53: Chapter 53 The young lady is pregnant, and the luck ATM is ready!

[You turn and look at the pale cyan figure disappearing at the end of the corridor.]

["Soon."]

——

[31 years old, February 1st. Birthday.]

[Secret chamber in the back of Shens Shop.]

["Ding!"]

["Birthday has arrived, beginning annual trait draw."]

[The wheel spins.]

[You stare at the wheel. You drew the purple "Blessed with Many Children" last time; your luck can't always be this good.]

[A white light flashes.]

["Ding! Congratulations on obtaining the trait: Night Vision (White) — Perception range for seeing at night is doubled."]

[Night Vision.]

[Useless during the day, and not of much use at night either.]

[You casually toss it into the reserve slot.]

[Having drawn white traits for so many years in a row, you are long used to it.]

——

[31 years old, March.]

[The overall situation in the Yunzhou spirit herb market is settled.]

[The Liu Family holds sixty percent of the market share, while Shens Shop controls the upstream supply chain and black market channels.]

[The remaining forces of Dingsheng Trading Firm and Wanbao Pavilion have been wiped clean.]

[The Ancestor of the Zhao Family sent people to deliver a letter of goodwill and a chest of spirit stones as an apology, with respectful wording.]

[The Grand Elder of the Liu Family announced at the clan meeting: The Liu Family has survived its greatest crisis in a century.]

——

[March 15th. Liu Family back garden. The spring rain has just stopped.]

[Liu Qingqing invited you to meet in the pavilion.]

[There is no wine on the stone table, only two cups of clear tea.]

[She changed into a pale cyan dress, with a white magnolia hairpin in her hair.]

[You have never seen her wear jewelry before.]

["The threats have all been cleared," she begins. "Dingsheng has fallen, Wanbao Pavilion has run off, and Xiu Yun is gone. What do you plan to do next?"]

[You pick up the teacup: "Marry you."]

[Liu Qingqing stands up abruptly.]

[Her knee hits the stone table, and tea spills over half her skirt.]

[She grabs a handkerchief and wipes her skirt messily, her earlobes turning red.]

["Shen Ji, are you crazy?"]

["I am very serious."]

[You take a small brocade box from your sleeve and push it in front of her.]

[The brocade box opens.]

[Inside is a top-quality white jade ring, with small inscriptions carved on the inner wall — "frostfall and Qingqing".]

[Liu Qingqing stares at the ring, not speaking for a long time.]

[She reaches out a finger, then pulls it back.]

[The third time, she grabs the ring and clutches it tightly in her palm.]

[Her voice is extremely low.]

["I will speak to the Grand Elder myself."]

[You take a sip of tea: "What about the Azure Spirit Bead?"]

["What Azure Spirit Bead?"]

["The one left by the Ling Family."]

[Liu Qingqing slips the ring onto the ring finger of her right hand: "That is my dowry. What does it have to do with you?"]

——

[March 20th. Liu Family Council Hall.]

[You stand in the hall, formally proposing marriage.]

[The Grand Elder sits in the main seat, stroking his beard with a chuckle.]

[Three of the seven elders look hesitant.]

[The Second Elder speaks first: "Although Shopkeeper Shen has business talent, for the Liu Family's eldest miss to marry a rogue cultivator, regarding the family's reputation—"]

[Before he finishes speaking, the Grand Elder slams the table.]

["Reputation? With the strength of Shopkeeper Shen alone, he toppled Dingsheng, forced away Wanbao Pavilion, and monopolized the Yunzhou spirit herb market."]

[The Grand Elder glances at the elders present.]

["The fact that over a hundred members of the Liu Family can sit here drinking tea and discussing matters is all thanks to this person. Whoever mentions the word 'reputation' again, I will remove their face first."]

[The Second Elder shuts his mouth.]

[The other elders echo in agreement.]

[A very soft laugh comes from behind the carved door.]

——

[April 8th. Wedding day.]

[No extravagance.]

[Shens Shop closes for the day, and the Liu Family only invites close relatives.]

[Three tables of simple dishes are set in the pavilion, with a few red lanterns hung up.]

[Liu Qingqing is in a deep red wedding dress, her long hair in a bun, pinned with that white magnolia hairpin.]

[You are wearing a clean dark blue robe.]

[Hu Wansan insisted you change into a brocade robe, but you glared him back with a single look.]

["Boss, you are the groom, after all—"]

["Say one more word and I'll replace you too."]

[During the wedding ceremony, the Grand Elder acts as the officiant, reciting a very long congratulatory speech.]

[Liu Qingqing maintains her composure throughout.]

[Only at the moment of clinking cups for the nuptial wine, a small amount of wine spills out.]

In the secret chamber.

Shen Ji leans against the earthen wall, watching the scene of the nuptial wine on the light screen.

He summons the trait panel.

