Protect Our Chief

Of course, he was the only one here. His children stayed at the main house, looked after by Shounuo’s wife and receiving the family’s unified training.

The inner residence had long been tidied up, and with the help of many servants and household generals, Wang Shouzhe and his party quickly settled in.

This time, Ancestor Longyan also came along with Wang Shouzhe.

After Wang Shounuo paid respects to Ancestor Longyan, the three gathered for a small meeting.

Ancestor Longyan came to Longzuo County this time without making a big show, to avoid giving people the impression that the main house was undefended. Of course, Wang Shouzhe did not truly leave the main house defenseless.

With his wife Liua Ruolan holding the fort, ordinary cultivators of the Celestial Human Realm who dared to act recklessly in Ping’an Town would most likely face consequences.

"Third Brother, you’ve worked hard overseeing the county’s industries and being separated from your family," Wang Shouzhe said, cupping his hands.

"Fourth Brother, what are you saying?" Wang Shounuo quickly returned the gesture, "We are all part of the Wang Family, contributing to the family is our duty. My abilities are limited, I can’t handle big tasks, so doing my part is no hardship. Besides, at the end of the year, I rush back, and it takes only eight or nine days."

"When the younger ones at home grow a bit older, I will send them to work with you, Third Brother," Wang Shouzhe said, "With them here to support you, you can return home every three or four months to spend time with your family."

When a family sends people out, they never send their entire family. For instance, sending his wife and children to live together.

Because doing so, although it reunites the family, over time, it gradually erodes the family’s cohesion and centripetal force.

If everyone operated based on their small family unit outside, in less than a hundred years, the entire family would fall apart like loose sand.

"No problem, no problem," Wang Shounuo said, "The family’s development isn’t easy, and countless family members and ancestors have sacrificed their lives for it. I’m just doing a bit of my part, don’t worry too much, Fourth Brother."

Upon hearing this, Wang Shouzhe felt some emotion.

In this world full of noble families, many people’s family concepts and thoughts differ greatly from those of modern Huaxia people.

For instance, like Wang Shounuo, having his wife and children at the main house, being separated for a whole year is something he’s accustomed to, at most suffering some homesickness, without any reluctance.

And his wife and children also feel that as long as the family needs it, this is all natural.

The rest of the family members don’t find anything unusual either.

Only Wang Shouzhe, who was once a "modern man," feels somewhat guilty towards Shounuo and his family.

"Let’s not talk about this for now, let’s discuss other matters," Wang Shouzhe said after sitting down with Ancestor Longyan and Wang Shounuo, "These past two years, you’ve been gathering news in the commandery with some success. Tell me, how is the Longzuo Wang Family doing?"

This time at the Celestial Human Banquet, Ancestor Zhoubo still couldn’t free himself, so only the Patriarch and the Elder went low-key to the Wang Family and sent a gift. Afterwards, they hurried back.

Though they didn’t say anything, Wang Shouzhe could easily guess that the Longzuo Wang Family must be in trouble.

It’s just that the other party seems unwilling to involve the Changning Wang Family, hence they keep it secret, wanting to resolve it independently.

But the Changning Wang Family and Longzuo Wang Family are closely connected, not only having received help from Longzuo Wang Family in the past, but during the Fallen Eagle Gorge event a few years back, Ancestor Zhoubo risked himself to help against Ancestor Hua Ye, without taking any remuneration afterwards.

With this friendship, Wang Shouzhe naturally couldn’t just stand by and watch them encounter trouble and pretend to be unaware.

"Fourth Brother, your guess is correct, the Longzuo Wang Family indeed encountered trouble." Hearing Wang Shouzhe mention this, Wang Shounuo’s expression turned serious, "I discreetly probed and used the connections I’ve built these two years to carefully investigate, finally uncovering part of the truth. The situation is like this..."

Through Wang Shounuo’s explanation, Wang Shouzhe gradually learned the whole story.

As an established noble family, the Longzuo Wang Family was at its strongest once a Fifth-Grade Noble Family, having infinite glory and countless industries. But over the years due to continuous decline, ancestral properties gradually slipped away. Now aside from the untouched main house and a few remaining shops, they only have several farms outside the commandery generating profit.

In recent years, following Wang Shouzhe’s advice, the Longzuo Wang Family vacated part of the main residence and earnestly managed the "Purple Mansion Palace," gradually accumulating considerable wealth, planning to cultivate a second Celestial Human Realm cultivator to rise again and restore their ancestral glory.

In clearing family’s previous resistance agreements, they discovered a land lease agreement from three hundred thirty years ago, which actually expired thirty years ago.

Therefore, Ancestor Zhoubo attempted to reclaim these approximately twenty thousand acres of ancestral land.

"But the other party has been stalling endlessly until conflict eventually erupted. Now the friction between Longzuo Wang Family and that family intensifies, the conflict deepening, and if it continues, Longzuo Wang Family might suffer. Fourth Brother, my foundation in the commandery is too shallow to know the details, but the opposing family isn’t weak, likely having one mid-stage Celestial Human Realm and one early-stage Celestial Human Realm ancestor holding the fort. Ancestor Zhoubo can’t handle it alone and might be in a tight spot."