Otherworldly Companions: Every Handsome Man is Extraordinary

After this banquet, the winds of the county subtly shifted. The lord had a long private conversation with Lady Vanessa of the Wilman family at the banquet, and even invited her to sit next to him during the meal.

The lord's husband, the divine messenger Fan Qingyin, was aloof and proud, yet he spoke a few more words to Wilman. This situation was quite meaningful to the old noble families of Hollandpur County.

After all, the Wilman family rose to power through pearl diving, and pearl divers are not exactly from privileged backgrounds. In their eyes, the Wilman family were nothing more than nouveau riche. It seemed they had climbed the social ladder by attaching themselves to the new lord, intending to rise even higher. From the perspective of the pearl-diving family, it couldn't be clearer: their leader had already pledged allegiance to the new lord, so there was no point in the rest of them resisting any further.

Jiang Yu has achieved his goal in hosting this banquet.

At Lanny's suggestion, Jiang Yu visited each of the pearl-diving families' heirlooms. Indeed, pearl divers risk their lives in the wind and waves, and every time they obtain a treasure of exceptional quality, it comes with great danger. Therefore, when someone in the family finds a rare and exceptional pearl, it is not sold but instead becomes a family heirloom to inspire the younger generation and to represent the highest level of pearl-diving in the family.

Jiang Yu had seen and recorded the information, and thus gained a general understanding of the different levels and preferences of the various pearl-diving families. Some families sought stability and success, while others preferred adventure, some relied on large quantities to win, and others pursued precious treasures.

The Wilman family, up to Lanny's father, remained passionate explorers. It wasn't until Lanny's father risked his life to bring back the transparent coral from the deep sea—a family heirloom that remains a testament to their enduring legacy—that the family began implementing a system of assessments for its members, unwilling to let them risk their lives fighting the sea for the ultimate treasure. That transparent coral was the very one on Lady Vanessa's hat.

“Qingyin, from my personal perspective, I quite admire those families who prioritize the safety of their children and seek a steady path to success. However, from a profit perspective, if we encourage this approach, the amount of treasures mined in our county will decrease significantly. Based on my observations over this period, the heirlooms of those conservative families have remained unchanged for many years, while the heirlooms of adventurous families are frequently replaced. This indicates that they mine treasures much more often than the families I mentioned earlier. Even the top-tier Wilman family, none of their younger members have yet mined treasures of higher quality than their fathers in this area.” Jiang Yu flipped through the records in his hand and turned to sit on the sofa in Fan Qingyin's study.

“Every family has a different path to development. Their current level of development actually determines their future direction. Look at large families like the Wilman family, which have accumulated wealth and prestige over many generations. Moreover, talent is ingrained in their genes. Like our family, most of our members possess talent in divine arts. The same applies to pearl-diving families. Their outstanding members and profound foundation allow them to develop steadily without taking risks. But look at those radical families that encourage their members to take risks; they are still in the process of accumulating prestige and wealth. You must know that opportunities always come with risks.” Fan Qingyin’s voice was clear and cold, but his tone and expression were very gentle and warm. He put down the quill pen in his hand, clasped his hands together, and placed his beautiful, slender fingers to his lips, looking ascetic yet strangely alluring.

“Then I can’t just suppress their nature. It seems I have to adapt to local conditions and teach according to their aptitude.” Jiang Yu had some ideas. She narrowed her eyes, smiled, and closed the notebook in her hand. “Alright, Qingyin, I’ve learned a new dessert. I’ll make it for you. You should rest too. Let’s go to the garden to eat it when it’s ready!”

“Okay, let’s go to the kitchen together. I can help you out and see how our Xiaoyu makes so many delicious desserts.” Fan Qingyin readily stood up, naturally took Jiang Yu’s hand, and the two went downstairs to the kitchen together. From behind, the man was tall and slender, and the woman was petite and exquisite; they were a perfect match.