425: Chapter 426 Family Atmosphere!

He raised his head, his gaze calm and resolute:

"Since we are letting them take charge, we must establish rules.

No matter whose child it is, no matter who their mother is, rewards and punishments will be handled impartially. I will absolutely not tolerate anyone bullying others with their status or acting arrogant."

"Regarding this matter, Yiyi, Shiqing, you two should pay more attention in your daily routines.

For those who do well, praise them publicly; for those who go too far, punish them as necessary. Do not hold back."

Lu Shiqing and Liu Yiyi both nodded solemnly.

Xiao Caiyue had been listening quietly on the side, and only then did she speak softly, her tone gentle yet carrying a hint of contemplation:

"Husband, I dare to offer a word."

"The development of the children's character, while an internal Family matter, concerns the Family Foundation.

If we lose our sense of proportion in this, then no matter how many Spirit Stones we have or how vast our Foundation becomes, it will be hard to maintain for long."

Ye Changge turned to look at her, his gaze filled with a hint of approval: "Caiyue is right. Continue."

Xiao Caiyue smiled slightly:

"I think that besides arranging for the children to manage affairs, we might as well establish a set of 'Assessment Methods'. Every year or every half-year, conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the children from each branch, focusing on three aspects: cultivation, moral character, and capability in handling affairs."

"Those with excellent evaluations will be rewarded with Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, and the like; those with poor evaluations will have their stipends fined, supplies reduced, or even be transferred to menial roles to temper their Heart-Nature."

"In this way, it can not only motivate the children to improve but also let them understand: in the Ye Family, wanting to obtain something depends on true ability, not on who their mother is."

After she finished speaking, the room was quiet for a moment.

Lu Shiyin nodded first, admiration showing in her eyes: "Sister Xiao's method is excellent."

Lu Shiqing also nodded repeatedly: "It's easier to get things done when there are rules. I support it."

Liu Yiyi pondered for a moment and said gently: "It is feasible. However, the specific details need to be carefully drafted; we should not be too hasty."

Ye Changge took everyone's opinions into account and finally made the decision:

"Then it is decided. From today on, gradually hand over the management of Family businesses to the children. As for the Assessment Methods, Caiyue will draft the initial version, Shiyin will review it, and Yiyi and Shiqing will add their suggestions. It will be announced after it is finalized."

"Also—" He looked at Liu Yiyi, "Yiyi, you will be responsible for the moral guidance of the children from now on. Shiqing, you will assist. If there are any troublemakers who don't listen, punish them as needed; do not go easy on them."

"As for me," Ye Changge smiled, "I will be responsible for providing the 'deterrence'."

Hearing this, everyone laughed.

The matter was settled just like that.

Everyone chatted a bit more about daily life before dispersing.

After discussing serious matters with his wives, the thoughts Ye Changge had about the future of the Family did not completely dissipate.

He sat alone in the study for a while, tapping his fingers unconsciously on the table, and finally decided to get up and personally go have a heart-to-heart talk with the children.

In his view, his greatest use as a father in such a large Family was perhaps not to handle everything personally, but to coordinate from the center and be a "backer" whom the children could talk to.

He first went to the East Courtyard to find his eldest son, Ye Pingan.

Ye Pingan was now a youth of sixteen or seventeen, having grown much taller, with delicate features and a composure in his brows that did not match his age.

Seeing his father arrive, he put down the ledger in his hand, stood up to salute, his movements calm and appropriate.

Ye Changge waved his hand to indicate he didn't need to be overly formal, sat down on a nearby chair, looked at him with a gentle gaze, and briefly explained the purpose of his visit.

He asked Ye Pingan if there were any difficulties or thoughts now that the Family businesses were gradually being handed over to the younger generation to manage.

Ye Pingan was silent for a moment, not answering immediately. He seemed to be weighing his words, and those eyes, which bore some resemblance to Ye Changge's, showed a depth of thought inappropriate for his age.

After a long while, he spoke slowly, his voice not loud but clear and organized:

"Father, in the days since I took over the management of the spirit fields, I have discovered that the biggest problem is not the industry itself."

"The output of the spirit fields is stable, and the fishing grounds' revenue is acceptable; as long as we manage them with care, we don't have to worry about Spirit Stones."

"What truly makes me feel troublesome... is the sentiment among the clansmen."

Ye Changge's gaze narrowed slightly, signaling him to continue.

Ye Pingan paused and continued:

"Our Ye Family has many offspring now, totaling several dozen people. Father and the wives treat those below with generosity, and the Family's provisions are quite generous, which is a good thing."

"But precisely because of this, the children have lived without worry since they were young, never having suffered, so they inevitably feel that everything is taken for granted."

"And..." Ye Pingan frowned slightly, lowering his voice a bit,

"I have noticed that the batch of brothers and sisters born earlier at Biluo Lake, such as Brother Xiu and Sister Zhi, have a deeper bond and get along harmoniously."

"But the younger brothers and sisters born later at Longmai Mountain are still young and don't have much contact with us older brothers and sisters, so there is a faint sense of estrangement."

"Although they are polite on the surface, it always feels like there is a layer between us."

"As for the younger brothers and sisters born to the concubines taken in later, it is even more so. They mostly only associate with their own full siblings and rarely interact with the siblings from other branches. If this continues..."

Ye Pingan did not finish his sentence, but the meaning was already very clear.

Ye Changge listened and was silent for a moment.

He did not comment immediately, just nodded, his tone peaceful: "Anything else?"

Ye Pingan pursed his lips, appearing somewhat hesitant, but finally spoke truthfully:

"There is one more thing... I feel that some younger brothers and sisters seem somewhat uneasy about their position."

"They feel that they are young and their Spiritual Roots are not outstanding, so they have no sense of presence in the Family. Although they don't say it daily, their words and actions always carry a hint of timidity. I want to comfort them, but I don't know where to start."

After hearing his eldest son's words, Ye Changge felt many emotions. This child was indeed as Xiao Caiyue had said; although he was quiet, his heart was as clear as a mirror, and he saw things very clearly.

He reached out and patted Ye Pingan's shoulder, saying gently:

"That you can see these things shows that you have truly put your heart into it. This is a good thing. As for how to solve it, I already have a plan in mind; you don't need to worry too much."

Hearing this, Ye Pingan's tense expression relaxed slightly, and he nodded.

After bidding farewell to Ye Pingan, Ye Changge went to see several other older offspring in succession.

He found Ye Xiu.

This child had a lively and restless personality and had been unable to sit still since he was a child. Now that he had been arranged to manage the fishing grounds, he was doing quite well.

Seeing his father arrive, Ye Xiu first smiled and performed a salute, but when asked about Family affairs, a rare look of embarrassment appeared on his face.

He scratched his head and said somewhat embarrassedly:

"Father, actually... sometimes I feel that my own ability is mediocre, and it's just because I am a few years older than my younger brothers and sisters that I was arranged to manage things."