"Then I thank all of you for your great support, come, let's toast to you."

Chen Mo didn't expect things to go so smoothly. With so much grain and money, the initial governance of the county would have no problems at all.

"County Magistrate, you're too kind, this is what we should do."

Seeing Chen Mo's demeanor, Wang Cultivator, Yi Qianchi, and the others knew that things were settled, and there would be no further investigations or reckoning against them, which allowed them to breathe a sigh of relief.

After relaxing, everyone was no longer so restrained and warmly chatted with Chen Mo about other matters.

Upon learning that Chen Mo was only seventeen years old, still a Child Student, a Middle-Grade Martial Artist, commanding an army of over a thousand, and yet to take a wife or even a concubine, their eyes lit up.

Anyway, they had already boarded Chen Mo's ship with no turning back, so it was only natural to try to get closer to Chen Mo.

And the best way to get closer was through marriage alliances.

During this time, Yi Qianchi used the excuse of going to the restroom to leave the private room, but in fact, went to the adjacent elegant room to find his daughter and inquire about her opinion of Chen Mo.

Yi Shiyin was first stunned, then her big eyes fluttered. She understood the meaning behind her father's question—did she fancy Chen Mo, and if she did, she was likely to be promised to him.

The image of Chen Mo's tall and imposing figure reappeared in Yi Shiyin's mind.

It's said that just-come-of-age girls are at the peak of their hormonal development, filled with dreams of love.

And Yi Shiyin, who rarely went out, had seen few men and lacked comparison. Suddenly, with a man stronger than her father entering her sight, and with external matchmaking, Yi Shiyin's heart was inclined.

With this inclination, inexplicably, the protagonists she had read about in storybooks all started to resemble Chen Mo.

Yi Shiyin's heart trembled, and her face turned slightly red. She softly said, "Marriage is a major event; Father can make the decision."

Seeing this gesture of shyness from his daughter, Yi Qianchi knew that she fancied Chen Mo.

After all, a young hero—what woman wouldn't admire him?

"But Xiaolu, you should be mentally prepared. Most likely, you won't be able to marry him as a wife, only as a concubine."

Yi Qianchi sighed slightly, feeling a myriad of emotions, somewhat regretting not proposing marriage as a son-in-law upon first meeting Chen Mo rather than directly arranging a marital alliance.

Who would have thought, a seventeen-year-old could grow to such a level.

A seventeen-year-old Middle-Grade Martial Artist, probably only those geniuses in the Capital could achieve that.

Alas, when he initially inquired about the Innate Spiritual Qi, he should have anticipated this.

Now that the person has reached this stage, he might look down upon marrying into the Yi Family.

"Xiaolu understands." Yi Shiyin spoke, feeling somewhat disheartened.

After all, a concubine is still a concubine, incomparable to the main wife.

Marrying a concubine is like buying a maid, with no grand betrothal gifts or bridal trousseau.

No bowing to Heaven and Earth, no bowing to parents.

...

In the private room, as the glasses were pushed and changed, the conversation flowed freely, soon reaching its conclusion.

As for those who proposed arranging a marriage for him, Chen Mo rejected them all.

Ultimately, Chen Mo was realistic and did not favor women from small places.

Of course, this disregard pertains to marrying a wife.

He also harbored ambitions; if he were to marry now, it wouldn't be easy to build connections with those Noble Families in the future as he grew stronger.

After all, only with their daughters as main wives would the Noble Families give their full support.

This was a long-term view, which was currently not convenient to disclose.

After leaving the restaurant, the gentry exchanged farewells.

However, Yi Qianchi stayed behind, finding Chen Mo alone, saying he had matters to discuss.

Deliberately asking the coachman to slow down, Wang Cultivator, lifting the carriage window curtain, obviously noticed this and said to his eldest son, Wang Chong, "That Zhang River is quite close with Chen Mo, and his way of addressing Chen Mo is different. He calls Chen Mo Brother Mo; find out about him."

"Understood."

...

Chen Mo, seeing Yi Qianchi accompanied by Yi Shiyin, roughly guessed what he wanted to discuss, and told Zhang River and the others to wait outside.

With no outsiders around, Yi Qianchi tentatively asked, "County Magistrate, what do you think of this daughter of mine?"

"Naturally beautiful, bright-eyed, gentle and intelligent." Chen Mo thought for a moment and replied without hesitation.

Hearing Chen Mo's compliment, Yi Shiyin shyly lowered her head, lightly biting her lower lip.

Seeing this, Yi Qianchi's eyes shone and directly said, "The County Magistrate is a young hero; how can he do without someone to care for him by his side? I wish to betroth Xiaolu to the County Magistrate... as a concubine; what does the County Magistrate think?"

Yi Qianchi initially intended to say as a wife, but recalling Chen Mo's recent rejections to the wealthy and gentry, he knew Chen Mo's ambitions were great, so he amended it to a concubine.

Chen Mo glanced at Yi Shiyin again. Indeed, she was beautiful. For a main wife, he had certain standards, but for a concubine, the requirements weren't as stringent, especially considering Yi Qianchi's earlier support.

This small request could be granted.

He pondered for a moment, looking at Yi Shiyin and asked, "What does the young lady think?"

