After a moment, Cheng Zongyang asked, "Oh, right. How are you back so soon? Did you bring the people and supplies?"

Zhou Zhendong nodded. "I brought them all. We set out in the middle of the night, took the small trails down the mountain to the main road, and avoided the local paths leading to Tiantuan Village."

Cheng Zongyang nodded.

Zhou Zhendong continued his report. "This time, aside from the few key Martial Artists left behind to protect the village, I brought everyone else."

"Also, the Wilderness Rice in the village has been harvested. Everyone pitched in and started reaping."

At this, Zhou Zhendong’s face lit up. "You should have seen it—hundreds of people working enthusiastically in the paddies, reaping the rice. I’ve never been so happy. It’s a super harvest!"

Nearby, Cheng Zongying was also smiling happily, but she didn’t seem to have any intention of interrupting.

Listening to this, Cheng Zongyang couldn’t suppress a smile. "It’s great that the harvest is in. This way, the village won’t have to worry about food at all."

"Exactly. The dream of having full granaries has actually come true," Zhou Zhendong said, gesturing with his hands. "Many areas have been cleared out to be used for drying the rice. When I was leaving, the Clan Leader said that if we need grain, we can go back and get it at any time."

"This time, I brought twenty Ninth Grade and Eighth Grade Martial Artists. Zongying is here too. Uncle Shan said she should come along for some experience, and she can also help with preparing and making medicines."

"In addition, there are three cooks and seven apprentices; one of Li Ze’s disciples who he recommended for winemaking; and ten disciples from the accounting house who are all skilled in various forms of bookkeeping. All of them can be put to use, and they’ve all signed contracts, so there’s no need to worry about any issues."

"The medicine I brought fills seven large chests, covering external wounds, Internal Injuries, and aids for Martial Arts cultivation. There’s also five thousand catties of salt, one thousand catties of dried meat, and one thousand five hundred catties of dried vegetables!"

Cheng Zongyang listened carefully, nodding in satisfaction. Finally, he asked, "With so much stuff, did the villagers help bring it all down?"

Zhou Zhendong nodded. "They did. Otherwise, there’s no way we could have moved it all. Once we got to the main road, we pushed the carts ourselves. The Clan Leader then led the others back up the mountain to continue the rice harvest."

"Good," Cheng Zongyang said. "Now, about West City..."

Cheng Zongyang briefly explained what happened at the meeting that evening. From Cheng Zongyang’s explanation, Zhou Zhendong finally understood what territorial autonomy meant.

But he wasn’t as excited as one might expect. Instead, he asked with concern, "Zongyang, if that’s the case, I’m afraid those six families won’t let us off the hook, will they?"

Cheng Zongyang nodded. "That’s right. After all, compared to them, we’re the outsiders. When it comes to fighting for territory, they’ll naturally try to eliminate the newcomers first."

"I’ve already sent people with letters, and I’m prepared for them all to refuse. As for cooperation, they’ll think their six families are sufficient and that they don’t need an extra like me."

"Then what’s your plan? What do you need me to do?" Zhou Zhendong asked immediately.

"Nothing for now. First, take the people and supplies and get them set up quickly. Just focus on establishing the tavern, distillery, salt shop, pharmacy, and grain store. I’ll find a professional to take charge of them later. They can’t do anything to us, and they can forget about taking West City."

"If it weren’t for our lack of manpower and our inability to take full control, I would have been tempted to wipe them all out the moment I heard Li Mingxin say we could dominate the area alone."

Zhou Zhendong nodded in agreement. But just then, as if remembering something, he added excitedly:

"There’s one more piece of good news! That Mole Beast you brought—your uncle took it into the Inner Mountain yesterday with a piece of copper and iron while the villagers were clearing soil."

"And guess what happened next? It actually found a Copper Ore and an Iron Ore deposit! The location isn’t far from the salt-producing area, and the Mole Beast even dug some up!"

"The village blacksmiths examined it and confirmed that it’s Copper Ore and Iron Ore!"