"Wang Zhong, Wang Yong, you two did well too." Wang Shouzhe was also quite satisfied with these two Household Generals. Their combat skills were strong, and they were capable. Consequently, he rewarded each of them with ten Qian Gold. The two Household Generals were overjoyed and immediately knelt to thank him, saying, "Thank you, Patriarch, for the reward." In this period, working under the Patriarch had indeed been profitable, filling them with motivation. They were among the top tier of Household Generals and enjoyed substantial annual benefits. Their living standards were equivalent to about two Qian Gold a year, plus they received cultivation resources valued at twenty Qian Gold annually and an additional allowance of twelve Qian Gold. Compared to ordinary civilians, their income was remarkably high. Thus, Wang Shouzhe’s reward of ten Qian Gold was a considerable sum. Especially for Wang Zhong, who had recently drawn out an outer disciple of the Yin Sha Sect as bait, completing his task exceptionally well, and had been additionally rewarded with twenty Qian Gold, truly gaining a fortune. "Work well and also cultivate well," Wang Shouzhe encouraged them before returning to the cabin to rest. Being generous with them was also a form of support. While Household Generals’ benefits weren’t low, the resources they enjoyed couldn’t compare to those of bloodline clan members. Both were in their thirties, reaching the Fourth or Fifth Layer of the Qi Refining Realm was not easy. Afterward, the journey continued without incident. At Fenggu Gate, they took a small boat through the inland river towards the main residence. The journey to and fro took about ten days or so, quite smoothly. On the black canopy boat. Wang Shouzhe saw the massive changes at Fenggu Farm. Thousands of acres of wheat had been harvested, and the drying field was piled with threshed wheat, resembling small hills. It was a bountiful harvest. The tenant farmers busy with work were filled with satisfied smiles. This harvest year would make their lives much better. Most of the world’s farms operated on a minimum share model for tenant farmers. The larger the grain production, the more profit they shared. Besides keeping some for themselves, the excess could be exchanged for Large Copper to save up. Once enough money was saved, it could be used to send their children to Ping’an Town to learn a skill. Once the children became skilled and self-sufficient, they could start a family and establish a career. If more money was saved, they could buy ten or twenty acres of good farmland. Then, build a house beside the farmland, thus becoming independent farmers. However, transitioning from a tenant farmer family to an independent farmer family was not an easy feat. It often took one generation, or even two generations of effort and hard work to accumulate. In this world, some tenant farmer households gradually became independent farmers. At the same time, independent farmer families might experience a decline and become tenants of different farms. It’s a natural cycle, like the ebb and flow of tides, or the waxing and waning of the moon. Similarly, this world also witnessed the decline and collapse of some noble families, alongside the rise and prosperity of others. In the eyes of these tenant farmers, the Ping’an Wang Family was like the heavens. But at that moment, Wang Shouzhe had a sudden insight that the Wang Family and those tenant farmer families, or independent farmer families, weren’t fundamentally different. Everyone desired to improve and strengthen their family or clan through effort and accumulation. The black canopy boat passed through Fenggu Farm, following the winding and twisting river towards the main residence, passing several villages along the way. These villages had anywhere from thirty to three hundred households and were mostly settlements of independent farmers, with a few small farms scattered about. Originally, Ancestor Zhou Xuan took the Pioneer Order southward to open up land, accompanied by over a hundred Wang Family collateral branches, along with his small family. However, these collateral families had long separated from the Wang Family’s main lineage, and the bloodline passed down from the ancestor had become so thin that it was hard to produce cultivators of notable talent. Nevertheless, these Wang Family collateral branches had settled down and thrived in Ping’an Town along with Ancestor Zhou Xuan. Now, the number of Wang Family collateral branches in the Ping’an Town generation alone had exceeded a thousand. Due to the large population base, in the recent generation, two young individuals with cultivation talent had emerged. One was Wang Gui, Wang Shouzhe’s servant, and the other, Wang Xiaoyu, who served Wang Luoyi. In this Black Tortoise World, bloodline inheritance was of utmost importance. Direct lineage would not marry collateral branches, as it would dilute the Black Tortoise Bloodline in their descendants, risking offspring with no Black Tortoise Talent. If so, a tragedy is bound to occur. Because such an offspring simply could not marry a wife with an excellent bloodline. No family would marry their Black Tortoise Talent daughter to a wastrel with no significant Black Tortoise Talent. Likewise, no family’s direct lineage son would marry a girl with no bloodline talent. Ultimately, that offspring most likely could only marry collateral branches, starting another cycle of tragedy, likely producing more offspring without bloodline talent. In such a case, the offspring wouldn’t even make it into the family register and would be considered collateral. This is why bloodlines were so highly valued in the Black Tortoise World. Direct lineage, direct veins, and collateral branches all stayed within their respective lines; intermarriage was absolutely forbidden. For noble families, collateral branches were merely collateral, not even considered true clan members. Normally, ordinary collateral members couldn’t even enter the main family’s gate. However, under the Wang Family’s care, these collateral branches were living quite comfortably and prosperously. Some trusted positions in the clan industry were also reserved for outstanding talents among collateral members. Additionally, some steward positions, including Chief Stewards in the Wang Family’s main residence, were often filled by excellent collateral talents from the Wang Family. This kind of system was not unique to the Wang Family; the world itself was organized this way. Wang Shouzhe had neither the power nor the intent to change this; you couldn’t expect a direct lineage to marry another family’s direct lineage daughter or collateral, could you? Not to mention the question of family honor, it wouldn’t be fair to his own descendants. Miss Liua was a direct lineage, and so was he. Both of their bloodline qualities weren’t bad. Their descendants, therefore, would naturally have decent bloodlines and, with some luck, could even produce an offspring with Middle Grade Talent, which would be a blessing for both the Wang and Liua families. In the Wang Family’s territory, the farms and fields received some degree of care from Wang Luojing’s spiritual insects. Although still affected by disasters, the reduction in harvest wasn’t too severe, ensuring no major problems for the year, much to Wang Shouzhe’s relief. Lost in thought, Wang Shouzhe’s boat entered Zhuwei Lake and subsequently sailed into the backyard moat of the Wang Family’s main residence. By then, there were no more transport boats at the backyard pier, indicating that Wang Luotong had successfully completed her task. First, Ancestor Zhou Xuan was escorted back to the Longyan Residence. Meanwhile, Wang Luojing, looking weightless with joy, seemed like she was about to escape from the clutches of disaster and embrace a sense of survival. Fourth Uncle, O Fourth Uncle, Lici has been so well-behaved and obedient. Surely, Uncle, you’ll spare me at least half of that cart of delicious food, right? "Wang Luoci, you’ve done well, too." Wang Shouzhe affectionately pinched her round cheek and took out a few books from his pocket. "Fourth Uncle is giving you these books. You mustn’t slack off. Emergencies can happen at any time." Fourth Uncle, oh Fourth Uncle. When I become the Cyan Emperor one day, your face will be full of peach blossoms!