Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 331: Chapter 321 Happy Event

The arrival of the warship also signifies that the Navy’s establishment has entered a new phase.

Yang Zhenshan is quite satisfied with the current efficiency of the Navy’s formation.

Of course, this is largely thanks to Yu Tonghai, a seasoned veteran of the Navy.

Don’t be fooled by Yu Tonghai’s previous position as a mere Commander; he is undoubtedly a qualified naval officer, not only possessing his own understanding of naval training but also having rich experience in naval warfare.

The reason why he was only a Commander previously has two aspects, the first being that Da Rong did not place enough importance on the Navy, focusing manpower and resources on the northern border towns due to the threat from the Hu Clan, resulting in less support for the Navy.

The second reason is that there are few opportunities for the Navy to earn distinctions, although there are many pirates in the East South Sea Domain of Da Rong, and these pirates occasionally land and invade the coastal areas of Da Rong, most are minor disturbances and never form a serious threat.

Additionally, since the main purpose of the Da Rong Navy is defensive, there are seldom opportunities for maritime combat, naturally resulting in fewer chances to earn distinctions.

It is because of these two reasons that the Navy of Da Rong has been in decline over the years.

Despite Da Rong’s impressive shipbuilding technology and having many commercial fleets among its civilians, the Da Rong Navy still fails to develop.

In Yang Zhenshan’s view, this is extremely irrational. As a nation with a long coastline, it should have several strong naval forces.

The Navy can not only protect the maritime borders but also enhance Da Rong’s influence overseas and boost the prosperity of maritime trade.

It’s a pity that the Da Rong Court doesn’t value the Navy or maritime trade, with the Market Shipping Department practically non-functional, and maritime trade mainly consists of smuggling by private merchants.

Yang Zhenshan really wanted to remind the old Emperor, ’Your Majesty, maritime trade and tariffs can enrich and strengthen the nation.’

However, he just thought about it; such matters aren’t for him to mention, and he shouldn’t, as much as he wants what’s best for Da Rong, since it might offend many people’s interests, and he might become a target.

Besides, the old Emperor might not listen to him anyway.

So Yang Zhenshan decided to focus on secretly accumulating wealth with the Tenglong Guard, and as for the rest, it’s none of his business!

…

This day after court, as soon as Yang Zhenshan returned home, he saw Wu Hai waiting outside the main gate.

“Master!”

“What’s the matter?”

Yang Zhenshan looked at Wu Hai with some confusion, as this old fellow is the chief steward of the Yang family and usually very busy. His sudden appearance waiting at the gate suggested something might have happened at home!

“Master, the second young miss sent a letter from the Capital City saying she is pregnant!” Wu Hai said joyously.

“Yunxue is pregnant!” Yang Zhenshan was initially stunned, then immediately smiled broadly.

This was really good news, considering the time, nearly a year since Yang Yunxue got married, it was about time for her to be pregnant.

And for a married woman, there is nothing more important than bearing a child.

It’s not that Yang Zhenshan is feudal, but that’s just how the world is.

“How many months?” Yang Zhenshan dismounted and asked.

“It’s been over two months!” Wu Hai replied.

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly and strode towards the house.

This news obviously had already spread around the Yang family, and the servants were all very jubilant.

But this joy wasn’t just because Yang Yunxue was pregnant, but also because Wang Yunqiao was about to get married soon.

Last year, Wang Yunqiao and Song Hao had already fixed their marriage, and this year Wang Yunqiao turned sixteen. After discussing with both families, they set the wedding date for October.

Recently, both Yang Zhenshan and Song Dashan had been very busy, so the arrangements were mainly managed by Qingyi and Li from Song Dashan’s family.

With the wedding approaching, the Yang family had already begun preparing and decorating.

When Yang Zhenshan returned to the main courtyard, Qingyi was preparing Wang Yunqiao’s dowry, with Ms. Wang and the Li family helping, although the Liang Family hadn’t come over.

“Daughter-in-law pays respects to dad!”

Seeing Yang Zhenshan coming, Ms. Wang and the Li family quickly greeted him.

Yang Zhenshan waved his hand and said, “Where’s the letter Yunxue sent?”

Qingyi smiled charmingly and pulled out the letter from her sleeve, “I knew you’d want to see it when you came back.”

Yang Zhenshan took the letter and began to read as Qingxia quickly brought him a bowl of clear tea.

