Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 152: Chapter 148: Your Concubine Pays Respects to Master!

On the first day of the New Year, Yang Zhenshan gave a red envelope to every member of the household.

It goes without saying for Yang Mingcheng and the others, as Yang Zhenshan put some thought into preparing their red envelopes.

Yang Zhenshan had the craftsmen in the office forge spears for Yang Mingcheng, Yang Minghao, Yang Yunxue, Lin Zhan, and Wang Yunqiao, using refined iron which he had Mr. Lu purchase.

Each spear cost more than fifty taels of silver. Although they were not divine weapons, they were much better than the standard military weapons.

For Yang Mingcheng and Yang Minghao, such spears weren’t much, but for Yang Yunxue, Lin Zhan, and Wang Yunqiao, they were rare gifts.

Although they were young, they had been training with spears for several years, having only used wooden spears before. Today, finally having an iron spear of their own, the three were naturally overjoyed.

“Thank you, Dad!”

“Thank you, Master!”

The three bowed with their spears in hand to express their thanks.

Yang Zhenshan watched them, a loving smile on his face, “Train hard. Don’t let down my expectations.”

A daughter and two disciples, these three were the ones Yang Zhenshan meticulously trained.

Although they are not yet Martial Artists, their potential and talent will far surpass that of the Yang Mingcheng brothers.

Every bowl of Spiritual Spring Water they drank would become a part of their foundation. When they grow older and truly embark on their training path, they will soar to great heights and achieve remarkable feats.

Considering their ages, this year Yang Yunxue was already fourteen, while Lin Zhan and Wang Yunqiao were thirteen. In at most another two years, they could become Martial Artists.

“Yes, the disciple will surely not let down Master’s expectations!” Lin Zhan said earnestly.

He and Wang Yunqiao were most grateful to Yang Zhenshan, and the more they experienced and observed, the deeper their gratitude grew.

Now, the Yang family had many servants, and among these servants, some had, like them, lost their families and been sold into servitude. Compared to these servants, they were undoubtedly fortunate.

However, compared to servants sold elsewhere, those at the Yang family were also fortunate.

The Yang family had not so many strict rules, nor did they mistreat their servants. As long as they worked diligently, the Yang family would not treat them harshly.

Moreover, the Yang family taught them literacy and Martial Arts, treatment that servants wouldn’t usually receive.

“Wu Hai!” Yang Zhenshan called.

“Here!” Wu Hai quickly walked in from outside.

Yang Zhenshan handed him the two baskets beside him, saying, “Distribute these to everyone below, one for each, for good fortune!”

He was quite generous, always giving red envelopes to the servants in the mansion during the New Year.

The amount of money inside was not much; ordinary servants got about twenty copper coins, while those like Wu Hai and Ding Qiu received two taels of silver each.

As for the wet nurses or personal servants and maids, that was not something Yang Zhenshan needed to worry about, as masters like Yang Mingcheng would have their own red envelopes for them.

Wu Hai left, but the task of distributing red envelopes was not yet finished. After the household members had received theirs, there were still others who came for New Year greetings.

First was Song Dashan who brought his whole family to pay respects for the New Year to Yang Zhenshan, followed by Yang Mingzhen and other Yang family descendants. Yang Zhenshan was generous to all, giving them sizable red envelopes.

In fact, the red envelopes Yang Zhenshan distributed this year were fewer than the previous year when, at Yinghe Castle, all the children from the garrison came to wish him a happy new year, and he distributed hundreds of small red envelopes of two copper coins each.

After the distribution of red envelopes, everyone happily dispersed, and with a cheerful smile, Yang Zhenshan returned to his bedroom, taking out a wooden box.

He went to the western room and saw Yu Qingyi lost in thought.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I am thinking about my disciples!” Yu Qingyi came back to her senses, somewhat embarrassed.

She also had disciples, three of them. The oldest, seventeen, had just become a Martial Artist not long ago, and the youngest was only six, an orphan she had found two years ago.

“When the matters outside are settled, you can go back and see them!”

Yang Zhenshan knew she was feeling homesick, which was normal, spending the New Year alone in a strange place.

“When will it be over?” Yu Qingyi looked at Yang Zhenshan with hopeful eyes.

Although she didn’t know what Yang Zhenshan referred to, it didn’t prevent her from earnestly wishing it would end soon.

Yang Zhenshan thought for a moment, “It could be as soon as two or three months, or as long as a year.”

The general situation of the smuggling case had been grasped by the Secret Martial Guards, but the only problem was that they had yet to find clues related to Prince Qing Mansion.

The dual-blade Martial Artist they had been monitoring had already left An Yuan City, and if he indeed had connections with Prince Qing Mansion, there should soon be some progress.

If no evidence related to Prince Qing Mansion is found, Lv Hua and the Secret Martial Guards couldn’t afford to delay too long on this.

Yang Zhenshan guessed Lv Hua couldn’t wait a year—half a year might be too long.

After all, Lv Hua was the commander of the Secret Martial Guard North Station, and the Northern Station’s responsibilities included not just Chongshan Town but the entire northern part of Danian.

Lv Hua had already spent a long time in Chongshan Town, and it was not possible to keep delaying.

“This is for you!” Yang Zhenshan handed the box to Yu Qingyi.

