Family Cultivation: My Ancestral Home Gets Infinite Upgrades

Chapter 108 The Wang Family's Upheaval (4K, Please Subscribe)

Inside the Lingfu Pavilion, the aroma of tea wafted through the air.

A set of celadon tea utensils was placed on the wooden tea table by the window.

The beautiful female shopkeeper held up a teacup with both hands and offered it to Jiang Fu'an, who was sitting opposite her, with a respectful attitude: "Father, please have some tea."

Jiang Fu'an took the teacup and his gaze fell on his daughter-in-law's face.

After several years apart, the radiance in her eyes seemed to be covered by a faint layer of weariness.

"How have you been living with the Wang family these past few years?"

Actually, he didn't blame his daughter-in-law at all for choosing to leave the Jiang family with Wang Zhiyue.

Choosing between her husband's family and her own family is a dilemma for any woman.

If it were him, he wouldn't know what the right choice would be.

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhaoyun smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Father. I'm doing quite well."

Looking at her forced smile, Jiang Fu'an immediately realized that he had asked a stupid question.

How can a married daughter who returns to her parents' home and lives under someone else's roof have a good life?

Moreover, Wang Zhiyue, the head of the Wang family, harbors resentment towards the Jiang family, so how could he possibly treat this daughter-in-law of the Jiang family well?

He paused for a moment, then looked at Wang Zhaoyun and assured her, "Zhaoyun, if you are unhappy in the Wang family, you can return to the Jiang family at any time."

"The Jiang family's doors will always be open for you."

These words startled Wang Zhaoyun.

Looking at the sincere expression on her father-in-law's face, completely devoid of the resentment or distance she had expected, she felt a lump in her throat.

She never expected that her father-in-law would be so understanding after she chose to leave.

"father----"

She managed to suppress her surging emotions, her voice choked with emotion: "I'll remember what you said. If I ever have nowhere else to go, I will definitely go back."

Jiang Fu'an nodded slightly, no longer delving into this somewhat heavy topic.

He took a sip of tea and then asked, "How did you end up as the manager of this Spirit Talisman Pavilion?"

"Could it be that this shop belongs to your Wang family?"

Wang Zhaoyun gave a wry smile, her tone tinged with helplessness: "You guessed right, this shop was acquired by the family head two years ago from a close friend at a very favorable price."

"The Wang family had already trained several talisman masters, and the family also had a workshop for making talisman paper, so they took the opportunity to open this shop that specializes in selling talismans."

"At first, I did earn some spirit stones, but unfortunately, the good times didn't last long."

Since Qiankun Pavilion opened at the other end of the street, most of the customers have been drawn away there, and business has been declining day by day.

"To make matters worse, a few months ago, the mid-grade first-level talisman master that our family worshipped was also poached by Qiankun Pavilion at a high price."

"The shop simply couldn't stay afloat, so the family decided to sell it."

"They poached him?"

Jiang Fu'an looked surprised.

He hadn't expected the "Qiankun Pavilion" to use such underhanded tactics, nor had he anticipated that the Wang family couldn't even retain their own guest master's token.

Wang Zhaoyun sighed and continued, "Father, you might still remember that talisman master. His name was Xia Qingshan. He had visited Qinglu Mountain in his younger days."

"In order to win him over, the Wang family not only spent a lot of resources, but also specially hired a talisman master to guide him."

"Later, seeing that he had some talent in the art of talismans, they even bought him a Spirit Gathering Pill," which helped him break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

Jiang Fu'an did indeed still remember Xia Qingshan.

However, he did not think that this person had much talent in the art of talismans.

Back then at Qinglu Mountain, he was easily outmatched by Jiang Xiangqian, who was only seven years old at the time.

Hearing that the Wang family was investing so heavily in cultivating this person, he frowned and asked doubtfully, "Does Wang Zhiyue trust him that much? Didn't they sign a spiritual contract to bind him?"

Wang Zhaoyun shook his head, his face full of helplessness: "Of course it was signed. But the Qiankun Pavilion has high-level cultivators backing it up; they can easily break ordinary spirit contracts, making them practically useless."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Fu'an frowned slightly.

He had recently recruited two more five-elemental-rooted immortal seedlings and was considering investing resources in their cultivation.

Hearing about the Wang family's tragic example, I couldn't help but feel a sense of alarm.

You can't see into someone's heart, and he wasn't entirely sure that these people would remain loyal to the Jiang family when faced with greater temptations in the future.

He suppressed these thoughts for the moment and refocused on the matter at hand: "Zhaoyun, do you know exactly how many spirit stones the Wang family spent when they bought this shop?"

