67: Chapter 67: Two Months of Wedding Planning and Property Acquisition; New Home Brings Prosperity and Joyous Events

The wedding date was set for two months later. The Li Family did not halt their industrial operations because of the upcoming nuptials; instead, they entered a state of high-speed yet methodical busyness.

The output of the supply fields was stable, and the newly transplanted Warm Wood Grass was growing gratifyingly in the cultivation fields. The scale of the Spirit Beast Garden quietly expanded, growing from the initial three White-Eared Spirit Rabbits to twelve Green-furred Mice and five low-rank medicinal poultry. The fermentation pond was divided into three large compartments, and the low-rank Spirit Fertilizer produced was sufficient to supply half of the domestic fields, representing a visible monthly income when converted into Spirit Stones.

Grand Elder Li Yuanheng looked at the newly delivered account books and clapped the table in delight, saying, "To be able to hold a wedding while still making money—Li Qingfeng's branch really knows how to manage a household."

In the New Courtyard, Su Qingyue did not intend to make the wedding extravagant. She set three rules for the Internal Affairs Hall: the etiquette must be fully observed, the accounts must be calculated clearly, and the daily operations of the household must not be disrupted.

How to arrange the courtyard after Wang Qingluan entered the Family, who would manage the subordinates, and at what time the trade route account books were to be delivered for verification each month—she had listed everything in advance, writing each point out clearly.

When Li Qingfeng returned to the room at night and saw her still circling and marking items under the lamp with a vermilion brush, he walked over and massaged her wrists from behind, laughing softly, "My lady, you are likely more tired than I, the groom."

Su Qingyue put down her pen and leaned back, allowing him to massage her more comfortably, though her words remained sharp, "You just need to attend the ceremony. After the person is brought through the door, it is the entire backyard that must get along daily. I am setting the rules now so that everyone can have peace of mind later."

Li Qingfeng took her hand and touched it lightly to his lips, saying, "You have worked hard."

Su Qingyue felt her ears heat up from his gesture, but she didn't pull her hand back, merely shooting him a glance, "If you know I've worked hard, go to the supply fields early tomorrow to take a look; don't always make me send people to urge you."

On the other side, Wang Qingluan was not idle either.

One month before the wedding, she brought her three most capable veteran stewards to formally hand over the accounts and personnel of the old trade routes to the Li Family's External Affairs Hall.

She did not put on airs just because she was about to marry into the Li Family. In front of the Li Family's stewards, she first set rules for her own subordinates, "From now on, business is business, and Family is Family. If anyone dares to use my name to falsely report even half a Spirit Stone of loss in the accounts, they will be punished according to the Li Family's household rules—do not come seeking my intercession."

The stewards sent by the Li Family to handle the handover had originally been worried that this new mistress would be overbearing and difficult, but seeing her suppress her own people first, they felt convinced and impressed.

Li Qingfeng watched the entire handover process from the side, and after the Wang Family's stewards retreated, he whispered to her, "Miss Wang, the rules you set were beautifully handled."

Wang Qingluan tidied the contracts on the table without lifting her head, replying, "Clean up the troublesome matters before entering the door, so that Sister Su won't have to waste effort disciplining my people later."

Li Qingfeng's daily routine was also packed full.

Every morning, he would certainly patrol the supply fields and cultivation fields to check the leaf color of the Spiritual Plants, the dosage of Spirit Fertilizer, and whether the newly dug drainage ditches for the rainy season were blocked.

Li Changqing would occasionally be carried to the edge of the fields by his nurse. The little fellow could already babble and reach out to touch the leaves of the Spiritual Plants. Any Spiritual Plant he touched always had damaged leaves that recovered much faster.

As for the second son, Li Changsheng, he mostly stayed by the Spirit Spring Well in the New Courtyard. His Wood Essence Spirit Gathering talent made the Wood Spiritual Qi of the entire New Courtyard exceptionally dense, which in turn caused the Spiritual Plants in the small area of the domestic fields near the New Courtyard to grow much better than elsewhere.

