47: transfer of power

Combining the previous conversation, Jiang Hanwen understood what Old Du wanted him to do—to give the position of Chief Steward, which he was about to obtain, to Su Xin, in order to save Su Xin's life.

That position was like an iron bench on fire now—a hot seat, and Jiang Hanwen wasn't interested.

If he really had to take it, at the very least, he needed the power to make his own decisions.

And the core of power came from strength.

Jiang Hanwen put down the booklet:

"This booklet can be given to Su Xin.

But I hope, Old Du, you won't say I wrote it.

The Zhuang Family's matters, in the past, present, and future, I don't want to get involved in them.

I'm doing all this just to make you happy; I truly have no interest in that position!"

"I'm sorry," Du Qingfu lowered his head. Jiang Hanwen's words were like a heavy punch, striking his chest hard, making his internal organs churn restlessly.

In his eyes, a layer of murky mist blocked his vision.

In over ten years, this was the first time, besides Shang Zian's death, that Du Qingfu showed his vulnerability in front of Jiang Hanwen.

Two glistening tears slid down his flaccid cheeks, pattering onto the ground and stirring up fine dust.

One should not forget to repay kindness, but when a true benefactor appears, how many can remain calm?

What he offered was merely an opportunity that everyone had, utterly commonplace.

Yet what he received was the entire Medicine Field.

After a long while, his red-rimmed eyes calmed.

Du Qingfu pointed to the corner of the wall:

"I have nothing left to give you. There's a box of gold over there; take it."

Jiang Hanwen smiled bitterly and shook his head:

"I don't lack money. If you absolutely must give me something, may I take this map?"

Jiang Hanwen pointed to the Medicine Field map hanging in the room.

"Take it. Here with me, it can only gather dust." Du Qingfu clenched his fists.

Over the years, as the founder, how many people had Du Qingfu taught? More than one or two?

Perhaps one or two hundred, and even more.

But among so many people, only Jiang Hanwen always kept him in his heart.

He never showed a trace of disrespect, neither because of his vast knowledge and change in status, nor because of his old age and limited time.

"Dong ~"

A dull metallic thud, the water clock struck.

Du Qingfu had words stuck in his chest, holding them back tightly, and sighed, controlling his emotions as much as possible:

"You should go. She's coming soon."

"Old Du, then I'll be going. Take care of yourself." Jiang Hanwen took down the map, winked playfully, and turned to leave.

Not long after Jiang Hanwen left, Su Xin, holding her daughter's hand, stood at the doorway.

Su Xin gazed at Jiang Hanwen's retreating back, wondering what she was thinking.

This contemporary, who hadn't even eaten a meat bun back then, in a blink of an eye, had become someone she needed to rely on.

"Mommy, who is that uncle?" Zhuang Yue curiously pointed into the distance.

"That's Mommy's friend," Su Xin said meaningfully.

"Friend?" The little girl tilted her head. It was the first time she heard her mother had a friend.

"Hmm, a friend who should have been a good friend, but Mommy was blind.

Let's go, let's go see your maternal grandfather."

...Night. Jiang Hanwen sat on the rooftop, the moonlight like silver, casting a hazy veil over him.

Streaks of cool air were drawn into his throat, penetrating his heart.

The early winter night was heavy with dew, and where the evening wind blew, his damp clothes clung to him.

As he said, he didn't care who managed the Medicine Field; he just wanted to make the old man who had always looked after him happy.

His withdrawal could protect the old man's adopted daughter, and that was enough.

Next, he would Cultivate with peace of mind, striving to Breakthrough the Qi Induction stage as soon as possible.

With his advice, Su Xin's life was safe, but without a gun, where would the power come from?

A foolish child carrying a gold brick through a bustling market—a near-certain death.

As for leaving the Zhuang Family, Jiang Hanwen hadn't considered it for now. Even a Peak Qi Induction Cultivator like Gong Hai could be severely injured by mountain bandits. Even if he broke through Qi Induction and went out, he would just be a bigger fat sheep.

Surviving outside was not as comfortable as in the Zhuang Family.

His heart trembled, reaching a certain limit.

In his heart, thirty to forty wisps of spiritual energy, like threads, intertwined to form a thick, multicolored wandering Dragon, coiled within his heart.

A glint of light flashed through Jiang Hanwen's eyes—the second step of meditation was complete!

Spiritual energy condensed, and the wandering Dragon emerged.

"Yin ~"

With a tremor, the spiritual energy swam out from his heart, moving along Jiang Hanwen's meridians.

Meditation, meditation, was not just about breathing, but also about examining the body for ailments and hidden injuries.

"Hiss ~"

When the spiritual energy reached his elbow, it felt like flesh being pinched with pliers, and Jiang Hanwen grimaced in pain.

If it flows, there is no pain; if there is pain, it does not flow.

He endured it, continuing to circulate it throughout his body.

It wasn't until noon that the spiritual energy, reduced to a tiny wisp, returned to his heart.

