This not very spacious courtyard is the venue for the family banquet set up by Shang Yanfei.
The open-air banquet was held inside the mountain, so there was no need to worry about wind or rain.
The courtyard is neither luxurious nor elegant, and even a little shabby.
There were more than a dozen tables placed in a circle in the courtyard, which was beginning to look a bit crowded.
There were some fruits and snacks on the table, as well as a vertical sign indicating whose seat it was.
Three people have already arrived here and sat down.
"Brother, I wonder what matter is that father called us together this time." Shang Chaofeng asked vaguely as he threw a red fruit into his mouth.
The eldest brother, Shang Qiuniu, was sitting upright with his eyes closed. After hearing this, he opened his eyes a little and said in a low voice, "Father came out of seclusion and missed us, so he held a family banquet. What's so strange about that?"
"Although what eldest brother said makes sense, when has father ever held a family banquet without important matters? Don't you think there are too many tables today?" Shang Pulao said from the side.
Shang Chaofeng chuckled, but Shang Qiuniu closed his eyes again.
Shang Pulao's eyes flickered. He was in charge of the brothel area and managed all the brothels, so he was the most well-informed about the news.
In fact, he had already heard the sound of the wind. He was about to continue talking when his ears moved: "Someone is coming."
The three of them turned their eyes to the door of the courtyard.
With a creak, the gate was pushed open and three people walked in.
Wei Yang led the way, followed by Fang Bai and the other two.
Fang Bai and the others had been to this courtyard before. It was the private residence where they were summoned at the beginning.
"This private residence belonged to the clan leader back then. When he was still one of the young masters, he was suppressed by the other young masters. The clan leader took the initiative to give up the position of young master and became an ordinary clan member. He lived here when he was in decline. Later, when the clan leader became successful, he preserved this place to warn himself and his descendants. All family banquets have been held here."
Wei Yang opened the door and introduced himself.
Then, he spotted three people in the courtyard: "Hmm. It turns out that three young masters have arrived."
Shang Qiuniu, Shang Chaofeng, and Shang Pulao all stood up and clasped their fists towards Wei Yang: "Elder Wei Yang. Your honor."
Wei Yang is one of the five most capable generals of Shang Yanfei and a senior official of the Shang family. If a young master wants to compete for the position of young patriarch, he cannot avoid Wei Yang's evaluation.
"Hello, three young masters. These two are the distinguished guests invited by the clan leader today." Wei Yang cupped his hands with a calm expression. He was the clan elder, and his status was higher than that of the young masters.
As an important official, he would not try to curry favor with these young masters.
"You two, please sit here." Wei Yang led Fang Yuan and Bai Ningbing to their respective seats.
Shang Qiuniu and the other three looked at each other, and saw the doubt, surprise and curiosity in each other's eyes.
This is a family dinner.
When have you ever invited a stranger?
What are the identities of these two people? They are actually in a position closer to father's main seat than us.
Wei Yang also sat down. He smiled and continued, "Let me introduce you two. This is Shang Qiuniu, the eldest son of the clan leader. He is now in charge of the foster farm in Shangjia. This is Shang Chaofeng, the fourth son of the clan leader. He is in charge of all the fighting arenas in Shangjia City. This is Shang Pulao. He is in charge of the brothels in the Fengyue District."
Shangqiuniu has a strong physique and a deep voice.
You can tell at first glance that he is a person with a calm temperament.
He is the oldest, nearly thirty.
Shang Chaofeng has messy hair, a high nose bridge, and exudes a wild aura.
Shang Pulao was the most handsome, with a thin body, a fair complexion, a pair of peach blossom eyes, and a romantic demeanor, obviously having been spending years among flowers.
"Qiuniu greets two distinguished guests." Shang Qiuniu was the first to salute with his fists clasped.
Wei Yang did not take the initiative to introduce Fang Bai and the other two. The three young masters were all smart people and would naturally not be stupid enough to ask further questions.
"You three young masters are right. I am Heitu, and this is my companion Baiyun." Fang Yuan introduced.
These two names are obviously pseudonyms.
This made the three young masters even more unsure of the origins of Fang Bai and the other two, so they could only laugh it off and muddle through the situation.
As the dinner was approaching, young masters arrived one after another.
There was Shang Pi xiu who managed the gambling stone field, Shang Junni who was in charge of the restaurant and silk shop, Shang Fuyuan who managed the auction field, and Shang Yazi who was in charge of the merchandise department.
Wei Yang introduced them to Fang Bai and the other two. When these young masters saw Fang Bai and the other two, they all showed more or less strange looks.