He was planning to buy a shop in the market, hoping to learn some experience from his daughter-in-law to avoid being taken advantage of in the future.

After a moment's thought, Wang Zhaoyun replied, "I heard the former patriarch mention it; it seems to be around eight hundred low-grade spirit stones."

"That's really not expensive."

Jiang Fu'an gave his sincere evaluation.

It should be noted that the Moon Spirit Market is situated on a first-grade high-quality spiritual vein.

Owning a shop here means you can not only open your door and make money through business.

When closed, it can also be used as an excellent meditation room.

Wang Zhaoyun gently shook his head and added, "In addition to the money for this buyout, we also have to pay fifty spirit stones to the Qian family, who control the market, every year."

"This covers the maintenance costs of the mountain-protecting formation, as well as the security management costs within the market area."

After doing the math, Jiang Fu'an suddenly didn't think it was a bargain anymore.

They also understood why the Wang family was so eager to sell the shop as soon as their business faltered.

Otherwise, losing fifty spirit stones every year would be a huge loss for a small family, and they wouldn't last more than a few years.

He pondered for a moment, then pressed on, "You just said that the opening of Qiankun Pavilion had a huge impact on your business."

"Why exactly is that? Is it because their talismans are of superior quality, or is it because you don't have a price advantage?"

A hint of doubt flashed across Wang Zhaoyun's eyes; she didn't quite understand why her father-in-law was asking such detailed questions.

But then she thought that since the shop had already been decided to be sold, there was nothing to keep secret, so she frankly said, "In terms of the quality of talismans, the gap between us and Qiankun Pavilion is not that big."

"The key issue is that the cost of making our talismans is too high."

"If we set the price the same as Qiankun Pavilion, or only slightly lower, there will be almost no profit to be made."

Jiang Fu'an understood immediately.

Ultimately, it comes down to the limited skill level of the talisman masters trained by the Wang family.

Not only are the quality of the drawn talismans slightly inferior, but the success rate is also likely low, resulting in a high cost for each talisman.

At this moment, Wang Zhaoyun hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Father, you're asking so many questions. Could it be that you also want to open a shop in Yueling Market?"

"good."

Jiang Fu'an didn't hide anything and said frankly, "I came to the market this time to look for a shop. The Jiang family also plans to open a talisman shop."

"You also sell talismans?"

Wang Zhaoyun's face showed surprise: "Aren't you afraid that your business will be affected by 'Qiankun Pavilion'?"

Jiang Fu'an picked up his teacup, took another sip, and said calmly, "It's alright, the impact shouldn't be too great."

Seeing her father-in-law's confident demeanor, Wang Zhaoyun suddenly remembered that the man in front of her was a talisman master with considerable talent in the art of talismanic arts.

He was self-taught back then, and the quality of the talismans he drew far surpassed that of independent talisman masters.

Thinking about it this way, she began to believe it a little; perhaps her father-in-law really could open the shop.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up slightly, and she suggested with delight, "Father, why don't you just buy this shop?"

"The Wang family still has several first-tier low-grade talisman masters. If you need, you might be able to cooperate with the Wang family."

Upon hearing that the Wang family still had several talisman masters available, Jiang Fu'an's heart stirred.

Although these talisman masters have limited skills, this results in high talisman-making costs.

However, if Xiangqian were to teach them his methods for reducing the difficulty of drawing and increasing the success rate, the situation would likely change dramatically.

But then he thought of Wang Zhiyue and hesitated, saying, "I'm afraid cooperating with the Wang family won't work. Wang Zhiyue harbors such deep resentment towards me, she certainly won't agree."

Unexpectedly, Wang Zhaoyun's tone became more relaxed: "Father, you don't need to worry about that."

"A few months ago, my aunt stopped participating in family decisions and is now just an ordinary member of the Wang family."

"Has she been replaced?"

Jiang Fu'an looked surprised.

Wang Zhiyue's cultivation level is not low, and her biological daughter is a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Miaoyin Sect. Her position in the Wang family should be as stable as Mount Tai.

Wang Zhaoyun nodded: "That's right. The current head of the family is my second uncle, Wang Zhichuan. His cultivation level is the third level of Qi Refining."

"Three levels of Qi Refining?"

Jiang Fu'an was even more puzzled: "Why was Wang Zhiyue replaced by Hai?"

Wang Zhaoyun looked up at him before explaining, "Actually, a few years ago, after the family learned that Qinglu Mountain had developed a spiritual vein, many people were already dissatisfied with Aunt."