Jiang Hanwen's lips were pale from pain, and he was drenched in sweat, a layer of rough salt stains from heavy perspiration clinging to his body.

He didn't know until he checked, and when he did, he was shocked.

He had twenty-eight hidden injuries and twelve blocked meridians.

Jiang Hanwen smiled bitterly; he hadn't noticed them during Cultivation, only feeling his Qi and blood flowing smoothly, his body clear and unhindered.

Now, with the spiritual energy circulating, his whole body was problematic.

Coupled with the decline of Qi and blood, no wonder so many people couldn't Breakthrough Qi Induction. It was good enough if they didn't Cultivate themselves to death from Qi and blood exhaustion.

"Time to eat!"

A hearty shout rang out. Gong Qing, wearing a prosthetic limb, stood in the courtyard, a rosy smile on his face.

"Coming." Jiang Hanwen jumped down from the roof and walked laboriously to the table.

"Mmm ~"

Father Jiang closed his eyes in intoxication, sniffing at the pot.

"Today's taste is even more fragrant."

Gong Qing chuckled, lifting the lid of the clay pot.

Steam rose, a hen stewing in golden-yellow soup, with green scallions sprinkled on top, emitting a fresh aroma.

"This is made with bloodline grass and kudzu root, combined with..." Gong Qing pointed at the chicken, introducing it, then used a half-foot-long sharp knife to cut open the chicken's belly.

Rose-colored blood clots quivered like jelly, tender and smooth, floating into the soup.

Jiang Hanwen immediately saw the ingenuity: bloodline grass soup is red, and when made into a dish, it naturally has a somewhat bloody taste, which is difficult to handle.

Gong Qing used chicken blood to congeal and absorb the fresh red medicinal soup of the bloodline grass—a Genius!

He and his Father each drank a bowl.

"A little more rattan pepper, and it would be perfect."

As the saying goes, long illness makes one a doctor. Father Jiang ate it every day and had gained experience.

"Okay." Gong Qing picked up a pen nearby and jotted down Father Jiang's words.

Jiang Hanwen ate another piece of "jelly." A wave of warmth spread down his throat. Although it contained the medicinal properties of bloodline grass and various herbs, it was much milder, with a stronger aftereffect, focusing on gentle nourishment without harming the spleen and stomach.

"You could add another half piece of bloodline grass. If you can control the blood clots to congeal without dispersing, this dish can be served."

Jiang Hanwen gave a very high evaluation.

He didn't know if it was because he wasn't serious about things before, or if it was a matter of maturity.

Gong Qing was truly talented at cooking!

Strengthening Qi and blood, nourishing the body, invigorating Yang, etc.

He provided prescriptions based on his understanding of pharmacology and Spiritual Plants. The original recipes were very rudimentary, lacking detailed steps or specific times for medicinal effects to integrate.

But after explanation, Gong Qing could grasp the key points and truly succeed in making these things into Medicinal Cuisine, complete with excellent color, aroma, and taste.

It was like being able to memorize a word after reading it once.

After dinner, Gong Qing continued to ponder Medicinal Cuisine. Since there were no more medicines, he just pulled them directly from Jiang Hanwen's field, relying on a thick Family fortune, enough for trial and error.

Father Jiang, like a woman, was knitting a sweater.

Jiang Hanwen, targeting the hidden injuries and blockages in his body, circulated his Qi and blood, using topical applications to clear them.

Seven days later, in a flash.

The Zhuang Family was decorated with lanterns and streamers, and firecrackers crackled.

Witnessed by thousands of people, Zhuang Kongming received the jade ruyi, symbolizing the Family Head's authority, from the silver-haired Zhuang Xian, becoming the new Family Head.

The new Family Head, upon taking office, issued three commands.

First, his daughter-in-law, Su Xin, would serve as the Chief Steward of the Medicine Field, overseeing all matters concerning it.

Second, the Medicine Field would undergo major reforms, with Su Xin specifically in charge.

Third, the Zhuang Manor would recruit various talents, from guards to Medicine Farmers, from house servants to maids.

Outside the Medicine Field, it was bustling with activity. Upon hearing about the recruitment, all the stewards were overjoyed.

The more people they recruited, the greater their power would be, and the more offerings they would receive.

They all worked hard. When there weren't enough reputable people from Dazhai Village, they sought them from neighboring villages, recommending anyone who met the conditions.

The people within the Medicine Field were also restless.

Recruiting new people naturally meant new deacons to manage them, creating new opportunities for advancement.

The upheaval, centered on the transfer of power, spread out from the Zhuang Family's old residence in all directions.

Several families from outside villages were displeased, but upon hearing that someone from the Zhuang Family had joined the Qinglan Sword Sect, they immediately sent congratulatory letters, wishing Zhuang Kongming success as Family Head.

Let the outside world be noisy.

The circle of Jiang Hanwen's five small rooms, like a safe harbor, remained calm and peaceful.

Six months later, an old friend came to his home at Jiang Hanwen's invitation.