Once I enter the pass, great Confucian scholars will surely debate the classics for me.

Outside the city, there are villages scattered with various kinds of livestock, grains, fruits, and so on.

Of course, there are also villages with timber yards and mines.

Numerous estates were built around the main city's Sword Tower in order to supply the tower with a large amount of resources. The people in the estates were all slaves of the First Family, with each estate having anywhere from 180 to 400 people.

The estate was small, oval in shape, with high walls and thick gates. There was also a guard patrolling day and night. Although there was danger, it was much better to stay in the estate than to sleep in the open.

To facilitate management, the city lord's mansion named everything by distance and type.

For example, a farm ten miles from the Sword Tower would be called Ten Mile Grain Farm.

Qiu Chengde brought Zhou Qingfeng to the Thirty-Five Li Grain Estate and instructed the estate manager to prepare food and clean clothes for Zhou Qingfeng. Zhou Qingfeng washed himself, changed into clean clothes, and sat down to eat with Qiu Chengde.

Zhou Qingfeng said, "Master, why did you bring me here? Didn't we say we were going back to the city?"

Qiu Chengde smiled and said, "Master has prepared a surprise for you. Look over there."

Following the direction Qiu Chengde pointed, two people walked in through the door.

Zhou Qingfeng jumped to his feet, his face beaming with joy: "Uncle, Shui'er..."

"Brother Qingfeng." Upon seeing Zhou Qingfeng, Shui'er excitedly gave him a big hug. In Shui'er's eyes, Zhou Qingfeng was like a brother. If it weren't for Zhou Qingfeng, she would have died long ago.

"Oh, my little sister!" Zhou Qingfeng hugged Shui'er and patted the back of her head, equally overjoyed. In his eyes, Shui'er was just like any other little sister who had shared hardships with him, without any other thoughts.

He exchanged a few words with Shui'er.

Zhou Qingfeng then looked at his uncle, who was beaming with joy, and immediately clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Qingfeng greets Uncle."

The old man stepped forward and took Zhou Qingfeng's arm, saying with a look of satisfaction, "Qingfeng, I've heard about what happened to you. I knew I hadn't misjudged you. Even if you're a lackey, you're the best lackey."

"Hehe." Zhou Qingfeng didn't feel like he was being insulted. If it were anyone else, he would definitely have lost his temper, but it was his uncle. This was a family member who had shared his hardships and was as close as a brother to him.

Zhou Qingfeng chatted with his uncle and Shui'er as if no one else was around, talking about their recent situations. He learned that Changgui had joined the village protection team and died unexpectedly from the mouth of a vengeful ghost, which made Zhou Qingfeng feel somewhat regretful.

Because of relatives like Uncle and Shui'er in this world.

Every death is one less.

"Thank you, Master, for allowing me to see my family." Zhou Qingfeng turned around, clasped his hands in thanks.

Qiu Chengde stroked his beard and smiled: "No, what Madam means is for you to take them back to the city, free them from their slave status, and settle them in your mansion, so that your family can reunite often from now on."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingfeng's heart stirred slightly. He wasn't stupid; his wife's actions must have a deeper meaning.

To put it bluntly, she wanted to keep Uncle and Shui'er under her watchful eye, so that if she ever dared to rebel, they would be her bargaining chip to keep her in check.

The prerequisite is that one has rebellious intentions and a rebellious nature; otherwise, this situation will never occur.

Did he ever intend to rebel? No, at most he was ambitious, wanting to climb the social ladder and gain immense power, and the First Family could provide all of that, and with the best of everything.

This is the first company to treat me so well, sparing no resources to cultivate me.

He had no reason to betray the First Family. Besides, what good would it do to be a traitor? Once he became powerful enough to be adopted by the Madam, he would be the young master of the First Family.

At that time, why not join forces with the first company to expand the market?

On the bright side, the lady was showing compassion for herself, knowing that her relatives were suffering outside the city, so she restored their freedom, allowing them to enter the city and enjoy a better life, while also giving herself the company of her family.