Spirit Affinity (Green).

Blessed with Many Children (Purple).

Half-Step Spirit Root is the foundation; it cannot be moved.

Spirit Affinity is just icing on the cake.

He stares at the description of "Blessed with Many Children".

Offspring feedback, no side effects.

His aptitude has reached the ceiling; relying on his own hard cultivation to break through to Qi Refining Level 8 is as difficult as ascending to heaven.

But with this trait, as long as his offspring's talent is strong enough, he can passively break through.

His fingers slide across the light screen.

Unequip "Spirit Affinity (Green)".

Equip "Blessed with Many Children (Purple)".

The purple light merges into his body.

[Name: Shen Ji]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 7 Peak]

[Current Luck Value: 152]

[Equipped Traits 5/5: Wealth Returns After Being Spent (Gold), Sword Mastery (Blue), Blessed with Many Children (Purple), Half-Step Spirit Root (Green), Business Sniffing (Blue)]

Shen Ji closes the panel, his gaze returning to the simulation screen.

——

[After marriage. You move into the Liu Family's detached courtyard.]

[The courtyard is not large, with three main rooms and one secret chamber.]

[Liu Qingqing also moved the weapon rack from beside the Martial Arts Arena, saying it's convenient for practicing sword techniques in the morning.]

[Hu Wansan takes over all daily affairs of Shens Shop, delivering account books every five days.]

[Ling Feng arranged for a jar of spirit wine aged twenty years to be sent over, with a letter attached: "Congratulations to Brother Shen. This younger brother dares not intrude in person, so I offer my congratulations from afar."]

[Ji Mengxue sent a set of rosewood chess pieces, with a note attached: "Congratulations, Shopkeeper Shen, you finally have someone to keep you in check."]

[You hand the note to Liu Qingqing to read.]

[After reading it, she tears up the note.]

["This Ji Mengxue, are you very close?"]

["Business cooperation."]

["Business cooperation involves sending chess sets?"]

["...She likes playing chess."]

[Liu Qingqing throws the rosewood chess set into the storage room.]

——

[31 years old, May to August.]

[You practice sword techniques every morning, handle Shens Shop and black market accounts in the morning, and go into seclusion in the afternoon to strive for Qi Refining Level 8.]

[Liu Qingqing's cultivation is also steadily advancing; her Cold Water Art has broken through to the fourth level, and her sword intent is becoming increasingly sharp.]

[Occasionally in the evening, the two of you practice sparring in the courtyard.]

[frostfall and iron swords clash continuously in the courtyard.]

[Every time Hu Wansan comes to deliver account books, he has to cough three times at the door first.]

——

[31 years old, September 9th. Double Ninth Festival.]

[Liu Family detached courtyard.]

[Morning light shines into the courtyard.]

[Under the osmanthus tree, Liu Qingqing sits on a stone bench.]

[In front of her sits a bowl of unconsumed spirit tea.]

[Her complexion is somewhat pale, and her palm rests loosely on her lower abdomen.]

[You walk over: "What's wrong?"]

[She looks up. Her eyes are red-rimmed.]

["I had the old doctor at the medicine hall check my pulse today."]

[She pauses.]

[Morning light penetrates the canopy, and a few osmanthus flowers fall onto her shoulders.]

["Shen Ji." Her voice is extremely soft. "I'm pregnant."]

[You freeze in place.]

[She tilts her head to examine your expression: "What? Scared silly?"]

[You crouch down and reach out to cover the back of her hand.]

["No. I'm calculating."]

[The smile on Liu Qingqing's face freezes: "...Shen Ji, can you not calculate at a time like this?"]

["Not that kind of calculation." You look up.]

["I am calculating how large a family estate I need to save up for the child."]

[Liu Qingqing is stunned for a moment.]

[She squeezes your hand hard.]

["Stop with the Glib Tongue here."]

[Osmanthus flowers cover her shoulders. You don't let go.]

In the secret chamber, Shen Ji looks at the text on the light screen.

The first child.

The trait Blessed with Many Children is finally about to take effect.

The lesson from the last simulation of being exploded by the feedback from ten rebellious children is still fresh in his mind.

This time, he must be steady.

Reasonably utilizing the feedback to control the speed of cultivation improvement is the best strategy.

He taps the panel lightly with his finger and continues reading down.

——

[Liu Family detached courtyard. Late at night.]

[Liu Qingqing is asleep. One hand is still pressed on her lower abdomen.]

[You sit by the bed, using the "Night Vision" trait to clearly see her peaceful sleeping face.]

[You gently pull the quilt up.]

[You get up and walk to the window.]

[The communication jade slip in your bosom vibrates.]

[Ji Mengxue's handwriting.]

[You unfold it.]

["Ling Chongyue did not return to the main family to report. He is still in Yunzhou City."]

["This afternoon, someone..."]