CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: LEGEND! JIAOLONG GANG

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Wang Shouzhe’s face was almost turning black. This big girl was so nervous that she looked like this, surely she hadn’t been diligent in her studies or training usually, yet she still had the nerve and courage to claim to read and practice every day in front of him?

"Shouzhe, don’t scare the big girl anymore. Look, she’s so frightened that she’s crying," said Xu Zhirou, gently wrapping her arms around her with a smile. "Big girl, don’t be afraid; your fourth uncle is just teasing you. Think about it, if he really wanted to test you on your studies, why would he call just you alone?"

So, that’s how it was.

Wang Lici patted her chest, immediately relaxing. She was really scared to death, so she quickly ate a piece of preserved fruit to calm her nerves. She immediately picked up a piece of fruit and happily ate it.

Seeing this, Wang Shouzhe’s face turned even darker. The quick transformation from surviving a disaster to a foodie was astonishing, wasn’t she a bit too carefree?

What’s there to even test with her like this?

Originally, he thought of finding two female clan members from home to accompany Ancestor Longyan on her journey, one should be older and more mature, and the other younger with more energy and stamina.

Wang Shouzhe was quite satisfied with his fourth aunt Xu’s involvement, but Wang Lici, this big girl...

He had a headache!

Among the younger female clan members, there was his elder sister Wang Luoyi, his fourth younger sister Wang Luotong, and his eldest niece Wang Lici. As the journey would pass through East Port, and since his sister Wang Luoyi was already betrothed to the Young Master Chen of the East Port Chen Family, it wasn’t appropriate to have her appear publicly in East Port at this time.

Meanwhile, Luotong was busy with the final transportation line for grain. Once she completed her task, Wang Shouzhe also wanted her to follow their aunt Gongsun Hui to handle subsequent matters for some experience.

Therefore, he wasn’t going to interrupt Wang Luotong’s original plans.

After pondering over and over, the only suitable and unoccupied candidate was Wang Lici. Seeing her in this clumsy heroic state, he felt an urge to replace her with a clever and agile maid.

But this thought only flashed by quickly. Since the girl refused to study or practice properly, he might as well bring her along to teach her properly and put some pressure on her.

Moreover, the trend in the family now of girls not studying properly was widespread, Luotong, Luojing, and others were the same. Presumably, other little girls weren’t much better. The boys were slightly better, as the elders applied more pressure on them.

This bad family trend surely needed to be rectified later on.

With this thought, Wang Shouzhe returned to the main topic, saying, "Fourth Aunt. I’ve called you over today because you need to take a trip that will last around ten days. Please prepare and we will depart the day after tomorrow at the hour of Chen. Is that okay with you, Fourth Aunt?"

Xu Zhirou, though having some doubts, stood up and nodded, "No problem, I’ll leave it all to you, Shouzhe."

Wang Lici’s little head was filled with curiosity, excitement, and confusion. They were going on a trip? Was Fourth Uncle taking her to play at Changning Guard? In her mind, Changning Guard was already quite far, and she hadn’t been there more than twice her whole life.

Time passed in a blur over the two days.

At dawn, just as the sky was getting light.

A four or five-zhang long black awning boat set off from the dock in the Wang Family’s Main Residence backyard, heading into Zhuwei Lake and then towards Fenggu Farm.

This was the route arranged by Wang Shouzhe. As Ancestor Longyan was traveling, he naturally intended to keep things secretive. If they traveled by carriage to Dingpu Ferry to board a boat, it would certainly be too conspicuous.

It was better to follow the grain transport route, crossing Fenggu Gate to board a large boat; after all, that was their own territory.

Those accompanying Ancestor Longyan on this trip were not many; it was just Wang Shouzhe along with Wang Zhong and Wang Yong, two Household Generals, as well as Fourth Aunt Xu Zhirou and the big girl Wang Lici, including the Ancestor, making a total of six people.

Wang Zhong and Wang Yong were responsible for navigating the boat outside. Though not professionals, controlling such a medium-sized black awning boat was quite simple with the methods of a Black Tortoise Practitioner, and the combined effort of sculling and rowing made for quite a brisk speed.

Inside the black awning boat.

Wang Lici’s eyes were wide open, clutching her bundle tightly with both hands, barely daring to breathe. Fourth Uncle didn’t notify her in advance that they were accompanying Ancestor Longyan on this trip.

This was the family’s Ancestor, an existence more frightening than Fourth Uncle.

The surprise that Fourth Uncle gave was too big to digest easily.

"Ancestor, the itinerary and arrangements are like this. Fourth Aunt and Lici will be responsible for taking care of your daily needs," Wang Shouzhe respectfully explained all the arrangements for the trip to Ancestor Longyan.

"I trust you, Shouzhe, in handling things," Ancestor Longyan was quite satisfied with Wang Shouzhe’s meticulous plans, and then said to Xu Zhirou, "Zhirou, this trip will require some effort on your part."

Xu Zhirou humbly said, "Serving the Ancestor is both my duty and honor."

Afterward, Ancestor Longyan turned to look at Wang Lici, her eyes unexpectedly softening a bit: "Child, it’s been two years since I last summoned you. In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown into a big girl. How is your academic work going recently?"

