Chapter 337: Cooperating with the Fang Family (Part Two)

Wang Ruyan had just settled down when several people sent her voice transmissions, and she replied to each of them. After the self-introductions were complete, the cultivators chatted for a while before gradually dispersing, preparing to find private places for detailed discussions.

Soon after, only four people remained on the fourth floor: Wang Ruyan, Wang Qingshan, and the brothers Qin Yunxiang and Qin Yunzhong.

"Madam Wang, let's talk inside."

Qin Yunxiang invited Wang Ruyan and Wang Qingshan into an elegant private room, where the four of them sat around a tea table.

"There are no outsiders here, Fellow Daoist Qin. Please speak freely."

Qin Yunxiang smiled and nodded, saying, "Madam Wang, our Qin family is quite interested in your Wang family's puppet beasts. We would like to purchase them in bulk, though the price would certainly be lower than the market rate. In exchange, we can sell you first-grade spirit grains and first- and second-grade blank talismans in bulk. What do you think?"

The Qin family controlled a considerable amount of territory, where they cultivated large quantities of spirit grains and spirit herbs. They primarily sustained themselves by selling spirit grains and blank talismans. As spirit herbs had a longer growth cycle, the Qin family could not sell them in bulk.

Wang Ruyan maintained a calm expression, but inwardly, she felt a little disappointed. In the past, she might have agreed, but now the Wang family raised many purple-scaled crucian carp. The skin of first-grade purple-scaled crucian carp could be used to make first-grade blank talismans. Although not in huge quantities, the Wang family was not particularly short on blank talismans. As for second-grade talismans, the Wang family's usage was not high, and they were self-sufficient in spirit grains, so there was no need to purchase them from outsiders.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, our demand for these two items is not great. Do you have any other commodities?"

Qin Yunxiang frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said, "We also raise a considerable number of rhino beasts. Their meat is edible, and their hides are excellent materials for making defensive inner armor. However, the quantity of rhino beasts isn't particularly large, so we can only sell you fifty per year."

Both parties began discussing the cooperation. The items offered by the Qin family did not fully satisfy Wang Ruyan, so she neither accepted nor rejected the offer.

Qin Yunxiang was not annoyed; the Qin family was not only negotiating with the Wang family but also with other cultivation families.

As Wang Ruyan and Wang Qingshan descended the stairs, two men ascended to the fourth floor, evidently to discuss cooperation with the Qin family.

Wang Ruyan and Wang Qingshan arrived at a private room on the third floor, where Fang Zixu and Ye Yunshang were already waiting.

After a brief exchange of greetings, Fang Zixu got straight to the point: "Madam Wang, our Fang family cultivates various spirit beans. Spirit beans have a wide range of uses; they can be made into spirit tofu or used as feed for spirit beasts and spirit birds. Besides spirit beans, we also produce several types of spirit tea, which Qi Condensation cultivators often drink for the benefit of their cultivation. Our Fang family is quite interested in your Wang family's puppet beasts. What are your thoughts?"

"Spirit beans and spirit tea?"

Wang Ruyan was somewhat tempted. Raising spirit fish and spirit mussels required a large amount of feed. If they could purchase spirit beans from the Fang family at a low price, it would save a significant amount of spirit stones. Of course, the price of the puppet beasts the Wang family sold to the Fang family would also be considerably lower than the market price. Since it was a cooperation, it had to be a win-win situation.

The two parties negotiated for less than half an hour but did not reach an agreement. They intended to compare offers from different families, negotiating with other cultivation families to see what they had before making a decision.

Wang Ruyan and Wang Qingshan subsequently negotiated with five other cultivation families, all from the State of Wei.

Some cultivation families produced spirit honey and spirit wine, some produced spirit grains and talismans, others produced spirit beans and spirit tea, and still others produced spirit fish and spirit insects.

After discussing it with Wang Qingshan and giving it careful consideration, Wang Ruyan decided to cooperate with the Fang family.

The spirit fish and spirit mussels raised by the Wang family had now become their third-largest source of income. Wang Ruyan planned to expand the scale of spirit fish and mussel farming, which would require large quantities of feed. Most importantly, compared to the other four families, the Wang family had a deeper relationship with the Fang family.

The next day, Wang Ruyan replied to the other four families, politely declining their offers, and confirmed cooperation with the Fang family.

Upon learning that Wang Ruyan was willing to cooperate, Fang Zixu was overjoyed.

The two parties negotiated cooperation matters throughout the morning before finally reaching an agreement.

