A moment later.
Jiang Ning returned to the main hall, this time carrying a plate of White Dragon Fish slices weighing about a pound.
"Ah Ning, what are you doing?" Liu Wanwan asked, seeing the plate of fish slices in Jiang Ning's hand.
Jiang Ning smiled. "Brother-in-law has come from afar. How could we not treat him well?"
With that, he placed the plate of White Dragon Fish slices in the center of the dining table.
"Uncle, Doubao wants fish!" Little Doubao's eyes lit up at the sight of the snow-white fish slices, her mouth watering as she tugged at Jiang Ning's sleeve.
Seeing this, Jiang Ning chuckled.
He then picked up a slice of fish and placed it in Little Doubao's bowl.
"Eat slowly!"
"Okay!" Little Doubao nodded repeatedly, like a little chick pecking at rice.
Liu San Sheng looked at the fish on the plate, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.
White Dragon Fish, though extremely precious, costing a hundred taels of silver per pound, was something he had eaten before.
As the eldest son of the Liu family, he had eaten quite a bit of it.
This spiritual fish was not only beneficial for martial artists but also for ordinary people who had yet to begin tempering their muscles, membranes, tendons, and bones.
It could enhance one's innate talent and improve martial potential.
Good innate talent and high potential meant greater efficiency in strengthening bloodline energy and tempering skin, flesh, and bones.
Moreover, at the same level of cultivation, the ceiling for such individuals was much higher than that of ordinary people.
The Divine Strength realm was a prime example.
Some people, after tempering their muscles to the limit, could only achieve a little over two thousand pounds of strength.
While others, with minimal effort, could easily surpass two thousand pounds, with their limits reaching three or even four thousand pounds.
This gap was due to innate differences, and the disparity in talent and potential.
It was precisely because White Dragon Fish could enhance innate talent and improve martial potential that it was worth a hundred taels of silver per pound.
Then, Liu San Sheng asked, "Is this White Dragon Fish?"
"Correct," Jiang Ning nodded.
"You managed to get White Dragon Fish? Impressive!" Liu San Sheng praised.
Jiang Ning smiled. "Yiming is about to start practicing martial arts, so naturally, we need to prepare something for him. White Dragon Fish will be a great help for his future."
"Indeed," Liu San Sheng nodded, then picked up a slice of fish and popped it into his mouth.
After tasting it for a moment, he swallowed it.
The next moment.
"This fish... it's a bit unusual?" Liu San Sheng looked at the plate of White Dragon Fish on the table.
Jiang Ning said, "This fish was quite large."
"Quite large?" Liu San Sheng looked at Jiang Ning with some confusion.
Jiang Ning replied, "Yes, it weighed over a hundred pounds."
"A hundred pounds?" Liu San Sheng's eyes widened in disbelief. "Did it become a spirit?"
Jiang Ning said, "I don't know if it became a spirit, but I think this fish will be a great help for Yiming's martial path in the future. Don't you agree?"
Liu San Sheng smiled. "You're right! The energy in this fish far exceeds any White Dragon Fish I've eaten before. It will indeed be a great help for Yiming!"
"But if Yiming returns to the Liu family, with me around, money won't be an issue. He can buy any martial resources he needs."
"This is something ordinary families can't provide."
As he spoke, Liu San Sheng glanced around the hall.
Then he nodded slightly. "This house is quite spacious! But when I broke through to the ninth rank of martial arts, I spent ten thousand taels of silver, which could probably buy several houses like this."
At this point, Jiang Li said, "Ah Ning, no need to say more! San Sheng is right. Returning to the Liu family will give Yiming a bright future. What I can provide for him is limited."
"Whether we return or not isn't up to you. It's up to me," Liu Wanwan put down her chopsticks and spoke firmly.
Her words instantly froze the atmosphere at the table.
Then silence fell.
At that moment.
Knock knock knock
"Brother Jiang Ning!!"
A knocking sound and a loud call came from the front gate, breaking the silence in the hall.
It was Yang Kai!
Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed as he thought to himself.
"Father, Mother, Uncle, I'll go open the door," Jiang Yiming stood up and said.
Then he paused, his expression firm. "Father, Mother, I don't want to go to the Liu family. I'm used to Luoshui County, used to everything here."
After stating his stance, Jiang Yiming walked straight to the front yard.
"This kid..." Liu Wanwan looked at her eldest son and couldn't help but smile.
