Chapter 494 - 28: Sixteen Years Old

"The Qian Family wants to see me?"

Zhu Ju looked up upon hearing this, setting down the ledger in his hands. A cold smile spread across his face.

"Qian Weng has lived to such a ripe old age, yet he’s still so naive. Has he forgotten what he did to the Zhu Family back then?"

"He can’t possibly think..."

"That we’ll just let this go, can he?"

He spoke, then gently shook his head.

Qian Weng definitely hadn’t forgotten what he did to the Zhu Family, but he most likely didn’t know that Zhu Ju was also aware of it.

"I won’t see them!"

Waving his hand dismissively, Zhu Ju’s voice was cold and stern:

"From now on, if anyone from the Qian Family asks to see me, just drive them away."

"Young Master," Housekeeper Liu began in a low voice.

"The one who has come is Miss Qian Shiyao."

"And what of it?" Zhu Ju’s expression remained unchanged.

"As long as they are from the Qian Family, I will see no one!"

Housekeeper Liu was taken aback for a moment, but then he had a realization.

’Right, it’s true that the Young Master used to admire Miss Qian, but now he has secretly pledged his life to Miss Zhou. How could he get entangled with Qian Shiyao again? It would be troublesome if Miss Zhou were to find out.’

"Understood."

Thinking he understood the reason, Housekeeper Liu bowed, acknowledged the order, and quickly left the room to carry it out.

「A short while later.」

「In the rear courtyard.」

A long table was laden with dishes.

Tiger gall, Bear’s Paw, ginseng, and other highly nourishing ingredients had all been transformed into delicacies by a skilled chef.

The younger ones were practically drooling, but they could only stand stiffly by the table, not daring to touch their chopsticks.

Not until Zhu Ju, dressed in simple clothes, walked over.

"Sit."

Pressing his hands down in the air toward the group who had risen to greet him, Zhu Ju walked to the head of the table and sat down.

"You two aunts, please sit."

"Everyone, sit!"

"Yes." Aunt Zhou of the second branch and Aunt Liuu of the third branch exchanged a glance before carefully sitting down.

"Zhu Ju."

Aunt Liuu took out a Jade Pendant from her person and said with a smile:

"Today is your sixteenth birthday. Your aunt doesn’t have anything particularly nice to give you, but this is a token of my sentiment."

"Mm..." Zhu Ju reached out and took it, stroking the Jade Pendant gently. The coldness in his eyes dissipated slightly.

"Aunt Liuu, you are too kind."

"I have something too." Aunt Zhou stood up hastily, taking an outer shirt from a bundle behind her and handing it over.

"I embroidered this myself, stitch by stitch. It’s not worth much."

"Thank you."

Zhu Ju nodded and casually placed it aside.

He didn’t show any particular reaction, but his gaze swept over Aunt Zhou’s cracked and swollen fingers.

After the second branch was driven out to Narrow Clothes Lane, their lives became difficult, though it was unclear exactly how difficult.

He only knew that the mother and son, who once had delicate skin, were now sallow-complected, their fingers covered in cracks.

Aunt Zhou gave a dry laugh, reached out to tug on her son’s sleeve, and secretly gave him a meaningful look.

"Big Brother."

Zhu Nan stood up in a hurry and presented a brocade pouch:

"This is my gift to you. I wish you great success in your Martial Arts."

"Mm." Zhu Ju accepted it, a hint of a smile appearing on his face.

"This is thoughtful."

Seeing this, Aunt Liuu bit her silver fang, shot an almost imperceptible glance at Aunt Zhou, and pouted.

She had prepared a gift today, but hadn’t had her children prepare one, so her side naturally seemed inferior in comparison.

"Ever since Father’s tragic passing, our family hasn’t gathered together in a long time."

Zhu Ju swept his gaze over the crowd and began to speak slowly:

"During the mourning period, we’re not allowed to celebrate extravagantly. This was the only opportunity I could find to call everyone together."

"Come!"

He raised his teacup:

"Let us toast with tea in place of wine."

"Cheers!"

"Don’t let the food get cold. Let’s begin!"

The younger ones had been waiting for so long and were already starving. Hearing this, they eagerly picked up their chopsticks and dug into the dishes before them.

Zhu Ju only took a small taste before stopping, his gaze sweeping over the others.

Aunt Zhou of the second branch came from a modest background. Marrying into the Zhu Family as a concubine, she was, in reality, little more than a High-Level servant.

She hadn’t enjoyed many good years before being driven out to Narrow Clothes Lane. Now, she was stuffing her face with food and drink, completely lacking the composure of a wealthy man’s wife.

Zhu Nan had his head buried even deeper in his bowl, his chopsticks moving so fast they were a blur.

The third branch’s situation was slightly better.