Yi Shiyin's face was completely red as she clutched her clothes, suppressing her shyness, and replied in a trembling voice, "I... I will listen to Father."

"Since Landlord Yi, no, my father-in-law values me so highly, it's an honor for me." Chen Mo said with a smile.

"Hahaha."

This calling of 'father-in-law' made Yi Qianchi's heart rejoice and feel greatly comforted.

He laughed and said to Yi Shiyin, "Xiaolu, quickly greet your husband."

To accept a concubine cannot compare to marrying a wife; there are numerous rituals.

After entering the family, a concubine only needs to offer a cup of wine to her husband and the main wife, and the ceremony is completed.

Of course, everything is too hurried right now, so it's just to confirm first, then select a time for the Yi Family to send Yi Shiyin into the house, and she will accompany Chen Mo regularly.

"Hus...band." Yi Shiyin trembled as she performed a salute.

"Then I'll call you..."

"Just call me Xiaolu." Yi Shiyin answered swiftly.

Chen Mo nodded: "Since we met for the first time, I didn't prepare a gift for you, Xiaolu. I'll make it up to you when you enter the house another time."

"Hmm..." Yi Shiyin nodded slightly.

After chatting for a few more sentences, knowing each other's birth dates and preferences, Chen Mo clasped his hands and said, "It's getting late; I should go back now. Tomorrow, I will send a respected elder to choose a time with my father-in-law, to bring Xiaolu into the household."

After all, the Yi Family invested so much money and food, and Xiaolu, whom he truly liked, should be given enough face, and he would personally go to welcome her.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, a flicker of comfort flashed in the eyes of both Yi Qianchi and Yi Shiyin.

Yi Qianchi nodded to Yi Shiyin: "Xiaolu, see your husband off."

"No need, I need to go out of the city for a visit back home to inform my sister-in-law of this matter."

After staying out for a day and night, he needed to make a visit back to reassure his sister-in-law. Besides, she was also considered his elder, so mentioning the concubine matter to her was appropriate.

"It should be, it should be." Yi Qianchi understood Chen Mo's background well enough.

"Goodbye."

Chen Mo clasped his hands and left Wanhe Building with his men.

After explaining a few words to Lu Yuan, Chen Mo took his party, including Zhang River, out of the city and returned to the village.

...

"The sky king covers the earth tiger."

"The pagoda suppresses the river demon."

After the passwords matched, the Divine Brave Guards stationed at the village entrance let Chen Mo and his party enter the village.

This is the rule; the password cannot be waived due to one's status, primarily because Chen Mo is concerned about those bizarre people who can disguise themselves and impersonate identities.

Chen Mo then said to Zhang River, "This password has been used for so long, it should be changed. Change it to, ask, odd change does not change, answer, symbol looks at the quadrant."

Chen Mo believed such "narrow-minded" passwords were impossible to guess randomly.

"???" Zhang River did not fully understand.

"Come with me; I'll write it for you." Chen Mo said.

"Certainly."

...

Returning to the stockade, the villagers were still awake, as most of their men were still in the city. Although Lu Yuan had returned earlier, reporting that all was well, not seeing their men personally still left them worried.

Seeing Chen Mo return, they greeted him enthusiastically and then asked about their sons/husbands' safety.

Upon hearing Chen Mo's reassuring words, they finally felt at ease.

Outside, Han Anniang was listening too.

When Chen Mo returned home, Han Anniang rushed over and embraced him tightly, then took a thorough look at Chen Mo, and said, "Uncle returns so late and hasn't eaten yet. Min'Er..."

Han Anniang called Song Min to heat up the food.

"Sister-in-law, I've eaten." Chen Mo said, holding Han Anniang's small hand, seeing Song Min run over, calling him Brother Mo, Chen Mo patted her head: "I've eaten, no need to busy yourself."

"I'll fetch warm water for Brother Mo to wash up, so he can rest early." Song Min found something to do herself.

Chen Mo didn't stop her, pulled Han Anniang into the room, and said, "Sister-in-law, I have something to tell you."

"Uncle, what's the matter?" After entering the room, noticing her uncle's unusual demeanor, Han Anniang asked curiously.

Chen Mo did not hide anything and explained the concubine matter, including the Xia Sisters' matter, although he didn't reveal the Xia Sisters' identity to his sister-in-law, only mentioned they were two girls he took in as maidens for his bedwarming, with only Yi Shiyin having the status of a concubine.

Upon hearing this, Han Anniang's delicate body trembled, pursed her lips, although she had mentally prepared, when the facts occurred, she still felt a tinge of sourness, but it quickly dissipated, she helped Chen Mo change, and said, "Uncle is getting up there in years, it's also time to marry and take concubines, to expand the Chen Family."

Chen Mo held Han Anniang and promised: "Sister-in-law, rest assured, no matter what, I won't abandon you; otherwise, this time, I should also bring sister-in-law into the household."

"That won't do." Hearing this, Han Anniang immediately refused, softly saying: "Uncle, didn't we agree before? I'll be just your woman behind the scenes, no need for status."

"That won't do." Chen Mo's attitude turned firm too. He said: "A status is necessary, otherwise, in the future, if there are children, how will you explain it to them?"

The mention of children left Han Anniang without insistence, but she said: "Still, it can't be together, later is fine for me."

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