Return to the Liu family?
If she had been willing to make that choice, she wouldn't have eloped with Jiang Li ten years ago.
Back then, she had been willing to follow Jiang Li, let alone now.
Now, with plenty of food and drink, and both children healthy, life was quite fulfilling.
Moreover, her brother-in-law was capable and could help out.
As for her parents, she wasn't ungrateful.
It was just that she couldn't return, nor did she dare to.
With her uncles and her father's words back then, she had no right to return.
At this moment.
Liu San Sheng glanced at his sister, then at Jiang Yiming's retreating figure, and shook his head slightly.
But he wasn't discouraged. He knew his sister's personality well.
Getting her to return home wouldn't be easy.
This was just a preliminary attempt.
The real opportunity would come when he became the head of the Liu family.
That day wouldn't be too far off. He could wait, and so could his mother.
A moment later.
"Brother Jiang Ning, I've brought the money!"
Before the person arrived, the voice had already reached them.
Hearing this, Jiang Ning stood up to greet him, walking toward the entrance of the hall.
Yang Kai had come to deliver the money.
The next moment.
Yang Kai, with his dark skin and tall, burly frame, appeared before Jiang Ning and the others.
Behind him followed a fair-skinned, slightly thin attendant.
"Manager Yang!" Jiang Ning greeted him.
"I seem to have come at a bad time!" Yang Kai's gaze swept across the hall.
"Not at all. Since Manager Yang is here, why not join us for a drink?"
Yang Kai laughed heartily. "Since Brother Jiang Ning has invited me, I naturally can't refuse!"
With that, he walked toward the dining table.
At this point, Liu San Sheng looked at Yang Kai with some surprise.
Yang Kai was tall and robust, his limbs as thick as barrels.
His muscles looked like iron blocks welded to his body.
At a glance, Liu San Sheng could tell that this dark-skinned man was no ordinary martial artist.
He was likely an eighth-rank Divine Strength expert, just like himself.
But what surprised Liu San Sheng wasn't Yang Kai's strength, but his attitude.
Manager Yang had come to visit, yet Jiang Ning hadn't gone to the gate to greet him.
In Liu San Sheng's eyes, this was a breach of etiquette.
How could one be so casual when facing a martial arts expert?
Yet, not only did Manager Yang not take offense, but he also seemed to be showing respect to Jiang Ning.
In their conversation, there was even a hint of flattery.
This was something Liu San Sheng couldn't understand.
An eighth-rank Divine Strength expert would be treated as an honored guest even in the Liu family of Dongling City.
Let alone in a small place like Luoshui County. Regardless of status, with such martial prowess, one would stand head and shoulders above the rest.
But here, such a figure was subtly trying to please his brother-in-law's younger brother.
This kind of attitude was something Liu San Sheng had seen many times before.
But it was usually from subordinates to their superiors.
"Brother Jiang Ning, who is this...?" Yang Kai asked, looking at Liu San Sheng after taking his seat.
"Oh!" Jiang Ning realized and said, "This is Liu San Sheng, my elder brother Jiang Li's brother-in-law."
"I see!" Yang Kai then turned to Liu San Sheng. "Brother Liu, your reputation precedes you. I'm Yang Kai, the manager of the Blacksmith Shop."
Liu San Sheng: "..."
He was momentarily speechless, then composed himself and cupped his hands. "Manager Yang, your reputation is also well-known to me!!!"
Jiang Ning: "..."
Looking at the two of them, he felt a bit speechless.
Liu Wanwan, seeing this, couldn't help but smile.
Jiang Li also showed a smile.
Then.
Yang Kai turned to Jiang Ning, who was sitting beside him, and said seriously, "Brother Jiang Ning, I came today to deliver the silver."
"Manager Yang, you've settled it so quickly?" Jiang Ning showed a hint of surprise.
"Of course!" Yang Kai nodded, then said, "The iron ore is worth eleven thousand seven hundred taels of silver. Would you like to come with me to verify it?"
"No need," Jiang Ning shook his head. "Since I've chosen to trust Manager Yang, there's no need to verify it."
"Brother Jiang Ning, you're truly a gentleman!" Yang Kai praised.
Then he beckoned to the attendant behind him, who handed over a tray covered with red cloth.
Yang Kai took the tray and placed it on the table.
The next moment.
