11: They met at the dock, and he disciplined his second son.

The five-day voyage was uneventful.

The medium-sized pleasure boat cut through the calm sea, slowly entering the familiar harbor of Linhai City.

At the bow, Li Yinglong stood with his hands behind his back, clad in a faded blue robe.

The sea breeze ruffled his increasingly dark hair, and his gaze calmly swept over the gradually clearer scene of the dock.

Beside him, Li Qingzhu was also focused, quietly observing the familiar place she had left almost ten days ago.

As soon as the boat docked securely and before the gangplank was even properly set, a clamor from the southeast corner of the dock broke the afternoon's tranquility, sounding particularly harsh.

Amidst the noise, a loud and arrogant voice stood out, sounding somewhat familiar.

Li Yinglong's brow furrowed slightly, and his expression darkened.

He was extremely sensitive to sounds and recognized it almost instantly.

He did not act immediately, but merely gave Li Qingzhu a look, and the two walked unhurriedly towards the source of the commotion, like ordinary travelers returning to port.

The closer they got, the clearer the voice became:

"You filthy wretches! Giving you face and you don't want it! It's a great favor that I'm willing to buy your stinking fish and rotten shrimp! How dare you make noise here? If you know what's good for you, follow the new rules I've set, otherwise, get lost early, and from now on, you won't get a single shrimp at this dock!"

They saw that where the crowd was gathered, Li Qingchuan, the second son of the Li Family, was leading four or five burly servants, arrogantly pointing and scolding a group of fishermen.

He was dressed splendidly, completely out of place among the rough-clothed, barefoot fishermen, his face filled with disgust and impatience.

Opposite him were more than ten fishermen with troubled, dark-skinned faces.

Several hot-blooded youngsters clenched their fists, veins bulging in their necks, but were firmly held back by an elderly fisherman.

The old fisherman's face was full of wrinkles, etched with hardship and helplessness, and he was continuously bowing and pleading bitterly:

"Second Young Master, Second Young Master, please be merciful, this absolutely cannot be! A thirty percent discount... this... this will truly cost all of us old folks our lives! In the past, when Eldest Young Master was here, he always bought at a fair market price; we poor folk rely on this meager income to make a living and pay taxes. Your price... we won't even break even!"

"Pah!"

Li Qingchuan spat, his face full of disdain:

"You're using my Eldest Brother to pressure me? This dock is under my management now! Whatever price I say, that's the price! Too low? If it's too low, don't sell! Get out of the way, don't block me from doing my business!"

Seeing this, the vicious servants beside him immediately stepped forward to push and shove, causing a commotion among the fishermen, their indignation evident, and a conflict seemed imminent.

Li Qingzhu was intelligent and quickly realized something was wrong when her uncle's face grew increasingly grim.

Without thinking much, she quickly stepped forward and shouted clearly:

"Stop! We are all neighbors, what can't be settled peacefully? Why resort to violence?"

Her intention was to prevent the situation from escalating, especially to stop Li Qingchuan's arrogant behavior, lest it further provoke her uncle's anger.

Unexpectedly, Li Qingchuan was in a fit of rage and didn't notice Li Yinglong, dressed plainly, in the crowd behind her. Seeing only Li Qingzhu obstructing him, he felt his authority challenged, and old and new grudges surged within him.

His father's favoritism towards this outsider bastard, and allowing her to be his equal, had long filled him with suppressed anger.

He immediately squinted at Li Qingzhu, his voice sharp and laced with sarcasm:

"Oh! Who do we have here? It turns out to be Third Young Miss! What, after a few days of good treatment in the manor, you really think you're someone important, coming to the dock to point fingers? When I'm doing business, is it a little girl like you's turn to speak up? Get out!"

The last two words, "Get out," were utterly impolite and full of insult.

Before he finished speaking!

Everyone felt a blur before their eyes, as a blue figure swept past like a ghost.

Immediately following, a series of crisp, loud slaps exploded: "Pa, pa, pa, pa!"

Li Qingchuan and his servants, without even seeing who came, were fiercely slapped on their left cheeks by an irresistible force, and like kites with broken strings, they flew backward, off the ground.

Li Qingchuan crashed heavily onto the cold, rough bluestone dock. Half of his face swelled visibly, the corner of his mouth split and oozed blood, his ears buzzed, and golden stars danced before his eyes.

He was stunned by the beating, filled with shame and anger, and struggled to look up, about to curse, when he suddenly met a pair of icy, bone-chilling eyes filled with thunderous rage.

It was his father, Li Yinglong, who had quietly appeared before him at some unknown moment!

In an instant, Li Qingchuan felt as if a basin of ice water had been poured over him from head to toe. All his arrogant swagger extinguished instantly, leaving only bone-deep fear.

He was so frightened that his body went limp, collapsing to the ground, unable even to muster the strength to get up, only able to tremble:

"Fa... Fa... Father... you... came..."

Li Yinglong didn't even bother to look at him, as if brushing away a speck of dust.

He turned his gaze to Li Qingzhu:

"Qingzhu, go ask what exactly happened."