They sat down one by one, and as more people came, more people talked, and the small courtyard gradually became lively.
When the banquet was about to start, the door was suddenly pushed open and a young master rushed in in a hurry.
This man was tall and thin, with thick eyebrows and tiger eyes. His name was Shang An, who was in charge of the city guards of Shangjia City.
The city guards are extremely busy, handling disputes, coordinating conflicts, and maintaining public order.
After exchanging a few polite words with Fang Bai and the other two, Shang An had not yet sat down when suddenly a flame flashed on the main seat and Shang Yanfei appeared.
Shang Yanfei wore a white robe this time with gold edges on the cuffs.
His bright red hair spread out freely and fell to his waist, which combined with his extremely handsome face formed his unique aura and charm.
"My son and I have met father."
All the young masters stood up, then half-knelt on the ground and spoke in unison.
"Clan leader." Wei Yang stood up.
At the same time, Fang Bai and the other person also stood up and saluted.
"Everyone, sit down." Shang Yanfei half-lay on the wide-backed chair and waved his hand casually.
Suddenly, a brilliant colorful light was spread out, like raindrops and clouds.
The brilliant light fell onto everyone's table and transformed into portions of delicious delicacies. The courtyard was immediately filled with the aroma of food.
Fang Yuan recognized it at a glance; it was the Jinxiu Food Box Gu.
Shang Yanfei's unique fifth-level Gu is specially used to store delicacies.
The food will be in the same condition when it is placed inside as it is when it is taken out.
Shang Yanfei laid out the dishes, and then said to his sons, "Today we have two distinguished guests here, you all have to come forward and toast one by one."
"Qiuniu, you are the boss, you should set an example first."
Father gave the order personally, and although the young merchants were confused, no one dared to neglect it.
Shang Qiuniu immediately stood up, raised his wine glass, and said in a low voice: "Qiuniu toasts to the two distinguished guests." As soon as he finished speaking, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in the glass.
Fang Yuan drank a glass of wine, but Bai Ningbing still only drank water.
Among these young masters, Qiuniu is the oldest.
He is nearly thirty years old, but he looks quite mature. At first glance, you would think he is forty years old.
In contrast, his father, Shang Yanfei, looked like a young man in his twenties.
It would be quite interesting to see the father and son standing together and comparing themselves.
"Father, I'm sorry, I'm late." During the toast, the gate was pushed open and a young girl walked in.
She is Shang Chiwen, the sixteenth child, in charge of the martial arts arena. She has lively eyes, a peach-like face, a lively personality, and is a pretty beauty.
Seeing all the sons toasting, Shang Yanfei finally raised the glass in his hand and faced Fang Bai and the others: "Thank you both for protecting Xinci along the way, which made it possible for me to have a new daughter."
When these words were spoken, everyone in the room was shocked.
"daughter?"
All the young masters showed surprised expressions and looked at each other.
For a moment, the courtyard was quiet.
Shang Yanfei smiled and glanced around, giving everyone time to accept it.
Fang Yuan was very "cooperative" in showing shock, with a look of realization and doubt, muttering: "Could it be?"
"Shang Xinci?" Bai Ningbing said with the same expression as Fang Yuan.
"Yes." Shang Yanfei looked at him and nodded: "It was Miss Shang who escorted you two on your business trip. She is my daughter. I sensed her bloodline as soon as she stepped into Shangjia City, and now we have recognized each other."
As they were talking, the gate of the courtyard was gently pushed open.
The young Gu Master Tian Lan was dressed as a maid. She opened the door and returned to Shang Xinci's side.
"Miss..." Xiaodie looked at the people in the yard and couldn't help feeling timid.
"Let's go in." Shang Xinci let out a breath and walked into the courtyard under the gaze of everyone.
Suddenly, she paused and a look of surprise and joy appeared on her face.
She saw Fang Bai and the other person.
"It's indeed her." When Bai Ningbing saw Shang Xinci, her eyes moved slightly.
She had anticipated that Fang Yuan had the ability to predict the future.
Now it's just a confirmation.
"Brother Heitu, Sister Baiyun, why are you here?" Shang Xinci stared at Fang Yuan without blinking, her eyes shining.
"Ci'er, your father said that he would give you a surprise. Was I right?" Shang Yanfei smiled gently.
Shang Xinci bowed and said, "Thank you, father. This is the happiest day for me since I came to Shangjia City."
After these days of confusion, she has accepted the fact that Shang Yanfei is her biological father.
No matter how sorry my father is to my mother, he is still my relative after all!
