Chapter 043: Swiftbird Express Arrives Again

Zhang Ping'an was not as socially adept as Deng Xiaolai; he was more introverted, but his work was always meticulous. Qingjin found this young fellow quite satisfactory.

With the manpower from the Feng family, Qingjin's group began a new round of land reclamation outside their small village. The earlier arrivals had already cleared thirty acres for grain fields and four or five acres for vegetable gardens. The newcomers, under Old Zhao's planning, aimed to open up seventy more acres for grain, plus ten acres for vegetables. The remainder was planted with a dozen acres of fruit trees.

Without the harassment and destruction of fierce beasts, the land of East Wilderness bestowed its bounty generously.

A new small pottery kiln, aided by many hands, was also completed and fired up. The first batch produced storage jars, basins, bowls, and the like.

However, both Qingzheng and Qinghu remained unimpressed by the pottery, steadfastly preferring wooden wares.

Qingjin wrestled with the matter for a while but ultimately decided to use only wooden utensils going forward. The key was that, though the wooden wares were somewhat heavy, they carried their own fragrance and attractive grain. They looked dignified and ancient, pleasing to the eye.

Zhou Ji did not spare Ning Qi any face and directly chose wooden wares as well.

Thus, Ning Qi's first batch of pottery was distributed to the newly arrived common folk who were accustomed to using such vessels.

The original group of commoners already had wooden wares; even their dining chopsticks were carved from the ironwood nearby.

Seeing this, Ning Qi frowned, saying, "This is far too wasteful. Even the common households are using ironwood furniture."

"It's nothing to worry about. It's not as if we'd cut down ironwood and sell it," replied Qingjin.

"Why not? Isn't ironwood highly valuable?" Ning Qi asked in confusion.

"Because the Dao Court has regulations. Ironwood can only be sold to the Dao Court, at seven red-gold coins per piece. The tree must be at least twenty years old, and the person who fells it must haul it to the Dao Court's purchasing shop themselves. This decree was issued seven years ago," Zhou Ji kindly explained.

"The Dao Court truly is formidable," Ning Qi admitted grudgingly. "A couple hundred years ago, every East Wilderness lord would plant a grove of ironwood as soon as they settled. Later, ironwood thickets spread everywhere. Now, with this order, I doubt any lord here is willing to plant ironwood anymore."

"It's not merely reluctance. Many territories simply chopped down their original ironwood groves for firewood. The fine timber once used for palaces, city walls, giant crossbows, ballistae, warships—all vanished rapidly from East Wilderness."

"I really wonder what goes on in the minds of those Dao Court types," Zhou Ji said angrily.

"Sigh, it feels as if the Dao Court is already in decline," Ning Qi complained.

"Whether it's in decline or not, that's none of our concern. We just need to do our own part well," said Qingjin. "Though nothing has happened these days, everyone must remain vigilant and never let their guard down. We have so many lives depending on us."

Zhou Ji and Ning Qi nodded in agreement.

While they kept watch cautiously, the Shen family mansion in Yinzheng City was in an uproar once again.

This time, with a squad led by skilled bodyguards and valuable cargo, the bird courier could not fly recklessly fast; they had to follow the planned route. Thus, the delivery arrived two days late. Large crates were unloaded into Madam Feng's courtyard, and the last box contained ninth-tier spiritual treasures.

Ninth-tier spiritual treasures! The entire Shen household was thrown into chaos.

That little girl Shen Qinghu had actually sent her mother a box of ninth-tier spiritual treasures!

It was almost unbelievable.

How could a girl who was always getting into trouble be so lucky, not only obtaining ninth-tier fierce beast meat but also finding ninth-tier spiritual treasures!

This was hardly risking her life in East Wilderness; it was more like living in luxury there.

Madam Feng received the goods, saw off the elite couriers, and found her gate and walls crowded with curious onlookers. She scoffed disdainfully, then stored both large and small boxes in her storage bracelet.

Not long after, Shen Fangxu returned, crestfallen.

As soon as he arrived, the pressure of his Foundation Establishment cultivation dispersed the crowd at the gate and wall.

Entering the main room, he saw his wife in high spirits, eating fruit.

The spiritual energy was astonishing!

It was indeed ninth-tier spiritual treasures!

Shen Fangxu took a small tangerine, peeled it as his wife had, and tasted a segment—it was truly sweet.

"You didn't share any with the family last time, and now you've got so much—" Shen Fangxu hadn't finished speaking when his wife snatched the tangerine from his hand. Madam Feng deftly swept all the tangerines from the plate into her storage bracelet. "If you don't like them, don't eat them." The name of this ninth-tier spiritual fruit had been mentioned by Qinghu in her rewritten letter to her mother.

Shen Fangxu, rubbing his temples, looked at his wife; it wasn't that he didn't like the fruit. "Always clashing with the clan isn't good. Whatever happens, we still have to live here, don't we?"

"You could leave the Shen family and move into the Feng household. My father would gladly welcome your son and daughter."

Shen Fangxu sighed. "Si Niang, if you keep eating alone, I'll have a hard time. Besides, many elders in the clan have always been kind to you."

"Yes, I'll send some ninth-tier fish fillets, courtesy of my daughter, to those who deserve it," Madam Feng replied briskly, clearly having planned it all out.

Shen Fangxu grew uneasy. "Whom are you planning to send them to?"

Madam Feng promptly listed the names she had in mind.

"You even send gifts to the Second Grand Uncle next door, but not a single tangerine for the clan leader?" Shen Fangxu asked in shock.

"Does he deserve it? He ruined one of my sons, and poisoned another; I loathe him. I should have stabbed that woman to death back then. Why was I afraid? If she died, I'd pay for her life, but at least she wouldn't have poisoned Qingzheng too! Your clan leader only knows how to cover up, a wretched old scoundrel. I'd like nothing better than to stab him as well."

Madam Feng threw the letters from Qingjin and Qingzheng at Shen Fangxu's face.

Shen Fangxu's expression changed dramatically. He immediately opened the letters and read them one by one, his face darkening until it seemed black water might drip from it.

"Let me tell you, Shen Fangxu, unless you give me justice, I won't stay with you. We'll separate."

Shen Fangxu gripped the letter so tightly he nearly crushed it.

"I need to go out for a while."

He carefully put the letters away, tucked them into his robe, and went out—straight to the home of the Grand Elder, who no longer managed clan affairs.

The Grand Elder was basking in the sun at home.

"Grand Elder, even if you and the clan leader both kneel to me this time, this matter cannot be settled." Shen Fangxu placed the two letters in the Grand Elder's hands as he opened his eyes.