Jiang Fu'an nodded slightly.

After all, Qinglu Mountain was sold to the Jiang family by Wang Zhiyue back then, but now it has become a treasure land with spiritual veins, so it is understandable that the clansmen have resentment.

She continued, "Later, Lingji Pavilion's business plummeted, and my second uncle publicly accused my aunt, saying that she had been deceived back then."

"The beggar friend who sold the shop to the Wang family must have known in advance that Rukun Pavilion was coming to Yueling Market. He was afraid that the shop would depreciate, so he was in a hurry to sell it at a low price."

"My aunt made the purchase without careful verification, causing significant losses to the family. She is no longer fit to serve as the head of the family."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Fu'an immediately remembered that the shop was indeed purchased at a low price from a beggar acquaintance by the Wang family.

In retrospect, it is highly likely that the acquaintances knew about the furnace sounds in advance and were worried that "Rukun Pavilion" would impact their business, which is why they rushed to sell it.

Wang Zhiyue has suffered quite a setback this time.

"The main reason why Aunt Hai was ultimately removed from the position of head of the family was still the matter of Xia Qingshan Hai taking away [something]."

"My second uncle criticized my aunt for misjudging people and for bringing shame to the family."

"Many others in the clan echoed her sentiments, and in the end, my aunt was outnumbered and had no choice but to relinquish her power."

"Disgraceful to the family?"

Jiang Fu'an looked puzzled.

Although Wang Zhiyue did appear incompetent in these matters, it certainly doesn't amount to such a serious offense as "disgracing the family."

Wang Zhaoyun's face showed some embarrassment and hesitation. After a moment of hesitation, she lowered her voice and explained, "There are rumors within the family. They say that the reason Aunt treated Gai Xia Qingshan so well is because there may be a secret affair between the two of them."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Fu'an's expression became extremely interesting.

He recalled Wang Zhiyue's usual shrewd and capable image as the head of the family, and found it hard to associate her with such a scandalous affair.

But then she thought about it again. More than ten years ago, her relationship with Ma Ping had become distant, and they had long since started living in separate rooms.

Over the course of a long life, loneliness is inevitable, and it doesn't seem entirely impossible.

However, thinking of Ma Pinggai's already gray hair, which was probably now covered in green, Jiang Fu'an couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.

He coughed lightly, dispelling the association with the ugly gate, and asked seriously, "I wonder what the attitude of this new patriarch is towards our Jiang family?"

Wang Zhaoyun thought about it carefully and said uncertainly, "My second uncle—he has never openly spoken ill of the Ni Jiang family."

"As for what I'm really thinking, I have no idea."

Jiang Fu'an considered for a moment and then said, "Zhaoyun, I'll have to trouble you to convey a message to the new head of the family when you have time."

"Just say the Jiang family is interested in buying this 'Lingji Pavilion,' and let's gauge their interest."

After all, the Wang family and the Jiang family are related by marriage, and both families have daughters who are cultivating in the Miaoyin Sect.

This is Shi Ran's bond of alliance.

If possible, Jiang Fu'an still hopes to repair relations with the Wang family and reconcile.

Therefore, Wang Zhaoyun went to sound out the situation first.

Wang Zhaoyun immediately understood his intention and quickly nodded in agreement: "Father, don't worry. Second Uncle went to the auction held by 'Rukun Pavilion' today. I'll find an opportunity to explain it to him when he returns."

After finishing their business, the two chatted about everyday things.

Seeing that it was getting late, Jiang Fu'an got up to take his leave.

Before leaving, he looked at his daughter-in-law and said gently, "Zhaoyun, since Wang Zhiyue is no longer the head of the family, if you have free time in the Wang family, you should go back to the Jiang family for a visit."

"Xuan'er and Mian's children, Shishi keeps talking about them at home, asking when their mother will come to see them."

Wang Zhaoyun's expression froze for a moment, and her eyes visibly reddened.

She pursed her lips tightly, her voice choked with emotion, and said, "Okay. Father, please go back and tell Xuan'er that Mother will definitely make time to go back and see her."

Outside the pavilion, the market was still bustling.

Jiang Fu'an continued walking along the main street, browsing through the remaining shops.

He didn't leave the market until the sun was clearly setting in the west. He mounted the half-spirit horse that was tied at the entrance of the market and galloped off towards Qinglu Mountain.

The horses' hooves pounded on the solid talismanic road, raising fine dust.

He had originally thought that the journey would be peaceful until he returned to Qinglu Mountain.

Unexpectedly, while passing a low, ugly hill, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from diagonally in front of us!

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