Even though Shang Xinci still has resentment and hatred towards Shang Yanfei in her heart, the deep bond of family affection can never be severed for such a kind-hearted girl.
When Shang Yanfei heard Shang Xinci call him father for the first time, the corners of his mouth suddenly curled up and he revealed a deep smile.
Shang Xinci turned around again, with a hint of panic, and explained to Fang Yuan: "Brother Heitu, I didn't mean to lie to you. Before my mother passed away, she asked me to go to Shangjia City. I only truly understood her painstaking efforts after meeting my father."
"So that's how it is. I was wondering why the Shang family would treat me so politely. So that's how it is..." Fang Yuan raised his head and sighed, then shook his head slowly, sighing, "I never thought, I really never thought that you are the daughter of the head of the Shang family!"
"Brother Heitu, can you forgive me?" Shang Xinci clenched his hands, his tone nervous.
Shang Yanfei frowned slightly: "It seems that Ci'er has really fallen in love with this boy."
"Well, let me see if you are qualified to be my son-in-law."
Shang Yanfei already knew everything about Shang Xinci's experience along the way through Xiaodie.
Knowing that Shang Xinci was deflowered by Fang Yuan, he planned to kill Fang Yuan.
But seeing Shang Xinci's look, he gave up the idea.
Fang Yuan laughed: "It doesn't matter, how could I blame you. Ignorance is not a crime, in fact, I also lied to you."
"What?" Shang Xinci was stunned.
Fang Yuan explained: "Black Earth and White Clouds are just pseudonyms."
Shang Xinci immediately smiled and said softly, "I guessed this a long time ago."
Fang Yuan deliberately hesitated for a moment, and finally gritted his teeth and clasped his fists and said: "To be honest, my real name is Gu Yue Fang Zheng, and this is my companion Bai Ning Bing."
"Gu Yue Fang Zheng, Fang Zheng..." Shang Xinci chewed the name in his mouth for a long time and remembered it firmly in his heart.
A smile appeared on Shang Yanfei's face. He admired Fang Yuan's honesty.
This made him feel a little more favorable towards Fang Yuan.
"Come on, Ci'er, sit here with me." Shang Yanfei patted the chair under him and said.
"Yes." Shang Xinci agreed and looked at Fang Yuan deeply. Fang Yuan smiled and nodded to her.
Shang Xinci walked over and sat next to Shang Yanfei.
The two maids, Xiaolan and Xiaodie, stood on both sides behind them.
All the sons saw this scene, and their expressions varied.
In their entire lives, they had never seen their father love one of his children so much.
Even the illegitimate son Shang Takumi didn't receive such treatment!
"Okay, everyone sit down." Shang Yanfei waved his hand and looked at Fang Bai and the others.
He said, "Gu Yue Fangzheng, Bai Ningbing, you two saved my beloved daughter and brought her here. Our whole family is grateful for this. You can ask for whatever you want. As the head of the Shang family, I will do my best to satisfy you."
The young masters couldn't help but cast envious glances at Fang Bai and the others.
This is the gratitude from the head of the Shang family and the promise from one of the overlords of southern Xinjiang. It is as important as a green mountain!
But Fang Yuan shook his head: "Master Patriarch, the reason why we protect Miss Shang Xinci is because we received her kindness before. The kindness has already been offset and we are even now."
When these words were spoken, everyone showed surprise.
The business official reacted quickly and couldn't help but narrow his eyes, secretly praising the wonderful answer.
If Fang Bai and the other rescue Shang Yanfei's biological daughter, Shang Yanfei will definitely reward them handsomely.
If even such contributions are not rewarded, how will outsiders evaluate the business?
If the young master of the merchant business encounters danger in the future, who will come to the rescue?
Shang Xinci was secretly anxious when he saw Fang Yuan didn't want the reward. He said to Shang Yanfei, "Father, actually, during this business trip, Brother Heitu lost a lot of money and goods."
Shang Yanfei was such a shrewd person that he understood his biological daughter's intentions before Shang Xinci finished speaking.
This is to ask for reward money on behalf of Fang Bai and the other two.
He nodded and said, "Since you two are Gu Masters, I will give you one million Yuanshi as a gift to express my gratitude."
After hearing this, many young masters almost drooled.
Although they control many industries in the Shangri-La City, they are under public scrutiny and are subject to annual assessments, making it difficult for them to enrich themselves.
Shang Yazi has talent, but he is too greedy, which puts his performance in jeopardy.
Fang Yuan shook his head again: "To be honest, I once snatched a legacy from a tiger's mouth. Now that I have sold the secret recipe, I am not short of Yuanshi for the time being."
