I'll Listen to You, Fourth Uncle!

"Big Brother, you should sit down too." Wang Shouzhe rose to his feet and invited him with cupped hands.

"Fourth Brother." Wang Shouxin's weathered face held a complicated expression, with more than a trace of shame. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then stopped himself and sat down.

"It is rare for me to dine with Big Brother and Sister-in-law." Wang Shouzhe smoothly played host. "Everyone, try this clear-water hotpot."

A copper pot of boiling water sat over a brazier of premium spirit charcoal. Only some salt, cooking wine to remove the gaminess, and ginger had been added to the water. The thin slices of Spirit-Horn Yak meat would be cooked within seconds of being dropped in.

"This?"

Everyone was somewhat doubtful. Could food prepared in such a simple way possibly taste good? Hopefully it would not ruin the Spirit Food.

Yet the moment the thin meat slices entered their mouths, they found them crisp and springy, tender and silky. A burning surge of vital blood energy rose within their abdomens and spread through their bodies.

"The finest ingredients require the simplest cooking methods." Wang Shouzhe poured Spirit Wine for everyone and said unhurriedly, "Only then can one taste the food's most primal flavor. Big Brother, you began working at the Sericulture Farm when you were eighteen. In the blink of an eye, twenty-five years have passed. For all these years of diligent, tireless devotion to the clan, Fourth Brother offers you a cup."

Eating Spirit Meat with Spirit Wine was an experience Wang Shouxin had rarely enjoyed, even at forty-three years old. Wang Shouzhe's words, in particular, sent a warm current through his heart. He hurriedly raised his cup. "It is only right. It is all only right."

After the two drained their cups, Wang Shouzhe solemnly toasted Madam Xu. "Sister-in-law, you have been married into our Wang Clan for twenty-one years and borne two sons and two daughters for the eighth generation of the Ping'an Wang Clan. You have labored greatly and rendered immense service; you are a great contributor to our Wang Clan. Shouzhe offers you a cup."

Madam Xu's heart suddenly ached. Yes, who knew of all the hardships she had endured? Yet apart from Shouzhe bringing it up, no one had ever praised her like this. She immediately lifted her cup and replied with slight tears in her voice, "Thank you, Fourth Uncle, for being so considerate."

This Spirit Wine was truly sweet. It made her whole body feel as though it were floating.

"Eldest Mother, you married my father in the bloom of your youth. Not only did you work tirelessly to manage the household, you also treated my sister and me as your own, caring for us at every turn and raising us with such devotion." Wang Shouzhe raised his third cup. "Shouzhe will forever remember this kindness and grace."

Gongsun Hui froze. Her nose felt faintly sour as she widened her almond eyes and scolded him affectionately, "Luoyi is my daughter by blood, and you are my son by blood. Caring for and raising you is only what I should do. Why say such things for no reason?"

Though she spoke that way, she happily drank the cup of Spirit Wine. Shouzhe's gratitude was enough to prove that her years of hard work had not been in vain.

After this exchange, everyone gradually relaxed. Three rounds of drinks later, the jug of Spirit Wine was nearly empty. Spirit Wine was especially intoxicating, and everyone was already somewhat drunk.

"Fourth Uncle." Madam Xu finally gathered her courage and spoke. "I know that little beast Zongwei deserves to be beaten and punished. But could you spare him this once for the sake of your sister-in-law and Big Brother? Do not worry. I will certainly teach him properly when we return."

The moment she said this, even Wang Shouxin paused with his wine cup in hand, anticipation flickering in his eyes. Though he wanted nothing more than to beat that little beast to death, he was still his son.

What parents in this world did not hope their sons would become dragons?

"Sister-in-law, Big Brother, we are family." Wang Shouzhe set down his cup and said seriously, "Zongwei is my nephew, and he is also the future hope of the younger generation of our Ping'an Wang Clan. You and Big Brother hope your son will become a dragon. Could I, as his Fourth Uncle, possibly hope my nephew would become a worm instead?"

"Yes, yes, Fourth Uncle is right." Madam Xu beamed. "However you say he should be taught, we will listen to you."

"It is very simple. From now on, all clan members under the age of thirty will be judged by character and achievement." Wang Shouzhe revealed his true purpose. "I will establish five sequences, such as the First Sequence and Second Sequence. The clan stipends and resources available to each sequence will differ. I will also set out various standards and conduct an annual assessment to determine their sequence."

"What?"

Even Gongsun Hui was startled by this.

The clan did indeed assign sequences to its younger generation, but those were generally determined by factors such as bloodline, potential, and age, and once established, they did not change.

"Not only that, I will also introduce a comprehensive merit system for the entire clan. As long as one contributes to the clan, one can continuously earn contribution points. With contribution points, one can exchange them with the clan for all manner of cultivation resources—even Spirit Tea, Spirit Wine, cultivation arts, and anything else in the clan treasury can be exchanged for." Wang Shouzhe said earnestly, "As long as one has the ability, one can obtain more cultivation resources."

