Chapter 45 Donggang Chen Clan_i
Translator: 549690339 |
Unless Chen Fangjie is not in Donggang, if he doesn’t come to meet us, it would undoubtedly be a thorough disdain for the Wang family.
Given the profound marital ties between the two sides, such rudeness would certainly not occur.
Indeed, after Wang Dinghai responded in flag language, the other party’s ship quickly got closer. Standing at the bow of the ship was a young man dressed in brocade, handsome and valiant.
With Wang Shouzhe’s vision, he recognized the young man from afar. It was indeed Chen Fangjie, the Young Clan Leader of the Chen Clan of Donggang. After arranging a marriage with Wang Shouzhe’s sister, Wang Luoyi, he had come to visit the Wang family previously.
Also, when Wang Dingyue passed away due to his injuries, he represented the Chen Clan to pay condolences. However, because the two sides were not formally married yet, he could not wear mourning clothes according to traditional rules.
Chen Fangjie apparently also noticed Wang Shouzhe. He showed a smile on his face, gave a push on the ship’s bulwarks with one foot and leaped over like an arrow off the string, even turned a roll in mid-air and landed steadily on the deck.
Smiling, he cupped his hand and complained to Wang Shouzhe: “Shouzhe, you should’ve notified me a few days earlier that you were coming to Donggang. Then I could’ve sent a ship to pick you up.”
“Nice to see you, Brother Chen.” Wang Shouzhe returned the courtesy, “The decision to travel was made quite hastily, please forgive me.”
Yes, this Chen Fangjie was to be his future brother-in-law. However, until the day the marriage is formally completed, it is not appropriate to address each other recklessly.
While talking, Wang Shouzhe silently sized him up. Compared to last year, Chen Fangjie, a year older, appeared more heroically charming. Even with Wang Shouzhe’s Cultivation base, it was quietly hard for him to discern Chen’s current state.
Quite clearly, Chen Fangjie had already reached the seventh level of the Qi Refinement at a tender age, and not just at the beginning of it. This already counted as a very outstanding young genius. From the surface, he seemingly didn’t seem inferior to Wang Shouzhe.
However, Wang Shouzhe was very calm and confident at heart. Chen Fangjie’s overall level was at most equal to Wang Shouzhe before he crossed worlds. As for now, he had enough confidence that he would surpass Chen by a large margin when he reached Chen’s age.
At the same time, Chen Fangjie was also secretly measuring Wang Shouzhe and internally he was equally amazed. He had previously thought highly of Wang Shouzhe’s talent and dedication to cultivation, but felt that his overall temperament was a bit naive and in need of refinement.
Unexpectedly, in such a short time, he found him transformed in terms of temperament and demeanor. More surprisingly, Wang Shouzhe’s aura faintly exerted pressure on him. This suggested that Wang Shouzhe was not far off from breaking through to the seventh level of Qi Refinement.
The seventh level of Qi Refinement at eighteen!
If put in the greater Changning area, already would rank among the best and was quite rare. It was not until he reached the age of nineteen that he entered the seventh level of Qi Refinement. This future brother-in-law seemed to be no simple character.
With this thought, Chen Fangjie’s sense of familiarity deepened: “Shouzhe, what are you talking about? What need for such formality between us? After seeing my father, I will take you around Chen Port to have a good time, as a distraction.”
“Brother Chen, if it were usually, I would not refuse,” said Wang Shouzhe with a smile, “But after paying a visit to Uncle, I have to rush to the Hundred Islands Guard.”
Although he held the status of a Clan Leader, but Chen Dewei, the Clan Leader of the Chen Clan, was his sister’s future father-in-law, a senior. On moral and practical grounds, he should make a visit when passing by.
“Hundred Islands Guard.” Chen Fangjie’s expression slightly turned solemn, “You did mention this matter in the previous letters you had sent. However, Shouzhe, I must remind you, Hundred Islands Guard is a remote island city. Longzuo County’s influence there is weak. It’s filled with all sorts of people, unlike our orderly Changning area.”
“Brother Chen, I understand,” Wang Shouzhe replied seriously, “But I will need the Chen Clan to arrange the route for this trip.”
Following the Peace River further, it would be the East Sea area after exiting the trumpet mouth.
The ship borrowed from Sixth Uncle Wang Dinghai could navigate the Peace River without any major issues. But if they were to enter the sea, the ship was largely deficient. Seagoing ships not only need to be large and stable but also need to possess outstanding storm-resistant abilities and experienced sailors.
In short, the mysterious and unpredictable sea is not so easy to venture into, especially in this Mysterious Magical World.
