I! The Golden Finger

For other transmigrators, there was always some golden-finger system. All they had to do was silently call for the system, and all kinds of data panels would appear at a glance.

But without the aid of a golden-finger system, Wang Shouzhe was no longer afraid. After seeing Sixth Uncle Wang Dinghai's experience, he had gradually discovered that he differed enormously from the "natives" of this world in terms of perspective, ways of thinking, and more.

Take cultural knowledge, for instance. Before transmigrating, he had merely been an ordinary graduate from a second-tier university, working an ordinary job for several years. Back on Earth, he had been no more than an inconspicuous face in the vast sea of humanity.

Leaving kindergarten aside. Six years of elementary school, six years of middle and high school, and four years of university! That amounted to sixteen years of systematic professional learning, covering literature and music, language and philosophy, astronomy and geography, history and politics, as well as mathematics, physics, chemistry, computers, and so on.

Most of that knowledge might have sunk into the deepest layers of his memory, temporarily beyond recall. Yet it was precisely this immense store of knowledge that gave Wang Shouzhe a uniquely superior perspective and logic compared with the natives.

Furthermore, before transmigrating, web novels, short videos, and news feeds had proliferated to the utmost. One swipe on his phone and the sky would turn dark; another swipe, and dawn would arrive.

Every day, strange bits of knowledge would quietly accumulate without him even noticing.

"Perhaps these are my golden finger." Wang Shouzhe murmured, light shining in his eyes. "As for a system panel, that won't be difficult to solve either. At most, I'll build a crude panel myself that needs frequent updates and maintenance."

He could simply model it after the panels from those third-rate construction-style online games he had played.

Before building such a panel, however, he still needed to personally gain a deeper understanding of the entire clan's structure and specific details. Though he had inherited the original owner's memories, the original owner had only been eighteen.

Most of his time had been spent studying and cultivating, leaving him with only a shallow understanding of clan affairs.

He only knew that the clan's three most important pillar industries were Fenggu Farm, Xingsheng Farm, and Xinmao Silkworm Farm. These three great farms were far more important to the clan than businesses like the Fishing Brigade.

Each farm's harvest was exceedingly important to the clan. Thus, all three farms were currently managed by three experienced elders of the Xiao Generation.

Today, Wang Shouzhe decided to first visit the nearer Fenggu Farm, which Elder Wang Xiaozhi of the Xiao Generation guarded and managed.

"Wang Gui, prepare the carriage." Having made up his mind, Wang Shouzhe gave the order.

Wang Gui acknowledged at once and hurried away to make preparations.

Wang Shouzhe, meanwhile, strolled unhurriedly toward the main gate, his mind still turning over matters related to Fenggu Farm. Just as he reached the central courtyard, he heard a crisp young woman's greeting: "Greetings, Fourth Brother."

Wang Shouzhe glanced to the side and saw two girls, one older and one younger, standing not far away. The older one was in the bloom of youth, dressed in a light-blue fitted outfit, and quite pretty.

The younger one looked only eleven or twelve. She wore her hair in twin horn braids and was dressed quite nicely as well. But being timid, she hid behind the older girl, unable to stop herself from peeking curiously at Wang Shouzhe.

What was rather unusual was that each girl carried a strangely shaped large case on her back, both of them looking quite heavy. Each also held a sword, as though they were preparing to head out.

"So it's Fourth Sister Luotong and Fifth Sister Luojing." Wang Shouzhe recognized them immediately and greeted them with a smile. "You're dressed so nicely. Are you heading out?"

The elder was Wang Luotong, seventeen this year. The younger was Wang Luojing, only twelve. Like Wang Shouzhe, both belonged to the seventh generation of descendants passed down from Ancestor Zhouxuan.

The women of Profound Martial Family Clans differed from those of ancient China. Although their ultimate fate was still marriage alliances, they possessed considerable autonomy before marrying. Like men, they received a high-quality education, cultivated, and could even participate in managing clan industries.

"Fourth Brother." Wang Luotong gave another demure bow, surprise flashing through her eyes before vanishing. "The farms are nearing harvest recently, and Grandfather has been too busy to return. I'm taking Luojing to visit him."

In Wang Luotong's impression, Fourth Brother Wang Shouzhe had always been rather stern. When siblings met, they would at most exchange greetings before hurrying off. When had he ever praised them so warmly, like a spring breeze washing over them?

Wang Shouzhe recalled that Wang Luotong and Wang Luojing were both granddaughters of Fourth Grandfather, Elder Wang Xiaozhi. Their father had been Wang Dingbang, the fourth of the Ding Generation, but Fourth Uncle Wang Dingbang had passed away five years ago.

