"The head manager?"
Fang Han was slightly taken aback.
Fang Zheng, the father, was originally from a collateral branch of the Fang Clan and was inconspicuous in the clan, working as an accountant in a small shop in the city.
Now he has become the head manager of dozens of shops, overseeing the livelihoods of hundreds of people. This change is quite significant.
"Your dad says he's tired, but he's actually very happy inside."
Lin Wan said with a smile.
"He left home just as dawn broke today. I said a few words to him, and he argued back, saying something like, 'My son is so successful, as a father, I can't let him down.'"
Fang Han couldn't help but smile when he heard his mother mimicking his father's tone of voice.
Just then, a series of vigorous footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate, accompanied by a hearty laugh.
"Han'er is really back? I thought the people below were just fooling me!"
Before he could finish speaking, Fang Zheng had already strode into the courtyard.
Today he was wearing a brand new dark blue Brocade Robe, with a jade belt around his waist and black boots on his feet. He looked much more energetic than he had a few months ago.
"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."
Fang Zheng's gaze swept over Fang Han from head to toe, then he patted Fang Han's shoulder forcefully.
That hand was rough yet strong, with calluses on the palm from years of holding a pen. The warmth of the palm emanated through the fabric, carrying a silent and profound strength that belonged to a father.
The family took their seats in the hall, Maid served hot tea and Pastry before quietly leaving.
Fang Ying nestled beside her mother, playing with the new jade bracelets on her wrist, occasionally raising her hand to look at them in the light, her little face full of joy.
Fang Zheng picked up his teacup, took a sip to moisten his slightly dry throat, then put the teacup down and turned his gaze back to Fang Han Fang Han, recounting to him one by one what had happened at home during Fang Han's absence.
Fang Han listened quietly, nodding occasionally and interjecting with a question or two now and then.
After Fang Zheng had finished speaking, Fang Han put down his teacup and looked at his father.
"Father, are you happy with your job as head manager? If it's tiring, you can resign without worry."
"These days, my monthly income from affiliation alone is no less than several hundred thousand taels, more than enough to cover household expenses. You can certainly enjoy your retirement."
Fang Zheng shook his head upon hearing this.
"It's not tiring at all. I just occasionally go to the shop to browse the accounts and check the income. It's quite leisurely."
"Moreover, this job is well-paid, with substantial allowances, far exceeding what Father could have earned as a bookkeeper in his small shop."
He then smiled.
"If I'm left idle, I feel incredibly uncomfortable."
He picked up the teacup, took another sip, and put it down.
"As you know, your father isn't particularly capable. His greatest achievement was working as an accountant in a small shop, and now he manages dozens of shops. To be honest..."
Fang Zheng paused, a glint of light flickering deep in his eyes—a pride rarely seen in a middle-aged man.
"Dad actually quite likes this job."
Fang Han looked at his father's face, which was etched with wrinkles but still beaming with joy, and didn't try to persuade him any further.
"Since Father likes it, then let him do it. If there are any difficulties, just tell the Clan Head."
"I know."
Fang Zheng nodded.
Lin Wan sat to the side, watching the father and son chatter away, unable to suppress the smile on her lips.
She picked up her teacup, took a small sip, put it down, glanced at Fang Han's face, and suddenly spoke.
"Han'er."
Her tone was unhurried, yet it carried a profound meaning.
Fang Han paused slightly in his teacup, a vague sense of unease creeping into his heart.
Lin Wan put down her teacup and looked at Fang Han with her gentle eyes.
"Your father would have married me long ago if he were your age. You should also consider it."
Fang Han put down his teacup and smiled helplessly.
"Mom, I'm only twenty years old, why are you already pressuring me to get married?"
"Twenty years old is still young?"
Lin Wan glared at him reproachfully.
"Go look around Liangshui City, which twenty-year-old man isn't already engaged? When I was your age, you could already run around."
Fang Han opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know how to refute it.
"However, Mother is not an unreasonable person."
Lin Wan changed the subject, her tone softening slightly, a mischievous smile flashing in her eyes.
"Given your current status, you can't rush into finding a wife. Let's discuss it again when you have a woman you like."
Fang Han remained silent for a moment, and a pair of cold, clear eyes involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
Her face was veiled in purple gauze, revealing only her eyes, which were as clear as the water of a cold pool. Occasionally, when she looked at him, a very faint, almost imperceptible light would flash deep within her eyes.
Those were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.
"If I had to name a woman I like, there is indeed one."
Fang Han spoke slowly, his voice a few decibels softer than before.
Lin Wan's eyes lit up immediately, and she leaned forward slightly, her tone full of eagerness.
"Whose daughter is she? What's her name? How old is she? What does she look like?"
This barrage of questions caught Fang Han off guard, and he quickly raised his hand to beg for mercy.
"Her name is Yun Qianyue, and she's a disciple of the sect who Beginner stage the same year as me."
Fang Han met his mother's increasingly bright gaze and tried his best to keep his voice calm.
"He's a bit reserved, but he's a very good person."
" Yun Qianyue..."
Lin Wan murmured the name twice, becoming more and more satisfied with each repetition.
Although she didn't know the girl's He Clan, as a disciple of the Azure Profound Sect, she must be exceptionally talented. Judging from Fang Han's description, she was cool but not bad, so she must be a good girl.