Wang Shouzhe's entire scheme was, when all was said and done, drawn from the settings of novels and games. It would prevent everyone in the clan from eating from the same communal pot. Although many clan members were currently willing to work diligently without complaint, that could not last forever.

When everyone was poor, it was still manageable; they all held their breath and worked hard. But once the clan grew wealthy, people's hearts would change.

"B-but this..." Madam Xu gaped. "What does this have to do with Zongwei's matter?"

"Sister-in-law, you are muddled about this." Wang Shouzhe said, "Is Zongwei untalented? He is not exceptionally gifted, but he is not bad either, right? Then why, at twenty years old, is he only at the high stage of the second level of the Qi Refining Realm? Why can he not even compare to some of his younger brothers and sisters? It is because he was spoiled from childhood—from Second Grandfather, from Eldest Uncle, and from both you and Big Brother. This left him without any sense of competition, unwilling to endure hardship, and he gradually developed all sorts of bad habits."

"Then... can Zongwei still be saved?" Madam Xu asked weakly. To be honest, she was deeply disappointed by what her son had done as well. But no matter how disappointed she was, he was still her son.

"Yes!" Wang Shouzhe said seriously. "Strip him of every resource and make him fight for cultivation resources with his own two hands. Let shame spur him onward. Let him enter the clan's First Sequence through his own efforts and reclaim the cultivation resources that were stripped from him. Only when he grows and improves bit by bit through his own hard work will he mature."

"Fourth Brother is right." Wang Shouxin slapped the table, thoroughly agreeing. "That little beast has had things too easy. How will he grow up if he does not suffer a little?"

"But if Zongwei still refuses to work hard..." Madam Xu said hesitantly, "Would he not miss the best opportunity for cultivation?"

"Heh. If he still refuses to work hard even under such circumstances..." Wang Shouzhe sneered. "Sister-in-law, can you still expect him to amount to anything in this life? It is fine. Our Wang Clan may be somewhat poor, but we can still afford to raise a rice worm. Besides, he is not your only son. I think Zongchang is quite good. He is only thirteen this year, if I remember correctly, yet he is already at the second level of the Qi Refining Realm. If such potential is properly nurtured, he will surely become a pillar of our Wang Clan in the future."

At the mention of Wang Zongchang, both Madam Xu and Wang Shouxin revealed pleased expressions. No matter what, their younger son was quite promising—far better than his elder brother.

"Shouzhe, you are right." Wang Shouxin seemed to have made up his mind as well. "Then we will give that little beast one last chance. If he still fails, we will let him fend for himself. I, Wang Shouxin, will act as though I never had this son."

Madam Xu grew anxious and was just about to say something when Wang Shouzhe reassured her, "Sister-in-law, do not be anxious yet. How could Big Brother and I harm Zongwei? If he still does not improve, I will make arrangements. I refuse to believe I cannot straighten that boy out."

At those words, Madam Xu put away her anxiety and said gratefully to Wang Shouzhe, "Fourth Uncle, then we will listen to you in everything." Without realizing it, her eyes held much more awe and trust toward Wang Shouzhe.

With the matter settled, everyone dropped the subject. The two brothers, Wang Shouzhe and Wang Shouxin, clinked cups back and forth and spoke only of brotherly affection, draining the entire jug of Spirit Wine.

When the banquet ended, the rather drunk Wang Shouxin returned home with Madam Xu supporting him.

Gongsun Hui, who had witnessed it all, looked at Wang Shouzhe with both gratification and emotion. If Zongwei's matter had not been handled well, it could very well have driven a wedge between the brothers.

Yet not only had he handled it extremely well, he had also drawn Madam Xu and Wang Shouxin onto the same boat. Think about it: if even Wang Zongwei, the most disappointing member of the clan, had to walk the Path of Sequences, what reason could anyone else have to object?

"Eldest Mother, I will have to trouble you to establish and manage the records for the clan's Clan Merit system." Wang Shouzhe felt that Gongsun Hui was the best person for the task.

Afterward, they began discussing the various details of the Clan Merit system.

At the same time.

Wang Shouxin, supported by Madam Xu, had also returned home. Madam Xu was somewhat drunk as well, her face glowing red as she said, "Shouxin, I think Fourth Uncle truly is no ordinary man."

"Of course. Do you not see whose brother he is?" Wang Shouxin said smugly. "If he had not needed to shoulder the family estate, Fourth Brother might already be a student of the Purple Mansion Academy." Everything Wang Shouzhe had done that day made him feel immensely proud, as though he could hold his head high before Madam Xu.

"Look at you, showing off... What are you, you old thing, doing?" Madam Xu had barely finished half her sentence when Wang Shouxin pulled her into his arms. Her brows immediately shot up, and her fiery temper flared.

"Did Fourth Brother not praise you as a great contributor?" Wang Shouxin hoisted Madam Xu over his shoulder and headed for the bedroom. "We cannot let Fourth Brother down. We must have a few more children and contribute more to the clan."

"Wang Shouxin, you dog, you think I am... Ah~"