Yunxue is a filial child, always sharing good news but not the worries.

Most of the letter’s content was expressions of concern for her family, of course, also expressing joy about her pregnancy.

Yang Zhenshan read the letter with a smile.

“Master, should we arrange to send some things over?” Qingyi asked.

“How about sending some Hundred Herbs Brew to Yunxue?” Yang Zhenshan suggested.

Qingyi rolled her eyes at him, “Yunxue is pregnant, how can she drink alcohol?”

Yang Zhenshan felt awkward, as he had forgotten that point; he was only thinking about the restorative effects of the Hundred Herbs Brew made from Spiritual Spring Water but overlooked that it was, indeed, alcohol.

“Better to send some nourishing medicine then!” Qingyi suggested.

Yang Zhenshan nodded, “Alright, let Ming Cheng go to Liao’an Prefecture tomorrow to see if there are any Treasure Medicines available, and if so, buy some and send them to Yunxue!”

Yang Zhenshan has always been generous towards his daughters.

In the past, he considered Treasure Medicines precious, but now for the Yang family, they are just a relatively rare resource.

With the current wealth of the Yang family, buying a few Treasure Medicines would not break the bank.

“Dad~~ Dad~~”

Just then, a clear voice came from the inner chamber.

Following that, Nanny Song came out holding Little Ming Zhao.

“Come, daddy hold!” Yang Zhenshan, with a beaming smile, took Little Ming Zhao.

The little one had big, round eyes, and just as he reached Yang Zhenshan’s arms, he grabbed onto Yang Zhenshan’s beard.

“Lightly, lightly!”

Yang Zhenshan winced from the pain.

“Water, water~~”

This little one also knew what’s good, he liked clinging to Yang Zhenshan because Yang Zhenshan often gave him Spiritual Spring Water to drink.

Holding the little one, Yang Zhenshan went into the inner chamber, got a tea bowl, and poured him a bowl of Spiritual Spring Water to drink.

Drinking the Spiritual Spring Water, the little one stopped being naughty and didn’t grab his dad’s beard anymore.

“This little troublemaker, just drink water if you want to, why must you grab your old man’s beard!”

“It’s all because you spoil him!” Qingyi said, not amused.

She harbored some resentment—after all, she was the biological mother, and it was she who took care of Little Ming Zhao every day. Yet, Little Ming Zhao felt closer to Yang Zhenshan than to her. As soon as he saw his dad, he would forget about his own mom.

“Ha ha~~” Yang Zhenshan laughed proudly, “Maybe it’s because you don’t have a beard!”

“Pfft, shameless nonsense!” Yu Qingyi glared at Yang Zhenshan annoyed.

“How is that nonsense? Little Ming Zhao might just like beards!”

Yang Zhenshan, holding Little Ming Zhao, asked, “Ming Zhao, do you like long beards?”

How could Little Ming Zhao know what a beard was?

Holding a tea cup, he tilted his head and looked at his dad, his clueless expression was incredibly cute.

Yang Zhenshan played with his beard to entertain him, and the little guy immediately started giggling.

“Dad, Dad~~” He kept calling out.

“See, he likes beards!” Yang Zhenshan laughed.

Yu Qingyi didn’t want to bother with him anymore and turned her head to continue looking at the checklist in her hand.

Ms. Wang and Ms. Li sat by the side, enjoying the sight, as they liked to watch Yang Zhenshan and Yu Qingyi bicker. When the two of them argued, Yang Zhenshan was at his most relaxed and affable, completely lacking the dominance of a family head.

…

A few days later, at the Changping Marquis Mansion in the Capital City.

Yang Yunxue was holding a long spear, practicing in the courtyard with vigorous movements, while a few maids watched her helplessly.

Just then, Liang Jinyan came running over, “Oh, my dear wife!”

Saying so, he ran over to block Yang Yunxue’s spear.

“Move aside!” Yang Yunxue raised her eyebrows discontentedly.

“Wife, wife, you are pregnant now, you have to be careful!” Instead of moving aside, Liang Jinyan stepped forward and grabbed Yang Yunxue’s spear.

“It’s not even three months yet, it’s fine, it won’t hurt!” Yang Yunxue didn’t care.

“But what if! Wife, it’s better to be safe!” Liang Jinyan advised.