The Wang Clan's male naming generations followed the sequence Yu, Chen, Qiong, Xiao; Ding, Shou, Zong, Shi, with all descendants, whether from the main line or direct branches, ranked together. Wang Shouzhe's father, Wang Dingyue, was the fifth male of the clan's sixth-generation Ding Generation, while Wang Shouzhe himself was the fourth male of the seventh-generation Shou Generation. However, Wang Dingyue and Wang Shouzhe belonged to the clan's main bloodline, while the others were merely from direct branches.

The Wang Clan's women, meanwhile, were ranked according to the sequence Zhu, Long, Ling, Zhen; Liu, Luo, Li, Ying. For instance, the current pillar holding up the family, Ancestor Longyan, Wang Longyan, was the clan's only living third-generation ancestor.

Wang Luotong and Wang Luojing were the fourth and fifth girls of the seventh generation. Wang Luomiao, the daughter of First Aunt Gongsun Hui, ranked seventh. Yet Wang Luomiao was likewise a main-line daughter, so her status within the clan was somewhat different.

The further a clan developed, the wider the age gaps between members of the same naming generation became.

For example, among Wang Shouzhe's seventh-generation Shou and Luo Generations, the eldest male, Wang Shouxin, was already forty-three, even older than Wang Dingyue. Meanwhile, the youngest seventh-generation member, Wang Luolan, was only five.

Moreover, there were already quite a few members of the eighth-generation Zong and Li Generations. Wang Zongwei was the oldest at twenty, but when he met little girls like Wang Luojing and Wang Luolan, he still had to call them Aunt.

Enough idle chatter for now.

After a brief thought, Wang Shouzhe said, "Were you planning to walk there? I happen to be going to Fenggu Farm as well. Come, ride in the carriage with me."

He knew the clan's circumstances were becoming increasingly difficult. It was impossible for them to assign a carriage specifically to two little girls traveling, much less provide clan guards.

Fenggu Farm was about twenty li from here. They would need at least an hour to walk there. Still, this whole region was Wang Clan territory and long-developed familiar land, so danger was unlikely.

Besides, as women of the Wang Clan, they were not weak girls incapable of even trussing a chicken.

"Thank you, Fourth Brother." Wang Luotong was somewhat flattered and hurriedly thanked him. Wang Luojing also seemed delighted, saying brightly, "Fourth Brother is so nice."

"Don't be happy too soon. Along the way, your Fourth Brother will test your studies and cultivation." Wang Shouzhe chuckled.

"Ah~" The sisters Wang Luotong and Wang Luojing immediately grew somewhat flustered. Wang Luojing especially looked crestfallen, her pretty little face drooping in grievance, as though she felt walking there would have been better.

Not long afterward.

With four clan guards riding yellow piebald horses before and behind as protection, Wang Shouzhe's carriage slowly departed the main residence. Wang Luojing was still young and greatly in awe of Wang Shouzhe, so she sat restlessly in the carriage, her little eyes occasionally darting toward the snacks on the small table.

Since he was traveling with his two younger sisters, Wang Shouzhe had just instructed Wang Gui to bring some candied fruit and melons, which now lay arranged on the small square table in the center of the carriage.

"Luotong, your aura seems to have stabilized at the peak of the second level of the Qi Refining Realm. How long has it been? You're preparing to break through, aren't you?" Wang Shouzhe handed her a washed sweet melon and asked casually. All Profound Warriors learned some methods of observing aura. Especially when there was a substantial gap in cultivation between two people, it was usually easy to discern the other's approximate level.

For Wang Luotong, a girl, to have cultivated to this level by around seventeen showed that she possessed decent aptitude and had worked quite hard.

"Thank you, Fourth Brother." Wang Luotong accepted the melon and answered somewhat stiffly, "It's been more than two months. I'm doing the slow grinding work now. Grandfather said I should be able to break through in about three months."

At those words, Wang Shouzhe's brows immediately furrowed. "That delays the opportunity too much. Why not use a Lesser Foundation-Cultivating Pill to assist your breakthrough? According to clan rules, you have the right to claim one."

"This..." Wang Luotong lowered her head, looking somewhat nervous. "Grandfather said the clan's resources are too tight right now, and that there will only be Lesser Foundation-Cultivating Pills after some time."

"That's not it at all." Wang Luojing puffed out her little cheeks. "Grandfather said Brother is already at the peak of the third level and needs the Lesser Foundation-Cultivating Pill more than Sister does."

"Luojing, don't speak nonsense." Wang Luotong said anxiously.

"Luojing, tell me." Wang Shouzhe's expression grew grave. "Has Wang Shounuo been bullying you? If that's the case, Fourth Brother will go teach him a lesson."

He knew Wang Shounuo was their full-blooded elder brother and was about twenty years old now.