High Martial World: I Gain Passive Skills Daily-Chapter 74 - 73: Resentment Settled, Emergence of a Top Expert
Chen Kuang was momentarily stunned, then softly responded, "Hmm."
Gan Tang beamed with joy, pulling him to tour the entire Chen Mansion, telling him that his room had always been kept aside, and she would clean it once every month.
This room was located in the East Wing, a separate courtyard, evidently reserved for the esteemed eldest son.
In wealthy households, the layout of rooms was subject to strict rules; the East Wing Room was generally given to the eldest son. If the family was prosperous and there were not enough rooms, the young masters stayed in the East Wing, and the young ladies in the West Wing.
For example, the well-known story of Wang Xizhi, the famous son-in-law, wasn’t about him lying on a bed in the east, but rather being in the East Wing Room’s bed.
Otherwise, could it be that the Wang Family, who ruled the world with Wang and Ma, lived in a shared room and had to divide it into east and west beds? Clearly unreasonable.
Chen Kuang’s siblings lived in the rooms of the West Wing.
Only this East Wing Room, vacant for thirteen years, was kept for him.
"Creak—"
Gan Tang led him across the courtyard, pushed open the door, and inside was a clean and bright room, revealing that someone had constantly maintained and cleaned it, leaving it pristine as new.
Although it might not have been Gan Tang doing all the work, her familiarity indicated that, as she said, she often came by.
"Look, this is what mother sewed for you."
Gan Tang walked to the bedside, picking up a fabric doll placed on the bedding, "When you were little, like a girl, you loved playing with these, so mother sewed them for you."
"After you left, mother would sew a new one for each birthday of yours, altogether thirteen, waiting for you to come back and receive them."
Chen Kuang took it; the doll’s appearance was nearly identical to the one he had preserved until the city fell, except the fabric had been replaced with embroidery and the filling from simple cotton waste to fragrant seeds, making it much more exquisite.
To say his heart wasn’t moved, that would be a lie.
In his previous life, his family died young, and he spent his life in resentment, unresolved until death.
At this moment, Gan Tang’s words, "I’ll care for you another hundred and thirty years," and the new fabric doll handed to him, could not repay everything, but finally mended a part of his heart.
Chen Kuang tightened his grip on the doll, feeling the body’s rejection slowly dissipating.
However, how long it would take to be entirely without barriers depended on the family’s attitude...
Before that, let him use this guilt a little.
Chen Kuang deliberately let his emotions flow, seeing that Chen Rong and Gan Tang were still brooding over past events, and only by giving them a taste of being troubled, making them try all means to make amends, could he best ensure the safety of Chu Wen Ruo and others.
The Chen Family now held some renown, which was convenient for him.
"By the way, how have my siblings been these last years?"
Gan Tang cautiously led Chen Kuang out of the wing room, sitting at the stone table and chairs in the courtyard.
Chen Kuang set down the Dragon’s Gums and asked, "What has happened since our separation that the family has prospered? On my way here, it seemed like I heard someone say that the family currently has some ties with the Cao Bang?"
Gan Tang recounted to him, "Back then, relying on... that peck of rice, the four of us in the family held out until the second month, and later, my father sent someone to assist, and we finally pulled through."
Then, Chen Rong went to the pier to work, and by chance found that a friend he once fished with had become a minor leader in the Cao Bang. Through this connection, he started a cargo business.
That business took off unexpectedly, and now there are three trading companies under his name and several thousand acres of fertile land leased to tenants. No one at Dongting Lake South Pier doesn’t know the Chen Family.
The ties with the Cao Bang have also grown closer.
"Your brother is now in the Cao Bang, serving as the head of the South Pier Branch, highly valued by the Gang Leader."
Gan Tang said, "There isn’t much to say about your sister. She doesn’t love needlework but loves reading, earning her the title of ’Dongting Talented Girl,’ though who knows when she’ll settle down and marry."
Though she said this, her affection was evident, with more pride than complaint.
Chen Kuang had one brother, and one sister, named Chen An and Chen Ning, respectively.
Kuang, An, Ning, showing the expectations Chen Rong and Gan Tang had for their three children at that time, wishing nothing more than for them to live their lives in vast tranquility, carefree.
But unfortunately, God did not grant their wish, and things did not go as planned.
"Oh?"
Chen Kuang gently stroked the琴, feeling a stir in his heart, "Being valued by the Cao Bang, does that mean Chen An is a cultivator now?"
Gan Tang nodded, "The Chen Family’s current status is mainly because of An’Er..."