Li Qingfeng specifically had people record all these changes in a booklet titled "Twin Synergy Records," preparing it to handle any potential follow-up reviews from the Qingyun Sect.

That night, Li Qingfeng completely spread out the blueprints for the Small Spirit Gathering Array in his study.

The Formation paths on the blueprints had been mostly dismantled and were ready for implementation at any time. However, to set it up according to the diagram, he still lacked nine Rank 1 Azure Wood Formation Stones and three Rank 1 Azure Wood Formation Talismans.

He was now a Rank 1 Talisman Master (Initial Stage), so drawing talismans was not difficult, but his attainments in Formation remained at the entry-level disciple stage; he did not have full confidence in setting up the Formation eyes and Formation feet.

The System panel lit up right on cue.

[Small Spirit Gathering Array setup prerequisite task initiated: Complete a field test of the "Trade Route Escort Formation".]

[Task Reward: Formation experience increase; Small Spirit Gathering Array Formation eye spiritual power calibration diagram.]

After reading, Li Qingfeng immediately had an idea. He set the testing location directly on a new trade route that Wang Qingluan had just handed over.

It happened to be the rainy season at the end of summer, and the mountain roads were muddy.

The first convoy transporting Spirit Fertilizer was blocked by surging stream water when they reached a mountain ravine.

If they forced their way across the ravine, the heavy carts would likely flip into the water; but if they took a detour, this shipment would arrive a day later than the agreed time, affecting the reputation of the storefront.

When Li Qingfeng arrived with Li Chengyue, Wang Qingluan was already there. She was wearing a neat short-sleeved shirt, her trouser legs stained with mud, and was directing manpower to attempt to build a pontoon bridge.

Li Qingfeng did not say much; he directly took out three talisman papers and slapped one on each of the stone walls on both sides of the ravine, forming the simplest Rank 1 Trade Route Escort Formation.

The Formation lit up with a faint glow, and a gentle Wood Spiritual Qi formed a thin layer of support at the bottom of the cart frames, stabilizing the previously precarious carts significantly.

Wang Qingluan's eyes lit up, and she immediately had people bring over several lightweight flatbed carts to ferry the Spirit Fertilizer across the ravine in batches.

The two stood under a temporarily erected rain canopy, watching the convoy pass slowly. Rainwater dripped down from the oilcloth on the roof, and Wang Qingluan's sleeve was accidentally splashed, getting wet.

Li Qingfeng untied his outer robe and handed it over.

Wang Qingluan took it and draped it over herself; the robe still carried the faint warmth of his body. She whispered, "I haven't even entered the door yet, and I've already put on your clothes."

Li Qingfeng watched the convoy in the rain and replied, "Put it on the account first; we'll settle it together after the wedding."

The corners of Wang Qingluan's mouth curled into an extremely faint smile, and for once, she did not retort, "Fine, then I'll mark it down against you."

That night, the escort was completed successfully.

The System notification followed suit.

[Ding! "Trade Route Escort Formation" field test successful, Family escort stability increased.]

[Reward: Formation experience increase; a small amount of cultivation infusion; Small Spirit Gathering Array Formation eye spiritual power calibration diagram.]

[Current Formation attainments: Entry-level disciple · Latter Stage.]

Li Qingfeng's cultivation was one step closer to the Latter Stage of Qi Refining Stage 9.

Just seven days before the wedding, Steward Xu Wenshan from the Qingyun Branch suddenly sent someone to deliver a jade talisman.

The letter stated that the Li Family's continuous supply record over the past few months was excellent, and the Inner Sect was prepared to send someone to review their qualifications as a "Stable Cooperative Family."

The person coming would arrive in Qingshi Town one month after Wang Qingluan entered the Family.

After reading the jade talisman, Li Qingfeng couldn't help but smile, "The wedding, the Formation setup, the Sect review—these major events have all crowded together."

Su Qingyue was tidying the ceremonial robes he was to wear the next day. Hearing this, she put down the clothing in her hands and said gently, "Then we will handle them one by one. First, bring the person into the house, and then we will discuss the rest."