Ancestor Longyan was generally very kind to the younger generation in the family. Especially because Ancestor Longyan was the third-generation granddaughter descended from Ancestor Zhou Xuan, while Wang Lici was already the family’s eighth-generation descendant.

"What?" Wang Lici was momentarily stunned, being asked about her studies again?

Fortunately, having the prior experience of Fourth Uncle testing her academic work, she was prepared this time.

Wang Lici’s eyes twinkled as she quickly said, "I’ve been quite diligent recently. Let me recite an article for Ancestor..." With that, she eagerly began to recite a piece—"Ascending to Celestial Mist to View the Vault of Heaven," written by a powerful Celestial Human Realm master and literary sage a thousand years ago. Its language was ornate and grand, earning the admiration of later generations.

Literature, in any civilization, is an extremely important layer, playing a role in cultivating sentiment and enhancing cultural depth. If humanity only knows fighting and killing, without nurturing the mind and body, pursuing only strength and slaughter throughout life, then how are they different from the Wilderness Ferocious Beasts?

Wang Shouzhe listened to her fluent recitation, with some expression and emotion, finding it amusingly helpless. This so-called recent diligence was probably just cramming in these last two days, right? She could probably recite just this one piece fluently?

However, he didn’t expose her, seeing that the Ancestor seemed quite gratified and offered her some words of praise and encouragement.

The covered black boat meandered its way to Fenggu Farm, not stopping even upon arriving, passing through directly to reach the Fenggu Gate. Everyone disembarked from the boat and crossed the gate, where a medium-sized river boat was already waiting.

This medium-sized sailboat, even if empty, could securely carry horse carts. Who knows where Wang Dinghai got it from.

"Shouzhe, as per your instructions," Sixth Uncle Wang Dinghai approached, "the cabin has been slightly modified, and a temporary resting space has been set up. What mysterious plans do you have... hmm?"

Wang Dinghai suddenly noticed Ancestor Longyan behind Wang Shouzhe, and his eyes nearly bulged out. Was this a joke? The Ancestor had actually ventured out...

Frightened into a cold sweat, just as he was about to pay his respects, Wang Shouzhe stopped him, "Hold off, Sixth Uncle. Just steer us to East Port properly."

"Yes, yes, I will navigate diligently." Wang Dinghai, looking pale, hurriedly invited Wang Shouzhe and the others into the temporary rest area in the cabin before going out to steer the boat.

The Ancestor’s outing must be a significant event.

But no matter the importance of the event, it could not supersede Ancestor Longyan’s safety. Thus, under his control and command, the ship slowly left the deep water area outside Fenggu Gate, steadily reaching the heart of Anjiang River.

As they reached the river’s center, the wind and waves gradually intensified, the sails opened systematically, capturing the wind as the tightly woven sailcloth bulged outward, increasing the ship’s speed bit by bit.

On Earth, the speed of ships is measured in knots.

However, in the Daqian Kingdom of this world, it is still calculated by how many li per hour. Today’s southeast wind, with swift eastern-flowing waters, had the speed unknowingly reaching fifty to sixty li per hour.

It sounds fast, but that’s roughly the equivalent of a speed of only ten-plus kilometers per hour, about two to three times the walking speed of an average person.

Sixth Uncle Wang Dinghai, seasoned in making a living on Anjiang River, handled the ship as smoothly as flowing clouds and water. Wang Shouzhe and the others felt little discomfort from the motion in the cabin’s rest area.

However, Wang Shouzhe, energetic and strong, got bored staying inside the cabin. After excusing himself with the Ancestor, he went to the deck to enjoy the scenery, noticing Wang Dinghai at the helm, and immediately went to take a look.

"Sixth Uncle, this boat seems quite good. Looks like a merchant ship. Where did you borrow it from?" Wang Shouzhe examined the ship, noting that the crew aboard were clearly not from the Wang family’s fishing fleet.

Wang Dinghai, while steering, replied, "You instructed me to find a decent boat, so I borrowed one from a friend at the Jiaolong Trading Company’s Changning Branch. That old fellow owed me a favor. Last time, the fleet under his command ran into an accident in our territory, and Sixth Uncle took the risk to save him."

Jiaolong Trading Company?

Wang Shouzhe had naturally heard of this firm. Their way of doing business involved traveling along the entirety of Anjiang River, from the most western Great Wilderness County to Longzuo County, spanning several counties, with branches in every city along the river.

This was a trading company with overall strength no less than Qiaan’s Trading Company, though they strictly stick to riverside trading and do not conflict with local powers of the counties, maintaining non-interference with each other.

"Shouzhe, you better not get any ideas about running a river-based business." Wang Dinghai gravely warned, "Jiaolong Trading Company isn’t to be messed with. You must know they were once called the Jiaolong Gang, a gang secretly supported by several powerful families. In recent decades, their business has grown so large that they’ve rebranded as a trading company. They’ve signed treaties of non-aggression with local families everywhere."

Oh dear! Turns out it’s an underworld organization turned legitimate trading company. No wonder they’re dominant over the strategic waterway of Anjiang River.

Wang Shouzhe didn’t know whether to find it funny or tragic; on Earth, when reading fantasy novels, things like the Jiaolong Gang and Angry Dragon Association were low-tier forces, merely places for protagonists to gain early experience.

How did they become an untouchable behemoth when it came to his turn!

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