“Well, it’s not exactly troublesome.” Chen Fangjie hesitated slightly, “As you may know, our Chen Clan’s merchant ships set sail to the Hundred Islands Guard once every month. However, most of the transportation is various goods. Aside from the crew cabin, there are only a dozen guest rooms reserved for guests, although the overall conditions are rather simple. If you really need to go, I can vacate some places. We could set off this afternoon and arrive at the Hundred Islands Guard the day after tomorrow morning. But our ship can only dock at the Hundred Islands Guard for five days.”
A sea ship is a massive investment, and the cost of each voyage is also very high. Back-and-forth routes, tides, and weather all require calculations and estimations.
Wang Shouzhe, of course, wouldn’t be impolite to demand that the Chen Clan provide a boat solely for him, and he promptly expressed that he was completely willing to share, asking Chen Fangjie to arrange for three guest rooms.
Once the itinerary was confirmed, Chen Fangjie naturally didn’t interfere any further, and agreed to the arrangements.
Then, guided by a pilot boat, Sixth Uncle Wang Dinghai’s boat docked ashore. Elder Luo Yi and the others temporarily remained on board. Meanwhile, Wang Shouzhe accompanied Chen Fangjie to visit Chen Dewei, the current clan leader of the Chen family, according to the formalities.
Chen Dewei naturally gave Wang Shouzhe a corresponding courteous reception and expressed his gratitude to the Wang family for their early warning about the Honey Worm Plague. For the Chen Clan, their primary business is not in agriculture, and the family only owns two small farms totaling three to four thousand acres. With this early warning, the overall loss would not be too significant.
Meanwhile, Chen Fangjie rapidly helped Wang Shouzhe arrange for the sea voyage and introduced several members of the Chen Clan who would be joining them to Wang Shouzhe, instructing them to take good care of Wang Shouzhe and his party.
As Wang Shouzhe had rejected his offer to accompany them on board, he slipped Wang Shouzhe a booklet before their departure. This booklet contained information about all the different influential powers within the Hundred Islands Guard.
Not long after, at the deep-water port of Donggang, Wang Shouzhe’s party discreetly boarded a ship named the Jun Yao. Named after the Chen family’s “Jun Yao Old Ancestor”, this ship could deter some petty ill intentions.
Once on board, a Chen Clan member named Chen Fanghua courteously led them to their rooms.
Chen Fanghua is the elder cousin of the young clan leader Chen Fangjie. He had reached the high level five of Qi Refinement Realm at just 25 and was considered an elite among the younger generation of the Chen Clan.
The three guest rooms were interconnected, with one serving as a special room for honorable guests.
Being able to provide such a room in such a rush shows Chen Fangjie’s high esteem for Wang Shouzhe, leaving no stone unturned in his efforts.
“Thank you, Brother Chen,” Wang Shouzhe said, giving a customary bow to Chen Fanghua, “I hope for your continued help during our upcoming journey.”
“Of course, of course,” Chen Fanghua hastily responded, “You are honorable guests of our young clan leader, therefore you are honorable guests of the Chen Clan. Please, make yourselves comfortable. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask me.”
With that said, he excused himself and left. The ship was about to sail, so it was the busiest time for him.
To avoid unnecessary attention, Wang Shouzhe had asked Chen Fangjie to keep his identity secret. Thus, the members of the Chen Clan on the ship simply knew them as the young clan leader’s honored guests.
Once they were alone,
Wang Shouzhe bowed to Elder Luo Yi, saying, “Elder, I apologize for the inconvenience of taking a cargo ship.” To charter an entire ship would not only be expensive, but also would not be as straightforward.
“No problem. Your arrangement is very appropriate,” Luo Yi responded calmly with neither delight nor distress, “Traveling with the Hundred Islands Guard is the most secure method to keep things quiet and efficient.”
“Fourth Aunt, can you help Elder have some rest?” Wang Shouzhe then addressed Xu Zhirou, “This trip is going to take more than twenty hours, we would not want the elder to get tired.”
“Rest assured, Shouzhe. I’ll make sure the elder is well taken care of,” Fourth Aunt Xu Zhirou answered seriously, then helped Elder Luo Yi into the superior room.
The superior room was divided into two sections for the honored guest and their entourage to rest separately.
Just as Wang Licui was about to excitedly follow them into the room, she was stopped by Wang Shouzhe, “Girl, come here first. I have something to talk with you about.”
“Yes, Fourth Uncle.”
Wang Licui’s heart fluttered. Had she done something wrong? She immediately followed him into the next room with a gloomy look on her face.
Seeing her expression, Wang Shouzhe swatted her forehead in irritation, “What’s with that face? I’m your Fourth Uncle, not a man-eating monster.” Wang Licui quickly switched expressions, forcing out a sheepish, nervous smile in an attempt to appear pleasant.