When will you bring it back for Mom to see?
Lin Wan asked hurriedly.
Fang Han was both amused and exasperated by her anxious appearance, and shook his head.
"Mother, I still need to discuss this with her. If she agrees, I will bring her back to meet you at the end of this year."
"Okay, okay!"
Lin Wan nodded repeatedly, her gentle face full of joy, as if she were about to meet her future daughter-in-law tomorrow.
Although Fang Zheng didn't say much, the curve of his mouth on his Fang Zheng face was noticeably more upturned than before.
Fang Ying nestled beside her mother, listening with a mixture of understanding and confusion. She only knew that her brother seemed to be bringing a sister home. Her bright, dark eyes darted around, and then she suddenly asked in a clear, crisp voice:
"Is brother bringing sister-in-law back with him?"
Fang Han was speechless for a moment after being choked by her innocent words, while Lin Wan laughed so hard she couldn't stop, and pulled Fang Ying into her arms.
Fang Han shook his head helplessly, but the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.
As night deepened, the lights in every home in Liangshui City went out one by one.
Fang Han lay on the bed, listening to the faint sound of the night watchman's clapper coming from the distance outside the window and Fang Ying's even breathing from the next room, and slowly closed his eyes.
I slept soundly through the night without any dreams.
The next morning, Fang Han got up.
After bidding farewell to his parents and Younger Sister, he pushed open the courtyard gate and disappeared into the streets and alleys of Liangshui City, where the morning light was just beginning to break.
After leaving the city gate, Fang Han by the official road, took out the map of the entire Great Chu Dynasty, and glanced at it while sprawling on the ground.
Westview Prefecture is separated from Qingyang Prefecture by five commanderies.
The shortest route is through East Foothills Prefecture.
However, he had previously incurred enmity with the Crimson Flame Sect and Thunderlight Pavilion in East Foothills Prefecture. Going to East Foothills Prefecture would be tantamount to walking into a trap.
"Detour through Songquan Prefecture."
Fang Han put away the map and turned his gaze eastward.
If we were to go through Songquan Prefecture, taking a detour would probably add nearly a thousand miles to our journey.
However, it is safer, as there is no risk of being surrounded and killed by experts from the Crimson Flame Sect and Thunderlight Pavilion.
Having made up his mind, Fang Han no longer hesitated.
"Whoosh!"
He unleashed the Wind God Step, his figure transforming into a faint, almost imperceptible stream of blue light, speeding along the official road towards Songquan Prefecture.
The morning breeze whistled in my ears, and the scenery on both sides rushed past.
Westview Prefecture.
What exactly is hidden at the location marked on that Treasure Map?
His anticipation grew even stronger.
In the Zi Courtyard, the morning light was just beginning to break.
Yun Qianyue sat cross-legged on a futon in the Quiet Room, her aura slowly receding, returning to tranquility like the receding tide.
She opened her eyes, and a glint of pale blue light flashed briefly in her clear, cold eyes before disappearing.
The pale blue Internal Qi flowing through his meridians has become increasingly condensed, and he is only one step away from reaching the bottleneck leading to the sixth rank.
Beginner stage for less than three years, he has already reached the limit of the late stage of the Seventh Rank. Such progress is unmatched by any other disciple in the entire Azure Profound Sect and even the county, except for Fang Han. He can be called a genius.
Yun Qianyue finished her practice as usual, stood up, and straightened her clothes.
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door.
"Is Senior Sister Yun here? There's an invitation for you."
The voice sounded somewhat unfamiliar, tinged with a cautious restraint.
Yun Qianyue walked over and opened the door. Standing outside was a young man dressed in the robes of a servant disciple, holding a letter tied with a light blue silk ribbon in both hands, and bowing as he handed it over.
Who delivered it?
Yun Qianyue accepted the letter, her voice cool and clear.
The servant disciple lowered his head and replied:
"Reporting to Senior Sister, it was delivered by someone from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in Azure Profound City. They said they absolutely had to hand it over to you personally."
" The Hundred Treasures Pavilion?"
Yun Qianyue's eyes flickered slightly, and she took out a small piece of silver from her sleeve and handed it over.
The servant disciple quickly thanked him, bowed, and withdrew.
She closed the door and her gaze fell on the letter.
The cover bears the four characters " Yun Qianyue Qin Kai" in elegant small regular script, and a small peony seal is affixed at the bottom of the signature—this is the very pattern of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion Lan Yuexin.
She opened the letter and unfolded the pages.
The handwriting was neat and gentle, and the wording was appropriate and earnest. The gist of the message was that Lan Yuexin, the manager of the Azure Profound City branch of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, had long admired Yun Qianyue and would like to invite her to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion for a chat at noon today.
Lan Yuexin.
Yun Qianyue closed the letter, a thoughtful look appearing in her eyes that were peeking out from behind the purple veil.
Hundred Treasures Pavilion is one of the top three merchant guilds in the county. As a manager of one of its branches, Lan Yuexin has recently opened a branch in Azure Profound City, so she has naturally heard of it.
It is said that although she is young, she is extremely good at business, and the profits of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion Golden Brilliance City branch have multiplied several times under her management.
But why would she suddenly invite me to her home when I have no prior connection with her?
She remained silent for a moment, then put the letter away.
Since you can't figure it out, then go and take a look.