Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 469: Chapter 436: New Year’s Festival, a Catastrophe is Coming

Entering the back hall, indeed, Liang Xiu was standing in the hall looking at the scroll on the wall. Hearing the footsteps, Liang Xiu quickly turned around, ”Nephew greets Uncle!”

”Haha, what? Are you interested in painting now!” Yang Zhenshan laughed.

”No, I was just killing time because I was bored!” Liang Xiu said.

Liang Xiu was now nineteen years old. When Yang Zhenshan first went to the Liang family’s textile shop, this kid was only six years old. Thirteen years had passed in a blink of an eye, and Liang Xiu had grown up.

”Take a seat!” Yang Zhenshan gestured with his hand for him to sit down.

The servant hurriedly served tea to Yang Zhenshan and also changed a cup for Liang Xiu.

”How is your father’s health lately?” Yang Zhenshan asked.

”Dad is doing well, it’s just that he’s getting older and his health isn’t what it used to be!” Liang Xiu replied.

Yang Zhenshan thought about it; Mr. Liang was now forty-seven or eight years old. He was not a Martial Artist, so at the age of forty-seven or eight, he was already considered elderly.

”Hmm, I haven’t seen your dad for a long time, I kind of miss him!” Yang Zhenshan said.

The two families were relatives by marriage, and in the years after Yang Mingzhi married Liang Zhen, Mr. Liang had often visited the Yang family to see his daughter, and Yang Zhenshan had often drunk with him.

But as the years passed, Mr. Liang seldom came to the Yang family anymore, partly because Mr. Liang was getting old and partly because the distance between the two families had grown. Previously, the Yang family was in Tenglong Guard, while the Liang family had always been in Ningzhou City, more than a thousand miles apart.

”My dad also always remembers Uncle. This time when nephew came over, dad asked me to bring over a fur coat!” As Liang Xiu spoke, he opened the wooden case placed beside.

Inside the wooden case was a blue fur coat with gray fur.

Yang Zhenshan reached out and touched the fur, ”Is this lynx fur?”

”That’s right, it was something my dad accidentally bought,” Liang Zhen said.

The fur was thick, brownish-gray, the hide was soft and thick, highly insulating, durable, and considered a rather expensive type of fur.

Yang Zhenshan didn’t stand on ceremony, picked up the fur coat, and draped it over his shoulders, feeling the softness around his neck, he shook his shoulders, ”Not bad, indeed warm!”

Actually, he didn’t lack any fur. Chongshan Town was known for producing various kinds of fur. If he wanted any type of fur, it naturally came very easily.

However, this was ultimately a gesture of kindness from Mr. Liang and Liang Xiu, and he definitely couldn’t demean it.

Seeing that he liked it, Liang Xiu felt somewhat relieved.

Compared to the current status of the Yang family, the Liang family was truly worlds apart.

Although the Liang family was also considered wealthy, it was after all just a merchant family, incomparable to the other two marital ties of the Yang family - the Wang family and the Li family.

The Wang and Li families were both farming families, but now because of their ties with the Yang family and the Yang Family clan, they had become different.

The children of the Wang and Li families were all studying martial and literary arts in the Yang Family clan school. Although they had not achieved much yet, they were no longer ordinary farmers.

Afterwards, Yang Zhenshan chatted with Liang Xiu for a while about family matters, but it was clear Liang Xiu had something to ask, as he hesitated several times to speak.

Seeing this, Yang Zhenshan straightforwardly said: ”Just speak, what is there that you can’t say to your Uncle!”

Liang Xiu felt a bit embarrassed, but since Yang Zhenshan had already made it clear, he could only stand up and bow, saying, ”Nephew has one thing to ask for your permission!”

”What is it?”

”Nephew wants to do business with glass!” Liang Xiu said, bowing.

Yang Zhenshan looked at him, lost in thought.

Truth be told, Liang Xiu was a good person, but he was not good at doing business.

Mr. Liang was not adept at business; without Liang Lin being a wise helper, the Liang family wouldn’t have been able to establish such a business in Ningzhou City.

And Liang Xiu, mature and steady from a young age, was not suited for business because he was not cunning enough.

No business without deceit!

