Chen Kuang paused for a moment, then gave a soft "Mm" of acknowledgment.
Madam Gan Tang beamed with joy.
She grabbed his hand and insisted on giving him a tour of the entire Chen Residence, happily telling him how his room had always been kept, cleaned once every month without fail.
His room was located in the eastern wing, a courtyard all to itself, a clear sign of the prestige reserved for the eldest son.
In wealthy households, the layout of rooms followed strict customs.
The eastern wing was traditionally for sons, particularly the eldest, while the western wing was reserved for daughters.
If the family was large and space limited, this rule might bend, but the basic distinction remained.
For example, in the famous story of "The Son-in-Law on the East Bed," the "east bed" wasn't a literal bed facing east, but a bed in the eastern wing, reinforcing the importance of traditional layout.
Currently, both Chen Kuang's younger brother and sister lived in the western wing.
But this eastern courtyard, left untouched for thirteen years, had always been his.
Creak..
Gan Tang led him through the courtyard and pushed open the door. A tidy, sunlit room greeted them, clearly well-maintained over the years.
The polished cleanliness could only have been achieved through regular care.
It might not have been Gan Tang herself doing the cleaning every time, but from the way she moved about so familiarly, it was evident she had come often, just as she claimed.
"Look here, this is what I made for you."
She walked over to the bed and picked up a fabric doll placed atop the quilt. "You used to be such a gentle little thing, always playing with dolls. So I made this for you."
"After you left, I made a new one every year on your birthday. There are thirteen in total, just waiting to be given to you."
Chen Kuang took the doll. Its appearance matched the one the original owner had carried with him until the fall of the capital.
The only difference was that this new one was made of fine embroidered cloth, stuffed with aromatic seeds instead of scrap cotton, far more refined and delicate.
To say he felt nothing would be a lie.
In his past life, his family had died young, and he had carried vengeance like a lifeline, never resting until his final breath.
Yet now, a single line from Gan Tang- "I'll care for you another 130 years" -and this freshly sewn doll stirred something deep in his heart.
Chen Kuang tightened his grip on the doll. He could feel the original soul's bitterness slowly beginning to ease.
Still, how long it would take for that pain to fully dissipate... that, he felt, would depend on how this family behaved from now on.
In the meantime, he would make use of their guilt.
Chen Kuang hadn't hidden his emotions. He'd let them rise to the surface precisely because he could see how haunted Chen Rong and Gan Tang were by the past.
Only by pressing on that guilt, making it linger like a thorn in the flesh, could he ensure they would do everything in their power to help protect Chu Wenruo and the others.
And now that the Chen family had gained some prestige in Jishao Prefecture, they were a valuable asset indeed.
"What about my brother and sister?"
He asked as they walked out to sit in the courtyard's stone pavilion.
Setting down the instrument case on his back, he continued, "What happened after we parted? How did the family manage to rise in the world? I heard when I came in that the family now has some ties to the Canal Guild?"
Gan Tang began to recount everything:
"Back then, with... that one measure of rice, we barely survived the second month. Later, my father sent someone to help us, and we finally pulled through."
"Later still, your father went to work at the docks. By coincidence, he ran into an old fishing companion who had become a small leader in the Canal Guild. Through that connection, he started working in cargo transport."
"And one thing led to another. Now, he owns three trading companies and leases out several thousand acres of farmland. At the southern docks of the Eastern Court Lake, there's no one who doesn't know the Chen family."
"Our relationship with the Canal Guild grew deeper."
She smiled with pride. "Your brother now works with the Guild, serving as the branch head of the South Wharf. He's highly valued by the Guild Master."
"As for your sister, there's not much to say. Doesn't care for embroidery, only loves books. They say she's the talented young lady of the Eastern Court, but who knows when she'll settle down and marry."
Though she said it with a hint of exasperation, her tone was overflowing with fondness and pride.
Chen Kuang's younger brother and sister were named Chen An and Chen Ning, respectively.
