To be fair, Cheng Jinyang could certainly understand the other party's proposal.
In fact, even if he disagreed, so what? As long as the other party insisted on not fulfilling the engagement, it would be a blank slate.
Trading with established facts means gaining an advantage for oneself.
The Shendu Cheng family has no fifth-grade supernatural, and it's clear there won't be any in the visible future for the next ten years. The Xing family isn't opposed to Xing Yuanzhi marrying Cheng Jinyang; they just don't want her to marry a commoner - even though the Cheng family is temporarily a fifth-grade noble family.
As for the so-called "indefinite postponement," it's just a face-saving excuse for everyone. The peak concentration of supernatural bloodlines is between 40-50 years old.
Would the Hejian Xing family let Xing Yuanzhi wait until she's 40 to get married?
Ridiculous!
But Cheng Jinyang is no longer the newbie who got angry when he heard "the son of an old friend". He knows that refusing at this point would only offend the other party and serve no purpose, so he can only change the subject and take his leave from Xing Shuhe.
Well, this way, the Hejian Xing family is taken care of. Anyway, Ah Zhi will not leave him because of this.
Back in the carriage, Cheng Jinyang pondered again and realized he had only solved a small problem; there were still many more piled up ahead:
What would these one thousand people eat, drink, and where would they stay when they went to the city? Where would the money come from? What work would they do?
Just thinking about it was enough to give anyone a headache. Five hundred people already make up a sizable company; what more with a thousand under his command?
Companies can lay off employees if they can't sustain them, but how could a family lay off people? Dismissing people without cause or evidence was impossible.
After much contemplation, Cheng Jinyang took out his phone and dialed Miss Wang's number.
It only rang a couple of times before she answered.
"Have you arrived?"
"Not yet, otherwise you wouldn't be able to reach me."
Oh, right. The Taiyuan Wang family estate prohibits the use of electronic devices, so phones are temporarily stored outside.
"Wanrou, I have a question for you," Cheng Jinyang said slowly, "Were all these things part of your calculations?"
Now it seemed that the "spy infiltration" in Wujiang Industrial Zone was just a smokescreen from start to finish. They deliberately acted ostentatiously here to attract the attention of both the Cheng and Xing families in Pukou District, while their true move targeted the spiritual shield relay in Lushui Bay.
If everyone else couldn't see it, fine, but would the extremely clever Miss Wang also fail to anticipate it, being deceived by their strategy of misdirection?
I don't buy it!
"I don't understand what you mean," Wang Wanrou replied.
"No, you should understand," Cheng Jinyang said, "Did you even calculate my succession to family head?"
"You've taken over as head of the Cheng family?" This time, Wang Wanrou's tone was somewhat surprised. "That's quite fast. I thought it would take a few months."
"So the Longxiang Army attack was within your calculations, but my grandfather's death and my succession to family head were events you didn't anticipate, right?"
"You think too much, Jinyang," Miss Wang replied calmly, "You can't expect me to have all the answers to your problems."
"I don't want to play riddles with you, Wanrou," Cheng Jinyang said in a deep voice. "I have a thousand people in my hands right now, just escaped from the fallen Pukou District, and most of the fixed assets that couldn't be taken away are lost. When we arrive in the city area, they'll need food, drink, shelter, jobs, and income to stabilize their lives. Where do I conjure all of that from?"
"Think about it: just a few hours ago, I was just an ordinary clan member. Now I'm responsible for the livelihood of a thousand people, how do I manage that? Of course, I have to use every resource available to me at any cost."
"And you, the extremely clever Miss Wang, are currently my biggest trump card. If all of this is part of your calculations, then you must have thought about how to help me settle them, haven't you? I believe with your intelligence, you couldn't have overlooked this."
"Is that why you came directly to me for answers?" Miss Wang snorted a few times. "In terms of funds, the Shendu Cheng family must have bank accounts, so there shouldn't be any shortage in the short term. You go figure that out yourself. For food, you can approach Qingwan; the Longxi Li family is very close to the agricultural base, providing a cheap source of supplies."
"As for residence, firstly, the court won't just leave you all unattended, but it won't have the efficiency to immediately arrange housing for all the refugees from Pukou to South. So, you temporarily settle your people somewhere, then apply to the court to establish a new clan territory, which is highly likely to be approved. Forget about the bustling areas, they're all occupied by major clans. Right now, it's probably only east of Qixia District. Talk to Qingqing and see if there's a place to accommodate them; she's familiar with the terrain there."
"Of course, the Hejian Xing family should also consider this. Since your two families are going to live together, you can ask Yuanzhi about it."
"You really came prepared with all these details!" Cheng Jinyang was greatly surprised.
"Did I come prepared, is that how the idiom is used?" Wang Wanrou smirked coldly. "Or maybe you should think about the future of your clan! Now that there are no fifth-grade supernaturals left, what's the future path for the Shendu Cheng family? Or do you intend to attach yourselves to other prominent families?"
Cheng Jinyang wanted to say something more, but the call was abruptly hung up.
However, he didn't get angry about it; instead, he felt a sense of relief, as if a burden had been lifted—much like when a teacher suddenly announces an open-book exam before finals.
Miss Wang, no, Wanrou A Dream, truly lived up to being the top strategist among my subordinates!
He casually hummed a tune, then heard the sound of the door opening behind him, followed by Xing Yuanzhi's questioning voice:
"Jinyang, you seem quite happy?"
"Not at all," Cheng Jinyang turned around, his face now wearing an expression of deep sorrow, "I'm under a lot of pressure. Just thinking about leading our people forward fills me with a headache."
"But you were clearly laughing just now," Xing Yuanzhi frowned slightly.
"That was just making the best of a bad situation," Cheng Jinyang hastily explained.
"I overheard your conversation with Uncle just now," Xing Yuanzhi decided not to beat around the bush and returned to the point, asking, "What do you plan to do?"
Cheng Jinyang remained silent for a moment, then tentatively asked:
"Shall we elope?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Xing Yuanzhi scolded, "I'm talking about serious matters!"
Although he was joking, Cheng Jinyang was still a little sad when he heard Ah Zhi change the subject and didn't answer.
That's right. After all, she still had her father in the clan; how could she possibly leave everything behind and elope with me?
"Now it seems that we are powerless to stop this." Cheng Jinyang said seriously, "What your clan leader said is to put it on hold, not to cancel the engagement, and there is nothing wrong with it in terms of emotion and reason."
"You also know that putting it on hold is just a beautified excuse." Xing Yuanzhi said sadly.
"Let's try to look on the bright side," seeing her on the verge of tears again, Cheng Jinyang hurriedly comforted her, "With my potential, I'll definitely be promoted to the fifth grade long before I'm forty!"
Of course, the so-called potential referred to the golden finger for leveling up by killing demons in the nightmares.
So the tension on Xing Yuanzhi's brow eased slightly, and she said seriously:
"Alright. If the clan arranges a marriage for me, I'll refuse to marry, but you must hurry up and reach the fifth grade!"