The reason why Luo Shang could develop the Luo family into a wealthy business was because Luo Shang was cunning enough.

Able to understand the situation, good at affiliating with people, knowing how to leverage, and Luo Shang also had a fierce drive, daring to take risks and act.

Without the support of Yang Zhenshan, the Luo family wouldn’t have achieved their current status.

Compared to Luo Shang, Mr. Liang’s character was far inferior, which was the reason Yang Zhenshan had not supported the Liang family.

Similarly, Liang Xiu was also not suitable for business.

He could manage some small and unremarkable business under the protection of the Yang family in Ningzhou City, but if he tried to venture far like Luo Shang, it probably wouldn’t work.

”You are not a qualified businessman!” Yang Zhenshan bluntly stated his thoughts, ”Uncle does not recommend you to do business! Especially the glass business.”

In the past half year, glass products had opened up quite a few markets in Da Rong, and making money from the glass business had become a well-known fact.

Previously, many people had approached Yang Zhenshan wanting to get into the glass business, but he had turned them all away.

And people like Wang Zhenze and Qi Ting were also under tremendous pressure, and if it weren’t for Yang Zhenshan’s support behind them, they would have long been devoured to the point of leaving no trace.

Given Liang Xiu’s character and the Liang family’s capabilities, getting involved in the glass business was not a wise choice.

”This~~” Liang Xiu hesitated, then said, ”Then nephew won’t do it!”

”Haha, what business to do? If you don’t mind, go work as a clerk by your brother-in-law!” Yang Zhenshan patted his shoulder.

Merchants, after all, are only vassals to the nobility and officials, even if wealthy.

Yang Zhenshan was already helping the Luo family shed their merchant status, and he didn’t mind helping the Liang family do the same.

However, Liang family’s circumstances were more complicated than the Luo family’s, because Mr. Liang was born into the Jing’an Liang family, a family once punished to the extent of exterminating nine relatives.

Although Yang Zhenshan helped Mr. Liang obtain an imperial pardon, absolving Liang family’s criminal responsibility, it didn’t mean the Liang family was uninvolved.

At least for Liang Xiu’s generation, it was impossible to hold high office; at most, he could only achieve a minor official of the sixth or seventh rank.

This was also why Yang Zhenshan had previously not allowed Liang Xiu to work at Chongshan Pass.

”Is this possible?” Liang Xiu was both surprised and delighted.

”Why not?” Yang Zhenshan said, ”You work as a clerk by Ming Hao’s side for two years, and once he sets up his own office, it will be easy for him to arrange an official position for you.”

Setting up the Assistant General Mansion, that is, establishing the Assistant General’s office, would merely require a few words once Yang Minghao is promoted to Assistant General and takes charge of the Assistant General Mansion, especially since arranging an official position for Liang Xiu would be a simple matter.

Liang Xiu is Ming Hao’s brother-in-law, and it is only right for him to look after him.

”Uncle understands!” Liang Xiu revealed a silly smile.

He himself does not like doing business, and his request to Yang Zhenshan this time was actually his mother’s idea.

Madam Liang Lin was always astute. Wanting to venture into the glass business was normal, but after all, she was just a woman bounded by traditional roles—it was normal for her not to see the full picture.

Compared to doing business, Liang Xiu was more willing to enter the civil service. Known to be well-read, handling paperwork would be easy for him.

”Alright, go talk to Ming Hao later, and just relay my suggestion about this matter!” Yang Zhenshan said.

It was a trivial matter indeed, not requiring Yang Zhenshan to speak himself; Yang Minghao could handle it on his own.

”Nephew thanks Uncle-Grandpa!” Liang Xiu said with a silly laugh.

In the following days, many people visited the Yang family to offer festival gifts. They included relations of the Yang family and former colleagues of Yang Zhenshan, such as Wang Bin, Lin Shoude, Xu Jin, and others. Although they were elsewhere, they made it a point to send gifts during the festive season every year.

However, unlike before, the Yang family was not able to personally send return gifts, so they had the visitors take the Yang family’s festival gifts back with them.

In the Capital City, Lu Shou was responsible for dispatching the Yang family’s festival gifts.

