Chen Jianghe was taken aback at first, then his brows lifted with joy. Being able to enter the Inner Waters ahead of schedule without drawing attention was naturally a good thing for him.
Not only would his annual pay increase substantially, but he would also have access to a first-tier middle-grade Spiritual Vein in the Inner Waters, which would greatly benefit his cultivation.
Most importantly, the Inner Waters were far safer than the Outer Waters.
All the other benefits were secondary and could be made up for with time, but to Chen Jianghe, safety was the priority above all else.
Delighted, Chen Jianghe took out a tael of silver and rewarded the attendant.
The attendant thanked him with a broad smile, but after turning away, he curled his lip slightly and muttered something under his breath.
"Brother Jianghe, congratulations."
Gao Peiyao came back to her senses and hurried to congratulate him.
Zhou Miaoyun also offered her congratulations. "Fellow Daoist Chen, entering the Inner Waters means not only higher pay, but also being able to cultivate on a Spiritual Vein. I imagine you could break through to the mid Qi Refining stage in less than five years. This calls for a celebration."
Zhou Miaoyun then summoned the attendant and ordered a tableful of dishes, including a braised Big Blue Fish weighing three jin, priced at three grains of spirit sand per jin.
This showed how highly Zhou Miaoyun regarded Chen Jianghe.
Even before this, Zhou Miaoyun had thought well of Chen Jianghe. His outstanding "talent for aquaculture" would be of considerable help to her in the future.
"I never expected this opportunity to fall into my lap. It really is happy news, so this meal should be on me."
Seeing that Zhou Miaoyun had ordered Big Blue Fish, Chen Jianghe weighed things up and decided that he should pay after all.
Both Zhou Miaoyun and Gao Peiyao vied to pay, but Chen Jianghe politely declined their offers.
Since Chen Jianghe knew Yu Daniu would be coming later, he asked the attendant to serve the dishes a little later.
If Zhou Miaoyun or Gao Peiyao paid for this meal, it would be awkward for Chen Jianghe to make requests of the attendant.
A short while passed.
Yu Daniu arrived at the private room, his face full of joy. He must have received considerable benefits at the end.
"Daniu, we were just waiting for you. Come, sit down."
Chen Jianghe beckoned to Yu Daniu, inviting him to sit beside him.
Meanwhile, the attendant outside headed downstairs to prepare to serve the dishes. Chen Jianghe had instructed him earlier to wait until someone else arrived at the private room before serving.
"Brother Daniu, did you really become a live-in son-in-law of the Yun Household?" Gao Peiyao asked with concern.
Yu Daniu nodded.
He was not surprised that Gao Peiyao knew he had become a live-in son-in-law.
He was honest and simple by nature, but he was not stupid.
When Gao Peiyao left the venue, she had said she would wait for them at the Welcoming Inn because she wanted to know what benefits the Fisher-Farmers who stayed until the end would receive.
Chen Jianghe had arrived at the Welcoming Inn before him, so naturally, he had already told them what had happened earlier.
"Little Sister Peiyao, let me return these two spirit stones first." Yu Daniu took out two spirit stones and pushed them in front of Gao Peiyao.
"What are these?"
Chen Jianghe and the two women were all somewhat puzzled.
Where had Yu Daniu gotten the spirit stones?
This was no small sum. It was equivalent to four or five years of income for an ordinary Junior Fisher-Farmer.
"After Brother Jianghe left, the Fifth Elder gave each of us seven Fisher-Farmers marrying into the Yun Household five spirit stones."
Yu Daniu spoke with a cheerful smile.
"Brother Daniu, there's no rush to repay me. Keep them for now. I still have enough spirit stones."
Gao Peiyao said playfully, "Whenever I run short, I'll be sure to ask you, Brother Daniu."
Yu Daniu was not good with words, and Gao Peiyao's kind remarks left him at a loss for what to do.
"Daniu, will you be living on Heart of the Lake Island from now on?" Chen Jianghe spoke up to ease his predicament.
He had seen through Gao Peiyao's intentions.