“For me?” Yu Qingyi was startled, then joy appeared in her eyes, “May I open it?”

“Of course!” Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard, smiling.

Yu Qingyi opened the box, inside was a gilded hairpin with a ruby, the bright ruby embedded on the gilded hairpin, making it particularly dazzling.

Seeing the ruby, Yu Qingyi was first overjoyed, then a bit somber, said: “Sir, isn’t this too valuable?”

She was a woman, how could she not know the value of this gilded hairpin?

The little gilded hairpin was likely to cost hundreds of taels of silver.

“It’s for you, just keep it!” Yang Zhenshan touched his nose, said.

Originally, this ruby gilded hairpin was meant as part of the dowry he had saved for Yang Yunxue, but now?

He could only apologize to his cheaply adopted daughter.

Dad will slowly save up your dowry later, but now Dad will use your dowry to find you a stepmother!

If Yang Yunxue knew his thoughts, she might scold him as a trashy dad.

Unfortunately, Yang Yunxue didn’t know.

“Thank you, Mr. Xie!” Qingyi bowed her head, her cheeks flushing red again.

Yang Zhenshan saw her face covered with rosy clouds, and his heart involuntarily throbbed.

“I’ll put it on for you!”

Saying this, he didn’t allow Qingyi to refuse, and directly picked up the gilt hairpin from the box, then removed the silver hairpin from Qingyi’s hair.

However, he seemed to have forgotten one issue.

That was, he did not know how to arrange hair buns.

As soon as the silver hairpin was removed, her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

Yang Zhenshan frantically tried to gather her flowing hair, but it only became more disordered.

Those hands, trained as the Thousand Mechanism Hand, were as uncontrollable as ten carrots.

His clumsy manner made Qingyi laugh.

The crisp laughter echoed in the room, but Yang Zhenshan was captivated.

He had never seen such a radiant Qingyi before; her blush not yet faded and a brilliant smile climbing up. She was like a blooming rose, so captivating that one would want to touch it.

Yang Zhenshan really did touch it, releasing the soft hair and placing his hand on her flushed cheek.

The laughter abruptly stopped, Qingyi’s cheeks burning hot.

The atmosphere in the room became ambiguous.

Yang Zhenshan could hear his own heartbeat, as if the wild beast inside him was about to break out of its cage.

But at that moment, Wu Hai’s voice came from outside the door.

“Master, Miss Yu Lu desires an audience!”

The wild beast was instantly suppressed, and the ambiguous atmosphere was disrupted; Qingyi, like a startled deer, leapt up and fled into the bedroom with disheveled hair.

Yang Zhenshan, his body stiff, held the gilt hairpin, his face suddenly gloomy.

Damn, I’m very angry!

The mood had been so well set, only to be interrupted by someone.

Yang Zhenshan, with a stern face, walked towards the main hall. Wu Hai stood outside the main hall door, appearing submissive, while not far away, Miss Yu Lu stood quietly with maids and old women.

Today, Yu Lu wore a light blue jacket, her face lightly made-up, not as glamorous as before but exuding a fresh young beauty.

It seemed like she was a different person; Yang Zhenshan for a moment couldn’t associate the Yu Lu standing before him with the previously partially concealed, seductive dancer.

Looking at Yu Lu, Yang Zhenshan’s brows slightly furrowed.

“Come in.”

Yu Lu entered the hall and gave a curtsy.

“This concubine greets the master!”

Her voice was as tender as before, but the tone seemed somewhat cool.

Yang Zhenshan sat in the main seat, scrutinizing her.

Suddenly, he realized that this girl was not as weak as he had imagined, which changed his previous impression of her.

Concubine!

Yang Zhenshan continued to frown.

“I don’t intend to take you as a concubine!” said Yang Zhenshan.

Yu Lu raised her head, revealing her graceful neck, “Master, I have already entered the Yang family’s door!”

“Heh heh, where the Yang family’s door is, isn’t decided by this courtyard, but by me.”

Yang Zhenshan laughed lightly, his gaze suddenly turning sharp.

Feeling his gaze, Yu Lu shivered slightly, suddenly feeling as if she was being seen through completely, as if she was standing naked in front of Yang Zhenshan.

Her previously calm demeanor now turned into panic.

“Concubine, no, this servant gives New Year greetings to the master!” She knelt on the ground and bowed.

Yes, she was just a servant. Sha Pingchuan said she was his foster daughter, but in reality, he held her indenture.

Although Sha Pingchuan sent her to Yang Zhenshan, he did not give Yang Zhenshan the indenture.

Whether she belonged to Yang Zhenshan or Sha Pingchuan was still undecided.

Yang Zhenshan gazed at her, then shifted his attention to the two old women and two maids behind her.

During this time, they had been staying here, and nothing escaped Yang Zhenshan’s eyes.

Yu Lu had been honest, never leaving Spring Garden, but those two old women seemed somewhat unreliable, often finding excuses to wander around the yard.

“These two old women of yours are somewhat ignorant; I’ll have someone teach them a lesson for a couple of days!”

Yang Zhenshan originally didn’t intend to deal with these two old women, but as they had thrust themselves forward, there was no need to keep them.

As for Sha Pingchuan’s side, they were just two ignorant old women; could Sha Pingchuan afford to fall out with him over this?