Protect Our Clan Leader
Chapter 1452 - 63: Shou Ye! Also a Big Shot Now

Chapter 1452: Chapter 63: Shou Ye! Also a Big Shot Now

...

Several days later.

At the entrance of the Dongfang family’s main residence in Tianjin Port.

Banners with white backgrounds and red characters were raised, each bearing slogans such as "Debts must be repaid," and "Dongfang Clan owes tenant farmers their hard-earned money," stirring up the crowd.

The news quickly spread throughout Tianjin Port.

Over the years, the Dongfang family in Tianjin Port had gradually declined. Even though the family continuously reduced internal expenses and lowered the standards of provisions for family members, they still found themselves in a deficit situation.

As the saying goes, "When the wall falls, everyone pushes." Once a family fell into decline, like a sick animal exuding the scent of death, it naturally attracted greedy vultures and various predators.

If they could withstand this, the family might revive from death. If not, like a deceased animal, their flesh would be torn apart and consumed, and even their bones would be gnawed clean by cruel wolves and leopards.

This is the cruel law of survival for prominent families.

At this moment,

Inside the reception hall of the Dongfang family’s main residence,

Shangguan Yunde, the second-old ancestor from the Shangguan’s, a 7th-rank Aristocratic Family in Tianjin Port, was leisurely sipping Spiritual Tea and said, "Brother Yuxi, it’s not that we Shangguan’s lack sympathy for fellow townsmen. As the saying goes, repaying debts is natural and right. These IOUs were all written by your own hand, weren’t they? Please repay the money; our Shangguan’s also need to sustain our livelihood."

Yuxi’s face looked extremely horrible, "These IOUs were collected from various firms where I borrowed money, how did they end up in your Shangguan’s hands?"

"It’s simply because those firms owed our Shangguan’s money and used these IOUs to offset their debts. Transferring creditor’s rights is quite common," said Shangguan Yunde as he put down his teacup, sneering, "Brother Yuxi, I advise you not to beat around the bush. We have the IOUs in hand, and no matter where this lawsuit goes, we are sure to win."

"Old Ancestor Yunde, I have a Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill here, could it offset 150,000 Qian Gold?" said Yuxi, bowing his head, "The rest will be slowly repaid by our Dongfang family."

"The Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill is a good item, but you think it can offset 150,000 Qian Gold when I, Shangguan Yunde, am a fool?" Shangguan Yunde scoffed, "Currently, Wang’s Alchemy Company sells the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill for only 126,000 Qian Gold as a member price. Yuxi, if you are not good at alchemy, you should not do it, you’re literally causing your family’s decline."

Yuxi’s neck veins bulged out, his eyes showing both defiance and frustration.

Alchemy is a highly technical sideline, and a skilled alchemist can easily support a 7th-rank Aristocratic Family.

However, the investment in training an alchemist is astronomical.

To master the making of high-grade Dan medicine quickly, Yuxi often dared to accept alchemy opportunities at a low price. In such cases, if it turns out well, he wouldn’t lose money, but if it fails, he would have to compensate.

Many times, even if Yuxi offered a low price, people would rather not engage him in making the medicine. Instead, they would sell Spiritual Medicine directly to Wang’s Alchemy Company, stably exchanging them for Dan medicine or Qian Gold.

The internal competition in Wang’s Alchemy Company has greatly impacted many individual alchemists. Under the persuasion of its branches, many alchemists from 6th and 7th-rank families joined Wang’s Alchemy Company, receiving high base salaries and dividends, living even more prosperous lives.

"Brother Yuxi, I’ll value your Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill at 125,000 Qian Gold, and you still owe a total of 463,000 Qian Gold with principal and interest," stated Shangguan Yunde haughtily, "You have three days to complete the payment, otherwise, don’t blame us for getting the City Guard Mansion to seal your main residence."

After dropping his cruel words, Shangguan Yunde swaggered away, leaving Dongfang Yuxi behind, seemingly drained of all strength.

What should be done about this family...?

Yuxi was staring at the table in front of him, his expression dazed, his eyes empty.

Meanwhile,

At the base of the surrounding wall in the backyard of the Dongfang family,

The expressions of siblings Dongfang Mingxu and Lingrou were very solemn.

"Lingrou, given such a big crisis at home today, are you still going to meet with the Pill King?" Dongfang Mingxu’s eyes were filled with worry.

"Mingxu brother, precisely because of this, I must see the Pill King," Lingrou bit her teeth and said, "I can plead with the Pill King to save our Dongfang family. I can join Wang’s Alchemy Company starting as an apprentice, working for free, using my lifetime to repay this debt."

"Have you gone mad, Lingrou?" Dongfang Mingxu exclaimed angrily, "You have already been noticed by Longzuo Academy. Just by joining, you are almost guaranteed to become a Core Disciple, and with the resources of the Academy, you have a great chance of reaching the Heavenly Human Realm. You have a promising future, how can you make such a decision?"

"Although the Academy is good, distant water cannot put out a nearby fire," Lingrou lightly tapped her foot, and her figure flew up over the courtyard wall like a nimble swallow.

Her voice came from beyond the wall.

"Mingxu brother, from now on, the family relies on you to protect it well."

"Lingrou!"

Dongfang Mingxu, still youthful, had a face full of pain, and veins on his neck burst out.

...

In the Jin Harbor Hundred Flavors Pavilion.

This is one of the chain businesses of the Longzuo Yuwen Clan.

Because Yuwen’s current head, Lady Bilian from GuiLong Shangguan Clan, runs this business, the Jingang Shangguan’s managed to establish a kinship with Lady Bilian, clutching on to a significant backing.

By helping to manage and operate the Jin Harbor Hundred Flavors Pavilion for the Yuwen’s, the Jingang Shangguan’s gradually earned a share of the profits, receiving dividends annually, more or less.