The Yun Household seemed to place great importance on these live-in sons-in-law, which made Gao Peiyao see considerable value in Yu Daniu once again. "Heart of the Lake Island is the Yun Household's clan grounds, with a second-tier lower-grade Spiritual Vein beneath it. If you can cultivate there, you'll get twice the results with half the effort." Zhou Miaoyun looked at Yu Daniu with a smile.
"I will indeed be going to Heart of the Lake Island to cultivate. The Fifth Elder said he would take the seven of us there in three days."
As Yu Daniu spoke, he looked at Chen Jianghe. "Brother Jianghe, I heard Yun Bufan talking to the Fifth Elder. He said the three of you who met the aquaculture requirements would also be allowed into the Inner Waters."
"Yes, the Yun Household just sent someone to tell me." Chen Jianghe nodded.
Yu Daniu brightened at this. "Then congratulations on becoming a Senior Fisher-Farmer, Brother Jianghe."
As they spoke, the dishes and Immortal Spirit Wine were brought in.
At the sight of the braised Big Blue Fish weighing three jin, Chen Jianghe and the other two could not resist having a taste. Zhou Miaoyun was the only exception.
They wanted to see how this spirit fish differed from ordinary fish.
Although they all raised Big Blue Fish, the Yun Household strictly controlled them. Aside from paying the White Egret, they were forbidden from eating Big Blue Fish without authorization.
They were forbidden from selling Big Blue Fish without authorization.
They were forbidden from giving the Big Blue Fish in their own waters to others.
They were forbidden from taking Big Blue Fish out of their own Aquaculture Waters.
Anyone who violated these rules would have their Dantian crippled, their sea of qi shattered, and their legs chopped off before being expelled from Mirror Moon Lake.
Chen Jianghe picked up a morsel with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, savoring it carefully. The fish was delicious and tender as tofu, melting in his mouth and falling apart with the lightest bite.
It also contained spiritual energy that ordinary fish lacked, and a fresh, savory flavor lingered in his mouth after he swallowed.
It was far better than ordinary fish.
It simply contained too little spiritual energy to be of much benefit to cultivation.
Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, cups and plates lay scattered across the table.
They agreed to meet again the following year.
Gao Peiyao and Zhou Miaoyun left together.
Only Yu Daniu and Chen Jianghe remained in the private room.
"Brother Jianghe, take these five spirit stones." Yu Daniu took out five spirit stones and placed them before Chen Jianghe.
"What are you doing?" Chen Jianghe asked, puzzled.
If he was repaying his debt, Yu Daniu only owed him one spirit stone. What did he mean by giving him five?
Besides, Yun Zhonghou had only given Yu Daniu five spirit stones. If he gave them all to him, what would Yu Daniu use once he reached Heart of the Lake Island?
"Actually, the Fifth Elder gave each of us ten spirit stones, as well as ten Qi-Blood Pills."
Yu Daniu forced the five spirit stones into Chen Jianghe's hand.
"I won't need spirit stones on Heart of the Lake Island. The Yun Household will provide all my cultivation resources, so just keep these five spirit stones."
"Daniu, you're mistaken."
Chen Jianghe took one spirit stone, then returned the other four to Yu Daniu.
"Once you're married, you'll need plenty of spirit stones, and you won't have any other source of income. If you end up penniless, won't your wife's family look down on you? How will your wife get along happily with you then?"
Chen Jianghe's meaning was plain: he was going to Heart of the Lake Island to be a live-in son-in-law, not to live like a lord.
The woman would be of noble birth and certainly could not be made to suffer indignities.
The Yun Household's elder had given them spirit stones partly to put the live-in sons-in-law at ease, and partly to keep the household's own girls from suffering.
As far as the Yun Household was concerned,
those ten spirit stones would end up being spent on the Yun Household's children anyway.
Once the live-in sons-in-law had children of their own, they would then need to spend spirit stones raising descendants for the Yun Household.
"Well..."
Yu Daniu froze. He truly had not imagined there were so many twists and turns involved.
(End of chapter)
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