"Oh, is that so." Shang Yanfei looked at Shang Yazi meaningfully.
Seeing Fang Yuan refused the Yuan Shi, Shang Yanfei proposed another plan: "You two are now wanted by the Hundred Clan. This is obviously a misunderstanding. Let me come forward to explain and cancel the wanted order. What do you think?"
Shang Xinci was also aware that Fang Bai and the other were wanted.
"Why didn't I think of removing the wanted warrant for Brother Heitu? This is undoubtedly what he needs most." Shang Xinci agreed with this plan very much.
The Shang family is the overlord of southern Xinjiang, while the Bai family is just an ordinary family village, and its source of power is gradually drying up, making it strong on the outside but weak on the inside.
The hundreds of families would naturally listen to Shang Yanfei's "explanation".
But Fang Yuan shook his head again.
He said: "The conflict between the two of us and the Bai family originated from an inheritance. To be honest, we have never regretted snatching the inheritance. The injuries on my body were caused by the Bai family. Sooner or later, I will settle accounts with the Bai family. I am a person who repays kindness and revenge. I will repay a drop of kindness with a spring, and a spark of revenge will spread like wildfire!"
Having said this, Fang Yuan did not hide his ferocious murderous intent.
Merchants are the overlords of the righteous path.
But Fang Yuan actually admitted in front of Shang Yanfei that he wanted to deal with the Bai family.
His arrogance made Shang Xinci secretly frightened, but not surprised.
This is the true character of Brother Heitu, isn't it?
Shang Yanfei didn't think it was a problem at all.
In his opinion, Fang Yuan was very frank and straightforward.
Wei Yang's evaluation was indeed not bad. He could see through this kind of person at a glance. Compared with Bai Ningbing who was silent beside him, he undoubtedly liked Fang Yuan more.
"No need for the clan members to come forward and remove the wanted order for the two of us. I just need this wanted order to constantly encourage myself, spur myself on, and keep getting stronger. Thank you for your kindness, Lord Yan Fei." Fang Yuan clasped his fists and said.
"In that case, just tell me what gifts you want. Don't mention any more about clearing the favor. If I, Shang Yanfei, want to thank you, I will definitely thank you. This is my rule of conduct. Even if you throw away these gifts later, it is none of my business." Shang Yanfei frowned, pretending to be displeased.
Suddenly, the relaxed atmosphere in the courtyard turned into a solemn one.
The actions of the young masters raising their glasses to drink became cautious.
This is the tyranny of the fifth-rank Gu Master, Shang Yanfei, the head of the Shang family.
Fang Yuan thought for a moment and looked at Wei Yang: "Brother Wei, what do you think I should do?"
Wei Yang blurted out: "Of course it's a token!"
"Token?" Fang Yuan showed a hint of doubt.
"You have just arrived at the Merchant City. Although you know that you need a token, you don't know the importance of the token. Believe me, Brother Wei, it is really important to have a high-level token. Sometimes, no matter how rich you are, it is useless without a token." Wei Yang advised earnestly.
Fang Yuan nodded: "Although I don't quite understand. But since Brother Wei has said so, then the token will do."
Wei Yang suddenly felt a sense of being trusted.
He patted Fang Yuan on the shoulder and sighed, "Brother, you and I hit it off right away. How could Brother Wei let you suffer a loss?"
Fang Yuan immediately bowed to Shang Yanfei and said, "I was so reckless. I just heard from Brother Wei Yang that high-level tokens are so important. I want to ask the clan leader for two tokens."
Shang Yanfei laughed out loud and waved his hand: "Alright. I'll give each of you a Bauhinia Order as a thank you gift."
When these words came out, many young masters gasped at the same time.
Shang Yanfei took out a token on the spot. It was made of bauhinia wood and was the size of a palm. On the front was the word "Shang Jia" and on the back was a miniature panoramic view of Shangliang Mountain.
But this is not the real Bauhinia token.
Shang Yanfei summoned another Gu: "This is a token Gu specially made by Shangjia. I want to take some of your blood."
The insect was shaped like a mosquito. It flew to Fang Yuan's arm, bit him, and then flew back to the surface of the token.
"Pah."
With a crisp sound, the token Gu suddenly exploded, turning into a ball of blood light and merging into the token.
The token seemed to have not changed at all, but when it was handed over to Fang Yuan, the surface of the token began to flow with purple light, like water and shadow.
So far, this is the real Bauhinia token.
Then, using the same method, Bai Ningbing also obtained a Bauhinia token.
The main matters of this family dinner were dealt with, and everyone started to eat and drink.
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