Chapter 1069: Deer Family Members

He Lingchuan estimated that even if he left the archipelago for a few months now, it could operate independently.

Following local tradition, the Yangshan Archipelago was also holding the Spring Flourish Festival to celebrate the harvest and pray for a prosperous year. This festival was held after the grain had been stored. Everyone would parade through the streets, watch performances, browse markets, eat, dance around bonfires, or wear masks and sing and dance from night until morning. Consequently, there would usually be a baby boom by the end of the year.

As per local custom, the Yangshan Archipelago also invited closely connected officials, nobles, gentry, and wealthy merchants to attend the Spring Flourish Festival.

That night, a giant bonfire on Blackpage Island blazed halfway to the sky, its flames reflecting on everyone's smiling faces. Fine wine and delicious food flowed freely, and toasts were exchanged everywhere.

He Lingchuan had already completed a round of toasts with the merchants and returned to his seat, stretching his neck and patting his face. Socializing was exhausting; his face was stiff from smiling.

Ling Guang quickly handed him a small blue pill: "Eat this, it's for hangovers!"

"Are you sure?" He Lingchuan sniffed a strange odor from the pill and immediately felt suspicious. "Last time you gave the wrong medicine, and Qiu Hu had diarrhea all night."

"I didn't give the wrong one. He was training too hard during that period; he needed to purge the toxins."

"...You really don't understand social etiquette." That night, Qiu Hu was supposed to be enjoying a romantic evening with a lady, but... Anyway, for the next few days, Leini had a long face. Even he, as the boss, noticed it.

"Eat it. You've already downed three jars of wine. I'm afraid you'll try to jump into the sea to catch the moon later." Ling Guang rolled his eyes at him. "Do you remember how you behaved the last time you were drunk?"

"What?"

"You squatted on the beach of Centipede Island, digging sand bare-handed, and spent the entire night digging for clams, saying you wanted to stir-fry two dishes for Master Sun!" Ling Guang asked him, "Who is Master Sun?"

He Lingchuan chuckled awkwardly: "Did that really happen?"

"No?" Ling Guang had an excellent memory. "Then where did those two large buckets of clams come from?"

Just then, someone approached. He Lingchuan popped the pill into his mouth and swallowed it without chewing. Looking closely, it was Lu Zhenxian, the sixth son of the Lu family, who had come to offer a toast.

"Brother He, congratulations on the great spring harvest!" Lu Zhenxian had a somewhat round face, showing the geniality of a businessman. He also dealt in grain. The Yangshan Archipelago originally bought grain from him, but from now on, they would be selling grain, which inevitably created some competition. However, Lu Zhensheng quickly changed his perspective. After all, grain was hard currency in the rear of Mou State; it was merely a matter of time and price.

He Lingchuan raised his cup in return: "I hear that Lord Lu Six's business has been thriving recently. That's excellent news."

The businesses of Lu San and Lu Six were originally just mediocre, as the best resources were taken by the main family. However, He Lingchuan intentionally befriended them. The Yangshan Archipelago purchased large quantities of goods from these two families at favorable prices. The furs and clothing primarily managed by Lu San's family, and the ceramics, lacquerware, and medicinal herbs primarily managed by Lu Six's family, all found a market in the Yangshan Archipelago.

Currently, the Yangshan Archipelago has a permanent population of seventy thousand, with more people continuously joining. The newly arrived commoners have a strong demand for household goods. In other words, the Yangshan Archipelago was Lu San and Lu Six's biggest client.

These two cousins doing business with the Yangshan Archipelago naturally displeased Lu Zhensheng. He repeatedly tried to cut off their source of income. He Lingchuan had also heard about the struggles within the Lu family. In the end, both sides conceded. Lu Zhenxian turned a blind eye to their business with the Yangshan Archipelago, while Lu San and Lu Six had to hand over a portion of their profits, on the grounds that they had utilized family resources.

When he heard this news, He Lingchuan knew that the rift and conflict between the Lu family brothers had been deepened by his financial maneuvering.

He was now Lu Six's patron, and Lu Six's attitude was exceptionally enthusiastic. He took a brocade box from a guard and presented it to He Lingchuan with both hands: "A small token, it's nothing much."

"How can I accept this?" He Lingchuan said, though his hands were not shy, and he promptly lifted the lid. Inside the box lay a golden bowl. A peacock was embossed on its body, with crushed rubies inlaid in its crest and tail feathers. It was solid gold and utterly magnificent, still dazzling under the firelight.

"A golden rice bowl?" Lu Six knew how to give gifts; this one was very pleasing.

Lu Six chuckled: "With a golden rice bowl in hand, you'll have no worries at all."

Everyone echoed their approval.

Just then, a pair of young people pushed their way in behind Lu Six, staring at him for a while before finally exclaiming in surprise:

"He Xiao!"

He Lingchuan stood with his back to the bonfire; the more intense the flames, the darker his face appeared, making it difficult for others to see clearly. The young man shifted his position twice before finally getting a clear look at him.

"Lu Qingbang!" He Lingchuan's eyes lit up. He strode forward, quickly put an arm around Lu Qingbang's shoulder, and vigorously shook him a few times. "Long time no see!"

This young man was, of course, Lu Qingbang, Lu Six's son. He had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a sturdy build; only his chin resembled his father's. The two stood side by side, looking at each other and laughing heartily.

Lu Six rubbed his hands, delightedly asking, "You two actually know each other?"

