This group of three was Ancestor Haofeng of the Liang Family, along with the current heir, Liang Hongxuan, and the second legitimate daughter, Liang Muqing. They had prepared sufficient supplies for their journey, naturally to attend the Celestial Human Banquet celebrating Wang Longyan’s promotion in Ping’an Town as promised.

This "Wang Family Celestial Human Banquet" was a prime opportunity for the Liang Family to curry favor with the Wang Family. Bringing the heir was for exposure, but bringing the second legitimate daughter was a strategic move by the Liang Family, hoping to see if there was an opportunity to further their "relationship" with the Wang Family.

The Liang Family’s convoy circled to the south side of Changning Guard City, proceeding east along the Anjiang all the way to Changning Guandu.

Compared to over ten years ago, there were quite a few changes to the current Changning Guandu. The original ferry had been dismantled and rebuilt, with the area expanding several times over. The construction materials used were powerful and durable foreign cement mortar and a new type of building material called hollow bricks.

Hollow bricks are large bricks fired once to form, allowing for rapid construction. With plenty of cement components, they boast a strong structure and excellent sound insulation.

This hollow brick and new-style frame structure building method was first initiated by the Celestial Human Wang Family. It is said that there are already many new-structure buildings in Ping’an Town.

However, it is still rare to see such north of Anjiang.

"It is said that the Celestial Human Wang Family could no longer tolerate the inefficiency of Changning Guandu a few years ago." Liang Haofeng, along with the younger generation, got off the carriage and toured the new ferry port, saying, "Thus, after many negotiations and entanglements between Patriarch Shouzhe and the City Guard’s Mansion, they spent a lot to acquire and extensively expand Changning Ferry. Tut-tut, being able to acquire Guandu shows the remarkable skills of Patriarch Shouzhe."

"All of these grounds are cement flattened," Liang Hongxuan also praised endlessly, "In this way, even on rainy days, it won’t be muddy, and it’s very clean to walk on."

While the Liang Family was chatting.

Suddenly, not far away, a thick voice of an elder rang out: "Isn’t that Ancestor Haofeng of the Liang Family? You too have come ten days early to join the Wang Family’s Celestial Human Banquet?"

Liang Haofeng turned around and indeed it was an old acquaintance. Immediately, he laughed heartily and clasped his hands: "Isn’t this Ancestor Yunfei from the Xing’an Sun Family? Are you also going early to participate in the Celestial Human Banquet?"

He glanced at Sun Yunfei, who was accompanied by several young clansmen, followed by a few carriages. Coming to Changning Ferry at this time was naturally to partake in the Celestial Human Banquet.

Xing’an Town was located between Shanyang and East Port. Due to its low and swampy terrain, it had more lakes than good fields, and thus its development was not very prosperous. Even so, that poor place housed no less than three Ninth-Grade Noble Families.

Sun Yunfei laughed heartily: "Thanks to the alliance of in-law families under the Celestial Human Wang Family, they vigorously promoted reed cultivation technology in our Xing’an area, allowing our three poor families in Xing’an to lead a better life."

"Can planting reeds also earn money?" Liang Haofeng said, slightly surprised. "Reed fluff can’t keep you warm, and the roots are tasteless..."

"Ordinary varieties won’t do, but the East Port Chen Family brought a high-yield reed species from overseas. Their root systems are developed, better suited to wetland areas, and they grow rapidly, requiring minimal manpower and resources to utilize all that wetland," Sun Yunfei said excitedly, his face full of helplessness, "But the wetlands and mudflats, which nobody cared about before, have now become valuable, intensifying grudges among our few poor families over the years."

"This time, I’m coming early hoping to discuss with Patriarch Shouzhe whether he can mediate a bit..."

Liang Haofeng glanced at their carriages piled with gifts and the two beautiful girls among the younger generation, smirking inwardly. Were you really here early to discuss with Patriarch Shouzhe? Clearly, you came early to curry favor with the Wang Family. Using the Wang Family’s name to suppress your two old rivals.

However, seeing through does not mean exposing it.

Firstly, because Liang Haofeng bore no grudge against Sun Yunfei, and secondly because Liang Haofeng was also coming early with the intention of currying favor with the Wang Family, letting the younger ones get closer to the Wang Family’s younger generation.

These two old fellows, each over a hundred years old, both tacitly aware of each other’s intentions, chatted and caught up like old friends. Meanwhile, the younger members of both sides greeted and acquainted themselves with each other.

Everyone belonged to the lower-rank noble families of Changning Guard, so familiar interaction was beneficial for all.

"Old friend Haofeng, I’ve heard that your family’s young Hongxuan has passed the initial entrance examination of the Academy?" Sun Yunfei looked at Liang Hongxuan with some envy. "This young man has impressive looks. If he gets the chance to enter the Purple Mansion Academy, his future in the Spirit Platform Realm is all but secure. At that time, your Westpeace Liang Family will be an Eighth-Grade Noble Family with three Spirit Platform members in one family."

"Haha, it’s just the initial test; whether he can pass the final test at the Academy is yet to be seen." Although Liang Haofeng spoke modestly, the pride and arrogance in his eyes were hard to conceal. Of course, even if one enters through the reexamination, their future is usually just as an ordinary disciple in the Academy. Most likely, they’ll be the sort who watch their senior brothers and sisters battle on the arena and cheer madly from below, all admiration on their faces.

Still, for a Ninth Grade Noble Family, such an opportunity is rare, perhaps encountered only once in a century. However, it’s more frequent for an Eighth-Grade Noble Family, and a Seventh-Grade Family—if they desire—can send someone to be an ordinary disciple in every generation.

With his impressive appearance and having passed the Academy’s initial test, Liang Hongxuan, amidst the exchanges, had unconsciously become a small leader among the young people, exuding a certain aloofness while engaging in witty banter.