She hesitated, seemingly worried about unsettling Chen Kuang.
Chen Kuang smiled, "Mother, please go on. I chose voluntarily to be sold back then, not hoping for ill of the family. If he is accomplished, I can hardly be anything but pleased."
Gan Tang hurriedly responded, "An’Er indeed is a cultivator; I don’t understand it much, but I hear he’s already opened the Eight Acupoints, and in the Jianghu, that ranks him as a top-notch expert."
Eight Acupoints?
Chen Kuang raised his eyebrow.
...
Jishao County is famous for its water transportation, with Dongting Lake as its center.
Therefore, the Cao Bang, which controls the boatmen, fishermen, and pier ferries along the Dongting coast, is a well-known powerful force in Jishao County.
This "powerful" does not only mean powerful in the eyes of ordinary people.
Among cultivators, the Cao Bang is likewise a behemoth involving numerous interest chains, and its gang leader, Fan Hailong, possesses the Peak of Tower Climbing Realm cultivation, suppressing ordinary sects in Jishao County.
Although Wind and Rain Pavilion has Martial Saint Pavilion as its backing, a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake. Plus, Wind and Rain Pavilion hardly meddles in mundane matters, so in Jishao County, it is naturally led by the Cao Bang.
Even the governor has to show Fan Hailong some respect, let alone the boatmen and fishermen.
In their eyes, being affiliated with the Cao Bang is already an extraordinary matter.
To become a high-ranking member of the Cao Bang is even more prestigious, requiring bows from those who meet them.
Young Master Chen of the South Pier, Chen An, is such a character.
"Brother Chen, someone from your family has come looking for you, saying you should go home now."
A member of the Cao Bang ran to Chen An’s side and quickly said, "It seems it’s Master Chen’s request."
Chen An, seventeen years old, dressed in an azure black outfit, with a figure like that of a powerful tiger or leopard, had a rebellious and fierce aura with his raised brows.
His arms were crossed, a long sword in his right hand, while inspecting the goods on a cargo ship.
Beside him, the owner of the cargo ship kept nodding and bowing, guaranteeing the goods were problem-free and said obsequiously:
"Young Master Chen, I’ve been transporting these goods for three years, and they are absolutely fine. I even paid an extra thirty percent docking fee this time, just as a tea money for everyone."
Everything related to water transportation falls under the Cao Bang’s management, and all ships passing through Dongting Lake must be inspected and... stripped by the Cao Bang.
How much cargo you want to transport, how much you can transport, all require the Cao Bang’s approval.
And what’s possible for manipulation, there’s a way.
If you want to transport more, you have to pay extra.
Otherwise, if you try to smuggle privately without the Cao Bang’s protection, don’t blame the water bandits if you end up with neither people nor cargo crossing the vast Dongting Lake.
Upon hearing this, Chen An turned his head and narrowed his eyes: "My father? Why is he looking for me at this time?"
The Cao Bang member shook his head and said: "I don’t know either, the messenger was pretty secretive, but it was indeed an old servant from the Chen Mansion."
He added: "It seems he also fetched Miss Chen from her studies."
Chen An was truly surprised: "My little sister got fetched too? What major matter is so important..."
Thinking about the recent turmoil on Dongting Lake, especially the frightening sight of the sword coming from the west yesterday and the two inexplicably dead Cao Bang members in the reeds, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
The Civilization Official had just arrived, and already there was a storm brewing atmosphere in Jishao County.
Now, his family suddenly called him home urgently, naturally making him vigilant.
"Alright, I’ll head back first. It’s been unstable lately, tell the brothers to be cautious in their actions."
Chen An urged, and turned to leave.
Seeing him about to leave, the cargo ship owner quickly said: "Hey hey, Young Master Chen, what about my goods? Could you give me a definite answer!"
Chen An paused his step, said flatly: "If I were you, I’d take the chance to flee now."
The cargo ship owner was shocked and rushed to say: "I paid the tea money..."
"Returning it to you."
Without turning back, Chen An flicked out a gold ingot with two fingers, swung it fiercely backward.
"Whoosh——"
The vigor erupted, the gold ingot swept through the air like a rainbow, instantly smashing a large hole into the ship’s cabin.
Among a pile of sacks, amidst spilling grains, there were some snow-white colors.
Contraband salt!
Chen An instructed his subordinates: "Smuggling refined salt secretly, find out who gave him the courage!"
The cargo ship owner’s face turned ashen, collapsed to the ground.