With names like Kuang (Unhindered), An (Peace), and Ning (Tranquility), it was clear that their parents had hoped for a life of calm and happiness for all three of them.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
"Oh?"
Chen Kuang ran a hand across the strings of his qin, his heart stirred. "To earn the Guild's trust, that must mean Chen An is a cultivator now?"
Gan Tang nodded. "It's thanks to An'er that our family holds its current position..."
She hesitated, as though worried this might make Chen Kuang feel slighted.
But he smiled. "Please, Mother, speak freely. Back then, I agreed to be sold willingly. It wasn't so the rest of the family would live badly. If he's accomplished something, I'm glad."
Gan Tang exhaled in relief. "An'er is indeed a cultivator. I don't know the details, but they say he's opened eight meridians already. That puts him among the top-tier fighters on the Jianghu."
Eight Meridians?
Chen Kuang raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Jishao Prefecture was renowned for its waterways, and the heart of that network was the Eastern Court Lake.
Naturally, the Canal Guild, which controlled the boatmen, fishermen, wharfs, and ferry crossings along the Eastern Court shoreline, had become a household name and dominant force in the region.
This "dominance" applied not only among common folk, but even among cultivators, the Guild was a behemoth deeply entrenched in various power structures and resource chains.
Its Guild Master, Fan Hailong, was said to be at the peak of the Tower Ascension Realm, and his strength allowed the Guild to stand tall against the local sects in Jishao Prefecture.
Even though the Wind and Rain Tower had the backing of the Martial Saint Pavilion, the so-called "dragon from afar" still couldn't suppress the "local snake."
The Wind and Rain Tower didn't concern itself with mortal affairs, so in practice, the Canal Guild reigned supreme.
Even the prefectural magistrate had to show Fan Hailong some respect, let alone the local boatmen and fishermen.
In their eyes, anyone connected to the Guild was already someone of stature. A high-ranking member? That was someone to whom they would bow.
And at the South Wharf, the Chen family's young master, Chen An, was one such figure.
"Brother Chen, someone from your family came looking for you. Said your father wants you to return home right away."
A Guild member came running over and whispered beside Chen An, "Seems it's something important."
Chen An, just seventeen, wore a fitted dark-blue martial outfit.
He was lean and strong, his eyes sharp and prideful. A longsword was held casually in his right hand as he inspected the cargo on a merchant vessel.
The ship owner stood nervously beside him, nodding and bowing repeatedly.
"Young Master Chen, I've been shipping this cargo for three years now, never a problem! I even paid an extra thirty percent this time, as tea money for your team."
All shipping on the Eastern Court Lake was regulated by the Canal Guild. Every vessel had to undergo inspection, and pay their dues.
More goods? More bribes.
Smuggling without Guild protection? Good luck. The vast lake was crawling with water bandits.
Chen An squinted. "My father? Why would he want me now?"
"No idea," the messenger said, shaking his head.
"The one who brought the message looked like one of your old family servants. He also said your sister was brought back home from her private school."
Chen An was genuinely surprised. "Little Ning too? What's so important..."
He recalled the recent chaos, especially that terrifying sword that had cleaved the sky yesterday, and the two dead Guild members found in the reed marsh.
With the arrival of the Enlightenment Envoy, the atmosphere in Jishao Prefecture had become tense.
A sudden summons from home? It definitely made him wary.
"All right, I'll head back. Things aren't peaceful lately, go tell the brothers to stay sharp and cautious."
He gave his orders and turned to leave.
"Wait, Young Master Chen!" the ship owner called out. "What about my shipment? I've paid the fee..."
"You'll get your money back."
Chen An didn't even turn around. With two fingers, he flicked a gold ingot into the air.
Whizz-
With a burst of spiritual force, the gold ingot shot through the air like a comet, punching a massive hole into the ship's cargo hold.
Amid sacks of grain, something white spilled out.
Refined salt, clearly smuggled goods.
"Illegal transport of refined salt," Chen An said coldly. "Find out who gave him the nerve to try this."
The ship owner collapsed to his knees, face drained of all color.