"Yes, Uncle."

Li Qingzhu suppressed her shock and quickly walked to the stunned old fisherman, speaking gently:

"Elder, do not be afraid. I am Qingzhu of the Li Family, and this is my Clan Chief, Elder Li. Whatever grievances you have, please speak freely, the Clan Chief will surely uphold justice for you."

The old fisherman had never seen such a display, nor had he expected the renowned Clan Chief of the Li Family to personally arrive and seemingly stand on their side.

He was so moved that old tears streamed down his face, and with a thud, he knelt on the ground, kowtowing and saying:

"Elder Li! Elder Li, you must uphold justice for us!"

The other fishermen also seemed to find their backbone, kneeling one after another, clamoring to voice their complaints.

Li Yinglong waved his sleeve, and a powerful force instantly struck the group of people, preventing any of them from bowing down.

"Fellow villagers, please don't do this; my uncle dislikes it."

Li Qingzhu listened patiently, occasionally asking for details, and quickly sorted out the whole story. She then turned to report to Li Yinglong:

"Uncle, it's clear now. These villagers originally supplied their catches to the Lin Family's maritime trade team. After the Lin Family fell, they customarily sold their catches to our Family's dock. Previously, when Eldest Brother Qingshan managed it, he always bought at a fair market price, and both sides were content."

She paused:

"A few days ago, Second Brother Qingchuan took over the dock affairs and suddenly announced that all fish purchase prices would be reduced by thirty percent. The villagers have small capital and thin profits, and this price makes it difficult to sustain their livelihoods, so they came to plead. However, Second Brother not only refused to listen but accused them of causing trouble and incited his servants to drive them away, leading to an impending conflict."

Li Yinglong listened quietly, his expression calm, but his gaze grew increasingly profound.

By this time, dock workers, small vendors, and even other ship owners who had heard the news and rushed over had gathered, all holding their breath, watching the scene unfold.

The Li Family was now the largest industrial owner in Linhai City, and many people had business dealings with them. Their Family matters, however, concerned the livelihoods of many of them.

Li Yinglong stepped forward and cupped his hands in a respectful bow:

"Fellow villagers, this is my fault."

"I, Li Yinglong, was born here and grew up here; Linhai City is my Foundation. Whatever meager Family fortune the Li Family has today is all thanks to the help of our neighbors. The Li Family will never tolerate bullying neighbors or exploiting their hard work; I, Li Yinglong, will be the first to object!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping like lightning over Li Qingchuan, who was slumped on the ground, and his voice suddenly turned sharp:

"It is my failure in discipline that such an unfilial son has emerged, causing grievances to our fellow villagers! I, Li Yinglong, apologize to all of you here!"

With that, he actually bowed respectfully to the many fishermen with cupped fists.

This action immediately drew a chorus of exclamations and admiration from the surrounding crowd.

For the revered Clan Chief to apologize to fishermen, what magnanimity!

Before anyone could react, Li Yinglong announced loudly, his voice carrying far and wide:

"From today onwards, the purchase of catches at the dock will still be at the original market price—no, it will be at ten percent above the market price! For the past ten days, anyone whose catches were bought at a reduced price can come to the Li Family's accounting office with proof to receive the difference in price, plus an additional compensation for their distress!"

"Furthermore, for all matters concerning the dock, I will find another suitable person to manage them. My son, Li Qingchuan, is confined to reflect and is forbidden from stepping foot on the dock again!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the fishermen were stunned for a moment, then erupted in thunderous gratitude:

"Thank you, Elder Li! Thank you, righteous Elder!"

"Elder Li is benevolent!"

"The Li Family is righteous!"

Waves of cheers swept across the dock.

The demands of the common people are that simple; they can immediately see who treats them well.

Li Yinglong slowly turned, his gaze once again falling upon Li Qingchuan, who was trembling like a sieve.

In his eyes, there was a mix of coldness and disappointment.

"Get back."

There was no harsh rebuke, only three simple words, yet they struck more fear into Li Qingchuan than any flogging.

He scrambled and crawled, supported by his servants, and fled the dock in utter disarray, not daring to look back.

Li Yinglong did not look further. He gave Li Qingzhu a slight nod and then slowly walked away, under the respectful and grateful gazes of the crowd.

The clamor at the dock gradually subsided, but the reputation of the Li Family Clan Chief for justice, benevolence, and strict Family discipline quickly spread with the sea breeze to every corner of Linhai City.

Ding! Clansman Li Qingchuan's loyalty has decreased. Current loyalty: 55 (Fearful and distant).

Ding! The favorability of some peripheral Family members and Linhai City residents towards the Family has increased. Family prestige has slightly increased.

The System's notification flashed silently in Li Yinglong's mind.

His expression was normal, but his heart was as clear as a mirror.

Benevolence and authority applied simultaneously, startling the snake by hitting the grass.

The rise of a Family is never solely dependent on one person's strength or a single Spiritual Vein.

The support of the people is the true Foundation.

And this was just the beginning.