“My mother also continued martial arts training during her pregnancy! Wasn’t she just fine?” Yang Yunxue retorted, referring to her mother, Yu Qingyi.

When Yu Qingyi was pregnant with Ming Zhao, Yang Zhenshan was also very cautious around her, but whenever Yang Zhenshan was not around, she would secretly practice martial arts.

The way of martial arts values consistency.

Those who persist in practicing martial arts develop a habit, feeling uncomfortable if they do not practice every day.

Yang Yunxue used to practice for two hours every day, and she did not stop even after getting married. However, since becoming pregnant, Liang Jinyan forbade her from practicing, making her feel uncomfortable recently.

She didn’t know whether it was because of the pregnancy or because she had not practiced martial arts for several days.

“Wife, we can practice for a little bit; just don’t tire yourself out!” Seeing her insistence, Liang Jinyan could only compromise.

“I practice a little bit every day; don’t stop me!” After practicing a little, Yang Yunxue felt much better and did not insist further.

“Alright, a little bit every day, just a quarter of an hour!”

“No, a quarter of an hour in the morning and evening!”

“Okay, a quarter of an hour in the morning and evening!” Liang Jinyan said helplessly.

He couldn’t afford to offend his young madame; he couldn’t scold or defeat her, so he had to go along with it.

Liang Jinyan always felt his married life was different from others. Other noble sons, even if married, could still enjoy themselves outside, occasionally indulging in pleasures.

But him?

Since getting married, he had been utterly disconnected from such amusements. Drinking was fine, but seeking pleasures was absolutely out of the question.

It wasn’t that Yang Yunxue didn’t allow him, but the thought of her spear always made him retreat.

What if I go and my wife stabs me?

Every time he saw a pleasure house, this worry would emerge.

A stab creating a hole, a stab creating a hole!

Oh, how miserable!

So, without needing Yang Yunxue to say anything, he dared not engage in any fun.

“Miss, Miss, there’s a letter from home!”

Just then, Xia Feng came running over with a delighted face.

“Give me the letter!” Yang Yunxue hurriedly took the letter, not bothering about her husband, and started to read it.

“What did your father write in the letter?” Liang Jinyan asked curiously.

Yang Yunxue said, “Nothing much, just worried about my health, he sent some tonics!”

“And also some Hundred Herbs Brew and Dongling Spring!”

“Hundred Herbs Brew, Dongling Spring!” Liang Jinyan’s eyes brightened.

Tonics and such, he didn’t care much about, but he had long been looking forward to the Hundred Herbs Brew and Dongling Spring.

“Liang San, Liang San, hurry up and bring people to move the things into the courtyard, don’t let grandpa snatch them!”

In these two years, Yang Zhenshan frequently sent Hundred Herbs Brew and Dongling Spring to the Capital City during the holidays, and the Yang family’s holiday gifts always included these two items.

Everyone who tried the Hundred Herbs Brew and Dongling Spring praised them endlessly.

There’s no need to elaborate on Dongling Spring; tea leaves produced from the Spiritual Spring Space naturally belong to the top tier.

As for the Hundred Herbs Brew, although Yang Zhenshan’s initial brewing skills were poor, with a taste much to be desired, as his skills improved, so did the flavor of the Hundred Herbs Brew.

Rich and refreshing, it could be said to be a top-quality wine.

Moreover, with the addition of Spiritual Spring Water and various herbs, Hundred Herbs Brew also possessed the effect of nourishing the body, making it highly sought after by many.

However, when the Yang family gave gifts, they always sent them only to a few close families.

In the entire Capital City, only Duke Ning Mansion, Changping Marquis Mansion, and Liu Mansion had Hundred Herbs Brew and Dongling Spring.

And at Changping Marquis Mansion, whenever the Yang family sent something, Liang Chu shamelessly sent people over to ask for some, leaving Liang Jinyan without any to drink.

Upon hearing that the Yang family had sent more Hundred Herbs Brew and Dongling Spring, Liang Jinyan took his attendants and rushed out, even forgetting his own wife.

Seeing this, Yang Yunxue couldn’t help but snicker.

“Don’t forget to send some to cousin Wenyuan!” she reminded.

“Got it, don’t worry wife, I’ll send some to cousin Wenyuan right away!” As Liang Jinyan was jogging out, he called back.

Watching his figure disappear beyond the courtyard gate, Yang Yunxue opened the letter again and read it through, her face breaking into a radiant smile.