-Colored Flower to Yu Qingyi.

The flower’s beauty-enhancing effects are most alluring to women.

As expected, Yu Qingyi’s eyes lit up when Yang Zhenshan said this.

”For me!”

She looked at Yang Zhenshan in amazement.

”Of course, you are my wife, who else would I give it to!” Yang Zhenshan said with a smile.

Yu Qingyi blinked, joy nearly bubbling in her eyes.

But after a moment’s thought, she said, ”Better not. This item is wondrous for Postnatal Martial Artists, but its effects on us are minimal. It would be more suitable for Ming Cheng and the others!”

No woman is indifferent to her appearance, but compared to the beauty and nourishment the Hundred-Colored Flower provides, its best effect is still the enhancement of Postnatal Martial Artists’ control over Jin Qi.

If considered from the perspective of maximum benefit, using it for Yang Mingcheng and his brothers was undoubtedly the best. Their current cultivation levels are most suited for the Hundred-Colored Flower.

Yang Zhenshan slightly shook his head, smiling, ”Keep it. They won’t need it!”

The effects of the Hundred-Colored Flower are excellent, but the members of the Yang family are nourished by the Spiritual Spring Water and need no Treasure Medicines at all.

In fact, even if it were given to Yu Qingyi, it wouldn’t make much of a difference. While Spiritual Spring Water does not have the effect of beautifying, enhancement of physique and potential alone can make the body younger and more vibrant.

Just like Yang Zhenshan’s own head of black hair, which was nourished by the Spiritual Spring Water.

Seeing that Yang Zhenshan insisted, Yu Qingyi no longer refused and happily stored the Hundred-Colored Flower away.

Regardless, she was truly fond of the Hundred-Colored Flower and desired its effect on beauty. Since Yang Zhenshan was determined to give it to her, there was no need to continue refusing.