Longevity starts from having a daughter in old age

176  Chapter 153: Marketplace Planning_1 n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Your name is Qingmei, right?"

"This servant pays respect to the ancestor!"

Qingmei was slightly taken aback. She didn't expect Xu Mu to remember her.

"You will take charge of clan affairs for now."

"This..."

Qingmei found it a bit difficult because the remaining manpower was too small. After all, an able woman cannot work without rice.

"Ancestor, should we recruit more people?" Qingmei mustered the courage to ask.

Chi Mu, being naturally reticent, didn't know what to say. But she dared not keep silent. If things weren't handled properly due to lack of manpower, she could not afford it.

"No need, people will come soon," Xu Mu said calmly.

"People will come soon?"

Qingmei and Chi Mu were confused, but they dared not ask more.

Then Xu Mu announced a few rules. They were similar to common large families, except that the punishment for violation was severe.

Just as Xu Mu was reorganizing the family, Lv Le, who had left the Xu Family, had already regrouped with a batch of people who were previously driven out by Chi Feiyan.

There were two leaders of this group, Lv Yi, who was originally from the Lv family, and Chi Guyu, who was Chi Feiyan's uncle and the former second-in-command in the Chi Family.

Xu Mu only let Chi Feiyan reorganize the family. He didn't ask her to kill them immediately. So, she just drove out the stubborn faction supporting Chi Shouyuan and Lv Feier, provided them with some basic resources, and let them fend for themselves.

After all, they were blood relatives. She couldn't just kill them without a reason.

As for her way of handling things, Xu Mu accepted it.

Without a legitimate reason for slaughtering cultivators in large numbers, the Liyang Sect would not ignore it. In name, they only managed White River City and didn't have the power to decide life and death.

Originally, in order to find Xu Mu, the Luo Family slaughtered cultivators in the White River City, but they did it surreptitiously.

Of course, if Xu Mu really wanted to kill them, he could, but he didn't want to waste time.

Xu Mu didn't want to contend with a bunch of ants, but these people were unwilling to accept it.

When they were in the Xu Family, they didn't feel it. But when they left the Xu Family to become loose cultivators, they discovered how difficult the world was.

The life of a loose cultivator was completely different from that of a clan cultivator. They had to do everything themselves, and income was not guaranteed.

For people like Lv Yi and Chi Guyu who held high positions, they used to either cultivate or manage their clans in the family, and didn't have to worry about resources.

But now that they were expelled from the family, they had nothing.

Their living conditions plummeted.

Even the loose cultivators they used to look down upon didn't take them seriously anymore.

Those who were used to luxury and indulgence couldn't hold on for long.

Especially Lv Yi and Chi Guyu who used to have high positions.

The existence of the family was based on interests. If they failed to provide sufficient benefits for everyone, not only would their living conditions worsen, but their followers would rapidly disintegrate.

Eventually, they would become lone and destitute.

Having Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage and not having them were two different matters.

But with the resources they currently had, it was almost impossible to cultivate another cultivator to the Foundation Establishment Stage. So, they could only think of ways to return.

Therefore, under the leadership of Lv Yi and Chi Guyu, they contacted Lv Lang and others within the family and started making trouble in the marketplace. Their aim was to put pressure on Xu Mu to recruit them back.

Anyway, after some time, they could apologize, show their loyalty, and give the other party a way out.

However, what they never expected was that Xu Mu would go for broke. Not only did he not invite them back, but he also drove out all the remaining members of the two families, leaving only a small number of die-hard followers.

"Family Head, what do we do now?"

Lv Lang asked Lv Yi.

He originally wanted to help Lv Yi return to the family but ended up being implicated himself.

Lv Lang was truly regretful. Having the backing of a family and not having it were two different matters. Originally, he had a slight chance of advancing to the Foundation Establishment Stage, but now there was no hope.

If Xu Mu now asked him if he would be willing to change his surname, Lv Lang would definitely agree without hesitation.

If he didn't exist, what would be the point of the family's existence?

Unfortunately, there is only one chance. Looking at Xu Mu's attitude, it seems unlikely that he would reconsider.

"What else can we do? We can only keep going on this road! I don't believe that with the few people he has, he can manage such a large marketplace!" Lv Yi said viciously.

Now he had no other way out. If he didn't want to descend into the bitter life of a Loose Cultivator, he could only resort to desperate measures, pressuring Xu Mu to surrender first. Worst comes to worst, he would give his opponent an out when the time comes.

"We have no other choice!"

Lv Lang sighed.

Just as the ousted members from the Chi and Lv families were preparing to jointly cause a commotion in White River City, a Flying Boat from the Liyang Sect came flying over. It brought Si Tan'er, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and more than 300 Loose Cultivators from Liyang City.

"My husband, why did you ask me to bring so many people?"

Si Tan'er said, puzzled.

Before they left, Xu Mu only informed her to hire a group of loose cultivators at a high price, without explaining why.

"Of course, to manage the city."

Xu Mu did not hide anything and told her about the situation in White River City.

"What? These people are really bold! Husband, leave it to me, let's see how I'll deal with them!"

Si Tan'er rarely showed such domineering.

"Good!"

Xu Mu replied cheerfully.

He would be watching over, ensuring nothing would go wrong, and this could be a chance to develop Si Tan'er's abilities.

"Take these for self-defense!"

Xu Mu took out two high-level Foundation Establishment corpses that he had seized from the Elder of the Iron Corpse Gang and handed them to Si Tan'er.

To mask the scent of the corpses, he specially crafted a set of armor; Si Tan'er would use them as if they were mere puppets to the untrained eye.

Speaking of puppets, Xu Mu indeed intended to craft some.

Compared to one-time items like Talismans, puppets were obviously more durable.

They could even be passed down as family heirlooms.

"Thank you, my husband!"

Obtaining two high-level bodyguards for no reason, Si Tan'er was naturally extremely delighted.

Late into the night, the couple couldn't help but engage several times. As they wound down, Xu Mu suddenly asked.

"Tan'er, do you want to have children?"

"Yes, I dream about it! But it's really difficult at our level!"

Si Tan'er expressed a hint of disappointment.

Of course, she hoped for a child to solidify their relationship together.

But when she married Xu Mu, he was already at the Foundation Establishment Stage, so despite their efforts, they yielded no results.

"Don't worry! As long as you want, I have a way!"

"Really?" Si Tan'er exclaimed with surprise.

"Of course!"

"What's the method?"

"Let's have another round!"

"...."

After handing over the affairs of White River City to Si Tan'er, Xu Mu started strategizing to set up defensive formations.

With more than 300 new forces, the city was soon brought it under control, and the family was running smoothly.

Si Tan'er had helped her grandfather manage businesses before and Xu Mu was giving directions from behind, managing a small city wasn't a big problem.

As for Lv Yi and others, they were just clowns. Before they could make a move, they were already dealt with by Si Tan'er.

To assist Si Tan'er in stabilizing the situation in White River City, Xu Mu even recruited his old friend, Shopkeeper Tu.

At the same time, Xu Mu tailored a 10-year development plan for the White River City based on the city-plans of his previous life. With this plan, Si Tan'er could keep the city thriving without much effort.

In the meantime, the defensive formation was set up in less than a month. A white mist, formed by the formation, was enveloping White River City.

Xu Mu handed over the control to Si Tan'er; from then on, White River City was running smoothly.

He opened the system to check, after his series of actions, the family's luck had reached 680 points.

Just when Xu Mu was counting the time, preparing to return to the Cang Ming Ocean Territory, Chi Feiyan suddenly returned with a swollen belly.