Looking at Zhou Qingfeng's expressionless face, Qiu Chengde knew what he was thinking. How could such a smart man not understand the deeper meaning behind Madam's actions? However, to avoid Zhou Qingfeng from misinterpreting things, he still had to be clear.

“My disciple, don’t feel guilty. This is the rule.”

“For every person who holds a high position and is highly valued by his wife, she will leave his family in the city to take care of them.”

Zhou Qingfeng clasped his hands together and said, "Qingfeng understands. Qingfeng is not as stupid as a pig or a dog."

I am not a fool. Looking through history, which ruler, when he makes an important appointment for someone, does not keep his family under his nose? And the person who is given an important appointment will tacitly choose to comply.

This was a tacit power deal, a deal between those in power and their confidants. Without this deal, one could never enter the true inner circle and never gain real power.

If it were me, I would treat my subordinates who I would value in the same way someday.

To put it simply, even without Shui'er and Uncle...

The lady would also try to arrange a marriage so that Zhou Qingfeng could get married, start a family, and have children.

This is a necessary and unavoidable step to enter the inner circle.

If you don't even understand this, you'll only ever stay at the bottom for the rest of your life, and you won't even be able to make it to the middle.

Seeing that Zhou Qingfeng showed no sign of resistance, Qiu Chengde nodded in satisfaction and said nothing more. His disciple was exceptionally talented and gifted, and he knew exactly what to do without needing further explanation.

That day, Zhou Qingfeng returned to the city with Shui'er and his uncle. Qiu Chengde gave Zhou Qingfeng a few days off so that he could spend time with his family. After the holiday, he was to go directly to the inner courtyard council hall to report to his wife.

Sword Tower City, Zhou Family Mansion.

Zhou Qingfeng said, "Uncle, live a good life in the Sword Tower from now on. If you need anything, just tell me. If you want to take another wife or concubine, that's no problem. I'll find you ten women first, and if that's not enough, I'll find you more!"

"Don't worry about Shui'er's marriage. I will definitely find her a good family and make sure she gets married with dignity. From now on, as long as I am in the Sword Tower, no one will be able to bully you!"

Upon hearing this, the old man's eyes immediately welled up with tears, and he held Zhou Qingfeng's hand for a long time, unable to speak.

He was most grateful that he saved Zhou Qingfeng's life; otherwise, he wouldn't have the good fortune he has today.

"My life has truly been a series of ups and downs," the old man sighed.

Zhou Qingfeng is not an ungrateful person.

I will remember your kindness and repay you whenever I have the chance.

This is not just about repaying a debt of gratitude, but also about building a public image for oneself and telling everyone through this incident.

Invest in me, Zhou Qingfeng, and one day I'll make it big.

You can also reap considerable rewards.

Before you know it, the holiday is over.

Zhou Qingfeng changed into the official robes bestowed upon him by his wife.

The official robe was a bright red brocade robe, the kind of robe that only those who served in the Council of Councilors were qualified to wear.

Zhou Qingfeng also disliked the color of the clothes, because it looked like they were dyed with human blood.

Fortunately, I've finally gotten rid of that bright green flag officer's uniform.

Walking to the city lord's mansion, Zhou Qingfeng showed his waist token. The red-armored axemen glanced at it and let him pass. He walked all the way to the inner courtyard gate and stepped in, where he met Jianwu.

Sword Dance, with her flowing white hair, saw Zhou Qingfeng, holding a bag of sweet pastries, and said with a smile, "Little devil, we meet again."

Upon seeing this, Zhou Qingfeng bowed and clasped his hands in greeting: "Zhou Qingfeng, a member of the Council, greets Miss Sword Dance. I have been summoned by the Madam and will report to the Council immediately after my holiday. That is why I have entered the inner courtyard."

The council chamber was in the outer courtyard, while the council pavilion was in the inner courtyard.

One word difference makes a world of difference.

Jianwu took out a piece of candy and put it in her mouth, nodding repeatedly with a smile: "Mmm, I know, I know. Do you know the way? Do you want me to show you the way?"

Zhou Qingfeng smiled slightly: "Then thank you very much, Miss Jianwu."