He pulled off the red cloth, revealing eleven gold leaves and seven silver notes beneath them.
Seeing this, the others couldn't help but widen their eyes.
Even Liu San Sheng, looking at the gold leaves on the tray, couldn't help but be slightly stunned.
Eleven gold leaves were equivalent to eleven taels of gold.
The total value of eleven thousand seven hundred taels of silver laid out before him was quite a shock, even for him.
The Liu family was wealthy.
But it was also a large family, with many direct and collateral members.
The monthly expenses were enormous.
Thus, the actual liquid funds available to the Liu family each month weren't that much.
Probably only around twenty to thirty thousand taels of silver for circulation.
And these twenty to thirty thousand taels weren't for one person but for the entire Liu family.
"It seems I underestimated my brother-in-law's younger brother! This kid managed to get so much money. He's quite capable!"
Liu San Sheng thought to himself, then his gaze fell on the dining table.
"And there's White Dragon Fish!"
"No wonder he was so confident in arguing with me earlier!"
"It seems this kid's strength isn't just at the peak of bloodline energy. He's probably reached the ninth rank of martial arts!"
"At his age, reaching the ninth rank is quite impressive!"
"He'll likely reach the eighth rank in the future, and maybe even the seventh rank!"
"That's probably why Manager Yang treats him so specially."
Liu San Sheng pondered silently.
At this moment.
Jiang Ning reached out and took three gold leaves and the seven silver notes from the tray.
"Sister-in-law, take these."
"What are you doing?" Liu Wanwan looked at Jiang Ning in surprise.
"Ah Ning, what's this for?" Jiang Li frowned.
Jiang Ning smiled and shook his head. "Elder Brother, Sister-in-law! As Liu San Sheng said earlier, Yiming is at the age where he needs to focus on his studies and also spend some money to build his martial foundation!"
"Ah Ning, you're right! But this is too much!" Liu Wanwan shook her head. "You already gave your elder brother some money earlier. Now Yiming eats well and drinks well. He's even grown a bit taller these past few months!"
"Plus, with the White Dragon Fish you gave us the other day, Yiming's future martial potential will surpass his father's."
At this point, Jiang Li also spoke up. "Ah Ning, take it back. You need the money now."
"Stop being so hesitant! Yiming is your son, but he's also my nephew!"
With that, Jiang Ning adopted an expression that brooked no refusal.
At this point, Jiang Li was about to speak again, but Liu Wanwan tugged at his sleeve.
"Brother Li, Ah Ning has a point. We can't let his kindness go to waste."
"Alright then," Jiang Li nodded hesitantly.
"Brother-in-law, you have a good younger brother!"
Hearing this, Jiang Li chuckled a hint of pride on his face.
Then, Liu San Sheng raised his cup to Jiang Ning.
"To be willing to do so much for Yiming, I toast you!"
Jiang Ning smiled. "Yiming bears the Jiang surname. As his uncle, and with only one nephew, it's only natural that I look out for him."
Then he raised his cup. "Elder Brother, Manager Yang, let's drink!"
"Alright!" Yang Kai grinned and raised his cup.
Jiang Li did the same.
Clink clink clink
The cups clinked together, producing a clear, pleasant sound.
The next moment.
They all downed their drinks in one go.
Amidst the clinking of cups, the lunch was quickly devoured.
Several pounds of good wine also found their way into their stomachs.
"Brother Jiang Ning, there are still some matters at the shop that need my attention. I'll take my leave now!" Yang Kai said, cupping his hands to Jiang Ning.
"Manager Yang, take care!" Jiang Ning cupped his hands in farewell.
Seeing this, Yang Kai grinned.
Then.
Liu San Sheng also bid farewell to Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan and then approached Jiang Ning.
"Brother Ning, you don't mind if I call you that, do you?"
"Not at all," Jiang Ning shook his head.
Liu San Sheng said, "To be honest, I admire you! For someone of your background to reach this level is truly remarkable! I believe Brother Ning's luck is also quite good!"
Jiang Ning nodded slightly. "It's alright."
Liu San Sheng continued, "But for Yiming to have a bright future, he needs to come to the Liu family. Don't you agree?"
Jiang Ning smiled noncommittally.
"I won't say."
"Uh..." Liu San Sheng.
After a moment of silence, he cupped his hands. "Farewell! See you tomorrow!"
Then he also cupped his hands to Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan, who were not far away and took his leave.
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