However, since Zhu Ju became Patriarch and took control of family affairs, the third branch’s monthly salary was also drastically reduced, and their days were not easy either.

Aunt Liuu had two daughters and one son.

The elder daughter, Zhu Ying, just turned ten this year; the second daughter, Zhu Zhenzhen, is seven; and the youngest son, Zhu Wangke, is three.

"Stop for a moment."

Seeing they were about seventy percent full, Zhu Ju tapped lightly on the table.

"Mmph..."

"Ngh!"

"You speak, Zhu Ju. We’re listening."

Aunt Zhou subconsciously picked up a piece of fatty meat and placed it in her son’s bowl, then sat up straight with a serious expression.

"In this world, humans and Demons live together. The world is treacherous, and only those who succeed in Martial Arts can protect their own."

Once everyone had put down their chopsticks, Zhu Ju began to speak slowly:

"Although business can earn a certain amount of silver coins, in the end, it’s a life of dependence on others, not a long-term solution."

"..."

Looking at their blank expressions, he couldn’t help but sigh.

Both aunts were women of no worldly experience, and his younger siblings had not yet matured.

Grand principles.

They didn’t understand them, nor were they interested.

"Forget it!"

Zhu Ju waved his hand and took out two books, placing them on the table:

"These are two Cultivation Techniques, the Primordial Yang Qi Technique and the Thunder Shocking Force. One focuses on internal cultivation, the other on external."

"Both of these Cultivation Techniques lead directly to the Sixth-Grade Realm!"

"HISS..."

Hearing this, the people present couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath of cold air.

Although they were not worldly, they knew what a Sixth-Grade master represented.

Hong Qingyi, the Gang Leader of the Qingyi Gang, had dominated Taiyuan Prefecture for thirty years, and his Cultivation was only at the peak of the Sixth Grade.

But the Zhu Family...

...had never come into contact with such a legacy.

"It only offers a chance at the Sixth Grade. Whether one can achieve it still depends on the Cultivator’s Talent and luck."

Zhu Ju continued:

"From this day forward, the Zhu’s Cloth Workshop will provide one thousand silver taels each month for your Cultivation needs."

"As long as it’s for your Cultivation, whether it’s Elixirs or Demon Blood Flesh, it will be fully supplied."

?

The two aunts’ expressions stiffened.

One thousand taels a month is over ten thousand taels a year. In the past, the Zhu Family’s net profit was only about that much.

This sum of money.

Few families in all of Taiyuan Prefecture could afford it.

The younger ones were even more stunned, and then their faces broke into ecstatic joy as they stared eagerly at the two Secret Manuals.

"The four of you are still young."

Zhu Ju revealed a faint smile:

"Even Zhu Ying is only ten years old. It’s not too late to build a solid foundation in Martial Arts."

"Big Brother," Zhu Ying’s voice trembled.

"Can... can women do it too?"

Of course, women could practice martial arts, but in the allocation of resources, they usually received less than the boys of the family.

This point.

Even the Zhou Family was no exception.

Otherwise, Zhou Ruxuan wouldn’t be so happy about receiving tens of thousands of silver taels from the Zhu’s Cloth Workshop every year.

"Of course."

Zhu Ju nodded:

"Regardless of gender, as long as it’s a need for practicing martial arts, you can withdraw silver. If your Martial Arts Talent is good enough, there will be additional rewards and support."

"However..."

"If anyone tries to be lazy and clever, or wastes silver taels, then don’t blame your Big Brother for being merciless!"

As he spoke, his expression darkened.

Even though only a sliver of his Nascent Soul Realm Divine Soul Power was leaking out, it was still enough to make their faces change drastically. They felt as if they were being stared down by a Fierce Beast, their hearts pounding with anxiety, and any distracting thoughts were instantly wiped away.

"Aunt Zhou."

"The family will take care of things over in Narrow Clothes Lane, we won’t make it too hard for you. But if Zhou Nan fails to succeed in his martial arts training, he still won’t be able to come back."

"Don’t worry, Big Brother." Zhu Nan stood up, biting his silver fang tightly.

"I will definitely not disappoint you or my mother."

Aunt Zhou’s eyes turned red, and she let out a quiet sob, pulling Zhu Nan, who was beside her, into a tight hug.

"I hope so."

Zhu Ju’s expression was indifferent:

"I have already given these two Cultivation Techniques to Nursing Director Zhang. Starting today, you will follow him to practice martial arts."

"Zhu Ju," Aunt Liuu raised her hand cautiously.

"With so many silver taels, is the family still well-off?"

"Don’t worry." Zhu Ju showed a faint smile:

"Times are changing. The Cloth Workshop’s business will only get better and better. You’ll see."

’First...’

’I will devour the Qian Family’s assets!’