"Indeed, we do." Lu Qingbang nodded repeatedly. "We drank together and went boating in Lingxu City last year. I never expected to meet Brother He again in my hometown, thousands of miles away!"

At that time, He Xiao had gained fame in Lingxu City through the Elixir of Immortality case, and when he walked among people, he was like the moon surrounded by stars. Lu Qingbang was one of those "stars." He came from a remote background and wasn't particularly eloquent. He Lingchuan didn't have much interaction with him, only remembering that such a person existed. He hadn't expected that this was actually a relative of the original He Xiao.

Lu Six smiled at He Lingchuan and said, "My son just returned from the front lines and insisted on coming to the island to see you."

Lu Qingbang said earnestly, "What Brother He did in Lingxu City was extraordinary. Of course, I had to come and pay my respects to a person like that!" During his studies in Beijia, he was merely an observer. He Lingchuan, however, became entangled in the deepest political struggles of Lingxu City, which was like navigating a boat through turbulent waves, where a moment's carelessness could lead to utter destruction. Yet, He Xiao managed to emerge unscathed and now stands here perfectly fine. That alone was remarkable.

The Soul-Snatching Mirror in He Lingchuan's arms chuckled: "From the way he's talking, I thought your act of burning down the Stargazing Tower had been exposed."

Guests nearby grew curious and asked, "Tell us about it?"

"Wait a moment!" Lu Qingbang quickly introduced the young woman beside him to He Lingchuan. "This is my sister, Lu Feiyan."

Lu Feiyan was only half a head shorter than her brother. She had a sturdy build, far surpassing that of an ordinary girl. When He Lingchuan saw the muscles on her arms, he felt she could punch any city's rich second-generation heir and make them cry. This was truly a tough woman who could wield a spear on horseback and kill on the ground.

Her round face was flushed, and her gaze at He Lingchuan was full of curiosity: "Hello. My brother praises you to the sky and gets as excited as a monkey whenever he mentions you. When can we spar a bit?"

"What nonsense are you talking about, young lady!" Lu Six was startled, afraid his impetuous daughter would damage his patron. "If you want to fight, go find your brother!"

Lu Feiyan pouted: "Big brother says he can easily beat the deputy commander of Lingxu City's Tongxin Guards, so he must have some real skills. Can't I ask him for some pointers?"

Lu Six didn't know what kind of unit the "Tongxin Guards" were, but adding the prefix "Lingxu City" made it sound impressive. So, this Brother He was not only intelligent, capable, and generous, but also possessed extraordinary cultivation? He hadn't befriended the wrong person; excellent, definitely not the wrong person!

"No problem. Come to Xiaoxu Island in a few days; our guard team will be organizing a drill," He Lingchuan told Lu Feiyan. "Bring a few extra changes of clothes; it's very misty there."

Lu Feiyan delightedly said, "Great, you're straightforward."

Someone called her, and she went over. Lu Six whispered to He Lingchuan, "My daughter is wild in front of others. Brother He, please don't mind her, and don't compete with her. She was with the army a while ago and damaged her face, getting such a long gash that it scared the whole family." Lu Six gestured on his own face, from the corner of his eye to his mouth. "Fortunately, we got some good medicine, or she would have been scarred for life!"

"If you have such trouble again, just come to me," He Lingchuan said, pointing at Ling Guang, who was sitting on the table drinking. "My alchemist is best at refining pills and making salves; I guarantee no scars will be left."

The clamor around the bonfire was deafening. He Lingchuan patted Lu Qingbang's shoulder and called him to talk on the reef cluster dozens of feet away. The meeting with the Lu siblings today was actually the result of his repeated hints to Lu Six. If Lu Six understood, their relationship could advance further.

This spot was far from the crowd. The sound of the tide was repetitive yet pleasant. After the tide receded, the tide pools on the reefs had mudskippers and small crabs, which would hide in the crevices at the sight of people.

Lu Qingbang spoke first: "Why would He Xiao come here?"

"Wandering across the four seas, I grew tired, so I wanted to find a place to settle down," He Lingchuan said, sitting down with his long legs propped on the reef. "I think this place is quite good; now that I'm here, I don't want to leave."

"That's great! I can ask Brother He for more guidance in the future!"

He Lingchuan examined Lu Qingbang closely. The young man's eyes were full of joy, and his expression did not seem feigned. "Guidance on what?" He Lingchuan said casually. "Brother Lu has become a regional commander, fighting enemies and defending his home. The scholars in Lingxu City only talk theory and boast about their discussions; they're already not as good as you."

Having been battle-hardened himself, he could immediately sense the scent of iron and blood on Lu Qingbang. Although the latter was less than twenty years old, he must have taken many lives. True knowledge comes from practical experience. Lu Qingbang, who had returned home to join the war, was now a completely different person compared to two years ago. If he had been in his current state then, He Lingchuan would have spotted him in the crowd and befriended him properly.

"It was only after I went to the battlefield that I understood how difficult it must have been for Brother He back then," Lu Qingbang sighed softly. "In Lingxu City, I heard people say that you are best at understanding human nature, excel at observing situations, are frank in public, and meticulous in private. The more I thought about it after returning, the more I realized it was true. If I could be as discerning as Brother He, perhaps I wouldn't be so passive when fighting on the front lines."

He Lingchuan was greatly surprised: "Who would say such a thing about me?"

"Du Shan. He said it when he was drinking."

"...That old rascal!" He Lingchuan couldn't help but mutter.