The Fang family would annually sell the Wang family sixteen thousand catties of first-grade low-quality spirit beans at a rate of one spirit stone per four catties, along with one hundred fifty catties of first-grade spirit tea. In return, the Wang family would annually sell the Fang family two second-grade low-quality puppet beasts, one hundred first-grade puppet beasts, and one hundred first-grade purple-scaled crucian carp.

"Madam Wang, I propose we find a place to have a few drinks to celebrate. What do you think?"

Wang Ruyan smiled and nodded, saying, "That sounds wonderful. I'll bring Qingshi, and Fellow Daoist Fang, please bring your esteemed daughter as well. We can celebrate properly."

Fang Zixu smiled and agreed, stating honestly that he was one hundred percent in favor of an alliance through marriage with the Wang family.

Years of continuous warfare had resulted in considerable losses for the Fang family, while the Wang family had steadily grown stronger over the years. An alliance through marriage with the Wang family would be significantly beneficial for the Fang family's development.

Fang Zixu found a restaurant and reserved an entire floor. Members of the Fang and Wang families sat together, eating and chatting, with Wang Qingshi and Fang Siruo sharing a table.

Without elders at their table, Wang Qingshi and Fang Siruo chatted freely, laughing and talking. The elders from both families observed them, nodding discreetly.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, your family raises a lot of spirit fish, but I heard my father say that your Wang family excels in puppet arts. Why aren't you studying puppet arts? Why are you learning to raise fish instead? Who taught you how to raise fish?" Fang Siruo casually asked.

Wang Qingshi's face lit up with a smile as he spoke of Qi Shanshan.

"Puppet beasts are too rigid. I don't like carving wood all day. I learned fish farming from Immortal Qi. Immortal Qi is skilled at raising fish; she's incredibly capable! Once, when the purple-scaled crucian carp fell ill, ate very little, and their scales started falling off, Immortal Qi intervened and easily cured them."

"Immortal Qi? Isn't your family name Wang?" Fang Siruo asked, curious.

"The Immortal Qi that Qingshi mentioned is a rogue cultivator who sought refuge with our Wang family. She has some knowledge of fish farming techniques," Wang Changfei explained.

Wang Qingshi nodded with a smile, saying, "Yes! Immortal Qi is truly amazing. Besides raising spirit fish, she also raises spirit mussels, and she even makes spirit cakes! Her spirit cakes are incredibly delicious, and she also makes dried fish. Dried fish with spirit rice is so tasty!"

Wang Changfei frowned, gave Wang Qingshi a kick, and calmly said, "Just eat your meal. Why are you going on and on? Fellow Daoist Fang and the others don't know Qi Shanshan."

Wang Qingshi was about to say more, but his ears twitched, and he made a bitter face, swallowing his words and quietly eating his meal.

The meal lasted over an hour, after which both parties returned to their respective residences.

Upon returning to their lodging, Wang Ruyan dismissed the others, keeping Wang Qingshi.

"A son grows up and no longer listens to his mother. You're a grown man now. However, for some matters, your mother still has the final say," Wang Ruyan said meaningfully, her tone heavy.

A mother knows her son best. She knew Wang Qingshi liked Qi Shanshan, but she couldn't allow him to act recklessly and jeopardize the cooperation between the two families.

"Mother, I don't like Immortal Fang. Don't think I can't tell, aren't you just trying to set me up with her? I don't have any feelings for her," Wang Qingshi said, somewhat displeased.

"Feelings can be cultivated. Besides, your mother never said you *must* marry Immortal Fang. However, I can tell you that Qi Shanshan can never be your main wife. She is too scheming and not suitable for you."

"Mother, aren't you mistaken? Immortal Qi isn't like that at all; she's a very good person," Wang Qingshi argued in defense of Qi Shanshan.

Wang Ruyan rolled her eyes at him and reprimanded him unceremoniously, "Your mother has eaten more salt than you've walked roads. You're still young; what do you understand? We'll discuss this matter further when we return home. Our Wang family has just established a cooperative relationship with the Fang family. Don't speak carelessly and jeopardize our families' relationship. You are a Wang; everything must prioritize the family's interests. Have you forgotten everything the clan elders taught you?"

"I haven't forgotten, but I will not marry Immortal Fang. Absolutely not." Wang Qingshi's gaze was firm.

Wang Ruyan sighed softly and said, "I understand. You may go now."

Wang Qingshi acknowledged her, turned, and left.

"Husband, please come back soon! I can barely manage this son of yours anymore," Wang Ruyan gazed at the clear blue sky, muttering to herself.