Yang Mingcheng would still return to Yang Family Village, but this year, Yang Chengye would also return.

As the eldest son and grandson, he was fully capable of representing the Yang family.

As the festival approached, Yang Zhenshan was busy with the official duties at the General Mansion and with receiving visiting guests.

Before he knew it, New Year’s Eve had arrived.

On New Year’s Eve, after a lively family banquet, Yang Zhenshan stood blankly in the courtyard, gazing at the dim night sky.

His expression was somewhat unsightly, more unsightly than ever.

”What are you looking at?” Yu Qingyi asked, puzzled as she walked out from the room.

”Nothing much!” Yang Zhenshan shook his head slightly but did not go back inside. Instead, he stared solemnly towards the southern night sky.

He was not merely daydreaming; he was sensing the meteorological changes for the upcoming year.

With his cultivation advancing to the Innate Realm, his sensitivity to weather and climate changes had become more precise and covered a larger area.

Previously, he could sense weather changes within a hundred miles, but now, he could sense meteorological changes within a thousand miles.

Of course, the further the distance and time, the more vague his sensations became.

Yu Qingyi looked at him and, guessing that he was deep in thought, did not ask further.

Yang Zhenshan, gazing at the southern night sky, let out a deep sigh.

A severe drought would strike the entire Liaodong in the new year.

His sensations were somewhat fuzzy, but it was certain that the provinces of Liao Yuan and Ping Yuan would be the hardest hit.

The drought would start in February and last until October. Liao Yuan and Ping Yuan would almost see no rainfall, and as for the situation after winter began, it was too distant for him to perceive clearly. However, he felt that the drought might persist for a long time.

The situation in Chongshan Town was also not very good. Although it was not a heavily afflicted area of the drought, there was not much rainfall there besides a few light showers.

This drought was much more severe than the one Yang Zhenshan experienced when he first came to this world.

The main affected area of that drought was outside the Chongshan Pass in the Northern regions, and although Chongshan Town was also affected by the drought, it was not severely.

However, the upcoming drought would harshly hit the provinces of Liao Yuan and Ping Yuan, and the drought conditions might be more severe.

Under the drought, vast areas would turn barren, crops would fail, and millions of people would become famine-stricken—a horrifying disaster indeed.

In a flash, Yang Zhenshan thought through much.

This might be an opportunity for Chongshan Town to encourage a massive migration of people to the Northern lands to cultivate and expand, but Yang Zhenshan did not want such an opportunity.

Even if he did not want it, it was irrelevant—he could only predict climate changes, not alter them.

Thus, the only thing he could do now was to prepare for the impending drought.

”Grain!”

Yang Zhenshan muttered softly, then turned and walked back into the bedroom.

He still had time, at least more than half a year.

That half-year was enough for him to make ample preparations.

...

This festival was the most distressing one Yang Zhenshan had ever experienced.

With a great disaster looming, he could hardly focus on anything else; even when his children came to offer their New Year greetings, he appeared somewhat perfunctory.

The Yang family members noticed his unusual demeanor but dared not inquire further.

After the lively New Year greetings, Yu Qingyi couldn’t help but ask, ”Is there something wrong?”

Yang Zhenshan shook his head slightly and said, ”It’s nothing.”

Sensing meteorological changes was something he genuinely couldn’t explain clearly.

Yu Qingyi, holding his hand, said, ”Master, if there’s anything you need to do, just go ahead and do it. Everything at home is under my care!”

She sensed that Yang Zhenshan was troubled. Though he didn’t wish to talk about it, she wouldn’t press him.

No matter what happened, she would support Yang Zhenshan in managing the home, ensuring he had no worries at the rear.

Yang Zhenshan felt her care and concern, drawing her into his arms and gently stroking her back.

”My dear, don’t worry. It’s a major issue, but it doesn’t greatly involve our Yang family. I’ll handle it!”

”Mmm, I trust you, Master!” Yu Qingyi said softly.

Yang Zhenshan, looking at the gentle person in his arms, felt much relieved, and his expression also softened.

He reasoned that since the drought was unavoidable, the best course was to actively face it, make all necessary preparations, do his utmost, and aim for a clear conscience.